The 2007–08 Minnesota Golden Gophers men's ice hockey team represented the University of Minnesota in the 2007–08 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season. The team was coached by Don Lucia and played their home games at Mariucci Arena. This season was the second time during Lucia's tenure where all the players were from the state of Minnesota.
Roster As of March 24, 2008.http://www.gophersports.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=8400&KEY=&SPID=3322&SPSID=38856
Goaltenders#StatePlayerCatchesYearHometown (Previous School)Previous Team1Jeff FrazeeLJuniorBurnsville, MN (Academy of Holy Angels)USNDT - NAHL33Alex KangasLFreshmanRochester, MN (Rochester Century High School)Indiana - USHL35Brent SoleiLSeniorCoon Rapids, MN (Elk River High School)Fairbanks - NAHL
Defensemen#StatePlayerShootsYearHometown (Previous School)Previous Team2Kevin WehrsLFreshmanPlymouth, MN (Wayzata High School)Cedar Rapids - USHL4Stu BickelRFreshmanChanhassen, MN (Eden Prairie High School)Sioux Falls - USHL5Derek Peltier – CLSeniorPlymouth, MN (Robbinsdale Armstrong High School)Cedar Rapids - USHL6R.J. AndersonRJuniorLino Lakes, MN (Centennial High School)20David FischerRSophomoreApple Valley, MN (Apple Valley High School)27Brian SchackLSophomoreLino Lakes, MN (Totino-Grace High School)Southern Minnesota - NAHL28Cade FairchildLFreshmanDuluth, MN (Duluth East High School)USNDT - NAHL
Forwards#StatePlayerShootsYearHometown (Previous School)Previous Team7Patrick WhiteRFreshmanGrand Rapids, MN (Grand Rapids High School)Tri-City - USHL11Mike HoeffelLFreshmanNorth Oaks, MN (Hill-Murray High School)USNDT - NAHL12Tony LuciaLSophomorePlymouth, MN (Wayzata High School)Omaha - USHL13Ben GordonLSeniorInternational Falls, MN (Falls High School)Lincoln - USHL14Justin BostromRJuniorVadnais Heights, MN (Mounds View High School)Sioux City - USHL16Mike CarmanLSophomoreApple Valley, MN (Academy of Holy Angels)USNDT - NAHL17Blake Wheeler – ARJuniorPlymouth, MN (Breck School)Green Bay - USHL19Evan Kaufmann – ARSeniorPlymouth, MN (Robbinsdale Armstrong High School)River City - USHL21Tom PohlLSeniorRed Wing, MN (Red Wing High School)Tri-City - USHL22Ryan FlynnRSophomoreLino Lakes, MN (Centennial High School)USNDT - NAHL24Mike Howe – ARSeniorSt. Cloud, MN (St. Cloud Apollo High School)River City - USHL25Drew FisherLFreshmanInternational Falls, MN (Moorhead High School)Sioux Falls - USHL26Jay BarriballRSophomorePrior Lake, MN (Academy of Holy Angels)Sioux Falls - USHL29Ryan Stoa – ALJuniorBloomington, MN (Bloomington Kennedy High School)USNDT - NAHL
Junior forward Ryan Stoa suffered a knee injury during the team's October 13, 2007 win over Michigan. He missed the remainder of the season. Sophomore forward Kyle Okposo left the team on December 19, 2007 to sign with the New York Islanders. Senior defenseman Tom Pohl suffered a skull fracture during the team's WCHA first round playoff series with Minnesota State, ending his hockey career.
Season standings Note: PTS = Points; GP = Games played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GF = Goals for; GA = Goals against
Regular season # Date Opponent# Rank# Site Score Goaltender Record Points 1 October 12*† vs. RPI #6 Xcel Energy Center • St. Paul, MN 4–3 Frazee 1–0–0 — 2 October 13*† vs. #9 Michigan #6 Xcel Energy Center • St. Paul, MN 4–3 Frazee 2–0–0 — 3 October 19 @ #10 Colorado College #3 World Arena • Colorado Springs, CO 1–3 Frazee 2–1–0 0 4 October 20 @ #10 Colorado College #3 World Arena • Colorado Springs, CO 1–2 (OT) Frazee 2–2–0 0 5 October 25* #14 Ohio State #10 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 3–1 Frazee 3–2–0 — 6 October 26* #14 Ohio State #10 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 2–1 Kangas 4–2–0 — 7 October 27* U.S. Under-18 Team (exh.) #10 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 3–1 Solei 4–2–0 — 8 November 2 #7 Denver #8 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 1–5 Frazee 4–3–0 0 9 November 4 #7 Denver #8 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 1–4 Kangas 4–4–0 0 10 November 9 @ Minnesota State #14 Alltel Center • Mankato, MN 4–3 Frazee 5–4–0 2 11 November 10 Minnesota State #14 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 5–3 Kangas 6–4–0 4 12 November 16 Alaska Anchorage #12 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 3–0 Frazee 7–4–0 6 13 November 17 Alaska Anchorage #12 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 2–4 Frazee 7–5–0 6 14 November 23*‡ @ #6 Michigan State #15 Munn Ice Arena • East Lansing, MI 3–3 (OT) Kangas 7–5–1 — 15 November 24*‡ @ #2 