SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- For UMD, this game is a chance to win a season series. As junior Dominic Toninato said this week, "every game counts."
Yeah, it's early, but the bottom line is you want to rack up season series wins so the PairWise likes you in March. You know, the only time it matters one iota.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Johnson - Toninato - Iafallo
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Young (Austyn)
Young (Blake) - Decowski - Sampair
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - McCormack
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Deery
ND
DiPauli - Hurley - Bjork
Lucia - Fogarty - Herr
Malmquist - Evans - Oglevie
Wegwerth - Cook - Ostlie
Gilbert - Wade
Nardella - Ryan
Ripley - Gross
Katunar - Stasack - Petersen
Saturday, October 24, 2015
Friday, October 23, 2015
Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: Blown Opportunities Doom UMD to Tie
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- What was a golden opportunity to put Friday's game away turned into a nightmarish power play for UMD.
A failed five-on-three, followed by clunky five-on-four time, then another failed five-on-three, followed by a short-handed goal.
That short-handed goal got Notre Dame back in what was a 2-0 game, and the Irish eventually picked up a 3-3 tie against the fifth-ranked Bulldogs.
In the end, UMD will be stuck lamenting seven power plays missed, including a pair of two-man advantages that totaled over a minute each. Yes, the Bulldogs hit a pair of pipes and had a few good looks on those power plays, but they got nothing by Notre Dame goalie Cal Petersen and were outscored 2-0 on special teams.
Iffy special teams play is certainly one way to lose. UMD didn't lose, however, because it kept throwing pucks at Petersen and eventually got one in the third on an Austyn Young rebound. The Bulldogs couldn't hold 2-0 and 3-2 leads, but surely will take a tie on a night where there were a few things not clicking.
UMD had some uncharacteristic turnovers, but handled Notre Dame's forecheck pretty well and generally had the better of the play. Problem: The night was full of special teams play.
On the power play, UMD lost faceoffs too routinely, especially on the five-on-threes in the second period. There was too much time spent chasing the puck down, and Notre Dame did a good job pressuring the visitors in the neutral zone, which caused turnovers and slowed up rush opportunities.
Generally, faceoffs can be overrated. They can be terrifically random at times, and puck possession so often changes within a few seconds of puck drop that you can't put too much stock into it. UMD has been really good lately at regaining possession within seconds of a faceoff loss. In those cases, the stat is almost completely meaningless, because it contributes nothing to the overall flow of play.
However, losing faceoffs is a bad way to do business when you have an extra player on the ice. It usually means the loss of 15-20 seconds or more of power play time, just like every other time a team clears while short-handed. It also ratchets up the pressure on all five guys to be clean out of their zone and through neutral, so they can set up and get something going while there's still time.
They don't parse the power play faceoffs out for us, so unless you go look at the official play-by-play, it's hard to get an accurate read. And as much of a nerd as I am, I'm not doing that.
UMD had 12 shots in seven power plays, and the Bulldogs outshot the Irish at even strength 28-13. I'll take my chances with the way UMD has controlled play at even strength this season, outshooting opponents 103-65 in four games, an average of 26-16 per game at even strength. With Kasimir Kaskisuo playing the way he is, that will win UMD a lot of games.
What am I saying here? The faceoff number (.445 in four games) is ugly. But even if it doesn't vastly improve over time, the shot totals -- which translate to scoring chances -- are what matter most. And while the power play is important, odds are we aren't going to see too many games like this one. More often than not, power plays will settle into the 3-5 per game range. Games like Friday will be the outliers, not the norm.
I'm not saying it's a great tie. I'm saying it's a tie. Lessons can be learned, and improvements made. It's still way too early in the season to go into a panic because of a tie on the road. Especially one that so easily could have gone the other way.
Asked the Twitterverse for some questions, and figured I'd answer them here. For those who missed out -- it was late notice -- I'll be doing this at various times throughout the season, usually on road trips where my time constraints are minimal. If you don't follow me on Twitter @BruceCiskie, you miss out on a chance to get your question answered. You also miss out on a chance to read some really bad jokes and stream of consciousness tweets
@biddco: "Your thoughts on face-offs. Was UMD poor at face-offs last year?"
Yes, UMD had a bad year in the circle last year, finishing in the botton 15 nationally. Despite that, the Bulldogs outshot most opponents and were a very good five-on-five team. If that trend continues, I'll live with the faceoff struggles. Just know that I believe at least some of the power play problems can be traced to losing faceoffs. It isn't always a huge deal, but it can contribute.
@campbench: "Is whoever had that 5 min penalty suspended for Saturday?"
That was Notre Dame's Andy Ryan, ejected for a blatant elbow to the head of UMD freshman Adam Johnson. The hit happened after Johnson released the puck on a soft corner dump-in during a UMD power play. While Johnson was eligible to be checked and Ryan could have finished him cleanly, Johnson took what appeared to my admittedly biased eye to be a blatant elbow right to the head. Easy call for the officials, and they got it right.
Is it suspension worthy? Well, in a different league, UMD's Carson Soucy got a game for a shoulder near the head of Bemidji State's Leo Fitzgerald. Like Johnson, Fitzgerald didn't appear to be injured and didn't miss a shift. However, what makes that case supremely different is that Fitzgerald was in no way eligible to be checked. Johnson was. The hit on Johnson was more flagrant, but will Hockey East see it as suspension-worthy? Without knowing much about the league's supplemental discipline policy or history, I'd guess Ryan will not be suspended.
@TeddyThighs (I won't ask if you don't): "Waiting for Adam Johnson seemed like forever, your thoughts so far? I am impressed, he has speed, hands, and a great shot IMO."
Extremely impressed. Clearly a kid who knows what it takes to compete at this level, and I'm told he's worked extensively on his skating. His hands are first-rate, and he can absolutely shoot the puck. He's been so extremely close to his first goal, and once he gets the first one, I believe they'll come in bunches.
Feels like he committed in 1995, but he's totally worth the wait. Doesn't look out of place at all on the top line, and in fact has enhanced it, something we talk with Dominic Toninato about during the first intermission of Saturday's broadcast.
@theboust: "What is it going to take to stay off the penalty kill?"
Wish I had the answer. I don't know that it's risen to the level of a problem yet. We saw UMD take a couple stupid majors (justified calls, but not the smartest actions leading to the penalties) in Bemidji, but I'd argue more than a couple calls that have gone against UMD in the last two games have been of the "ehhhhhhhh" variety. In other words, arguably soft calls at a time of the year where there are a lot of soft calls.
I don't think it's "Move along, nothing to see here," only because we saw it be a problem at times last year, and we don't want that to happen again. However, I'm reserving judgment for the time being. I do think UMD needs to do a better job of avoiding the avoidable penalties, and there were a couple on Friday night. Neal Pionk's penalty was absolutely necessary. A couple of the other stick fouls were not.
In other action involving the NCHC, it was another good night for the league, which continues to make a killing non-conference.
Freshman Jack Roslovic's second-period goal held up for Miami in a 1-0 win at St. Lawrence. Ryan McKay made 26 saves for the shutout win. Johnny Simonson and Bryn Chyzyk scored for North Dakota, as it won 2-0 at Vermont. Third goalie Matt Hrynkiw started and got his first collegiate shutout with 27 saves.
Omaha opened Baxter Arena by punting Air Force 4-2. Freshman Steven Spinner scored twice, and goalie Kirk Thompson made 28 saves as the Mavericks improved to 5-0.
It wasn't all rosey for the NCHC. Clarkson got a late power-play goal and then an empty-netter to ice a 4-2 win over Western Michigan. Quinnipiac scored four goals in the second -- the first goals allowed by Charlie Lindgren since he was a Bantam -- and the Bobcats beat St. Cloud State 5-2. Former Duluth Marshall star Judd Peterson had both goals for SCSU. Also, Boston College shut out Colorado College 3-0 in Colorado Springs.
A failed five-on-three, followed by clunky five-on-four time, then another failed five-on-three, followed by a short-handed goal.
That short-handed goal got Notre Dame back in what was a 2-0 game, and the Irish eventually picked up a 3-3 tie against the fifth-ranked Bulldogs.
In the end, UMD will be stuck lamenting seven power plays missed, including a pair of two-man advantages that totaled over a minute each. Yes, the Bulldogs hit a pair of pipes and had a few good looks on those power plays, but they got nothing by Notre Dame goalie Cal Petersen and were outscored 2-0 on special teams.
Iffy special teams play is certainly one way to lose. UMD didn't lose, however, because it kept throwing pucks at Petersen and eventually got one in the third on an Austyn Young rebound. The Bulldogs couldn't hold 2-0 and 3-2 leads, but surely will take a tie on a night where there were a few things not clicking.
UMD had some uncharacteristic turnovers, but handled Notre Dame's forecheck pretty well and generally had the better of the play. Problem: The night was full of special teams play.
On the power play, UMD lost faceoffs too routinely, especially on the five-on-threes in the second period. There was too much time spent chasing the puck down, and Notre Dame did a good job pressuring the visitors in the neutral zone, which caused turnovers and slowed up rush opportunities.
Generally, faceoffs can be overrated. They can be terrifically random at times, and puck possession so often changes within a few seconds of puck drop that you can't put too much stock into it. UMD has been really good lately at regaining possession within seconds of a faceoff loss. In those cases, the stat is almost completely meaningless, because it contributes nothing to the overall flow of play.
