Minnesota Gophers 2024-25

[ARM]

In recent interviews, Frost said that he'd never seen a player with Murphy's mix of grit and skill. I think the coach has a short memory. To me, she seems like a faster, smaller Lam w/o a sister. Add in Amy Potomak, and that's four players who Frost coached that had huge talent but discipline problems. Maybe I'm remembering wrong, but it doesn't seem that he was able to help any of them eliminate the nonsense from their games. Murph isn't going to get full credit for the talent that she has. Most of that is on her, but Frost owns some of the blame as well. Dude, your job is to help people improve, both as hockey players and as people. The ability to stay on the ice would go a long way for each. As for a next step, I don't know that the NCAA has more to offer #18.

My honest assessment of GWH moving forward is a program in the running for the NCAA Tournament unless things drop another couple of notches. At the current level, they reach the FF every other year, every third or fourth year at best if the decline continues. WCHA banners? Might pick one up by a fluke, but don't count on it. Scanlan's first year in Bemidji aside, it isn't a league where the likes of BU can succeed from off the radar.

If we aren't going to seriously compete, let's try to at least accomplish some other things as a program. There should be a GWH alum on the staff; other teams have them. They should feature the best players that Minnesota HS hockey produces. They do well in the classroom and community, so keep that up. And the Gophers should play the game the right way -- work hard, but play fair.

 

[StPaulSam]

I understand a firing is unlikely given what just happened in men's basketball. But it's hard not to see this trend of dominance lasting at least through next year, and if the athletic office and the hockey program decide to stick with how they've been running things, I promise you the fan apathy will continue.

Frost's contract runs through the 2025-2026 Season. I suspect Coyle might wait to make a move then if he does. FWIW I thought Ben deserved another year. If he'd gotten that, Frost could well be out.

I'd like to know when Murphy went into the boards hard from behind in yesterdays gane Wisconsin wasn't hit with a five minute major? They had no problem handing one to Murphy earlier and they both looked about the same.

"...they both looked about the same"?!?

One was a hockey play. The other was criminal battery.

You're right. Kristen Simms coming in after the whistle to give Murph a shove...after she was on the ice in pain and the whistle had blown...really was a valid hockey play too. If the players had been reversed, do you honestly think Murphy wouldn't have gotten an unsportsmanlike?

 

[robertearle]

Frost's contract runs through the 2025-2026 Season. I suspect Coyle might wait to make a move then if he does. FWIW I thought Ben deserved another year. If he'd gotten that, Frost could well be out.


You're right. Kristen Simms coming in after the whistle to give Murph a shove...after she was on the ice in pain and the whistle had blown...really was a valid hockey play too. If the players had been reversed, do you honestly think Murphy wouldn't have gotten an unsportsmanlike?

Are you seriously trying to defend Murphy's hit?

You guys can play yeabutwhatabout... all you want. Murphy's hit was borderline criminal, even on ice during a game.

 

[StPaulSam]

Are you seriously trying to defend Murphy's hit?

You guys can play yeabutwhatabout... all you want. Murphy's hit was borderline criminal, even on ice during a game.

I'm not defending Murphy's hit. it was egregious and uncalled for. I'm still furious about Simms' shove and the way harvey put her hands up before her hit on murphy. Both should've been majors. One was. Simms' should've been an unsportsmanlike and if it was murphy or another gopher it'd have been called. Or are you defending it?

 

[robertearle]

I'm not defending Murphy's hit. it was egregious and uncalled for. I'm still furious about Simms' shove and the way harvey put her hands up before her hit on murphy. Both should've been majors. One was. Simms' should've been an unsportsmanlike and if it was murphy or another gopher it'd have been called. Or are you defending it?

yeabutwhatabout...

 

[Timothy A]

I'd like to know when Murphy went into the boards hard from behind in yesterdays gane Wisconsin wasn't hit with a five minute major? They had no problem handing one to Murphy earlier and they both looked about the same.

Come on man, you are better than that.

 

[Timothy A]

Kristen Simms coming in after the whistle to give Murph a shove...after she was on the ice in pain and the whistle had blown...really was a valid hockey play too. If the players had been reversed, do you honestly think Murphy wouldn't have gotten an unsportsmanlike?

Come on dude she barely touched her, I mean seriously. Everyone knows she does her dead possum imitation every time she gets crunched. Everybody's on to it. She's actually disrespecting her trainer with her little act. KK got practically decapitated and she skated it back to the bench. We all know if that was Murphy she would have laid there for 15 minutes, they have taken her off the ice on a backboard and should be out the next shift.

 

[Timothy A]

Post-game media conference.

No Murphy, weak sauce.

 

[Ditra]

Frost's contract runs through the 2025-2026 Season. I suspect Coyle might wait to make a move then if he does. FWIW I thought Ben deserved another year. If he'd gotten that, Frost could well be out.


You're right. Kristen Simms coming in after the whistle to give Murph a shove...after she was on the ice in pain and the whistle had blown...really was a valid hockey play too. If the players had been reversed, do you honestly think Murphy wouldn't have gotten an unsportsmanlike?

Do you have the Murphy elbow clip?

I found it. I am surprised she wasn't tossed. That's pretty much equivalent to targeting in football. If that was the standard for just a five the Wisconsin penalty is definitely just a 2 minute.

