streakygopher

How do I insert a "quote?" Sorry for being computer illiterate.

Poor Adam Hauser. He's one year removed from the program, and he's still getting slighted. Oh well, I hope his championship ring is good enough for him. One departed Gopher who never gets brought up is Nick Angell. He was all-america caliber, but he was a very solid senior defenseman. By the way, why in heaven's name would NDSU actually want to go D1? Cripes, look east will you? Minnesota struggles year after year in the Big 10, but if they play NDSU, they'll kill 'em. Just doesn't make sense.

Sioux7 I applaud your enthusiasm, but making the FF if you had better goaltending? I was at the UND/Ferris game and THAT WAS NOT the same team that beat the Gophers at Mariucci. UND went into a second-half swoon and goaltending was not to blame. Just as CC cooled off at exactly the wrong time, it's all about WHEN you get hot.

I see Mankato as a team lacking depth this year and probably next, though their style of play carried them a long way. No doubt the loss of Hale was a bitter blow, and I don't know how anyone can argue otherwise. Minnesota was without Potulny, Tallackson, Guyer, Koalska and others due to world play or injury and the difference was obvious. Denver and CC, I'm not too sure about. UMD is young and good. I think they will contend and I'm sure they're determined to make it to the NCAA after what happened this year. I think St. Cloud will struggle. If Minnesota keeps key players, I think on paper they are one of the best (if not the best) teams in the nation. Now to Goon: You're an emotionally distraught individual. That much is clear. Do you use that harsh, imbecilic tone in everyday life? Man, get a grip. The reason I came on to the Sioux Board is because I was looking for Sioux fan's opinions...pretty smart for a twelve-year-old, huh? Somehow, you got caught up in your own childish diatribe and started chastising me for assuming all of our players would return next year...I did use the word "if" if I'm not mistaken...apologies accepted. Minnesota should be a dominant team next year, IF we return guys like Vanek, Ballard and Martin. But, I remember Woog once saying that being picked to win the league in the coach's poll is the kiss of death, because they never get it right. I hope UND is good too, because rivalries like UND and once-upon-a-time Wisconsin are always circled on my calendar.

They have a Perkins in Grand Forks?

For once let us try and put our bias and spite aside. Minnesota is still in the hunt this year, and I normally refrain from talk of "next year" until the season is over; however, there's been discussion on this board about the Sioux's team and its chances next year, so I asked the question: Who is Going to be BETTER than Minnesota next year? They return every productive player except DeMarchi and they have another outstanding incoming class (Potulny, Vanelli, Irmen, Taylor)...if we don't lose Vanek, Ballard, or Martin I OBJECTIVELY believe this is the best line up in the country. Now the following year...well, that's another story! Please give insightful opinion in agreement or to the contrary WITHOUT any Gopher bashing.

In my view Michigan beat CC because CC wavered down the stretch. Ever since their home loss to Minnesota, they were not the same dominant team. They struggled against a plucky but tired UMD squad, lost to MN in the finals, and eked out a win against mightly Wayne State. They had the talent to win it all, much less beat Michigan at Yost. But, instead they went out with whimper. Just another case of when you're hot that matters. Yes, Cornell clamped down on the Mavs, but the Mavs stayed in the game until midway through the third period, much in the same style as their WCHA play all year. If Minnesota gets by Michigan, I am hoping for a Cornell match up. This time, however, Cornell will be forced to defend against 4 pretty deep and talented lines .

Geez you guys are critical. In my opinion, Woog is an excellent color guy. He is infinitely knowledgeable and is spontaneously witty. Of course he's a bit of a homer, but then it is a home broadcast! Despite the fact that he pulls for Minnesota, he often weighs in with opinions that don't favor the Gophers. As for Mazacco, he does a fair job on the play by play. He rarely messes up names (you try remembering or accessing 25 names for 9 other teams), and he brings a decent amount of excitement and enthusiasm to the broadcast. Remember, this isn't the New York Rangers or ESPN. These two, for local guys, do a real good job.

I know this guy personally. He's a great kid. I once asked him what he and his teammates do to get fired up for the Gophers. His reply? "Mostly we just play cards on the bus." I wish that team and this current Gopher squad could have matched up. There would be lots of firepower on the ice.

It's comforting to know that UND hates someone else as much as the Gophers.

schmidtdoggydog-- I'll type r e a l s l ow so that you can follow along. Ndgopher's point is that the age discussion is absurd because they are only 6 months apart. Get it? Probably not.

Sounds like an April Fools joke to me, but I've been on record before as saying he has the NHL coach demeanor!

skateshattrick: Maybe Zach will be a better pro, in the mold of say Drury, but then again maybe not. A lot of the knocks on Vanek were also said about Danny Heatly, and he's a dominating force in the NHL. Good size with incredible hands...hmmm. Parise has a much higher hill to climb. He's young and he's loaded with talent, but too many guys fitting that description have found it tough sledding in the modern-day NHL. Other guys his size have jaw dropping skills (Sakic, Larionov) and some are just average but work their butts off (Jim Dowd). Parise will definitely fit in some how. He works hard, he's a good skater and he's got good hands. BUT, to say he will have a more productive NHL career than Vanek is just nonsense. Nobody knows that--including the NHL scouts.

