2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

[Slap Shot]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

Of course you do. Unless you're a fan of Gopher Hockey and absolutely nothing else, you know what it's like to cheer for an underdog. And when your underdog pulls off a big upset, you take note of the favorite's reaction. The classiest ones tip their hats and move on. In the middle are those who excessively blame their own shortcomings, rather than giving the opponent credit. The worst are those who make whiney excuses and just try to pee on the parade. Most of the posts I'm commenting on are a variation on the middle category. A legitimate disagreement on the rules is employed as a means to avoid giving an opponent credit.

This claim only holds water if the accused would conversely refer to coming out ahead of a SO a win rather than a tie. I think you're splitting hairs in either case and your accusation comes across quite Jan Brady-like.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

I was a little puzzled at a couple of the shooters Minnesota sent out in that shootout vs. UMD.

you're having a bad week

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

Lots of flashbacks tonight.

In addition to Coach Halldorson I also noticed former AD Maturi in the concourse.

At one point there between the second and third periods and then into the start of the third it seemed like everywhere I looked I saw Kelly Terry. Outside the First Aid room, then over on the other side chatting with some people she must have known, eventually in the Zamboni tunnel at the start of the third period.

And Bethany Brausen.

Baylee's parents were there and although I don't know if this is true but based on the reactions of the various people involved that must have been her sister (she went to Clarkson you know).

I could not help but notice that for the second year in a row UND seems to be completely out of Lams. But even without Mo and Jo they still have some very dangerous firepower. That Kohler kid is not only very big, she is very good. As is Jakobsen, both big and good. I thought the Shakopee kid, Menke, had a good game.

But for the Gophers Leveille was fantastic. She may never achieve the status of Noora who was a very clear "none shall pass" kind of goaltender. But she looks to me to be absolutely in the "very few shall pass" category.

And at least two or three of the frosh are starting to look like they belong.

Piazza, big goal. Big, big goal.

And both Pannek and Baldwin seem to be playing with more confidence.

Let's load 'em up and do it again at 4pm tomorrow.

 

[ARM]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

A sourpuss might say that Gopher Football's reaction to beating a weakened Michigan team was over the top, and that Minnesota should be embarrassed by being so easily impressed. The sourpuss would be wrong. A long drought was over, and Gopher Football had every right to celebrate the return of the Little Brown Jug.

We aren't talking Minnesota and Michigan in football; we are talking Michigan and Ohio State. UMD was an equal this decade, not before I started elementary school.

Then deal with the reality of the agreed upon rules, and put in the work needed to get better at shootouts.

At this time of the year, there are far more important things to work on.

I certainly agree with you that ties are a problem for a national contender, regardless of the shootout results. But can't you see that, in context, this actually supports my position?

Part of the problem with addressing an entire fan base as one is it assumes we all have the same position. Ties hurt; I never disputed that. In my opinion, and it is my opinion only, the pain is roughly the same whether or not my team comes out on top in the SO, and I've experienced both about an equal amount over the years. The drive home may feel better after the SO win, but come Monday morning, the PWR doesn't care. Beyond that, I'll agree to disagree.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

...I think you're splitting hairs in either case and your accusation comes across quite Jan Brady-like.

No doubt you giggled when typing this, thinking I'd be desperately offended. But I really have no reason to be. In the world of Women's Hockey, OSU has done a little better overall than St. Cloud, but the gap isn't huge. Big picture, we're in the same boat. Good teams in a great league, but part of a group of schools that haven't cracked the top three. It is what it is.

As an OSU Football fan, I clearly understand what it's like to be "Marsha." My complaint is that despite GWH's fantastic track record, some here aren't fully onboard. When your team goes on long winning streaks and wins multiple championships, you can afford to be gracious when small bits of adversity come around. Becoming defensive and trying to spoil the moment for the underdog simply doesn't live up the standards of a champion.

Splitting hairs? No, there's an important lesson here. But in trying to fully respond to four people at once did I provide too much detail and confuse the issue? Probably guilty on that count.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

We aren't talking Minnesota and Michigan in football; we are talking Michigan and Ohio State. UMD was an equal this decade, not before I started elementary school.

