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Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
- Thread starter ARM
- Start date
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
From the previous thread: Ted Knight: I have a theory but need confirmation.
does the band show up to all of the MN WI games? I believe that the more chaotic the atmosphere is the more fans you will attract.
college kids aren't looking for someplace to plant their butts for 2 hours on a Friday night or Saturday. they want action.
2pm games on Friday don't help anyone for attendance...parents or student fans.
At Clarkson the band goes on the road with the men's team. There is usually a few kids who come in and bring their instruments and play. My guess is these are band members that cannot travel for whatever reason. When the men and women are home on the same weekend, the women play at 4 and the band is there. I am wondering how many of the Eastern women's programs charge admission? I know Clarkson does. Last year it was $5.00. I know Princeton is free. Other than that I don't know.
From the previous thread: Ted Knight: I have a theory but need confirmation.
does the band show up to all of the MN WI games? I believe that the more chaotic the atmosphere is the more fans you will attract.
college kids aren't looking for someplace to plant their butts for 2 hours on a Friday night or Saturday. they want action.
2pm games on Friday don't help anyone for attendance...parents or student fans.
At Clarkson the band goes on the road with the men's team. There is usually a few kids who come in and bring their instruments and play. My guess is these are band members that cannot travel for whatever reason. When the men and women are home on the same weekend, the women play at 4 and the band is there. I am wondering how many of the Eastern women's programs charge admission? I know Clarkson does. Last year it was $5.00. I know Princeton is free. Other than that I don't know.
bluffrinkrat
New member
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
To continue on with the pre-Kessel forum topic. We have probably brought around 20 different friends and family to the Gopher women's hockey games in the past 15 years. In each instance it was the first time any of them had ever attended a women's game. Six of those 20 attended this past weekend. We bought the tickets, provided the transportation and they bought us dinner at the Playoffs after the game. All six want to go again and if not this weekend certainly for the finals in two weeks. One of them (he coaches boy's sports in Woodbury) said he had no idea women's hockey could be so exciting. Unfortunately, he and two others were wearing red and sitting between us. Another was a former neighbor of Mark Johnson in Madison. I haven't heard that loud of an opponent fan's cheering since the ND's goalie's family was standing behind us. It was a little disconcerting. But of the other 15 people we have brought only one (the daughter) has come with us again and she does that once or twice a year. Her husband doesn't attend because of issues he has with all college sports. I think that the quality of the games attended probably has a lot to do with getting someone hooked on women's hockey. This weekend did that.
As for the band, several people said they loved it, but I do remember my cousin asking me a couple of years ago, "Why the h... don't they march around the arena like they do at Mariucci?" The former UM band member that sit's next to me said it's a lack of space thing and something else (type of instruments, maybe?).
Anyway, it was a great couple of days for hockey!
To continue on with the pre-Kessel forum topic. We have probably brought around 20 different friends and family to the Gopher women's hockey games in the past 15 years. In each instance it was the first time any of them had ever attended a women's game. Six of those 20 attended this past weekend. We bought the tickets, provided the transportation and they bought us dinner at the Playoffs after the game. All six want to go again and if not this weekend certainly for the finals in two weeks. One of them (he coaches boy's sports in Woodbury) said he had no idea women's hockey could be so exciting. Unfortunately, he and two others were wearing red and sitting between us. Another was a former neighbor of Mark Johnson in Madison. I haven't heard that loud of an opponent fan's cheering since the ND's goalie's family was standing behind us. It was a little disconcerting. But of the other 15 people we have brought only one (the daughter) has come with us again and she does that once or twice a year. Her husband doesn't attend because of issues he has with all college sports. I think that the quality of the games attended probably has a lot to do with getting someone hooked on women's hockey. This weekend did that.
As for the band, several people said they loved it, but I do remember my cousin asking me a couple of years ago, "Why the h... don't they march around the arena like they do at Mariucci?" The former UM band member that sit's next to me said it's a lack of space thing and something else (type of instruments, maybe?).
Anyway, it was a great couple of days for hockey!
