UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

[Red Cows]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

By the way.

That 24 shots on goal UNO allowed in the 3rd period last night?

That broke the all time program record for shots allowed in a period.

The irony there is that the previous record was also accomplished by none other than Ohio State.

 

[5thYearFreshman]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Another home sweep. Ohio State is now 0-5-1 in its last 6 games against UNO and that tie was also a shootout loss for them (which was played in front of a tidy gathering of 13,147 here in Omaha for said shootout back in February of 2010, the 3rd largest home crowd in program history).

This is the most wins (11), pre-December 1st, in program history. 8-0-0 in non-conference play. Sweeps against WCHA, AHC, HEC and Big 10 teams. One more non-con left--with independent ASU, at home, in 3 weeks. No reason we should not end up 10-0-0 in non-conference play.

Back to back nights where a sell out was NOT announced. Kudos to UNO for being honest about it and shame, shame, shame on UNO students, who are the sole reason the last two games weren't sold out. Watching the Husker game on Friday (the nobody's, doing nothings, going nowheres Huskers) in lieu of watching the #6 team in the country that's #4 in Pairwise play Ohio State makes you complete loser fans in my book if you did that instead of attend the hockey game. The Huskers, and their season, are utterly meaningless. Tonight, they got a bit cannibalized by the Lancers playing at home, literally right down the street, in front about 3,000, there, at Ralston Arena.

Further kudos to the school for recognizing this issue beforehand and making student tickets available to anyone by re-instituting rush seating for UNO games.

UNO outshot, again, in two more wins. How long can they keep this up?

UNO was outshot this weekend 81-67 yet outscored OSU 9-5. Plus, the entire weekend was largely the Austin Ortega (tied for the national lead in goals) and Jake Guentzel (3rd, nationally, in scoring) show, with a very strong supporting actor nod to Evan Weninger who is doing the unthinkable--making everyone forget about Ryan Massa. We need some more production out of other players. Nice that the power play decided to show up tonight, finally, as well. We almost doubled our entire output of power play goals for the entire season in one game! 3 tonight making for 7, now, on the season.

Speaking of Guentzel, he tied the all time program record tonight for points in a single game tonight with 5. The same Mike Guentzel that Air Force Head Coach Frank Serratore called "The greatest college hockey player I have ever seen." and then compared him to Wayne Gretzky, of all things.

On to more meaningful (and better) competition against St. Cloud State on Olympic ice. A place where UNO has won exactly twice, ever.

Jake Guentzel. Mike coaches for the Goofers, though did coach a season at UNO

 

[rainman1745]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Another home sweep. Ohio State is now 0-5-1 in its last 6 games against UNO and that tie was also a shootout loss for them (which was played in front of a tidy gathering of 13,147 here in Omaha for said shootout back in February of 2010, the 3rd largest home crowd in program history).

This is the most wins (11), pre-December 1st, in program history. 8-0-0 in non-conference play. Sweeps against WCHA, AHC, HEC and Big 10 teams. One more non-con left--with independent ASU, at home, in 3 weeks. No reason we should not end up 10-0-0 in non-conference play.

Back to back nights where a sell out was NOT announced. Kudos to UNO for being honest about it and shame, shame, shame on UNO students, who are the sole reason the last two games weren't sold out. Watching the Husker game on Friday (the nobody's, doing nothings, going nowheres Huskers) in lieu of watching the #6 team in the country that's #4 in Pairwise play Ohio State makes you complete loser fans in my book if you did that instead of attend the hockey game. The Huskers, and their season, are utterly meaningless. Tonight, they got a bit cannibalized by the Lancers playing at home, literally right down the street, in front about 3,000, there, at Ralston Arena.

Further kudos to the school for recognizing this issue beforehand and making student tickets available to anyone by re-instituting rush seating for UNO games.

UNO outshot, again, in two more wins. How long can they keep this up?

