Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

[D2D]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

When we were at the welcome home gathering at Ridder the other night my wife mentioned how slight several of the Gopher players looked in their regular clothes. She thinks it's remarkable that Amanda could be such a great goalie being so slight. I decided not to say, well compared to us, of coarse they are.

As you've obviously figured out, one of the requirements of a long marriage is to learn when NOT to say anything.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

#13 took a lot of lazy penalities early in her time with UM. Instead of turning and skating with a forward she would reach out and hold or hook, drove me crazy because she was so much better than that. I think she did see herself as the team cop later on.

I didn’t see it that way. I have no idea about her background, where she learned to play, but I get the idea she learned to play, playing with boys. Many of the penalties she has taken would simply be viewed as the play you would expect a blueliner to make in men’s hockey. And sometimes even in women’s hockey it is the play to make.

Go back to the WI goal that was kicked (OK, directed in). The Gopher defender attempted to make the play you would expect in women’s hockey, but being a step behind couldn’t quite finish it. Milica would have simply knocked her down, or maybe hooked her. No goal, PK time. And given the Gopher PK, a pretty good chance of no goal.

Many of her penalties were like this. Also because of this, IMO, while other players were often given “let ‘em play” rather than blow the whistle, she was called for things others sometimes got away with. It still irritates me that in a game 3 years ago Sarah Davis had her stick grabbed by an opposing player while skating into the opponents zone and lost the puck, as the opponent came into the Gopher zone Milica did the same thing and was immediately called for it, despite the fact the opposing team kept possession of the puck.

I have enjoyed watching her play and will miss her. While I wouldn’t want the entire team to play like that (although it would have been cool to have two, the other could play center), it is what makes her unique and having a player like her makes watching them more interesting.

 

[KTDC]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

Plus, opposing players had the tendency of flying off her after touching Milica McMillen! (It seemed she had trouble not raising her arms.)

Milica was wild...lol

I agree it was very valuable having someone like her on the team. Her decision making to me was almost 100% inscrutable. I thought she was almost pathologically "casual". Did you guys see, I think it was quarters against Princeton, a Princeton player flipped the puck high in the air over Milica's head at the blueline and McMillen turned as if she was going to make an over the shoulder catch of the thing. She got herself so distracted by this she forgot to make the play and the Princeton player got by her.

I also think, although she was great at carrying the puck, if she ever made it to the offensive blueline she would never, ever pass the puck. She would just keep it until she lost it. Except of course the great moment against St Cloud where she scored the brilliant goal to keep the streak alive for One More Week!!

I am not claiming she wasn't good or valuable, very much the opposite. I just think she was very unusual and unique!

 

[wwhyte]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

So true...Just look at the first 13 seconds of the championship game Sunday on the highlight video that Whoop87 posted. The heralded one from bc (#4) had her pocket picked by Brandt. Potomak was left all alone in the slot by #6, #5, and #22. and was able to quickly deposit a beautiful pass from Brandt into the back of the net. The only one of the bc players on the ice that remotely tried to take a defensive posture was #12 who briefly shadowed Kessel before turning away from her. That poor team defense hung Burt out to dry and 13 seconds in they are down 1-0 with all eyes on the goalie fishing the puck out the net.

What I see in that play is that Keller was first to the puck but simply didn't get her stick all the way down to the ice to make contact with it. Because everyone's used to her winning those battles they were turning for the rush the other way and left that passing lane open, and Brandt could just scoop the puck off the boards.

Not disagreeing with anything you say above, but if Keller had had her stick an inch lower on that play it could have been a very different game.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

I thought she was almost pathologically "casual".

"casual", that works for me, her long legs move at the opposite of Schipper, for example, whose legs move more like a hummingbirds wings

... she was great at carrying the puck,...

When Milica’s skating with the puck it’s like a Bruce Lee movie when all of the ninja come after him one by one and he steps aside as each go flying by.

 

[DedicatedFan]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

so nobody is going to mention Hanna Brandt tied the WCHA record for points?

Jocelyne Lamoureux had 125 goals and 160 assists = 285 points
Hannah Brandt 115 goals 170 assists = 285 points
or are these not correct?

