Gopher Hockey Recruiting

Zach Stejskal, come on down.
his UMD numbers aren't good (a lot of that is the team has been mediocre), but he's a veteran and a big body. I'd imagine though that he wants to be starting for sure and unsure if he'd want to compete with Airey if Bob is that confident in him. That said, I'd definitely listen if he'd be interested as it's a big step up from what Barto has shown and you need to have 2 goalies you'd feel comfortable playing next year given how much experience Airey has and how good this team could be.
 

It is funny that every player that enters the portal, Bonin wants him to join the Gophers. LOL
 

his UMD numbers aren't good (a lot of that is the team has been mediocre), but he's a veteran and a big body. I'd imagine though that he wants to be starting for sure and unsure if he'd want to compete with Airey if Bob is that confident in him. That said, I'd definitely listen if he'd be interested as it's a big step up from what Barto has shown and you need to have 2 goalies you'd feel comfortable playing next year given how much experience Airey has and how good this team could be.

What are the options at goaltender? I can't tell who in the portal is good.

At this point, go for a rotation of two good ones, and see what happens, vs one very good one?

Maybe someone else will jump in the portal seeing Minnesota could need one. Maybe he's the man?
 

Gotta imagine he's transferring because he wants one last shot at a title. Title contender + in need of a goalie describes the situation in Dinkytown pretty well....

On a related note it has been nice watching UMD fall back to earth after so many of their fans came out of the woodwork over the last 12 years

Think UMD is going to surprise next year. Some fun recruits coming in. The Plante Brothers, Shaugabay, 3 big D and the Goalie from USHL Green Bay, can't think of his name. We'll see but don't count Sandelin out.
 

It is funny that every player that enters the portal, Bonin wants him to join the Gophers. LOL
I've listed a bunch of goalies because they need one badly. I have not listed every player, just called out the best. We got the best F, and if Koster comes back I don't expect any additional big name skaters.
 


What are the options at goaltender? I can't tell who in the portal is good.

At this point, go for a rotation of two good ones, and see what happens, vs one very good one?

Maybe someone else will jump in the portal seeing Minnesota could need one. Maybe he's the man?
The best goalies are gone. Stejskal will work to at least make it a competition.
 

The best goalies are gone. Stejskal will work to at least make it a competition.
What are the options at goaltender? I can't tell who in the portal is good.

At this point, go for a rotation of two good ones, and see what happens, vs one very good one?

Maybe someone else will jump in the portal seeing Minnesota could need one. Maybe he's the man?
again i'd take this as Bob likes what he sees in Airey. I'd take Stejskal as I think he'd be ok splitting, is an upperclassman (so only 1 year). He would allow a safety net for Airey to develop as well as for injury. but given how Bob handled Laffer to Closer, he seems to know what he's got in goalies so I think have to trust him somewhat. Just a little worrisome with how it sits right now without options though Bob has just rolled one guy here unless forced to do otherwise
 

I don't care what he's shown in practice, you need a solid backup in a year where you're expected to contend for a title and your goalie has played 130 minutes in college with an .865 save percentage.
 

Jeremy Wilmer to the portal. Guessing UM/MSU/UND/DU.
 



Jeremy Wilmer to the portal. Guessing UM/MSU/UND/DU.
why do you say that? east coast kid so i'd think he'd stay out there and want a bigger role than what he'll get with BU (also looks like he didn't play in the FF though he did dress against the Gophers). admittedly don't know a ton about him
 

CSS Final Rankings NA Top 100
1 - Celebrini - BU
2 - Levshunov - MSU
4 - Buium - DU
6 - Connelly - PC
10 - Hage - UM
12 - Eiserman - BU
16 - Boisvert - UND
21 - Gridin - UM
23 - Letourneau - BC
27 - Mustard - PC
28 - Bednarik - BU
32 - Ralph - SCSU
34 - Kleber - UMD
39 - Emery - UND
43 - Plante - UMD
44 - Stiga - BC
47 - Moore - UMN
54 - Zellers - UND
55 - Hutson - BU
56 - Skahan - BC
59 - Ziemer - UMN
65 - Pridham - BU
66 - Groenewold - QU
68 - Burrows - DU
71 - Humphreys - UM
74 - Veilleux - Harvard
75 - Van Vliet - MSU
79 - Henricks - SCSU
83 - Vaisanen - WMU
87 - Osburn - uw
90 - Pitner - DU
91 - Park - UM
92 - Reeder - DU
95 - Dodig - Merrimack
97 - Fisher - DU
98 - Morello - Clarkson
99 - Hughes - BU

6 - BU
5 - DU
3 - UM, BC, UND
2 - UMN, MSU, PC, SCSU, UMD

145 - Whipple
177 - Pahlsson
 






Looks like Whipple will play a year in the USHL. Good for him since his status relative to his peers has fallen massively since his commitment, but also not happy with Rud or Begley in that 7th D spot. You always prefer to dress 7 D in case one gets the boot, but Bob might not be able to with those two liabilities.
 

I suppose they'll bring in Yakesh who has aged out of juniors.
 

Just kidding, Yakesh is out.

So they've got only 14 forwards and 8 D of which two are Rud/Begley. Unless they make a move, it's again suboptimal roster management by Motzko not having enough players.
 



Just kidding, Yakesh is out.

So they've got only 14 forwards and 8 D of which two are Rud/Begley. Unless they make a move, it's again suboptimal roster management by Motzko not having enough players.
Idk who you’re thinking wants to come into that situation to dress as the 7th dman or push Gruba down to do that and stunt his growth?
Koster, Mittelstadt, Chesley, Thomas, Gruba, Rinzel is a very solid 6. I get you’d like to have a better 7th guy but it’s tough to get them to want to do that. Would’ve preferred fish stay for that role, but may have also been issues with scholarships to make it happen (and this is all with the assumption Whipple is playing juniors which seems likely).
 

Koster, Mittelstadt, Chesley, Thomas, Gruba, Rinzel is a very solid 6. I get you’d like to have a better 7th guy but it’s tough to get them to want to do that. Would’ve preferred fish stay for that role, but may have also been issues with scholarships to make it happen (and this is all with the assumption Whipple is playing juniors which seems likely).
+1

Personally, I think Begley is serviceable as a 7th if necessary.
 


Slukynsky would be huge but we're stuck with Souliere and Airey. Sure he'll end up NCHC...
 

And his brother could round out the forwards to a clean 15. Anyways...
 



mustve wanted to go somewhere they both feel they could walk in and start day 1. barto is currently their most experienced goalie rostered from what i can find online.
They have Cameron Rowe coming back who played basically every single game their last two seasons...
 

"Hampton said Western Michigan's NCHC schedule, which brings the brothers close to home, was a factor.

"We'll get to play at North Dakota, Duluth and St. Cloud most years," he said."

Benefits of the Big Ten and its lack of regional rivalries...
 

"Hampton said Western Michigan's NCHC schedule, which brings the brothers close to home, was a factor.

"We'll get to play at North Dakota, Duluth and St. Cloud most years," he said."

Benefits of the Big Ten and its lack of regional rivalries...
Shoot, I hope we can somehow find a way to recruit some good players despite being in the Big Ten.
 





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