Gophers men’s hockey coaches were on the ice for the first time on Tuesday with their players.

Under NCAA rules, coaches can start working with their players three weeks before regular preseason workouts begin. But they can only be on the ice  for one-hour two times per week.

Tony Lucia and Ryan Flynn, the team co-captains, also continue to lead captains’ practices four, five times a week. 

 * The Gophers are exploring the possibility of holding an outdoor hockey game during the 2010-11 season at TCF Stadium.

Don Lucia, insiders say, would prefer it is a nonconference game.

Wisconsin is playing an outdoor game this season at Camp Randall Stadium.

* The Gophers’ first regular practice is Sat., Oct. 3. It will be interesting to see what time Lucia schedules it for. The Gophers play Wisconsin that day at TCF Bank Stadium across the street. TV has not set a starting time for that game yet.

If it’s an 11 a.m. or noon start, the hockey lads might be getting up pretty early to avoid the crowds and commotion.

WOMEN’S 1ST PRACTICE SAT.

Coach Brad Frost’s Gophers women’s hockey team holds its first practice at 10 a.m. Saturday at Ridder Arena.

The Gophers lost most of its scoring punch — the Lamoureux twins transferred, Gigi Marvin and Jen Schoullis needs surgery and is red-shirting.

So the team’s strength is defense. Three veterans return there, including cocaptain Michelle Maunu.

At goalie, the Gophers are three deep. Jenny Lura and Alyssa Grogan return and are joined by freshman Noora Raty, who will play for Finland in the Olympics. She recently led the Finns to a 3-2 upset victory over the U.S. in the Canada Cup.

Another of the six freshman on the Gophers is defenseman Mira Jaloswo, another player who will play for the Finns in the Vancouver Olympics.

The other cocaptains are forwards Brittany Francis, Terra Rasmussen and Emily West.

The Gophers open the season on Oct. 2 at home against Syracuse, a second-year program.

Captains’ practices began on Monday.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 15th, 2009 at 4:39 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.