MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

[Turk 77]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

Well, if it's any consolation to another mediocre season, Yale pulled off an upset against our Northwestern neighbors.

HEY !!! Lets all buy Yale jerseys and we can wear them anytime we play UND !!!!

 

[GO-4-EXCELLENCE]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

Lucia plans on 25 skaters and three goalies. As of now this is the list that has been bandied about. Incoming in Bold.

Forwards

Condon - Freshman
Haula - Freshman
Bjugstad - Freshman
Ambroz - Freshman
J. Larson - Freshman
Serratore - Freshman

Defense

Alt - Freshman
Schmidt - Freshman
Parenteau - Freshman


Guys that might be on the short list if anyone else leaves early but are likely to be in juniors next year are:

Jake Youso
Ryan Walters
Max Gardiner
Christian Isackson
Justin Holl

And there was postings about a Canadian goalie possibly coming in and could be a Kangas replacement if he leaves. Apparently the choice is between Minnesota and Michigan. I couldn't find more information but I remember it being talked about.

i remember there was a buzz around the internet about Ambroz, but that has seemingly dissipated. and being curious on when on ushl's website and pulled up his bio, 54-GP 22-G 25-A 47-TP. while this isn't terrible by any means, i thought it would have been where Haula's is currently, 55-GP 32-G 45-A 77-TP. perhaps i was mislead about the Ambroz hype.

also, i was curious about the Serratore kid and if he had any relation to BSU's coach Tom Serratore - it turns out he's the son of Air Force hockey coach Frank Serratore. sorry for those who already knew this.

lastly, i also vaguely remember hearing something about a canadian goalie. it would be interesting if he were to play for the U (given our history with canadian hockey players.)

i would just like to clarify a rumor that is now true. they do, in fact, play the canadian national anthem before Sue home games.

 

[brianvf]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

HEY !!! Lets all buy Yale jerseys and we can wear them anytime we play UND !!!!

That comparison doesn't really work though.
I was thinking we should all buy RIT jerseys and wear them to DU games. That comparison works.

That said, I still don't understand the people that bought HC jerseys...

they do, in fact, play the canadian national anthem before Sue home games.

That is true, actually...
But only when the Sioux play their exhibition opener against Manitoba each year.

 

[Cheesy McCheeser]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

I met Wooger twice and I can't tell you how gracious and nice he was (there's probably 10,000+ Gopher fans that have similar experiences). Just went straight into old time DU stories on the flip of the switch. The man is a living legend. He lives and breathes Gopher hockey.

Co-sign this.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

i remember there was a buzz around the internet about Ambroz, but that has seemingly dissipated. and being curious on when on ushl's website and pulled up his bio, 54-GP 22-G 25-A 47-TP. while this isn't terrible by any means, i thought it would have been where Haula's is currently, 55-GP 32-G 45-A 77-TP. perhaps i was mislead about the Ambroz hype.

also, i was curious about the Serratore kid and if he had any relation to BSU's coach Tom Serratore - it turns out he's the son of Air Force hockey coach Frank Serratore. sorry for those who already knew this.

lastly, i also vaguely remember hearing something about a canadian goalie. it would be interesting if he were to play for the U (given our history with canadian hockey players.)

i would just like to clarify a rumor that is now true. they do, in fact, play the canadian national anthem before Sue home games.

Ambroz still has buzz. I think Haula has a bigger impact in the USHL this past season though.

Tom is his uncle.

Still no word on whether he's signed with Michigan or Minnesota.

UND, Canada, same difference. Well, except they produce a lot of hockey players in one of those places.

 

[Driftryder]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

Q & A with Coach Lucia in the Pioneer Press

Another college hockey regular season ended this month with the country's best teams clashing at an NCAA regional tournament in the Twin Cities while the hometown Minnesota Gophers contemplated what went wrong — again.

The Gophers (18-19-2) finished seventh in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and lost in the first round of the playoffs for only the second time in 32 years.

It was coach Don Lucia's first losing campaign since coming to Minnesota in 1999, and a hard fall for the man who led the Gophers to two NCAA titles, a pair of WCHA regular-season championships and three WCHA Final Five trophies in his first eight years.

Critics are questioning the program's vitality and Lucia's stewardship as fans wonder how a powerhouse that routinely raised banners at Mariucci Arena has failed to win 20 games the past three seasons while talented players continue to flee.

Lucia, who has a total of almost $700,000 remaining on a contract that runs through 2011-12, discussed the state of Gophers hockey last week during an interview with the Pioneer Press.

