GOPHERS 2014-2015

Sats81 · Post by **Sats81** » Mon Feb 02, 2015 5:00 pm

No excuse NOT to sweep Wisco in Madison this past weekend. None. I really hope OSU is gonna be what the doctor ordered to get these boys back on track.

Bonin2121 · Post by **Bonin2121** » Tue Feb 03, 2015 11:27 pm

Sats81 wrote:I really hope OSU is gonna be what the doctor ordered to get these boys back on track.

That could have been said prior to the last three weekends. Something won't magically flip that will see them run the table.

grindiangrad-80 · Post by **grindiangrad-80** » Thu Feb 05, 2015 12:35 pm

Back several years they had a couple teams with high expectations that fell short. IMHO they were a little short on effort at times.

This team doesn't appear that way to me. The only differences I can see from the last 2 years are a few more defensive breakdowns and Wilcox isn't having the year that he has had in prior years.

I have to give Wilcox a pass because he was ridiculously good before and that was going to be pretty hard to do forever.

The defensive breakdowns will go away as they gain more experience at this level.

The sand is getting low in the hour glass but this team has plenty of talent to salvage the season and make a run.

It just has to happen soon.

Sats81 · Post by **Sats81** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 11:06 am

Nice sweep this wknd. Hope they can do same next wknd vs Michigan

MNHockeyFan · Post by **MNHockeyFan** » Sun Feb 08, 2015 11:37 am

Sats81 wrote:Nice sweep this wknd. Hope they can do same next wknd vs Michigan

I see where Michigan is averaging 5.7 goals a game in the conference. If the Gophers hope to sweep them they will need to find a way to cut this approximately in half, in both games. That will be tough.

BodyShots · Post by **BodyShots** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 8:17 am

Big weekend for the Gophers. Lets hope they bring their "A" game and that its enough to get a sweep.

DmanDad1980 · Post by **DmanDad1980** » Fri Feb 13, 2015 3:02 pm

Just saw the Brock Boeser committed to UND...

I had heard from a couple people he was really considering coming to Gophers... Anyone on the Forum know why he chose UND over U of M?

Just curious, and was hopeful he would commit to Gophers...

Sats81 · Post by **Sats81** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:53 am

Bonin2121 wrote:
Sats81 wrote:I really hope OSU is gonna be what the doctor ordered to get these boys back on track.
That could have been said prior to the last three weekends. Something won't magically flip that will see them run the table.

Or did something magically flip?!?

Sats81 · Post by **Sats81** » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:53 am

Great sweep over Michigan last weekend...is this team finally getting on track? Feel like they are at least heading in the right direction.

Sats81 · Post by **Sats81** » Fri Feb 20, 2015 12:44 pm

Huge weekend again for boys (every weekend is from here on out) Would be great to come out of Happy Valley with a sweep.

mulefarm · Post by **mulefarm** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 7:01 am

Rodents looked very good, especially Wilcox. They will need him at his best to make a run in the NCAA's. Penn State is very physical and could make some noise in the Big Ten tournament.

warriors41 · Post by **warriors41** » Sat Feb 21, 2015 6:08 pm

mulefarm wrote:Rodents looked very good, especially Wilcox. They will need him at his best to make a run in the NCAA's. Penn State is very physical and could make some noise in the Big Ten tournament.

I know the big ten is only 6 teams, but I'm genuinely surprised at how fast Penn State was able to build it's program and become very competitive. Good for them. I think it shows just how many good players don't get a chance to play college hockey. Hopefully we see the same speed from Arizona State.

BodyShots · Post by **BodyShots** » Fri Feb 27, 2015 8:18 am

Impressive comeback by the Gopher's last night. Lehr struggled early giving up 3 goals on 4 shots, but came back to make some very nice saves throughout the rest of the game. I believe he ended up with 21 saves on 24 shots.

The PP looks great!!!! They are moving the puck well and having Boyd on the wing with his one timers is awesome.

observer · Post by **observer** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:57 am

Mich Hults from Madison Caps signs with Gophs.

http://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/4 ... id=1348814

Interesting. He's a late 94 so coming in as a freshman with 3 full years in the USHL. He's older than some of the gophers that will be juniors next season.
Anyone know much about this pick-up? I assume Sheehy (95) is coming in next year? Novak, Gates and Pitlick are 97s so I'll guess no for them. Anyone want to guess on incoming freshman class?

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:29 pm

observer wrote:Mich Hults from Madison Caps signs with Gophs.

http://www.ushl.com/news_article/show/4 ... id=1348814

Interesting. He's a late 94 so coming in as a freshman with 3 full years in the USHL. He's older than some of the gophers that will be juniors next season.
Anyone know much about this pick-up? I assume Sheehy (95) is coming in next year? Novak, Gates and Pitlick are 97s so I'll guess no for them. Anyone want to guess on incoming freshman class?

Novak, Gates, Sheehy are all coming in. Pitlick is not.

Hults had offers from BU, Ohio State, UMD, Mankato, LSSU and Wisconsin. I know he had an offer from Northeastern the prior year (maybe a few others that I am unaware of). Probably projects to be a 3rd or 4th line depth type with a bit of offensive upside.

observer · Post by **observer** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 7:55 am

Just say no to 97s. Another year of juniors. Feeling like the coaches get their hand forced by these young players and their families. Not ready problem brought on partially by themselves by signing 10th graders. Wait until they're ready to be real contributors. Some shouldn't have left high school early thinking they can start D1 hockey at the same time as their non-athlete high school classmates. Almost none should come in with their class.

Ramsey coming in? He's a late 95.

