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Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Motzko told Sammy Walker (160 lbs.) this summer to get in the weight room and add some strength to his game. Apparently he's put on 20lbs since his Big Ten Freshman of Year season to beef up his inside and corners game. Having lost 12 players last season, it looks like as the BMW line goes, so the Gophers go. As a sophomore, I think Sammy wears the "C" this season and will be expected to take the lead up front and on the PP. He says he's ready.

“I think in open ice, you see that speed. But I think what he does in traffic — his compete level and how he fights for pucks — is as important,” Motzko said. “We’ve all seen players with speed that sometimes stay on the perimeter. When he gets in traffic, he’s a hockey player.

"The bottom line is you make hay inside the dots. His speed is electrifying and makes him dangerous, but what makes him superb is what he does in traffic.”

Former Edina and Notre Dame star Bo Brauer was the recipient of Walker’s set-up passes at the goalmouth on more than one occasion [Da Beauty League]. Having played with Walker’s older brothers in youth and high school hockey, Brauer sees plenty of traits that will mean future success.

“Two-on-twos aren’t easy when you’re going up against a couple NHL defensemen, but when he gets the puck and gets up to speed you’re just trying to match it, and he put the puck right on my stick a few times,” said Brauer, who plays minor league hockey in the ECHL. “Unreal hands, unreal vision, he can fly up the ice, and that’s a good recipe for a goal-scorer.”

“I’m trying to just keep improving. We’ll have a young team, but man, we’ll have a lot of talent, and I think we’ll be able to do something with it,” Walker said. “It should be a fun year. It’s kind of crazy that I’ll be one of the guys that they look to, but I think I’m ready for it. I’m just excited for the year.”
Click to expand...

Strib Article: A day in the offseason life of Gophers hockey forward Sammy Walker
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

SteveO said:
Motzko told Sammy Walker (160 lbs.) this summer to get in the weight room and add some strength to his game. Apparently he's put on 20lbs since his Big Ten Freshman of Year season to beef up his inside and corners game. Having lost 12 players last season, it looks like as the BMW line goes, so the Gophers go. As a sophomore, I think Sammy wears the "C" this season and will be expected to take the lead up front and on the PP. He says he's ready.

Strib Article: A day in the offseason life of Gophers hockey forward Sammy Walker
Click to expand...
Wow, just reading this gets me excited for the season to get underway!
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

D2D said:
Wow, just reading this gets me excited for the season to get underway!
Click to expand...

Same here...I'm totally in on Motzko's "young and exciting" mantra. :cool: Been wondering about Jack Lafontaine, he's not on any Gopher roster yet. Anyone know if he's registered for classes this Fall?
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Bonin21 said:
Doesn't look like it.

https://usearch.umn.edu/all-campuses?query=Jack Lafontaine
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Strange. Classes start Sept. 3. Lafontaine would come in as a Junior with one final year of eligibility after this season. Late registration? Not recommended at the U and extremely rare with student-athletes. Let's see what happens. Looks like he didn't sign a NLI yet, he's a verbal.

We might be looking at 18 year-old Jerod Moe, Winnipeg Jets 6th rounder and SJHL goaltender Justen Close in a rotation this Fall.

Similar to Robson at 6’3″, 205 lbs, Moe was ranked 10th among North American netminders by NHL Central Scouting. Close, from Canada was a SJHL Goaltender Of The Year finalist last season and co-winner the year before. Robson was the first Canadian to be on the team since Kris Chucko (Burnaby BC) and Peter Kennedy (Brookfield/Truro NS) in 2006.
 
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Suddenly less than 24 hours later, LaFontaine is registered. Haha...
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

SteveO said:
Suddenly less than 24 hours later, LaFontaine is registered. Haha...
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Has there been a reason given why he would transfer for just one more year of eligibility after having to sit out a whole season?
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

D2D said:
Has there been a reason given why he would transfer for just one more year of eligibility after having to sit out a whole season?
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Not that I know of, but I was just looking around and didn't see him registered until yesterday, which is late given he gave a verbal commit in March I think. And he wasn't on the roster on the Gopher website.

Motzko mentioned he would let the three goalies fight it out in rotation. All three had great seasons last year. I like LaFontaine, a Hurricanes 3rd rounder in 2016 who had a breakout season and learned to use his NHL size and mobility really well with the Vees. He never really hit that level with the Wolverines in his freshman and sophomore seasons.

<img src="https://k0dm147g9m2ei8ky282wan8s-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2019/02/LaFontaine-15-copy-1024x682.png" class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 10px;" height="300" width="400">
 
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

D2D said:
Has there been a reason given why he would transfer for just one more year of eligibility after having to sit out a whole season?
Click to expand...

If you'd been a goalie at Michigan in recent years, you might also want to get out.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

D2D said:
Has there been a reason given why he would transfer for just one more year of eligibility after having to sit out a whole season?
Click to expand...

LaFontaine's plan all along was to return to Michigan after going back to Juniors. The skunkbears informed him during the 2018-19 season that he was no longer in their plans (perhaps related to landing Portillo). So, he was forced to make alternate plans, and staying in the B1G gives him an opportunity to go on the vengeance/PPW tour.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Slap Shot said:
I believe he has 2 years left.
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Correct and thanks, I became aware of that after reading the announcement of his addition to the roster in the Strib. Should be great competition to see who ultimately becomes No. 1 in goal.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Team Tria won the John Scott Cup on Wed. in the Da Beauty League. Try drinking champagne out of THAT trophy. Gopher players (left to right): Erik Haula, Justin Kloos, Justin Holl, Coach Ben Clymer, Aaron Ness and Casey Mittelstadt.

<img class="NaturalImage-image" data-image="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECicBIaXUAAtLAI" data-image-format="jpg" width="623" height="623" title="View image on Twitter" alt="View image on Twitter" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECicBIaXUAAtLAI?format=jpg&name=small">

Erik Haula was voted the 2019 MVP (9-9-18). VGK and particularly Erik Haula fans were saddened by the trade that sent Haula to the Carolina Hurricanes for the upcoming NHL season which starts on Sept. 18. VIDEO The injury that inevitably sent Erik to the Canes > VIDEO

<img class="NaturalImage-image" data-image="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECirR8wWkAA3_P3" data-image-format="jpg" width="600" height="400" title="View image on Twitter" alt="View image on Twitter" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECirR8wWkAA3_P3?format=jpg&name=small">
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

SteveO said:
Team Tria won the John Scott Cup on Wed. in the Da Beauty League. Try drinking champagne out of THAT trophy. Gopher players (left to right): Erik Haula, Justin Kloos, Justin Holl, Coach Ben Clymer, Aaron Ness and Casey Mittelstadt.

<img class="NaturalImage-image" data-image="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECicBIaXUAAtLAI" data-image-format="jpg" width="623" height="623" title="View image on Twitter" alt="View image on Twitter" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECicBIaXUAAtLAI?format=jpg&name=small">

Erik Haula was voted the 2019 MVP (9-9-18). VGK and particularly Erik Haula fans were saddened by the trade that sent Haula to the Carolina Hurricanes for the upcoming NHL season which starts on Sept. 18. VIDEO The injury that inevitably sent Erik to the Canes > VIDEO

<img class="NaturalImage-image" data-image="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECirR8wWkAA3_P3" data-image-format="jpg" width="600" height="400" title="View image on Twitter" alt="View image on Twitter" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/ECirR8wWkAA3_P3?format=jpg&name=small">
Click to expand...

Long time with no posts, considering season is finally approaching. (Will this message echo in here?) Anyone going to Duluth?
 
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