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Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

No more high school reminiscences. Too many painful memories, literally. I think the argument, if that's what it is, about height is kind of weird. I'll miss the tall, talented string of defensemen that we've had when Lee Stecklein graduates. But I also miss the talented Kelly Seeler and Melanie Gagnon. Tall, short or medium good players are good players regardless. I am now equally tired of this topic as I was of the coaching discussions.

I never got to see Courtney Kennedy play. I had moved up to the Iron Range in the late 70's and when Courtney was battling Jenny Schmidgall/Potter and others in Duluth I was probably either in a deer stand by some swamp near Biwabik or trying to get my propane heater started in 20 below weather at a walleye tournament at Waskish.

I did see Kelly Stevens. What a player. She was feisty. The first item we ever bought at a Gopher auction was a signed (by Darwitz, Wendell and Stephens) Let's Play Hockey photo by Mike Thill. It shows Kelly Stevens in a "post-whistle tussle" with St Cloud's Kristy Oonincx . Natalie is trying to pull Kelly back and Maggie Souba is trying to pull Oonincx back with Krissy and a referee trying to squeeze between the two. Were there issues there with Oonincx other than the obvious one of her transfer? I brought the photo in to a Gopher signing session and asked Maggie to sign it and she said, "You want ME to sign it?" Of course, Maggie and she did. Maggie's mother by the way was one of the nicest people we ever met at Ridder.

A long way around to saying yes, I realize the game was physical back then, too. A quote from Kelly after two games with Dartmouth that saw 36 combined penalties might help explain why. "She's an aggressive player (Danielle Ashley), I'm an aggressive player. I think it's not a negative thing. If anything, it keeps players on the other team keeping their heads up."

Kelly was a big part of The Line. Why is Irene Adler suddenly coming to mind?
 
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Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

bluffrinkrat said:
Were there issues there with Oonincx other than the obvious one of her transfer?
Click to expand...
Oonincx was removed from the roster (I don't remember if the announcement said it was for the season or permanently) for either "conduct detrimental to the team" or "violation of team rules." I get it mixed up with the Danielle Ashley case a few years earlier. So yes, there was some history.
 
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

FiveHoleFrenzy said:
I look forward to hearing from the BC crowd next year about who will be "clearly the best" coming in.

Between Keller and Baldwin? Tough choice but based on what the Gophers needed I think Baldwin worked out very well. However, It would have been interesting to see what Keller would have done under the tutelage of the Gopher coaching staff.
Click to expand...

They should be quite pleased with Bizal.
 
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

The Danielle Ashley case, whatever it was, must have happened after the Feb 29, 2004 game with Duluth which was her last as a Gopher. And the Oonincx case, whatever it was, after the Feb 2, 2003 game with Bemidji which was her last as a Gopher. Those rascally Canadians.

That Duluth series had 46 penalties (mostly roughing) which along with the earlier Dartmouth series of 36 adds up to 82 penalties in 4 games, if my Harding math is correct. Poor Brad Shepherd must have been worn out blowing his whistle. We were at those games and I don't remember hearing "you're missing a good game Shepherd" even one time. Of course, Shepherd being rather short may have blown his whistle simply because he lost sight of the puck so much. Generally, taller referees are better because they can see more of the ice. Although Robert Ludwig's refereeing would refute that theory because he's tall, but also oblivious and especially was toward the end of this season. Maybe he was just wondering what he was going to do next year when he's not called over to the Duluth bench after every whistle. He did get that one call correct in Duluth 3 years ago, although it seemed to take awhile before he put his hands over his head. Forgot the signal maybe?
 
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

bluffrinkrat said:
The Danielle Ashley case, whatever it was, must have happened after the Feb 29, 2004 game with Duluth which was her last as a Gopher. And the Oonincx case, whatever it was, after the Feb 2, 2003 game with Bemidji which was her last as a Gopher. Those rascally Canadians.

