WCHA 2016-17 Season

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

Final Score From Friday October 21st
Minnesota 3
Ohio State 2

New, Hopeful Beginnings​

The New Buckeye Coaches blew into town and provided a blast of fresh air. The New Look Ice Rink passed the eye test. The Newly Constituted Buckeye Line-Up didn't disappoint. Unfortunately the opponent was the Same Old, Same Old Gophers. Excellent as always. And the U of M First Line was positively magnificent.

Skipping ahead to the end, let me mention a poignant post-game moment. When the Minnesota players got to the Ohio State Head Coach, the handshake line became a hug line. An appropriate reminder of the special relationships that Coach Muzz left behind to become a Buckeye.

The 3 Stars of the Game: Decidedly Unofficial & Just For Fun​

Ohio State Honorable Mention: Maddy Field
Maddy led all shooters with 6 shots. Early in the 3rd Period, Field tied the game at 2. A Boyle Blast from the Blue line glanced off at least one Gopher defender, then Maddy put on the finishing touch.

Minnesota Honorable Mention: (tie) Sydney Baldwin and Patti Marshall
When a team wins 3-2 and 'D' Partners are both +3, that 'D' Pair is doing something right. Quick yet comfortably in control, this pair provided excellent support for the 1st line forwards. Each collected an assist tonight.


#3 Star: Jacyn Reeves, Ohio State
Jacyn bagged her first goal as a Buckeye to open the scoring. Rebecca Freiburger started the play by creating a turnover below the endline. Reeves took the feed and banked the puck into the net off a Gopher defender. Was the shot actually a pass intended for Ariana Depinto? Maybe yes, maybe no. Never mind. That puck was a keeper.

#2 Star: (tie) Dani Cameranesi, Minnesota; and Kelly Pannek, Minnesota
The special chemistry on the Minnesota's top unit of forwards was the story of tonight's game. Playing with both finesse and ruthless efficiency, these two Gophers accounted for all of the primary assists. Dani did the honors on the first two Minnesota tallies. Kelly made the beautiful cross slot pass on the GWG. Both were +3 on the night.

#1 Star: Sarah Potomak, Minnesota
Hat Trick? Yes. And Sarah almost completed the Grand Slam into an empty net. Part of me wanted her to nail it; it's been quite a while since I've seen a 4 goal game in person. Move over, Auston Matthews! But the truth is that the 3-2 score is a good reflection of how tonight's game was played. Call the missed empty-netter a case of hockey justice served.

Be that as it may, Sarah was an easy choice for the top star. Like her linemates, she was a perfect +3. On the GWG, she stole the puck in the neutral zone and carried it in deep, getting a quality shot from the left side of the net. Then, as teammate Pannek was gathering in the rebound, Potomak curled into position on the right post. Perfect Pannek Pass; Slick Sarah Shot, and a 3-2 Lead the Gophers would not relinquish.


Up Next: Rematch With Minnesota. Face-Off at 3:07PM. Another High Caliber, High Energy Game Is In Store.

 

[KTDC]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

Skipping ahead to the end, let me mention a poignant post-game moment. When the Minnesota players got to the Ohio State Head Coach, the handshake line became a hug line. An appropriate reminder of the special relationships that Coach Muzz left behind to become a Buckeye.

Nice tidbit! Thanks for the share.

Of note: two penalties for the whole game, none on OSU.

 

[ne7minder]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

Ohio State Honorable Mention: Maddy Field
Maddy led all shooters with 6 shots. Early in the 3rd Period, Field tied the game at 2. A Boyle Blast from the Blue line glanced off at least one Gopher defender, then Maddy put on the finishing touch.

I want to give a shout out to the band. We could hear them on the audio and it made the game sound better. Glad they decided to drop by! If that was Nadine's idea she notices the difference with a band, if it was not then it was well past time the Buckeye women got that support from the school.

also - thanks again for your reports, they are great.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

I want to give a shout out to the band. We could hear them on the audio and it made the game sound better. Glad they decided to drop by! If that was Nadine's idea she notices the difference with a band, if it was not then it was well past time the Buckeye women got that support from the school.

