Minnesota Hockey Coach Lucia’s Contract Gets 2 More Years

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - Minnesota men's hockey coach Don Lucia has agreed to a two-year contract extension through the 2018-19 season.

The university announced the deal on Thursday, the day before the season opener for the Gophers at Alaska Anchorage.

Lucia has begun his 18th season at Minnesota and his 30th season overall as a college head coach. Lucia guided the Gophers to NCAA championships in 2002 and 2003 and has the program record for coaching victories at 415. His 694 career wins are eighth all-time in NCAA history.

Minnesota has won five straight regular-season conference titles, matching an NCAA record. That includes the last two years the Gophers played in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and the first three years of the Big Ten hockey league.