However, losing faceoffs is a bad way to do business when you have an extra player on the ice. It usually means the loss of 15-20 seconds or more of power play time, just like every other time a team clears while short-handed. It also ratchets up the pressure on all five guys to be clean out of their zone and through neutral, so they can set up and get something going while there's still time.
They don't parse the power play faceoffs out for us, so unless you go look at the official play-by-play, it's hard to get an accurate read. And as much of a nerd as I am, I'm not doing that.
UMD had 12 shots in seven power plays, and the Bulldogs outshot the Irish at even strength 28-13. I'll take my chances with the way UMD has controlled play at even strength this season, outshooting opponents 103-65 in four games, an average of 26-16 per game at even strength. With Kasimir Kaskisuo playing the way he is, that will win UMD a lot of games.
What am I saying here? The faceoff number (.445 in four games) is ugly. But even if it doesn't vastly improve over time, the shot totals -- which translate to scoring chances -- are what matter most. And while the power play is important, odds are we aren't going to see too many games like this one. More often than not, power plays will settle into the 3-5 per game range. Games like Friday will be the outliers, not the norm.
I'm not saying it's a great tie. I'm saying it's a tie. Lessons can be learned, and improvements made. It's still way too early in the season to go into a panic because of a tie on the road. Especially one that so easily could have gone the other way.
******
Asked the Twitterverse for some questions, and figured I'd answer them here. For those who missed out -- it was late notice -- I'll be doing this at various times throughout the season, usually on road trips where my time constraints are minimal. If you don't follow me on Twitter @BruceCiskie, you miss out on a chance to get your question answered. You also miss out on a chance to read some really bad jokes and stream of consciousness tweets
@biddco: "Your thoughts on face-offs. Was UMD poor at face-offs last year?"
Yes, UMD had a bad year in the circle last year, finishing in the botton 15 nationally. Despite that, the Bulldogs outshot most opponents and were a very good five-on-five team. If that trend continues, I'll live with the faceoff struggles. Just know that I believe at least some of the power play problems can be traced to losing faceoffs. It isn't always a huge deal, but it can contribute.
@campbench: "Is whoever had that 5 min penalty suspended for Saturday?"
That was Notre Dame's Andy Ryan, ejected for a blatant elbow to the head of UMD freshman Adam Johnson. The hit happened after Johnson released the puck on a soft corner dump-in during a UMD power play. While Johnson was eligible to be checked and Ryan could have finished him cleanly, Johnson took what appeared to my admittedly biased eye to be a blatant elbow right to the head. Easy call for the officials, and they got it right.
Is it suspension worthy? Well, in a different league, UMD's Carson Soucy got a game for a shoulder near the head of Bemidji State's Leo Fitzgerald. Like Johnson, Fitzgerald didn't appear to be injured and didn't miss a shift. However, what makes that case supremely different is that Fitzgerald was in no way eligible to be checked. Johnson was. The hit on Johnson was more flagrant, but will Hockey East see it as suspension-worthy? Without knowing much about the league's supplemental discipline policy or history, I'd guess Ryan will not be suspended.
@TeddyThighs (I won't ask if you don't): "Waiting for Adam Johnson seemed like forever, your thoughts so far? I am impressed, he has speed, hands, and a great shot IMO."
Extremely impressed. Clearly a kid who knows what it takes to compete at this level, and I'm told he's worked extensively on his skating. His hands are first-rate, and he can absolutely shoot the puck. He's been so extremely close to his first goal, and once he gets the first one, I believe they'll come in bunches.
Feels like he committed in 1995, but he's totally worth the wait. Doesn't look out of place at all on the top line, and in fact has enhanced it, something we talk with Dominic Toninato about during the first intermission of Saturday's broadcast.
@theboust: "What is it going to take to stay off the penalty kill?"
Wish I had the answer. I don't know that it's risen to the level of a problem yet. We saw UMD take a couple stupid majors (justified calls, but not the smartest actions leading to the penalties) in Bemidji, but I'd argue more than a couple calls that have gone against UMD in the last two games have been of the "ehhhhhhhh" variety. In other words, arguably soft calls at a time of the year where there are a lot of soft calls.
I don't think it's "Move along, nothing to see here," only because we saw it be a problem at times last year, and we don't want that to happen again. However, I'm reserving judgment for the time being. I do think UMD needs to do a better job of avoiding the avoidable penalties, and there were a couple on Friday night. Neal Pionk's penalty was absolutely necessary. A couple of the other stick fouls were not.
******
In other action involving the NCHC, it was another good night for the league, which continues to make a killing non-conference.
Freshman Jack Roslovic's second-period goal held up for Miami in a 1-0 win at St. Lawrence. Ryan McKay made 26 saves for the shutout win. Johnny Simonson and Bryn Chyzyk scored for North Dakota, as it won 2-0 at Vermont. Third goalie Matt Hrynkiw started and got his first collegiate shutout with 27 saves.
Omaha opened Baxter Arena by punting Air Force 4-2. Freshman Steven Spinner scored twice, and goalie Kirk Thompson made 28 saves as the Mavericks improved to 5-0.
It wasn't all rosey for the NCHC. Clarkson got a late power-play goal and then an empty-netter to ice a 4-2 win over Western Michigan. Quinnipiac scored four goals in the second -- the first goals allowed by Charlie Lindgren since he was a Bantam -- and the Bobcats beat St. Cloud State 5-2. Former Duluth Marshall star Judd Peterson had both goals for SCSU. Also, Boston College shut out Colorado College 3-0 in Colorado Springs.
Game 4: UMD at Notre Dame
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Off and running from South Bend, where No. 5 UMD opens a key non-conference series against Notre Dame.
Sorry for short blog, but lines were late and I'm still stunned after spending way too much money at the campus store. It is Notre Dame, after all.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Johnson - Toninato - Iafallo
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Young (Austyn)
Sampair - Decowski - Spurrell
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Deery
ND
DiPauli - Hurley - Bjork
Lucia - Fogarty - Herr
Wegwerth - Evans - Ostlie
Malmquist - Oglevie - Jenkins
Ripley - Ryan
Gilbert - Gross
Nardella - Wade
Katunar - Stasack - Petersen
Sorry for short blog, but lines were late and I'm still stunned after spending way too much money at the campus store. It is Notre Dame, after all.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Johnson - Toninato - Iafallo
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Young (Austyn)
Sampair - Decowski - Spurrell
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Deery
ND
DiPauli - Hurley - Bjork
Lucia - Fogarty - Herr
Wegwerth - Evans - Ostlie
Malmquist - Oglevie - Jenkins
Ripley - Ryan
Gilbert - Gross
Nardella - Wade
Katunar - Stasack - Petersen
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Avoiding Letdown Key for UMD in South Bend
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Let there be no doubt, UMD fans. The players and coaches heard you loud and clear Saturday night.
"It was fricken awesome," said junior center Dominic Toninato.
Head coach Scott Sandelin talked multiple times this week about how great the crowd was Saturday. The record gathering of 7,569 at Amsoil Arena saw UMD topple Minnesota 3-0. Not only did it finish off a weekend sweep of the archrival Gophers, but it also clinched a sixth straight win over Minnesota, something UMD has never done before.
Now, however, a different challenge awaits the Bulldogs as they prepare for a weekend non-conference series against Notre Dame.
How do you avoid a letdown?
You can talk all you want about the importance of every game, as Sandelin did when I asked him about a letdown. Of course, he also admitted that was a great question, because no one truly knows if it'll happen until the players hit the ice Friday and Saturday at the b-e-a-utiful Compton Family Ice Arena on campus.
Reality is that every game is really important. The six NCHC teams that made the NCAA Tournament last spring had a combined non-conference record of 42-17-4, and that isn't an accident. UMD went 8-4 out of conference last year, and that success played as big a role in the team being locked into the NCAA Tournament entering the conference playoffs despite a meh fifth-place finish in league.
"It's big, it's huge for the PairWise. I know it's early, but every game counts," Toninato said.
He's right. Something I've preached -- probably to the point people are sick of hearing it -- is that I believe these non-conference games almost carry more weight than league games do. UMD doesn't play teams like Providence, Boston College, Boston University, and other top Eastern schools. A good way to flip close comparisons toward UMD would be for the Bulldogs to do well the next two weekends, playing Hockey East opponents Notre Dame and UMass-Lowell. Do well in these series, then hopefully the Irish and RiverHawks pick off some quality opponents themselves (they will). Come selection time, it will benefit UMD. Lose these games, and the chance exists the Bulldogs will lose comparisons to other top Hockey East teams because of it.
So, back to the original question: How do you avoid a letdown? Notre Dame draws well here, averaging nearly 4,500 a game last year. There should be a good atmosphere.
But these aren't the Gophers. And this arena won't be jumping like the home rink was Saturday.
"We have to stick to our game," Toninato said. "We have to compete. We have to win those 50/50 puck battles. We have to be disciplined."
Usually, when a team goes on the road and faces a tough opponent (which Notre Dame undeniably is), it's not a bad thing to get out of the first period scoreless. Obviously, you want to score and have the lead, but 0-0 isn't the end of the world. As an example, I felt UMD took the best punch Minnesota had in the first period at Mariucci Arena last Friday. 0-0 game, and UMD led in shots. That isn't bad.
In a game like this one on Friday, I'd look for something good to happen for the visitors early. Could be a goal, but it could also be a big hit, a big save, or a successful penalty kill. Could be something even less significant than that. Just enough to galvanize the bench a bit and get guys emotionally into what's in front of them.
