Minnesota Gophers 2024-25

[StPaulSam]

before I make my comment lemme just HELL YES, GO BEAVS! what a great performance by Bemidji on Friday and Saturday. they had that friday game in control until the refs took it away from them.

Why didn't Frosty put Skyler in at some point?

Skyler is probably out for the season. She got injured off ice and that's all that I really know.

UST players were allowed in the portal after Johnson's departure, Olivia King finished her grad program early and came home to serve as backup.

Yes, I did notice the four goals in six shots. However, if you are only going to score two, you pretty much have to play perfect. PSU checked the boxes on blocks, 14, and a goalie save percentage near .95. After the break, it can be challenging for teams, I'm sure Minnesota will right the ship.

God have mercy on the Rolling Tommies team this week.

 

[Moosefan1]

Apologies for a (very) premature post for the Gophers 2025-26 thread, but just noticed that after 4 games in the U18 worlds, the US Player of the Game has twice been a tunneler commit - Bella Fanale in the first game, vs. Czechia, and Sloane Hartmetz today vs. Finland. Made me wonder how the tunneler faithful are feeling about the next couple years with a big chunk of their current scoring possibly (probably?) moving on after this season?

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Apologies for a (very) premature post for the Gophers 2025-26 thread, but just noticed that after 4 games in the U18 worlds, the US Player of the Game has twice been a tunneler commit - Bella Fanale in the first game, vs. Czechia, and Sloane Hartmetz today vs. Finland. Made me wonder how the tunneler faithful are feeling about the next couple years with a big chunk of their current scoring possibly (probably?) moving on after this season?

Thanks for the question Moosefan1, Frankly, not feelin much optimism for the next couple of years with the current manglement running the show. Recruiting wise they have done some good things but they are behind at least two of their league opponents, and possibly three, in that department. Next year could be a rough one.

 

[Moosefan1]

OK, being the relative new guy I'll bite - the same head guy has been running the show for 15+ years and has 4 nattys and 2 runner-up finishes. Is the thought that times have changed in some way and tunneler staff hasn't kept up? Is it maybe as simple as Muzerall pulling most of the top-end players to TWSNBN who would have often been tunnelers in the pre-Muzzy/TWSNBN era?

 

[Steamboat]

OK, being the relative new guy I'll bite - the same head guy has been running the show for 15+ years and has 4 nattys and 2 runner-up finishes. Is the thought that times have changed in some way and tunneler staff hasn't kept up? Is it maybe as simple as Muzerall pulling most of the top-end players to TWSNBN who would have often been tunnelers in the pre-Muzzy/TWSNBN era?

I will offer that the support staff was instrumental in making the Gophers the force they were back in the 20teens. Nadine Muzerall and Joel Johnson were big factors on the bench for Minnesota. They both earned (and one just lost), their head coaching positions. Now Bethany Brausen will try her hand again at the head coach position for St. Thomas.
I don't care how good your stadium is, or what your training room is like, or the budget for equipment. The skill sets that people develop and pass on cannot be overvalued.

 

[StPaulSam]

OK, being the relative new guy I'll bite - the same head guy has been running the show for 15+ years and has 4 nattys and 2 runner-up finishes. Is the thought that times have changed in some way and tunneler staff hasn't kept up? Is it maybe as simple as Muzerall pulling most of the top-end players to TWSNBN who would have often been tunnelers in the pre-Muzzy/TWSNBN era?

it's not just recruiting. Something just ain't right with the culture. The team just looked out of sorts on Saturday vs. a Penn State team that damn near (and should've) lost to Bemidji, right after kicking Brown's ass 9-1. Bringing in Greg May and Mitch Baker, along with promoting Jessica Scott was supposed to at least provide continuity. My hope is that as players come up through their system, things will get better on that front. Greg, Mitch, and Jessica are all good coaches who have the chance to prove themselves.

Brad knows he is on thin ice re: championships. Winning one this year (with an assist against the Wisconsin juggernaut from another team) would be very helpful to his continued employment prospects. He's alluded to that fact in the recent past in public comments. Otherwise, Darwitz or Muzzerall should be near a phone.

it's worth noting in re: Muzzerall's recruiting...she loves to pull grad transfers out of the transfer portal and has done that to great effect, more than others. That's a big part of her strategy, I think. Especially if you're at a primarily undergraduate institution out east.

 

[Reddington]

It's been awhile since I heard the A team commenting on a women's hockey team. That guy is fantastic!

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

It was almost like...The tunnelers decided to actually play a live goalie against the tommie bahamas. Of course the tommie bahama's did their best to hit the goalie with the puck so at least the tunnelers had that going for them.

What a cement head play by #18 to give the tommie bahama's a full two minute advantage. If she isn't scoring she really is a liability.

 

[robertearle]

It was almost like...The tunnelers decided to actually play a live goalie against the tommie bahamas. Of course the tommie bahama's did their best to hit the goalie with the puck so at least the tunnelers had that going for them.

What a cement head play by #18 to give the tommie bahama's a full two minute advantage. If she isn't scoring she really is a liability.

When she and Huber were sitting next to one another in the penalty box, I noticed the "C" on each jersey. And I thought I remembered Hemp with a "C" when she got her game misconduct. So I was wondering if that was a clean sweep, three for three. But the Gophers have four captains; Laitenin managed to still be on the ice at that point.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

When she and Huber were sitting next to one another in the penalty box, I noticed the "C" on each jersey. And I thought I remembered Hemp with a "C" when she got her game misconduct. So I was wondering if that was a clean sweep, three for three. But the Gophers have four captains; Laitenin managed to still be on the ice at that point.

