Gophers coach Don Lucia said he expects to hire an assistant coach next week.

An opening was created after Mike Hastings left after one season to become associate head coach at the Univ. of Nebraska-Omaha.

Recently, new volunteer coach Grant Potulny has been filling in for Hastings. Potulny also has been interviewed as a possible successor to Hastings.

Potulny was a Gophers captain for two seasons, played on national championship teams in 2002 and 2003, and since then kicked around in the minor leagues of pro hockey.

He is an interesting candidate but a little risky because he has no coaching experience.

* Jordan Schroeder, taken 22nd in the first round of the NHL draft by Vancouver last month, is at the Canucks’ prospects camp this week.

ETC.

* Defenseman Brian Kilburg, from Mendota Heights, has signed with the Ontario (Calif.) Reign of the East Coast Hockey League. Kilburg played for Minnesota State Mankato and in four years with the Mavericks had five goals and 28 assists for 33 points. he was a plus-30 and had 257 penalty minutes, fourth all-time at MSU in that stat.

* Sophomore forward Chris Hickey of Wisconsin has decided to transfer, according to a Madison newspaper. Hickey, who played at Cretin-Derham Hall, played in only eight games last season and had one goal. Hickey was a seventh round pick of the Wild in the 2006 NHL draft.

* Sioux Falls (USHL) defenseman Ryan Hill will join North Dakota this season. Hill is 6-3, 197 and played for Hermantown in high school. He had six assists this past season, splitting his time between Waterloo and Sioux Falls.

* Bemidji State radio play-by-play announcer Brian Schultz has a visual tour of the Beavers’ new hockey facility on his web site.

Other WCHA blogs:

Alaska-Anchorage: UAA Fan Blog

Colorado College: Eye of the Tiger 

Denver: All Things Colorado Sports 

Michigan Tech: Huskies Hockey Blog 

Minnesota-Duluth: Rink and Run 

Minnesota State Mankato: Puckato

North Dakota: News, notes and comments

 St. Cloud State: Pucks and bats

Wisconsin: Badger Beat 

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