GOPHER 9

nuttinbuthockey · Post by **nuttinbuthockey** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 6:15 pm

About a year ago, I promised to let you know when Holmes made it D1, well I am keeping my word. She is heading of to North Dakota. (She got recognition from multiple D1 colleges). And by the way she was on the USA 18's, just FYI.[/quote]

Central · Post by **Central** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 8:20 pm

Congrats to Holmes and UND! They will be able to use her skill at the blue line and her blazing shot to help the offense!

BCGHockey · Post by **BCGHockey** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 8:24 pm

Congrats to her for making it D1, but lets not forget where ND ranks in the world of womens hockey. I'm quite confident that the MN, Duluth, WI, OSU, and some of the other top ranked teams out east were not actively going after her. She moves north and south just fine, but east and west and her foot work needs some work. I'm sure the ND coaches like her size and figure they can turn her into a good D1 player, she is not there yet, along with most other high school players. As far as the U18 team (-3 the first game and gets player of the game, that's difficult to understand) if I remember correctly she didn't play then in either game 2 or 3 and maybe neither. Good luck to Alex the rest of the season and personally my favorite in Alex is the Williams girl.

Central · Post by **Central** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:30 pm

I had heard that Holmes had gotten offers from OSU and UConn as well as UND. Not sure how accurate that information is but that is what I heard a couple times. Good Luck to her!

Williams will definitely add to the MSU-Mavericks. Saw her play in a tourney this summer and it looked like she was even stronger and faster from when saw Alex at state. Not remembering who she was playing for Jr. Whitecaps, I think. Good Luck to her!

Congrats to all the girls that are able to play the next level of hockey after High school, Div I or Div III. Given all the "upsets" this season in the WCHA and elsewhere, college teams are becoming far more competitive on any given day/night.

MNHockeyFan · Post by **MNHockeyFan** » Sat Nov 03, 2007 9:45 pm

BCGHockey wrote:Congrats to her for making it D1, but lets not forget where ND ranks in the world of womens hockey.

I think you will see North Dakota become much more competitive in the next 2-3 years.

nuttinbuthockey · Post by **nuttinbuthockey** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:22 am

Yes she did receive offers from UCONN and OSU including others. And she also did play in the 2nd game but not the 3rd in Ottawa. ND will improve with their new coach. ND has already made a great improvement from last year. Also have to remember that when looking at a college, hockey is not the only area that should make or break a girls decision. A girl has to get herself prepared for the real world.

Media · Post by **Media** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 7:49 am

BCG you can be as confident as you want but you are so wrong about everything you said it makes me wonder why you would have an ax to grind with this kid. THe schools mentioned in the afore were the one's SHE chose to look at, that interested HER. If you only look at the past when you make a decision for hockey I guess we only would need to have a couple schools participate. THat you would diss anyone that makes it to a national level team speaks to your obvious need to be recognized as a HOCKEY Authority. Anyone with any foresight. as aopposed to hindsight would recognize ND as a impending power not only in the WCHA
but NCAA. Not only do they have the staff to make this happen, They have the facility, and above all the support. Ashley Holmes is a great person, a great player,and knows full well that this is an opportunity few girls get. I have nothing but respect and admiration for her efforts in Hockey in life and in schoolas I do for any player who achieves this level.
That you would chooe to try and support your point with the plus/minus rateing further indicates your need to grind an ax. Plus/Minus is when used in a weekend tournament situation /single game a lousy stat. Anyone knows that who has played the game. You can just step on the ice and get either one. PLus who your playing with and goaltending all come into play. So your entitled to your opinion but before you try and rain on someones parade you should have all the CORRECT information

Thunderbird77 · Post by **Thunderbird77** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 9:09 am

What would settle this debate (if you can call it that) is whether or not she gets asked back to the U18 team.

In any event, any girl who makes it that far (either once or repeatedly) deserves our support and respect.