she had a whole lot fewer penalty minutes

Hannah Brandt broke many records over the course of her college career and moved her way to the top of several scoring categories. I think the most remarkable thing, however, was her durability and consistency over her four years. She missed only a handful of games; scored 82, 65, 74 and 64 points respectively; had less than ten penalties each year; and her plus-minus numbers were +77, +42, +69 and +48. Over the course of Hannah’s career, there have been those skeptics who have said that she is not a pretty skater or that she is not fast enough for the Olympic game – I disagree. Here is a skater who was a Patty Kazmaier finalist all four years, skating on the top line of the top team in the nation and being one of the top five scorers in the nation every year. I don’t know what more an Olympic coach could want from a prospective player. While all of these individual stats are impressive, what I admire most about Hannah is that she knows the game, sees the ice, and makes whoever she plays with better. Her freshman year, she skated with Amanda Kessel who won the Patty Kaz that year. Hannah’s sophomore year, she skated with Rachael Bona, who was the 4th leading scorer in the nation and a Patty Kaz finalist (the only year Bona had really impressive numbers). Hannah’s junior year, she skated with Dani Cameranesi who was 7th in the nation in scoring (nearly doubling her points from the prior season). Finally, this year she skated with Dani Cameranesi and Sarah Potamak for much of the year, finishing out playing with Kessel and Potamak. Cameranesi was the 5th leading scorer in the nation and a Patty Kaz finalist; Potomak was the 9th leading scorer and became the national rookie of the year; and Kessel had a tremendous finish to her career with 17 points in 13 games. My intention in saying this is not to take anything away from these already great players, but simply to emphasize that they were that much better playing with Hannah. I wish Hannah all the best in her Olympic quest and hope that dream comes true for her.

 

[Golden Tuuk]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

which means said player is probably better. imagine if she had 6 more games in which to score.
tie goes to Lam.

Not at all. If you want to say that, then imagine if Kessel were never injured. 300 points for sure. Can't really do that can we?


I'm really glad those two Lamarouix losers left the U. They added absolutely nothing to the program.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

Not at all. If you want to say that, then imagine if Kessel were never injured. 300 points for sure. Can't really do that can we?


I'm really glad those two Lamarouix losers left the U. They added absolutely nothing to the program.

Whioux?

 

[bluffrinkrat]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

Whioux?

A Lamourioux Sioux Whioux Boo Hoo at the press conference after their last game as I remember. Probably not nice to bring that up to the ND fans, but then we never held up "Traitor Twins" signs at Ridder like the several we saw at The Ralph in Dec of 2008 either.

 

[ARM]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

Let's let it go already. The Lams are great players, and not bad people either. They wanted to go home, and the overall college hockey landscape is the better for it.

 

[ne7minder]

Not at all. If you want to say that, then imagine if Kessel were never injured. 300 points for sure. Can't really do that can we?


I'm really glad those two Lamarouix losers left the U. They added absolutely nothing to the program.

I am eternally grateful for the Lams. I am sure that a couple of those championships and 41-0 would never have happened had they not gone. We owe those two a lot.

Let's let it go already. The Lams are great players, and not bad people either. They wanted to go home, and the overall college hockey landscape is the better for it.

It is tough to disagree with you because I know you are mostly right. landscape as improved? I'll give you that. But I have a qibble about "great", great players would not have spent so much time in the bin. Not only would their numbers be better, their teams would have won more games. They probably are swell kids and have lovely singing voices but their play hurts the teams they are on and I didn't see improvement on the tendency to take ill considered penalities.

 

[mnpokecheck]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

Let's let it go already. The Lams are great players, and not bad people either. They wanted to go home, and the overall college hockey landscape is the better for it.

Yes, I don't get the bitter...when someone doesn't want to be here (u of mn)....best they go....opens up new opportunities for others. And Minnesota did alright after they left. Minnesota has taken in a few players that were not satisfied where they were playing that came home to finish their careers.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

What I see in that play is that Keller was first to the puck but simply didn't get her stick all the way down to the ice to make contact with it. Because everyone's used to her winning those battles they were turning for the rush the other way and left that passing lane open, and Brandt could just scoop the puck off the boards.

Not disagreeing with anything you say above, but if Keller had had her stick an inch lower on that play it could have been a very different game.

Of course they were and for all the indignation that a bc supporter received about questioning the coaching this would seem like a valid point to look at as far as how prepared bc was for the Frozen Four. Do you think it was coincidence that both Clarkson and Minnesota scored very early in each game? I don't but I bet quite a few bc supporters do. I can guarantee you that the opposition staffs talked about getting on bc's defense to force turnovers and take advantage of the tendancy for bc to quickly take flight from the defensive zone to transition to offense. The skill level of the forwards of any of the Frozen Four teams was going to be the best that bc had faced all year so it should have been expected that even #4 might have some problems and would need some support from the forwards.

 

[bluffrinkrat]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

My last entry on the Lams, probably. I don't think bitter is ever the feeling I've had for the Lamoureuxs leaving Minnesota for North Dakota. Disappointing is closer to it. I really thought then and I still think they were an amazing pair of hockey players to watch in their 2008-2009 season with the Gophers. Circling around in the offensive zone with the puck and then a quick pass to the other sister and a rifled shot into the net. They did seem to have an innate awareness of where each other was on the ice at all times. Bruce Brothers called it "A Twin Thing" in his article for the Pioneer Press on 11/27/08. Their coach at Shattuck-St. Mary's Gordie Stafford said of them when they had orally committed to the U, "They set the standard for what a female hockey player is and that's going to be their legacy here at Shattuck and the Gophers are going to be the beneficiaries of that."

