The Free Press, Mankato, MN

College Sports

January 15, 2009

Ex-Gopher chooses MSU hockey

U of M freshman hockey player transfers to Minnesota State

By Shane Frederick

MANKATO — Michael Dorr said he was impressed with coach Troy Jutting and the Minnesota State men’s hockey team when he was being recruited by different college hockey programs.

But the desire to play for the University of Minnesota was too strong.

Dorr started his freshman season with the Gophers but, after playing in just two of 16 games, soon saw that he might not get to play much for them. The former Roseville High School star decided to leave Minnesota over semester break and transferred to MSU.

“It was playing time,” said Dorr, 20, who was dressed in a new Mavericks hoodie Wednesday afternoon. “I wanted to play. I feel like I have a better opportunity to get playing time here.”

That chance won’t come until January, 2010, as the forward will have to sit out one calendar year before he’s eligible to play in game action. He can practice, however, and plans to start skating with the Mavericks this week.

“He’s a very talented player,” Jutting said. “He had a great high school career and in junior hockey. We’re happy to have him. I think he’s going to be an excellent college-hockey player.”

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound Dorr played with current MSU freshman Adam Mueller in high school and the pair were linemates.

“Adam and I lived a block and a half apart,” Dorr said. “I’ve known him since we were Squirts. ... It’s great to be here with my best buddy.”

Dorr was a two-time all-state pick and the Star Tribune’s Metro Player of the Year in 2006-07.

That season he had 38 goals and 71 points in 26 games.

Last season, with the United States Hockey League’s Des Moines Buccaneers, he had 10 goals and 32 points in 34 games.

As a high school junior, Dorr verbally committed to play at Minnesota Duluth but withdrew his commitment and finally chose the Gophers.

At Minnesota, Dorr played two games, including the Gophers’ 3-3 tie against the Mavericks on Oct. 31. He had no points.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
College Sports
  • MSU bball 3/15 2 Top-seeded Mavericks get knocked off by Huskies

    St. Cloud State advanced to the region championship game with an 83-71 victory Sunday, ending the season for the top-seeded Mavericks.

    March 15, 2010 2 Photos

  • xsmall_Schiller, Joe_PE6X7791.JPG Mavericks healthier but still hurting

    Michael Dorr and Eriah Hayes will be back in the lineup, but with six players still out with injury, center Joe Schiller will move to defense.

    November 3, 2011 1 Photo 1 Story

  • xsmall_Lee, Austin_PE6X7812.JPG College hockey gameday

    Minnesota State at Michigan Tech

    6:07 p.m. today and Saturday, MacInnes Student Ice Arena, Houghton, Mich.

    Radio: KTOE 1420 AM TV: None

    November 3, 2011 2 Photos 1 Story

  • Northern Sun to vote on expansion

    Today, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference board of directors will vote on whether to expand from 14 to 16 programs.

    January 19, 2011

  • Gusties ranked 8th in DIII

    The Gustavus Adolphus men’s hockey team is ranked eighth in the country, according to the first U.S. College Hockey Online poll released earlier this week.

    October 28, 2010

  • MSU w hock-9.jpg Sister support: Ariel the latest Mackley to shine for MSU

    Anyone familiar with women’s college hockey in southern Minnesota must know the Mackleys. Since the fall of 2004, at least one of the three Mackley sisters has been skating for Minnesota State or Gustavus Adolphus.

    October 7, 2010 1 Photo

  • msu hockey 10-4-1.jpg Zuck's goal lifts MSU past British Columbia

    MSU's Eli Zuck’s short-handed breakaway goal 100 seconds into the third period stood as the lone goal in the Mavericks’ 1-0 victory over British Columbia before an announced crowd of 2,236 at the Verizon Wireless Center.

    October 5, 2010 1 Photo

  • Young Mavericks look to prove rankings wrong

    The Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s preseason polls were released on Wednesday, and Minnesota State isn’t getting a lot of love from the league’s coaches nor from the media who cover the conference. Both polls put the Mavericks in 10th place in what is now a 12-team conference.

    October 2, 2010

  • gustfb 092510.jpg Clark, St. Olaf run past Gustavus

    St. Olaf halfback Leon Clark cut loose for 134 second-half yards and scored the game-winning touchdown with 29 seconds left to lift his team to a 19-14 victory over Gustavus Saturday.

    September 26, 2010 1 Photo

  • MSUfb 092510.jpg Mavericks get shocked at home

    Concordia upset No. 11 MSU 28-26 in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game before 4,264 fans. It was the second time in the series history that MSU lost to Concordia.

    September 26, 2010 2 Photos