Well geez. I was just trying to pick an example that was familiar to all.

But you know what? Despite your objection, I still think the example works. It must be remembered that a varsity career has a "lifespan" of 4-5 seasons. Since most hockey players don't redshirt, the usual number is four. Anything outside of that career lifespan seems like ancient history to the current players. Appreciation for the program's history doesn't really kick in until after graduation.

Prior to UMD's recent shootout win, UMD had beaten Minnesota 1 time in 15 tries, dating back to 2012-13. That would be the experience of the current Bulldog seniors. The rest of the squad had NEVER beaten the Gophers. And yet somehow that team should be embarrassed for celebrating? Nonsense. As with the Little Brown Jug example, it "seemed like forever" since the last win -- from the players' perspective.

As for the rest, I'm fine with agreeing to disagree. In truth, we're kind of talking past each other because we're framing the issue so differently.

 

[Golden Tuuk]

I hope you are not questioning the management of Team USA
they know what they are doing
and have 4 silver Olympic medals to prove it1

Is this sarcasm? You know silver is the losers medal.


Also, do I read correctly Minnesota will have a Canadian national team player? Someone wants to use our system to get better and then play against us in the biggest game in the women's hockey world?

 

[Cali]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

Is this sarcasm? You know silver is the losers medal.


Also, do I read correctly Minnesota will have a Canadian national team player? Someone wants to use our system to get better and then play against us in the biggest game in the women's hockey world?

Or, Minnesota wants to take a player that was developed in a Canadian system to make themselves better in the WCHA.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

Or, Minnesota wants to take a player that was developed in a Canadian system to make themselves better in the WCHA.

Not quite sure where to go with this response. I only quoted Cali since it was the latest response, but I agree with the opinion.

The Gophers have had numerous players who have been on a Canadian national team at any point -- the display is posted at Ridder if there's any question. This includes current #1 goaltender Amanda Leveille. And Kelly Terry is on this year's Canadian 4 Nations roster; quoting from another Gopher fan, we'd love to see Kelly get a hat trick in a 4-3 USA win.

 

[Eeyore]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

Also, do I read correctly Minnesota will have a Canadian national team player? Someone wants to use our system to get better and then play against us in the biggest game in the women's hockey world?

I think you may be taking this a bit too seriously.

 

[Eeyore]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

The irony is I actually agree with your home run derby characterization. Be assured that if it were my decision alone, I'd drop the shootout from the rulebook. But it's also important to deal with reality. The shootout has been with us for years; it counts for points in the standings; and there's no indication it's going away anytime soon. Stick your head in the sand if you want. But being an ostrich is not a redeeming quality.

I don't really care what the rest of the world thinks is a win and a loss. If everyone else wants to be wrong, that's their decision but I'm not going to join them. I am only talking about what I consider to be a win or a loss. To me, a shootout does not have any relevance to deciding which team played a better hockey game. It's a completely different, non-hockey contest that happens to involve skates and a puck. As such, I give it zero weight in forming my personal opinion of wins and losses.

A part of it is that I find Americans' abhorrence of ties both inexplicable and idiotic. Sometimes you play a game and both teams are so evenly matched that it would be unjust to declare either of them to be the winner. Coming up with a stupid contrivance to "settle" things just because a lot of people can't deal with that is an exercise in which I will not participate.

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

Wait.

pgb is claiming that Ohio State had a win against Minnesota last year?

No. Ohio State had a shootout win.

No one calls that a win.

It was a SHOOTOUT win. The hockey game ended in a tie. That's why they had a shootout.

And congratulations on the shootout win by the way, it's way better than a loss. But only every so slightly better than a shootout loss. Celebrate if you want but I bet you would celebrate a lot more with a win.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

I can understand USU being jubilant after their SO win last year, after all, they had been down one goal late and ended up tying it and then got the bonus point in the SO
When you come from behind to tie or win, that's always reason to feel good

But in UMD's case they squandered a 2 goal lead, so if their celebration over the SO win was anything other than “we made amends for blowing our lead” it’s no wonder they are the 4th place team.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

Also, do I read correctly Minnesota will have a Canadian national team player? Someone wants to use our system to get better and then play against us in the biggest game in the women's hockey world?

