Minnesota Golden Gopher Season 2018-2019: Fire Motzko

[SteveO]

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

Stumbled on ASU Twitter (literally, since I don't twitter) and they were hinting MN was flopping to draw penalties.

SO this has been a trying season at times. At least we got to experience a home sweep at the end. Obviously, while unlikely, winning the B1G tourney and making the NCAA's would help us forget the tough times. However, even short of that, if they somehow got out past Michigan, there would definitely be some satisfaction if they ended up beating Pedo State to knock them out of the NCAA (not that they match up well with them at all). There is at least a little more hope, based on more consistent recent play, than I had mid-season.

Agreed, a rough season that started out weird with the exhibition break. If all the home teams win (ND, MN, PSU), we won't see Penn St. We'll play a single elimination game @ ND and Penn St. goes to Columbus.

 

[dxmnkd316]

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

Stumbled on ASU Twitter (literally, since I don't twitter) and they were hinting MN was flopping to draw penalties.

Their fan base is worse than Iowa football in terms of being annoying and they’re only half as smart.

One ASU lady behind me at Friday’s game said after the second kneeing penalty, “Oh kneeing is what they call when it’s too hard to call something else.”

Against my best judgment, I turned around and said, “Excuse me? No it’s not. When a knee hits another knee it’s genrally kneeing. It’s actually pretty rare.”

“Well, in my experience it’s what they call when they don’t know what to call.”

My jaw just dropped open. I laughed and turned back around. I think I see one maybe two kneeing penalties in a year. I’ve never heard of two in a game or three in a series. It’s just unprecedented in my hockey watching universe.

 

[directmagna]

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

well - for those of us who have followed Gopher hockey for some time, I think we will all agree that this ASU squad and their fans were definitely one of the most unique opponents we've ever had in our barn --

No. 12 ASU hockey falls again to Minnesota, must wait until March 24 to learn NCAA fate
https://outline.com/EH5wj9

 

[SteveO]

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

Their fan base is worse than Iowa football in terms of being annoying and they’re only half as smart.

One ASU lady behind me at Friday’s game said after the second kneeing penalty, “Oh kneeing is what they call when it’s too hard to call something else.”

Against my best judgment, I turned around and said, “Excuse me? No it’s not. When a knee hits another knee it’s genrally kneeing. It’s actually pretty rare.”

“Well, in my experience it’s what they call when they don’t know what to call.”

My jaw just dropped open. I laughed and turned back around. I think I see one maybe two kneeing penalties in a year. I’ve never heard of two in a game or three in a series. It’s just unprecedented in my hockey watching universe.

One of the absolute dirtiest hits in hockey that can literally alter a player's career due to injury. NHL: Knee to Knee

 

[Slap Shot]

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

Yes he's a flight risk - I put it at 50/50.

What you're failing to recognize is where he would fit in the pecking order were he to leave how that might dissuade him from leaving.

 

[D2D]

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

Stumbled on ASU Twitter (literally, since I don't twitter) and they were hinting MN was flopping to draw penalties.

Bear in mind they're from Arizona, and "ice hockey" is kind of new thing.

There is at least a little more hope, based on more consistent recent play, than I had mid-season.

Somewhere a few pages back I stated that I thought the Gophers were showing improvement in their overall play, for which I took some criticism. But I think it's now safe to say that the "improved play" trend has continued. But Arizona - minus Johnny Walker - was a big disappointment, to me at least. I expected more talent, better teamwork, better goaltending, more grit....but all we got was the grit, and dirty grit at that.

It would be super fun for the Gophers to take out Michigan this weekend and keep the season going a little while longer!

 

[D2D]

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

Last post to the Michigan thread:

"One of the most disappointing series in recent memory. Two wins against a lesser team and we finish in 2nd with home ice the first 2 rounds. Instead we just gave away 2 games to finish in 6th. Sloppy play by the team and terrible goalie play both nights. What a disappointing season."

 

[The Rube]

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

Bear in mind they're from Arizona, and "ice hockey" is kind of new thing.


Somewhere a few pages back I stated that I thought the Gophers were showing improvement in their overall play, for which I took some criticism. But I think it's now safe to say that the "improved play" trend has continued. But Arizona - minus Johnny Walker - was a big disappointment, to me at least. I expected more talent, better teamwork, better goaltending, more grit....but all we got was the grit, and dirty grit at that.

