Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

[D2D]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

As a Badger hockey fan, my highest of highs and lowest of lows have involved the Gophers.

The ups:

2006 NCAA Title Game
Wisconsin 3 Minnesota 0
Probably the most entertaining/satisfying day of hockey I've experienced. From the pre-game fan get-together at Sally's, to the game and then back to Sally's for post-game celebration and watching the men beat Cornell in multiple OTs to get to the Frozen Four. Doesn't get better than that.

2011 WCHA Tournament Title
Wisconsin 5 Minnesota 4
Badgers got down 3-0 and 4-2 going into the 3rd. Late goal by Duggan to tie it and Nash with the game-winner. One of the most exciting games I've ever been at. More celebrating at Sally's....

The downs:

2012 NCAA Title Game
Minnesota 4 Wisconsin 2
Made the road trip after the beatdown of BC in the semis. Had a great time at Grandma's before the game. Went downhill from there. Knew it would be tough game and the early Kessel goal set the tone. Watching the Gophers celebrate a national title at the Badgers expense was a big enough drag. Then I had to make the 5 hour drive back to Madison that night.

January 2013
Minnesota 5 Wisconsin 1
The balance of power had fully shifted to the Gophers by now. The Badgers had been relatively competitive in three earlier losses to Minnesota that year, but the Gophers completely dominated the Badgers from start to finish. It was the quietest (and most depressing) LaBahn has ever been.

The last three years losing in the Frozen Four have sucked, but they didn't make the list as I wasn't actually there for any of them, mercifully.

(I feel like I may have posted something very similar to this in the past, but I always remember these games when it's Minnesota week.)

Badger Booster, excellent post. Gopher fans have similar (opposite?) highs/lows during our tremendous rivalry over the past decade plus.

Your team obviously has the edge this weekend and the rest of the way. But as past results between our two teams clearly show, there are no guarantees. I like our chances to at least come away with a split.

 

[bluffrinkrat]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

The 2012 championship game is my all-time favorite hockey game that I've attended or at least in a tie with the 2003 Gopher men's win over Maine. I was especially happy for Schoullis and West because of all they had gone through with their prior injuries.

My all-time low would be the 2006 loss to Wisconsin. We were so hopeful after beating NH with Ross' four goals, but Zaugg was a beast. My all-time low for a men's game would be the 1981 loss to the Badger's. I still can't believe the Gophers lost.

 

[Blackbeard]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

Granted it was a fairly exciting game, but with the Gopher band no longer there Ridder arena just wasn't the same.

Just "fairly" exciting?

Maybe there's more to the rest of that comment than just the "band" 's not being there.

If I recall, The 'Dogs were given UM's dressing room and bench while UM had the unsettling experience of having to use the visitors' dressing room and bench during the semi final game in their own arena...about which I was told they were none too pleased.

To add insult to injury UMD disposed of UM in that game thereby advancing to that 3 OT barnburner Championship Game.

Sidebar: I was checking out that NCAA site that I posted last week regarding Women's Frozen Four Records and saw that the 5 longest Frozen Four Games that are listed involved UMD 3 times and Cornell twice!

Tons of great information there.

Here it is again for anyone interested.

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/frozen_4/2016-17/011-Women.pdf

 

[bluffrinkrat]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

Just "fairly" exciting?

Maybe there's more to the rest of that comment than just the "band" 's not being there.

The only thing more might be that I'm glad the NCAA decided to no longer play a 3rd place game before the championship. Sitting thru the equivalent of three hockey games would have been a bit much for us old folks. We were glad UMD defeated Big Red and kept the trophy in the WCHA where it belongs.

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

The only thing more might be that I'm glad the NCAA decided to no longer play a 3rd place game before the championship.

Why all the hate for the 3rd place game? Both teams and fans traveled distances to get there, they are there, there are non-fans of those teams there who want to see hockey, why not let the 3rd and 4th place team duke it out? Obviously the potential is there to see some awesome players and teams play. The host makes more money on concessions. There's no negative side to it.

 

[Eeyore]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

Why all the hate for the 3rd place game? Both teams and fans traveled distances to get there, they are there, there are non-fans of those teams there who want to see hockey, why not let the 3rd and 4th place team duke it out? Obviously the potential is there to see some awesome players and teams play. The host makes more money on concessions. There's no negative side to it.

