INCH UPDATE DESK

November 29, 2005
Minnesota Extends Lucia's Deal

Minnesota head coach Don Lucia has signed a three-year contract extension, Gopher athletic director Joel Maturi announced. Lucia, currently in his seventh season with the Golden Gophers, is now committed to Minnesota through the 2011-12 season. His previous contract extended through the end of the 2008-09 season.

"We wanted to make sure that Don Lucia remained at Minnesota and we are excited to have him signed through the end of the 2012 season," Maturi said. "With the success he has brought to the men's hockey program, we are fortunate to have Don at the helm for the next seven years. We're looking forward to more NCAA Frozen Four appearances and national championships with Coach Lucia behind the Minnesota bench."

"I¹m grateful for the trust that Joel has put in me," Lucia said. "There is nowhere else I'd rather be coaching than here at the University of Minnesota. I'm looking forward to my next seven years as head coach of the Golden Gophers."

Lucia, 47, has guided the Golden Gophers to a 169-80-25 (.662) mark during his six-plus seasons. He is two wins behind Brad Buetow (171-75-8 from 1979-85) for third place on Minnesota¹s all-time coaching wins list. In 18-plus seasons overall as a head coach, Lucia has compiled a 448-235-54 (.645) record.

November 27, 2005
Oreskovich Leaves Notre Dame For OHL

Sophomore forward Victor Oreskovich is leaving Notre Dame for the Ontario Hockey League's Kitchener Rangers, Fighting Irish coach Jeff Jackson announced today.

Oreskovich, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound right wing from Oakville, Ont., scored two goals and one assist in nine games for Notre Dame this season. In 37 games with the Fighting Irish last season, the second-round selection of the Colorado Avalanche in the 2004 NHL Draft recorded a goal and two assists.

Kitchener acquired the Oreskovich's OHL rights in a trade with the Windsor Spitfires earlier this week.

November 23, 2005
CCHA Fines Roque

The CCHA has reprimanded Lake Superior State head coach Jim Roque and fined him $1,000 for a violation of the conference's "Good Conduct Regulations."

The Lakers' coach was cited for published comments he made following his team's game at Ohio State on Nov. 19.

"I showed the officials before the game tonight some clips," Roque told USCHO.com, "and the supervisor [Neil Armstrong] here, and they decided, proceeded, to stick it to my team. So, a rookie coach got taken out to the woodshed tonight, and that's the way it goes.

"I screwed it up for my team. It's my fault. My guys played hard, played a lot of chances. I don't need to see the video tonight; we were outstanding. And we were good last night. We were very good last night.

"He's [referee Mark Wilkins] apologizing before the game that he missed two checking from behind, it doesn't help me today. And you guys [Ohio State] on Tuesday night won the game because of a checking from behind in the third against State.

"Proud of my guys, though. We came here to pass the test and we passed with flying colors. We're going to be a good team. I like our team."

CCHA regulations stipulate, in part, that, "No employee (e.g., coaches, athletic staff members, etc.) or student-athlete of a member institution shall make derogatory remarks to the press or public about opponents or officials."

November 22, 2005
NCAA Adds Skills Competition to Frozen Four Friday

Frozen Four Friday just got a little busier.

The NCAA announced Tuesday that the final weekend of the 2005-06 season will mark the debut of the Frozen Four Skills Challenge. A handful of seniors from both men’s and women’s teams would be invited to take part in the event, which will be patterned after the NHL’s skills competition.

Bradley Center, site of the Frozen Four, would also host the Skills Challenge, which is tentatively scheduled for Friday, April 7. The competition’s start time has not been determined, nor has the list of events. In its press release, however, the NCAA says familiar contests such as fastest shot, fastest skater and most accurate shooter are likely.

Tickets for the Skills Challenge will cost $10. 2006 Frozen Four ticket holders will get the first chance to purchase tickets for the event through a mailing the NCAA will send out next week. The general public will be able to buy tickets starting February 18 through the Bradley Center box office and Ticketmaster.

November 9, 2005
CCHA Suspends LSSU's Wheeler

The CCHA announced that freshman defenseman Matt Wheeler of Lake Superior State has been suspended for four games as the result of a spearing incident that occurred in a game at Western Michigan on Nov. 4.

The supplemental disciplinary action was taken by the CCHA after a review of the incident that occurred at 9:32 of the third period and resulted in the player receiving a major penalty for spearing and a disqualification penalty.

Wheeler will be required to serve this suspension during Lake Superior State's next two regularly scheduled series on Nov. 11-12 against Miami and on Nov. 18-19 against Ohio State.

November 3, 2005
Schafer Suspended for One Game

ECAC Hockey League Commissioner Steve Hagwell has announced that Cornell head coach Mike Schafer has been suspended for one game due to his post-game conduct last weekend against Michigan State.

Schafer will serve his suspension this Friday, Nov. 4, when the Big Red plays at Yale. He will return to the bench Saturday at Brown.

According to several sources, after Michigan State's 4-3 win at Lynah Rink in Ithaca Saturday night, Schafer confronted Spartan defenseman Corey Potter on the ice, by some reports pushing Potter. The Spartans had been celebrating the win and saluting a small group of Michigan State fans in the building.

"The Cornell Department of Athletics and Physical Education respects the authority of the ECACHL," athletic director Andy Noel said. "Coach Schafer tried to calm a situation before it escalated. He regrets grabbing the jersey of an opposing player in an attempt to guide the team safely off the ice. We addressed this matter internally, and with this suspension consider the matter closed. Mike is a tremendous teacher of young men and a great role model in our community. We continue to offer Mike and his program our unwavering support."

The Lansing State Journal reported that Schafer called the Michigan State hockey office on Monday to apologize for his actions.

The suspension is Schafer's second in three years; in January of 2004 he was suspended one game for post-game comments about officiating.

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