Michigan #15 Yost Ice Arena • Ann Arbor, MI 1–5 Frazee 7–6–1 — 16 November 30 Michigan Tech — Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 2–3 (OT) Kangas 7–7–1 6 17 December 1 Michigan Tech — Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 3–1 Frazee 8–7–1 8 18 December 7 @ #8 North Dakota — Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, ND 2–4 Frazee 8–8–1 8 19 December 8 @ #8 North Dakota — Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, ND 4–3 Kangas 9–8–1 10 20 December 29*$ RIT #12 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 3–4 Frazee 9–9–1 — 21 December 30*$ Air Force #12 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 2–2 (OT)Ħ Kangas 9–9–2 — 22 January 4* Wayne State #12 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 5–1 Solei 10–9–2 — 23 January 5* Wayne State #12 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 5–2 Kangas 11–9–2 — 24 January 11 #15 St. Cloud State #14 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 1–3 Kangas 11–10–2 10 25 January 12 @ #15 St. Cloud State #14 National Hockey Center • St. Cloud, MN 4–4 (OT) Frazee 11–10–3 11 26 January 18 @ Minnesota Duluth — Duluth Entertainment Convention Center • Duluth, MN 1–1 (OT) Kangas 11–10–4 12 27 January 19 @ Minnesota Duluth — Duluth Entertainment Convention Center • Duluth, MN 2–1 Kangas 12–10–4 14 28 January 25 @ Wisconsin — Kohl Center • Madison, WI 1–3 Kangas 12–11–4 14 29 January 26 @ Wisconsin — Kohl Center • Madison, WI 2–2 (OT) Kangas 12–11–5 15 30 February 1 #3 North Dakota #15 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 1–2 (OT) Kangas 12–12–5 15 31 February 2 #3 North Dakota #15 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 1–1 (OT) Kangas 12–12–6 16 32 February 8 @ #7 Denver — Magness Arena • Denver, CO 1–1 (OT) Kangas 12–12–7 17 33 February 9 @ #7 Denver — Magness Arena • Denver, CO 1–4 Kangas 12–13–7 17 34 February 22 #12 Wisconsin — Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 4–2 Kangas 13–13–7 19 35 February 23 #12 Wisconsin — Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 4–4 (OT) Kangas 13–13–8 20 36 February 29 @ Alaska Anchorage — Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, AK 1–1 (OT) Kangas 13–13–9 21 37 March 1 @ Alaska Anchorage — Sullivan Arena • Anchorage, AK 4–1 Kangas 14–13–9 23 38 March 7 Minnesota Duluth #14 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 4–1 Kangas 15–13–9 25 39 March 8 Minnesota Duluth #14 Mariucci Arena • Minneapolis, MN 2–3 Kangas 15–14–9 25*Non-Conference Game. †IceBreaker Invitational. ‡College Hockey Showcase. $Dodge Holiday Classic. ĦShootout Win 2–0 (4 rounds) #Rankings from USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll released prior to games.
Postseason
WCHA Playoffs # Date Opponent# Rank# Site Score Goaltender Record 1 March 14* #10 Minnesota State #15 Alltel Center • Mankato, MN 0–1 (2OT) Kangas 15–15–9 2 March 15* #10 Minnesota State #15 Alltel Center • Mankato, MN 2–1 (OT) Kangas 16–15–9 3 March 16* #10 Minnesota State #15 Alltel Center • Mankato, MN 3–2 (2OT) Kangas 17–15–9 4 March 20† #8 St. Cloud State #12 Xcel Energy Center • St. Paul, MN 3–2 Kangas 18–15–9 5 March 21‡ #2 Colorado College #12 Xcel Energy Center • St. Paul, MN 2–1 (OT) Kangas 19–15–9 6 March 22$ #6 Denver #12 Xcel Energy Center • St. Paul, MN 1–2 Kangas 19–16–9*WCHA First-Round (best of three). †WCHA Final Five Quarterfinal. ‡WCHA Final Five Semifinal. $WCHA Final Five Championship.#Rankings from USA Today/American Hockey Coaches Association poll released prior to games.
NCAA Playoffs # Date Opponent# Rank# Site Score Goaltender Record 1 March 29* #7 Boston College #11 DCU Center • Worcester, MA 2–5 Kangas 19–17–9*NCAA First-Round (Northeast Regional).#Rankings from USA Today/American Hockey Coaches Association poll released prior to games.
Season Stats
Scoring Leaders
Note: GP = Games played; G = Goals; A = Assists; Pts = Points; PIM = Penalty minutes Player GP G A Pts PIMBlake Wheeler 31 13 13 26 60Ben Gordon 32 10 12 22 16Jay Barriball 31 3 13 16 28Mike Hoeffel 32 6 6 12 16Evan Kaufmann 32 5 7 12 46R.J. Anderson 32 5 7 12 24Mike Howe 29 4 8 12 4David Fischer 32 2 10 12 14
Goaltending
Note: GP = Games played; TOI = Time on ice (minutes); W = Wins; L = Losses; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; Sv% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Player GP TOI W L SO Sv% GAAAlex Kangas 18 1095 5 6 0 .923 2.14Jeff Frazee 14 798 6 7 1 .890 2.93Brent Solei 1 60 1 0 0 .966 1.00
Awards and records
Awards
WCHA All-WCHA Third Team: Blake Wheeler All-Rookie Team: Cade Fairchild
References