Lucia to Gophers-Good Luck

[defencewinsgames]

<br>The son of the Gophers hockey coach probably will keep playing at Omaha and join the team in 2007.<br>Dean Spiros, Star Tribune <br>Last update: November 9, 2005 at 9:00 PM<br><br><br>Lucia decides to play for his father at U<br><br>Gophers men's hockey: No suspensions as probe goes on<br><br>Men's basketball: U's next game is all about confidence<br>Tony Lucia didn't get far when he called his dad from Omaha on Sunday to tell him he had made up his mind on where he wanted to play college hockey.<br><br>"He jumped right in about homework, so I didn't get the chance," Tony Lucia said. "I finally told him I had made a decision."<br><br>The 18-year-old Lucia then made a verbal commitment to play for his dad, Don Lucia, and the Gophers.<br><br>"I went with my heart," he said.<br><br>NCAA rules prohibit his future coach from commenting until Lucia officially signs his letter of intent, but his mother said the family, which also includes Alison (22), Jessica (20) and Mario (12) is happy with the choice.<br><br>"Tony didn't decide until Sunday," Joyce Lucia said. "He weighed the positives and negatives and decided he'd like to play for his dad.<br><br>"He's always wanted to be good enough to play for his dad. It's a tribute to him and his hard work he'll be able to."<br><br>Lucia plays for Omaha of the United States Hockey League. The 6-foot, 175-pound forward has four goals and seven assists in 13 games. He was a sixth-round pick by San Jose in this year's NHL draft.<br><br>Lucia is expected to play another year in Omaha before joining the Gophers in 2007. Until a breakout season last year at Wayzata High School, which coincided with a three-inch growth spurt, Lucia said he wasn't sure he was Gophers material.<br><br>"I question my abilities sometimes," he said. "I needed to know if I'm the caliber of player that has moved on [to the Gophers] from Omaha in the past. If I keep working like I have been, I should be fine."<br><br>Michigan, New Hampshire, Colorado College and Notre Dame were among the other schools interested in Lucia. Don Lucia played for Notre Dame, graduating in 1981.<br><br>"He's been traveling with Don since he was 5 years old," Joyce Lucia said. "When we were at Colorado College, Don used to take him on road trips because I was busy running around with the girls. It was a great experience for Tony, and it's always been a goal of his to play Division I hockey.<br><br>"We're happy he's been able to attain that and get a college degree to boot."<br><br><br><br> <p></p><i></i>

[You Puck]

well congratulations to the both of them. funny how things like this work out<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :eek --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/eek.gif ALT=":eek"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> . i dont know how much they will contribute, maybe they will improve, or the coaches see something i dont(like a son and friend) <p></p><i></i>

[Spudmania]

Seriously did anybody think he was going anywhere but the Gophers! just one of the three greats to come out of Wayzata with the other two being Kevin Wehrs and Joey Miller <p></p><i></i>