USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
- Thread starter The Rube
- Start date
ScoobyFanClub
Registered User
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
Has nothing to do with liking it or not - there are NCAA limits - which is 34, unless you have exemptions. Minnesota used to get exemptions for playing at Anchorage - which they don't do anymore.
Has nothing to do with liking it or not - there are NCAA limits - which is 34, unless you have exemptions. Minnesota used to get exemptions for playing at Anchorage - which they don't do anymore.
St. Clown
Ideas Posted are Likely Not My Own
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
Remember when people could laugh at silly little things around here? Pepperidge Farms doesn't remember that either.
Remember when people could laugh at silly little things around here? Pepperidge Farms doesn't remember that either.
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
Some in season tournaments are also exempt which is why the Gophers played 36 games only three seasons ago before the NSCC was cancelled. I'd like to see that return to the schedule as an annual MN tourney and keep the Mariucci Classic open for NC games with good teams from other conferences.
EDIT:
Not at all hockey related, but I was humbled once again by the remembrance of the unbelievable courage and determination of the thousands of brave young soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy in the largest sea invasion in history seventy-five years ago on June 6, 1944 to combat tyranny and secure the freedom we all enjoy today. There was little chance of survival and many never returned. I had to watch this clip from Saving Private Ryan one more time.
Some in season tournaments are also exempt which is why the Gophers played 36 games only three seasons ago before the NSCC was cancelled. I'd like to see that return to the schedule as an annual MN tourney and keep the Mariucci Classic open for NC games with good teams from other conferences.
EDIT:
Not at all hockey related, but I was humbled once again by the remembrance of the unbelievable courage and determination of the thousands of brave young soldiers who stormed the beaches of Normandy in the largest sea invasion in history seventy-five years ago on June 6, 1944 to combat tyranny and secure the freedom we all enjoy today. There was little chance of survival and many never returned. I had to watch this clip from Saving Private Ryan one more time.
Last edited:
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
Notes from the Star Tribune's Randy Johnson on the upcoming Gophers' schedule:
Gophers schedule has a strong WCHA flavor, and that should be welcome news for fans
"If you’re a Gophers hockey fan who longs for the good old days of Minnesota in the WCHA, the news you received in your email box on Tuesday should make you happy. The Gophers announced their schedule for the 2019-20 season, and it’s downright WCHA-like.
The 34-game slate includes 24 Big Ten contests, of course, and the league that everybody loves to hate isn’t going away. But it’s the nonconference portion that should catch your attention. Eight of the 10 nonconference games are against former WCHA opponents.
That starts with the season-opening series at Colorado College on Oct. 11-12, which will mark the Gophers’ first visit to Colorado Springs since 2012. Not a bad trip if you can make it.
The Gophers will get a stiff challenge to close October, with a home-and-home series against Minnesota Duluth. Last year, Minnesota fared well against UMD, with a 1-1 tie in the Bulldogs’ NCAA banner-raising night and a 7-4 romp in Minneapolis a day later.
You want more games against Minnesota teams? You got it in the Mariucci Classic on Dec. 28-29. The Gophers open with Bemidji State in this Saturday-Sunday tourney and will play either St. Cloud State or Minnesota State in their second game. This brings back memories of the North Star College Cup that was played at Xcel Energy Center from 2014 to ’17. It’ll be interesting to see if the Gophers can continue the all-Minnesota format.
With apologies to the two-time defending NCAA champions from Duluth, the highlight of the Gophers’ schedule is the Nov. 28-29 visit from North Dakota. The Gophers-UND rivalry took a big hit when Minnesota was dragged into the Big Ten, and it’s not the same as it once was. Still, it should be played annually, just for the emotion and truculence it delivers.
The Gophers-UND series opener is on Thanksgiving, and that is certain to raise eyebrows. Sure, some won’t like hockey conflicting with the holiday and student attendance might suffer, but the reasoning makes sense. The Thursday-Friday format gives the series its own stage and it avoids the parking nightmares of playing that Saturday, the day the Gophers football team is host to Wisconsin at TCF Bank Stadium. College football rivalries often are played on Thanksgiving or Black Friday. Maybe that can work with college hockey.
