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Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

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

Game Day!

Although this series has no post-season significance for the Gophers, it will be a good home ice test against a ranked team going into the B1G tourney next week. In 4 seasons, coach Greg Powers has transformed ASU from Arizona who? to a #12th ranked Sun Devils team with a hot goalie, an NCAA leading goal scorer and a travel budget the size of Sun Devils Stadium.

Netminder Joey Daccord is tied for most Ws and shutouts in the NCAA. Throw in a shot of Johnny Walker who leads the nation in goals scored (23) and SOG, and ASU could be quite a challenge for Gophers this weekend who are 5-5-0 in their last 10 games. ASU is currently on a 5 game winning streak.

The Gophers have relied heavily on their PP this season which sets the stage for a unique special teams battle between the Gophers PP ranked 6th in the NCAA @ 25.4% vs ASU's 9th ranked PK% @ 86.4%. I expect a very fast Sun Devils team out of the gate. IMO a hard forecheck is a key to success for the Gophers against an ASU team ranked 10th in total goals scored. Go Gophers! :)
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Great preview, SteveO - well done!

One other tidbit: Motzko was quoted in the paper this morning saying that Robson and Schierhorn will each get a start this weekend.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Excited for tonight! Do we know if ASU will be invited to join the B1G?
Really impressive to see div1 hockey doing well out west! We have a great game - it's pretty neat to see div1 hockey growing!
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

I hope not. Don’t dilute the brand. ASU is NOT a big ten school. Johns Hopkins and Notre Dame (to a lesser extent) are.

It also adds a long flight. No thanks.
 
dxmnkd316 said:
I hope not. Don’t dilute the brand. ASU is NOT a big ten school. Johns Hopkins and Notre Dame (to a lesser extent) are.

It also adds a long flight. No thanks.
Click to expand...

Wouldn't surprise me if it happens. Would take UMD over them as an affiliate 1000x.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Bonin21 said:
Wouldn't surprise me if it happens. Would take UMD over them as an affiliate 1000x.
Click to expand...

UMD is actually more in line with the definition of a Big Ten school than ASU is. There are only a handful of schools in college hockey that would qualify outside of the Ivies.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

dxmnkd316 said:
UMD is actually more in line with the definition of a Big Ten school than ASU is. There are only a handful of schools in college hockey that would qualify outside of the Ivies.
Click to expand...

That's why I threw out UMD instead of the other obvious teams we'd want to have: UND, SCSU, Kato, DU, and so on. They make the most sense, and they also happen to be the best program of the last five and depending on this season ten years.

A four team "West Division" of the U, uw, UMD, and Notre Dame would be a big improvement over when the Big Ten was six teams and none of us cared about anyone besides uw.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

directmagna said:
Excited for tonight! Do we know if ASU will be invited to join the B1G?
Really impressive to see div1 hockey doing well out west! We have a great game - it's pretty neat to see div1 hockey growing!
Click to expand...

The NCHC and WCHA both passed on ASU...for now. The proximity of teams like CC and Denver makes membership in the NCHC the most attractive economic option for ASU. IIRC the NCHC left the door open for future talks. My guess is the B1G won't allow ASU in as an affiliate for academic reasons.

The "Gretzky Effect" and the Kings winning two Stanley Cups in three years, had a tremendous influence on youth hockey expansion out west. The talent level out west on some teams is pretty high quality. ASU could hold out as an independent until a D1 PAC-12 conference forms with teams like UNLV, Stanford, USC, UCLA, University of Oregon, University of Washington, etc. who all have club teams, a couple of which I played against (Stanford and UNLV) back in the day.
 
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SteveO said:
The NCHC and WCHA both passed on ASU...for now. The proximity of teams like CC and Denver makes membership in the NCHC the most attractive economic option for ASU. IIRC the NCHC left the door open for future talks. My guess is the B1G won't allow ASU in as an affiliate for academic reasons.
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I’d take ASU and Mankato in a heartbeat. Throw in Bemidji and Air Force, send Miami and WMU back WCHA and call it a day. I think it’s the jerseys: I could get used to watching the ASU grays

dxmnkd316 said:
UMD is actually more in line with the definition of a Big Ten school than ASU is. There are only a handful of schools in college hockey that would qualify outside of the Ivies.
Click to expand...
Is it because we have the Blue Heron taking geological core samples from Lake Superior so we’re a research university? Never quite understood that definition
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

If that bunch of goons is their team, **** ‘em. Two kneeing penalties in a game? And ten penalties? They took most of their penalties late in the third down by three or more.