At least in the men's tournament, the 3rd place games were consistently the worst hockey games I've ever watched. Neither team wants to be there and neither has anything to play for. The last two 3rd place games at the men's tournament were in 1988 and 1989. The former, between Minnesota and Maine teams that had spent the entire season flip-flopping between #1 and #2 in the polls and then got upset in the semis set the NCAA Tournament record for penalties and was just a nasty game. The next year, the game between Maine and Michigan State was the exact opposite: totally lethargic and effort free. At one point, a Michigan State defenseman just started skating in circles at the point.

Canceling those games was one of the NCAA's better decisions.

 

[bluffrinkrat]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

The thing I was remembering about the 3rd place game was the Gophers losing to Dartmouth after they had already lost to Harvard in Duluth in 2003. But I imagine for the Dartmouth fans and parents of the players were happy to see them end their season on somewhat of a high note especially after travelling all that way.

At least for the men the 3rd place game was usually a stinker. Does anyone know why the NCAA decided to end it?

 

[D2D]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

At least for the men the 3rd place game was usually a stinker. Does anyone know why the NCAA decided to end it?

Because it was usually a stinker?

 

[bluffrinkrat]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

Because it was usually a stinker?

Or the NCAA saved money somehow?

 

[Timothy A]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

At least in the men's tournament, the 3rd place games were consistently the worst hockey games I've ever watched. Neither team wants to be there and neither has anything to play for. .

Pride and a chance to represent your school again. Maybe a little redemption. Build some character. Or is all this nation is full of is sore losers?

 

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

Pride and a chance to represent your school again. Maybe a little redemption. Build some character. Or is all this nation is full of is sore losers?

Aren't most of those folks moving to the NSKR (New Socialist Kalifornia Republic)? At least we can hope.

 

[Nowheresville]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

3rd Place games sound fine on paper, but unless there is an olympic medal involved, realistically they are games that fans don't really want to watch and the players certainly aren't interested in playing in. Ultimately, since no one really cares about the outcome, they become a scrimage that players are forced to take part in, 2 days after watching their season come to an end.

We're talking about top level athletes playing at the top level of their sport, so pretty far past the "character building" stage of the game.

 

[bluffrinkrat]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

Pride and a chance to represent your school again. Maybe a little redemption. Build some character. Or is all this nation is full of is sore losers?

I would say about 50%, but then I'm still upset about Andersen supposedly "losing" to Rolvaag in 1962. This may not be exactly how it went, but Andersen was ahead in the initial count and then in the recount they miraculously found additional votes for Rolvaag not in the trunk of a car but in a mine pit near Gilbert known at the time as Lake Votes-Be-Found later renamed Lake Ore-Be-Gone.

 

[rangersrule]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

A glorious day at LaBahn today. After a shaky first couple of minutes, Wisconsin simply flexed on an under-manned and probably out-of-gas UMD team. 8-0 final and it could have been worse. You could tell it meant a lot to the team to clinch the WCHA title on senior day. Only downside (for me personally), was forgetting to record the game on TV. Nothing worse than realizing that when you are virtually already at the arena.

The "3rd line" was flying around all day with Wellhausen getting her first career hat trick and Abby Roque again showing why she is going to fun to watch the next 3 years. After Wellhausen's 3rd goal, there was a slow trickle of hats thrown out then at least a dozen more came down which is easily the most I've seen at a women's game. The PA announcer actually told the crowd to stop throwing hats on the ice. If I had access to the ice, I would have thrown my hat on the ice after reviewing the goal. Don't throw your hat on the ice? That's what happens after a hat trick. That was weird.

I'm curious what UMD was thinking sending Rooney out to start the 3rd. The game was way over at that point. Maybe she asked to stay in, but was quickly pulled after Pankowski's two goals in the first four minutes. Kind of felt like she was hung out to dry.

With the league title in hand, time to go and just play loose up in Minnesota.

A big congrats goes out to the Badger players completing the clean sweep of weekly WCHA awards: Ann Renee Desbien (Defensive Player of the Week), Baylee Wellhausen (Offensive Player of the Week), and Abby Roque (Rookie of the Week). Desbien with her 50th career shutout and Wellhausen with her first collegiate hat trick. And Roque once again proving she is the best Freshman in the country.

 

[Netminder]

Pride and a chance to represent your school again. Maybe a little redemption. Build some character. Or is all this nation is full of is sore losers?

Need I remind you all about the last Winter Olympics? The way our US Men's hockey team responded to the bronze medal round was not so inspiring. I was ashamed, personally...

 

[ne7minder]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

The thing I was remembering about the 3rd place game was the Gophers losing to Dartmouth after they had already lost to Harvard in Duluth in 2003. But I imagine for the Dartmouth fans and parents of the players were happy to see them end their season on somewhat of a high note especially after travelling all that way.

