hungan1
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Does Bob Motzko have a Gopher Hockey TV or radio show?
He is not as visible as Lindsay Whalen or PJ Fleck. At least that is my perception.
On a note as to why I think Bob Mokzto's hiring makes sense:
The hockey landscape in Minnesota and recruiting dynamics have drastically changed since the days of Doug Wood and Don Lucia.
Kids started to leave early for the Pros. Other programs are stocking up with players from the Canadian Juniors.
This is hockey country and other programs are gunning for the top Minnesota hockey kids. It is more important than ever to have kids who are "older" as Bob says. The Gophers have lost too many kids early into the NHL Draft. Ergo, it is tough to bring in championships year after year.
The last time the Gophers had won an NCAA championship, Lindsay Whalen was playing for the Gophers.
Folks, there is a fourteen year drought. Things have gotten tougher with the Gophers moving into the Big Ten. I missed the old WCHA. In the fourteen years, the Eastern hockey programs dominate with Boston College leading the pack with four national championships. I don't know what their magic formula is.
It is obvious why Lucia had to step down. I think Bob Motzko knows a thing or two because he has seen a thing or two that works.
Gopher Hockey need this change in a big hurry. Gopher Hockey is in danger of a Gopher Football like slump in a hurry. Minnesota is a hot bed of recruiting. So, competition is tough. But, on the other hand more HS kids are going to Juniors or to finishing programs and then go onto college or to the Pros. Not very many elite players stick around for four years. This is true with the Gophers.
The Gopher need to figure out the recruiting magic formula where there is balance of reliable kids who will stick it out for four years and the journeyman elite players who will play for the Gophers one or two years. They need to get players from anywhere not just in their backyard.
They need to change and be a relevant program again. This is hockey country. Yet, there is an emptiness feeling with championship droughts for both the Gophers and the Wild. UMD has prevented Minnesota irrelevance in championship hockey by winning it all in 2011 and 2018.
https://www.ncaa.com/history/icehockey-men/d1
He is not as visible as Lindsay Whalen or PJ Fleck. At least that is my perception.
On a note as to why I think Bob Mokzto's hiring makes sense:
The hockey landscape in Minnesota and recruiting dynamics have drastically changed since the days of Doug Wood and Don Lucia.
Kids started to leave early for the Pros. Other programs are stocking up with players from the Canadian Juniors.
This is hockey country and other programs are gunning for the top Minnesota hockey kids. It is more important than ever to have kids who are "older" as Bob says. The Gophers have lost too many kids early into the NHL Draft. Ergo, it is tough to bring in championships year after year.
The last time the Gophers had won an NCAA championship, Lindsay Whalen was playing for the Gophers.
Folks, there is a fourteen year drought. Things have gotten tougher with the Gophers moving into the Big Ten. I missed the old WCHA. In the fourteen years, the Eastern hockey programs dominate with Boston College leading the pack with four national championships. I don't know what their magic formula is.
It is obvious why Lucia had to step down. I think Bob Motzko knows a thing or two because he has seen a thing or two that works.
Gopher Hockey need this change in a big hurry. Gopher Hockey is in danger of a Gopher Football like slump in a hurry. Minnesota is a hot bed of recruiting. So, competition is tough. But, on the other hand more HS kids are going to Juniors or to finishing programs and then go onto college or to the Pros. Not very many elite players stick around for four years. This is true with the Gophers.
The Gopher need to figure out the recruiting magic formula where there is balance of reliable kids who will stick it out for four years and the journeyman elite players who will play for the Gophers one or two years. They need to get players from anywhere not just in their backyard.
They need to change and be a relevant program again. This is hockey country. Yet, there is an emptiness feeling with championship droughts for both the Gophers and the Wild. UMD has prevented Minnesota irrelevance in championship hockey by winning it all in 2011 and 2018.
https://www.ncaa.com/history/icehockey-men/d1
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