UNO was outshot this weekend 81-67 yet outscored OSU 9-5. Plus, the entire weekend was largely the Austin Ortega (tied for the national lead in goals) and Jake Guentzel (3rd, nationally, in scoring) show, with a very strong supporting actor nod to Evan Weninger who is doing the unthinkable--making everyone forget about Ryan Massa. We need some more production out of other players. Nice that the power play decided to show up tonight, finally, as well. We almost doubled our entire output of power play goals for the entire season in one game! 3 tonight making for 7, now, on the season.

Speaking of Guentzel, he tied the all time program record tonight for points in a single game tonight with 5. The same Mike Guentzel that Air Force Head Coach Frank Serratore called "The greatest college hockey player I have ever seen." and then compared him to Wayne Gretzky, of all things.

On to more meaningful (and better) competition against St. Cloud State on Olympic ice. A place where UNO has won exactly twice, ever.

You need to get over the Husker football thing. UNO hockey has been around since 1996 and Husker football started in 1890. Football season is wrapping up and hockey conference play hasn't even started. Student focus will shift once that happens. I'm willing to bet that 98% of UNO students don't even know the basic rules of hockey. To most of them, the last Husker football game of the year is more important than a series against a 3-7 team.

 

[gomavs#1]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

A split at SCSU is never a bad thing, especially considering their dominance over us up there. And to play that well without Ortega and Guentzel (for the most part) was a good sign. Hopefully Guentzel returns soon, though probably don't need to risk it until after the break. Good first half up to this point, but a lot of hockey left to play.

 

[Red Cows]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

I sure hope Frederick Olofsson is able to make it back from Finland in time to play in UNO's series with DU. World Juniors ends on the 6th with both the title and consolation games that day and Sweden is likely to be a participant in one of those two games, methinks. The DU games are the 8th & 9th. I sure want to face them at full strength (pardon the pun).

I'd bet some pretty big money that Alex Blankenburg gets a start, or, starts, in at least one of UNO's next three games. I think Coach Blais will use the upcoming "opportunity" to see what he has in that guy. UNO's goalie situation is going to be really interesting next season with the appearance of Kris Oldham on the scene.

He's somebody that is going to arrive here next season with some cache' like Weninger had:

http://www.omaha.com/sports/lancers...cle_1da4b608-8d88-11e5-a20c-dfafc47545f3.html
.

 

[Red Cows]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Another quick thought.

Has anyone's' star fallen more than Avery Peterson's has so far this season?

From being "Mr. Minnesota Hockey" year before last and a reasonably solid freshman season last year to now just about having fallen off the face of the Earth in this, his sophomore season.

He has even been a healthy scratch in a couple games. He was going to be, too, this past Saturday night but Ortega's allergy problem nixed that. He has one point (an assist) the entire season so far and that came just this past Saturday night against SCSU on Morelli's first career goal in the 3rd period, a shot that Peterson actually took but was just barely deflected in by Morelli and, thus, he got it instead.

This is one player we need to get it going. I thought he'd end up being a cornerstone kind of guy as an upperclassman. He might, yet, but he's just about nowhere to be found at the moment. Does he have some sort of physical issue that we haven't heard anything about?

 

[5thYearFreshman]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Another quick thought.

Has anyone's' star fallen more than Avery Peterson's has so far this season?

From being "Mr. Minnesota Hockey" year before last and a reasonably solid freshman season last year to now just about having fallen off the face of the Earth in this, his sophomore season.

He has even been a healthy scratch in a couple games. He was going to be, too, this past Saturday night but Ortega's allergy problem nixed that. He has one point (an assist) the entire season so far and that came just this past Saturday night against SCSU on Morelli's first career goal in the 3rd period, a shot that Peterson actually took but was just barely deflected in by Morelli and, thus, he got it instead.

This is one player we need to get it going. I thought he'd end up being a cornerstone kind of guy as an upperclassman. He might, yet, but he's just about nowhere to be found at the moment. Does he have some sort of physical issue that we haven't heard anything about?

I watched him pretty closely on Saturday night (sitting with people from Grand Rapids) and I thought he was all over the ice and had a good game. His points were very sporadic and came in bunches last year, so maybe he hasn't hit his stride.

