Vanek’s First Year in Minnesota A Stunning Success

All year Thomas Vanek's name had been prominently mentioned alongside North Dakota’s Zach Parise as the freshman to watch in the WCHA. Parise started the season putting up incredible numbers but as the campaign wore on, Vanek was surging. His most important contributions would come in the Frozen Four where he was the catalyst in bringing Minnesota back from an 0-2 hole in the semifinal to beat the University of Michigan in overtime, 3-2. And in the final game, Vanek was a force in leading the Gophers past the University of New Hampshire on their way to a second straight national title, the first team in over 30 years to accomplish the feat.

Vanek was the tournament’s most outstanding player scoring both game winners for Minnesota in a successful defense of their NCAA title. Considering that first year players traditionally have not been expected to be important contributors and what Vanek has done in carrying the Gophers on his back is nothing short of phenomenal.

“Throughout the season we had a big target on our back (as defending champions),” said Vanek. “People said we could not do it without Jordan Leopold, Jeff Taffe and John Pohl but we believed in each other, trusted in each other and proved everyone wrong.”

There’s never been a player like Vanek in University of Minnesota history. Not simply because of his exceptional skills, which led the Gophers to the national championship, but as the only European to ever play for the school.

“Thomas is big and strong, he’s got terrific hands,” said Lucia. “He’s been good for our program as the first European in the Minnesota program. That diversity has been healthy for our kids, and it’s been great for our fans to watch him play.”

It’s a statement of fact that carries significant implications. Minnesota has traditionally built its hockey program around local talent. Rarely, if ever, did coaches recruit players from other parts of the country, let alone the world.

Things have changed under Don Lucia. Not only does he find and recruit Minnesota-born talent but also he’s responsible for bringing in current captain, Grant Potulny, a Grand Forks, ND native and Vanek, the Austrian-born budding superstar.

Judging from the success that the program has enjoyed over the last two seasons, thanks to the contributions of two non-Minnesotans, Lucia looks pretty good right now.

In recalling how the Gophers overcame a two-goal deficit against Michigan and then a tie game against New Hampshire, the common denominator is Thomas Vanek. In both cases he was the catalyst who got things going.

Consider how Michigan had stymied any offensive chances in the first period of the semifinals, and then look at how Vanek took charge in the second period to help cut the lead to 2-1. It was a flurry of activity in front of Michigan netminder Al Montoya and a Vanek shot that dribbled through his pads with Troy Riddle on the doorstep to put it away. The goal woke Minnesota up from their funk. They scored early in the third period; and Vanek ended it in overtime. The rookie played with the poise of a veteran.

“We talked about his ability to score in the third period this season,” said Don Lucia. “His goal was a gamebreaker. Great players are the ones who step up when the game is on the line, and Thomas did,” said Lucia.

Vanek arrived came to North America so he can play junior hockey, and Minnesota hockey fans are thankful he did. Vanek was born in Austria, a child of Czech émigrés. His father, Zdenek, played professional hockey in Czechoslovakia. The elder Vanek shared his love and enthusiasm for the sport of hockey with his son, who admits that both parents were instrumental in his pursuing college hockey.

“My parents have been so supportive of me at a young age. They have always encouraged me and been a big part of my life and the decision I made to play hockey in the United States.”

Vanek left Austria as a teenager to pursue hockey because it was necessary. He was talented enough that his skill set would have been better served playing competitively where the sport had developmental programs best suited for someone of his abilities. Unlikely as it was, Vanek decided to play American junior hockey with the Sioux Falls Stampede.

“I came here and knew only of major junior in Canada,” said Vanek of his knowledge of North American hockey. “In the United States I learned more about college hockey playing in the United States Hockey League and watched it more and more until I fell in love with it; hopefully it encourages more kids to come here and take the next step.”

When it was time to pick a college, Vanek had many choices but it came down to Minnesota, which made Lucia quite a happy coach.

“Fortunately for us, Sioux Falls gets our games on television so Thomas could follow the Gophers. Our assistant, Bob Motzko, helped recruit him because Bob coached Sioux Falls and knew people there. I think more than anything else, when it was time for Thomas to choose (a school) it came down to his comfort level. His host family could come up and watch him play, and that’s one of the things that became important and why he came to Minnesota.”

Vanek did not disappoint, finishing the season with 31 goals, 31 assists for 62 total points in 45 games, far and away the leading scorer for Minnesota throughout the season. The closest to Vanek was Troy Riddle who finished with 51 points, 11 behind Vanek.

Vanek is ranked third by the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau at the mid-term rankings. He has certainly helped his standing among pro scouts because of his performance, but numbers and ability aside his play over the second half of games is what’s been so impressive.

Being able to split past the UNH defenders en route to scoring the game-winner for the national title was a moment that Vanek, and most Minnesota Gophers fans, will remember for years to come; and probably solidify his standings in this year’s draft as the highest an Austrian has ever been taken in the annual talent lottery.