Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

[GopherBadger]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

Maybe I am missing it but from where I sit in the cheap seats I hear cheering, even when goals are not happening, and I have not heard an unusual amount of whining this year compared to the last decade. Frost mentioned people getting off the bandwagon during an interview on the men's broadcast but I am just not catching that either. Early, all the people I talk to or hear talking knew this season was going to be a challenge and nothing has changed that opinion. I still hear a lot of positive comments and good thoughts and I don't hear anyone jumping ship.

The crowds this year are embarrassing! The place is on average less than a 1/3 full for most games regardless of what they announce. At the Saturday SCSU game, I think the crew that Dodge County brought up to watch Robinson was 40% of the fans! Both the Men & the Women Gopher programs need to figure it out!

Does anyone have the video of Frost's Bandwagon comments? Would love to here it!

 

[KTDC]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

Last year crowds started small but built to where they were strong at the end. We averaged over 2000 for Ohio State in January and the season finished with back to back series against UND (ave 2600) and Wisconsin (ave 3300).

This year we didn't quite hit a 2k average against Wisconsin. and it's a blow losing UND as they had become our 2nd best drawing opponent. Also, the team being down a little and UND dropping hockey is a double whammy PR-wise. After the first of the year the only home series are Vermont in early Jan and Mankato in late January. Kind of a disaster from a building crowds perspective. I wouldn't be surprised if Frost's bandwagon comment was a bit of a pre-emptive take the pressure off statement. They are giving it the college try this weekend with free entrance to the Saturday game with a Teddy Bear!

And I thought the St Cloud Saturday was good for a SCSU game even on top of Dodge County. That promotion was pretty successful. To me all four corners of General Admission seats were good. I thought it was a very fun atmosphere!

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

So lack of cheering and complaining on a message board is the reason why the Gophers have a losing record at home? Who knew?

It's mostly TIC, but with the caveat that if complaining about the players is fair game, then the fans leave themselves open to criticism. About all that I can offer in their defense is that at least they don't all start filing toward the exit with 10 minutes left in a close game like most Minnesota crowds do.

 

[ne7minder]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

The crowds this year are embarrassing! The place is on average less than a 1/3 full for most games regardless of what they announce. At the Saturday SCSU game, I think the crew that Dodge County brought up to watch Robinson was 40% of the fans! Both the Men & the Women Gopher programs need to figure it out!

Does anyone have the video of Frost's Bandwagon comments? Would love to here it!

Try listening to the between period interview in the mens game from weekend before this.
OTOH you are suggesting that fans knew this was going to be a non-championship year and decided not to come to games? Attendance has never been what this team deserves & the weak opponents never draw, I have not seen this year as different

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

About all that I can offer in their defense is that at least they don't all start filing toward the exit with 10 minutes left in a close game like most Minnesota crowds do.

That's so they can beat the traffic to get home quicker and post their negative comments on the game, dontchaknow.

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

maybe you should replay last years semi final and watch #2 get stripped of the puck as she skates out of the zone and the Clarkson player fires it into the net, I believe it was the winning goal

On Clarkson's winning goal, Stecklein does try to skate it out and gets stripped along the wall, but the puck goes to Schipper, who throws a pass to Wolfe in the slot that shorthops her and Bannon pounced on it. On that goal, four Gophers could have done something differently and a goal may not have resulted, but IMO, nobody singlehandedly blew it:
http://www.ncaa.com/video/icehockey-women/2017-03-17/nc-women-ice-hockey-semifinal-recap

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

That's so they can beat the traffic to get home quicker and post their negative comments on the game, dontchaknow.

Years ago at the men's games the whole student section used to get on those leaving a few minutes early, all yelling, "BEAT the TRAF-fic, BEAT the TRAF-fic". For some reason that one went by the wayside and you don't hear it anymore.