Q Athletics director Joel Maturi has said you will be coaching Gopher hockey next year, unless you choose not to. Is there any reason you would not return for an 11th season?

A No. I've been coaching a long time. I still think I have a lot of good years in me. I still love what I do. Whenever you have a year that ends in disappointment, you want the next one to begin as quickly as it
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can.

Q Are you at the stage where you're saying, "Well, I've got five or 10 years left?"

A No. I'll be 52 this summer. I feel I'm in pretty good shape. I'm hoping that I'll be done with the steroid treatments (for sarcoidosis) this summer, which will be nice to get that behind me. The big thing is I still have passion and I love what I do.

Q Why do you deserve to have the chance to reverse the program's back slide?

A I think I'm pretty resilient. I'm able to get over the highs and lows. I think I still have the drive and the passion to try to get back to where we were. We had an unbelievable run of success where we hung up seven banners. How many people have done that, or had the success that we've had over the 10 years? The last couple of years, we're only a couple games away. The big thing, this year, we didn't score enough goals.

Q Is there a disconnect between what the coaching staff is teaching and what the players are learning and executing?

A No. I just think it's the ongoing evolution with some of these kids. Some of them have had the kind of success we expected. Some haven't. I think we all have to evaluate what we're doing as coaches and players to see what can we do to become better.

It wasn't easy as far as trying to push 'em and push 'em. It seemed like the farther our foot went up some of these guys' rear ends, the more they'd respond. But if we backed off, they seemed to take their foot off the gas.

Q What do you mean?

A We kicked them out of the locker room. We had morning practices the day after games, trying different methods to get through to some of these kids about how we have to play and to bring it every single night.

Q What can be addressed right away?

A I think the area of our game that we have to get better at is below the tops of the circles in the offensive zone. That includes puck battles, the confrontation. For some of these kids, it doesn't come natural to have a bite to their game. We're going to have to try to push them.

Q You were preaching during the year to get into the greasy areas, pay the price. Is it the makeup of the guys?

A I think it's a combination. Coming out of high school, maybe you don't have to score goals that way. At some point in your career, you're going to experience failure as a player. Then it becomes "How am I going to react to that? Am I going to learn to become a better player and overcome some of my deficiencies?" That's an area of mental toughness.

You have to learn to be able to take a slash. You have to puck protect. You have to engage physically even before the puck battle to get your body in position. Those are things we have to get better at.

Q Philosophically, in rebuilding the program, have you turned a page in terms of the type of player you want to attract?

A It's important when you have kids here they have both feet in. College wasn't so much a destination but the focus was always here while they were here. There was no intent, "I'm going to come for one year or two years." It was, "I'm going to go there and graduate and if something happens before then, great."

Now, kids are (thinking,) "I'm going to go there for X amount of time and then move on." I think we have to make sure to get our kids to understand that when you're ready, you're ready. You shouldn't put a timetable on that.

Q Does that mean you will bring in more junior players and grinders who are likely to stay four years?

A We're going to have three kids that are going to be 21-year-old freshmen. We haven't signed them yet. These are guys that are content to penalty kill. They're a little bit older. They're not drafted, which is fine. But we think they can be good college players.

Q How does a team with 20 NHL prospects finish eighth in the WCHA in scoring?

A (Pauses). Who was one of our better players this year? Jacob Cepis. And he never got drafted. Just because somebody is drafted doesn't mean they're going to be a top scorer. It doesn't mean they're ever going to play after college. It's an 18-year-old draft. It's such an inexact science. Kids get drafted on potential, at times before they're exposed.

Q Cepis is probably the one player who was noticeable every time he was on the ice. Can people expect to see more of that type of player, in terms of edge?

A I think we're trying to get a mix. We're trying to get some players we can get to go play in junior hockey. It's proving yourself at every level. I think we have some guys that have scored at the junior level, which should help them score at our level. It's us hopefully not getting raided where we can allow guys to go to that junior level and mature before they come into our program.

Q Jordan Schroeder left after two years. No surprise there, right?

A No. I think before the year began, we anticipated he wouldn't be back next year. Vancouver offered him a contract last summer. He did come back his second year.

Q Do you expect your other eligible NHL prospects to return?

A Yes, I do. Based on the general conversations that we've had with the players, I anticipate that all the guys will be returning. None of them have had a dominant season where you can say they're on the cusp. I think it behooves them to come back.