If UMD comes out Friday and, as Toninato said, wins races and/or battles, and maintains its discipline early, it could very well be a good night, and a good weekend.
I've never formally met Mario Lucia. Talked to him briefly at a press conference before the Ice Breaker last year, and enjoyed listening to him address reporters.
But I like him.
Lucia is one of six seniors on the Notre Dame roster. However, no one would have batted an eye if he wasn't one of them. Lucia could have turned pro after last season, and signed with the Minnesota Wild (drafted in 2011). Instead of taking his 49 goals and accepting paychecks, Lucia came back.
Edina's Steven Fogarty, who had a hat trick in Notre Dame's 7-4 season-opening win over Penn State last Friday, is the Irish captain for a second straight year. But Lucia is the biggest name and probably the top player. He entered the season with 86 career points, 40 more than fellow senior Sam Herr, who was the next highest career scorer, and 43 more than Fogarty.
Lucia showed some real maturity in explaining his decision to the South Bend Tribune earlier this month.
Fogarty, Lucia, and Herr are the leaders of an interesting Notre Dame team. The Irish have six seniors, many of whom have been impactful players. Despite that experience, Notre Dame is the fifth-youngest team in Division I, according to College Hockey, Inc. The Irish six freshmen and nine sophomores, and their average age is just a shade under 21. Only Boston College, Boston University, Michigan, and Wisconsin are younger.
There's talent. Lucia isn't over 50 career goals by accident. Blueliners Jordan Gross and Dennis Gilbert can make some noise, as can Andy Ryan, who had two goals last Friday at Penn State. Sophomore goalie Cal Peterson had his struggles last weekend, especially in the Saturday loss, but he was good in earning the No. 1 job as a freshman.
Notre Dame has developed a reputation of being a more defensive-oriented team over the years, but this group appears more able to open things up. Jeff Jackson is a heck of a hockey coach, and he'll adapt to the talent on hand and do what fits best.
"They do some things that could cause you some problems if you aren't aware of what's going on," Sandelin said this week. I do see Notre Dame being more aggressive offensively as I watch back the Penn State games. We'll see how that develops this weekend. I see UMD being the faster team, so if the feet are moving and UMD is smart with the puck, opportunity should present itself to make plays.
If you're inclined to listen to the radio, thanks as always. 4:30 Central time pregame Friday, 5pm Saturday.
If you're more of a TV type, Friday's game is on the American Sports Network and will be available on NESN Plus and CSN Chicago Plus, for those who have access to regional sports networks. Saturday will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network and streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra.
LISTEN TO THE RADIO.
"It was fricken awesome," said junior center Dominic Toninato.
Head coach Scott Sandelin talked multiple times this week about how great the crowd was Saturday. The record gathering of 7,569 at Amsoil Arena saw UMD topple Minnesota 3-0. Not only did it finish off a weekend sweep of the archrival Gophers, but it also clinched a sixth straight win over Minnesota, something UMD has never done before.
Now, however, a different challenge awaits the Bulldogs as they prepare for a weekend non-conference series against Notre Dame.
How do you avoid a letdown?
You can talk all you want about the importance of every game, as Sandelin did when I asked him about a letdown. Of course, he also admitted that was a great question, because no one truly knows if it'll happen until the players hit the ice Friday and Saturday at the b-e-a-utiful Compton Family Ice Arena on campus.
Reality is that every game is really important. The six NCHC teams that made the NCAA Tournament last spring had a combined non-conference record of 42-17-4, and that isn't an accident. UMD went 8-4 out of conference last year, and that success played as big a role in the team being locked into the NCAA Tournament entering the conference playoffs despite a meh fifth-place finish in league.
"It's big, it's huge for the PairWise. I know it's early, but every game counts," Toninato said.
He's right. Something I've preached -- probably to the point people are sick of hearing it -- is that I believe these non-conference games almost carry more weight than league games do. UMD doesn't play teams like Providence, Boston College, Boston University, and other top Eastern schools. A good way to flip close comparisons toward UMD would be for the Bulldogs to do well the next two weekends, playing Hockey East opponents Notre Dame and UMass-Lowell. Do well in these series, then hopefully the Irish and RiverHawks pick off some quality opponents themselves (they will). Come selection time, it will benefit UMD. Lose these games, and the chance exists the Bulldogs will lose comparisons to other top Hockey East teams because of it.
So, back to the original question: How do you avoid a letdown? Notre Dame draws well here, averaging nearly 4,500 a game last year. There should be a good atmosphere.
But these aren't the Gophers. And this arena won't be jumping like the home rink was Saturday.
"We have to stick to our game," Toninato said. "We have to compete. We have to win those 50/50 puck battles. We have to be disciplined."
Usually, when a team goes on the road and faces a tough opponent (which Notre Dame undeniably is), it's not a bad thing to get out of the first period scoreless. Obviously, you want to score and have the lead, but 0-0 isn't the end of the world. As an example, I felt UMD took the best punch Minnesota had in the first period at Mariucci Arena last Friday. 0-0 game, and UMD led in shots. That isn't bad.
In a game like this one on Friday, I'd look for something good to happen for the visitors early. Could be a goal, but it could also be a big hit, a big save, or a successful penalty kill. Could be something even less significant than that. Just enough to galvanize the bench a bit and get guys emotionally into what's in front of them.
If UMD comes out Friday and, as Toninato said, wins races and/or battles, and maintains its discipline early, it could very well be a good night, and a good weekend.
******
I've never formally met Mario Lucia. Talked to him briefly at a press conference before the Ice Breaker last year, and enjoyed listening to him address reporters.
But I like him.
Lucia is one of six seniors on the Notre Dame roster. However, no one would have batted an eye if he wasn't one of them. Lucia could have turned pro after last season, and signed with the Minnesota Wild (drafted in 2011). Instead of taking his 49 goals and accepting paychecks, Lucia came back.
Edina's Steven Fogarty, who had a hat trick in Notre Dame's 7-4 season-opening win over Penn State last Friday, is the Irish captain for a second straight year. But Lucia is the biggest name and probably the top player. He entered the season with 86 career points, 40 more than fellow senior Sam Herr, who was the next highest career scorer, and 43 more than Fogarty.
Lucia showed some real maturity in explaining his decision to the South Bend Tribune earlier this month.
“It came down to: What’s the best opportunity? I could have gone and played in the minors for the whole year. The Minnesota Wild have a great team this year. They only have a couple new guys who made their roster.Obviously, we want two wins this weekend. But I see parallels between Lucia and UMD captain Andy Welinski, who is back because he wants to become a better player and lead his team to a championships. These stories are good for college hockey, and they're better stories if Lucia (and Welinski, for that matter) go on to succeed in pro hockey after spending four years in college.
“Coming back here, being a leader, playing an important role – I wouldn’t know what my role would be there. I felt (coming back) was best for my development.”
******
Fogarty, Lucia, and Herr are the leaders of an interesting Notre Dame team. The Irish have six seniors, many of whom have been impactful players. Despite that experience, Notre Dame is the fifth-youngest team in Division I, according to College Hockey, Inc. The Irish six freshmen and nine sophomores, and their average age is just a shade under 21. Only Boston College, Boston University, Michigan, and Wisconsin are younger.
There's talent. Lucia isn't over 50 career goals by accident. Blueliners Jordan Gross and Dennis Gilbert can make some noise, as can Andy Ryan, who had two goals last Friday at Penn State. Sophomore goalie Cal Peterson had his struggles last weekend, especially in the Saturday loss, but he was good in earning the No. 1 job as a freshman.
Notre Dame has developed a reputation of being a more defensive-oriented team over the years, but this group appears more able to open things up. Jeff Jackson is a heck of a hockey coach, and he'll adapt to the talent on hand and do what fits best.
"They do some things that could cause you some problems if you aren't aware of what's going on," Sandelin said this week. I do see Notre Dame being more aggressive offensively as I watch back the Penn State games. We'll see how that develops this weekend. I see UMD being the faster team, so if the feet are moving and UMD is smart with the puck, opportunity should present itself to make plays.
******
If you're inclined to listen to the radio, thanks as always. 4:30 Central time pregame Friday, 5pm Saturday.
If you're more of a TV type, Friday's game is on the American Sports Network and will be available on NESN Plus and CSN Chicago Plus, for those who have access to regional sports networks. Saturday will be televised nationally on NBC Sports Network and streamed on NBC Sports Live Extra.
LISTEN TO THE RADIO.
Monday, October 19, 2015
Monday Musings: Bulldogs Sweep Overmatched Gophers
No single stat probably shows the shifting of tides in the Minnesota-UMD men's hockey rivalry than this:
Before Scott Sandelin arrived at UMD in 2000, the Bulldogs were 56-111-11 against Minnesota, a pretty terrible .346 winning percentage.
After Saturday's 3-0 win over the Gophers, UMD is 23-23-6 against their longtime I-35 rivals under Sandelin. That'd be .500, and a vast improvement over previous years.
Included in that are the two longest winning streaks UMD has ever had against Minnesota. The current six-game run is a record. It broke the old mark of five, set by the Bulldogs between 2003 and 2004.
So not only is Sandelin now .500 against UMD's biggest rival (sorry, St. Cloud State and North Dakota), but his teams are responsible for the two longest winning streaks against Minnesota in program history.
