Gopher Hockey Season Thread 25-26

[upnorthkid]

Thought I'd get this started as we get closer to the new year.

Proposal from the coaches to be voted on to condense BTT to 2 weeks (about damn time) by the ADs. Will be interested to see how they elect to do so if they shorten things and if this means a move back to neutral site vs hosted by the 1 seed? Regardless, the being spread over 3 weekends was stupid on so many levels. Would expect this will have unanimous support.

 

[bonin21]

Neutral site is not an improvement.

I think they'd sacrifice semifinal attendance. Semis on Wednesday or Thursday at the higher seed. Even with that it'll be a scramble to organize both the semis and final hosting.

 

[upnorthkid]

Neutral site is not an improvement.

I think they'd sacrifice semifinal attendance. Semis on Wednesday or Thursday at the higher seed. Even with that it'll be a scramble to organize both the semis and final hosting.

Not an improvement for atmosphere I agree (the BT fan bases aren’t probably going to travel super well for this unless it’s on a back to back set of nights). Much better regardless from a prep for postseason standing and how you manage your schedule through the year

Agree on how you figure out hosts if doing on campus, esp as you may not know until late.

Think the trouble of same weekend if you're going semis and finals each hosted separately is that you may have some rough travel (like if a team has to go to PSU then turn around and play MN in the final).

Agree you could maybe do something like (all hosted at home institutions or whatever rink they choose)
Fri, Sat, Sun
2v7 BO3
3v6 BO3
4v5 BO3

Wed
At highest remaining seed
1v4
2v3

Sun
title game

Maintains some atmosphere, longest you're off prior to postseason is 2 weeks

Alternatively, 1st round the same and then Fri/Sun at 1 seed is fine (let's them set up logistics given they're off first week) and let's people plan for just one trip if they want to attend. Regardless, think you should put it at a home site as the atmosphere is just so much better than even the final five that's turned into a clunker unless UND is there.

 

[Gophers1992]

Not sure which thread to put this in but I attended the WJC Summer Showcase featuring 6 current or future gophers. Some quick takeaways.

Ziemer was one of the best players on the ice in his game. Makes sense as one of the older guys out there. I'm really optimistic about a big year from him.

Mooney definitely stood out with his skill level. Had a beautiful goal and assist. Can really shoot the puck. Made a couple bad mistakes trying to make fancy passes. Think he will be an impact freshman.

Rombach is enormous. His play didn't necessarily stand out good or bad, but he looked like a solid stay at home D Man. Could see him taking some lumps early on but being a good player by the second half.

Whipple was up and down. A few bad mistakes but also looked really impressive at times. Will need him to take on a big role this year.

Kvasnicka plays hard and has some speed - not sure he will be a superstar but a solid 4 year guy.

Moe - similar to Kvasnicka, high energy guy maybe lacking high end skill. Took a dumb penalty but otherwise plays a nice 200 foot game.

 

[bonin21]

Ryker Lee and Vansaghi, both MSU were all over the ice in game 1. Overall it was definitely summer hockey though. Hagens looked half interested considering he's a lock for the team.

Unfortunately had to leave for game 2 so missed Mooney, but saw most of the stars sat that game out anyway.

 

[Gophers1992]

If I had to project I'd say Ziemer is a lock, Mooney on the bubble about 50/50, Rombach and Whipple each unlikely, maybe an outside shot for Whipple. Moe and Kvasnicka almost certainly won't make it.

 

[bonin21]

I'm just not that pumped about the Big Ten Tournament format updates. Feel like there could be more creative ways to do it.

Last weekend of regular season is now Thursday/Friday - You'll have Thursday attendance hit
First round on Wednesday, only one game - Much more likely for the better team to lose one game than a best of three at home

If you lose on Wed, you still play one game in 18 or 19 days before the tournament.

 

[upnorthkid]

I'm just not that pumped about the Big Ten Tournament format updates. Feel like there could be more creative ways to do it.

Last weekend of regular season is now Thursday/Friday - You'll have Thursday attendance hit
First round on Wednesday, only one game - Much more likely for the better team to lose one game than a best of three at home

If you lose on Wed, you still play one game in 18 or 19 days before the tournament.

i'm not real worried about the whole thurs/fri the last week of the season. Really don't love the making the 1st round best of 1 though get it from logistics. Seems like it addressed some issues but not really all. does make it though if you don't drop your QF game you will be closer to it than the prior 2 weeks off if you lost in the semis before. Now the SF are 1 week out from the NCAA tournament which is a good change

 

[bonin21]

i'm not real worried about the whole thurs/fri the last week of the season. Really don't love the making the 1st round best of 1 though get it from logistics. Seems like it addressed some issues but not really all. does make it though if you don't drop your QF game you will be closer to it than the prior 2 weeks off if you lost in the semis before. Now the SF are 1 week out from the NCAA tournament which is a good change

What? The SF is still the same distance out.

2024-25 Gophers:
Lost in Game 3 of first round
Played on Thursday in NCAA
No games in 17 days
One game in 18 days

2025-26 format if you lose in first round
One game in 19 days or in 20 days before tournament

It's no real improvement and now more risky that you lose in the first round.

 

[upnorthkid]

What? The SF is still the same distance out.

2024-25 Gophers:
Lost in Game 3 of first round
Played on Thursday in NCAA
No games in 17 days
One game in 18 days

2025-26 format if you lose in first round
One game in 19 days or in 20 days before tournament

It's no real improvement and now more risky that you lose in the first round.

yeah misread. thought SF was midweek (the 17th, not 14th). agree this is a silly change that doesn't do much for me other than now it limits number of postseason games slightly. Guess it gives you another mid season bye week. Must've been selling point for coaches.

 

[vonner]

I'm just not that pumped about the Big Ten Tournament format updates. Feel like there could be more creative ways to do it.

So how would you do it? Not offering an alternate solution feels like just complaining for complaining sake.

 

[bonin21]

So how would you do it? Not offering an alternate solution feels like just complaining for complaining sake.

Last weekend of regular season: Fri/Sat
First weekend of conf tourney: best of three thurs/fri/sat or fri/sat/sun
Semi: Wednesday
Final: Saturday or Sunday

Sacrifice attendance for Semis at two campuses for more butts through the doors of a three game first round weekend instead of one mid week game at 3 different campuses

The kids can play that much hockey no problem.

So ya, way better solution was easy.

 

[upnorthkid]

Last weekend of regular season: Fri/Sat
First weekend of conf tourney: best of three thurs/fri/sat or fri/sat/sun
Semi: Wednesday
Final: Saturday or Sunday

Sacrifice attendance for Semis at two campuses for more butts through the doors of a three game first round weekend instead of one mid week game at 3 different campuses

The kids can play that much hockey no problem.

So ya, way better solution was easy.

This would also be my preference

 

[TNGophfan]

Last weekend of regular season: Fri/Sat
First weekend of conf tourney: best of three thurs/fri/sat or fri/sat/sun
Semi: Wednesday
Final: Saturday or Sunday

Sacrifice attendance for Semis at two campuses for more butts through the doors of a three game first round weekend instead of one mid week game at 3 different campuses

The kids can play that much hockey no problem.

So ya, way better solution was easy.

The only change I would make to yours is semis on Thursday.

 

[bonin21]

The only change I would make to yours is semis on Thursday.

They'd want that extra day to sell tickets, but ya, look at us coming up with solutions fans actually want.

The excuse is probably the schools without a dedicated arena can't plan stuff like that. Too bad for them. If you can't find an arena to host in, the game is held at the other team.