National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

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Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

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That period in Gopher Hockey is a source of pride to Gopher fans (I can see why fans of other programs don't find it to be as special) because it was something no other program could or was willing to do and because it helped grow the sport in-state.(emphasis mine)

Exactly, and what the University of Minnesota should have pride about is that it was willing. But it's only fair to remember that nobody else could.

However, those days are gone and Gopher fans have embraced a more open recruiting policy that in all honesty is probably necessary moving forward for the long-term strength of the program. There are 4 other D1 schools in MN (as well as other strong schools in the region) to compete with for in-state recruits now, and great players are coming from more markets than ever before.

Personally, I think it is a fairly impressive feat. Though I'm admittedly biased. They also do it when they have plenty of other teams within the state and out of state poaching players. You have the five Minnesota teams, North Dakota, Wisconsin, and if we're really getting detailed, the 48 teams with a Minnesota player on their roster (nine teams have five or more). Heck, Eden Prairie alone has more players on a college roster than all but 16 states. It is a source of great pride.

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And it certainly should be a source of great pride. As for the impressiveness of the feat, I was talking more about back in the day, when "Minnesota" (as in the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities) was the only Minnesota college hockey team you heard about. So Minnesota was the pre-eminent program in the richest hockey market, while the other major hockey playing areas (all smaller hockey markets than Minnesota) had multiple established programs (e.g. Michigan, MSU, and Michigan Tech; BU, BC, and Harvard; Clarkson, RPI, St Lawrence) competing for talent.

 

[WiscDC]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

Exactly... and that can be used to make my point. Why should a student change what he/she has known his/her entire life for something that is only a small part of their overall college experience?

I've known both types here. A lot of kids from Minnesota come here. Some change their allegiance, others stay loyal. I respect the latter more, but overall, it's really not that important either way.

It's an individual choice and I wouldn't label either as dooshy.

EDIT: Sporting events is just part of life in college. How you can not get sucked into your own teams AND root for a rival against your own school is completely beyond me.

Moving to an area is one thing. But actually attending the school? You can still be a fan but to actively cheer against the school you are attending? If that can't change your allegiance, that's dooshieness unmatched IMHO.

I have to agree with Tiggsy on these things. Granted, I grew up far, far away from any college hockey market. (As someone used to The Washington Post, seeing three college-hockey articles at the top of the Star Tribune's sports section during the Big Ten tournament made me chuckle at how different it is up here.) Before Wisconsin, I didn't have any strong rooting interests in college hockey. I followed the team online down the stretch of the 2010-11 season (not that I got got to watch/listen to any games, except for one on The Wisconsin Channel's stream), and my first introduction to college hockey came in the 2009 National Championship. While I didn't have any pre-determined team to cling to, I still got "sucked in" and felt a very strong, real connection to the Badgers right away, and I'm not the only one. It wasn't just a matter of students attending games because it's a "thing to do" and we slowly gained more of an attachment to the team; it was pretty much instant. We were "sucked in" to our school and its teams.

I have never met a Gopher fan who goes here, but I did come across one on reddit once. He fit the stereotypes of tArrogance (blind bashing, like "hockey is the 5th most popular sport there"...he allegedly went there in the mid 2000s, too), and if this person seemed like he wouldn't be worth my time in real life, he certainly wasn't worth internet time, so that was that. I realize this story means just about nothing, but this discussion reminded me of it.

As for larger sample sizes of real-life people, I've met plenty of Minnesotans who followed the Gophers to varying degrees growing up, and they'd never dream of rooting for the Gophers over the Badgers. They may have a soft spot for them, but they're easily cemented on the Wisconsin side of the rivalry.

I go to school here. Almost everyone around me at games is a classmate in some way, shape, or form. I have classes with some of the guys (and girls) on the ice, court, or field. I can't imagine I'd root against the teams of the school I go to, even if I grew up around a rival.