The band comes by for "special occasions," a handful of times per season. This has been true for a number of years. Beyond what constitutes a special occasion for our program, the wants and needs of other sports influence when they're available to us.

The dream would be to have them available for every home game. Just as you say, they make a huge positive difference.

also - thanks again for your reports, they are great.

Thanks for reading; your support is much appreciated.

 

[osualum86]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

Pgb, love the Three Stars of the Game! Glad we finally have some home games so I can read those!! We were not at today's game, so I will be waiting patiently for today's 'Three Stars!' The band was great last night! Unfortunately, I think the only times they are there are if none of the other sports are home (men's hockey, volleyball, and starting in another month or so ... men's and women's hoops). If all those teams are on the road, then we get the band at women's hockey games. It would be nice to have the band there more often as they make a positive contribution to the atmosphere.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

Final Score From Saturday, October 22nd
Minnesota 2
Ohio State 1

Gopher Bombardment Eventually Proves To Be Enough​

Bombs bursting in air. Most of the Rockets had a Maroon Glare. But at the end of the first period, the Buckeyes were still there. With a 0-0 tie to show for it.

The Gophers had a large territorial advantage; the 26-3 difference in shots accurately reflects that. Still, a majority of those shots were taken under duress. Most came from the outside. There weren't a ton of quality scoring chances.

That said, we certainly saw a relentless Gopher attack. Can a "rope a dope" strategy work against these Gophers? Highly unlikely. They just keep coming. In last 40 minutes, Minnesota's tireless offense produced just enough to secure the win. For my part, just watching all that skating left me tired.

The 3 Stars of the Game: Decidedly Unofficial & Just For Fun​

Honorable Mention: Both Rosters
It was an epic struggle, and both teams earned the fans' respect. The Buckeyes never-say-die defense almost pulled off the upset. The perseverance of the Gopher offense showed heart as well at talent.

Less obvious but equally important, these Gophers play the whole 200 feet. All those odd-man rushes the Buckeyes had? Not your usual odd man rush. Time after time we saw one Buckeye puck carrier gamely trying to find a way through 2 or 3 Gophers back in defensive position, ready to meet any challenge.

As for the Buckeye offense, I'm sure it was a frustrating weekend. And yet, they definitely created some dangerous chances along the way. With just a little more puck luck, the Buckeyes could easily have grabbed some points this series.

Elite level athletes aren't going to be satisfied with moral victories, nor should they be. But there were definitely things to feel good about -- up and down both benches.


#3 Star: (tie) Taylor Williamson, Minnesota and Alex Woken, Minnesota
The first Minnesota goal was a huge moment in the game. Alex crashed the net and got a good result. Did she score? No, but her effort caused the puck to squirt out to the high slot, and gave Taylor a rare second chance opportunity. Taylor buried the puck with authority.

#2 Star: Sarah Potomak, Minnesota
Had this been a two game, total goals series, it would have been tied in one respect: Potomak 4; Everybody Else on Both Teams 4. Sarah's scoring touch was amazing. But for all of the offensive fireworks the Gophers set off this weekend, Potomak's Saturday GWG wasn't a huge blast. Call that shot quick, sneaky & accurate.

#1 Star: Kassidy Sauve, Ohio State
No doubt Kassidy would shrug off this recognition. But her skill and composure made both games extremely competitive. Her rebound control was strong. Inevitably she gave up a few. But in most of those cases the Buckeye 'D' efficiently cleared the slot. Not that it's a secret, but Jincy Dunne is especially good at this.

Overall, Sauve had 79 saves on 84 shots for the series. That's a 94% save percentage against the defending national champs.

It's pretty rare for a member of the losing team to grab the #1 Star. But in this case I truly believe that no player had a greater impact on Saturday's game than Kassidy.


Up Next: The Buckeyes Host Minnesota-Duluth Next Weekend. On Saturday the Ice Rink really will be The Home of the Brave as we go head-to-head with Inbound Football Traffic. But you know what? The Ice Rink is also The Land of the Free Admission. Here's to hoping a few of those 105,000 FB fans check out some high quality hockey before heading over to the gridiron.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

#1 Star: Kassidy Sauve, Ohio State
No doubt Kassidy would shrug off this recognition. But her skill and composure made both games extremely competitive. Her rebound control was strong. Inevitably she gave up a few. But in most of those cases the Buckeye 'D' efficiently cleared the slot. Not that it's a secret, but Jincy Dunne is especially good at this.