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Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
We have brought about a dozen people to games over the years, only our Son & his family make a regular thing out of it now though. Not sure what the problem is with the others.
The band did a walk around at a couple of tourney games I remember. Mrs. Minder often asks them to & always gets the same answer, "We have been told we can't" Ridder concourse is a bit narrow and the ceiling might crowd the sousaphone players a bit but it has been done. The UMD band did one when they showed up an AmSoil a couple weekends ago, that was a first.
Two great games but I can't remember the last WI/MN game that was not a great game even if they didn't all end the way they were supposed to (like the two earlier this year for instance)
We have brought about a dozen people to games over the years, only our Son & his family make a regular thing out of it now though. Not sure what the problem is with the others.
The band did a walk around at a couple of tourney games I remember. Mrs. Minder often asks them to & always gets the same answer, "We have been told we can't" Ridder concourse is a bit narrow and the ceiling might crowd the sousaphone players a bit but it has been done. The UMD band did one when they showed up an AmSoil a couple weekends ago, that was a first.
Two great games but I can't remember the last WI/MN game that was not a great game even if they didn't all end the way they were supposed to (like the two earlier this year for instance)
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ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
Moving this here because my comment is Gopher-related. McMillen has done a nice job of cutting her penalties this season. The D have played heavy minutes in recent weeks when they've gone to playing only four much of the time, so they handle the puck a lot, and what we remember are the times they mishandle it. I think that the best thing any of the Minnesota players can do is graduate, because once they do, we remember them much more fondly. For years, many of the comments on Ramsey were negative: she gets beat, she turns it over, her shot gets blocked, she misses the net. Once she graduated, the comments were, we sure miss Ramsey. My biggest worry is that we'll realize how great a goalie Leveille was next season.
bluffrinkrat
New member
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
Yes to both the comments on Ramsey and Leveille. Like Raty, Leveille has had one shaky game in the NCAAs, but has been usually solid and seems to play best in most big games, especially against the Badgers. We both miss Ramsey, but hopefully will be watching her brother play for another 3 years. Her parents sat a few feet to the right of us at Ridder and now sit a few feet in front of us at Mariucci.
Yes to both the comments on Ramsey and Leveille. Like Raty, Leveille has had one shaky game in the NCAAs, but has been usually solid and seems to play best in most big games, especially against the Badgers. We both miss Ramsey, but hopefully will be watching her brother play for another 3 years. Her parents sat a few feet to the right of us at Ridder and now sit a few feet in front of us at Mariucci.
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
I Don't think my opinion on Ramsey has changed, she was very good but not perfect (I don't think anyone is perfect but we all have some tendency to gauge current performance to perfect). We saw 13 play in high school and she took lazy penalties. I attributed them to self preservation given the amount of time she was on the ice (in the state final the only time she was not on the ice were the 2 minute breaks she got when penalized!). I kept hoping she would grow out of that at the U. She is too good a player to be reaching out with her stick instead of turning & chasing. This year she really has cut down on that stuff but is stuck with a reputation and, as we saw Friday, plays the role of protector which every team needs.
Lev looked fabulous last year. She had a stinker in the NCAAs but so did Raty one year, stuff happens. When it happens to a goalie it is way more noticeable. I thought Lev was having a lot of trouble controlling her rebounds early this year & making a lot of extra work for the skaters but that all changed about 6 weeks ago. The last few games the puck has been doing what she tells it to do so that has lightened the load for the rest of the team. That has to be great for her mental state which just makes her that much better. We get to see a number of well above average goalies and I would be hard pressed to say swapping the top 3-4 between teams would make a significant difference in outcomes, they are all very good.
I Don't think my opinion on Ramsey has changed, she was very good but not perfect (I don't think anyone is perfect but we all have some tendency to gauge current performance to perfect). We saw 13 play in high school and she took lazy penalties. I attributed them to self preservation given the amount of time she was on the ice (in the state final the only time she was not on the ice were the 2 minute breaks she got when penalized!). I kept hoping she would grow out of that at the U. She is too good a player to be reaching out with her stick instead of turning & chasing. This year she really has cut down on that stuff but is stuck with a reputation and, as we saw Friday, plays the role of protector which every team needs.
