WCHA Instant Impact: Adam Wilcox (UM)

Today's installment of Instant Impact takes a look at Minnesota freshman Adam Wilcox.

Previous Entries:
Joey Benik, SCSU                        Austin Farley, UMD
Blake Tatchell, UAA                    
Hunter Fejes, CC  
Nic Kerdiles, UW
Anthony Stolarz, UNO
Teddy Blueger, MSU

Adam Wilcox, G, Minnesota
Vitals: 6' 0" - 183 lbs - 11/26/1992
Hometown: South St. Paul, MN
Previous Team: Tri-City Storm (USHL)

The University of Minnesota enters the 2012-13 season having fewer holes to fill than any other WCHA team. Upfront, the Golden Gophers return five forwards who eclipsed the 30 point mark in 2011-12, including a trio (Erik Haula, Nick Bjugstad, and Kyle Rau) that surpassed 40. Their two most significant departures are captain Taylor Matson and their fourth leading goal scorer Jake Hansen (16G, 22A), but all other key contributors return to a team that led the nation in scoring one year ago.

 

On the backend, Minnesota not only returns all six regulars from a year ago, but they enjoy the luxury of adding smooth skating freshman Brady Skjei to an experienced group of defensemen led by Nate Schmidt. Schmidt was a 2010-11 All-WCHA Second Team honoree whose 38 assists were more than any player in the conference save for Hobey Baker Award winner Jack Connolly.

 

The only real uncertainty facing the Gophers comes between the pipes, where they will no longer find Kent Patterson plying his trade. Patterson was Minnesota’s rock in net for the past season and a half, starting all 43 of the team’s games last season and 64 straight dating back to his junior year. No Minnesota goaltender other than Patterson has started a game since December 3, 2010, and his departure leaves a significant void in he Gopher crease. Look for incoming freshman Adam Wilcox to help fill that void.

 

Wilcox is a South St. Paul native who returns home following two years in the USHL. He spent the 2010-11 season with the Green Bay Gamblers, where he posted a 2.20 GAA and .922 Save Percentage in 24 games. He played in nine games with Green Bay (2.27 GAA, .918 Sv %) during the 2011-12 season before being traded to the Tri-City Storm. In 34 games with the Storm, the 2011 draft pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning (6th Round, 178th Overall) produced a 2.91 GAA and .916 Save Percentage.

 

Wilcox is an average sized, athletic goaltender who displays good quickness and agility. He controls his rebounds well and is not afraid to engage in an aggressive brand of goaltending. With the cast of returning players Minnesota will be able to surround him with, it will not be too often that Wilcox will be called upon to stand on his head and steal a win. He does, however, possess the ability to step into the goaltending spotlight as a freshman and deliver key minutes for a team poised to make a run at a national championship.