WCHA-Recaps

[scsavre]

So how did your respective teams do?

I have to admit the Gophers had a rather pre-season feel and look to it.

Gophers won 5-3 but there were many holes in the game. If Mass had a goal scorer on their team, they could have easily won that game. Many wide open chances for them.

The freshman Haula looked pretty good for the Gophers, he might end up a 15 goal 30 point player this year - if he stays on the top 2 lines. Cepis is just awesome out there. I almost feel bad that he isnt on another team that could surround him with goal scorer's. Every time he is on the ice he gets the puck, and does something with it.

Honestly the biggest problem is our entire coaching staff. Our defense look absolutely lost out there. They look very skilled, but very out of position. - that is a coaching issues.

Again, Lucia needs to go. That team is very talented, and with coaching I honestly think they could tear it up. Passing was a huge problem for us out there, it really looks like they have been taught very conflicting ways of breaking out and moving up ice. All on different pages.

Lastly, Lucia better not rotate and switch lines again all year. I know its early in the year, but honestly you should be able to see chemistry between players pretty quick in practice. I want set lines by next series. At least set for awhile. This changing it up stuff just slows us down.

Barribal looked pretty decent, I was hoping to see him with Cepis. I never got what I wanted. I dont know if Lucia will let it happen. Wants to spread out the talent. I think they would tear it up, Cepis has a Marty Sertich look to him, lets see if Barriabl can be Brent Sterling.

Power Play was very dissapointing, they did get a couple. But it was a mess. Honestly I dont think they have a power play. They put a line out and added a forward to the D Line. Hopefully tonight they can move the puck.

That was way to long.

Howd your teams do.

Nodak 5-5 (am I going to hear the slow start blues again)

Umd 6-6

Cloud 3-1

[cbrooks]

Don't worry your not going to hear the slow start blues from me. I ended up falling asleep watching the UND UAA game Friday night. They were winning 5-1 halfway through the game and let UAA back in it which ended in a 5-5 tie. From what I saw from that game UND has its lines down and powerplay and they were staying out of the penalty box. I like what I saw from our rookie's ,Frobort is a stud he had 3 assist this weekend, Brock nelson was 9-1 for faceoff Friday night, Derek Rodwell didn't have any points this weekend but play really well Saturday night, and as for Dillion Simpson he hasn't done much from what I watch this weekend(I think he was a scatch last night)he is still young at 17 he will come around. If this is a slow start I can't wait to see them in March.

What happen to SCSU this weekend. Anybody see that game?

[Bear55]

]

I have to admit the Gophers had a rather pre-season feel and look to it.

It was kind of a dissappointing sweep wasn't it. I am hoping most of the sloppy play and D issues are due to opening weekend jitters but I feel our problem might run a little deeper.

Over all I really like I forward group, our first line was pretty dominant all night, Haula looks great already. I also like what I saw from Cepis, Budish, Matson, and although Hanson was held off the score sheet I think he will have a break through year, he did some good things out there.

Hard to find much good with our D but Helgeson did some good things and Holl looked pretty comfortable out there.

I am wondering if anyone would object to Fairchild and White graduating early? Like last year early.

[mrklean]

i saw the gophs schedule and they only play st cloud twice all year is that new? When i went to st cloud i swore they played each other at least 4 times each year am i wrong?

[Bear55]

This might get confusing but in the old old schedule the gophers and cloud would play 2 games one year, and 4 games the next. Everyone had a rival that they played 4 times a year every year and would then rotate through the other teams. So over the course of 4 years you might see something like this.

UM at Cloud 2 games

2 at UM, 2 at Cloud

Cloud at UM 2 games

2 at UM, 2 at Cloud

From what I can tell this year they will have the teams grouped into 3 groups of 4 teams, you will play the teams in your group 4 times and the teams outside of your group 2 times. It sounds like the groups can and will change from year to year so it might be based off last years standings. That is about all I know, can anyone else add anything?

Now with 12 teams that is going to get mixed up a little.

[Bear55]

I also found this, so it sound like we might keep the old rivalry pairs but get grouped with another pair of teams, hopefully that makes sense.

From the Bemidji Paper

"In developing the WCHA’s five year schedule, Serratore said the cleanest option was chosen. “Basically the traditional travel partners will remain the same, with the addition of BSU being paired with UNO,” he said.

In 2010-11, BSU and UNO will be joined by UND and SCSU to form a four-team cluster. The Beavers will play each team in the cluster four times (home and home series) for a total of 12 games. BSU will then play the remaining eight teams in the league two game each, for a total of 16 games, with eight on the road and eight at home."

[mrklean]

hmm interesting thanks bear

[scsavre]

I believe it was up until the 03-04 season that the Gophs played cloud 4 times, indecently we ended the season with them and then played them 2 more times the next weekend for the WCHA tourney. We also used to do the home and home series, which looks like that ended last year. I always like doing that.

[mrklean]

yea thats what i remember first night one place next night other place thats why i was thinking they played 4 times each year