Minnesota volunteer assistant hockey coach Justin Johnson entered the season knowing he might have extra work on his hands with the Gophers' goalies.
Adam Wilcox, the Big Ten player of the year last season, signed a professional contract during the offseason and left behind plenty of uncertainty in net.
Nine games into the season, that uncertainty is gone. Freshman Eric Schierhorn has taken hold of the Gophers goaltending position.
The rookie has been a constant for a team dealing with growing pains, leading all qualified Big Ten goaltenders in goals-against average and save percentage.
"He's been one of the best goaltenders in the country, I don't think anyone expected that," said sophomore defenseman Jack Glover, who played with Schierhorn on the U.