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Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

Koho said:
My point is that the Gophs have always played an offensive, puck-control type game, and yes, that style doesn't work well in years when the team can't score. But your statement; "Historically the Gophers Achilles heel has been its inability to get the puck in the net", I would guess to most people, implies that they are a team that doesn't have a history of putting up goals. I don't know the stats, but I would bet that the long term average goals per game for the Gophers is higher than most teams in the country. "Achilles heal" implies something to most people that is a weakness that always/regularly exists (hence reference to Bucky in recent years.) (I'm sure Harley could write 3-4 paragraphs on the definition and use of the term 'Achilles Heal' for us.) A team that has a history of scoring problems wouldn't have multiple years as the top scoring team in the WCHA or country. My point being, that if you meant they had problems scoring in their bad years, well I think you could say that about every team that ever existed. If any team lost a lot of games in a season, they typically didn't score a lot.

For this year, they will probably need to make up a lot of scoring lost from last year, because it isn't likely all the young forwards will play as consistently on defense, and the defensive Corp probably took a step down as well with loss of 3 upperclassmen. So if they don't have a good season, it will probably be a combo of reduced scoring and less solid D.
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Sorry, I don't have a clue what an "Achilles Heal" is, but it sounds like a very positive experience.:D

5mn_Major said:
My opinion is that more often than not...when the Gophers stumble, its due to their inability to put the puck in the net. Beyond that, I have no need to discuss that further. Perhaps we do differ on the most likely causes of a tough season though. I think its significantly more likely to come from a lack of scoring than a porous defense.

The Gophers have more seniors on defense than last year and fewer freshmen. Likewise, Wilcox will be a sophomore. So our defense should be adequate (assuming forwards can avoid costly turnovers). On the flipside, we lost 43% of our goals. Wisconsin lost only 19% (with 3 of 4 the remaining B1G schools losing even less). The Gophers are reloading upfront, but that needs to result in goals.

Just an opinion.
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I agree with you Major. To expect freshmen to replace a near 50% scoring loss from guys like Bjugs, Haula, Schmidt, and Budish from last season is anecdotal at best. Statistically, there's ALWAYS a significant drop in freshman scoring compared to a player's previous scoring stats before D1. Despite Thomas Vanek's extraordinary rookie of the year freshman season (31-31-62), he experienced a significant drop in scoring (32%) in transitioning to D1 from his previous MVP season with the Stampede (46-45-91). There's NO statistically significant positive correlation in player scoring between D1 and the USHL. These are two vastly different leagues, with different styles of play and skill levels.

I noted earlier in the offseason that Taylor Cammarata (38-55-93) put up similar numbers to Vanek last season in the USHL. Is Taylor Cammarata the next "Vanek"? I don't think so. Vanek was tenacious in front of the net where he punched in many of his Gs. Cammarata doesn't have near the physical stature (5'7", 156 lbs.) that Vanek had as a freshman at 6'2", 207 lbs. So I suspect unlike Vanek, he'll struggle with the same type of positioning around the net. Moreover, some scouting reports on Cammarata have indicated he's lacking a gritty game to the point where he won't engage at all. We'll have to see how that all plays out over the course of the season, but he's definitely a good puck handler and has excellent hockey instincts and playmaking ability. My expectations for him are conservative (10-15G). Scoring from Kloos, Fasching, Lettieri and Guertler may be less.
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

Snively65 said:
Oops, thanks; I attended both, and got them confused. After UNH got knocked out by Maine in 2002, I was tempted to scalp my NC ticket and go catch a Prairie Home Companion show, but decided to see if Maine could win another instead. Pretty good Gopher team those two years.
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Snively, if you remember correctly (and unfortunately, it haunts me to this day), we got up 1-0 in like 20 seconds v. Maine (Saviano, I think). Then, in a stroke of brilliance, the Maine band started playing the Minnesota fight song, rallying the Excel Center crowd, and a couple hours later we left the building 7-2 losers.

I was with a Michigan fan that day. We went out between games, got PLOWED, and proceeded to watch the Gophs dispatch Michigan.

Maybe the crappiest sporting day I've ever had.

Any insights on Clarkson???
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

tDon talks about this weekend's games:

<div class="ab-player" data-boourl="https://audioboo.fm/boos/1651437-coach-lucia-at-today-s-media-availability/embed" ><a href="https://audioboo.fm/boos/1651437-coach-lucia-at-today-s-media-availability">listen to ‘Coach Lucia at today's media availability’ on Audioboo</a></div><script type="text/javascript">(function() { var po = document.createElement("script"); po.type = "text/javascript"; po.async = true; po.src = "https://d15mj6e6qmt1na.cloudfront.net/assets/embed.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName("script")[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(po, s); })();</script>
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

wildcatdc said:
Snively, if you remember correctly (and unfortunately, it haunts me to this day), we got up 1-0 in like 20 seconds v. Maine (Saviano, I think). Then, in a stroke of brilliance, the Maine band started playing the Minnesota fight song, rallying the Excel Center crowd, and a couple hours later we left the building 7-2 losers.