Heck yes I (silently) pulled for Ferris, but wait before you tomahawk my back. I thought the Gophers had a better chance against Ferris than against UND. Even though the Gophers are playing better hockey than UND, I know that their storied rivalry meant a tougher game for my team. Therefore, I was pulling for Ferris. Turns out I was right. I really doubt Minnesota would have destroyed UND like we did Ferris. Anybody notice Hale's two handed swinging stick after the empty net goal? I'm glad he didn't connect, but I couldn't help wondering what the heck he was trying to do!

NorthDakotaHockey-- Don't start that tired old bullcrap about the all-Minnesota teams. You failed to mention that those teams were 100% true-to-class aged kids (in other words, freshmen came straight from highschool). If anything, your slight on the program really proves its worth. Who else in the country might have had any success at all with all in-state kids coming in as true freshmen? NoDak wouldn't even field a D1 team. I don't want to get into a tedious discussion on this topic...it goes round and round. And, don't forget, many of the same Minnesota kids you're so quick to criticize have helped many, many NoDak teams win championships over the years. For the record, North Dakota has a great hockey tradition. So does Minnesota. They both have great coaching. They both have loyal fans. They both have a handful of obnoxious fans. They both play in the WCHA. If this year's situation were reversed, I'd be cheering for the Sioux. I saw NoDak lose to Ferris. I saw one Gopher fan around me cheer for a Ferris goal. I wasn't cheering, but I wanted Ferris to win. Why? Because I think North Dakota would get up to play against Minnesota and, therefore, represented a bigger threat.

Some believe the Wooger got lazy recruiting in his last few years...the team had average performances. However, he recruited Taffe, Leopold, Pohl et. al. who were all a big part of last year's NC run. When Lucia took over he played out the string of average players through graduation, such as Dylan Mills, Dave Spehar, Mike Lyons and Nate Miller (though, my gosh, did he have a big heart). Once some of Lucia's recruits came up things started to click. It appears ND had a similar experience with Blais, who is a great coach. I've often thought Blais has the tempement and style of an NHL coach. What ever happened to Gino? Was he fired? If so, why?

lawkota & MinnesotaNorthStar- The point I'm making about an older incoming freshman is in response to someone's? reference to the Woog years, implying that he was a loser over his coaching tenure. Woog recruited true freshman almost exclusively. This made it much harder to compete against older, more mature players throughout the league. Yes, I know Rass left after his Sophmore season and maybe Bonin would have left early had he been older, maybe not. It doesn't matter. My point is the same regardless of who left when. Perhaps in giving an example, I only confused everyone. It's about the ages of incoming players. Look around the league today. Incoming freshman who are 19 or 20 simply contribute more, and that's why the Wooger had trouble winning championships (though he almost did it in '89 and threatened other years with very young teams)....and if anybody bothered noticing, I've done nothing to criticize the Sioux program or any program...I'll leave that to Sioux 11. He doesn't seem to vent his frustration in an intelligible manner, so he simply "hates." Speaking of ages, Minnesota is the youngest average age team in the WCHA. The future looks bright. If I'm not mistaken, the Sioux are also young. Looks like a nice rivalry over the next few years.

Yes, Bonin is in the minors. Okay, what if Erik Rasmussen or Jordan Leopold came in as 21-year-old freshmen...now are you happy? The point (for those who can't seem to grasp it) is that older, more mature players with junior-league playing experience are simply better prepared to play college hockey. For the record, Bonin is playing in Europe, not the NHL minors. lawkota--seems you have a pipeline of inside Gopher information...maybe you could share some more of your insightful wisdom with us? And what point are you making anyway? Are you implying that I don't think Grant is a leader or men, an independent thinker, a contemplative decision maker of grand proportions? Of course I do! Why do you think he chose Minnesota? Apparently the cheers and the uniforms didn't bother him any.

lawkota-- Why would he leave as a 22 year old Sophmore? Jaon Blake was, what, 25 or 26 when he graduated? It's about eligibility, not age.

Siouxrock- Please refrain from the stupid remarks...am I supposed to come back with Brad DeFauw or Karl Goehring , whose butt you road all the way to the promised land? I don't think either of us should go there. And, if you watched the NC game, you'll note that Grant had a very average game, save the "swat heard 'round the world." Maybe you also noticed that Johnny Pohl won two huge faceoffs, one for game-tying goal and one for game-winning goal, not to mention a big goal himself. Yes, it's a team sport, but don't start the ND connection thing. I think you know, looking at historical evidence, that it's a battle you'll lose.

Sioux 11-- That was quite a diatribe...a spewing stream of vile garbage against the team you love to hate. Well, thanks for the compliment! The more you try to convince everybody that Minnesota sucks, the more you call attention to your curious preoccupation with the maroon and gold. What, you don't like our uniforms? You don't appreciate our cheers? The M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A thing doesn't do it for you? Let me take a moment to consider discontinuing these practices because the omnipotent Sioux 11 objects...naw, I think I'll keep doing it. Going back to the Woog years and using 21 years of futility to compare us to some of your program's recent success is meaningless. The Wooger stuck with Minnesota kids year after year as true freshman coming into the program. So, despite being competitive year after year, it was difficult for our 18-year- old freshmen to compete with the 21-year-old Jason Blakes of the world (it makes a big difference--what if Bonin came in as a 21-year-old freshman?). But hey, what's done is done; the past is past. I for one am looking forward to the future, with Lucia in charge using mostly Minnesota boys with a few out-of-staters plugged in.