At least for the men the 3rd place game was usually a stinker. Does anyone know why the NCAA decided to end it?

I remember a couple of really brutal games for 3rd. Nasty ugly play. But, given it is OK in men's hockey, encouraged even to be a thug I assume the NCAA stopped it because it saved them the cost of hotel rooms for one night for two teams.

 

[Netminder]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

Sent from my iPhone. Apologies for any misspelling-

 

[ARM]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

If I recall, The 'Dogs were given UM's dressing room and bench while UM had the unsettling experience of having to use the visitors' dressing room and bench during the semi final game in their own arena...about which I was told they were none too pleased.

Just the bench, which led to the teams having to cross over in the corridor, compounded by the fact that UMD players couldn't resist vandalizing some of the U of M artwork. Things like that are why people don't mind losing to the current Bulldogs regime nearly as much as the old one.

As for the 2010 championship game, there was plenty of drama, but not many fans, and it wasn't particularly long on talent. UMD's offense was primarily confined to Blais and Fridfinnson, and the team had far less star power than any of its other championship teams. Cornell had a couple of great rookie D and not a lot else. The 2010 Olympics was a big drain on the talent in the sport, which is why Mercyhurst could come in as the No. 1 seed. The game wasn't particularly well played. There were all sorts of horrendous turnovers that didn't result in goals because the attacking player flubbed the chance. And then the game ended on a mistake where the penalized player started to her bench and it cost her the second she needed to have denied the shot that ultimately resulted in the winning goal. There were fewer fans than any other Frozen Four I've seen, and not many of those there cared which team won. In the end, the game was best remembered for its length and its Liberace homage.

As for ne7minder's original point about UW vs UM, I always thought that either one playing UMD was more entertaining. Stylistically, the Badgers and Gophers don't complement each other all that well. I've seen some yawners over the years in the UW/UM series, even in the last 10 years, and even in games that were close on the scoreboard. At least the blowouts with UMD vs UM were up-and-down games.

Why all the hate for the 3rd place game? ... There's no negative side to it.

Because the last one took place before Wisconsin ever reached a Frozen Four, you were never treated to watching your players play in a game they clearly had no interest in playing. Teams work all year to get to this stage, and less than 48 hours after having the dream end, they're supposed to go out and play for ... absolutely nothing? The only one that was worth anything was the first one when it was Harvard versus Dartmouth and they hated each other. Otherwise, it was just cruel and unusual punishment for the players.

Canceling those games was one of the NCAA's better decisions.

Agree totally.

 

[Blackbeard]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

1. Just the bench, which led to the teams having to cross over in the corridor, compounded by the fact that UMD players couldn't resist vandalizing some of the U of M artwork.

2. As for the 2010 championship game, there was plenty of drama, but not many fans, and it wasn't particularly long on talent. UMD's offense was primarily confined to Blais and Fridfinnson, and the team had far less star power than any of its other championship teams. Cornell had a couple of great rookie D and not a lot else. The 2010 Olympics was a big drain on the talent in the sport, which is why Mercyhurst could come in as the No. 1 seed.

3. And then the game ended on a mistake where the penalized player started to her bench and it cost her the second she needed to have denied the shot that ultimately resulted in the winning goal.

4. There were fewer fans than any other Frozen Four I've seen, and not many of those there cared which team won.

1. Are you serious? Did anyone actually witness said deed and, if so, get the name/number of the alleged perpetrators? And, if so, who were they?

2. I realize Irwin, Holmlov and Martin, and maybe others, were off for the Vancouver Olympics but there were still others in addition to Blais and Fridfinnson like Tuominen, Palterri, (the Finns returned from Vancouver to join UMD), Rasmussen, Cournoyer (although that might have been the year she was sidelined after being assaulted by that brain dead MSU player who wanted to go into law enforcement who carried out Means’ orders which ended in the assault on her and Irwin), Wong, and to a lesser extent Wilson, all of whom could score. And J-Rock rejoined the team in Dec/09 after being one of the last Team Canada cuts so she was on the Roster as well. In fact, I recall discussing that with you at that time and your expressing your concern.

And Cornell…White, Rougeau, Fortino, Karpenko, the Overguards.

So, even though there was depletion, I have to disagree about there not being much talent on the ice for that game.

3. The penalized player was Rougeau and although I can't quite recall her heading to her bench for a second what also happened was that she skated cross ice and around Gray who had the puck at the point instead of skating in front of Gray to diffuse the situation...I could never understand why she did that and what her thinking could have been. But that extra split second gave Gray the time she needed to get the shot off that Wong deflected into the net for the winning goal.