 

[WiscDC]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

EDIT: One other thing in regards to the roommates. I was always struck by how (quietly & confidently) proud they were of where they came from. Not just the state, but each city or town whether it be New Prague, Burnsville, Apple Valley etc.

That seems to be a common trait of Minnesotans that I don't always see in other folks.

I noticed something similar. Maybe not so much pride in each individual suburb, but everyone seems really into high school sports. We always hear how proud they are of high school hockey, but I was taken aback by how much people follow high school football up there. I've heard more about Minnesota high school football than Wisconsin high school football, that's for sure. Another funny thing, and this is more from a Wisconsin perspective, is how much people care about states in this region. Maybe it's because I'm from northern Virginia, where we're more connected to DC and Maryland than the rest of the state, but I think in terms of cities, their metro areas, and real distances. However, it seems like people in Eau Claire, and even the Twin Cities suburbs in Wisconsin, are just as likely to root for the Brewers as they are the Twins. Same with Kenosha and the Bears/Packers.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

I go to school here. Almost everyone around me at games is a classmate in some way, shape, or form. I have classes with some of the guys (and girls) on the ice, court, or field. I can't imagine I'd root against the teams of the school I go to, even if I grew up around a rival.

Probably depends on how serious a sports fan you are before arriving on campus and what your family is/was like.

My parents are both UW alums and from Wisconsin (Milwaukee & Reedsburg).

I was a serious sports fan since about age 10 and grew up in a very serious (from a fan perspective) sports family. I never once questioned which teams I would like and follow and have never once felt cheated by a lack of choice in the matter.

I went to Badger games (Packers, Bucks, Brewers & Hawks too) growing up and there is only one thing in the world that could get me to root for one of any of my teams' rivals and it isn't if I went to school at Minnesota.

It's if my kid were playing for one of them. And like most of the rest of you, that's not very likely.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

I have to agree with Tiggsy on these things. Granted, I grew up far, far away from any college hockey market. (As someone used to The Washington Post, seeing three college-hockey articles at the top of the Star Tribune's sports section during the Big Ten tournament made me chuckle at how different it is up here.) Before Wisconsin, I didn't have any strong rooting interests in college hockey. I followed the team online down the stretch of the 2010-11 season (not that I got got to watch/listen to any games, except for one on The Wisconsin Channel's stream), and my first introduction to college hockey came in the 2009 National Championship. While I didn't have any pre-determined team to cling to, I still got "sucked in" and felt a very strong, real connection to the Badgers right away, and I'm not the only one. It wasn't just a matter of students attending games because it's a "thing to do" and we slowly gained more of an attachment to the team; it was pretty much instant. We were "sucked in" to our school and its teams.

I have never met a Gopher fan who goes here, but I did come across one on reddit once. He fit the stereotypes of tArrogance (blind bashing, like "hockey is the 5th most popular sport there"...he allegedly went there in the mid 2000s, too), and if this person seemed like he wouldn't be worth my time in real life, he certainly wasn't worth internet time, so that was that. I realize this story means just about nothing, but this discussion reminded me of it.

As for larger sample sizes of real-life people, I've met plenty of Minnesotans who followed the Gophers to varying degrees growing up, and they'd never dream of rooting for the Gophers over the Badgers. They may have a soft spot for them, but they're easily cemented on the Wisconsin side of the rivalry.

I go to school here. Almost everyone around me at games is a classmate in some way, shape, or form. I have classes with some of the guys (and girls) on the ice, court, or field. I can't imagine I'd root against the teams of the school I go to, even if I grew up around a rival.

I grew up in the Twin Cities. Have a bunch of friends who went to UW, and more who went to other colleges in MN and around the country. Only friend ai had who stopped cheering for the Gophers when he went to college was one who went to UMD. Every other friend of mine is a Gopher Hockey fan to this day.