What a bunch of goons.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Johnny Walker must be really good cuz without him they looked dreadful.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Maybe the Sun Devils are better in a warmer climate, cuz they looked like the worst team the Gophers faced all season. They definitely played like devils though, racking up 7 penalties in one stretch of the 3rd averaging a penalty every 2 minutes. ASU looked like a very undisciplined, dysfunctional team. Kneeing penalties? That's a coaches nightmare. Despite laying an egg in Mariucci, they still had the good fortune of going up, not down in the PWR.

I lost track, but clearly the Gophers had the most scoring opportunities of the season tonight. Nice to see the top line back on the scoresheet after shooting blanks for a couple games. I hope the Gophers sweep these goons and send them back regretting their airfare.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

dxmnkd316 said:
If that bunch of goons is their team, **** ‘em. Two kneeing penalties in a game? And ten penalties? They took most of their penalties late in the third down by three or more.

What a bunch of goons.
Click to expand...

agree - I can't remember a game with a kneeing penalty -- they were desperate tonight - many times Gophs burned into their zone past their D and they were just grasping --

WFP were saying they just weren't up to playing in Div1 officiating -- used to bush league style of play -- fairness in savagery, I do personally prefer goonish/physical/nhl style play --

I am a bit disappointed that our team has become a bit effeminate - they know how to milk a hard hit and sell a penalty --

Still - all things considered, if the Gophs can play another complete game like this tomorrow night for Seniors night we'll be heading into the B1G playoffs on a nice streak!
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

directmagna said:
agree - I can't remember a game with a kneeing penalty -- they were desperate tonight - many times Gophs burned into their zone past their D and they were just grasping --

WFP were saying they just weren't up to playing in Div1 officiating -- used to bush league style of play -- fairness in savagery, I do personally prefer goonish/physical/nhl style play --

I am a bit disappointed that our team has become a bit effeminate - they know how to milk a hard hit and sell a penalty --

Still - all things considered, if the Gophs can play another complete game like this tomorrow night for Seniors night we'll be heading into the B1G playoffs on a nice streak!
Click to expand...

What in the actual ****?
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

Bonin21 said:
Johnny Walker must be really good cuz without him they looked dreadful.
Click to expand...
After reading all the hype I was expecting so much more from the former club team. Unreal that they only mustered 15 shots the whole game on Robson. That has to be a season low, by far, as that's about what the Gophers have typically given up per period.

I'm trying to reconcile what it all means. I thought the Gophers played a great game overall, but how much of that can be attributed to a relatively weak opponent? Before drawing any conclusions I'll have to wait for what we see in tomorrow night's rematch. But until then I'm very much liking what I'm seeing of the Gophers lately and in this game tonight. My only question is, what the he!! took them so long to play up to their considerable talent level? Knowing what lies ahead I have the distinct feeling that it's a case of "too little, too late" for the current season. :(
 
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

directmagna said:
agree - I can't remember a game with a kneeing penalty -- they were desperate tonight - many times Gophs burned into their zone past their D and they were just grasping --

WFP were saying they just weren't up to playing in Div1 officiating -- used to bush league style of play -- fairness in savagery, I do personally prefer goonish/physical/nhl style play --

I am a bit disappointed that our team has become a bit effeminate - they know how to milk a hard hit and sell a penalty --

Still - all things considered, if the Gophs can play another complete game like this tomorrow night for Seniors night we'll be heading into the B1G playoffs on a nice streak!
Click to expand...

There's a big difference between physical and goon hockey. Effeminate? :D I can't recall seeing any Gopher players selling a penalty. Which ones??
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

It was an upset.

This was the first time ASU played on the big ice, according to radio, and they thought that made a huge difference.

They did goon it up, but don't know if that's a regular occurrence with ASU or not. Either way, pathetic on their part last night.
 
The Rube said:
It was an upset.

This was the first time ASU played on the big ice, according to radio, and they thought that made a huge difference.

They did goon it up, but don't know if that's a regular occurrence with ASU or not. Either way, pathetic on their part last night.
Click to expand...

3rd in the nation in penalty minutes this year, 2nd last year, 5th in 2016-17. I don’t think it’s unfair to start attaching the “g word” to this program.
 
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