Sandelin will tell you it's not about him, and he's not wrong. But the players he's recruited and the style he coaches have combined to make UMD more consistently competitive against the Gophers than they've ever been before.
Saturday was another masterful performance, as the Bulldogs outshot the Gophers 17-2 (!) over the first 20 minutes of a 3-0 win. Now, this Minnesota team does not have the look of a serious national contender (yet). The Gophers are too young in key spots, especially center, to make a lot of noise when you look at the level of talent and experience that others possess.
Doesn't matter. UMD needed to see its best players step up. Check. UMD needed to play more consistently. Check. UMD needed its penalty kill to rise up. Check.
Two things really stood out to me on the wekend. Sandelin made it abundantly clear he wanted to see more out of his best players. He wasn't going to identify them, but outside of the first period, Dominic Toninato had a rough game against Bemidji, and Tony Cameranesi's line had its struggles.
Both lines were outstanding in both games against Minnesota. Toninato scored twice, including one of the better individual efforts you'll ever see to clinch Friday's win 32 seconds after Minnesota had cut a 2-0 lead in half. The UMD junior scored on this third shot. He simply followed the initial shot to the net and found himself in position for a rebound. Gophers goalie Eric Schierhorn fought that off, but Toninato's third shot found the net from a sharp angle to give UMD a 3-1 lead.
FS North analyst Ben Clymer said it was an example of why Toninato has a chance to play in the NHL, and he talked about the leadership you see from a player when he does something like that in a time of need. To me, it's a sign of something everyone involved with the team has talked about. Leadership doesn't just come from captains. In fact, as Austin Farley told me last week, guys who don't wear letters will step up -- both in the room and on the ice -- and show that leadership and make the team better by doing it.
Toninato's wicked wrister got UMD on the board first Saturday, a great shot into a tight spot over Schierhorn's shoulder that cranked the crowd up to another level. It wasn't as early as his opening minute goal last year at home against Minnesota, but it had the same effect on the crowd and the bench.
Karson Kuhlman was great Saturday, Jared Thomas was strong all weekend, and the Bulldogs saw the kind of effort that will take them places. I still want to see this team bear down more on its scoring chances, but no question the weekend was a huge positive and a giant step in the right direction.
Defensively, I have no complaints. Andy Welinski is off to a great start. Neal Pionk was better Friday than he was Saturday, but I expected him to struggle a little going from big ice to small. You can still see his poise, even when he might not be playing his best. Carson Soucy came off suspension Saturday and was superb. I thought Willie Corrin had a nice weekend, and Nick McCormack played well in Soucy's spot Friday. The blue line is deep and talented, and I'm excited to watch the group develop.
So UMD's best players were their best players. And the penalty kill was great all weekend. Going eight for eight against the high-end skill the Gophers possess is a superb start to the season. The kill has allowed 26 shots in three games and 12 power plays, but not many of them have been of the "Grade-A" variety. When they have been great chances, Kaskisuo has shut the door (like on Hudson Fasching and Justin Kloos in the second period Saturday, preserving the 3-0 lead).
Penalty killing, goaltending, and top-flight players stepping up. Sounds like a formula for long-term success.
Now, the challenge may be to avoid a letdown. Notre Dame will host UMD Friday and Saturday at the beautiful Compton Family Ice Arena. The Fighting Irish are off a .500 season, but loaded with more experience this year. I'll talk to coach Jeff Jackson later this week, but I have to think he was about ready to throw a party when Mario Lucia decided to come back for his senior year.
Notre Dame is experienced, but did have to replace leading scorers Vince Hinostroza (left early for pro hockey) and Robbie Russo (graduated). Lucia and captain Steven Fogarty -- both Minnesota kids (eight Minnesota kids on the roster, including four from Edina) -- had four points each in a split against Penn State over the weekend.
Lucia is especially talented and dangerous, but Fogarty is an underrated player who will have a big season. Should be a very good test for the Bulldogs, who aren't lacking in experience or depth.
After freshmen Billy Exell and Parker Mackay made their debuts against Minnesota, forward Blake Young is the only skater who hasn't gotten in a game yet. I'd expect that to happen this weekend, and I'd also be surprised if senior goalie Matt McNeely didn't get a game in before conference play starts in Omaha Nov. 6.
Before Scott Sandelin arrived at UMD in 2000, the Bulldogs were 56-111-11 against Minnesota, a pretty terrible .346 winning percentage.
After Saturday's 3-0 win over the Gophers, UMD is 23-23-6 against their longtime I-35 rivals under Sandelin. That'd be .500, and a vast improvement over previous years.
Included in that are the two longest winning streaks UMD has ever had against Minnesota. The current six-game run is a record. It broke the old mark of five, set by the Bulldogs between 2003 and 2004.
So not only is Sandelin now .500 against UMD's biggest rival (sorry, St. Cloud State and North Dakota), but his teams are responsible for the two longest winning streaks against Minnesota in program history.
Sandelin will tell you it's not about him, and he's not wrong. But the players he's recruited and the style he coaches have combined to make UMD more consistently competitive against the Gophers than they've ever been before.
Saturday was another masterful performance, as the Bulldogs outshot the Gophers 17-2 (!) over the first 20 minutes of a 3-0 win. Now, this Minnesota team does not have the look of a serious national contender (yet). The Gophers are too young in key spots, especially center, to make a lot of noise when you look at the level of talent and experience that others possess.
Doesn't matter. UMD needed to see its best players step up. Check. UMD needed to play more consistently. Check. UMD needed its penalty kill to rise up. Check.
******
Two things really stood out to me on the wekend. Sandelin made it abundantly clear he wanted to see more out of his best players. He wasn't going to identify them, but outside of the first period, Dominic Toninato had a rough game against Bemidji, and Tony Cameranesi's line had its struggles.
Both lines were outstanding in both games against Minnesota. Toninato scored twice, including one of the better individual efforts you'll ever see to clinch Friday's win 32 seconds after Minnesota had cut a 2-0 lead in half. The UMD junior scored on this third shot. He simply followed the initial shot to the net and found himself in position for a rebound. Gophers goalie Eric Schierhorn fought that off, but Toninato's third shot found the net from a sharp angle to give UMD a 3-1 lead.
FS North analyst Ben Clymer said it was an example of why Toninato has a chance to play in the NHL, and he talked about the leadership you see from a player when he does something like that in a time of need. To me, it's a sign of something everyone involved with the team has talked about. Leadership doesn't just come from captains. In fact, as Austin Farley told me last week, guys who don't wear letters will step up -- both in the room and on the ice -- and show that leadership and make the team better by doing it.
Toninato's wicked wrister got UMD on the board first Saturday, a great shot into a tight spot over Schierhorn's shoulder that cranked the crowd up to another level. It wasn't as early as his opening minute goal last year at home against Minnesota, but it had the same effect on the crowd and the bench.
Karson Kuhlman was great Saturday, Jared Thomas was strong all weekend, and the Bulldogs saw the kind of effort that will take them places. I still want to see this team bear down more on its scoring chances, but no question the weekend was a huge positive and a giant step in the right direction.
Defensively, I have no complaints. Andy Welinski is off to a great start. Neal Pionk was better Friday than he was Saturday, but I expected him to struggle a little going from big ice to small. You can still see his poise, even when he might not be playing his best. Carson Soucy came off suspension Saturday and was superb. I thought Willie Corrin had a nice weekend, and Nick McCormack played well in Soucy's spot Friday. The blue line is deep and talented, and I'm excited to watch the group develop.
So UMD's best players were their best players. And the penalty kill was great all weekend. Going eight for eight against the high-end skill the Gophers possess is a superb start to the season. The kill has allowed 26 shots in three games and 12 power plays, but not many of them have been of the "Grade-A" variety. When they have been great chances, Kaskisuo has shut the door (like on Hudson Fasching and Justin Kloos in the second period Saturday, preserving the 3-0 lead).
Penalty killing, goaltending, and top-flight players stepping up. Sounds like a formula for long-term success.
******
Now, the challenge may be to avoid a letdown. Notre Dame will host UMD Friday and Saturday at the beautiful Compton Family Ice Arena. The Fighting Irish are off a .500 season, but loaded with more experience this year. I'll talk to coach Jeff Jackson later this week, but I have to think he was about ready to throw a party when Mario Lucia decided to come back for his senior year.
Notre Dame is experienced, but did have to replace leading scorers Vince Hinostroza (left early for pro hockey) and Robbie Russo (graduated). Lucia and captain Steven Fogarty -- both Minnesota kids (eight Minnesota kids on the roster, including four from Edina) -- had four points each in a split against Penn State over the weekend.
Lucia is especially talented and dangerous, but Fogarty is an underrated player who will have a big season. Should be a very good test for the Bulldogs, who aren't lacking in experience or depth.
After freshmen Billy Exell and Parker Mackay made their debuts against Minnesota, forward Blake Young is the only skater who hasn't gotten in a game yet. I'd expect that to happen this weekend, and I'd also be surprised if senior goalie Matt McNeely didn't get a game in before conference play starts in Omaha Nov. 6.
Saturday, October 17, 2015
Game 3: Minnesota at UMD
After Friday's impressive UMD win at Mariucci Arena, the Minnesota Gophers are trying something new.
A lot of something new.
Don Lucia appears to have thrown his forward lines in a blender. Lots of changes for a team that has scored one goal in 120 minutes and was outshot in both of its games so far. Friday's 35-25 margin in favor of UMD is even a little deceptive, as the Bulldogs actually had a 35-17 gap at one point before the Gophers got some late pressure, but couldn't crack sophomore goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo.
