streakygopher

From the aforementioned link: 2. Candidates must contribute to the integrity of the team and display outstanding skills in all phases of the game. How many points you score = display of outstanding skills. I guess you should have read it too.

Well, if you fail to see the relevance then you must have the answer to my original query...how is the Hobey Baker candidate selected? Surely, points scored or GAA (in the case of a goaltender) has something to do with it...that, or it's an astonishing coincidence that only the top college hockey point producers are also the "most popular" hockey players! And, wouldn't it follow that if performance does factor in that the competition against whom one performs must also count for something? If a player in the CHA, for example, had as many points as a player in the WCHA, all other factors notwithstanding, wouldn't it just seem to make more sense to give the trophy to the guy from Minnesota or North Dakota than the dude from (gasp) Wayne State? Come on, don't keep me guessing...instead of criticizing me for laying down preposterous theories and accusing me of sounding stupid why not just fill me in on how the system works...or do you need time to Google that?

I'd like to know what goes into the voting. The year Leopold won it, he obviously deserved it, but it was curious that Pohl led the country that year in points and didn't make the final cut?? The other point is that players who get their points playing in a league like the WCHA are perhaps better than those who collect theirs' in the ECAC or the CHA. Then again, if you want to nit pick, if you compared Oshie's non-conference points to his WCHA points how would he look? Maybe the whole thing is just a popularity contest...who actually does the voting? Who won the Hobey in Panzer's senior year? Panzer was a great college hockey player.

I second that motion. I also suggest that some of you sprint to your dictionary or thesaurus to first look up the definition of "class" and second, arm yourselves with a few synonyms or different words altogether...If the word "class" were a racehorse it would be whip-scarred and foaming, on its way to the glue factory.

Spitting on a player and throwing things on the ice are both indefensible...purchasing a ticket entitles one to neither. What civilized person could argue otherwise? Or is this another contest to find out which fan base is worse?

This is an excellent point. Young teams in the WCHA have a hard time winning, no matter what the talent level. As a gopher fan, I watched years and years of teams loaded with talent that came up short. Now, both UND and Minnesota have some unworldly young talent and those guys can play at this level. But it helps to have elder leadership down the stretch. UND, Minnesota and Denver all had it in the recent title runs. Losing to SCSU is no disgrace...they're a pretty good team who is playing "up" right now. If you guys can just get to your own regional, there isn't a team in the country who'll look forward to playing you there, no matter what your ranking or record.

Well, that's not it...We do our best to ferret out the counterfeiters and such before they ever hit campus!

Why would it give you pleasure to see Earl and Pavelski shake hands with "Philly?" Fans always make a much bigger deal over things like this than the players do. I doubt many of the Gopher players felt this way about Parise when he missed out on a National title. Phil Kessel made a decision that he felt was right for him, as did Ryan Potulny and Danny Irmen, much in the same way that Parise did several years ago when he picked UND over Minnesota. That's the way it goes in college recruiting. Players don't "turn their backs on their home town." This garbage is made up by disgruntled fans that don't have enough going on in their lives. This happens in Minnesota all the time from Warroad to Red Wing. We can't keep them all. And if Kessel doesn't make it to Milwaukee, he'll be as disappointed as any other Gopher player for not being there...no more, no less...being from Wisconsin has nothing at all to do with it. Just let it go....

I'm not trying to start anything at all, certainly not a Gophers vs. Sioux discussion or Toews v. Kessel, but this line truly cracked me up. I mean, seriously, taking umbrage with Kessel's decision to "turn his back on his hometown" sets a dangerous precedent for those in Grand Forks, doesn't it? Don't most (ahem, nearly all) of your players come from out of state? How do you reconcile your giddy feelings about them? After all, they too "turned their backs" on their home towns. Oh, faulty logic!

Agreed that MN didn't look very good last night, but give them some credit...they are a good team (they made the FF for cryin' out loud)...just a team that didn't match the Sioux's energy level last night--much in the same way CC couldn't match Denver's earlier in the day...both Denver and UND earned their victories. Congrats on a storybook season. Your toughest test is tomorrow night...that Denver team has looked unbeatable...your classic unstoppable force against an immoveable object. It has the makings of a classic. We'll see ya next year!

Does anyone here truly believe the Sioux have a decided advantage over Minnesota...or vice versa? Last weekend is history folks. It doesn't matter that Minnesota scored only 3 goals or that UND cruised to two unlikely wins...that has no bearing on Columbus. Geez, during the regular season how many times does your squad dismantle a team on Friday only to struggle on Saturday? It happens all the time...you have to bring it every night...take one shift off and you may be sent packing. Any of the four remaining teams, with a little luck and goaltending, can beat the others. In fact, 4 weeks ago nobody would have given the Sioux or Minnesota much of a chance to get to the frozen four...now, it looks like anything is possible. That said, CC and Denver still have more talent (or at least experience) than MN and UND. That bracket is the odds on favorite to win it all...but that's why they play the game.

Just wanted to stop in and congratulate your team on their FF berth...as for the who's better discussion, that will be settled in two weeks. What happened this past weekend is over. There's two weeks of practices, coaching, and healing to be done. Both teams will be ready. Personally, I expect a close game...why would anybody think otherwise?? I will say this, however, the goaltending at the U this weekend was as good as I have ever seen. Holding Minnesota to 3 goals in two games on the big sheet is an accomplishment for any team. I'm not into predictions, but it's looking like it might finally be CC's year. They came back from a 3-0 deficit against a solid Michigan squad in Michigan. Both Colorado squads are better than UND or MN. One of us will need a little luck to beat them...good thing it's a one-game take all.

Well, gosh, after reading all of this we might as well throw him back! Say what you want about Kessel not being a defensive player, Kessel isn't physical enough, etc....but don't forget, the kid is only 17 years old! I saw the USA team play against MN at Mariucci a few weeks ago. Kessel (and the rest of the team) is very physical, and he's tough to hit anyway. He was the best player on the ice and made some pretty speedy defensemen--college defensemen, mind you--look just plain silly at times. Along with Kessel, Stoa and Mueller really stood out. Minnesota's future looks bright, but in the WCHA you have to come to play every night...and winning a NCAA title is even harder. No guarantees, but I like our chances. Kessel will be a dominant college hockey player next year. He has been playing world class hockey for the past 6 months+, and he has dominated at EVERY LEVEL...not to mention he is a consensus Number 1 pick in the NHL draft and has been compared to the likes of Modano and Roenick. Whoever compares him to Spehar just doesn't understand hockey. The two are worlds apart. I'm just glad I get to see him play (I said the same of Parise). If he would have selected another league, we all would have been robbed of that.

Oh, my gosh, you're right. I just indicted the whole Sioux nation by one thoughtless comment! A little thicker skin please...maybe you could rent a sense a humor, since clearly you don't own one. It may take me awhile to get over being called a troll....

...did you guys invent the internet too?