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2015-2016 College Hockey (non UND Hockey)


cberkas

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The better Gopher teams are typically the ones where they have a large freshman class.  That's why they were so good last year(2013-2014) after losing Schmidt, Alt, Haula, Bjugstad, and Budish the year before.  For some reason when the Gophers return most of the team they tend to under perform.  It's like they forget how hard they had to work the prior year to get where they did.  This past season is a perfect example of this.  A large freshman class, especially when some play a prominent role seems to be a nice infusion of not just talent but players who are very motivated to proves themselves. Next years team won't be as talented but they will have a better record and season than last year.

There's some sense to that. Sioux fans have seen in recent years how far hustle and a team-first mentality can get you.

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The better Gopher teams are typically the ones where they have a large freshman class.  That's why they were so good last year(2013-2014) after losing Schmidt, Alt, Haula, Bjugstad, and Budish the year before.  For some reason when the Gophers return most of the team they tend to under perform.  It's like they forget how hard they had to work the prior year to get where they did.  This past season is a perfect example of this.  A large freshman class, especially when some play a prominent role seems to be a nice infusion of not just talent but players who are very motivated to proves themselves. Next years team won't be as talented but they will have a better record and season than last year.  

Quite an indictment of the program....guys sticking around but not caring enough about the program to play their best

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The better Gopher teams are typically the ones where they have a large freshman class.  That's why they were so good last year(2013-2014) after losing Schmidt, Alt, Haula, Bjugstad, and Budish the year before.  For some reason when the Gophers return most of the team they tend to under perform.  It's like they forget how hard they had to work the prior year to get where they did.  This past season is a perfect example of this.  A large freshman class, especially when some play a prominent role seems to be a nice infusion of not just talent but players who are very motivated to proves themselves. Next years team won't be as talented but they will have a better record and season than last year.  

I'm not sure there is a direct correlation.

 

According to the USCHO stats, Lucia has had seven recruiting classes with 8 or more freshmen in it (last year's team had 8).

 

1999-00: 8 freshmen, 20-19-2, missed the NCAAs

2001-02: 9 freshmen, 32-8-4, NCAA champions

2004-05: 9 freshmen, 28-15-1, Lost in NCAA semis

2006-07: 9 freshmen, 31-10-3, Lost in NCAA qtrs

2008-09: 11 freshmen, 17-13-7, missed NCAAs

2010-11: 10 freshmen, 16-14-6, missed NCAAs

2013-14: 8 freshmen, 28-7-6, lost in NCAA final

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I'm not sure there is a direct correlation.

 

According to the USCHO stats, Lucia has had seven recruiting classes with 8 or more freshmen in it (last year's team had 8).

 

1999-00: 8 freshmen, 20-19-2, missed the NCAAs

2001-02: 9 freshmen, 32-8-4, NCAA champions

2004-05: 9 freshmen, 28-15-1, Lost in NCAA semis

2006-07: 9 freshmen, 31-10-3, Lost in NCAA qtrs

2008-09: 11 freshmen, 17-13-7, missed NCAAs

2010-11: 10 freshmen, 16-14-6, missed NCAAs

2013-14: 8 freshmen, 28-7-6, lost in NCAA final

It's not clockwork but there is a trend in some of the years.  

 

The team that was going for the 3peat returned most but they got off to a horrible start and never really clicked.  I realize they ended up being a #1 seed but that team never reached it's potential(4th place in WCHA) and didn't even make the FF.  Then they lost Riddle, Koalska, Vanek, Ballard(4 top scorers), and G. Potulny and the next season they were a #1 seed again with MUCH less talent and made the FF(Columbus).  The team that lost to HC and 2 lossses in the Final Five lost R. Potulny, Kessel, Irman, Goligoski, etc but the next years team had the Erik Johnson and Okposos freshman class won the Final Five and were within 1 goal of the FF.  

 

After going to the Frozen Four in Tampa pretty much the entire team returned including Haula and Bjugstad which was somewhat surprising.  They never clicked like the previous year and lost to #4 seed Yale.  But then of course the huge freshman class of Kloos, Cammaratta, Fasching, etc came in and had one of the best regular seasons in years and went to the Championship game.  Everyone returned once again and you saw those results this past season.  

 

 Sorry if I hijacked the thread.  But I won't be surprised if next years team has a better vibe and better work eithic. 

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Sorry if I hijacked the thread.  But I won't be surprised if next years team has a better vibe and better work eithic.

I don't think you hijacked the thread. You do bring some fair discussion to this site.

Of course, you've got that gopher odor about you for which there is no cure but exorcism.

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I don't think you hijacked the thread. You do bring some fair discussion to this site.

Of course, you've got that gopher odor about you for which there is no cure but exorcism.

But.....we still like your insights......at least I do.

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Colorado College and Denver will play at Coors Field February 20th next season, the game is being called "Battle on Blake". Not sure why it's being called that but has something to do with the rivalry.

 

http://gazette.com/cc-denver-outdoor-game-at-coors-field-set-for-2016/article/1550956?_ga=1.96453532.1606085349.1416587102

Being played at Coors Field - address there is 2001 Blake Street...

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Mike Eaves is going to talk former Wisconsin assistant coach, Mark Osiecki to coming back after not hiring Osiecki when he wanted to come back after being fired at Ohio State. Looks like Eaves is also looking at Penticton head coach Fred Harbinson.

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Mike Eaves is going to talk former Wisconsin assistant coach, Mark Osiecki to coming back after not hiring Osiecki when he wanted to come back after being fired at Ohio State. Looks like Eaves is also looking at Penticton head coach Fred Harbinson.

Is Eaves trying to give himself an inside line on Jost and Fabbro?   Not questioning Harbinson's abilities, just wondering if he would be on the radar if there weren't two big time recruits in the pipeline. 

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Is Eaves trying to give himself an inside line on Jost and Fabbro?   Not questioning Harbinson's abilities, just wondering if he would be on the radar if their weren't two big time recruits in the pipeline.

The story that Andy Baggot wrote about Eaves going to talk to Osiecki, it sounded like Barry Alvarez gave Eaves a blank check for his next assistant coaches. Andy Johnson hinted to Harbinson being sought after by Eaves on his recent visit to Western Canada.

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The story that Andy Baggot wrote about Eaves going to talk to Osiecki, it sounded like Barry Alvarez gave Eaves a blank check for his next assistant coaches. Andy Johnson hinted to Harbinson being sought after by Eaves on his recent visit to Western Canada.

 

Eaves might be picking his replacements if this season doesn't go better.

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