Lev looked fabulous last year. She had a stinker in the NCAAs but so did Raty one year, stuff happens. When it happens to a goalie it is way more noticeable. I thought Lev was having a lot of trouble controlling her rebounds early this year & making a lot of extra work for the skaters but that all changed about 6 weeks ago. The last few games the puck has been doing what she tells it to do so that has lightened the load for the rest of the team. That has to be great for her mental state which just makes her that much better. We get to see a number of well above average goalies and I would be hard pressed to say swapping the top 3-4 between teams would make a significant difference in outcomes, they are all very good.
On a tangent...
At the championship game two days later, entering the third period, the score was tied 3-3 after Minnesota scored the last two goals. The Gophers had the momentum. I was feeling really good. But alas, it was not to be.
I would say two. I was much more nervous at the 2014 semifinal than I was at the championship game. I had been to the 2009 FF in Boston where the Gophers laid an egg against Mercyhurst, and I was sweating bullets again. The Gopher offense pulled it out, thankfully.
At the championship game two days later, entering the third period, the score was tied 3-3 after Minnesota scored the last two goals. The Gophers had the momentum. I was feeling really good. But alas, it was not to be.
bluffrinkrat
New member
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
Giving up 3 goals to Wisconsin on 34 shots I wouldn't call shaky in the 2014 semifinal, but 5 on 28 against Clarkson, sure. The next year the second time around she sure was stellar.
Giving up 3 goals to Wisconsin on 34 shots I wouldn't call shaky in the 2014 semifinal, but 5 on 28 against Clarkson, sure. The next year the second time around she sure was stellar.
pokechecker
Banned
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
must have been the first two years, #5 & #13 sure came thru in 2013/14
#5 gave up fewer goals than every D in 2012/13 (tied with Mira) and her ratio of goals scored to given up was second only to Gillanders
you are certainly correct, our memory is selective and bad at recalling what really happened
Player-Goals-Goals scored/goals given up
27 6 12
5 5 10.2
19 8 8.6
7 5 8.6
2 10 4.5
13 7 4.3
not surprisingly, the two freshmen were at the bottom, # 2 gave up more goals than any other player
now that the regular season is over I should probably publish the goal ratios for this year, I know you are all waiting in anticipation for it
must have been the first two years, #5 & #13 sure came thru in 2013/14
#5 gave up fewer goals than every D in 2012/13 (tied with Mira) and her ratio of goals scored to given up was second only to Gillanders
you are certainly correct, our memory is selective and bad at recalling what really happened
Player-Goals-Goals scored/goals given up
27 6 12
5 5 10.2
19 8 8.6
7 5 8.6
2 10 4.5
13 7 4.3
not surprisingly, the two freshmen were at the bottom, # 2 gave up more goals than any other player
now that the regular season is over I should probably publish the goal ratios for this year, I know you are all waiting in anticipation for it
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
Was anybody listening, did Dan Hamann have anything to say about the hook on Milica McMillen that wasn't called?
Was anybody listening, did Dan Hamann have anything to say about the hook on Milica McMillen that wasn't called?
ARM
Fan of chipmunk-like mascots.
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
I know which one you mean. That would get called in the NHL, but not the women's WCHA. I'm not sure these officials even know what half of the infractions are.
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
After attending the first half of the women's game I walked across the alley to Mariucci to watch the men play Michigan. The Wolverines have a very good sophomore defenseman named Sam Piazza, from Darien, Illinois. Would I be correct to assume that he's the brother of our Cara Piazza, also of Darien, Illinois?
After attending the first half of the women's game I walked across the alley to Mariucci to watch the men play Michigan. The Wolverines have a very good sophomore defenseman named Sam Piazza, from Darien, Illinois. Would I be correct to assume that he's the brother of our Cara Piazza, also of Darien, Illinois?
bluffrinkrat
New member
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
Yes, Sam is Cara's brother. We had sold our tickets to the men's game (we always do if there is a conflict with the women's game) and went to a bar after we left Ridder to watch the 3rd period and overtime of the men's game. No sound, but there was an interview with Cara and whom I assume was their mother. We went to the men's game Thursday night, a real clinker.