It would be super fun for the Gophers to take out Michigan this weekend and keep the season going a little while longer!

They are rather unfamiliar with that there Yankee Water (ice).

 

[SteveO]

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

Yes he's a flight risk - I put it at 50/50.

What you're failing to recognize is where he would fit in the pecking order were he to leave how that might dissuade him from leaving.

Pitlick is trending up as a top three prospect for the Predators. Nashville has some cap issues and RFAs, so things could change quickly this summer for Pitlick to make the move.

 

[SteveO]

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

Goonery update: The knee-on-knee stunt by Croston of the Arizona Sun Goons basically ended Nathan Burke's season who is out for 6 weeks. Burke's loss breaks up the Freshman line with Norman as a possible replacement for Friday vs Mich.

Meanwhile, the WCHA which is responsible to adjudicate disciplinary action against this goon squad, added one more game to Jacob Wilson's flying contact hit to the head penalty on Sampo Ranta which resulted in a beautiful row of stitches. The two game suspension means Wilson will not play again unless ASU reaches the FF. The weird twist to the story is Wilson and Ranta are former teammates with the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL.

Ranta Hit

<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0tKKXjXQAAE8zq.jpg" class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 6px;" height="420" width="300">

 

[Greyeagle]

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

Goonery update: The knee-on-knee stunt by Croston of the Arizona Sun Goons basically ended Nathan Burke's season who is out for 6 weeks. Burke's loss breaks up the Freshman line with Norman as a possible replacement for Friday vs Mich.

Meanwhile, the WCHA which is responsible to adjudicate disciplinary action against this goon squad, added one more game to Jacob Wilson's flying contact hit to the head penalty on Sampo Ranta which resulted in a beautiful row of stitches. The two game suspension means Wilson will not play again unless ASU reaches the FF. The weird twist to the story is Wilson and Ranta are former teammates with the Sioux City Musketeers in the USHL.

Ranta Hit

<img src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D0tKKXjXQAAE8zq.jpg" class="irc_mi" style="margin-top: 6px;" height="420" width="300">

If that collection of crap asks for another series I hope Bob tells them to pound sand.

 

[state of hockey]

If that collection of crap asks for another series I hope Bob tells them to pound sand.

Agreed. Definitely not worth it. Hope they never find a conference and go belly up. Won't happen, but I'd be fine with it.

 

[First Time Long Time]

Agreed. Definitely not worth it. Hope they never find a conference and go belly up. Won't happen, but I'd be fine with it.

That's a bit much...

 

[The Rube]

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

That's a bit much...

I was a proponent of "Hey we swept them, good OOC team, let's keep that going!" I am now rethinking that. I have no love for the ASWhioux.

 

[D2D]

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

Why isn't Croston suspended? Dirty knee on knee that ends a player's season?

 

[state of hockey]

That's a bit much...

No one gains anything from a program where the players have third grade fits when they're losing that result in pointless and avoidable injuries. They can go away.

 

[dxmnkd316]

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

That's a bit much...

It absolutely isn’t. You didn’t see the series.

These were malicious hits with intent to injure. And that doesn’t happen the first time you ever play a program unless that program is a cancer.

 

[First Time Long Time]

It absolutely isn’t. You didn’t see the series.

These were malicious hits with intent to injure. And that doesn’t happen the first time you ever play a program unless that program is a cancer.

I did see the series.. And wishing death on an entire program is just wrong.
They were frustrated.. First games on the big sheet... Without their best player and their coach saying before the series they can't outskill anyone...
Went too far sure... But to wish the program dead? Give me a break.
We played them a couple years ago... No issues... So maybe its you guys.

 

[state of hockey]

I did see the series.. And wishing death on an entire program is just wrong.
They were frustrated.. First games on the big sheet... Without their best player and their coach saying before the series they can't outskill anyone...
Went too far sure... But to wish the program dead? Give me a break.
We played them a couple years ago... No issues... So maybe its you guys.

Your request for a break is denied. I'll go ahead and have my opinion. Screw em.

 

[SteveO]

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

If that collection of crap asks for another series I hope Bob tells them to pound sand.

I'm pretty sure that's exactly what will happen. I don't think he'll be signing any agreement with these clowns until they clean up their act. Motzko was piissed.