Gophers wing Jay Barriball became tired of the question last season. He never said so, but you could tell it in his face.

Everyone kept asking him what was wrong. How could he go from 20 goals and a team-high 43 points as a freshman to six goals and 21 points as a sophomore on a team that badly needed goals?

 The junior wing talked about that recently at a Blue Line luncheon last week and his fast start this season. He has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 10 games, a pace similar to two years ago.

His linemates, Ryan Stoa (9-7-16) and Jordan Schroeder (4-10-14), also are on fire. 

“Stoa and Schroeder are two of the most skilled players I have ever played with,” Barriball said. “And it is really easy to play with them. It makes it fun to go to practice every day. It makes it fun to play.

“I’m really happy to be on their line and we’re working real well together. Stoa can do everything. He kills penalties. He is a great power-play guy and he is a great five on five guy. He is a bigger power forward guy. He has great hands. They both see the ice real well.

“Schroeder, he’s got some special vision. He finds everyone when they are open.  And me, I think I bring some speed and also some good skill to that line. The chemistry from Day One has been there and we have been jelling ever since.”

So, is Jay Barriball back? he was asked. “I don’t want to be satisfied with anything I have done this season,” Barriball said. “I want to keep working hard in practice and be determined, and hope to work on little things, work on getting in front of the net and getting in scoring areas.

“And I figure if i do that the points will keep coming and I do feel good. I feel we have a good line there.”

Barriball is majoring in communication studies and business marketing and education. “I would like someday to own my own business,” he said.

Barriball’s father Scott also attended the luncheon and asked a question. Coach Don Lucia teased Scott about asking for more ice time for Jay. And everyone laughed.

When a team is going good, and 6-0-4 is super, everyone seems to be feeling good.

TWO MILESTONES SET

Lucia and I both set milestones on back-to-back days. He coached his 400th game on the Gophers bench on Sunday, I posted my 300th blog item on Monday on Gophers hockey. Look out Don, I’m catching up to you.

I figure sometime in March I’ll pass him up.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 at 12:24 pm and is filed under Gophers men's hockey. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.