Hux · Post by **Hux** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 9:15 am

Hey BCG, what purpose is served making comments like yours about high school, or for that matter a college hockey player? One needs to remember that aside from being amateurs, and kids, they are far better players blindfolded and with dull blades than anyone who posts on this board will ever be.

So, to put it more succinctly, S-T-F UP!

BCGHockey · Post by **BCGHockey** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 9:23 am

Media I'm not sure were the ax grinding comes from. I offered congrats to her for making it D1, I state that ND will turn her into a good D1 player, I state that she moves north and south fine. I also states that most other high school players are not there yet when it comes to being ready to compete at the D1. You bring up the point about the plus minus, so are you saying that the -3 was because of who else was on the ice and who the goaltender was? Be careful what you are saying, the other players were also U18 National Level Players.

Media · Post by **Media** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 9:36 am

So in regards to plus/minus is it possible that someone besides her could have made a mistake leading to the minus, is it possible an inappropraite shift change where she just stepped on the ice could have lead to a minus ? Is it possible a soft goal could have lead to a minus . AS I said plus /minus is a lousy stat to judge someone by especially over a short period. Obviously by posts following mine, I wasnt the only one thinking YOUR POST WAS INAPPROPRIATE. After rereading your post I am not even sure you understand how a plus or a minus is awarded. Simply put if your on the ice in an even situation when a goal is scored you get a plus or a minus depending if its for you or against you. SOMETIMES multiple players are the cause of a minus. Some times multiple players are the cause of a plus, and yes a soft goal results in a minus for all the players on that goaltenders team.

BCGHockey · Post by **BCGHockey** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 9:42 am

Media, did you watch the game on the internet feed? I did and I will leave it at that.

SportsMa · Post by **SportsMa** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 9:44 am

Excellent points to remember that the school needs to interest the young woman, have the field of study that they may be interested in and be a "good fit" for that young woman in many areas not simply a w-l record. It really is a two way street for the recruit. Watch the NCAA commercials and they even advertise the point they are preparing their players for life!

As supporters of girls'/women's hockey on this forum, it makes sense to me that we debate all the bigger issues that face women's hockey, display some healthy (and entertaining) community and regional pride, gain further information about various training opportunities and training tools and even celebrate individual players' success but it makes no sense to me that a number of people feel the need to downplay and even criticize individual player's choices and downplay their accomplishments. Simply my opinion and we all have our own.

As others have said, Congrats to all the girls that are able to play the next level of hockey and even more importantly good luck in their adult lives. So many skills, they have learned from being part of a team will help them in their adult lives.

Media · Post by **Media** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 9:59 am

BCGHockey wrote:Media, did you watch the game on the internet feed? I did and I will leave it at that.

Geez I am so sorry you watched a game on the internet , Really geez I am sorry I doubted your expertise. I would never have said a word about anything had I knew you were that savy in the game. I bet you have even read books, and gone to games in person. Geez Iam sorry man !

BCGHockey · Post by **BCGHockey** » Sun Nov 04, 2007 10:16 am

Media that was quite the comeback! Why don't you just stick to your business in trying to make money running summer hockey camps. I have nothing against her as a player or person. I will say it again I think she is going to make a good D1 hockey player!!! I head coach @ ND is a very good guy and a better coach.

Coachk · Post by **Coachk** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 2:09 pm

You people need to settle down and be happy for anyone that achieves success and moves on to D1, It was a great experience for my daughter and now she graduated in graduate school and coaching youth hockey. Girl/Womens hockey is a close knit group that suceeds when everyone works together.As a coach for 14 years when my youngest is done I hope to coach girls again.

xwildfan · Post by **xwildfan** » Mon Nov 05, 2007 3:15 pm

Re: Ashley Holmes and the series with Canada. None of the USA defenders stood out. I think they were all in the neg. The USA team had no answer for Canada's speed and savvy. The CA U18 team would give the USA 22 team a good game.

Ashley is definitely one of the top defenders in MN.

Good to see a little excitement on the girls forum.