2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

[MadCityRich]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Big ten conference is being pushed for hockey by the schools that have the most interest in publicizing their football and basketball programs. This will not do one shred of good for the hockey programs at the big ten schools, it's all about bolstering their basketball and football. In Minnesota's case it will hurt them. Loss of rivalries, in state and out of state (Sue), loss of local audience which means lower revenue, and gophers already have 98% (was 99% until I remembered Mich St game isn't on this Saturday) games televised. Who wants to watch Northwestern, Illinois, Penn State, Iowa (ha ha) play hockey?

Don't forget about hockey powerhouses Purdue & Indiana. For those 6 reasons, IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN.

[Driftryder]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Minnesota game notes from Gophersports.com

Minnesota (4-7-1) at Michigan (5-7-0) and Michigan State (9-3-2)
Date: Friday, Nov. 27 (at Michigan) and Saturday, Nov. 28 (at Michigan State)
Time: 6 p.m. (Fri.) / 6:30 p.m. (Sat.)
Location: Yost Arena (6,637) - Fri. / Munn Ice Arena (6,470) - Sat.
UM Series: Minnesota 127-116-14
MSU Series: Minnesota 100-41-11
Radio: KYCR 1570 AM (Fri.) / WCCO 830 AM (Sat.) - Wally Shaver and Glen Sonmor
Television: Fox Sports North (Fri.) - Anthony LaPanta and Doug Woog / Bigtennetwork.com (Sat.)

With the most wins in the 16-year history of the College Hockey Showcase, Minnesota looks to snap a current three-game losing streak this weekend when the Gophers travel to Michigan and Michigan State. Minnesota is 7-2-3 in the event over the past six years and plays its only road non-conference games of the season this weekend.

Last Time Out
Minnesota  Duluth rallied from 2-0 deficits and scored late goals in each game to hand Minnesota a pair of heartbreaking defeats last weekend. The Bulldogs scored with 12 seconds left in overtime for a 4-3 victory on Friday and finished off a 3-2 win Saturday on a goal with 2:02 left in regulation.

Series History
Minnesota leads the all-time series over Michigan 127-116-14 and beat the Wolverines six straight times before Michigan's showcase victories the past two years. Michigan posted a 6-3 win last year at Mariucci Arena and a 5-1 win in the Gophers' last trip to Ann Arbor in 2008.

The Gophers hold a 100-41-11 advantage over Michigan State in the all-time series and are undefeated in the past eight meetings, which have included five ties. The teams played to a 4-4 tie last year in Minneapolis. Minnesota's last defeat in East Lansing was a 6-2 setback on Nov. 27, 1999.

About the Wolverines
Michigan snapped a five-game losing streak with a 4-1 win over Bowling Green on Saturday in Toledo, Ohio. The five straight losses were the Wolverines' most since a six-game skid in 1988-89. Bowling Green's 4-2 win on Friday was Michigan's fourth straight home loss as the Wolverines were swept by Michigan State and Miami the previous two weekends. Freshman Chris Brown is the team's leading scorer with six goals and four assists for 10 points. The Wolverines rank sixth in the country on the penalty kill at 89.6 percent.

About the Spartans
Michigan State has already nearly matched last year's win total with its 9-3-2 record after finishing 10-23-5 last year. The Spartans had an eight-game unbeaten snapped on Sunday in a 4-1 loss at Notre Dame. Michigan State has been strong defensively behind sophomore goaltender Drew Palmisano, who ranks seventh nationally with a 1.79 goals against average and eighth with a .932 save percentage. Junior Cory Tropp is the team's leading scorer with nine goals and eight assists for 17 points.

Showcase Success
Minnesota has enjoyed plenty of success in the College Hockey Showcase, sharing the best record of any of the four participating teams along with Michigan. The Gophers are 16-11-5 in the 16-year history of the event and 7-2-3 in the last 12 showcase games. Minnesota's .578 winning percentage matches Michigan, which is 18-13-1 in the showcase. Michigan State is 13-13-6 and Wisconsin is 10-20-2. The event has a history of close games with 29 of the 64 games being tied or decided by one goal.