I'm married to a Wisconsin gal. I got to Badger football and basketball games with her occasionally because she is a UW grad, but I was never much of a big college football or basketball guy. You won't catch me ever cheering for Badger Hockey though. My Gopher Hockey roots run too deep, which is why I guess I can relate to what Gurt is saying. If you grow up with a team, those roots are hard to break.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

I noticed something similar. Maybe not so much pride in each individual suburb, but everyone seems really into high school sports. We always hear how proud they are of high school hockey, but I was taken aback by how much people follow high school football up there. I've heard more about Minnesota high school football than Wisconsin high school football, that's for sure. Another funny thing, and this is more from a Wisconsin perspective, is how much people care about states in this region. Maybe it's because I'm from northern Virginia, where we're more connected to DC and Maryland than the rest of the state, but I think in terms of cities, their metro areas, and real distances. However, it seems like people in Eau Claire, and even the Twin Cities suburbs in Wisconsin, are just as likely to root for the Brewers as they are the Twins. Same with Kenosha and the Bears/Packers.

Minnesota High School Hockey is a different world than other places around the country. Not going to say "better", because it's different everywhere, but it's certainly unique. It's very community driven, which is unlike hockey everywhere else in this country (where AAA hockey is the highest level of play).

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

Probably depends on how serious a sports fan you are before arriving on campus and what your family is/was like.

My parents are both UW alums and from Wisconsin (Milwaukee & Reedsburg).

I was a serious sports fan since about age 10 and grew up in a very serious (from a fan perspective) sports family. I never once questioned which teams I would like and follow and have never once felt cheated by a lack of choice in the matter.

I went to Badger games (Packers, Bucks, Brewers & Hawks too) growing up and there is only one thing in the world that could get me to root for one of any of my teams' rivals and it isn't if I went to school at Minnesota.

It's if my kid were playing for one of them. And like most of the rest of you, that's not very likely.

I'm the same exact way. Only way I cheer for another team is if my kid wears the sweater, and that isn't happening.

I even had a few cousins who played D1. One for Mankato and one for Bemidji. Didn't change who I cheered for, though I did make it a point to cheer for them when they weren't playing MN

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

Minnesota High School Hockey is a different world than other places around the country. Not going to say "better", because it's different everywhere, but it's certainly unique. It's very community driven, which is unlike hockey everywhere else in this country (where AAA hockey is the highest level of play).

Maybe the equivalent is HS football down south in places like Texas and Florida although I don't know that for sure.

I'll give it up for Minnesota HS hockey. Like I said earlier this year, there's a buzz around those games that you only see here in the playoffs. The sectional final between Verona and Madison West was crackling. Haven't seen that in a regular season game around here yet.

 

[WiscDC]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

The "Minnesota hockey, Indiana basketball, Texas football" comparison is one you hear often.

I think the Minnesota high school hockey stuff is pretty cool. And I don't say that reluctantly or anything - the Gophers are the only Minnesota thing I don't like.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

Maybe the equivalent is HS football down south in places like Texas and Florida although I don't know that for sure.

I'll give it up for Minnesota HS hockey. Like I said earlier this year, there's a buzz around those games that you only see here in the playoffs. The sectional final between Verona and Madison West was crackling. Haven't seen that in a regular season game around here yet.

I've started getting into WI HS hockey since moving here. Like I told you earlier this year, been impressed with some of the teams in this state. Hope to make it to the State Tourney next year. Sucked that MN's and WI's were same weekend this year.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

The "Minnesota hockey, Indiana basketball, Texas football" comparison is one you hear often.

I think the Minnesota high school hockey stuff is pretty cool. And I don't say that reluctantly or anything - the Gophers are the only Minneosta thing I don't like.

As a Badger fan, hard to fault you for that. You support your favorite school, and I can respect that. That's what makes this rivalry so much fun

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

I've started getting into WI HS hockey since moving here. Like I told you earlier this year, been impressed with some of the teams in this state. Hope to make it to the State Tourney next year. Sucked that MN's and WI's were same weekend this year.

Well, as you know (and have poked fun at) the atmosphere is nowhere near what is up in St. Paul. You should check out a sectional final in the Milwaukee area. Would probably have a better atmosphere and a couple of rivals playing each other to boot.

