Realityguy

Yep, and the last ND championship had 8 Minnesota players and 8 Canadians. What is your point? It was a great series and I have not disparaged ND in any way. I only pointed out that the perception the Gopher fans have about the roster is actually reality. It seems like the ND fans are a bit sensitive about it. Everyone spent about 5 pages worth of comments here picking on and making fun of Gopher fans while acting the exact same overly sensitive and arrogant way.

I 100% agree. The Gophers recruit a entire roster top six forwards and then wonder why they always get knocked out by a team with less skill and talent. A bit of grit and sandpaper would go a long way to improving the Gophers chances.

Absolutely true that the extra year and transfer portal has provided opportunities for players and programs alike but I am not sure it has anything to do with the point at hand. The 2015-16 National Championship team from UND had about 8 Canadians with 3 of them 23-24 years old. Transfer portal and extra year came after that years after that. UND has a formula that is within the rules and has provided great success but it is not new or a result of those things mentioned. I am not sure why everyone is so defensive. I only pointed out the reality that the perception of Gopher fans is based in fact while the Gophers have ONE Edina kid but acknowledge Eden Prairie and Wayzata are also represented which isn't really any different that Edina.

Did you watch the games this weekend? It was a split and congrats to ND for earning the split on the road but I am guessing recruiting has been going just fine for the Gophers as the discrepancy of talent was quite clear. UND knew how they had to play and they executed it well but if it wasn't for the transfer goalie I am guessing you are looking at two losses where the Gophers score about 8 in each game. I created the login because there appeared to be some knowledgeable and passionate hockey fans here. This "tired argument" is just the point I decided to discuss today. I did it without insults, rhetoric or childish retorts. Why so defensive and sensitive? AS stated a couple of times. I don't have a issue with older Canadiens but if someone is going to go after the Gopher fans insinuating they are making something up that is actually pretty close to fact, why shouldn't I point out the inaccuracy of the original post. Your first reply would seem to indicate that not only is it true, it is common across the more successful programs, which I also agreed, then the best you can do is to come at me with a criticism for creating a login to discuss it along with throwing out a lame attempt to take a shot at the recruiting success of the team that just dominated play against your team for the majority of the weekend. I am not here to argue lame rhetoric and insults. Got any points to actually discuss?

I don't disagree. Gopher fans say the same thing about MInnesota State. I didn't say it was wrong or a bad plan. I only stated that the perception of Gopher fans that UND's roster is filled with players that are significantly older than most of their student peers and from north of the border is based in reality. Your statement seems to confirm that. I only responded to the poster that seemed to indicate he thought it was a bunch of made up BS. I was not degrading any program that has a roster like that.

So you have to go back 17 years to find a single player that goes against the age thing. Not sure you really you disqualified the perception. The last national championship for ND had 8 Canadiens with 2 of the top 5 and 4 of the top 10 scorers from north of the border.

While that take is a bit overdone by Gopher fans the perception is understandable. The average college senior is 21.5 or so. ND has 15 on the roster over the age of 22. Of the 7 Canadiens on the roster the average age is 22 with two of them being 24. The average age of the top 5 scorers for ND is 22.5 wiht 2 of them from Canada that are 23 and 24 years old. The average age of UMTC's top 5 scorers is 20 with two of them being 18 which is a age ND does not even have on its roster nor is there a skater on the UM roster that is from Canada. Does ND have a roster loaded with 24 year old Canadiens? No. Does ND have the success it has had over the years without overaged players coming from various places including Canada? Also no. Everyone of ND's players is legal, within the rules and 100% a valid player but let's not pretend there isn't a basis for the perception.