Blake Thompson leaving Gophers hockey team

Gophers sophomore defenseman Blake Thompson is transferring from the “U.” He’ll be leaving at the end of the semester. In a statement released Tuesday, head coach Don Lucia says “Our team and our staff wish him the best going forward.”

Meanwhile, the WCHA weekly awards were announced Tuesday. Two North Dakota players earned awards, as did Mankato’s Josh Nelson and St. Cloud State’s David Morley.