Coach Bob Motzko will have a young team this season, and it’ll be tested early. After the home-opening series against Niagara on Oct. 18-19, the Gophers have a daunting six-week stretch against Minnesota Duluth, Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin and North Dakota, with all but the Michigan series at home. Those opponents have combined for 26 NCAA championships, including three of the past four.
Old WCHA rivals, in-state matchups and, most important, North Dakota visiting Mariucci. There’s a lot to like with this schedule."
Notes from the Star Tribune's Randy Johnson on the upcoming Gophers' schedule:
Gophers schedule has a strong WCHA flavor, and that should be welcome news for fans
"If you’re a Gophers hockey fan who longs for the good old days of Minnesota in the WCHA, the news you received in your email box on Tuesday should make you happy. The Gophers announced their schedule for the 2019-20 season, and it’s downright WCHA-like.
The 34-game slate includes 24 Big Ten contests, of course, and the league that everybody loves to hate isn’t going away. But it’s the nonconference portion that should catch your attention. Eight of the 10 nonconference games are against former WCHA opponents.
That starts with the season-opening series at Colorado College on Oct. 11-12, which will mark the Gophers’ first visit to Colorado Springs since 2012. Not a bad trip if you can make it.
The Gophers will get a stiff challenge to close October, with a home-and-home series against Minnesota Duluth. Last year, Minnesota fared well against UMD, with a 1-1 tie in the Bulldogs’ NCAA banner-raising night and a 7-4 romp in Minneapolis a day later.
You want more games against Minnesota teams? You got it in the Mariucci Classic on Dec. 28-29. The Gophers open with Bemidji State in this Saturday-Sunday tourney and will play either St. Cloud State or Minnesota State in their second game. This brings back memories of the North Star College Cup that was played at Xcel Energy Center from 2014 to ’17. It’ll be interesting to see if the Gophers can continue the all-Minnesota format.
With apologies to the two-time defending NCAA champions from Duluth, the highlight of the Gophers’ schedule is the Nov. 28-29 visit from North Dakota. The Gophers-UND rivalry took a big hit when Minnesota was dragged into the Big Ten, and it’s not the same as it once was. Still, it should be played annually, just for the emotion and truculence it delivers.
The Gophers-UND series opener is on Thanksgiving, and that is certain to raise eyebrows. Sure, some won’t like hockey conflicting with the holiday and student attendance might suffer, but the reasoning makes sense. The Thursday-Friday format gives the series its own stage and it avoids the parking nightmares of playing that Saturday, the day the Gophers football team is host to Wisconsin at TCF Bank Stadium. College football rivalries often are played on Thanksgiving or Black Friday. Maybe that can work with college hockey.
Coach Bob Motzko will have a young team this season, and it’ll be tested early. After the home-opening series against Niagara on Oct. 18-19, the Gophers have a daunting six-week stretch against Minnesota Duluth, Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, Wisconsin and North Dakota, with all but the Michigan series at home. Those opponents have combined for 26 NCAA championships, including three of the past four.
Old WCHA rivals, in-state matchups and, most important, North Dakota visiting Mariucci. There’s a lot to like with this schedule."
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
I'd think about it, I wanted to go to the last UND@MN game, but those prices....f that. That was ridiculous.
I'd think about it, I wanted to go to the last UND@MN game, but those prices....f that. That was ridiculous.
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
Strong teams in the B1G next season: Penn St., Michigan, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame. The Gophers lost 55% of their scoring and with a lot of youth on D and up front, and uncertainty in net, this will be a very challenging season for the Gophers.
Strong teams in the B1G next season: Penn St., Michigan, Wisconsin, and Notre Dame. The Gophers lost 55% of their scoring and with a lot of youth on D and up front, and uncertainty in net, this will be a very challenging season for the Gophers.
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
Agree 100%. If "very challenging" results in a very poor record I worry that we could see a further erosion in the fanbase.
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
IMO I don't see the trendline in attendance changing much this coming season, perhaps even declining a bit further based upon what you mentioned and other factors. Both Ohio State and the Gophers lost a lot of scoring and I think these two teams will fight for some place (4th-5th) on the low end of the pack in the B1G standings.
