Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

[Koho]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Indeed.

He's supposed to bring SCSU their first national title, isn't he?

How about starting with first NCAA win?

 

[brianvf]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

All I do know is Mike Lee is hyped to the max.

It was nice of Weslosky to leave SCSU to give Lee the chance to shine early, breaking him in as a frosh.

How about starting with first NCAA win?

Yes, baby steps.

 

[scsutommyboy]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Indeed.

He's supposed to bring SCSU their first national title, isn't he?

I am no expert, but Dean Blais sure seems to be one. It should be a fun season finding out how good this kid really is.

 

[grantfan]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

There are great college goalies and there a very small number of special goalies - anywhere, but certainly coming through the college ranks.

Jon Casey was a special goalie coming into college and turned out to be kind of special all the way. Karl Goehring was considered a special goalie coming into college and he turned out to be special in college and, I believe, as a pro in that all he does is stop pucks and win games. Alex Stalock had a special unique quality to his game, namely puckhandling, and was pretty darn good at stopping pucks, too. He was pretty special in college and we'll see how far his unique abilities take him.

Bobby Geopfert was a great college goalie. I thought Brian Leitza, from right here in Chicagoland, was a great college goalie.

Mike Lee has been special every step of the way so far. On a mighty big stage, he was pretty darn good at the recent WJC camp. He might just take St. Cloud State places it hasn't gone before, maybe even a game-winners' celebration following an NCAA Tournament game.

 

[Dirty]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Mike Lee is going to be terrible this year. I guarantee it. Because he is my goalie in a fantasy league.

 

[johnnypohlfan]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

All I do know is Mike Lee is hyped to the max.

I've seen Mike Lee play probably 25-30 games from the Pee-Wee level up through high school. He was fantastic at all levels. The kid was outstanding, that's all there is to it. Of course, that doesn't guarantee his success at the college level, but he might be the most purely talented goaltender I've ever seen at each level I saw him play.

But i'm no expert, either.

 

[state of hockey]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Mike Lee will be fine. Absolutely have to get him moving side-to-side, and even then he stops an awful lot of them.

 

[Handyman]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Mike Lee is going to be terrible this year. I guarantee it. Because he is my goalie in a fantasy league.

I agree mainly cause St. cloud is going to be pretty bad this year in front of him. If he gives up 3 goals in a game it is almost a lock for a loss.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Mike Lee has been special every step of the way so far. On a mighty big stage, he was pretty darn good at the recent WJC camp.

Frazee was wicked good every step of the way, including world junior tournaments. That didn't turn out so hot.

Well it's my opinion take it for what it's worth. I'm not going to label myself as "the expert"--I'll let other guys do that.

A non-expert can make a proper observation and I'm open to any informed opinion. Unfortunately for your summation, the fact is Kangas didn't live his F year off of making the spectacular save but rather by being in position. Therefore, your 'expert' opinion notwithstanding, his supposed demise cannot be attributed to what you surmised.

 

[MinnesotaNorthStar]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Bobby freakin' Orre. It is physically impossible if you are a) over three feet tall and b) in the correct position to score a short side goal--and that's a fact.

I really hope that the e on Orr is a typo...

A good shot from a sniper can score short side even if the goaltender's in the correct position.

 

[HarleyMC]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

his supposed demise cannot be attributed to what you surmised.

That's poetic genius my friend.

How about starting with first NCAA win?

St. Cloud could be the "darkhorse" in the WCHA this season. If the chemistry is there they could be a strong contender.

A good shot from a sniper can score short side even if the goaltender's in the correct position.

That's Ryan Lasch's favorite place to camp and he's a little over three feet tall.

 

[SCSU Euro]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Mike Lee is going to be terrible this year. I guarantee it. Because he is my goalie in a fantasy league.

And you ****ed over Hano too. Thanks ******!

I agree mainly cause St. cloud is going to be pretty bad this year in front of him. If he gives up 3 goals in a game it is almost a lock for a loss.

Yeah... since SCSU doesn't have ANY goalscorers, clearly offense is going to be their downfall this year.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

I really hope that the e on Orr is a typo...

