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Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

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Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

ESPNW http://espn.go.com/espnw/college-sports/8999081/espnw-minnesota-duo-provides-potent-scoring-punch
"That's why Frost was surprised when USA Hockey left Brandt off the 28-player preliminary roster for the women's world championships, scheduled for Ottawa in April. Kessel, Bozek, Minnesota defenseman Lee Stecklein and four former Gophers made it. So did Skarupa, the country's No. 2 scoring freshman. Brandt was prepared for it. After she attended the national team's winter training camp last December, the staff told her to improve her speed.

"I don't know what else she needed to do to be on that roster," Frost said. "She's been tremendous for us on and off the ice. I'm surprised she's not on there."
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

My thoughts are that BSU has taken their best shot.

I don't expect them to go . . . meekly. I expect a fine effort from them. Lots of blocked shots, lots of flying around trying to make something happen.

I expect that they will go in two games bearing more resemblance to the first three games between these teams this season than to the overtime game. For those not keeping close track the first three games were 5-1, 5-0, and 8-0.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

ManBehindTheCurtain said:
My thoughts are that BSU has taken their best shot.

I don't expect them to go . . . meekly. I expect a fine effort from them. Lots of blocked shots, lots of flying around trying to make something happen.

I expect that they will go in two games bearing more resemblance to the first three games between these teams this season than to the overtime game. For those not keeping close track the first three games were 5-1, 5-0, and 8-0.
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I don't see any 8-0's but I do think (hope?) that with the playoffs now upon us the Gophers will be re-energized enough to win comfortably, if not handily. I'm seeing something like 4-1, 6-2-ish.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

I thought the Gophers played their best game in a while tonight, probably since the Friday night game against Duluth last month. They only got four shifts out of Kessel but they seemed to do a better job of figuring out how to play without her as the game went on. Bemidji did a great job of clogging things up in the first, albeit at the expense of any attempt to muster offense. Havel held them in during the second and then it all fell apart for them in the third.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

Eeyore said:
I thought the Gophers played their best game in a while tonight, probably since the Friday night game against Duluth last month. They only got four shifts out of Kessel but they seemed to do a better job of figuring out how to play without her as the game went on. Bemidji did a great job of clogging things up in the first, albeit at the expense of any attempt to muster offense. Havel held them in during the second and then it all fell apart for them in the third.
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That's pretty much how I saw the game, too.

Bemidji came out with enthusiasm and a solid game plan, sorta flying around but really limiting their activity to their own defensive zone, often having all five skaters down below the dots, almost always all five skaters below the top of the circles.

On offense, well, really not so much, only one forward in deep on the forecheck until after the Gophers got goal number 2, after that Bemidji had to try to run their 3 point play. Among other things Coach Sertich threw out there was pulling the goalie after the time out on the power play with about 10 minutes left. The Gophers cleared the puck out of the zone against the 6 on 4 fairly easily, BSU had to settle for a whistle in their own end, goalie back in, end of that strategy. As the clock wound down a more aggressive forecheck by the Beavers led to katie bar the door time, Gophers roll.

Kessel appeared only on the power play until the 3rd period when she took at least two even strength shifts. I wasn't counting but it seems like about 4 shifts total to me too. She did pick up an even strength point with an assist on Bozek's first goal.

Great accomplishment by Noora, she now holds all of the goaltending markers with the exception of shutouts in a season. She tied that record tonight, if she gets another shutout she will hold all of the top spots, all alone. With the exception of saves in a game, I guess, considering that the Lindenwood goalie made 90 tonight in a 2-1 3OT loss to Robert Morris. I don't think Noora has a shot at that one.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

The band marched.

There were former players in attendance.

Coach Halldorson was there.

A great night of Gopher hockey.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

Anyone in the press box know what the deal was on the Gopher's disallowed goal? The red light came on but the referee (who was right there, definitely in position) emphatically waved no goal. The orange arm band crew proceeded to the scoring bench where they peered at the monitor. They then got on the phone, during the call they were making gestures towards the ceiling as though they wanted to see the overhead camera above the goal but it was perhaps not available?
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

The overhead didn't show anything, as Bemidji bodies blocked the goal line and the puck. So they talked to the goal judge on the phone and apparently decided it never went all the way in. Live, I thought it was a goal, but if the puck was in the air at all, then my angle could be deceptive.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

TonyTheTiger20 said:
Why did Kessel only play 4 shifts?
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Two part answer:

Number 1: Because that's all they needed from her tonight.

Number 2: Same answer as for why she didn't play last weekend at Saint Cloud. Slightly "nicked up", laying off means that she is likely to be closer to full strength for the stretch run to come. Bemidji has put up a great show against Minnesota in the last two games between the teams but I think everyone (including BSU Coach Sertich) thinks that the three weekends after this weekend are going to offer stiffer challenges. Spot shifting this year's best player in the country this weekend if it can be done without sacrificing team results looks like a good idea, at least so far.

When she actually was on the ice she looked just fine.
 
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Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

ARM said:
The overhead didn't show anything, as Bemidji bodies blocked the goal line and the puck. So they talked to the goal judge on the phone and apparently decided it never went all the way in. Live, I thought it was a goal, but if the puck was in the air at all, then my angle could be deceptive.
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I was in the corner and had a good view of it, and I don't think it crossed the line. But all those bodies fighting desperately at the goal line made it tough to tell for sure. So from my vantage point it appeared to be a good call.
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

I was disappointed in the attendance this evening, especially with all the pub the team's been getting as of late. 1,523 = less than 50% full and down 500+ from recent home games.

Hopefully more will show up for tomorrow's game to cheer the team on. They certainly deserve it!
 
Re: Minnesota Golden Gopher Women's Hockey 2012-2013

D2D said:
I was disappointed in the attendance this evening, especially with all the pub the team's been getting as of late. 1,523 = less than 50% full and down 500+ from recent home games.

Hopefully more will show up for tomorrow's game to cheer the team on. They certainly deserve it!
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I too was disappointed but not discouraged.

Friday 6pm is a tough time. And 1,523 would have been a plenty good crowd for first round WCHA in most other years, I think. I haven't checked the records but I bet that tonight's official attendance is actually one of the better ones they have had for this stage of the proceedings.

And then there is the fact that all around me were gaggles of hockey fans, not hard core fans but not just casual fans, hockey fans, people who had seen women's hockey before but hadn't seen it recently who were back in the building to climb on the bandwagon. They were excited and appreciative.

I expect a BIG crowd tomorrow and a BIG BIG crowd next weekend.

And then there is the announcement made at tonight's game that the Frozen Four is already officially a sell out, standing room still available.
 
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