RE: Gopher Hockey

Talk Vikes and Other MN Sports

Forums Register Login My Profile Inbox Address Book My Subscription My Forums

Photo Gallery Member List Search Calendars FAQ Ticket List Log Out

RE: Gopher Hockey

Logged in as: Guest

Users viewing this topic: none

Printable Version

All Forums >> [Other Minnesota Sports] >> Minnesota Golden Gophers >> RE: Gopher Hockey

Page: << < prev 24 25 [26] 27 28 next > >>

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

RE: Gopher Hockey - 2/27/2011 9:40:00 PM

TJSweens

Posts: 45417
Joined: 7/16/2007
Status: online

The freshmen are improving by leaps and bounds and that completely changes the prospectus for the Gophers. It would be nice if their respective NHL teams decide these kids need at least another year in the college game and leave them alone. They could really have a killer team next year.

_____________________________

"The eternal fate of the noble and enlightened: to be brutally crushed by the armed and dumb."

Post #: 626

RE: Gopher Hockey - 2/27/2011 9:50:17 PM

Jeff Jesser

Posts: 19685
Joined: 7/16/2007
From: Southern Cal
Status: offline

Our goal tending has improved by leaps and bounds too. That doens't hurt.

Post #: 627

RE: Gopher Hockey - 2/27/2011 10:01:02 PM

TJSweens

Posts: 45417
Joined: 7/16/2007
Status: online

No doubt. Patterson >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Kangas.

_____________________________

"The eternal fate of the noble and enlightened: to be brutally crushed by the armed and dumb."

Post #: 628

RE: Gopher Hockey - 2/28/2011 9:29:40 AM

SoMnFan

Posts: 94902
Status: offline

Loving the new Gophs.
Loving Patterson.
Playing with more of a "chip" these days, and they need to.

_____________________________

Work like a Captain.
Play like a Pirate.

Post #: 629

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/5/2011 12:51:40 PM

SoMnFan

Posts: 94902
Status: offline

Fun game in Bemidji last night.
Nice to see the new rink in all its glory.
I like it. Love smaller venues.
The Beaves rode a lot of emotion last night, really took it to the Gophs at times.

_____________________________

Work like a Captain.
Play like a Pirate.

Post #: 630

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/5/2011 1:57:31 PM

Pete M.

Posts: 11006
Joined: 7/31/2007
From: Mahtomedi, MN
Status: offline

Gotta think Don is saving/has saved his job, eh SMF? Like Sweens says, barring defections, this team could be fearsome next year.

Post #: 631

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/5/2011 2:28:14 PM

SoMnFan

Posts: 94902
Status: offline

Thats what I'm thinking too, Pete.
And, with Don's son coming in in a couple years, it'd be nice to secure his commitment as well. (nice player)
Couple of these frosh have surprised me. Great numbers as the season winds down from some of the younger guys.
Bjustad has the potential to be a BEAST if he stays a couple years.
He and Big Bad Budish in front of the net next year? Oh my ...

_____________________________

Work like a Captain.
Play like a Pirate.

Post #: 632

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/6/2011 7:28:13 AM

drew

Posts: 1040
Joined: 5/10/2009
Status: offline

I went to both games this weekend. I'm a BSU grad and it was awesome to have the U come into town. It was kind of weird, because I'm used to cheering for the Gophers but this weekend I wanted BSU to beat them more than any other team we've played. On Friday night I was actually sitting right next the guys on the Gophers that didn't dress that night. I didn't know they sat with the commoners.

Both games were exciting up-tempo games, which is very unusual for the Beavers this year. We've tried to grind it out with our comparative lack of talent with the rest of the WCHA. Both guys had some injuries Saturday, and the Gophers have much more depth to handle that and outplayed the Beavers. Our goalie was incredible and made it a good game. One thing that stood out to me was how big Helgeson and Bjustad are. Those guys are beasts and can move.

