Gophers men’s coach Don Lucia said he is glad Bemidji State and Minnesota Duluth are getting new hockey arenas for the 2010-11 season.

“It’s great,” he said. “Anything we can do to make hockey strong. Certainly Bemidji needed [a new arena] and the DECC is getting old, although it’s a great place to watch a game.

“This is a big year for hockey arenas. It’s great those schools are all in a position to make their facilities and the [hockey] experience better.”

As far as the Gophers’ rink, Mariucci Arena, Lucia is not complaining “We’re pretty happy, although we’d like to redo the downstairs area,” Lucia said. “Just change things around. We want a players’ lounge. But that is not something we are going to ask the state for money for.”

FLORIDA TALK

Lucia was at coaches’ meetings in Florida all of last week. And part of the time there, representatives of the coaches, the NHL and the NHL Players Association talked about players leaving college hockey early.

“[NHL representatives] understand we are an important feeder system and they want to protect us, too,” Lucia said.

At least a dialogue was started, he said.

INTERVIEW TIME

Lucia started interviewing candidates on Monday for two goalies openings the Gophers have on their roster for next season.

A job posting for the open assistant job on Lucia’s staff was supposed to be on the U’s web site on Tuesday [www.umn.edu] but I couldn’t find. Will try again today. I’m just curious how it reads.

Lucia said he wants to fill the job by June 1.

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