On a side note that is sure to stick in your craw, Kirk Thompson had the NCHC's #1 play of the week

 

[Red Cows]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

I watched him pretty closely on Saturday night (sitting with people from Grand Rapids) and I thought he was all over the ice and had a good game. His points were very sporadic and came in bunches last year, so maybe he hasn't hit his stride.

On a side note that is sure to stick in your craw, Kirk Thompson had the NCHC's #1 play of the week

Yeah, I saw that. Good for him! I don't know where or how everyone formulated the opinion that I somehow hate Kirk Thompson.

True confession, my wife thinks he's smoking hot and THAT doesn't even color my thinking.

What colors my thinking is a desire to win an NCAA D-1 Hockey Championship and it isn't going to happen with Kirk Thompson in goal. He hasn't done squat everywhere he has been. Hell, I even had a chance to meet him at the meet and greet the Omaha Storm Chasers did for the Mavs at Werner Park here in Papillion after the Frozen Four. Great guy. Really nice.

Not a championship goalie. Not even close.

Nobody even has to take my word for it. Look at his numbers while at UNO and before, even.

I wish him well in life, but it won't be getting paid to be a goalie anywhere. He's a Criminal Justice major and, for his sake, here's hoping he's a lot better at saving us from bad guys than he is at saving pucks from the net.

 

[Deleted member 3166]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Another quick thought.

Has anyone's' star fallen more than Avery Peterson's has so far this season?

From being "Mr. Minnesota Hockey" year before last and a reasonably solid freshman season last year to now just about having fallen off the face of the Earth in this, his sophomore season.

He has even been a healthy scratch in a couple games. He was going to be, too, this past Saturday night but Ortega's allergy problem nixed that. He has one point (an assist) the entire season so far and that came just this past Saturday night against SCSU on Morelli's first career goal in the 3rd period, a shot that Peterson actually took but was just barely deflected in by Morelli and, thus, he got it instead.

This is one player we need to get it going. I thought he'd end up being a cornerstone kind of guy as an upperclassman. He might, yet, but he's just about nowhere to be found at the moment. Does he have some sort of physical issue that we haven't heard anything about?

And now he's left the team for personal reasons.

 

[5thYearFreshman]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

And now he's left the team for personal reasons.

http://www.omavs.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=31400&ATCLID=210585589

 

[5thYearFreshman]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Here is an older article regarding his brother's health that may shed some light on why Avery is leaving for "Personal Reasons".

http://mnhockeycoach.sportngin.com/news_article/show/325108?referrer_id=644000

 

[The Exiled One]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

SCSU offered him before UNO offered him. With some other potential developments to SCSU's next incoming class, the Huskies are likely on the shortlist of Avery's potential destinations.

 

[Red Cows]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Here is an older article regarding his brother's health that may shed some light on why Avery is leaving for "Personal Reasons".

http://mnhockeycoach.sportngin.com/news_article/show/325108?referrer_id=644000

Looking at this article, and the timeline of the events involved, and the fact that his brother's condition is terminal, one could reasonably infer that this is at least partly what this is all about. You could also just as reasonably infer that it isn't.

Current UNO Freshman Forward Steve Spinner is one of Peterson's closest friends. They have known each other and played hockey together since they were little boys. If his leaving is about his brother that makes the whole thing sadder than it already is, since he loses out on playing hockey with his friend in college as well.

Me and Mrs. Red Cows had the pleasure of sitting next to Steve Spinners' sister Shelby and her fiance' at the Saturday night game UNO played against Minnesota State Mankato in Mankato. We talked a bit about her brother's relationship with Avery Peterson, but, THIS topic certainly didn't come up.

Best wishes to Avery Peterson and his family and a prayer for his brother.

 

[Red Cows]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Interesting game tonight.