I was with a Michigan fan that day. We went out between games, got PLOWED, and proceeded to watch the Gophs dispatch Michigan.

Maybe the crappiest sporting day I've ever had.
Click to expand...

You're welcome! :D
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

Does anyone know if there's a way to watch (via TV or online) the Clarkson v. UNH game this Friday?
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

wildcatdc said:
Pretty sure it's on Fox Sports North if you have the sports package on DirecTV
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I'd check that. Looking at FSN's website, it looks like they only have the Gopher game on Friday, and nothing listed for Saturday, but the U's website shows that it will be FSN at 4 or 7, only the Gopher game, though.
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

wildcatdc said:
Snively, if you remember correctly (and unfortunately, it haunts me to this day), we got up 1-0 in like 20 seconds v. Maine (Saviano, I think). Then, in a stroke of brilliance, the Maine band started playing the Minnesota fight song, rallying the Excel Center crowd, and a couple hours later we left the building 7-2 losers.
Click to expand...

Oh, yeah, you had to remind me. Sean Collins scored first, unassisted, 21 seconds into the game, and I am thinking, ok, this should be easy......

But, then Maine ties it about 3 minutes later. Although UNH goes up again with a couple minutes left in the first, and I am now thinking, ok, this may not be easy, but perhaps if Ayers can regroup at intermission and stop fighting the puck, as he seemed to be doing throughout the first, maybe.....but, then two quick ones a couple minutes apart by Pete Metcalf early in the second, and I am beginning to lose confidence in the Cats. Ironically, it was Metcalf's bad penalty in OT that led to Potulny's (sp?) GW PPG. NC game winners two years in a row by the only non-Minnesotan on the two teams.
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

The Mercyhurst Lakers finished 19-17-5 and one game shy of claiming a conference championship and NCAA Tournament berth a season ago. Coach Rick Gotkin and the Lakers come into this weekend fired up and all business about capturing the AHA title and an NCAA playoff berth. Article.

The non-conference schedule, which traditionally has taken the Lakers to cavernous venues like Mariucci to play ranked teams in front of large, hostile crowds, prepares this team to work their way through the evenly matched AHA and reach the ultimate goal -- a conference championship and NCAA playoff berth. Along the way, the Lakers often have given those higher-profile teams a battle in those non-conference games. They even have won a game or two. They want to do more than that this time around. Imagine the momentum those wins would provide them heading into the conference schedule. "I feel this is the year we can put it all together," senior forward and alternate captain Daniel O'Donoghue said. For that to happen, Gotkin said, his Lakers need to consistently improve and stay healthy. "It's important that we're good this year, and I think we're going to be good," he said. "We potentially could do some great things this year."
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Mercyhurst dropped its preseason exhibition to the Guelph Gryphons 4-3 last Tuesday on a late 3rd period goal despite outshooting Guelph 45-18. Tonight's tilt at Mariucci promises to showcase lots of offense as both teams like to fire lots of pucks on net. Adam Wilcox and the Gopher D will be tested as the Lakers return 5/6 top goal scorers this season, losing only 5 seniors total from last year's squad. This should be a very entertaining game to start the 2013-14 Gopher hockey season.

Let's get this party started...Go Gophers! :)
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

Help - having a StubHub ticketing debacle. Got the wrong tickets for today, and I'm not entirely sure about tomorrow. Here's the situation:

First: Bought four tickets for the 4pm game today, seller sent me four tickets for Mercyhurst/Minnesota ("Game 2", it says on the ticket). Probably going to be able to fix this, but I may have 4 tix, on the glass in Section 19, for you Gophs fans. I am assuming Game 2 is in fact the 7pm game, right? No tricky math at the "U", is there?

Second: My tickets for TOMORROW (same seller, same seats) say "Game 3" on them. The tickets say Minnesota vs. Clarkson/New Hampshire. Again, I am ASSUMING that these are for the finals, but they also don't specify a time (when I bought them on StubHub, the SITE said 7pm). I got confused because the consolation game is at 4pm tomorrow, which is in fact the 3rd game in the tournament. Wait, now I'm confusing myself, because I may be holding the wrong tix for tomorrow too.

Can anybody shed a little light here?