Post #: 633

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/6/2011 7:43:50 AM

SoMnFan

Posts: 94902
Status: offline

Congrats to all you ex-Beavers out there.
Fun weekend. Your guys played their sacs off. Just short-handed in the end.
Gophs take 3 of 4 pts, good showing while a little banged up, against a fired up, scrappy bunch.
Tender for BSU was awesome, as the Gophers made a couple patented old Gopher plays from years back, where they simply did things other teams aren't capable of.
I'll re-iterate what Sweens and Pete have been saying ... IF a couple of these young guys stay around, and they add a couple injured and new guys to the mix, this has "take a run at the national title" written all over it. I'm praying Bjugstad has that weird "I'm gonna stay here and win something" gene in him that Okposo, Kessel, and a few others didn't have.
We need a new Koalska/Potulney/Vanek run here. Its time again.

_____________________________

Work like a Captain.
Play like a Pirate.

Post #: 634

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/6/2011 8:22:17 AM

SoMnFan

Posts: 94902
Status: offline

BTW ... welcome to the WCHA, Uof Neb Omaha .... took second in their first year in the league

Dean Blais is The Man.

_____________________________

Work like a Captain.
Play like a Pirate.

Post #: 635

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/7/2011 3:01:26 PM

Stacey King

Posts: 7989
Joined: 7/21/2007
Status: offline

Joseph LaBate, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound center who played for the Academy of Holy Angels in Minnesota, has confirmed that he has committed to the University of Wisconsin.

LaBate had 29 goals and 52 points in 26 games for the high school team, which did not qualify for the state tournament. In the Stars’ playoff loss to Prior Lake, LaBate had points on all three of his team’s goals.

He will play for the Badgers next season and is draft eligible this summer, where he is expected to go in the second or third round

Post #: 636

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/7/2011 3:05:01 PM

SoMnFan

Posts: 94902
Status: offline

And ...Rochester Mayo's Bill Norman commited to the University of Maine this morning.

_____________________________

Work like a Captain.
Play like a Pirate.

Post #: 637

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/12/2011 9:02:55 PM

TJSweens

Posts: 45417
Joined: 7/16/2007
Status: online

What a f***ing disgrace. Dropped the first one to Alaska and now we trail in game 2. Lucia needs to go.

_____________________________

"The eternal fate of the noble and enlightened: to be brutally crushed by the armed and dumb."

Post #: 638

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/12/2011 9:28:11 PM

panndder

Posts: 4114
Joined: 7/21/2007
Status: offline

Disappointing end after they seemed to be pulling it together late in the year.

I will say this: I am bullish on this program for the first time in a few years.

< Message edited by panndder -- 3/12/2011 10:15:59 PM >

Post #: 639

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/13/2011 2:13:49 PM

TJSweens

Posts: 45417
Joined: 7/16/2007
Status: online

If they can Lucia

_____________________________

"The eternal fate of the noble and enlightened: to be brutally crushed by the armed and dumb."

Post #: 640

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/13/2011 2:44:04 PM

SoMnFan

Posts: 94902
Status: offline

Ouuuuch.
This one's gonna hurt.
Don jumped off the bench last night like it was his last time.
The team was either numb, or something was going on. Strange reactions to the loss.
We are in that mode again where you can see we are much more talented overall in the skills aspects, but it is not relating to wins and good efforts.
I agree that it has looked good lately, but this is certainly an eye-opener.
I'll be surprised if some major changes are not made. if not Don, then certainly in his staff.

_____________________________

Work like a Captain.
Play like a Pirate.

Post #: 641

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/13/2011 9:11:39 PM

TJSweens

Posts: 45417
Joined: 7/16/2007
Status: online

Lucia has put a series of very talented and grossly underachieving teams on the ice. I think the Islanders GM had the right of it when he trashed Lucia's program. It's time for Don to go.

_____________________________

"The eternal fate of the noble and enlightened: to be brutally crushed by the armed and dumb."

Post #: 642

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/13/2011 10:17:04 PM

Pete M.

Posts: 11006
Joined: 7/31/2007
From: Mahtomedi, MN
Status: offline

Don"s got one more year -- and next year will be a good one.