Added this after I watched the replay of the men's game on BTN this morning: The interview with Cara and her parents (Tom and Sue) is with about 9 minutes to go in the 3rd period. Her father was asked about the difference in the two games and he mentioned the speed in the women's game and said it's all about strength in the men's.
Yes, Sam is Cara's brother. We had sold our tickets to the men's game (we always do if there is a conflict with the women's game) and went to a bar after we left Ridder to watch the 3rd period and overtime of the men's game. No sound, but there was an interview with Cara and whom I assume was their mother. We went to the men's game Thursday night, a real clinker.
Added this after I watched the replay of the men's game on BTN this morning: The interview with Cara and her parents (Tom and Sue) is with about 9 minutes to go in the 3rd period. Her father was asked about the difference in the two games and he mentioned the speed in the women's game and said it's all about strength in the men's.
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Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
The officiating this season has been a total disgrace. I am not sure if the WCHA has said something to the officials, if they just are all incompetent or if they have decided to go on strike while on the ice but there has been far and away too much crap allowed to go unremarked by the strippers this year. The results have been some games that got nasty that shouldn't have. Last nights was easy to see the level of violence escalate as the game went on & it became obvious nothing was getting called. Last week against Wisconsin was similar. The games are going to devolve to NHL-like thug fests if this is allowed to continue. Worse, kids are going to get hurt and that is inexcusable.
The officiating this season has been a total disgrace. I am not sure if the WCHA has said something to the officials, if they just are all incompetent or if they have decided to go on strike while on the ice but there has been far and away too much crap allowed to go unremarked by the strippers this year. The results have been some games that got nasty that shouldn't have. Last nights was easy to see the level of violence escalate as the game went on & it became obvious nothing was getting called. Last week against Wisconsin was similar. The games are going to devolve to NHL-like thug fests if this is allowed to continue. Worse, kids are going to get hurt and that is inexcusable.
play-by-play guy
New member
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
Honestly, I probably did, but don't remember because there were so many non-calls on both sides that I lost track. I was quick to point out in the opening minute that Stecklein got away with what I thought an interference, so I will point out the calls that the Gophers get away with too.
I really don't like to be over-critical of officiating since I umpire a lot of baseball in the spring and summer and know it is not an easy job, and know that it is easy to get on the officials; but this year has been an abomination all around. The usual comment I hear from officials is that they don't want to be the deciding factor in a game....and I don't really want to watch a lot of 5x4 or 4x4 or 5x3 hockey, but if you don't make those calls, it takes away from the great product that it can be and turns it into rec hockey. No one want to watch that.
Not only that, when the obvious or blatant infractions go uncalled, tempers will escalade and that's when someone will get hurt.
If I choose not to call and obstruction or interference on the ball field, or not ring up a kid for the final out because "I don't want to determine the outcome of the game", then I have achieved exactly what I didn't want to do in the first place.
Honestly, I probably did, but don't remember because there were so many non-calls on both sides that I lost track. I was quick to point out in the opening minute that Stecklein got away with what I thought an interference, so I will point out the calls that the Gophers get away with too.
I really don't like to be over-critical of officiating since I umpire a lot of baseball in the spring and summer and know it is not an easy job, and know that it is easy to get on the officials; but this year has been an abomination all around. The usual comment I hear from officials is that they don't want to be the deciding factor in a game....and I don't really want to watch a lot of 5x4 or 4x4 or 5x3 hockey, but if you don't make those calls, it takes away from the great product that it can be and turns it into rec hockey. No one want to watch that.
Not only that, when the obvious or blatant infractions go uncalled, tempers will escalade and that's when someone will get hurt.
If I choose not to call and obstruction or interference on the ball field, or not ring up a kid for the final out because "I don't want to determine the outcome of the game", then I have achieved exactly what I didn't want to do in the first place.
