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The Hockey Hub breaks it first...Kyle Rau commits to the Gophers!

http://www.mnhockeyhub.com/news_article ... r_id=32770

Reading the article...sounds like Rau won't be playing any juniors before hitting the ice with the Gophers as a freshman in 2011-12. But check out that Eden Prairie schedule! Playing in the revamped Classic Lake and non-conference toughies like the Eagles do should certainly give him plenty of opportunity to prepare himself.

Great news for the Gophers and for EP for next year. Congratulations to Kyle!

I'm happy for Rau, but until they make a coaching change, I just can't get excited for Gopher hockey anymore....it's driving me frickin' nuts, because I've always been a big fan. I just don't see them doing ANYTHING under Lucia anymore. I hope I'm wrong.

The reason Lucia can't win is because he brings kids in way to early. So to say Rau is not going to go play Junior hockey is just wrong!! I hope the Bjugstad kid does not rot there like some of the kids that have chosen to go acclerate there studies. It has not worked out for one player. O'brein, Schroeder, Loftquist, Ness. I am not saying that these guys are bad platers, they just are not ready to compete against 22, 23, 24 year old men. Look at the final four this year. None of those teams bring in High school players. I agree with the last post Lucia needs to go ASAP.

Congrats to Rau as he is a deserving player.

It will be interesting to see how it all pans out as this incoming class has more players than spots.

I also believe that college teams that use juniors as their minor leagues and roster a team full of 23 and 24 year old players is "just wrong".

Personally, I would rather see the Gophers ocasionally get to the final 4 and win the right way, than sell out their tradtions and win at all costs.

How did it not work out for Schroeder? He had a very good freshman year. Sure he played like he wasn't interested for the Gophers last year, but I think things worked out great for him. But to me it looked like he was ready for D1 hockey out of high school.

The Gophers are going to be back near the top of the WCHA this year. Just a hunch.

"I also believe that college teams that use juniors as their minor leagues and roster a team full of 23 and 24 year old players is "just wrong".
Personally, I would rather see the Gophers ocasionally get to the final 4 and win the right way, than sell out their tradtions and win at all costs."

you must have been miserable 7-8 years ago when the gophers won back to back national championships and a lot of their big guns were USHL guys and not to mention a European and a ND guy.
It's too bad it went against tradition having a guy like Troy Riddle play a season in the USHL and then come in and be one of the best players in the WCHA for 4 years while scoring 50 pts a yr.[/quote]

Kyle rau committed verbally to Minnesota. It will be fun to watch him play but the gophers program just seems like its going down the drain... but hopefully in a few years, when raus a true freshman like they said he would be, they will bounce back and get rid of don lucia

also... i dont think the gophs needs any more offensive forwards and offensive defence... bring in what will make your team good.... not just the best players always. Even though rau is a fantastic player

welikehockey231 wrote:also... i dont think the gophs needs any more offensive forwards and offensive defence... bring in what will make your team good.... not just the best players always. Even though rau is a fantastic player

Why? Because they have been scoring to many Goals?

I personally think that Rau would have followed Leddy wherever he went and I bet the gophs land Molenaar too because of Leddy.

Congrats Kyle... what a great hockey player! A big win for the gophs. Gophers land Leddy, Bjugstad, and next years Mr. Hockey... I think they're starting to recruit well again.

This is a good pick up for the Gophers no doubt, but how will they find room for all there players right now. The last time I checked they had something like 14 forwards committed.

HockeyMN1 wrote:I personally think that Rau would have followed Leddy wherever he went and I bet the gophs land Molenaar too because of Leddy.

Most impressive thing for me in the Rau story, 4.0 GPA.

Can't remember what Royce White's was?

observer wrote:Most impressive thing for me in the Rau story, 4.0 GPA.
Can't remember what Royce White's was?

I remember one of my High School teammates talking with a college coach and the coach asked him what his GPA was. His response..."I get about 2 Goals per every assist." So 4 must be really good.

The next N.Boten ? Maybe.

I forgot the R.

Cowboy wrote:How did it not work out for Schroeder? He had a very good freshman year. Sure he played like he wasn't interested for the Gophers last year, but I think things worked out great for him. But to me it looked like he was ready for D1 hockey out of high school.

The Gophers are going to be back near the top of the WCHA this year. Just a hunch.

Gophers back near the top? Based on what? A recruit that will not be stepping on campus until 2011?

Well when you finish 7th in a league of 10, there is only one direction to go!

Like I said 'just a hunch'.

But talent hasn't been and won't be a problem for the Gophers. They have plenty of talent, the problem the last couple years has been getting them to play with intensity on a continual basis. Maybe with Lucia knowing that his job is on the line he will do whatever it takes to fire kids up. Also with the large number of forwards this year he will have more options of sitting players that are not producing.

My optimism is not based on Rau's committment. I'm just a diehard Gopher fan and am looking at things through maroon colered glasses.