For starters, an astounding turnout considering the Huskers were playing Texas (the most hated program on the planet in Nebraska) on the other side of town at UNO's former home, the CenturyLink Center, for (and winning) the National Championship in Women's volleyball in front of the largest crowd to ever see a volleyball match in North America (to the tune of 17,561). I am sure there will be numerous suicides here tonight since beating Texas for a title in anything on home ground is as good as it gets and numerous Husker fans will off themselves since the pinnacle of their existence has now been achieved.

In the mean time, I was at the UNO hockey game.

Kudos to UNO for continuing to announce fannies in seats instead of tickets sold. On paper, the game was a sellout (outside of student tickets "sold"). That said, I would have guessed the attendance as a fair bit more than the announced attendance. No competition, either, from the Lancers tonight, who were home last night.

UNO won.

Bad news? UNO got NO even strength goals.

Good news? UNO got 3 power play goals out of their horrific power play (out of 3 attempts).

UNO played this game without two of their best players. Jake Guentzel is injured and Frederick Olofsson is in Finland playing with the Swedish National team in World Juniors. And, we lost the 2014 "Mr. Minnesota Hockey" award winner this week as well, which, to a man, was a shock to the entire team, whose brother has a terminal illness.

That said, even though it was 3-1, it was as about as one-sided a 3-1 game as you'll ever see. We "played" the first period and looked bored the rest of the way and played like it. No way is Dean Blais happy about this game. We really got out-hustled for a pretty significant portion of the 2nd period.

ASU needs to take way better care of the puck. The number of stupid giveaways they had in their own zone and in neutral ice was amazing. If they had really had our full attention this would have been a merciless pounding. We really should have played better and beaten them worse than this and the only thing I can say in our defense is that the loss of the three aforementioned guys blew up our regular lines and we didn't have the sort of offense I would have expected in a game like this as a result.

Their goal was fluky. In off the back of Weninger from a bad angle. I'm sure he isn't wishing himself back on that one.

Ortega was the #1 star and he easily could have had 5 goals tonight. An absolute man amongst boys.

One victory away from a perfect non-conference season.

 

[gomavs#1]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Interesting game tonight.

For starters, an astounding turnout considering the Huskers were playing Texas (the most hated program on the planet in Nebraska) on the other side of town at UNO's former home, the CenturyLink Center, for (and winning) the National Championship in Women's volleyball in front of the largest crowd to ever see a volleyball match in North America (to the tune of 17,561). I am sure there will be numerous suicides here tonight since beating Texas for a title in anything on home ground is as good as it gets and numerous Husker fans will off themselves since the pinnacle of their existence has now been achieved.

In the mean time, I was at the UNO hockey game.

Kudos to UNO for continuing to announce fannies in seats instead of tickets sold. On paper, the game was a sellout (outside of student tickets "sold"). That said, I would have guessed the attendance as a fair bit more than the announced attendance. No competition, either, from the Lancers tonight, who were home last night.

I was fairly surprised by the size of the crowd as well. The fact that it wasn't a normal Friday/Saturday series made me think that people wouldn't even know there was a game, especially since the opponent was a non-conference, starter program. Throw in the volleyball game down the road and UNO being on winter break, and it was a pleasant surprise. I was surprised to see that many students.

Second period was brutal....until 4 minutes left we had three total shots on goal. Yikes. That was after peppering ASU in the first with 21.

Ortega with another game winner. That guy was all over the ice, put on a couple nasty moves on ASU defenders.

I would put money that the crowd will be extremely sparse for a 2 p.m. game today.

 

[gomavs#1]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

And one more thing....how does Weninger not start on a Friday night against St. Cloud, but appears like he will play both ASU games? Shake my head....

 

[Red Cows]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

And one more thing....how does Weninger not start on a Friday night against St. Cloud, but appears like he will play both ASU games? Shake my head....

If Weninger actually IS in goal this afternoon I think it means that Coach Blais finally has pulled the plug for good on Kirkers.

I think it is mostly a team politics situation.