But speaking of traffic, Friday night parking is going to be a little crazy with both hockey teams and the volleyball team all in action.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

Years ago at the men's games the whole student section used to get on those leaving a few minutes early, all yelling, "BEAT the TRAF-fic, BEAT the TRAF-fic". For some reason that one went by the wayside and you don't hear it anymore.

probably because the students themselves stopped showing up and started leaving early

On Clarkson's winning goal, Stecklein does try to skate it out and gets stripped along the wall, but the puck goes to Schipper, who throws a pass to Wolfe in the slot that shorthops her and Bannon pounced on it. On that goal, four Gophers could have done something differently and a goal may not have resulted, but IMO, nobody singlehandedly blew it:
http://www.ncaa.com/video/icehockey-women/2017-03-17/nc-women-ice-hockey-semifinal-recap

my only point in even bringing it up is that every player gets burned, it happens to the best of them, I'm sure not going to blame #2 or let it color my opinion of her as a player
IMO, I want the puck on the stick of the best player, if she gets beat, she gets beat, and the opposing team has beaten your best and deserves whatever follows.
if you girls want to castigate #9 that's your right, you paid the 5 or ten bucks and are entitled to your opinion.

The crowds this year are embarrassing!

the crowds last year were embarrassing
after 2 championships and 4 in the last five years and that's the interest?
State of Hockey ROFL

really though, I think it points to the saturation point, there are just so many fans and so much time, pro fans are gonna go watch the Wild, some fan will say to heck with going to Minneapolis which is trying to rid the city of cars, and just go to their HS game. There are a lot good hockey games going on at any given time, you only have time to go to some of them. If somebody thinks women's pro hockey can make it in MN, it is there money and their right to with it whatever they want. At least they aren't going to a casino and throwing it down that hole.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

Gopher recruit and Miss Hockey candidate Taylor Heise is off to a great start in her senior year at Red Wing.

http://www.mngirlshockeyhub.com/news_article/show/860651?referrer_id=

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

Gopher recruit and Miss Hockey candidate Taylor Heise is off to a great start in her senior year at Red Wing.

http://www.mngirlshockeyhub.com/news_article/show/860651?referrer_id=

Referenced in the article (thanks for sharing it, BTW) is another article which talks more in general about the start of the season for the top teams and players. Mentioned is a Jan 20 matchup between Blake and Edina and with Blake moving up to class 2A and being placed in section 6, it will likely be a preview of the section final. That is a game I'll definitely attempt to be at.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

Referenced in the article (thanks for sharing it, BTW) is another article which talks more in general about the start of the season for the top teams and players. Mentioned is a Jan 20 matchup between Blake and Edina and with Blake moving up to class 2A and being placed in section 6, it will likely be a preview of the section final. That is a game I'll definitely attempt to be at.

As I recall between the two teams you'll be able to see a total of 15 D1 commits, including 5 future Gophers.

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

For those who didn't catch it this morning's StarTribune had a nice interview with Syd.

Sydney Baldwin leading Gophers' young group of defensemen
http://www.startribune.com/sydney-baldwin-leading-gophers-young-group-of-defensemen/459985093/

I hadn't looked at the +/- stats yet this year, and I'm pleasantly surprised to see #9 leading the team with a +11.
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-hockey/stats/2017-2018/teamcume.html

 

[KTDC]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

I hadn't looked at the +/- stats yet this year, and I'm pleasantly surprised to see #9 leading the team with a +11.
http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-hockey/stats/2017-2018/teamcume.html

I've noticed that, no surprise to me. And additionally.........

Sydney Baldwin still leads the COU*NTRY in blocked shots AND points for a defenseman This player certainly has skills as pokechecker mentioned (and I believe the coaching staff agrees).

Alas, to me sometimes the glass has seemed more than half empty rather than more than half full. But I raise that very glass in a toast that she have a fantastic closing half-season to her Golden Gopher career. And salute her skills and all she has given the program.

Go Sydney!
Go Gophs!