 

[Gurtholfin]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

the Gophers are the only Minneosta thing I don't like.

I'd add the Vikings to that, but otherwise, yeah, love everything else about the state.

 

[mnstate0fhockey]

Well, as you know (and have poked fun at) the atmosphere is nowhere near what is up in St. Paul. You should check out a sectional final in the Milwaukee area. Would probably have a better atmosphere and a couple of rivals playing each other to boot.

Yeah, that wasn't cool of me. Got caught up in rivalry banter and crossed the line. I don't care what the atmosphere is like, kids work just as hard everywhere and should be allowed to enjoy these moments without over zealous adults (shamefully myself included in the past) mocking the event.

Not too proud to admit I was wrong in those instances. And I don't care how many people show up or where the games are played. From what I've seen, it's some great hockey, and that's good enough for me.

Went to Shattuck last fall to see Edquist (SSM goaltender and Gopher recruit) play, and they were playing Team Wisconsin. Pretty impressed with the talent on that roster too.

Thanks for the tip on the MKE sectionals. I'll check it out for sure.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

The whole recruiting in Minnesota-Only thing was a product of the Doug Woog era. ..

The really ironic part has been the same "experts" that used to deride Woog for his philosophy used to vilify the other UofM coaches for letting the Minnesota talent get away...

boy, you must be young

It started long before Woog came on the scene, Mariucci started it, Sonmor, Buetow, Brooks, and Yackel (yes, Yackel, that's how you know an old Gopher fan, he served as interim between Sonmor & Brooks) all built upon the idea.

I believe Murray McLachlan was the last Canadian recruited before it was determined they didn't need Canadians to be competitive, he played for Sonmor and his last year was 1970, the year they won the WCHA title.
Lou Nanne was the last Canadian captain, 1963 I believe, and before Potulny, the last non-MN captain was also from Grand Forks, Jim Gambucci, although I think there is a cheesehead as Captain this year

 

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Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

If the atmosphere in Wisconsin is nowhere near what it is in Minnesota, the atmosphere in New England is in a different universe. In NE, the highest level of school hockey is played by the prep schools. The prep schools have enrollments in the hundreds, and have only a loose connection with the towns in which they reside. The athletes come from all over the New England, in fact all over the country, and even from abroad. Very few of them played together before prep school. I’ve seen games between teams with D1 recruits on their rosters played in front of friends, family, and maybe thirty students. This year, I had to do a desperate search of twitter feeds to even find out where the tournament was and who was in it.

 

[goldy_331]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

boy, you must be young

It started long before Woog came on the scene, Mariucci started it, Sonmor, Buetow, Brooks, and Yackel (yes, Yackel, that's how you know an old Gopher fan, he served as interim between Sonmor & Brooks) all built upon the idea.

I believe Murray McLachlan was the last Canadian recruited before it was determined they didn't need Canadians to be competitive, he played for Sonmor and his last year was 1970, the year they won the WCHA title.

Frank Pietraneglo 82-85 under Buetow.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

boy, you must be young

It started long before Woog came on the scene, Mariucci started it, Sonmor, Buetow, Brooks, and Yackel (yes, Yackel, that's how you know an old Gopher fan, he served as interim between Sonmor & Brooks) all built upon the idea.

I believe Murray McLachlan was the last Canadian recruited before it was determined they didn't need Canadians to be competitive, he played for Sonmor and his last year was 1970, the year they won the WCHA title.

There were a few players from outside MN on the roster, all holdovers from Beutow who played in the early Woog years. Steve McSwain (AK), John Blue (CA), & Frank Pietrangelo (ONT) come to mind.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

I'd add the Vikings to that, but otherwise, yeah, love everything else about the state.

Certain USCHO posters excluded, of course. For example, me.

 

[goldy_331]

Re: National Championship: Union vs. Minnesota (Choaches stay out of it!)

Certain USCHO poster excluded, of course. For example, me.

And me!