I would have to admit that I have enjoyed or probably reveled in the Gophers' troubles. In fact I have enjoyed watching the implosion. They have no one to blame but themselves. The coach they should have forced out was John Hill and not
Mike Guentzel I don't think it's a mystery why the Gophers have stumbled. Also, contrary to public belief the WCHA Final Five made it without the Golden Gophers in attendence this past weekend, people still showed up to the games without you.
KICKING THE GOPHERS
It almost seems some people revel in the Gophers' troubles. And they have had plenty the past three seasons.
On Friday, several people in the press box at the Xcel told me that sophomore defenseman Aaron Ness had signed with the New York Islanders. That would have been another body blow.
Checked my sources, finally reached his dad who insisted Ness is coming back. This is at least the second Ness rumor I have had to follow. Shortly after sophomore defenseman Sam Lofquist left, there were reports Jordan Schroeder would be turning pro and Ness would transfer to North Dakota.
Not sure if it's because the U has had so much success, or maybe people dislike Don Lucia, but there seem to be those hoping it all blows up.
As for Ness, young men change their minds. I believe his dad. I have no reason not to. But if Ness left in the offseason, it would not be a huge surprise as long as Garth Snow remains the New York Islanders general manager.
He ripped Lucia on the development of his players two seasons ago when Kyle Okposo signed with the Isles at the holiday break.
[Goal Gophers]
Who cares what that jerk Garth Snow thinks? College hockey programs aren't the developmental leagues for the NHL, they're a universe to themselves. NHL teams draft and sign players just to keep them out of competitor teams' pipeline and feed their minor system. After the preliminary hugs and kisses the guy gets to ride a bus for Bridgeport or Toledo for a couple years and then it's back home to the salt mine.
ReplyDeleteI guess I see things similar but different to Pulverized Concepts.
ReplyDeleteI think if we're basing the success of a program to an idiot who signed Rick DiPietro to a contract that is about 4-6 years too long, then we might as well fold the Minnesota program entirely.
I dislike the Gophers, sure, but I'm not going to base my opinion on someone like Garth Snow, even if he was an ex collegiate player.
I hate the Gophs as much as the next Sioux fan. (I will never forget the Gopher jersey pumping by the Grand Forks boys when the beat us a few years back.)
ReplyDeleteBut I have to admitt that I do not like the fact that the UofM hockey program is as low as it has been for the last two years.
They are an important part of the definition of WCHA hockey and I want them to be dominant so when we beat them it means something. That is the foundation of the tradition our rivalry has established.
It is the same argument I give to zealots of our rival teams that try to derail the Sioux name and advocate for its removal.
They have no respect for what the Sioux name adds to the WCHA and college hockey in general.
I don't care if they are at the top of their game or not. Beating them is fun any time. Ending their season was awesome it was pay back for 2001-2002 season. I enjoy watching them lose.
ReplyDeleteCall me a Gopher hater.
ReplyDeleteHow 'bout Jordan Schroeders' comment from afar: "Both teams are battling," Schroeder said. "The only difference is you can't fight in college. Fighting, that's new to me, and something you've got to get used to. But it's pretty similar in ways. At the pro level, though, guys understand the game very well, they know where to put the puck and they're just smart." Not very complimentary to his former teammates.
ReplyDeleteSchroeder sure didn't make himself look like any great hockey player the end of the season.
ReplyDeleteThe Gophers wound up with some bad attitudes and it'll take some new personnel to change things around.
Maybe the turnaround will be next year. I'm thinking they'll at least be better than 09-10.
This is a different Charles, but who cares about Aaron Ness. He sucks and it is entirely his fault that he sucks. Just a plain idiot for accelerating through high school and entering the U way to early for that kind of competition. If he wanted to get through with high school early, that's fine, but he definately needed 1-2 years of the USHL before going to the U. Lou Nanne pretty much said that same thing during the high school tournament in reference to Nick Bjugstad out of Blaine.
ReplyDeleteAs a gopher fan I am bothered by the kids that leave h.s. after their junior year to join the team; especially somebody of Ness's size. I think it's ridiculous. WTF. A year for a teenager is a big chunk of their life and a lot of growing, mentally and physically, takes place.
ReplyDeleteSo, I hope Bjugstad is the exception so that he can handle the 28 year old Canadians on the Flirting Sue! :)
Sioux7NationalTitles, I think J.S. has some character flaws that on the professional level he will work on as a player and as a person. If he was my team mate I would sit him down and remind him that he is one of 23 other guys and being a first round draft choice means nothing now other that he got the rookie max. Jordan Schroeder also has a entitlement mentality that I have been told many Gopher players had this season.
ReplyDeleteNess really didn't accelerate his studies he graduated with his correct graduation class.
ReplyDeleteWhat you guys fail to see here is that the WCHA is the most dominant collegiate conference in college hockey year in and year out. You can't win the McNaughton Cup or the Broadmoor Trophy every fricking season. A 4th of 5th place finish in the WCHA standings is better than winning the CCHA or the Hockey East. No program or team is going to have a good season every single year. One or two seasons in the bottom half of the standings does not mean the sky is falling. Minnesota has the program, they'll bounce back in the near future.
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely two levels of competition in the WCHA. Denver, ND and Wisconsin are usually at the top. AA, Mankato and MTU have the bottom covered. The rest jockey around in the middle, hoping for a break in any given year to join the elite. Maybe it's some consolation to consider your team one of the best in the country even if it's seventh in its own conference. Like Missouri in football.
ReplyDeleteTo the rather Green Hornet:
ReplyDelete...And, as Kessel did, Ness is accelerating his school work to graduate a year early. ...It wasn't until late last summer that Ness decided to combine his junior and senior years and pass on a fourth year of high school hockey.