Post #: 643

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/13/2011 10:52:18 PM

TJSweens

Posts: 45417
Joined: 7/16/2007
Status: online

Not if Don is still here. It will just be another season of falling short of what they should achieve.

_____________________________

"The eternal fate of the noble and enlightened: to be brutally crushed by the armed and dumb."

Post #: 644

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/13/2011 11:15:43 PM

Jason Dorn

Posts: 6282
Joined: 7/31/2007
From: Minnesota-born and raised
Status: offline

From Gopher Puck Live, a good insight into the state of the program....

by Gopher99 » Sun 3/13/11 8:35 pm

At this point, it is what it is.

Usually I wouldn't bring something like this up but at this point it's rock bottom. I ran into some of the Alaska players at the bar last night (since they probably didn't travel back until this morning) and congratulated them on their efforts. I sat and talked with a player on the squad for a few minutes, asking him some questions about what they tbought of the program here right now and how they view MN (I really was curious to hear an outside perspective, especially from a WCHA player).

I tell the player that I bleed maroon and gold as a fan, and that growing up here I would have given my left arm to play for the program. I told him how their sweep this weekend was the lowest I think I've ever seen the program hit and that I don't understand how it fell so fast. He tells me this: there's a difference when we play North Dakota and when we play Minnesota. While both have arguably the most talented players in the league year in and year out, ND plays for the symbol on their chest. MN right now plays for the name on their back. He told me that their team has only 1 guy drafted and that they know many will never sniff the NHL. He says with 19 drafted guys on MN, how many really care about that "M" on their chest? Most probably already think their going to greener pastures, when reality is they have to work harder than hell to play in the show.

The guys were really excited and you could tell sweeping MN is a highlight they'll never forget. It was actually bittersweet observing how excited they were knowing they beat my team, but it was cool to see how close they were. To me, that's what hockey is all about. Playing for the guys around you and playing for pride. I think Minnesota forgot that concept somewhere down the road, because I certainly do not see it anymore.

_____________________________

Skol ... Vikings can win the Super Bowl.

Post #: 645

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/14/2011 9:42:28 AM

TJSweens

Posts: 45417
Joined: 7/16/2007
Status: online

Herb Brooks always said it was more important to assemble the right combination of players than assemble the most talent. Year after year the Gophers pull in the most talented players in the state and year after year they watch far less talented teams still playing in the post season.

_____________________________

"The eternal fate of the noble and enlightened: to be brutally crushed by the armed and dumb."

Post #: 646

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/14/2011 9:46:29 AM

Jeff Jesser

Posts: 19685
Joined: 7/16/2007
From: Southern Cal
Status: offline

That's been the downfall of the program for some time. Lucia goes after the big fish and lands most of them. It only worked with Vanek because the rest of the team was already in place.

Post #: 647

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/14/2011 10:07:53 AM

Jim Frenette

Posts: 15995
Joined: 7/14/2007
From: Dundas
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Pete M.

Don"s got one more year -- and next year will be a good one.

I agree pete, the freshman were starting to skate well at end of the season

_____________________________

Fargo

Post #: 648

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/14/2011 11:15:16 AM

SoMnFan

Posts: 94902
Status: offline

And ... if Lucia did not land the big fish, he'd be skewered for that as well.
Very hard to reach that perfect situation every year.
I can't help but always bring up the Koalskas and Potulneys, meshing with the Pohls and Vaneks.
THAT is what it takes. You've got to have ham-and-eggers willing to do all the dirty work for a couple uber-talented studs.
Its not like The Sioux are clicking off national titles every year either.

_____________________________

Work like a Captain.
Play like a Pirate.

Post #: 649

RE: Gopher Hockey - 3/14/2011 2:00:54 PM

Dave E

Posts: 25479
Joined: 8/1/2007
From: Minneapolis
Status: offline

I am no great hockey mind, but from my 50,000 foot perspective, it sure likes the lack of team-building kills this team -- lots of talent, but little thought into putting together a team. Like USA basketball circa 2000.

Post #: 650