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
And lose: https://twitter.com/i/videos/703442639576649728?embed_source=facebook
See you at the second women's game in a couple hours!
Well, at least I got to see Cara's brother play!Yes. BTN showed her sitting in the stands tonight (no, she didn't bail on the women's game when you did, I saw her in the 3rd when I got home).
And lose: https://twitter.com/i/videos/703442639576649728?embed_source=facebook
See you at the second women's game in a couple hours!
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
This was one of those weekends when you take your wins, go home, wish the NCAA would let you take a big slug of Nyquil, and go to bed. Hopefully, you'll feel better by Tuesday.
The first 5-8 minutes today were a borderline disaster. Amanda Leveille and some odd Ohio State shot selection kept Minnesota from being at least two goals down. After that, Cameranesi opened the scoring and the Gophers started to play better. Not great, but better. They were likely helped by OSU's short bench, so both teams got tired.
You could tell just watching them that a bunch of players weren't healthy. Her goal notwithstanding (though I loved the way she found the empty space to take the pass, a lot like Baldwin's goal last week), this might have been Lee Stecklein's worst game as a Gopher. Like the team, she got better as the game went along, but was still dragging. My impression was that she played with a lot of heart, but not a lot of lung capacity.
So, they won, and we'll see whether they've recovered by next Saturday.
I overheard ARM say something during a period break that I couldn't respond to at the time, but I'll now raise my hand as one of the people who likes the way Kelsey Cline plays. I think she's steady and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. She also has little if any offensive upside and tends to be more conservative than this coaching staff really likes. I'm not under the illusion that she's more than the 5th or 6th best defenseman on the roster and shouldn't be playing top four minutes. But I also think that she's good enough that she shouldn't entirely disappear from the rotation the way that she often does. For 8-12 minutes a game, she won't kill you, and having players like that is valuable to allow the top four to stay fresher.
This was one of those weekends when you take your wins, go home, wish the NCAA would let you take a big slug of Nyquil, and go to bed. Hopefully, you'll feel better by Tuesday.
The first 5-8 minutes today were a borderline disaster. Amanda Leveille and some odd Ohio State shot selection kept Minnesota from being at least two goals down. After that, Cameranesi opened the scoring and the Gophers started to play better. Not great, but better. They were likely helped by OSU's short bench, so both teams got tired.
You could tell just watching them that a bunch of players weren't healthy. Her goal notwithstanding (though I loved the way she found the empty space to take the pass, a lot like Baldwin's goal last week), this might have been Lee Stecklein's worst game as a Gopher. Like the team, she got better as the game went along, but was still dragging. My impression was that she played with a lot of heart, but not a lot of lung capacity.
So, they won, and we'll see whether they've recovered by next Saturday.
I overheard ARM say something during a period break that I couldn't respond to at the time, but I'll now raise my hand as one of the people who likes the way Kelsey Cline plays. I think she's steady and doesn't make a lot of mistakes. She also has little if any offensive upside and tends to be more conservative than this coaching staff really likes. I'm not under the illusion that she's more than the 5th or 6th best defenseman on the roster and shouldn't be playing top four minutes. But I also think that she's good enough that she shouldn't entirely disappear from the rotation the way that she often does. For 8-12 minutes a game, she won't kill you, and having players like that is valuable to allow the top four to stay fresher.
FiveHoleFrenzy
Well-known member
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced
I think the coaching staff would like to have a little more "steady" defensive minded option to plug into the third defensive pairing. This is going to sound harsh but to me Cline lacks the quickness and fluidity transitioning in and out of her forward and backwards skating needed to play regular minutes on defense at the D1 level. When the Gophers play better opposition she can be exposed.
I think the coaching staff would like to have a little more "steady" defensive minded option to plug into the third defensive pairing. This is going to sound harsh but to me Cline lacks the quickness and fluidity transitioning in and out of her forward and backwards skating needed to play regular minutes on defense at the D1 level. When the Gophers play better opposition she can be exposed.