Not much changes for UMD, but Scott Sandelin does work Parker Mackay into the lineup for his first game in these colors, while Carson Soucy (suspended Friday) and Brenden Kotyk draw back in on the blue line.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Johnson - Toninato - Iafallo
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Young (Austyn)
Sampair - Decowski - Mackay
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - Kotyk
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Deery
UMN
Reilly - Kloos - Sheehy
Cammarata - Novak - Fasching
Gates, Jr. - Lettieri - Bristedt
Michaelson - Romanko - Ramsey
Seeler - Collins
Bischoff - Glover
Johnson - Brodzinski
Schierhorn - Lehr - Kautz
(I'd almost be willing to bet money Schierhorn starts, but the line chart contains the usual warning. I'll make it official on Twitter as always.)
A lot of something new.
Don Lucia appears to have thrown his forward lines in a blender. Lots of changes for a team that has scored one goal in 120 minutes and was outshot in both of its games so far. Friday's 35-25 margin in favor of UMD is even a little deceptive, as the Bulldogs actually had a 35-17 gap at one point before the Gophers got some late pressure, but couldn't crack sophomore goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo.
Not much changes for UMD, but Scott Sandelin does work Parker Mackay into the lineup for his first game in these colors, while Carson Soucy (suspended Friday) and Brenden Kotyk draw back in on the blue line.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Johnson - Toninato - Iafallo
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Young (Austyn)
Sampair - Decowski - Mackay
Pionk - Welinski
Soucy - Raskob
Corrin - Kotyk
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Deery
UMN
Reilly - Kloos - Sheehy
Cammarata - Novak - Fasching
Gates, Jr. - Lettieri - Bristedt
Michaelson - Romanko - Ramsey
Seeler - Collins
Bischoff - Glover
Johnson - Brodzinski
Schierhorn - Lehr - Kautz
(I'd almost be willing to bet money Schierhorn starts, but the line chart contains the usual warning. I'll make it official on Twitter as always.)
Saturday Hockey Notes and Thoughts: Bulldogs Make it Five Straight Against Rivals
In the annals of UMD hockey history, it hasn't always been a given for the Bulldogs to compete with in-state rival Minnesota.
Now, expectations have changed.
UMD tied a school record with its fifth straight win over the Gophers Friday at Mariucci Arena, winning 3-1 and never trailing in the game. It marks three straight games at Mariucci Arena where UMD has won and never trailed. And the five straight wins over Minnesota ties a program record set with a streak that started in February 2013 and continued through four meetings in the 2003-2004 regular season.
To add some perspective, Scott Sandelin's teams are now 22-23-6 against Minnesota in his 15-plus seasons at UMD, a .490 win percentage. That might not signal domination, but it does signal serious improvement. Prior to his arrival, UMD was 56-111-11 against the Gophers, a win percentage of .346.
Rome wasn't built in a day, right?
So not only can UMD establish a new program high with a sixth straight win over Minnesota when it hosts the rematch Saturday at Amsoil Arena, but a win means the Bulldogs are .500 in 52 meetings against Minnesota with Sandelin as head coach.
As assistant coach Brett Larson said this week, the Bulldogs have found a formula for beating the Gophers. It worked again Friday.
Even when the game was 0-0, Minnesota was more focused most of the time on playing tough in its own zone. Outside of a flurry during and after the Gophers' only power play of the game, Minnesota had a whale of a time establishing itself in the offensive zone. The Bulldogs, being outshot 7-4 at one point late in the first period, went on to outshoot Minnesota 31-10 over about a 40-minute span that lasted deep into the third period.
Jared Thomas wired a wicked wrist shot off the crossbar and in to give UMD a 1-0 lead in the second. It was the Bulldogs' first power play goal of the season, and it was quickly followed by a second, as Austin Farley converted a Neal Pionk rebound three minutes later for a 2-0 advantage.
The most impressive UMD sequence, however, came after Brent Gates, Jr., scored for Minnesota at 5:40 of the third period. With the Minnesota fans buzzing for the first time in quite a while, and the public address just finishing announcing Gates' goal, Dominic Toninato drove the slot and -- on his third shot -- scored from a nearly impossible angle to get UMD's two-goal lead restored.
(By the way, that Minnesota goal broke a run of 116:44 without a goal against UMD at Mariucci Arena, dating back to November of 2013.)
The Gophers threatened in the closing minutes with freshman goalie Eric Schierhorn pulled, but never were able to tally, and UMD got its first win of the young season.
On a team with 21 returning players, it isn't always easy to stand out as a freshman. Playing time will be scarce most of the season for freshman forwards Parker Mackay and Billy Exell, it's been made clear from the start that Adam Johnson would play a lot, as would Pionk.
To crystalize that, both are on power play units, and both got their first UMD points on Friday night. Johnson assisted on Thomas' goal, and Pionk on Farley's.
It's a just reward for two guys who were, frankly, awesome Friday. Johnson used his speed to create scoring chances that weren't obvious to the naked eye when the play started. Multiple times, we saw Johnson get UMD into an odd-man rush by simply using his speed through the neutral zone.
(Adam Johnson skating full speed and forwards > anyone skating backwards.)
Pionk's poise is clear. It's not just confidence because he's playing with senior captain Andy Welinski. It's maturity beyond his years, and it's really impressive to see. He earned some power play time in the second period, and he made the most of it. Pionk and Dan Molenaar both worked the point on the second unit -- Carson Soucy's spot -- with Soucy suspended for the game. Nick McCormack took Soucy's spot alongside Willie Raskob, and I thought both he and Willie Corrin had some strong points to their games defensively.
Outside of the push I mentioned Minnesota having when its power play ended in the first period, the Gophers simply didn't sustain much offensively until they pulled Schierhorn in the final minutes. This was despite Minnesota winning 37 of 62 faceoffs. It was similar to last year, where teams won faceoffs against UMD, and the Bulldogs had the puck within ten seconds because they were doing the right things and not chasing it around the rink.
UMD announced Saturday morning it will host the 2017 IceBreaker tournament at Amsoil Arena. The traditional season-opening event will include Minnesota, Michigan Tech, and Union, and be played Oct. 6-7, 2017.
From a scheduling standpoint, it's significant because Minnesota was not scheduled to visit Duluth in the 2017-18 season until this opportunity presented itself. It will be a great event, and UMD is already beginning its promotional push.
The IceBreaker will be part of 2017-18 season ticket packages, and more information will be available at a later date.
******
In other NCHC action Friday, Miami got a late Jack Roslovic goal to win 3-2 at Ohio State. Omaha got two goals apiece from Fredrik Olofsson and Austin Ortega to win 4-3 at Vermont. UMass-Lowell scored late to fend off Colorado College, 3-2.
Bemidji State got two third-period goals to tie North Dakota 4-4. More significantly, UND starting goalie Cam Johnson was injured, leaving UND down to third goalie Matt Hrynkiw, who allowed two goals on 12 shots. More on Johnson's injury should be available before Saturday's rematch in Grand Forks.
Also, Denver beat Michigan State 4-2, and St. Cloud State beat struggling Minnesota State 4-0 in St. Cloud.
Now, expectations have changed.
UMD tied a school record with its fifth straight win over the Gophers Friday at Mariucci Arena, winning 3-1 and never trailing in the game. It marks three straight games at Mariucci Arena where UMD has won and never trailed. And the five straight wins over Minnesota ties a program record set with a streak that started in February 2013 and continued through four meetings in the 2003-2004 regular season.
To add some perspective, Scott Sandelin's teams are now 22-23-6 against Minnesota in his 15-plus seasons at UMD, a .490 win percentage. That might not signal domination, but it does signal serious improvement. Prior to his arrival, UMD was 56-111-11 against the Gophers, a win percentage of .346.
Rome wasn't built in a day, right?
So not only can UMD establish a new program high with a sixth straight win over Minnesota when it hosts the rematch Saturday at Amsoil Arena, but a win means the Bulldogs are .500 in 52 meetings against Minnesota with Sandelin as head coach.
As assistant coach Brett Larson said this week, the Bulldogs have found a formula for beating the Gophers. It worked again Friday.
Even when the game was 0-0, Minnesota was more focused most of the time on playing tough in its own zone. Outside of a flurry during and after the Gophers' only power play of the game, Minnesota had a whale of a time establishing itself in the offensive zone. The Bulldogs, being outshot 7-4 at one point late in the first period, went on to outshoot Minnesota 31-10 over about a 40-minute span that lasted deep into the third period.
Jared Thomas wired a wicked wrist shot off the crossbar and in to give UMD a 1-0 lead in the second. It was the Bulldogs' first power play goal of the season, and it was quickly followed by a second, as Austin Farley converted a Neal Pionk rebound three minutes later for a 2-0 advantage.
The most impressive UMD sequence, however, came after Brent Gates, Jr., scored for Minnesota at 5:40 of the third period. With the Minnesota fans buzzing for the first time in quite a while, and the public address just finishing announcing Gates' goal, Dominic Toninato drove the slot and -- on his third shot -- scored from a nearly impossible angle to get UMD's two-goal lead restored.
(By the way, that Minnesota goal broke a run of 116:44 without a goal against UMD at Mariucci Arena, dating back to November of 2013.)
The Gophers threatened in the closing minutes with freshman goalie Eric Schierhorn pulled, but never were able to tally, and UMD got its first win of the young season.
