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Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage: 11/9-11/10

Re: Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage: 11/9-11/10

Having played only six games there really is precious little to go by in terms of what sort of game the Seawolves are likely to play this weekend. As I see it they've really only played one good game (the 3-3 tie against UND). The rest have been spotty. This is a retooled squad essentially. In the good game they did learn that with solid goaltending that they are capable of getting up and down the ice with anyone. The fundamentals have mostly been good but getting rubber to the net hasn't been stellar.

This is pretty clearly a team that has had the most success when they've been counterattacking and opportunistic. 4 shorthanded goals in just 6 games isn't anything at which one sneezes. The power play hasn't been good. The defense has looked sound with minimal mistakes with three veterans and three rookies. #37 freshman Chris Williams has been stellar on the back end. On offense #9 freshman Blake Tatchell has had a real nice start, he's skilled, quick and has excellent ice sense. Scoring has been mostly by committee with sophomore Scott Allen in a nice early season groove leading the way with 4 goals.

If they have the confidence to play a skating game and the energy to maintain that through the weekend then there's no reason to think they can't do better than just two points. But they are going to have to have a good first period Friday after the bye week and come out really ready to play and put in the proper effort. If they falter early for any reason then it could be a long weekend for the Seawolves and an enjoyable plane ride home for the golden showers.
 
Re: Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage: 11/9-11/10

Could this be Minnesota's last trip to Alaska for a long, long time....maybe its last ever?
 
Re: Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage: 11/9-11/10

D2D said:
Could this be Minnesota's last trip to Alaska for a long, long time....maybe its last ever?
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Even if they avoid a sweep and split, Minnesota might just be forced to fold its hockey program altogether pursuant to a little known Anti-shame covenant signed by H Brooks and unnamed UMinn officials way back when the program really was something. Reportedly, Brooks saw the early signs of decay and wanted desperately to protect his legacy, so he insisted that if the Gophers were what he called "pitiful" for four of any five consecutive years, the program would terminate without notice and the players would be free to transfer to a real hockey program. The only person known to have seen the actual document, besides the surviving UMinn officials, is Zach Parise, who called it a "game changer" for him. Only one gopher fan, Scooby Dioux, saw it coming.
 
Re: Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage: 11/9-11/10

Squarebanks said:
Considering Lucia's history in Fairbanks and Anchorage, I doubt this will be the Gophers' last trip to Alaska.
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Could be, but the Gophers will have no problem arranging non-conference opponents. I read that they won't even play North Dakota, possibly their biggest rival, for at least four years. They are committed to playing the other four Minnesota-based schools each and every year, so there isn't much room on their schedule to play other teams.
 
Re: Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage: 11/9-11/10

So will this be double your pleasure, double your fun with more Canisius style TRAP CRAP?
 
Re: Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage: 11/9-11/10

D2D said:
Could be, but the Gophers will have no problem arranging non-conference opponents. I read that they won't even play North Dakota, possibly their biggest rival, for at least four years. They are committed to playing the other four Minnesota-based schools each and every year, so there isn't much room on their schedule to play other teams.
Click to expand...

Considering the two extra games the Gophers would get from a trip to Alaska, I'm betting they would jump at a chance to take a road trip to Anchorage or _airbanks. Two games is a lot of revenue for the Gophers.
 
Re: Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage: 11/9-11/10

Suze said:
Considering the two extra games the Gophers would get from a trip to Alaska, I'm betting they would jump at a chance to take a road trip to Anchorage or _airbanks. Two games is a lot of revenue for the Gophers.
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I'd expect this to be true, at least every now and then. If they go up to one of those early-season weekends, it's basically free games. So I'd guess it comes down to how often they are invited, and how often they get other exempted games on their schedule.

As far as this weekend, I'm fully expecting the Gophers to come out with purpose. They've split 2 series already this year that I'm sure they feel they shouldn't have split. If there isn't a sense of urgency this weekend, then I'll start getting a little concerned.

I haven't seen enough of Anchorage this year to say whether or not this sense of urgency will necessarily translate to a sweep. But I do think MN will come ready to play, and will really turn the screws on the Seawolves.
 
Re: Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage: 11/9-11/10

Suze said:
Considering the two extra games the Gophers would get from a trip to Alaska, I'm betting they would jump at a chance to take a road trip to Anchorage or _airbanks. Two games is a lot of revenue for the Gophers.
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Thanks, I completely forgot about the exemption for playing up there. That changes everything.
 
Re: Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage: 11/9-11/10

Last year for the Gophers, a sweep in Anchorage propelled them into a sweep the next weekend at home against arch rival UND. Let's hope for more of the same this season as the Gophers return home the following weekend to play rival Wisconsin.
 
Re: Minnesota @ Alaska Anchorage: 11/9-11/10

gopher wes said:
Last year for the Gophers, a sweep in Anchorage propelled them into a sweep the next weekend at home against arch rival UND. Let's hope for more of the same this season as the Gophers return home the following weekend to play rival Wisconsin.
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I like that idea.
 
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