Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

18 skaters and 3 goalies...Injuries could be a concern for depth.

Was thinking the same...fortunately if they do have some injuries they have some kids who can play either F or D; in fact four are listed as F/D.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

18 skaters and 3 goalies...Injuries could be a concern for depth.

Was thinking the same...fortunately if they do have some injuries they have some kids who can play either F or D; in fact four are listed as F/D.

Two quick thoughts on this...

1) Don't get Eeyore started... this has been a sore spot with him year after year.

2) It's no different than last year, and the team did pretty well.

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

Captains announced:

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/091214aaa.html

 

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

2) It's no different than last year, and the team did pretty well.

They certainly did do pretty well, but they got through the entire season with minimal games missed due to injury or other reasons.
If the same happens this season (knock on wood!) then, yes, no problem.

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

The thinnest that I ever remember the Gopher's roster was in 2001-02. Because Renee Curtin couldn't play, they only had 16 skaters and two goalies. The fourth line was two freshmen walk-ons who didn't return the following season. The fifth D was a rookie who played little and almost never after that year. They entered the NCAA tourney as the top seed, but lost to Brown with their two best skaters at < 100%. What usually gets a team isn't the quantity of injuries, but having the wrong people injured. If a couple of people like Brandt and Bona or Ramsey and McMillen are out for any length of time, having a half-dozen walk-ons sitting in the stands isn't going to matter a whole lot.

 

[KTDC]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

The flip side, so to speak, is Brittney Ammerman, who also had to take pretty much a full year off but - knock wood - has made a full recovery.

Wishing (Madison kid) Amanda a quick and full recovery.

Thanks robertearle for the reminder of Brittney's story. Here's a toast to a successful senior season for Brittney Ammerman to continue that story.

 

[kool99]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

Obviously losing Kessel for the season has a huge impact. How much I don't know since I don't follow Minnesota that closely. Perhaps a stupid question. Is it possible to red shirt as a senior? Can she come back and play next year if she wants?

 

[TonyTheTiger20]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

I think she would need an NCAA waiver for her 6th year. You normally have 5 years to use your 4 years of eligibility. There's no doubt she'd get one, though, if she recovers and wants it.

 

[Cali]

I think she would need an NCAA waiver for her 6th year. You normally have 5 years to use your 4 years of eligibility. There's no doubt she'd get one, though, if she recovers and wants it.

Is she attending classes this year?

 

[KTDC]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

Is she attending classes this year?

As of now, she is not. She is still experiencing symptoms from concussion, so at this time is focusing on recovery.

 

[Cali]

As of now, she is not. She is still experiencing symptoms from concussion, so at this time is focusing on recovery.

I would hope that she continues her education as she still has to think of her post hockey career. Her name will open many doors for her but the degree is still important.

 

[ARM]

Is it possible to red shirt as a senior? Can she come back and play next year if she wants?

As Grant says, she'd need a waiver, and that would almost certainly be granted because the two seasons she missed were due to participation in the Olympics and injury, and I'm unaware of a case where a student athlete was denied a redshirt for either of those issues in the brief NCAA history of women's hockey.

The bigger questions are a) will she be healthy enough to play without causing additional injury, and b) is she planning to retire instead of trying to extend her career until the 2018 Olympics. She would't be the first player to decide to get on with other stages of her life.

 

[robertearle]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

As of now, she is not. She is still experiencing symptoms from concussion, so at this time is focusing on recovery.

The after-the-fact news stories about Ammerman talked about how her treatment consisted of what amounted to 'sensory deprivation'; dark room, no TV, no radio, no reading, no visitors, certainly no classes. No idea if they're going to that sort of extreme with Kessel, but no classes fits.

 

[96IllinoisDad]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

The after-the-fact news stories about Ammerman talked about how her treatment consisted of what amounted to 'sensory deprivation'; dark room, no TV, no radio, no reading, no visitors, certainly no classes. No idea if they're going to that sort of extreme with Kessel, but no classes fits.

Sorry folks, but if she is sitting out season because of concussion issues (in addition to her other injury issues), she is probably done.

Career Accomplishments:
2014 Olympic Silver Medalist
2013 Patty Kaz winner (Best Player in College Hockey)
2013 NCAA Championship (40-0-0 record)
2012 NCAA Championship
etc, etc, etc

If she comes back, she risks lifelong brain damage. No doctor is going to tell her different. If she was my daughter, she would be done, finished. She has nothing to prove. There is no NHL ($$) for women, and nothing she hasn't already accomplished is worth the risk.

I wish her the best in her recovery and life.

 

[Blackhawks Rule]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

Agree 100%. Her career accomplishments speak for themselves, and are remarkable! The desire, of the posters, are basically selfish, for her to attempt to play again. Her focus needs to be academic, and symptom free living. She certainly deserves that. The entire hockey community should support her journey towards these goals. I know my family and I do.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

... The desire, of the posters, are basically selfish, for her to attempt to play again. Her focus needs to be academic, and symptom free living. ....

huh???
if she is well enough to play hockey again, doesn't that mean she pretty much has a 100% recovery? what could be a better outcome than being able to do the same things after the injury, as before?

recent research indicates that attending school is not the best course to take for recovery, as a poster above has indicated, which may be why she isn't enrolled in school (at least she doesn't appear to be) so your statement about where her focus needs to be ... maybe you should leave that to her and her doctors

 

[96IllinoisDad]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

huh???
if she is well enough to play hockey again, doesn't that mean she pretty much has a 100% recovery?

The problem is no one can really tell you that you have a 100% recovery from a concussion. Plus, we are talking about "a" concussion that "reportedly" occurred on February 12, 2014 - over 7 months ago (at least). She is not currently 100%, and it is serious enough that she is not attending classes - 7 months later.

"This is the third player in the last five years Frost has lost to concussions. Forward Ashley Stenerson and goaltender Alyssa Grogan had their careers cut short after suffering a concussion and never fully recovering. Stenerson was forced to retire after her freshman season and Grogan missed 16 months before making a brief appearance in the final seconds of Senior Day in 2012."

Plus, even if she appears to have recovered "100%" (based on baseline testing etc.), she will likely be advised that even more serious damage can occur if she gets another concussion. The bottom line is doctors really just don't know everything about concussions.

 

[KTDC]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

The bottom line is doctors really just don't know everything about concussions.

Yes, and I don't know everything about concussions either. A few days ago, I still thought Ms Kessel was going to be on this years' roster. She was quoted in the newspaper as hoping she can play hockey again. So for today I am still going to hope she will recover and can play hockey again.

 

[96IllinoisDad]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

Yes, and I don't know everything about concussions either. A few days ago, I still thought Ms Kessel was going to be on this years' roster. She was quoted in the newspaper as hoping she can play hockey again. So for today I am still going to hope she will recover and can play hockey again.

On that, we can both agree.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Minnesota Gopher women's hockey off season thread for summer 2014

Brandt and Cameranesi with Bona or Menefee could be very good.

Like to see the right shooting Schipper get a shot with Brandt & Cameranesi or Brandt & Bona.