Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014
I was going to begin with the guesswork regarding who is added to the foursome I think we can count on as regulars on the blueline. The foursome of Ramsey, McMillen, Baldwin and Stecklein. You've Identified the five we'd have to consider as most likely candidates. I'm just going to say among those five...I think Wolfe & Garzone could quite possibly be better utilized up front. With potential greater benefit / impact for the team.
It will be very interesting to see which players emerge to take positions on the starting three pairs of defensemen and the starting three forward lines. Assuming everyone returns, is healthy and academically eligible, it's probably safe to assume that after Ramsey, McMillen, Stecklein and Baldwin the team will need at least two of the following to "step up" and show they can be counted on to be reliable and effective on the blue line...in alphabetical order:
Burns
Cline
Garzone
Haley
Wolfe
Being named as one of the starting six D and staying there will likely be the best chance that any of these players will have to see significant ice time over the course of the season, again assuming they play up to expectations throughout. I'm not sure that going into the season that any of these five will be considered to be a favorite to assume that 5th D or 6th D spot - I would guess that any of the five will need to consistently show the coaches they deserve to be there. As was the case this past season, there very well could be some juggling if any of them struggle, or if the coaches merely decide to give someone else an opportunity, particularly if they are showing they deserve it because of their hard work and good play in practice.
And at forward a similar competition for playing time should develop, if for no other reason than the number of quality players. Based on their past production here are the forwards that I think will be regarded as the "starting seven", again in alphabetical order: Bona, Brandt, Cameranesi, Kessel, Lorence, Menefee and Schipper. Again, assuming all of these return healthy, in good shape and are academically eligible, that leaves the following who would compete to fill the remaining two forward spots on the first three lines...in alphabetical order:
Flug
Pannek
Piazza
Rodgers
plus two or three of the above F/D's:
Burns
Cline
Garzone
Haley
Wolfe
If I've laid this out correctly that would mean as the season begins we'd have at least 6 players competing for the last two forward positions on the starting three lines. As is the case at D, we should expect to see all of these players getting opportunities in games to show what they can do, some at both forward and D.
Being familiar with all but one of the players (Piazza) it's a pretty safe bet that the Gophers will be able to put a very strong 4th line on the ice, and the 4th line will get more playing time than what we're used to seeing in recent years.
I would also add that over the course of the last two fantastic seasons the Gophers have been pretty fortunate on the injury front, and it goes without saying that we all hope this favorable trend continues. But, should things take a turn for the worse, it sure is nice to know that the depth is there and others will be able to step in and assume those starting roles in very capable fashion. Indeed, things look very promising for yet another great season of Gopher Women's Hockey!
Best of luck to all the players!