A junior who has "paid his dues" (even though he stinks) and then he has a freshman who is making people forget Ryan Massa in a hurry. Even so, eventually, common sense wins out. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to look at the numbers of the two. I mean, do you want to play your best players and have a chance to win or don't you? We sure aren't winning a title with Thompson in goal. At some point even the players get to the point of knowing this or realizing it. No matter the politics, or, how well Thompson might be liked by his teammates.

Thompson has already played too much, IMHO. I think it has long been established who the far superior goalie is.

 

[gomavs#1]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Well, that was a bigger crowd yesterday than I thought would've showed up. I just hope with a shutout against ASU that Blais still sticks with Weninger. Was surprised that Nogard or Gallo didn't go to blows with a couple of ASU players. Got pretty chippy and it looked like those two were getting ready to take on Masters and Schmidt. Undefeated in nonconference and still haven't lost at home. Best first half in school history. Not a bad start.

But now we reach the meat of the schedule. We'll see what this team is made of.

 

[purpleinnebraska]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Went to the Saturday game, to see the new arena and to drag out some of my old ASU gear that I don't get much chance to wear in Nebraska. Was very favorably impressed, with the arena itself and even more so with the development of the surrounding neighborhood. Parking was a little difficult, but it is a reasonable walk to the parking garage to the north. When I lived in the area years ago, UNO was almost exclusively a commuter/part-time adult learners school. The school has changed a lot since then, and made a big PR push to change that perception, but I think the arena and the development of the surrounding area make a much better case to the public than a university-led PR campaign.

Good view from almost anywhere in the arena. The upper deck is a little steep ("It's like Duluth all over again!" my daughter complained.) but it gave us a pretty decent view of all the action.

In preparing for the game, I found a Sun Devil hat I hadn't worn since 1994, when I saw ASU football lose to the Huskers 77-28. So at least the hockey game was slightly closer than that.

 

[Red Cows]

Re: UNO 2015-16 Season Thread: Frozen Four, New Barn, What Next?

Went to the Saturday game, to see the new arena and to drag out some of my old ASU gear that I don't get much chance to wear in Nebraska. Was very favorably impressed, with the arena itself and even more so with the development of the surrounding neighborhood. Parking was a little difficult, but it is a reasonable walk to the parking garage to the north. When I lived in the area years ago, UNO was almost exclusively a commuter/part-time adult learners school. The school has changed a lot since then, and made a big PR push to change that perception, but I think the arena and the development of the surrounding area make a much better case to the public than a university-led PR campaign.

Good view from almost anywhere in the arena. The upper deck is a little steep ("It's like Duluth all over again!" my daughter complained.) but it gave us a pretty decent view of all the action.

In preparing for the game, I found a Sun Devil hat I hadn't worn since 1994, when I saw ASU football lose to the Huskers 77-28. So at least the hockey game was slightly closer than that.

FYI, my sister is an ASU grad, of all things ('82), but I could not talk her into driving up from Kansas City (I grew up there) for either of these games and I volunteered to pay her way.

Parking at Baxter Arena is a breeze in the south lots. Much less an issue that I ever dreamed it would be.

Do you know that UNO now has more than 5,000 students living on campus? It definitely is not a commuter school like it was any more. Enrollment is just shy of 15,000, currently, and the school has a publicly stated goal of getting that over 20,000.

My wife thinks the upper level at Baxter Arena is steep, too. I've been in Amsoil as well and I think Baxter Arena is steeper. However, UNO's just-previous home, the CenturyLink Center, has the steepest upper level I have ever set foot in, anywhere, indoor or outdoor facility (the upper deck of Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City is mighty steep as well).

The surrounding development around Baxter Arena (Aksarben Village) is far from a done deal and the arena has caused the announcement of lot of other things down there. UNO's own master plan includes baseball and softball facilities, as well as tennis facilities, just across the creek, to the SW of the arena, on the vacant land to the south of the Baxter Arena parking lots, on land owned by the University. I've heard Trev Alberts say that he wants to get cracking on these facilities in the next 5 years.

My guess has always been that anybody that has yet to see the arena would be favorably impressed with it but would be equally impressed by what is around it, something that in 1-3 years will be even more impressive than it already is.