 

[ARM]

Sam isn't defending Murphy's play at all, or saying it shouldn't have been 5. I haven't seen anyone defend it. Ultimately, the officials didn't give her the game misconduct, or something more severe, for whatever reason.

Worst hockey play you've ever seen? You can make statements like that, but we can't mention any other play? I've seen an elbow that dislocated the player's jaw, a cross-check to the throat, a kick with the blade -- all in the NCAA women's game. Plays like that are scary no matter what side you're on. In Wendell's first season, an opponent ran her from behind away from the puck as the clock was ticking down, knocking her out of the lineup for the next month. All that is without getting into the early days of UM vs UMD; that was at another level.

None of those games or penalties excuse any dirty play to follow, but let's not pretend like there hasn't been a precedent for play outside the rulebook, including actions that could result in serious injury, in women's hockey. Would I like to see the game played cleanly by all? Yes, I would, but the problems don't begin and end with Murphy.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

From this tunneler fan's perspective I will say this...

#18...Don't let the door hit you in the you know what on the way out. Good riddance.

Hey Tunneler's manglement...Do what you have to do to get players into the program who play hard, yes, but play with some class and dignity. You have taken a back seat to your main rivals and that sucks. But it sucks even more when displays like what happened yesterday occur.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Interesting to see that on the men's side a successful coach (Brad Berry) at a successful program (NoDak) which has slipped a bit in being competitive is not returning next year. In NoDak's press release, "they're moving in a different direction."

Makes you go hmmm.....Maybe the tunnelers women's program could go in a different direction.

 

[robertearle]

Interesting to see that on the men's side a successful coach (Brad Berry) at a successful program (NoDak) which has slipped a bit in being competitive is not returning next year. In NoDak's press release, "they're moving in a different direction."

Makes you go hmmm.....Maybe the tunnelers women's program could go in a different direction.

FWIW: Wisconsin got a new football coach two years ago, and have been moving in a "different" direction ever since.

(His contract is long and BIG, and so would be the buy out.)

 

[eastcoastgopher]

For me there's a distinct separation between a team that doesn't win a national title and a team that can't win a national title. Being a team that doesn't win is completely acceptable. You put yourself in a good position and just didn't get it done, whether it was your fault or not. That happens; only one team can win every year. Being a team that can't win is different. That's just simply not being good enough—again, whether that's your fault or not. Most years, D1 women's hockey only has two or three don't-win teams. In recent years it's sometimes been less than that. Except for 2023, all the Gopher teams since Covid have felt like can't-win teams. (I'm also not trying to be too hard on a Zumwinkle-less, Murphy-less 2022 team that played a terrible game at the worst possible time, but it felt like it.)

Maybe it wouldn't be as insulting if the teams that passed you by weren't in your conference. Hanging at least a couple non-national title banners can ease the pain. But as currently projected, next year's Gopher roster, whether Murphy is back or not, looks like it will repeat the pattern. How much more of that is everyone willing to take, given what the standards historically have been? This program is closer to the ECAC powers than they are to Wisconsin at this point.

 

[StPaulSam]

Everyone knows she does her dead possum imitation every time she gets crunched

when I volunteer assistant coached football (last in the district 10 years running!) at a high school many years ago and far far away, our "medical staff" (a nurse practitioner who volunteered) taught our players to do similar. Why? because if there's a chance you're concussed or just banged up badly you need to give your brain a second to catch up. Getting back up when you are hurt/disoriented and fall down again just risks further injury. Limiting external stimulation (e.g., light or sound) helps.

Other players and teams do the same, if you haven't noticed.

 

[Timothy A]

when I volunteer assistant coached football (last in the district 10 years running!) at a high school many years ago and far far away, our "medical staff" (a nurse practitioner who volunteered) taught our players to do similar. Why? because if there's a chance you're concussed or just banged up badly you need to give your brain a second to catch up. Getting back up when you are hurt/disoriented and fall down again just risks further injury. Limiting external stimulation (e.g., light or sound) helps.

Other players and teams do the same, if you haven't noticed.

I'm just grateful the hit KK took didn't end her season. I've never seen a player fly through the air like a ragdoll before. They don't get the natty without her.

 

[bobthomasiselite]

Where did shelift go?

 

[Timothy A]

Where did shelift go?

I'm not sure, I thought shelift was an EZAC eastern affiliated poster. Perhaps inquire on an eastern/EZAC thread.

 

[BowWowWow]

Where did shelift go?

Shelfit recently posted on the Scores thread about the announcers for Frozen Four streams; I don't think Shelfit has gone anywhere.

 

[eastcoastgopher]

Five players in the portal. Not surprised by Klepinger. Not really surprised by Kosobud or Puppe though it does suck to lose freshmen. Kosobud going up the road to UMD. Conner's had some bad injury luck but I think is leaving with her degree. Vetter has an unexpected fifth year and with two goalies expected to play for Minnesota next year there's just no room for her, though I would have loved her to stay.

Jamie Nelson from Mankato comes in as a sixth-year grad transfer. Another transfer forward and a transfer defender would be nice, I think, though there are three strong forward recruits coming in. Roster as of now is 3 goalies, 7 defenders (assuming Nicholson doesn't come back), and somewhere between 11 and 13 forwards (with #18 still deciding and one signed forward recruit unclear as to her entry date). If Murphy does not come back, I don't think there's any chance of a national title in 2025-26.