OR... Is the "Game 2" ticket for ALL of Friday, and the "Game 3", for all of Saturday?? Oi vey.
 
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Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

wildcatdc said:
Help - having a StubHub ticketing debacle. Got the wrong tickets for today, and I'm not entirely sure about tomorrow. Here's the situation:

First: Bought four tickets for the 4pm game today, seller sent me four tickets for Mercyhurst/Minnesota ("Game 2", it says on the ticket). Probably going to be able to fix this, but I may have 4 tix, on the glass in Section 19, for you Gophs fans. I am assuming Game 2 is in fact the 7pm game, right? No tricky math at the "U", is there?

Second: My tickets for TOMORROW (same seller, same seats) say "Game 3" on them. The tickets say Minnesota vs. Clarkson/New Hampshire. Again, I am ASSUMING that these are for the finals, but they also don't specify a time (when I bought them on StubHub, the SITE said 7pm). I got confused because the consolation game is at 4pm tomorrow, which is in fact the 3rd game in the tournament. Wait, now I'm confusing myself, because I may be holding the wrong tix for tomorrow too.

Can anybody shed a little light here?

OR... Is the "Game 2" ticket for ALL of Friday, and the "Game 3", for all of Saturday?? Oi vey.
Click to expand...

I am not certain, but I believe there is just one session both days so I think your tickets are good. Call the ticket office after 9 AM CDT, 612-624-8080 and make sure. I just don't know why they would label the tickets the way they did. I only got one ticket for each day and they say I can't leave and re-enter the arena.
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

wildcatdc said:
Help - having a StubHub ticketing debacle. Got the wrong tickets for today, and I'm not entirely sure about tomorrow. Here's the situation:

First: Bought four tickets for the 4pm game today, seller sent me four tickets for Mercyhurst/Minnesota ("Game 2", it says on the ticket). Probably going to be able to fix this, but I may have 4 tix, on the glass in Section 19, for you Gophs fans. I am assuming Game 2 is in fact the 7pm game, right? No tricky math at the "U", is there?

Second: My tickets for TOMORROW (same seller, same seats) say "Game 3" on them. The tickets say Minnesota vs. Clarkson/New Hampshire. Again, I am ASSUMING that these are for the finals, but they also don't specify a time (when I bought them on StubHub, the SITE said 7pm). I got confused because the consolation game is at 4pm tomorrow, which is in fact the 3rd game in the tournament. Wait, now I'm confusing myself, because I may be holding the wrong tix for tomorrow too.

Can anybody shed a little light here?

OR... Is the "Game 2" ticket for ALL of Friday, and the "Game 3", for all of Saturday?? Oi vey.
Click to expand...

They're using a true championship format for the weekend. Therefore, tickets for each day are valid for both games although Mariucci enforces a no reentry policy, so once you're inside you can't leave and reenter on the same ticket. No worries...you can use your tickets for ALL of Friday and ALL of Saturday's games. :)

Game One: New Hampshire vs. Clarkson
Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 11 (4 p.m. CT)

Game Two: Minnesota vs. Mercyhurst
Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 11 (7:10 p.m. CT)

Consolation: Loser of Game One vs. Loser of Game Two
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 12 (4 p.m. CT)

Championship: Winner of Game One vs. Winner of Game Two
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 12 (7 p.m. CT)
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

Thanks guys! Appreciate the insights. Good luck tonight, hope to see y'all in the 7pm game tomorrow.
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

HarleyMC said:
They're using a true championship format for the weekend. Therefore, tickets for each day are valid for both games although Mariucci enforces a no reentry policy, so once you're inside you can't leave and reenter on the same ticket. No worries...you can use your tickets for ALL of Friday and ALL of Saturday's games. :)

Game One: New Hampshire vs. Clarkson
Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 11 (4 p.m. CT)

Game Two: Minnesota vs. Mercyhurst
Date/Time: Friday, Oct. 11 (7:10 p.m. CT)

Consolation: Loser of Game One vs. Loser of Game Two
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 12 (4 p.m. CT)

Championship: Winner of Game One vs. Winner of Game Two
Date/Time: Saturday, Oct. 12 (7 p.m. CT)
Click to expand...
Isn't Minnesota playing the late game, regardless of what happens tonight?
 
Re: Ice Breaker Tournament: Clarkson vs. New Hampshire & Mercyhurst vs. Minnesota

joecct said:
Isn't Minnesota playing the late game, regardless of what happens tonight?
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That would be the case with the Mariucci Classic in early January.

The Ice Breaker Tournament uses a true championship format, meaning the losers of Friday's games will play on Saturday at 4 p.m. while the winners will face off in a championship game at 7 p.m.
Click to expand...

- Gopher Sports
 
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