 

[KTDC]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

Big two weeks coming up for the Gophers...............Bemidji and Duluth. Winning all 4 would be a nice step in the team's development and help build their confidence. Obvi they could easily lose to either team. Should be fun to watch.

Nicole Haase wrote this week on Alex Woken and the Gopher's! (Thank you)
http://www.uscho.com/2017/11/30/healthy-woken-looking-to-contribute-to-minnesota/

 

[ne7minder]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

BSU really took it to MN in the first period but could only go up by 1. The Gophers did much better in the second and would have ended 2-1 except for some sloppy ply with under a minute to go that allowed the Beavers to tie. MN looked very good all through the third and I expected them to put one in but it ended tied. The OT was all Beavers, they smothered everything and were putting very good pressure on getting some very good chances. Then zoom-boom found open space at 10 feet in from the blue line and fired a laser for the win.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

BSU really took it to MN in the first period but could only go up by 1. The Gophers did much better in the second and would have ended 2-1 except for some sloppy ply with under a minute to go that allowed the Beavers to tie. MN looked very good all through the third and I expected them to put one in but it ended tied. The OT was all Beavers, they smothered everything and were putting very good pressure on getting some very good chances. Then zoom-boom found open space at 10 feet in from the blue line and fired a laser for the win.

Zoom Boom had some other good chances that she just couldn't quite connect on during the game so that was good to see her put the overtime winner in. I was a little worried when Knowles left the ice in the third period but she was able to get back on the ice. Also good to see Reilly back in the lineup. And the other positive...#9 did not get an assist on either of the BSU goals.

 

[Puckdrop14]

Zoom Boom had some other good chances that she just couldn't quite connect on during the game so that was good to see her put the overtime winner in. I was a little worried when Knowles left the ice in the third period but she was able to get back on the ice. Also good to see Reilly back in the lineup. And the other positive...#9 did not get an assist on either of the BSU goals.

Many teams would like your #9. She does a lot of very good things on and off the ice for the Gophers and that's what you should focus on. Happy you are not my parent!

 

[ne7minder]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

Zoom Boom had some other good chances that she just couldn't quite connect on during the game so that was good to see her put the overtime winner in. I was a little worried when Knowles left the ice in the third period but she was able to get back on the ice. Also good to see Reilly back in the lineup. And the other positive...#9 did not get an assist on either of the BSU goals.

I have see #12 play several games over the last 3 years & never seen her shoot as badly as she did last night. That is not a complaint or a knock, it blows me away how accurate her rockets were. She missed the net by a good 8 feet one time, like a 'normal' player would. But that OT winner was a frozen rope through a crowd & into the net. Give her the puck and space and she does that better than anyone I can remember.

We are thin on D so that thing with Knowles is troubling but having Reilly back was very nice.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

Many teams would like your #9.

Unfortunately, not the US national women's team.

She does a lot of very good things on and off the ice for the Gophers and that's what you should focus on.

Yes, for the Gophers and occasionally the opponents as well. How presumptuous of you to say what I should focus on when I would rather put my energy into Watts puns.

Happy you are not my parent!

Thankfully, my kids are so that is really what matters when the sarcasm is stripped away, eh puckdrop14?

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Golden Gophers 2017-18 Season Thread

Congrats to the seven Gopher recruits who've been selected to the USA U18 team:

Goalie
Makayla Pahl, Rochester, MN, Rochester Mayo HS

Defensemen
Maggie Nicholson, Minnetonka, MN, Minnetonka HS
Gracie Ostertag, Shakopee, MN, Shattuck-St. Mary's
Madeline Wethington, Edina, MN, Blake School

Forwards
Taylor Heise, Lake City, MN, Red Wing HS
Abbey Murphy, Evergreen Park, IL, Chicago Mission
Sydney Shearen, Hugo, MN, White Bear Lake HS

http://teamusa.usahockey.com/page/show/3803173-2018-u18-women-s-worlds-u-s-roster