With much of their high octane scoring returning, Penn St. is my early pick for the B1G title. The Liam Folkes' line with Evan Barratt and Alex Limoges is back who combined for 53 goals and 70 assists for 123 points good for 3.84 points per game, the most in the nation by any one line. Limoges tied Hirose (MSU -signed with Detroit) for most points in the nation last season. Their only negative is their D has to improve and Peyton Jones has to stop being a sieve. The Nittany Lions had the dubious honor of landing last in the B1G in GA and 5th in the nation. PSU is hosting the regional in their backyard in Allentown, PA in 2020, so if they get those things fixed they're a FF team.
Michigan lost Josh Norris and Hughes, but the bulk of their scoring returns and they will be contenders. They struggled in net last season. But they're bringing in 6-6, Goteborg, Sweden native, Erik Portillo (Frolunda HC J20) which seems like a nice find for the Wolverines.
Much of the scoring by committee for UW will be returning and they have one of their best recruiting classes in recent years coming in with forwards Alex Turcotte and Cole Caufield expected to be first-round NHL draft picks later this month. They'll also get a head start on the season playing twice against the University of British Columbia in Vancouver over Labor Day weekend (August 30-Sept. 1). The NCAA allows teams to take a foreign trip for exhibition games once every four years. The big advantage for the BADgers is they get 10 days of practice leading up to the trip. Normally coaches can't get on the ice until the start of the fall semester on Sept. 4.
Notre Dame was young on the backline last season and only lost four seniors, so they'll be tough this season as well. With Cale Morris returning in net, whose .093 SV% was 7th in the nation, ND will be much improved from last season.
Agree 100%. If "very challenging" results in a very poor record I worry that we could see a further erosion in the fanbase.
IMO I don't see the trendline in attendance changing much this coming season, perhaps even declining a bit further based upon what you mentioned and other factors. Both Ohio State and the Gophers lost a lot of scoring and I think these two teams will fight for some place (4th-5th) on the low end of the pack in the B1G standings.
With much of their high octane scoring returning, Penn St. is my early pick for the B1G title. The Liam Folkes' line with Evan Barratt and Alex Limoges is back who combined for 53 goals and 70 assists for 123 points good for 3.84 points per game, the most in the nation by any one line. Limoges tied Hirose (MSU -signed with Detroit) for most points in the nation last season. Their only negative is their D has to improve and Peyton Jones has to stop being a sieve. The Nittany Lions had the dubious honor of landing last in the B1G in GA and 5th in the nation. PSU is hosting the regional in their backyard in Allentown, PA in 2020, so if they get those things fixed they're a FF team.
Michigan lost Josh Norris and Hughes, but the bulk of their scoring returns and they will be contenders. They struggled in net last season. But they're bringing in 6-6, Goteborg, Sweden native, Erik Portillo (Frolunda HC J20) which seems like a nice find for the Wolverines.
Much of the scoring by committee for UW will be returning and they have one of their best recruiting classes in recent years coming in with forwards Alex Turcotte and Cole Caufield expected to be first-round NHL draft picks later this month. They'll also get a head start on the season playing twice against the University of British Columbia in Vancouver over Labor Day weekend (August 30-Sept. 1). The NCAA allows teams to take a foreign trip for exhibition games once every four years. The big advantage for the BADgers is they get 10 days of practice leading up to the trip. Normally coaches can't get on the ice until the start of the fall semester on Sept. 4.
Notre Dame was young on the backline last season and only lost four seniors, so they'll be tough this season as well. With Cale Morris returning in net, whose .093 SV% was 7th in the nation, ND will be much improved from last season.
Last edited:
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
Clearly, it's all Lucia's fault if they finish in the bottom half.
There are a lot of holes and improvements that need to occur for this team to play at a high level. Just have to replace majority of scoring, see more improvement in Defensive play, and , oh, hope a new goalie turns into a freshman stud. But on the other hand, we've all gone into seasons with the team on paper looking like a Final Four team and struggle, and teams with low expectations excel beyond expectations. I remember thinking after Duluth lost in the NCAA three years ago that with all the departures, especially on D, they would be rebuilding the next year and struggle, but they seemed to do OK the last two years.
Clearly, it's all Lucia's fault if they finish in the bottom half.