4. The fans attitudes do not dictate how exciting a game is or isn't. And I guess you didn't survey Cornell or UMD fans about caring who won. I thought what you mentioned reflected poorly on the host location/fans or lack thereof. Many seemed to think local fans didn't show up because their team lost two days earlier.

Anyway, it was one of the most exciting games I have ever witnessed...if not thee most exciting. A close runner up would be the UNH vs UMD FF semi final two years earlier at the DECC where The 'Dogs somehow withstood an unbelievable offensive onslaught to eventually prevail. But the ensuing Championship Game was the worst I've seen so far...UW played the first period and they were done...for some reason they came out in the 2nd a very different team...UMD shut them out 4-0...very disappointing show by UW, but I digress.

 

[ARM]

Re: Wisconsin Badgers 2016-2017

1. Are you serious? Did anyone actually witness said deed and, if so, get the name/number of the alleged perpetrators? And, if so, who were they?

2. I realize Irwin, Holmlov and Martin, and maybe others, were off for the Vancouver Olympics but there were still others in addition to Blais and Fridfinnson like Tuominen, Palterri, (the Finns returned from Vancouver to join UMD), Rasmussen, Cournoyer (although that might have been the year she was sidelined after being assaulted by that brain dead MSU player who wanted to go into law enforcement who carried out Means’ orders which ended in the assault on her and Irwin), Wong, and to a lesser extent Wilson, all of whom could score. And J-Rock rejoined the team in Dec/09 after being one of the last Team Canada cuts so she was on the Roster as well. In fact, I recall discussing that with you at that time and your expressing your concern.

And Cornell…White, Rougeau, Fortino, Karpenko, the Overguards.

So, even though there was depletion, I have to disagree about there not being much talent on the ice for that game.

3. The penalized player was Rougeau and although I can't quite recall her heading to her bench for a second what also happened was that she skated cross ice and around Gray who had the puck at the point instead of skating in front of Gray to diffuse the situation...I could never understand why she did that and what her thinking could have been. But that extra split second gave Gray the time she needed to get the shot off that Wong deflected into the net for the winning goal.

4. The fans attitudes do not dictate how exciting a game is or isn't. And I guess you didn't survey Cornell or UMD fans about caring who won. I thought what you mentioned reflected poorly on the host location/fans or lack thereof. Many seemed to think local fans didn't show up because their team lost two days earlier.

Anyway, it was one of the most exciting games I have ever witnessed...if not thee most exciting. A close runner up would be the UNH vs UMD FF semi final two years earlier at the DECC where The 'Dogs somehow withstood an unbelievable offensive onslaught to eventually prevail. But the ensuing Championship Game was the worst I've seen so far...UW played the first period and they were done...for some reason they came out in the 2nd a very different team...UMD shut them out 4-0...very disappointing show by UW, but I digress.

1. Yes. I don't recall all the particulars, and thinking about it further, it may have been during the WCHA tourney that year. Thereafter, the WCHA took charge of what team was assigned what bench.

2. I believe that UMD started the season missing six players due to the Olympics. I guess we'll have to agree to disagree about the talent level. Larocque was back, but maybe because the team relied as heavily as it did on 1st-year players, she didn't seem as integrated into the team as her usual. Some of those Bulldog rookies were likely as healthy then as they ever were, but they were still rookies. I just compare those rosters to the following season, when Cornell added Johnston and Jenner, UMD had Irwin, Holmlov, Winberg, and Martin back, but neither club was able to make it back to the Frozen Four, and it's a far cry from what was on the ice for the 2003 championship. Usually, we have to list a lot of names before we get down to a Posa on a star-studded roster.

3. It was the period of the long change, so once she started for her bench, she wound up on the high side of Gray.

4. There weren't many fans at that semifinal either, although more than the championship. It was a down era for UM in terms of attendance; there were a few hundred more to watch recent series with OSU and UND than turned out for either FF session in 2010. The hardcore Gopher fans did show up on Sunday, but more out of a sense of duty. There were at least three times as many UMD fans at Mariucci back in 2001, and while I can see the difficulty in getting a lot of Cornell fans halfway across the country, it still made for a lot of empty seats. At least that was the first FF held in Ridder; it would have seemed totally empty in Mariucci. Admittedly, it was almost twice as many as fans as showed up for the UMD vs UM WCHA final two weeks earlier, but that attendance was pathetic.

I thought the quality of the game was much better in years like 2003, 2005, 2009 (even though Mercyhurst was outclassed), 2012, and 2015. But like I said, I'll concede that it had drama in 2010, just not electricity.