Quality Coaching
This weekend's games will feature three of college hockey's winningest coaches as the trio has combined for 1,975 victories. Michigan State's Rick Comley ranks third among active coaches with 758 wins, while Michigan's Red Berendson is fourth with 678 wins and Minnesota's Don Lucia is fifth with 539 victories. Each coach has also led his teams to two national championships.

Powering Up
Minnesota's power play had a slow start to the 2009-10 season, but has been red hot over the past seven games. The Gophers are 8-for-29 on the power play over the past seven games (27.6 percent) after opening the year 0-for-25 through the first five games. Minnesota has scored power play goals in six of the last seven games.

Killing Them Off
Like the Gophers' power play, the penalty kill has also made significant strides in recent weeks as Minnesota's opponents have scored just four times in their last 39 power play chances after opening the year 7-for-22. Minnesota Duluth was 2-for-11 on the power play in last weekend's series.

Shooting Gallery
Minnesota's 38 shots on goal in Saturday's game with Minnesota Duluth were a season high and the Gophers' 18 shots in the first period marked their most in any period this season. The Gophers have outshot their opponents by a combined 45-28 in the first period over the past four games.

Working Overtime
Junior Alex Kangas allowed a rare overtime goal on Friday against Minnesota Duluth as it was only the fourth time he's lost in 22 career overtime games. His last overtime goal allowed was Minnesota State's shorthanded goal in double overtime in the first game of the 2008 WCHA Playoffs. Since then, he had a streak of 85 minutes and 45 seconds of overtime hockey played without allowing a goal. Kangas entered the game with a 1.09 goals against average and .966 save percentage in overtime during his first two seasons.

Holding On
The Gophers' two losses after holding 2-0 leads last weekend were rarities as Minnesota hadn't lost when holding a two-goal lead since Nov. 30, 2007 when Michigan Tech came back for a 3-2 overtime victory. That game also marked the last time Minnesota lost when leading after two periods as the Gophers were 29-0-5 the last 34 times they took a lead into the final period.

Being Seen
Through 12 games, Minnesota has had the highest average attendance of any team in college hockey. The Gophers' home and away games have averaged 10,777 fans. All of Minnesota's games have been played at the sites of the three teams that traditionally lead the nation in attendance. The Gophers have played eight games at home and two each at Wisconsin and North Dakota. Even the Gophers' next game continues the trend as Michigan ranks fourth in the country in home attendance.

Similar Start
Minnesota fans may recall the 2003-04 season when the Gophers were also 4-7-1 entering the College Hockey Showcase. In fact, they were 2-7-1 to start the season, having also played North Dakota, Denver, Wisconsin and Minnesota Duluth, before reeling off 16-2-2 record over their next 20 games and eventually winning the WCHA Final Five title. Minnesota won at both Michigan State and Michigan during the College Hockey Showcase that season.

[HarleyMC]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Similar Start
Minnesota fans may recall the 2003-04 season when the Gophers were also 4-7-1 entering the College Hockey Showcase. In fact, they were 2-7-1 to start the season, having also played North Dakota, Denver, Wisconsin and Minnesota Duluth, before reeling off 16-2-2 record over their next 20 games and eventually winning the WCHA Final Five title. Minnesota won at both Michigan State and Michigan during the College Hockey Showcase that season.

I don't think we can compare this season's team to 2003-04 at all. This year's team doesn't seem to have the firepower nor the leadership to stage a comeback in a game, much less a season.