******
On a team with 21 returning players, it isn't always easy to stand out as a freshman. Playing time will be scarce most of the season for freshman forwards Parker Mackay and Billy Exell, it's been made clear from the start that Adam Johnson would play a lot, as would Pionk.
To crystalize that, both are on power play units, and both got their first UMD points on Friday night. Johnson assisted on Thomas' goal, and Pionk on Farley's.
It's a just reward for two guys who were, frankly, awesome Friday. Johnson used his speed to create scoring chances that weren't obvious to the naked eye when the play started. Multiple times, we saw Johnson get UMD into an odd-man rush by simply using his speed through the neutral zone.
(Adam Johnson skating full speed and forwards > anyone skating backwards.)
Pionk's poise is clear. It's not just confidence because he's playing with senior captain Andy Welinski. It's maturity beyond his years, and it's really impressive to see. He earned some power play time in the second period, and he made the most of it. Pionk and Dan Molenaar both worked the point on the second unit -- Carson Soucy's spot -- with Soucy suspended for the game. Nick McCormack took Soucy's spot alongside Willie Raskob, and I thought both he and Willie Corrin had some strong points to their games defensively.
Outside of the push I mentioned Minnesota having when its power play ended in the first period, the Gophers simply didn't sustain much offensively until they pulled Schierhorn in the final minutes. This was despite Minnesota winning 37 of 62 faceoffs. It was similar to last year, where teams won faceoffs against UMD, and the Bulldogs had the puck within ten seconds because they were doing the right things and not chasing it around the rink.
******
UMD announced Saturday morning it will host the 2017 IceBreaker tournament at Amsoil Arena. The traditional season-opening event will include Minnesota, Michigan Tech, and Union, and be played Oct. 6-7, 2017.
From a scheduling standpoint, it's significant because Minnesota was not scheduled to visit Duluth in the 2017-18 season until this opportunity presented itself. It will be a great event, and UMD is already beginning its promotional push.
The IceBreaker will be part of 2017-18 season ticket packages, and more information will be available at a later date.
******
In other NCHC action Friday, Miami got a late Jack Roslovic goal to win 3-2 at Ohio State. Omaha got two goals apiece from Fredrik Olofsson and Austin Ortega to win 4-3 at Vermont. UMass-Lowell scored late to fend off Colorado College, 3-2.
Bemidji State got two third-period goals to tie North Dakota 4-4. More significantly, UND starting goalie Cam Johnson was injured, leaving UND down to third goalie Matt Hrynkiw, who allowed two goals on 12 shots. More on Johnson's injury should be available before Saturday's rematch in Grand Forks.
Also, Denver beat Michigan State 4-2, and St. Cloud State beat struggling Minnesota State 4-0 in St. Cloud.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Game 2: UMD at Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS -- Greetings from high atop Mariucci Arena, where UMD will soon begin its quest for a fifth straight win against Minnesota, its main men's hockey rival for over half a century. To put that number (5) in perspective, if UMD wins this game, it will have just its second five-game winning streak against Minnesota ever.
As it stands, this is UMD's third-ever four-game winning streak against Minnesota. The others were between 1972 and 1973 under Terry Shercliffe, and from 2003-2004 under Scott Sandelin. Guess you don't go 77-134-17 against someone by dominating stretches of the rivalry.
But things have turned around as of late. UMD is 5-3-2 in the last ten against Minnesota, which is more than respectable (it's not like the Gophers have been playing garbage hockey lately). Sandelin is 21-23-6 lifetime against Minnesota.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Johnson - Toninato - Iafallo
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Young (Austyn)
Sampair - Decowski - Exell
Pionk - Welinski
McCormack - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Deery
UMN
Gates, Jr. - Kloos - Fasching
Bristedt - Novak - Reilly
Cammarata - Sheehy - Lettieri
Michaelson - Romanko - Ramsey
Seeler - Collins
Bischoff - Glover
Johnson - Brodzinski
Schierhorn - Lehr - Kautz
(We believe Schierhorn starts, but the line chart does not always indicate the starter here. Follow me on Twitter @bruceciskie for the latest.)
As it stands, this is UMD's third-ever four-game winning streak against Minnesota. The others were between 1972 and 1973 under Terry Shercliffe, and from 2003-2004 under Scott Sandelin. Guess you don't go 77-134-17 against someone by dominating stretches of the rivalry.
But things have turned around as of late. UMD is 5-3-2 in the last ten against Minnesota, which is more than respectable (it's not like the Gophers have been playing garbage hockey lately). Sandelin is 21-23-6 lifetime against Minnesota.
Lines?
Lines.
UMD
Johnson - Toninato - Iafallo
Farley - Cameranesi - Kuhlman
Osterberg - Thomas - Young (Austyn)
Sampair - Decowski - Exell
Pionk - Welinski
McCormack - Raskob
Corrin - Molenaar
Kaskisuo - McNeely - Deery
UMN
Gates, Jr. - Kloos - Fasching
Bristedt - Novak - Reilly
Cammarata - Sheehy - Lettieri
Michaelson - Romanko - Ramsey
Seeler - Collins
Bischoff - Glover
Johnson - Brodzinski
Schierhorn - Lehr - Kautz
(We believe Schierhorn starts, but the line chart does not always indicate the starter here. Follow me on Twitter @bruceciskie for the latest.)
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Rivalry Renews as Gophers and Bulldogs Meet Again
Unlike some players or coaches UMD may add over the course of time, there's no need to indoctrinate Brett Larson into the rivalry with Minnesota. A Duluth native and former UMD defenseman before joining the coaching staff for his first stint in 2008, Larson knows all about it.
"There's always that mentality that you feel like you have something to prove," Larson said this week. He relayed a story from his childhood, hearing a Minnesota assistant coach do a TV interview where he talked about how big the games were "for the kids from Duluth."
"One of the assistants from the Gophers goes on and says 'Ah, it's such a big weekend for the kids from Duluth. They all wanted to be Gophers but couldn't, so now they're trying to prove themselves.'
"There's nobody more fun to play against, and there's nobody more fun to beat."
It's a mantra echoed by Larson's one-time-boss-and-now-boss-again, head coach Scott Sandelin.
"To me, they're always a fun team to play, and they're always a fun team to beat, if you can. I think our guys feel the same way."
It's Gopher week. No one cares about last week (both teams lost their season openers to teams that were at least perceived to be underdogs heading in). Now, it's go time.
If last week's 3-2 loss to Bemidji State is largely going to be forgotten by Friday, last year's 4-1 record against the Gophers is a distant and possibly repressed memory.
"I don't know if last year matters," Sandelin said. "We're different teams and it's a different year."
Veteran Minnesota coach Don Lucia -- five wins away from 400 on the Gophers bench -- agrees with Sandelin. He pointed out this week that his team has ten new faces who know nothing of last year outside of what they've read and heard.
"I'm not into revenge," Lucia said. "Last year, they had a good team and they played very well against us. They deserved to win those games. They knocked us out last year. So be it."
If anything was going to stick in Lucia's craw about last year's meetings with UMD, it would have to be the last one. His team was practically lifeless -- especially during the second period -- and UMD cruised to a 4-1 win in the Northeast Regional. Lucia called his team "emotionally flat at times" after that game, something you hate to hear a coach say after an NCAA Tournament game. And in Lucia's case, he wasn't bus-chucking or excuse-manufacturing. He was accurate. His team didn't apply serious pressure on UMD until it was too late to matter.
Lucia is human. His players are human. Those back from last year, including talented captain Justin Kloos and future NHL power forward Hudson Fasching, are human. They might say they don't care about last year, but don't be surprised if this Gophers team has a little bit extra in the tank for Friday night at home against basically the only team they couldn't figure out a year ago.
As for lessons from last week, Larson talked glowingly about his penalty kill in Bemidji, which only allowed one power play goal in a relatively high 12 minutes of BSU man advantage time. Keep in mind all 12 minutes came after one of UMD's best killers, defenseman Carson Soucy, was ejected. Soucy won't play Friday thanks to an NCHC suspension, meaning Nick McCormack likely draws in for his season debut against Minnesota.
"I was pleased with our start Saturday for sure," Sandelin said.
"I thought we made some bad decisions and didn't have the right coverage (later in the game). It led to some outnumbered rushes that we need to eliminate."
The Gophers are younger, especially up front, where Kloos centers the top line, and Lucia deploys three freshmen -- Tommy Novak, Tyler Sheehy, and former Minnesota Wilderness standout Darian Romanko -- as the other pivots. UMD has a definite advantage in experience, especially at center, but it'll take solid execution from the start to exploit that.
Freshman Eric Schierhorn started in goal against Vermont on Saturday. As of Lucia's Wednesday press conference, he said he hadn't decided on a goalie plan for the weekend, but it stands to reason Schierhorn will go at least Friday. Lucia has typically been a fan of having a clear-cut No. 1 goalie. We'll see if Schierhorn -- an Alaskan by way of Shattuck-St. Mary's -- can be that guy for the Gophers. He played well against the Catamounts in a 3-0 defeat.
It's been a storied rivalry largely dominated by the Gophers over its 228 previous games. However, UMD is 5-3-2 over the last ten meetings, and UMD is 5-2-1 against the Gophers since the conference shift happened before the 2013-14 season. To keep that run of success going, the Bulldogs need to call on past lessons learned against this team.