Overall, Sauve had 79 saves on 84 shots for the series. That's a 94% save percentage against the defending national champs.

It's pretty rare for a member of the losing team to grab the #1 Star. But in this case I truly believe that no player had a greater impact on Saturday's game than Kassidy.

so what you are saying is, that the culture appears to be Kassidy Sauve for now.

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

so what you are saying is, that the culture appears to be Kassidy Sauve for now.

Not saying that at all. Reggie44 didn't have it right on the OSU thread, and neither do you. But at least Reggie44 had an original thought.

From my vantage point, I've seen the 2016-17 Buckeyes play exactly two games. Against an atypically strong opponent. It's way too early to be making a judgment about whether there's a new culture in place.

What is clear is that Nadine Muzzerall has been a breath of fresh air for the OSU program. In comparison to the Jenny Potter year, the atmosphere is simply different. But an enduring cultural change? Let's evaluate a larger body of work -- when there's a body of work to evaluate.

Team culture is a legitimate topic. But it would be hard to find a factor that's more irrelevant than Kassidy's play in goal. She'd be an outstanding keeper for either coach.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

Not saying that at all. Reggie44 didn't have it right on the OSU thread, and neither do you. But at least Reggie44 had an original thought.

From my vantage point, I've seen the 2016-17 Buckeyes play exactly two games. Against an atypically strong opponent. It's way too early to be making a judgment about whether there's a new culture in place.

What is clear is that Nadine Muzzerall has been a breath of fresh air for the OSU program. In comparison to the Jenny Potter year, the atmosphere is simply different. But an enduring cultural change? Let's evaluate a larger body of work -- when there's a body of work to evaluate.

Team culture is a legitimate topic. But it would be hard to find a factor that's more irrelevant than Kassidy's play in goal. She'd be an outstanding keeper for either coach.

that's what I love about all you ladies on this forum, you take everything literal and miss the point

if we were talking about the culture at MN, and someone said Sarah Potomak is supplying all the culture they need
do you get it now?
no?
it doesn't surprise me

 

[pokechecker]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

and speaking of Potomak, c'mon,
player #1 scores the winning goal in both games, a total of 4 REAL goals for the weekend (and 4 game winners in a rwo )
player #2 scores 2 empty netters and three REAL goals, none of them game winners

proves my theory they don't like to give the same player the award two weeks in a row

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

that's what I love about all you ladies on this forum, you take everything literal and miss the point

if we were talking about the culture at MN, and someone said Sarah Potomak is supplying all the culture they need
do you get it now?
no?
it doesn't surprise me

Oh, I understand your point. Trouble is, you're wrong.

Intangibles like team culture matter. One star player is never enough.

 

[pokechecker]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

oh, i understand your point. Trouble is, you're wrong.

Intangibles like team culture matter. One star player is never enough.

lol

 

[pgb-ohio]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

shrug.

 

[Puckdrop14]

shrug.

It looks like OSU have a few stars that will shine for this team for the next few years and a few more on the way. You have to be encouraged with the team you have, the new staff and the incoming recruits (assuming they stick to their commitments). Enjoy the ride.

 

[Reggie44]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

Provincial thought here for the Minny folks. Of the 18 skaters dressed for SCSU tonight against MN-Twin Cities 15 are not from Minnesota. State school that may make a run up to third place every 10 years or so should have more of a Minnesota flavor like Bemidji. Create some enthusiasm and interest with some local girls and build from there like there men's team has done.

 

[ne7minder]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

Provincial thought here for the Minny folks. Of the 18 skaters dressed for SCSU tonight against MN-Twin Cities 15 are not from Minnesota. State school that may make a run up to third place every 10 years or so should have more of a Minnesota flavor like Bemidji. Create some enthusiasm and interest with some local girls and build from there like there men's team has done.

