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Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Bonin21 said:
It's a little bit crazy how kids seem to stay four years at GR more than any other school.
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Klatt has been an influence on that since he moved here. Also, a bigger part of the community is behind the team than most schools, so I think kids feel they'd be letting the town down, not just teammates.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Koho said:
Klatt has been an influence on that since he moved here. Also, a bigger part of the community is behind the team than most schools, so I think kids feel they'd be letting the town down, not just teammates.
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I read on the HS board they have season tickets and valet/reserved parking lol. That's awesome if true.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Bonin21 said:
I read on the HS board they have season tickets and valet/reserved parking lol. That's awesome if true.
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Season tickets, but I think the mention of valet parking was at a different school (in the cities?). Season ticket holders get first crack at tourney tickets after families of players. This year, 25 minutes after the season ticket buying period was over, the tourney tickets were sold out. They get pretty good attendance for most games, and pack 'em in against the big schools. Games against Greenway were epic, when Greenway was competitive. Packed houses. Greenway bus took the north route to spend as little time in Rapids as possible, then players would get on bus right after game and go back to Greenway to shower in their own locker room. Crowds were nuts and players equally amped. Even in years when the raiders were low on talent, they usually managed to have their game of the year against Rapids.

Unfortunately, there seems to be the same reduction in energy at games at the high school level as at college. The tourney this year was not what it used to be like in the Civic Center days. Bands seem limited on when they can play. Crowd noise seems more deadened in the Xcel. And most of the fans not tied to a team playing seem to cheer less and sit on hands more. Section final for 7AA had a good crowd, but still didn't seem quite as loud between the exciting moments (maybe that is my selective memory though.)

But yeah, Rapids seems to be hanging onto their hockey as best they can, for a smaller community. Looked like it was about to have a major upturn with Klatt looking to impact every level. But now that that is over, who knows. It is unfortunate for the community things didn't work out. With that level of commitment to hockey in the community, unfortunately it is more likely to foster the opinionated, controlling hockey parent. Which I think contributes to the problems for coaches.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

When the coach is in the last year of a contract that may only get extended 1 year due to the AD situation and he really wants to stay longer? ;)
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Rem seems like a very reflective and mature individual for 18 years old...a rarity today. I think if he feels he needs more development in his game before making the move up to D1, you have to respect that. If I were Lucia, I'd be careful not to push him into making the jump to the Gophers before he feels he's ready. He'll be much more enthusiastic and prepared when he "knows" he's ready.

With a few exceptions (i.e. Connor, Boeser), it's never good to place high scoring expectations on freshman forwards coming in from the USHL or HS (i.e. Mittelstadt). This year's freshman soon to become next year's upperclassmen will have to pick up the bulk of the scoring minus Fasching. Will that happen? A lot of them will have to work hard over the summer to develop their game or it could be a struggle for consistency again next season.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

4four4 said:
He's looking for more scholarship money.
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Random speculation, or do we know this for sure? :rolleyes: Maybe, just possibly, that's his honest assessment of what he believes is in his best interest? From the video, that's what I would conclude, that he's being 100% honest. But if you have any inside information about it being all about the scholarship money, please tell.
 
D2D said:
Random speculation, or do we know this for sure? :rolleyes: Maybe, just possibly, that's his honest assessment of what he believes is in his best interest? From the video, that's what I would conclude, that he's being 100% honest. But if you have any inside information about it being all about the scholarship money, please tell.
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This.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

Koho said:
Unfortunately, there seems to be the same reduction in energy at games at the high school level as at college. The tourney this year was not what it used to be like in the Civic Center days.
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Society here and elsewhere has changed. Its more complex, more distractions, and lots of people moving in and out of the state. Minnesota of decades ago is gone.

4four4 said:
He's looking for more scholarship money.
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Possibly not. But I too was wondering if there wasn't something else going on behind the scenes. Just kind of odd for a lights out scorer in the USHL to hold out another year.
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

4four4 said:
With Mariucci Arena renovations to start in April, Gophers could use boost

Star Tribune
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Noticed this Lucia quote and following comment by Jason Gonzalez: "We need to do our upgrades, too," Lucia said after the renovations were approved. He helped lead the fundraising campaign and eventually expects the rink size to be updated to NHL standards.

Eventually expects? I thought the decision to do this was already made, and it was just a matter of raising the necessary funds before it would be completed.

Updated to NHL standards? My understanding was that the rink width could not be reduced to 85' due to water table concerns, and so it would be narrowed to the 93'-95' range. Maybe such a width would fall under the definition of "NHL standards" or maybe the original "hybrid" plan was scrapped? Either way, it seems like the rink size modification could be a ways off...
 
Re: Minnesota Gophers Season Thread 2015-16

If they lower tickets prices that might produce a better game atmosphere too.
 
D2D said:
Noticed this Lucia quote and following comment by Jason Gonzalez: "We need to do our upgrades, too," Lucia said after the renovations were approved. He helped lead the fundraising campaign and eventually expects the rink size to be updated to NHL standards.

Eventually expects? I thought the decision to do this was already made, and it was just a matter of raising the necessary funds before it would be completed.

Updated to NHL standards? My understanding was that the rink width could not be reduced to 85' due to water table concerns, and so it would be narrowed to the 93'-95' range. Maybe such a width would fall under the definition of "NHL standards" or maybe the original "hybrid" plan was scrapped? Either way, it seems like the rink size modification could be a ways off...
Click to expand...

I don't think it is too far off. I believe they have to do it in phases as there is a limit to how much they can do in an offseason and the put priority on player areas, as they should. I am guessing we see the rest of the rennovations next offseason or shortly after.
 
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