BodyShots · Post by **BodyShots** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 8:37 am

Based on the 6 seniors graduating and possibly a couple of juniors (Riley and Skjei) leaving early, the Gophers will have quite a bit of rebuilding to do next year. What they really need are centers as 3 of 4 will be graduating (Rau, Boyd, and Isackson).

DmanDad1980 · Post by **DmanDad1980** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 5:02 pm

2015-16
Goalies
Schierhorn, Eric G 1996 Halladay, Logan G 1996
Defensemen
Zuhlsdorf, Ryan LD 1997 Sadek, Jack RD 1997
Forwards
Gates, Brent C 1997 Baker, Tarek C 1997 Sheehy, Tyler RW 1995 Ramsey, Jack RW 1995 Novak, Tom C/LW 1997 Romanko, Darian C 1994 Norman, Ryan C 1996 Hults, Mitchell LW 1994
Next year possible Centers in Bold...

2016-17
Goalies
Edquist, Ryan G 1998
Defensemen
Lindgren, Ryan LD 1998 Rossini, Sam LD 1998
Forwards
Wait, Garrett LW 1998 Fallstrom, William C 1998 Pitlick, Rem C 1997

2017-18
Forwards
Mittelstadt, Casey C/LW 1998 McManus, Brannon C/RW 1999 Reedy, Scott C 1999

2018-19
Defensemen
Maniscalco, Josh RD 1999

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:22 pm

Tarek Baker won't be coming in next year. Not unless something seriously unexpected happens in the off-season.

Logan Halladay definitely will not be coming in next year in goal. Heck, I don't know that he'll ever even make it to the U. He's been lousy this year. Thankfully they pulled in the Schierhorn kid to make up for that miscue.

Zuhlsdorf MIGHT come in if he is able to accelerate his schooling as he is only a junior this year but I've heard they might have him accelerate (he's played very well in the USHL). My preference would be that Zuhlsdorf comes in and have Sadek play juniors.

As for bringing in 97s, I think it is somewhat silly to judge based simply on age. It is a case by case situation. Obviously the preference is to allow them to mature as much as you can but then you have to balance that out with ability... some guys are simply too talented to expect them to wait too long in juniors.

Gates has been in the USHL a few years now and has the size/ability to make an impact in college next year. It's too bad he got hurt recently because I'm told he was playing well (albeit on a lousy USHL team)

Novak is one of the best players in the country at that age and has been very good at Waterloo. In fact, I know of one hockey guy down there (has a college hockey background and isn't connected to the Gophers) that says Novak is "hands down" the best player on the team (including Boeser). He has a chance to be a 1st round draft pick. Those guys are not the type you delay another year.

mulefarm · Post by **mulefarm** » Sun Mar 22, 2015 10:22 am

Wilcox is back, Gophers have a great chance to win NCAA!

DmanDad1980 · Post by **DmanDad1980** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 3:29 pm

Gophers looked much better on Saturday, more intensity, defense gave up less shots, forwards played better as well, and Wilcox was on...

Wilcox played very well Friday. He had to... Gophers looked lethargic, uninspired, but won over a poor OSU club...

Still worry about our D corp... OSU & Michigan speed was going around our D pretty easily too many times... Reilly is a good offensive Dman, but struggles with speed forwards leaving him in dust, and that has been all year.... Marshall/Brodzinski scare me every time they are on ice defensively... but, Mr. Wilcox does look to be back, which is great.

NCAA... don't like Gophers being sent out East, to play rivals UMD, then possible BU matchup... wanted to be in Fargo, to hopefully play a struggling North Dakota team to go to Frozen Four, and have more fans able to attend...

Sats81 · Post by **Sats81** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 6:48 pm

Would not be surprised one bit to see them come out of this regional, although it will be very tough. UMD is very solid and BU is as well. I think when Wilcox plays like he did this past weekend it is difficult for anyone to beat them.

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 7:21 pm

DmanDad1980 wrote:NCAA... don't like Gophers being sent out East, to play rivals UMD, then possible BU matchup... wanted to be in Fargo, to hopefully play a struggling North Dakota team to go to Frozen Four, and have more fans able to attend...

Not me. I'd rather they get sent out east (although I really wanted them to be in the bracket with Mankato in South Bend). The Fargo games will be very pro-UND and it would clearly favor them. From what I understand, that regional has been sold out so it is unlikely it would have had a big Gopher fan presence given that reality.

The last time the Gophers/UMD played, the Gophers pretty much outplayed UMD but just didn't bury their chances that day. UMD hasn't been playing as well over the last handful of series they've had and the Gophers seem to be playing better. I like the U's chances in that game.

However, I have the feeling if they face BU, they will get beat. Hope I'll be wrong and they win the region.

Post by **karl(east)** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 8:44 pm

I'm waffling on the UMD-Gophers game. I watched both semi-regularly this year. The Gophers' ceiling is higher, but the Bulldogs have gotten to their game more consistently this season. That said, they've been playing some of their poorest hockey lately. Some of that is due to lineup absences, but they still had Denver on the ropes for much of the first game of the playoff series and coughed it up. That's not a good sign for them. The week off may be a blessing in disguise, and I'm curious to see how they come out on Friday.

I'll take Goldy based on goaltending and recent momentum, but could definitely see it go either way. I think the key matchup is the Bulldog forecheck vs. the Gopher puck-moving defensemen (and the amount of support they get from the forwards...). Whoever comes out of that looking better wins the game.

Gopher Blog · Post by **Gopher Blog** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 11:05 pm

Special teams can also factor in a lot in these playoff games as well. Neither team has been great on the PK this year but the Gophers have a sizable advantage in PP success.

I can't say I have spent a ton of time paying attention to UMD this year so I was somewhat surprised that they don't have better offensive numbers. For a team that has some pretty good talent up front, they haven't scored per game nearly as well as I would have expected.