A good shot from a sniper can score short side even if the goaltender's in the correct position.

Correct.

 

[61ache]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

I really hope that the e on Orr is a typo...

A good shot from a sniper can score short side even if the goaltender's in the correct position.

I can guarantee you I could place a plywood goaltender cut out, place 100 pucks five feet in from the dot, and Jordan Schroeder would score 0 goals on the short side. Its simple geometry, its just not there. He could put it in the net through the five hole, on the weak side, a number of places, but 0 out of 100 would score on the short side.

The Number 1 lesson a goalie is taught--put your stake in the ground, so to speak, and make the player react to what you give him. Number 2 lesson a goaltender has, take away the short side on hard angles. Shooters, instinctively like the short side and it's the first thing they'll look for. 9 times out of 10 players looks to the short side first and if it's not there he'll try and go for something else (across the body, dish it through the slot, around the net, etc). Sniper's score all the time on hard angles, and that's what they get paid for. Show me a goal from a hard angle that scores on the short side and I'll show you

1) A goalie trying to do too much.

2) A goalie cheating because someone's on the weak side

3) A player making the goalie react and not vice-versa (trying to take away the five hole, down on his knees, but not sucking to the pipe, etc).

 

[johnnypohlfan]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

It's a good thing they don't use plywood goalie cutouts in real games, then.

 

[Slap Shot]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

I can guarantee you I could place a plywood goaltender cut out, place 100 pucks five feet in from the dot, and Jordan Schroeder would score 0 goals on the short side. Its simple geometry, its just not there. He could put it in the net through the five hole, on the weak side, a number of places, but 0 out of 100 would score on the short side.

Were goalies boards this might hold true.

Yeah, in a perfect world a short angle shot should never get by but this isn’t a perfect world. Take for instance the goal scored by that one little CC sniper in the WCHA championship game against the Gophers about 6 years ago. Short side, top shelf, very, very little open space, wicked shot, goal.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

That would works out swell in theory were goalies to have straight edges and hug the pipe top to bottom in every short angle situation, but alas they don’t. Take for instance the goal scored by that one little CC sniper in the WCHA championship game against the Gophers about 6 years ago. Short side, top shelf, goal.

I understand your point is that proper positioning wins out over a good shot, but playing goalie isn’t an exact science. Pucks change direction, players are constantly in motion, lighting is different, ice surfaces are different, goalies will over/under compensate, fatigue plays a part, etc., etc., etc. Yeah, in a perfect world a short angle shot should never get by but this isn’t a perfect world.

I guess we'll find out when Mike Lee stops every single short angle shot this season. I look forward to reading about and seeing it when the Gophers play them.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

I'm not sure why Mike Lee would be different then any other goal tender, but okay...

I'm just going with what you said. You said that the good goalie always covers the short side and Mike Lee is "I've seen this kid play many times and he's the real deal. Cool customer that never tries to do too much. Steady Eddie."

So, I look forward to seeing it The proof is in the pudding.

 

[61ache]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Originally Posted by Slap Shot View Post
That would works out swell in theory were goalies to have straight edges and hug the pipe top to bottom in every short angle situation, but alas they don’t. Take for instance the goal scored by that one little CC sniper in the WCHA championship game against the Gophers about 6 years ago. Short side, top shelf, goal.

I understand your point is that proper positioning wins out over a good shot, but playing goalie isn’t an exact science. Pucks change direction, players are constantly in motion, lighting is different, ice surfaces are different, goalies will over/under compensate, fatigue plays a part, etc., etc., etc. Yeah, in a perfect world a short angle shot should never get by but this isn’t a perfect world.

No, I 100% agree with that.

I guess we'll find out when Mike Lee stops every single short angle shot this season. I look forward to reading about and seeing it when the Gophers play them.

You do that.

 

[Dirty]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2009-2010 the last year of the old WCHA

Speaking of Steady Eddie, will Mike Lee start the proud tradition of getting drunk and fighting with cops the way Ed Belfour did for UND?