#26's penalty was unfortunate for sure but the kicker was a totally unnecessary shot at the goalie by #18 after the whistle for Huber's penalty. 3-1 game at that point so just kill off the penalty on Huber which they likely would have done and finish out the rest of the game. I don't know what Hemp did as I did not see it but somehow (thank you tommie bahamas) the tunnelers come away from that major penalty a +1 with scoring the short handed goal and killing of the rest of the penalty. Just a lot of stuff that is, for the most part, avoidable. The game is difficult enough as it is. Why make if more difficult than it needs to be? As my Dad was fond of saying...Use your head for more than a hat rack.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

It was almost like...A 6-1 game. But because of officiating incompetence it wasn't. It also appears that the tunnelers put away the cardboard cutout.

 

[ARM]

Just a lot of stuff that is, for the most part, avoidable. The game is difficult enough as it is. Why make if more difficult than it needs to be?

I totally get what you mean, and while I haven't seen all of them, I can guess at the type of plays that inspire your thoughts.

On the other hand, I've watched enough of the CFP games to know that the women in the sport we watch would have a tough time competing with the gridiron guys for braindead plays. The offensive linemen in particular have been challenged, although I'll admit that it isn't easy to know when they are and aren't allowed to lurch in all directions in their pre-snap stance or tackle defensive players. The Ohio STATE University has been by far both the most impressive team while also capable of making plays at which you cannot help but laugh. I'm sure that Will Howard is well on his way to many multi-million dollar paydays, but can you imagine the derision we would unleash on a player in our game if she had nothing between her and a potential gamewinning score except painted lines but couldn't remain upright? They remind me of the Badger women, who are one of the most dominant teams in recent memory and have a coach often regarded as the game's best, yet they are still capable of making the worst OT line-change that I've ever seen.

Given all that, I'll let the maroon & gold sins committed versus St. Tom to pass without further comment.

 

[StPaulSam]

Rhyorchuk (and the law firm of Bradshaw, Kaehler, and Binkley) continue to lead all of D1 Women's Hockey in incompetence.

It was almost like...A 6-1 game. But because of officiating incompetence it wasn't. It also appears that the tunnelers put away the cardboard cutout.

If you're talking about the (IIRC first period) goal that was waived off, all they had to do was pause for 10 seconds and explain what happened. Because everyone in the area saw the puck hit the back of the net. Just give us some explanation. Anything. Please.

I know refs have a tough job (my dad used to ref high school football games for extra money) but damn do they make it easy to hate them because of incidents like that.

And don't even get me started on the crew that called Bemidji vs. Penn State. I will go to my grave with this: the Beavers were robbed of that game by Doyle and Rew.

 

[ARM]

If you're talking about the (IIRC first period) goal that was waived off, all they had to do was pause for 10 seconds and explain what happened.

I think it was the 2nd period, and it was the familiar "referee lost sight of the puck" (that was sitting behind the goalie.)

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

I think it was the 2nd period, and it was the familiar "referee lost sight of the puck" (that was sitting behind the goalie.)

Yes...that was the one.

 

[ManBehindTheCurtain]

Mankato is much better than that just about every where they play. For some reason Gophers are able to dominate at Ridder.

It is reasonable to expect that the game tomorrow in Mankato will look completely different.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Tunnelers were awful in the first period other than the first and last minute. Otherwise the landcows carried the play in that first period.

 

[StPaulSam]

Mankato is much better than that just about every where they play. For some reason Gophers are able to dominate at Ridder.

It is reasonable to expect that the game tomorrow in Mankato will look completely different.

Well, in the case of Mankato or SCSU or Bemidji, they're not used to playing in front of crowds larger than about 400, unfortunately. Going down to 'Kato on Saturday I was hoping for a decent turnout...instead it was officially 411. They even had the band there.

there was a little girl (maybe 7 or 8) in front of us decked out in purple with her dad and older sister. I was just glad they got some goals on the board for her sake. Other than when Goldy and I were cheering on the Beavers vs. PSU and Brown, I've never seen someone get so excited for a goal (or so crushed when we scored). And she even had the good sportsmanship to say good game when I said it to her.

 

[ARM]

During the early shifts of the Hockey Day game in Shakopee, I thought it might be a game where "field position" would be the biggest factor, as both teams had trouble getting the out of their zone once it was there. Nevertheless, the goals scored were of a higher quality than are sometimes seen outdoors. I remember past outdoor games where it was a matter of getting the puck near the crease and hacking away. I wonder if it was hard for the players to see the puck; I know that the sun was a factor trying to follow the action on TV.

 

[Steamboat]

A really good game last night for the Gophers. They played a very fast and very good Ohio State team, (even though the record doesn't show that), and really staked claim to being the better team. The first period had many oh so close scoring opportunities for the Gophers. They continued to battle through a scoreless 2nd period, then finally broke through on a 4 on 3 power play. Abbey Murphy continues to get bushwhacked, including one the refs missed, by the goalie.
We will see today if the Gophers can maintain that level over the course of a series. In the past, they have played a great first game, and then coasted to a loss in the the next one. This is the level of play I expect to see in March.