Q You mentioned Cepis and experience. One of your top incoming recruits, Erik Haula, is a junior star and a Finn. What does that represent?

A It was nice to get a player out of Shattuck (St. Mary's Prep). It was nice to get a European. We certainly wouldn't mind getting a few more. He's had a great year in Omaha (USHL). He's in a position where he can come in and be a top-six forward right away for us.

Q You're still going to have the pick of the talent coming out of Minnesota's high schools, but are you more leery because some of the kids you've recruited left early, as expected, although it interrupted your rhythm?

A There's no question it's interrupted the rhythm. You look at our senior class this year. We went through a cycle where we lost eight underclassmen in two years. We had to bring in more of our juniors sooner than we would have liked. I think it hurts you on the front end and the back end. Some of these guys just need time, physically, to grow into a man. It certainly wouldn't have hurt David Fischer to play a year in juniors.

Q Have your sophomores and juniors developed at the pace you expected?

A I would like to have seen some of our sophomores take a bigger step this year. At some point you have to seize your opportunity. Some of it is battling through when you've scored all your life, (and) suddenly you're not scoring. What we're trying to convince these guys is, now you've got to find another way to contribute. Are you blocking shots? Can you kill penalties? Can you take the body?

Q What else excites you about your incoming class in terms of style, personnel?

A We're going to have three kids that are going to turn 21. We're also going to have a kid that's played two years of juniors. All of a sudden we have six kids who have played junior hockey and have had success. That's going to help us.

We're going to have three incoming defensemen. Our roster's going to get back to where it should be. Jay (Barriball) is coming back. Taylor (Matson) is coming back. We're going to have 10 or 11 guys available at the start of the season we didn't have at the end of this season.

Q Should fans expect your team to climb out of the WCHA second tier?

A I think so. I was encouraged by our play at the end of the year. I was encouraged by how we played up in Grand Forks at the end. On that Saturday-Sunday, we played hard, we competed. I think the guys understood what you have to do. North Dakota's been pretty good the last six weeks. We were the only ones to beat them and that was in their own rink.

 

[Turk 77]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

That comparison doesn't really work though.
I was thinking we should all buy RIT jerseys and wear them to DU games. That comparison works.

That said, I still don't understand the people that bought HC jerseys...



That is true, actually...
But only when the Sioux play their exhibition opener against Manitoba each year.

That Holy Cross team was 27-10 Kind of like some of these other teams making it of late they are underrated . RIT Holy Cross Yale all have/had strong senior classes. I think Holy Crosses upset was big but its not like they were a dogmeat team. same with Yale I was impressed by thier play

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

The scoring margin stat points out what I was talking about late in the season for goal scoring.

Scoring Margin: Games GF GF/G GA GA/G Margin
1 Miami 43 146 3.40 79 1.84 1.56
2 RIT 40 144 3.60 82 2.05 1.55
3 Wisconsin 41 163 3.98 105 2.56 1.41
4 Boston College 40 159 3.98 103 2.58 1.40

The top 4 teams were all hovering at 3.5-4 goals a game and 2-2.5 goals against. Scoring is down league wide as there usually the winner is over 4 goals a game, but that was only Yale and they got knocked off by BC. Yale was giving up 3.09 goals a game while scoring 4.15 so there margin wasn't as good.

 

[Handyman]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!


That's hilarious.....Do you REALLY think GPL is 'connected'???? I'll let you in on a little secret. Those msg board nerds are being laughed at...not laughed with. And the only reason I went on there was to see how fast I could get bounced for the 3rd time. I tried to see if I could do it a 4th time but that Mars or Venus character wouldn't let me back in and now I owe my buddies beer.

GO YALE

Hey *********, why dont you go get owned by the UND student section again and then cry in your beer about it. I know all about you I have heard stories firsthand.

Congrats on being so friggin bitter about being banned by someone who knows more about Gopher Hockey than you can ever dream.

 

[Dirty]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

Hey *********, why dont you go get owned by the UND student section again and then cry in your beer about it. I know all about you I have heard stories firsthand.

Oooo! I want details on this!

 

[4four4]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

Q & A with Coach Lucia in the Pioneer Press

Finally he is starting to recruit kids with more grit. I have been saying this for years. A couple of things has bothered me the past three years. 1.) Why are the Gophers consistently passing the puck laterally? Pass the puck north and south and shoot and good things will happen. It is almost like the players are afraid to go to the net and score mucky goals the old fashion way. Just a note future Gopher players that example is how the majority of goals scored in the NHL. 2.) tDon needs to continue to recruit power foward types. The reason? See example 1. From the looks of it tDon agrees look at the upcoming recruits.