The experience is obvious. Honorary Minnesotan Austin Farley has torn up the Gophers for seven goals and ten points in ten lifetime games. Actual Minnesotans Tony Cameranesi and Dominic Toninato have seven goals (five by Toninato) and 17 points (nine by Cameranesi) combined in 18 games. And goalies Kasimir Kaskisuo (four starts) and Matt McNeely (five) have combined to allow a scant 16 goals to Minnesota in over 500 minutes of work, for a 1.88 goals against average and a .935 save percentage.
As Larson pointed out, they found a pretty good formula last year. Maybe it's as simple as remembering what worked and making Minnesota show it can do something about it.
Exceptionally sad news came Tuesday night/Wednesday morning for the UMD men's hockey family. Suzie LeGarde Menz, the wife of former UMD men's hockey equipment manager Rick Menz, died in an incident at Twin Ponds in Duluth. Menz was struck by a car that eventually ended up in the water. The driver fled and was later arrested. He is facing criminal vehicular homicide charges, among others, and he has quite a rap sheet, as detailed in the story linked above.
Rick Menz worked for UMD from 1979-2008, a run of dedication toward one of the more thankless jobs in college hockey. The gig of equipment manager is one that includes extremely long hours, along with travel wherever the team goes. Rick retired after the 2007-08 season, but he never really left. As Larson noted this week, he remained involved.
"He's always been around, and he's always been a part of it. Rick's always involved, always around the guys. He's a guy (alumni) want to touch base with when they're around. I know the guys are just praying for his family."
There are no words of conciliation. We offer thoughts and prayers to Rick and his entire family, and to all who knew Suzie. You can read her obituary here, and there's a link there to leave a memory or best wishes to the family.
"There's always that mentality that you feel like you have something to prove," Larson said this week. He relayed a story from his childhood, hearing a Minnesota assistant coach do a TV interview where he talked about how big the games were "for the kids from Duluth."
"One of the assistants from the Gophers goes on and says 'Ah, it's such a big weekend for the kids from Duluth. They all wanted to be Gophers but couldn't, so now they're trying to prove themselves.'
"There's nobody more fun to play against, and there's nobody more fun to beat."
It's a mantra echoed by Larson's one-time-boss-and-now-boss-again, head coach Scott Sandelin.
"To me, they're always a fun team to play, and they're always a fun team to beat, if you can. I think our guys feel the same way."
It's Gopher week. No one cares about last week (both teams lost their season openers to teams that were at least perceived to be underdogs heading in). Now, it's go time.
If last week's 3-2 loss to Bemidji State is largely going to be forgotten by Friday, last year's 4-1 record against the Gophers is a distant and possibly repressed memory.
"I don't know if last year matters," Sandelin said. "We're different teams and it's a different year."
Veteran Minnesota coach Don Lucia -- five wins away from 400 on the Gophers bench -- agrees with Sandelin. He pointed out this week that his team has ten new faces who know nothing of last year outside of what they've read and heard.
"I'm not into revenge," Lucia said. "Last year, they had a good team and they played very well against us. They deserved to win those games. They knocked us out last year. So be it."
If anything was going to stick in Lucia's craw about last year's meetings with UMD, it would have to be the last one. His team was practically lifeless -- especially during the second period -- and UMD cruised to a 4-1 win in the Northeast Regional. Lucia called his team "emotionally flat at times" after that game, something you hate to hear a coach say after an NCAA Tournament game. And in Lucia's case, he wasn't bus-chucking or excuse-manufacturing. He was accurate. His team didn't apply serious pressure on UMD until it was too late to matter.
Lucia is human. His players are human. Those back from last year, including talented captain Justin Kloos and future NHL power forward Hudson Fasching, are human. They might say they don't care about last year, but don't be surprised if this Gophers team has a little bit extra in the tank for Friday night at home against basically the only team they couldn't figure out a year ago.
As for lessons from last week, Larson talked glowingly about his penalty kill in Bemidji, which only allowed one power play goal in a relatively high 12 minutes of BSU man advantage time. Keep in mind all 12 minutes came after one of UMD's best killers, defenseman Carson Soucy, was ejected. Soucy won't play Friday thanks to an NCHC suspension, meaning Nick McCormack likely draws in for his season debut against Minnesota.
"I was pleased with our start Saturday for sure," Sandelin said.
"I thought we made some bad decisions and didn't have the right coverage (later in the game). It led to some outnumbered rushes that we need to eliminate."
The Gophers are younger, especially up front, where Kloos centers the top line, and Lucia deploys three freshmen -- Tommy Novak, Tyler Sheehy, and former Minnesota Wilderness standout Darian Romanko -- as the other pivots. UMD has a definite advantage in experience, especially at center, but it'll take solid execution from the start to exploit that.
Freshman Eric Schierhorn started in goal against Vermont on Saturday. As of Lucia's Wednesday press conference, he said he hadn't decided on a goalie plan for the weekend, but it stands to reason Schierhorn will go at least Friday. Lucia has typically been a fan of having a clear-cut No. 1 goalie. We'll see if Schierhorn -- an Alaskan by way of Shattuck-St. Mary's -- can be that guy for the Gophers. He played well against the Catamounts in a 3-0 defeat.
It's been a storied rivalry largely dominated by the Gophers over its 228 previous games. However, UMD is 5-3-2 over the last ten meetings, and UMD is 5-2-1 against the Gophers since the conference shift happened before the 2013-14 season. To keep that run of success going, the Bulldogs need to call on past lessons learned against this team.
The experience is obvious. Honorary Minnesotan Austin Farley has torn up the Gophers for seven goals and ten points in ten lifetime games. Actual Minnesotans Tony Cameranesi and Dominic Toninato have seven goals (five by Toninato) and 17 points (nine by Cameranesi) combined in 18 games. And goalies Kasimir Kaskisuo (four starts) and Matt McNeely (five) have combined to allow a scant 16 goals to Minnesota in over 500 minutes of work, for a 1.88 goals against average and a .935 save percentage.
As Larson pointed out, they found a pretty good formula last year. Maybe it's as simple as remembering what worked and making Minnesota show it can do something about it.
******
Exceptionally sad news came Tuesday night/Wednesday morning for the UMD men's hockey family. Suzie LeGarde Menz, the wife of former UMD men's hockey equipment manager Rick Menz, died in an incident at Twin Ponds in Duluth. Menz was struck by a car that eventually ended up in the water. The driver fled and was later arrested. He is facing criminal vehicular homicide charges, among others, and he has quite a rap sheet, as detailed in the story linked above.
Rick Menz worked for UMD from 1979-2008, a run of dedication toward one of the more thankless jobs in college hockey. The gig of equipment manager is one that includes extremely long hours, along with travel wherever the team goes. Rick retired after the 2007-08 season, but he never really left. As Larson noted this week, he remained involved.
"He's always been around, and he's always been a part of it. Rick's always involved, always around the guys. He's a guy (alumni) want to touch base with when they're around. I know the guys are just praying for his family."
There are no words of conciliation. We offer thoughts and prayers to Rick and his entire family, and to all who knew Suzie. You can read her obituary here, and there's a link there to leave a memory or best wishes to the family.
Monday, October 12, 2015
Monday Musings: Late Goal Sinks UMD in Opener
Imagine this: Your teenage child returns home from school one day, and informs you s/he failed a test. You get mad and start asking questions, and the kid tells you everyone else in class either struggled or flat-out-failed, too.
Doesn't make you feel better, does it?
While it's crazy that the Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9 teams in the preseason USCHO top ten all lost at least one game over the weekend (No. 8 didn't play), it doesn't help UMD much. In fact, it's an empty fact.
What has been probably UMD's most consistent bugaboo since the start of last season -- the penalty bug -- bit again Saturday. This time, it helped conspire to turn a game around the Bulldogs were dominating everywhere but the scoreboard, and the homestanding Bemidji State Beavers took full advantage, scoring with 22.7 seconds left to win 3-2.
By no means is this loss on defenseman Carson Soucy, justifiably ejected for a contact to the head penalty late in the first period, or is it on forward Kyle Osterberg, who got a major for charging in the second period.
Soucy's penalty came at a time where UMD was leading 12-2 in shots, had by far the better scoring chances, and almost had exclusive ownership of the puck. The top line of Dominic Toninato, Alex Iafallo, and Adam Johnson created chance after chance. Toninato finished with six shots, many of them in that opening period, but the Bulldogs couldn't beat star Bemidji State goalie Michael Bitzer early.
The Beavers put up nine shots on goal during the Soucy major, which came after he hit BSU forward Leo Fitzgerald as he flew through the neutral zone chasing the puck. There was little doubt in my mind it would draw a major and an ejection. Beyond the fact it got Soucy -- a player who is in my opinion the most NHL-ready on the UMD roster -- ejected in the first period, it also gave Bemidji State a chance to seize the momentum in a game it had nothing going in.
From that point on, UMD was outshot 31-18 and never looked the same team. From the Soucy major on, the Bulldogs were outshot at even strength 17-9.
Ouch.
The reasons were multiple. Surely, the Soucy major changed momentum a bit and gave BSU some life that it hadn't previously shown. However, the Beavers also were able to take advantage of a UMD blue line fatigued a bit by the ejection. Down to five defensemen, everyone's ice time increased, and Bemidji's forwards looked fresher than UMD's defense did down the stretch.
(This isn't all on Soucy, because there were 17 other skaters playing in the game, and none of them did enough in the second half of the game to reseize the momentum and get things going back in UMD's favor for more than a shift or two at a time.)