I think the problem is a lack of depth in girls hockey. Despite a huge improvement there is still a big drop off. It would be nice it SCSU would being in more MN girls but at this point I don't see enough talent left over after MN, WI, BSU and to some extent UND are done taking their share. Id SCSU could put together a couple winning years they might draw better talent but I just don't think they can draw them now.

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

Provincial thought here for the Minny folks. Of the 18 skaters dressed for SCSU tonight against MN-Twin Cities 15 are not from Minnesota. State school that may make a run up to third place every 10 years or so should have more of a Minnesota flavor like Bemidji. Create some enthusiasm and interest with some local girls and build from there like there men's team has done.

I have the line chart from last Friday's Minnesota/St. Cloud men's game, and of the 18 skaters dressed for SCSU the majority (10) are not from Minnesota. But as to your point there is a disparity. That disparity, I believe, can best be explained by the greater depth of talent that Minnesota boys have as compared to the girls. There are roughly twice as many boys playing high school hockey as girls, so there is a greater talent pool to be spread around. And it's also a matter of geography, as I would guess at least 90% of the D1-caliber girls are from the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area, where the Gophers - aided by their tremendous success over the past decade - have a clear recruiting edge. For whatever reason, girls youth and high school hockey in central and northern Minnesota has actually taken a step backwards in the past decade, at least compared to the strides the girls metro-area teams have made. That difference is not as evident with the boys, as the north continues to produce top quality talent year after year. And so it's not a coincidence that the D1 men's programs in St. Cloud and Duluth - not to mention North Dakota which has traditionally drawn heavily from NW Minnesota - all have recently enjoyed great success, especially compared to their women's programs (and to be honest, compared to the Gophers' men's team).

Of course there are many other factors, like recruiting strategies, facilities and coaching staffs, that very much enter into it. But I believe geography (where the players hail from) and numbers (both total and D1 level talent) help answer your question.

 

[Reggie44]

I have the line chart from last Friday's Minnesota/St. Cloud men's game, and of the 18 skaters dressed for SCSU the majority (10) are not from Minnesota. But as to your point there is a disparity. That disparity, I believe, can best be explained by the greater depth of talent that Minnesota boys have as compared to the girls. There are roughly twice as many boys playing high school hockey as girls, so there is a greater talent pool to be spread around. And it's also a matter of geography, as I would guess at least 90% of the D1-caliber girls are from the greater Twin Cities metropolitan area, where the Gophers - aided by their tremendous success over the past decade - have a clear recruiting edge. For whatever reason, girls youth and high school hockey in central and northern Minnesota has actually taken a step backwards in the past decade, at least compared to the strides the girls metro-area teams have made. That difference is not as evident with the boys, as the north continues to produce top quality talent year after year. And so it's not a coincidence that the D1 men's programs in St. Cloud and Duluth - not to mention North Dakota which has traditionally drawn heavily from NW Minnesota - all have recently enjoyed great success, especially compared to their women's programs (and to be honest, compared to the Gophers' men's team).

Of course there are many other factors, like recruiting strategies, facilities and coaching staffs, that very much enter into it. But I believe geography (where the players hail from) and numbers (both total and D1 level talent) help answer your question.

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Seems like SCSU is the last choice for top Minny kids who take less scholarship amounts to go elsewhere after being offered full rides from SCSU. Still think there is some talent available to get more Minny kids.

 

[D2D]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Seems like SCSU is the last choice for top Minny kids who take less scholarship amounts to go elsewhere after being offered full rides from SCSU. Still think there is some talent available to get more Minny kids.

Not so sure about that. Many Minnesota players choose to stay and play close to home and play at SCSU (or other state schools) instead of moving and playing far away. Then again there are many Minnesota girls who do choose to attend and play for far-away schools, including the prestigious Ivy's, but for whatever reason end up having limited or no success at the D1 level. But as you would expect that is not necessarily the case for the many top Minnesota kids who are recruited and continue to improve and end up making a huge impact at their program of choice, even it was originally not their first choice...

As the talent pool continues to grow we will see more parity, and based on results and scores this season, this process has now begun.

 

[CrazyDave]

Re: WCHA 2016-17 Season

This Week in the Women's WCHA - October 28th