 

[Duey]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

owned by the UND student section

Owned???? Funny...

Some UND fan was holding up a sign that had Kangas’ cell phone number on it so I said “I’m going to get that sign” started running down there and was greeted by a stairwell full of UND fans…..one thing led to another and I was punched in the back of the head (more annoying than anything so it must have been a girl??) and pushed into the wall so I grabbed the first Kelly green shirt I saw and threw him down the stairs, and then landed a left on the one behind me and then pushed another one down the stairs and I just punched and pushed my way out of there until, in all fairness, a couple of UND fans broke it up and more than likely saved my ***….and I did get a little scratched up and lost a little blood….but I wasn’t going to go out like a chump. So everything being equal…..ask a few of those guys who got ‘owned’.

Oh...the guy w/ the sign was gone when I got down there

 

[Duey]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

someone who knows more about Gopher Hockey than you can ever dream.

now you're just being stupid...

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

Owned???? Funny...

Some UND fan was holding up a sign that had Kangas’ cell phone number on it so I said “I’m going to get that sign” started running down there and was greeted by a stairwell full of UND fans…..one thing led to another and I was punched in the back of the head (more annoying than anything so it must have been a girl??) and pushed into the wall so I grabbed the first Kelly green shirt I saw and threw him down the stairs, and then landed a left on the one behind me and then pushed another one down the stairs and I just punched and pushed my way out of there until, in all fairness, a couple of UND fans broke it up and more than likely saved my ***….and I did get a little scratched up and lost a little blood….but I wasn’t going to go out like a chump. So everything being equal…..ask a few of those guys who got ‘owned’.

Oh...the guy w/ the sign was gone when I got down there

You should have been more clear that you are not, in fact, the second coming of Custer. Completely your fault.

 

[Duey]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

Completely your fault.

I wasn't asking for a ruling on who was at fault. I was responding to Dirty....

 

[TUSCHWI]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

It wasn't the AD, it was FSN.

I get that, I should have been more clear. Here in WI, the radio/tv announcers can't take a crap without the AD's (Athletic Department or Directors) approval. The announcers have to be ok'd by the University. I assumed that was the same dynamic at Minnesota. But I am only speculating.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

Owned???? Funny...

Some UND fan was holding up a sign that had Kangas’ cell phone number on it so I said “I’m going to get that sign” started running down there and was greeted by a stairwell full of UND fans…..one thing led to another and I was punched in the back of the head (more annoying than anything so it must have been a girl??) and pushed into the wall so I grabbed the first Kelly green shirt I saw and threw him down the stairs, and then landed a left on the one behind me and then pushed another one down the stairs and I just punched and pushed my way out of there until, in all fairness, a couple of UND fans broke it up and more than likely saved my ***….and I did get a little scratched up and lost a little blood….but I wasn’t going to go out like a chump. So everything being equal…..ask a few of those guys who got ‘owned’.

Oh...the guy w/ the sign was gone when I got down there

So you were assaulted and committed assault because you wanted Kangas' phone number? And I thought Dirty was gay? (Not that there's anything wrong with that )

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

So you were assaulted and committed assault because you wanted Kangas' phone number? And I thought Dirty was gay? (Not that there's anything wrong with that )

Oh don't worry, there is nothing in duey's story that keeps Dirty from being gay.

 

[Driftryder]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

Owned???? Funny...

Some UND fan was holding up a sign that had Kangas’ cell phone number on it so I said “I’m going to get that sign” started running down there and was greeted by a stairwell full of UND fans…..one thing led to another and I was punched in the back of the head (more annoying than anything so it must have been a girl??) and pushed into the wall so I grabbed the first Kelly green shirt I saw and threw him down the stairs, and then landed a left on the one behind me and then pushed another one down the stairs and I just punched and pushed my way out of there until, in all fairness, a couple of UND fans broke it up and more than likely saved my ***….and I did get a little scratched up and lost a little blood….but I wasn’t going to go out like a chump. So everything being equal…..ask a few of those guys who got ‘owned’.

Oh...the guy w/ the sign was gone when I got down there

Can you skate and play any Defense?

 

[Gophers #1]

Re: MN Golden Gopher 2010 Offseason Thread

Don Lucia to return next season. no real suprise.

http://www.twincities.com/ci_14778319?nclick_check=1&forced=true