But with the Lamoureuxs the Gophers had to take the good beneficiaries with the bad. As freshmen they had 67 goals and 73 assists between them as the top two scorers on the Gophers. Not bad considering other players with the names of Marvin, West, Schoulis and Francis were also on that team. But they also had a whopping 81 penalties between them as well. I had hoped at the time that as they matured as players their penalties would go down and their point production would increase and that was indeed the case with J Lam, but not her sister.

Penalties were always their nemesis and I suppose it was fitting that Monique ended her career with the Gophers sitting in the penalty box from a hooking call less than a minute after she had scored a goal to draw the Gophers within one of a tie in the 2009 NCAA semifinal against Mercyhurst. And just as fitting Jocelyne would end her college career sitting in the box for tripping in the 3rd overtime against Minnesota in the 2013 NCAA quarterfinal game.

In that Bruce Brothers article he mentions that the Lamoureux's goal was to make the U S Olympic team. And I have had people speculate to me that once they accomplished that they had no more reason to stay in Minnesota. Maybe they did just get homesick for North Dakota or wanted to help improve the program there while playing for Brian Idalski. I have no idea. I did ask Brad Frost at a Gopher women's hockey dinner for season ticket holders in the fall of 2009 if he had had any indication that the Lams would be transferring and he responded with one word "No."

 

[ne7minder]

Of course they were and for all the indignation that a bc supporter received about questioning the coaching this would seem like a valid point to look at as far as how prepared bc was for the Frozen Four. Do you think it was coincidence that both Clarkson and Minnesota scored very early in each game? I don't but I bet quite a few bc supporters do. I can guarantee you that the opposition staffs talked about getting on bc's defense to force turnovers and take advantage of the tendancy for bc to quickly take flight from the defensive zone to transition to offense. The skill level of the forwards of any of the Frozen Four teams was going to be the best that bc had faced all year so it should have been expected that even #4 might have some problems and would need some support from the forwards.

What you see as suspect coaching could just as easily be lack of stiff competition. I see a lot of freshman try cute moves early in their first year and get their lunch stolen. They underestimate the competition because they have not played against this level enough. As much as our Eastern friends hate when we say it maybe a few games against tougher competition might have convinced bc better than a coaches warning.

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

What you see as suspect coaching could just as easily be lack of stiff competition. I see a lot of freshman try cute moves early in their first year and get their lunch stolen. They underestimate the competition because they have not played against this level enough. As much as our Eastern friends hate when we say it maybe a few games against tougher competition might have convinced bc better than a coaches warning.

No question that playing in Hockey East this year and Harvard being mediocre this year didn't do them any favors.

 

[Ted Knight]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

ask you coach to have the guts to play BC, Harvard, BU, NE during the season. I think I heard somewhere he is too worried about the seeding if he loses. as one bleeding heart Lib said to the other "great philosophy Sean, that way you can go through life and never really know what it's like to lose to an eastern team during the regular season." oh, that's what they do now. How do you like them apples?

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

I think Minnesota's "guts" were on display for all to see just fine in the final against bc this year...Harvard last year...And bc and BU in the 2013 Frozen Four. So there is that

 

[Leather helmet]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

My first thought was to agree with Ted and say that Frost should schedule elite eastern teams for the good of women's hockey. After all, if your goal is to end the season as one of the top eight teams, who then control their own destiny through the tournament, so what if you stumble once or twice during your non-conference season? It wouldn't knock the Gophers out of the tournament.

But then I considered how the Gophers won the championship game: they hounded BC in a way they weren't used to, and it took BC most of the game to adjust. If the Gophers gave them a free look at how a game against UM or UW go, back in December, it could change how the tournament games were played. It seems to be smarter for Frost (and Johnson) to let BC practice against the Bulldogs, and wait for March to see what pressure looks like.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey 2015-2016 (Part 2) -- Amanda Kessel Enhanced

My first thought was to agree with Ted and say that Frost should schedule elite eastern teams for the good of women's hockey. After all, if your goal is to end the season as one of the top eight teams, who then control their own destiny through the tournament, so what if you stumble once or twice during your non-conference season? It wouldn't knock the Gophers out of the tournament.

But then I considered how the Gophers won the championship game: they hounded BC in a way they weren't used to, and it took BC most of the game to adjust. If the Gophers gave them a free look at how a game against UM or UW go, back in December, it could change how the tournament games were played. It seems to be smarter for Frost (and Johnson) to let BC practice against the Bulldogs, and wait for March to see what pressure looks like.

I agree,
Gophers already play a tough schedule, the proof is in the results, no need for more, it would only help opposition
IMO, playing the Whitecaps was brilliant, gave the team a taste of top flight athletes, with no risk to RPI
plus it gave a boost to helping women's hockey, from an interest standpoint
and helped out the Whitecaps as well, gave them some good games