2015 Hall of Fame game - Vermont @ Minnesota 10/10/15

[HarleyMC]

Re: 2015 Hall of Fame game - Vermont @ Minnesota 10/10/15

The Gophers had a full week of practice instead of playing the traditional early exhibition game:

"It seemed like some of these exhibition games have been kind of lopsided, out-shooting somebody 45-15. I don't know how much that does for you," Lucia said. "You don't get any practice time. I just felt that maybe we would get more benefit out of practice."

With a full week of practice, the Gophers appear to be going with Gates/Kloos/Fasching on the first line. Brent Gates Jr., an 18 year old freshman, has good puck handling skills. According to the practice line sets we could see: 2nd line: Cammarata/Sheehy/C. Reilly, 3rd line: Bristedt/Novak/Lettieri and 4th line: Michealson or Ramsey or R. Reilly/Romanko/?

The Catamounts with 9 FR will be a good opening challenge for the equally young Gopher squad. I would expect to see Santaguida in net who posted a respectable 2.08 GAA and .923 SV% last season. In front of him defensemen like ex-Boston University D Alexx Privitera and offensive minded FR D Mike Lee from the Penticton Vees are players to watch on the backline. Up front former Hockey East Rookie of the Year Mario Puskarich and returning 19 goal scorer last season JR Brady Shaw are expected to help lead the offensive surge for the Catamounts this season.

I would expect to see Schierhorn, possibly Lehr as well sharing duties between the pipes for the Gophers. With home ice advantage and having the edge with their speed game and talent, I've got the Gophers as the favorite for the W in their season opener. Go Gophers!

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: 2015 Hall of Fame game - Vermont @ Minnesota 10/10/15

I thought they moved Vinni to C, but I could have that wrong.

It's game day!

 

[Koho]

Re: 2015 Hall of Fame game - Vermont @ Minnesota 10/10/15

Good questions and you're not the only one wondering about the details behind the marquee. If there is anything special being held on Sat. to commemorate the event, I haven't seen it. IMO this event could use a strong dose of marketing expertise as it does not appear to be marketed very well.

This is essentially a fund raising event for the non-profit "U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame" in Eveleth, MN, not to be confused with the "NHL Hall of Fame" in Toronto, CA. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame honors only Americans for their contribution to hockey in the United States. As a non-profit organization, the US Hockey HOF generates its income from private donations, grants, fund raising events, and sponsorships from USA Hockey, the Minnesota Wild and others.

There is also a Women's Hockey Hall of Fame Face-Off College Game involving the University of Minnesota vs. St. Cloud State University @ Roseville Ice Arena, St. Paul, MN, December 11, 2015. The actual U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will take place this year in Boston, MA, December 17.

U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Enshrinees since 1973.

I remember attending a Hall of Fame game of the Gophers years ago that was held either in Eveleth or the Hibbing Hippodrome, so at least one year it was held near the US Hockey Hall of Fame.

 

[The Rube]

Re: 2015 Hall of Fame game - Vermont @ Minnesota 10/10/15

MN wins, 28905-2. Rookie goalie is totally a sieve.

/tArrogance

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: 2015 Hall of Fame game - Vermont @ Minnesota 10/10/15

MN wins, 28905-2. Rookie goalie is totally a sieve.

/tArrogance

<img src="http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmpr/images/dayinthelife11/uvmrescue.jpg" class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 57px;" height="280" width="420">​

 

[Happy]

Re: 2015 Hall of Fame game - Vermont @ Minnesota 10/10/15

Ok, I'll ask....

Why a Hall of Fame game? The inductions are not on Saturday, correct?
Is there any pomp or circumstance surrounding this game? Any hall of famers going to be there or anything?
I am excited for the out of conf matchup and all, just wonderin'!

Isn't this an extra game, allowing both teams to have a game over the NCAA limit?

 

[Bonin21]

Re: 2015 Hall of Fame game - Vermont @ Minnesota 10/10/15

It is an "extra" game, ya.

 

[Cat lover]

Re: 2015 Hall of Fame game - Vermont @ Minnesota 10/10/15

<img src="http://www.uvm.edu/~uvmpr/images/dayinthelife11/uvmrescue.jpg" class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 57px;" height="280" width="420">​

Maybe that should be Santa & Mario to the Rescue.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: 2015 Hall of Fame game - Vermont @ Minnesota 10/10/15

Maybe that should be Santa & Mario to the Rescue.

True...Santa came early for you guys. Super Mario had some good bounces, but nothing spectacular as it looked like Schierhorn batted the first one in and the rebound on the second took a very funny bounce.

Gophers didn't play well at all and laid a big egg tonight losing their home opener 3 zip to a tenacious, hard skating UVM team. Credit the Catamounts, who played hard for 60 min. as a team, were strong on the forecheck and plugged the neutral zone well. Santa was very good in net, but arguably not tested by the typical Gopher barrage of shots/game. Gopher PP last season was #1 in the nation, tonight was 0-4.

Both teams came out with energy from the puck drop with strong pace and physicality. But the chemistry clearly wasn't there for the Gophers on the top 2 lines tonight, which led Lucia to dump Gates off the 1st in the 2nd period and bring C. Reilly up. Kloos was the dominant player on offense, but didn't get the supporting cast he needed to bury a goal. Schierhorn made good saves when needed, but the D seemed too porous tonight, letting VM launch far too many scoring chances.

Scoring chances were few by comparison for the Gophers. Passing at times was off target and led to 2X as many turnovers as UVM. The game was punctuated with numerous FR mistakes in the transition zone while trying to do too much rather than taking care of the puck. Lots of work to do on this team if the Gophers expect to hang any banners this season.

 

[Hoser]

Re: 2015 Hall of Fame game - Vermont @ Minnesota 10/10/15

True...Santa came early for you guys. Super Mario had some good bounces, but nothing spectacular as it looked like Schierhorn batted the first one in and the rebound on the second took a very funny bounce.

Gophers didn't play well at all and laid a big egg tonight losing their home opener 3 zip to a tenacious, hard skating UVM team. Credit the Catamounts, who played hard for 60 min. as a team, were strong on the forecheck and plugged the neutral zone well. Santa was very good in net, but arguably not tested by the typical Gopher barrage of shots/game. Gopher PP last season was #1 in the nation, tonight was 0-4.

Both teams came out with energy from the puck drop with strong pace and physicality. But the chemistry clearly wasn't there for the Gophers on the top 2 lines tonight, which led Lucia to dump Gates off the 1st in the 2nd period and bring C. Reilly up. Kloos was the dominant player on offense, but didn't get the supporting cast he needed to bury a goal. Schierhorn made good saves when needed, but the D seemed too porous tonight, letting VM launch far too many scoring chances.

Scoring chances were few by comparison for the Gophers. Passing at times was off target and led to 2X as many turnovers as UVM. The game was punctuated with numerous FR mistakes in the transition zone while trying to do too much rather than taking care of the puck. Lots of work to do on this team if the Gophers expect to hang any banners this season.

As a Vermont fan who got to watch the broadcast, I would suggest that all is not lost in Minnesota. The reality is that the Gophers had at least 6 to 8 shots on great scoring chances go wide. Wide means no rebound and no ability to out muscle the rather small UVM defence. I am sure as the season goes on many of those shots will either go in or on net and goals will be scored.
Good luck.