FiveHoleFrenzy
Well-known member
That is true...Was thinking about that this morning. As Minnesota fans we really have been spoiled.
USCHO Fan Forum
This is a sample guest message. Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!
-
The USCHO Fan Forum has migrated to a new plaform, xenForo. Most of the function of the forum should work in familiar ways. Please note that you can switch between light and dark modes by clicking on the gear icon in the upper right of the main menu bar. We are hoping that this new platform will prove to be faster and more reliable. Please feel free to explore its features.
Minnesota Gopher Women's Hockey 20-21
- Thread starter ManBehindTheCurtain
- Start date
That is true...Was thinking about that this morning. As Minnesota fans we really have been spoiled.
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
In so many seasons, you watch the Gophers, and when someone makes the wrong play, it is jarring. Especially watching from the suite/club level, you can see where the puck should go, and mostly, that's where the player on the ice, who doesn't have the luxury of that view, sends it. The pass/shot might not be accurate, but the player knows the right play.
This season? I've been jarred a lot.
FiveHoleFrenzy
Well-known member
1-6-1 in their last 8 games...Sure, you can attempt to rationalize that it is against Wisconsin and Ohio State who are very good teams but...Is that where this program is at now and if so how did it get to this point?
Most teams now go max in on an aggressive fore check against the Gophers...Why would they do that? Pretty simple. The risk is worth the reward since the Gopher D are not capable of handling that pressure and there is no cohesiveness with Minnesota's forward lines to counter-attack. Hard to counter attack when Minnesota's go to plays for most of their D's is to just chuck it off the glass to get it out of the zone or keep it along the rails where they too easily get bottled up. And too much "I will do it myself" from their forwards when they do actually get the puck out of their zone.
You have recruited what you have and I don't know if management can persuade this team, with it's makeup, to adopt a more defensive posture to help cover up their area's of weakness. I think most Gopher fans would like to see more consistent "effort" out of this squad at the very least.
Most teams now go max in on an aggressive fore check against the Gophers...Why would they do that? Pretty simple. The risk is worth the reward since the Gopher D are not capable of handling that pressure and there is no cohesiveness with Minnesota's forward lines to counter-attack. Hard to counter attack when Minnesota's go to plays for most of their D's is to just chuck it off the glass to get it out of the zone or keep it along the rails where they too easily get bottled up. And too much "I will do it myself" from their forwards when they do actually get the puck out of their zone.
You have recruited what you have and I don't know if management can persuade this team, with it's makeup, to adopt a more defensive posture to help cover up their area's of weakness. I think most Gopher fans would like to see more consistent "effort" out of this squad at the very least.
FiveHoleFrenzy
Well-known member
In a season for the Gophers that hasn't had much to be upbeat about, sometimes you just need a little pick-me-up wherever you can find it ...Talking about Mama Power and oh yeah...Don't mess with Texas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ESN...ature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ESN...ature=emb_logo
It will be extremely interesting to see how the team responds after a very disappointing series vs. Ohio State. Normally on such a trip to Bemidji I would be pretty optimistic that the Gophers would sweep, but for some reason, for this series, I'm just not feeling it.
FiveHoleFrenzy
Well-known member
This season has been one to forget. There are only a handful of Gopher supporters on the forum (Is the forum that bad? I guess so...). Can't believe I'm saying this but I'm even missing a certain poster telling me I don't know what I'm talking about...Heck, I can't even get a poster to want to meet me at the rink! I must be slipping.
Offsides Guy
Active member
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
The WCHA definitely has a precedent for tournaments where only some of the teams qualified. As for motivation, BSU has always gotten up to play UM, and I doubt this will be an exception.
Bemidji's problem has been that it can't score. In the dozen games in 2021, it has never scored more than two goals, and only twice reached that total. Minnesota's problem is that teams don't have any difficulty scoring against the Gophers. It would appear that something will have to give ...
Timothy A
Let's go RED!
I hope Pokechecker is ok. We can't afford to lose any posters no matter how crazy they are sometimes.
robertearle
Well-known member
I wasn't sure he he meant Pokechecker or Eeyore. But in the year of COVID, I hope both are doing OK.
FiveHoleFrenzy
Well-known member
Pokechecker...Geez I hadn't thought about him. Maybe he had a run-in with the neighbor that had the dog that was getting on his nerves?
FiveHoleFrenzy
Well-known member
The latter...
Agreed. Health wise, I hope they are doing good as well. Eeyore posted on the forum a while back so I think he is still lurking about. Just haven't seen a post from him in a while
Well, in his defense, there hasn't been a whole lot of good lately to talk about.
FiveHoleFrenzy
Well-known member
Meh...6-1 is the final score, Minnesota over BSU. That is more a reflection of some below average goaltending for BSU. Minnesota was moving their feet pretty good so that was good but they still found a way to give up the puck in their own zone in a spectacular way. Number 21 with quite the gift that number 26 for BSU couldn't put away.
The level of Goodness expected here is more than good. We were spoiled by years of Excellent. A #2 team, or a #4 team, or forbid a #8 ranked team is almost inconceivable. If there was a year to not see the gals in person, this might be it. Although I miss Ridder the road trips to Bemidji, Madison and Mankato. It's frustrating enough to watch the Flo and BIG10+ streams, golf is on my other screen this season. Interesting to see how this all plays out in March.
Last edited:
Offsides Guy
Active member
Sorry but precedent doesn’t cut it when the Men’s WCHA is inviting a full slate of teams and playing 3-game quarterfinal series. It’s also interesting that at least a few people have suggested the reason for the limited tournament on the women’s side is at least one Big10 team was adamant about not wanting to possibly have to play three games in a row in the tournament. If that’s true, shame on them as well as the commissioner for allowing that to be the reason three teams are denied an invite. I certainly doubt money is a factor as the three teams not invited all are within four hours of Ridder and, in a single elimination tournament, would not likely rack up huge hotel and food costs. Lastly, those three teams should all have “money in the bank” from series being canceled earlier in the season.
Last edited:
This is the first I've heard of such an objection. But I'd imagine the objection had to do with a tired team having to play a more rested team.
Let's say you make it to the Championship Game, and you're on Game #3. If your opponent is only on Game #2, they have a significant advantage. As you probably recall, this was a real issue in the first few B1G Men's Hockey tournaments that were held.
Is this an actual issue with the teams that will be on the sidelines? In a normal year, I'm sure it would be. But I've not heard such chatter in this covid-marred year. Still, if there are such complaints, then I'd agree that a way should have been found to include them.
Or less debt due to the cancellations. Hard to believe that any program is going to finish with a budget surplus this year.
TonyTheTiger20
#SOAR
For the record I'm almost positive pokechecker was perma-banned. Or maybe that was hokydad. Or both. haha
ManBehindTheCurtain
Great and powerful wizard
Speaking of regulars who have not been here very much this season, during yesterday's game Dave had two e-mails to the Beaver radio broadcast read by the play by play announcer. On BeaverRadio.com but not on USCHO, that really is Crazy.