Minnesota center Matt Koalska is expected to be out three weeks after surgery to repair a hernia. The Gophers expect him to return for their Feb. 7-8 series at Colorado College.
Koalska has been playing for the past few weeks with the hernia under the approval of team doctors, who recommended surgery soon. With Minnesota off next weekend, surgery is scheduled for Monday morning, Jan. 13.
The missed games will be the first of his career for the junior, who has appeared in 109 straight contests.
“We’re going to miss him,” said head coach Don Lucia. “He could probably continue to play … but when you look at the open weekend, this was [the right time].”
Koalska a native of St. Paul, Minn., has 5-18–23 in 23 games this season and 25-55–80 for his career. He is best known for scoring the game-tying goal in the final minute of regulation of the 2002 NCAA title game, won by Minnesota, 4-3, in overtime against Maine.
