Anaheim Ducks sign Gophers defenseman Stu Bickel

Watch the youtube video: This is the reason why many Sioux fans like myself will not miss Stu Bickel, the kid in my opinion is a blatant hack. Watch the butt end by Stu Bickel on the small Sioux forward Brad Miller, that is a dirty bush league move that should have warranted a match penatly.

So don't expect any of us to shed a tear for the former Gopher player. Good bye and good riddance.

Stu Bickel, a 21-year-old defenseman who became a fixture on the University of Minnesota roster as a freshman last season, signed a three-year free-agent pro contract with the NHL's Anaheim Ducks today and will be leaving the Gophers.

Bickel, a converted forward, is a 6-foot-3, 210-pounder from Chanhassen who had one goal and six assists in 45 games for Minnesota.

Undrafted by any NHL team, Bickel said the Ducks came after him with an offer that "was hard to turn down."

"He had a great year for us," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. "We're going to miss him."

Early departures in the WCHA

Minnesota (3)
G Jeff Frazee, junior
F Blake Wheeler, junior
D Stu Bickel, freshman

North Dakota (2)
F T.J. Oshie, junior
D Taylor Chorney, junior

Wisconsin (1)
F Kyle Turris, freshman

MSU-Mankato (1)
F Jon Kalinski, junior

Michigan Tech (1)
G Michael-Lee Teslak, junior

Minnesota-Duluth (1)
D Jason Garrison, junior

St. Cloud State (1)
F Andreas Nodl, sophomore

Denver (1)
D Chris Butler, junior