There are a lot of holes and improvements that need to occur for this team to play at a high level. Just have to replace majority of scoring, see more improvement in Defensive play, and , oh, hope a new goalie turns into a freshman stud. But on the other hand, we've all gone into seasons with the team on paper looking like a Final Four team and struggle, and teams with low expectations excel beyond expectations. I remember thinking after Duluth lost in the NCAA three years ago that with all the departures, especially on D, they would be rebuilding the next year and struggle, but they seemed to do OK the last two years.
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
I have gone to the Cities the last few years for Thanksgiving, so will probably be in town for the series, and know the family and a player on the Whouix, so it would be fun to go and pre-game with our friends (but not sit with them preferably - have tough time picturing myself seeing them in person screaming for the Whouix and still being friends after
- I'd rather stay delusional and imagine they are secretly Gopher fans.) and watch a MN-UND game. But I don't know if I can justify the $100 per seat, especially since at least one kid might want to go along.
I have gone to the Cities the last few years for Thanksgiving, so will probably be in town for the series, and know the family and a player on the Whouix, so it would be fun to go and pre-game with our friends (but not sit with them preferably - have tough time picturing myself seeing them in person screaming for the Whouix and still being friends after
- I'd rather stay delusional and imagine they are secretly Gopher fans.) and watch a MN-UND game. But I don't know if I can justify the $100 per seat, especially since at least one kid might want to go along.Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
UMD recruited strong on the blueline and got good goaltending the last two seasons. Those are the two question marks I see with the Gophers next season.
Lafontaine is a Michigan reject that became BCHL’s top goaltender, so hopefully he doesn't break stride.
Good article: REFLECTIONS: JACK LAFONTAINE
UMD recruited strong on the blueline and got good goaltending the last two seasons. Those are the two question marks I see with the Gophers next season.
Lafontaine is a Michigan reject that became BCHL’s top goaltender, so hopefully he doesn't break stride.
Good article: REFLECTIONS: JACK LAFONTAINERe: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
Hopefully he plays well enough to make Minnesota his last stop for the next two seasons. It is a little worrisome, though, that Michigan gave up on him...makes you wonder why.Lafontaine is a Michigan reject that became BCHL’s top goaltender, so hopefully he doesn't break stride.
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
LaFontaine will be 22 years old in January. My guess is Mel Pearson decided to go with a younger and taller 18-year old recruit in 6' 6" Swede Erik Portillo, given this is Hayden Lavigne's last season. Potillo was the best goalie in J20 SuperElit, which if you're unfamiliar is a 20 team junior league in Sweden. It's a smart move by Pearson, and I wouldn't be surprised if he rotates him in or eventually replaces Lavigne. The Gophers saw a lot of Strauss Mann last season (final series sweep vs Michigan), but neither Mann nor Lavigne played well.
JL's two seasons with the Wolverines: 5-11-1, SV% .900, GAA 3.40. With his return to D1, he's definitely got something to prove. I hope he brings his A game early and often or it'll be a long season.
LaFontaine will be 22 years old in January. My guess is Mel Pearson decided to go with a younger and taller 18-year old recruit in 6' 6" Swede Erik Portillo, given this is Hayden Lavigne's last season. Potillo was the best goalie in J20 SuperElit, which if you're unfamiliar is a 20 team junior league in Sweden. It's a smart move by Pearson, and I wouldn't be surprised if he rotates him in or eventually replaces Lavigne. The Gophers saw a lot of Strauss Mann last season (final series sweep vs Michigan), but neither Mann nor Lavigne played well.
JL's two seasons with the Wolverines: 5-11-1, SV% .900, GAA 3.40. With his return to D1, he's definitely got something to prove. I hope he brings his A game early and often or it'll be a long season.
Last edited:
I’d call losing Hughes a net gain
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
Ok, I'll bite...what's your take on him?
Ok, I'll bite...what's your take on him?
My exposure to him was watching the WJC. Talked to some Michigan fans sounds like he gave them a bit of heartburn as well.
He holds the puck too much, tries too much, makes costly turnovers. At first I was thinking ok he’s not used to this high level of competition maybe he’ll adapt his play to the level of competition—he didn’t. Continued to be a liability through the tournament I’m surprised they didn’t scratch him but I’m not a coach. So I really don’t see how he’s going to fare any better in the NHL. He doesn’t have the skills his brother has to get away with that style of play
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko
I think I partially agree, but Hughes is a loss for Michigan. Fortunately for the Wolverines, they'll reload with another youngblood on the blueline with projected NHL 1st rounder Cam York.