That Duluth series had 46 penalties (mostly roughing) which along with the earlier Dartmouth series of 36 adds up to 82 penalties in 4 games, if my Harding math is correct. Poor Brad Shepherd must have been worn out blowing his whistle. We were at those games and I don't remember hearing "you're missing a good game Shepherd" even one time. Of course, Shepherd being rather short may have blown his whistle simply because he lost sight of the puck so much. Generally, taller referees are better because they can see more of the ice. Although Robert Ludwig's refereeing would refute that theory because he's tall, but also oblivious and especially was toward the end of this season. Maybe he was just wondering what he was going to do next year when he's not called over to the Duluth bench after every whistle. He did get that one call correct in Duluth 3 years ago, although it seemed to take awhile before he put his hands over his head. Forgot the signal maybe?
Click to expand...

I saw what you did there
 
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

Did anyone see the pictures in both the Star Trib & Pioneer Press today of the team visiting the Gov's Mansion??? Now that is what I call BASKING!!!!!!
 
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

Since it's the off-season, I thought I'd post something slightly off-topic (but hopefully considered only slightly). I realize that bookstore shelves are flooded with novels featuring women's ice hockey, but I thought I would add to that glut anyway. I'm currently in the process of editing the book and raising money to publish it. If you are interested, you can read the prologue. If it engages you, I'm running a Kickstarter to generate the funds I need.
 
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

Eeyore said:
Since it's the off-season, I thought I'd post something slightly off-topic (but hopefully considered only slightly). I realize that bookstore shelves are flooded with novels featuring women's ice hockey, but I thought I would add to that glut anyway. I'm currently in the process of editing the book and raising money to publish it. If you are interested, you can read the prologue. If it engages you, I'm running a Kickstarter to generate the funds I need.
Click to expand...

What an unexpected breath of fresh air to lift us out of the off-season doldrums of firings, hirings and conditioning camps! I'm in.
 
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

Eeyore said:
Since it's the off-season, I thought I'd post something slightly off-topic (but hopefully considered only slightly). I realize that bookstore shelves are flooded with novels featuring women's ice hockey, but I thought I would add to that glut anyway. I'm currently in the process of editing the book and raising money to publish it. If you are interested, you can read the prologue. If it engages you, I'm running a Kickstarter to generate the funds I need.
Click to expand...

OK - I dropped off $125 and we can discuss the game I want to go to once the season has started. I'm excited to see the book.
And its not so much that we need another book about womens hockey but if you could just knock Grisham, King or Steel off the !*&@#^ airport bookshelf for a couple of weeks that would be a huge win for literature.
 
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Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

Like it! Hey, Eeyore, I can't rep you because I rep you too much -- fancy repping me with your email address?
 
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

wwhyte said:
Like it! Hey, Eeyore, I can't rep you because I rep you too much -- fancy repping me with your email address?
Click to expand...

Done. And thanks. If you're interested, I'll be adding a link to Chapter 1 either Monday night or Tuesday. My editor will be getting it back to me with her suggestions on Monday and then I need to add the final polish before posting it.
 
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

driventoit said:
This Phoebe Rose character is certainly a determined, but free, spirit. A nice combo. And for some reason I like the fact that she plays D!
I wonder if we're looking at a roman à clef in the making . . . (pardon my french). :)
Click to expand...

Having read a rough draft I can guarantee you this is not a roman à clef. I think it captures the sense of family good teams have but the people are entirely made up.
 
Re: Minnesota Women's Hockey Off-Season 2015: #BASK

for those of you who aren't into reading hockey novels:
statistics!
players number-goals allowed-goals scored-ratio
goals=goals against/for while on the ice at even strength or short handed
21 10 73 7.3
22 12 81 6.8
14 9 56 6.2
2 9 53 5.9
11 6 32 5.3
9 12 51 4.3
5 16 65 4.1
12 15 56 3.7
18 6 22 3.7
20 12 38 3.2
19 14 42 3.0
7 15 41 2.7
13 16 40 2.5
27 3 7 2.3
15 4 9 2.3
6 10 22 2.2
10 10 22 2.2

and it suddenly occurred to me while taking a break from cleaning the inside of my car (and listening to the radio)
in addition to a shortage of tall defenders next year compared to the past
there may also be a shortage of players who listen to country music :eek:
 
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