That kind of a thing will be less of a factor later in the season.
It's why it's so important to avoid those types of penalties. UMD was in bad enough position having to kill off two five-minute power plays in the game. The fact it lost Soucy on one of those calls made it even more difficult. He's an all-situation player.
It's somewhat fair to bring up discipline. It was a talking point for Scott Sandelin during the week, as well as before the game Saturday. It was an issue last season, unquestionably. It's been a problem in the past. Even with 22 minutes in penalties after Saturday's loss, it's way too early to cast judgments on this year's team. We just don't know if it's going to be an issue going forward.
But we know it can't be.
A season with this much promise can't -- and I mean it can't -- be sabotaged from within. It's up to the leaders and coaches to figure out a way to address the issue without taking away the aggressiveness that has made UMD such an effective team.
There's a line. Soucy definitely crossed it, and Osterberg probably did.
(After viewing both replays, I'd say it's hard to yell about either call. I absolutely agreed with Soucy, and I'll admit to privately wondering if the NCHC would try to send a preventive message by giving him a one-game suspension early in the season. I don't have anyone I know saying it will and I don't believe that will happen, it's just a thought in my head. I think it'd be a stronger possibility if the hit happened in the third period. And, yes, those things have been considered by leagues before, to the point that the new targeting rule in college football calls for players ejected in the second half of a game to sit the first half of the next one. In this case, I think time served of 42-plus minutes is enough. As for Osterberg, an argument exists that his hit wasn't enough to be a major, but the flip side is that -- again without looking at a replay -- it looked obvious he left his feet to deliver the hit, and that's a huge red flag for the men in striped shirts.)
(Remember to follow @umdhockeygifs on Twitter, an account run by a UMD fan named Ben. Animations that you can pause and rewind were posted of both hits. Also, when you watch those GIFs, remember that every time you watch the replay is one more opportunity than the officials got to watch it before issuing a penalty. Someday, I'll write another blog about the need to have replay review available for major penalties in all games, but that will be a different day where I actually have a beef with a call. That threshold is high because many of the ejections happen after bang-bang plays, but I'm sure it'll happen at some point.)
Yes, this was a tough week for ranked teams. No. 1 Boston College lost to RPI. No. 3 Boston University lost to Union. No. 5 Denver lost to Air Force. No. 6 Minnesota State was swept at home by Omaha. No. 11 Miami lost and tied against Providence.
It was such a bad weekend that the new No. 1 -- North Dakota -- got there by rallying from two goals down to beat mighty Lake Superior State.
Again, it's way too early for judgments. But if the first weekend of the season is any indication, we're in for another wild ride in 2015-16.
UMD fell to seventh in the USCHO poll, and I do not think UMD will stay there long. The Bulldogs have already seen what they're capable of. Now it's a matter of staying out of their own way enough to let it happen.
Minnesota is next, and like UMD, the Gophers are licking their wounds after an upset loss. Minnesota lost 3-0 to Vermont in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at Mariucci Arena. The Gophers are young, nowhere near the experience level of last year's outfit. Captain Justin Kloos is the only center who isn't a freshman, and Don Lucia opted to start a freshman -- Eric Schierhorn -- in goal for Saturday's game.
Minnesota is dangerous, as usual, up front, and while the depth isn't quite there on defense, the presence of Omaha transfer Nick Seeler helps significantly. Jake Bischoff, Ryan Collins, and Jack Glover finish a pretty solid top four.
And if you don't think the Gophers have forgotten last year, when UMD won the last four out of five meetings, you're crazy. They might not admit it out loud, but they remember, and they'll be ready this weekend.
Hey, maybe we'll actually get both games in this weekend. #obligatoryelectricityjoke
Doesn't make you feel better, does it?
While it's crazy that the Nos. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9 teams in the preseason USCHO top ten all lost at least one game over the weekend (No. 8 didn't play), it doesn't help UMD much. In fact, it's an empty fact.
What has been probably UMD's most consistent bugaboo since the start of last season -- the penalty bug -- bit again Saturday. This time, it helped conspire to turn a game around the Bulldogs were dominating everywhere but the scoreboard, and the homestanding Bemidji State Beavers took full advantage, scoring with 22.7 seconds left to win 3-2.
By no means is this loss on defenseman Carson Soucy, justifiably ejected for a contact to the head penalty late in the first period, or is it on forward Kyle Osterberg, who got a major for charging in the second period.
Soucy's penalty came at a time where UMD was leading 12-2 in shots, had by far the better scoring chances, and almost had exclusive ownership of the puck. The top line of Dominic Toninato, Alex Iafallo, and Adam Johnson created chance after chance. Toninato finished with six shots, many of them in that opening period, but the Bulldogs couldn't beat star Bemidji State goalie Michael Bitzer early.
The Beavers put up nine shots on goal during the Soucy major, which came after he hit BSU forward Leo Fitzgerald as he flew through the neutral zone chasing the puck. There was little doubt in my mind it would draw a major and an ejection. Beyond the fact it got Soucy -- a player who is in my opinion the most NHL-ready on the UMD roster -- ejected in the first period, it also gave Bemidji State a chance to seize the momentum in a game it had nothing going in.
From that point on, UMD was outshot 31-18 and never looked the same team. From the Soucy major on, the Bulldogs were outshot at even strength 17-9.
Ouch.
The reasons were multiple. Surely, the Soucy major changed momentum a bit and gave BSU some life that it hadn't previously shown. However, the Beavers also were able to take advantage of a UMD blue line fatigued a bit by the ejection. Down to five defensemen, everyone's ice time increased, and Bemidji's forwards looked fresher than UMD's defense did down the stretch.
(This isn't all on Soucy, because there were 17 other skaters playing in the game, and none of them did enough in the second half of the game to reseize the momentum and get things going back in UMD's favor for more than a shift or two at a time.)
That kind of a thing will be less of a factor later in the season.
It's why it's so important to avoid those types of penalties. UMD was in bad enough position having to kill off two five-minute power plays in the game. The fact it lost Soucy on one of those calls made it even more difficult. He's an all-situation player.
It's somewhat fair to bring up discipline. It was a talking point for Scott Sandelin during the week, as well as before the game Saturday. It was an issue last season, unquestionably. It's been a problem in the past. Even with 22 minutes in penalties after Saturday's loss, it's way too early to cast judgments on this year's team. We just don't know if it's going to be an issue going forward.
But we know it can't be.
A season with this much promise can't -- and I mean it can't -- be sabotaged from within. It's up to the leaders and coaches to figure out a way to address the issue without taking away the aggressiveness that has made UMD such an effective team.
There's a line. Soucy definitely crossed it, and Osterberg probably did.
(After viewing both replays, I'd say it's hard to yell about either call. I absolutely agreed with Soucy, and I'll admit to privately wondering if the NCHC would try to send a preventive message by giving him a one-game suspension early in the season. I don't have anyone I know saying it will and I don't believe that will happen, it's just a thought in my head. I think it'd be a stronger possibility if the hit happened in the third period. And, yes, those things have been considered by leagues before, to the point that the new targeting rule in college football calls for players ejected in the second half of a game to sit the first half of the next one. In this case, I think time served of 42-plus minutes is enough. As for Osterberg, an argument exists that his hit wasn't enough to be a major, but the flip side is that -- again without looking at a replay -- it looked obvious he left his feet to deliver the hit, and that's a huge red flag for the men in striped shirts.)
(Remember to follow @umdhockeygifs on Twitter, an account run by a UMD fan named Ben. Animations that you can pause and rewind were posted of both hits. Also, when you watch those GIFs, remember that every time you watch the replay is one more opportunity than the officials got to watch it before issuing a penalty. Someday, I'll write another blog about the need to have replay review available for major penalties in all games, but that will be a different day where I actually have a beef with a call. That threshold is high because many of the ejections happen after bang-bang plays, but I'm sure it'll happen at some point.)
******
Yes, this was a tough week for ranked teams. No. 1 Boston College lost to RPI. No. 3 Boston University lost to Union. No. 5 Denver lost to Air Force. No. 6 Minnesota State was swept at home by Omaha. No. 11 Miami lost and tied against Providence.
It was such a bad weekend that the new No. 1 -- North Dakota -- got there by rallying from two goals down to beat mighty Lake Superior State.
Again, it's way too early for judgments. But if the first weekend of the season is any indication, we're in for another wild ride in 2015-16.
UMD fell to seventh in the USCHO poll, and I do not think UMD will stay there long. The Bulldogs have already seen what they're capable of. Now it's a matter of staying out of their own way enough to let it happen.
******
Minnesota is next, and like UMD, the Gophers are licking their wounds after an upset loss. Minnesota lost 3-0 to Vermont in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at Mariucci Arena. The Gophers are young, nowhere near the experience level of last year's outfit. Captain Justin Kloos is the only center who isn't a freshman, and Don Lucia opted to start a freshman -- Eric Schierhorn -- in goal for Saturday's game.
Minnesota is dangerous, as usual, up front, and while the depth isn't quite there on defense, the presence of Omaha transfer Nick Seeler helps significantly. Jake Bischoff, Ryan Collins, and Jack Glover finish a pretty solid top four.
And if you don't think the Gophers have forgotten last year, when UMD won the last four out of five meetings, you're crazy. They might not admit it out loud, but they remember, and they'll be ready this weekend.
Hey, maybe we'll actually get both games in this weekend. #obligatoryelectricityjoke
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