When I look at a player like Quinn Hughes, who is obviously in the eyes of scouts and the Vancouver Canucks a defensive talent AND a highly skilled offensive player with an elite blend of vision, creativity, puckhandling, speed and decision-making, it's hard to imagine how he will be anything but successful in NHL. One thing for sure, his agent Pat Brisson, who is perhaps the best in the business today maintaining big-time active contracts for John Tavares, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, Anze Kopitar, etc. wouldn't even give Hughes a cup of coffee if he felt like he wasn't going to excel in the NHL. I didn't catch his successful NHL debut, but apparently Hughes and Brock Boeser connected several times in the playoffs (3 pts. in 5 games). Hughes burned his first year in the playoffs and has two seasons left on his ELC for a total of $2.7M. Not bad for 19 years old.
With regard to last season, IIRC he was somewhere around 5th in the nation in assists among defensivemen. However, although I'm not a terribly vivacious fan of the +/- stat given the abundance of confounds embedded in variable, he did register high in the minus category, as did Dante Fabbro (BU) of whom there is some similarity to Hughes in this category and signed with the Predators in March as well. IMO a young, uniquely gifted 19 year-old like Hughes, needs time and space to flex his wings and that's inevitably going to mean turnovers, miscalculations, and being out of position which often led to odd man rushes for the opponent. So I have no argument with you there.
Coaching a highly talented D like Hughes requires that he be paired with a supportive player on D along with an understanding from his teammates that puck support will be needed at times for a "run and gun" guy like him. I think Michigan coach Mel Pearson whom I think is one of the best in the NCAA, tried to do that as a much as possible while accepting the growing pains as well. Perhaps he'll end up alongside someone like Chris Tanev who IMO is the Canucks best D, and the total package of hockey IQ, smooth skating, quick puck movement and would pair seamlessly with Hughes to provide defensive support when needed.
I think I partially agree, but Hughes is a loss for Michigan. Fortunately for the Wolverines, they'll reload with another youngblood on the blueline with projected NHL 1st rounder Cam York.
When I look at a player like Quinn Hughes, who is obviously in the eyes of scouts and the Vancouver Canucks a defensive talent AND a highly skilled offensive player with an elite blend of vision, creativity, puckhandling, speed and decision-making, it's hard to imagine how he will be anything but successful in NHL. One thing for sure, his agent Pat Brisson, who is perhaps the best in the business today maintaining big-time active contracts for John Tavares, Patrick Kane, Jonathan Toews, Sidney Crosby, Anze Kopitar, etc. wouldn't even give Hughes a cup of coffee if he felt like he wasn't going to excel in the NHL. I didn't catch his successful NHL debut, but apparently Hughes and Brock Boeser connected several times in the playoffs (3 pts. in 5 games). Hughes burned his first year in the playoffs and has two seasons left on his ELC for a total of $2.7M. Not bad for 19 years old.
With regard to last season, IIRC he was somewhere around 5th in the nation in assists among defensivemen. However, although I'm not a terribly vivacious fan of the +/- stat given the abundance of confounds embedded in variable, he did register high in the minus category, as did Dante Fabbro (BU) of whom there is some similarity to Hughes in this category and signed with the Predators in March as well. IMO a young, uniquely gifted 19 year-old like Hughes, needs time and space to flex his wings and that's inevitably going to mean turnovers, miscalculations, and being out of position which often led to odd man rushes for the opponent. So I have no argument with you there.
Coaching a highly talented D like Hughes requires that he be paired with a supportive player on D along with an understanding from his teammates that puck support will be needed at times for a "run and gun" guy like him. I think Michigan coach Mel Pearson whom I think is one of the best in the NCAA, tried to do that as a much as possible while accepting the growing pains as well. Perhaps he'll end up alongside someone like Chris Tanev who IMO is the Canucks best D, and the total package of hockey IQ, smooth skating, quick puck movement and would pair seamlessly with Hughes to provide defensive support when needed.