[4four4]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Big ten conference is being pushed for hockey by the schools that have the most interest in publicizing their football and basketball programs. This will not do one shred of good for the hockey programs at the big ten schools, it's all about bolstering their basketball and football. In Minnesota's case it will hurt them. Loss of rivalries, in state and out of state (Sue), loss of local audience which means lower revenue, and gophers already have 98% (was 99% until I remembered Mich St game isn't on this Saturday) games televised. Who wants to watch Northwestern, Illinois, Penn State, Iowa (ha ha) play hockey?

I don't understand this post.

[HarleyMC]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Sunday, we got a Sunday off. Went to mass, which was good for my soul. Sunday morning I asked for a little divine intervention. Enough of these pucks going off of us into our own net.

I thought this was interesting. Don Lucia's new secret weapon: "The God Factor". Wait a minute...if Berenson, Eaves and Comley all pray for the same thing, who does God go with?

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

If it's up to Wisconsin's athletic director it will be all about the BTN.

Don't worry Scoob. Remember, there will be a huge lucrative TV contract upon formation of the BTHC.

[Timothy A]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

I thought this was interesting. Don Lucia's new secret weapon: "The God Factor". Wait a minute...if Berenson, Eaves and Comley all pray for the same thing, who does God go with?

Easy answer. Comley looks like a bald Hitler, he's out. tDon was the head of a nasty crime family, he's out. Anyone with the first name of "Red" is a commie, he's out. That only leave Eaves left.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the b11 hockey fans.

[toehimp]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

I have just dated myself.

Did you get any???

[streaker]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Easy answer. Comley looks like a bald Hitler, he's out. tDon was the head of a nasty crime family, he's out. Anyone with the first name of "Red" is a commie, he's out. That only leave Eaves left.

Happy Thanksgiving to all the b11 hockey fans.

Right, and wearing red and white isn't a bit USSR-ish?

[The Rube]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Big ten conference is being pushed for hockey by the schools that have the most interest in publicizing their football and basketball programs. This will not do one shred of good for the hockey programs at the big ten schools, it's all about bolstering their basketball and football. In Minnesota's case it will hurt them. Loss of rivalries, in state and out of state (Sue), loss of local audience which means lower revenue, and gophers already have 98% (was 99% until I remembered Mich St game isn't on this Saturday) games televised. Who wants to watch Northwestern, Illinois, Penn State, Iowa (ha ha) play hockey?

...the hell?

It might hurt the state of MN: SCSU, tUMD, MSU-M, and BSU, but it won't hurt MN the school. And losing the Sioux game? Are you nuts? There's this thing called non-conference schedules, and if you think that MN won't schedule the Sioux, you are drunker than a Cheesehead after a Packers win.

[uofminneandy]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Win loose or draw against UofMich, I hope none of our Gopher players go out for the season!! The Gophers have been brutal to watch, but this team will get better as the season progresses. Big ten of hockey, yawn, yawn, yawn, it will happen when EA sports produces the college hockey video game!!lol

[Timothy A]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Right, and wearing red and white isn't a bit USSR-ish?

I don't hold it against UW that the USSR copied their colors.

[VarsityWisconsin]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Badger lineups for tonight. Good to see that Craig Smith didn't get suspended.

Tentative lineup

F Andy Bohmbach / Blake Geoffrion / Craig Smith

F Derek Lee / Ben Street / Derek Lee

F Jordy Murray / Derek Stepan / Mike Davies

F Ben Grotting / Aaron Bendickson / Patrick Johnson

D Ryan McDonagh / Jake Gardiner

D Brendan Smith / John Ramage

D Cody Goloubef / Justin Schultz

G Brett Bennett

[Driftryder]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Win loose or draw against UofMich, I hope none of our Gopher players go out for the season!!

I forgot about that. The last few years have been costly playing against Michigan with Stoa in 07 and Matson in 08 going down with season ending knee injury's.

[HarleyMC]

Re: 2009 College Hockey Showcase (Minn, Wis, Mich. MSU)

Badger lineups for tonight.

F Derek Lee / Ben Street / Derek Lee

Looks like Mr. Lee will be a busy man.