Or, Minnesota wants to take a player that was developed in a Canadian system to make themselves better in the WCHA.

…and then there are the 2 Gophers from Finland who beat Team USA.
I kinda enjoyed that.
If Kelly Terry gets a hat trick there will be a lot of happy Gopher fans even if it beats Team USA.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

North Dakota found out today there was an oil train coming through and they were standing on the track.

Choo-choo... choo-choo baby.

 

[Eeyore]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

If Kelly Terry gets a hat trick there will be a lot of happy Gopher fans even if it beats Team USA.

Well, yeah. I might need her to save my life at some game this year.

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

North Dakota found out today there was an oil train coming through and they were standing on the track.

The Gophers were coming off a huge sweep last weekend over the red menace. It is hard to keep the level of intensity that they displayed last weekend going for another series a week later. But then North Dakota definitely did enough on Friday night to get the Gophers' attention.

Properly focused by the Friday game the Gophers on Saturday produced one of the best games ever played by most of the players currently wearing the Minnesota sweater. North Dakota found themselves on the wrong end of the swing.

 

[D2D]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

The Gophers were coming off a huge sweep last weekend over the red menace. It is hard to keep the level of intensity that they displayed last weekend going for another series a week later. But then North Dakota definitely did enough on Friday night to get the Gophers' attention.

Properly focused by the Friday game the Gophers on Saturday produced one of the best games ever played by most of the players currently wearing the Minnesota sweater. North Dakota found themselves on the wrong end of the swing.

I honestly don't think there's another team in the land (even BC! ) that could have withstood the Gopher's assault in today's game. If they find the same level of consistent effort as they displayed in Saturday's rematch this will be a very difficult team for anyone (even BC! ) to beat.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

Wait.

pgb is claiming that Ohio State had a win against Minnesota last year?

No. Ohio State had a shootout win.

I didn't intend to say anything to the contrary. Went back through the conversation looking for a drafting error. Didn't find any such error. The false accusation is pretty disappointing.

No one calls that a win.

3 Points > 2 Points, period. No confusion on this point.

It was a SHOOTOUT win. The hockey game ended in a tie. That's why they had a shootout.

And congratulations on the shootout win by the way, it's way better than a loss. But only every so slightly better than a shootout loss.

It's exactly 2 points better than a loss, and exactly 1 point better than a shootout loss. To borrow a popular phrase: Simple Math.

Celebrate if you want but I bet you would celebrate a lot more with a win.

Celebration depends totally on context. Consider:

Our Football team played at Penn State earlier tonight. Strangely enough, the game played out much like the hockey shootouts we've been talking about. The NCAA will be giving OSU full credit for a win. We sure don't deserve it, but will accept it as per the agreed upon rules. We played a decent first half, then were absolutely horrible in the second. At the same time, the gutsy Penn State team deserves a lot of credit for playing us to a draw. In the 25 yard mini-game, our guys got up off the mat and won the extra session. That did show character, and I'm grateful for it. But as far as I'm concerned, the only appropriate emotion for Buckeye fans was relief. Nothing to celebrate.

In contrast, had Penn State won the mini-game, there would have been a huge celebration, and deservedly so. Penn State Football's status as a underdog may wind up being short-lived, but they certainly are an underdog at this point in time.

Celebrating as a favorite is one thing. Celebrating as an underdog is fundamentally different. Each role has its own emotions and rewards. Why is this so hard to understand?

 

[KTDC]

Re: 2014-2015 Minnesota Women's Hockey: The Maroon & Gold Strike Back!

Attendance of 2496 is best regular season attendance since the streak. Great to see.

Missed Nadine Muzerall both nights, but it was cool to see Kelly Terry behind the bench on Saturday!