Former Gophers Ballard and Martin ‘help’ out around Mariucci during NHL lockout

A 113-day NHL lockout was especially rough for veterans like Keith Ballard of the Vancouver Canucks and Paul Martin of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Years removed from the confines of Mariucci Arena where the two  played hockey as Golden Gophers in the early 2000s, Ballard and Martin came back to Mariucci to put in some “work.”

Both Minnesota natives seem to have lived under a rock for the past seven to eight years while playing in the NHL and have become seemingly unaware of technology (faxing a binder? C’mon man).

But among their trails and tribulations off the ice, they got to experience what it is like to go pro in something other than sports — unfortunately I wouldn’t argue with cutting them from the office roster (don’t quit your day job…even if you’re locked out).

Head coach Don Lucia makes a cameo as well as the Minnesota Wild’s Niklas Backstrom who can be seen riding the zamboni.