Gophers In The Pros

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Projected Team USA 4 Nations roster
UMN: 1 (Faber)

4: BU, Michigan
3: BC
1: UNO, UND, Harvard, CC, UMassLowell, Maine

Meh, go Brock. Not as interesting when Gophers are just another team in the mix and not a leading contributor.
 


Cooley has more points per game than Bedard. God that 2023 choke will forever sting more and more.
 

bonin21 said:
Cooley has more points per game than Bedard. God that 2023 choke will forever sting more and more.
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To be fair that loss stings for vastly more reasons than the points Cooley has playing for a much better team with an infinitely more offensive friendly roster for him
 

upnorthkid said:
To be fair that loss stings for vastly more reasons than the points Cooley has playing for a much better team with an infinitely more offensive friendly roster for him
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I know. It stings because it was the best Gopher roster of the last 40 years and also the coaching staff made zero adjustments to prevent choking away the lead. It was the single worst sporting moment I can remember in my life, even worse than 1998 Vikings.
 


bonin21 said:
I know. It stings because it was the best Gopher roster of the last 40 years and also the coaching staff made zero adjustments to prevent choking away the lead. It was the single worst sporting moment I can remember in my life, even worse than 1998 Vikings.
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I was there in the rink and yeah it was a collective crushing for the majority of the arena. Horrible feeling
 


bonin21 said:
I know. It stings because it was the best Gopher roster of the last 40 years and also the coaching staff made zero adjustments to prevent choking away the lead. It was the single worst sporting moment I can remember in my life, even worse than 1998 Vikings.
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1989 loss to Harvard was every bit as devastating. I was there and it still sucks every time I think about it.
 

We didn’t lose in dramatic fashion like 1989 or 2023 but 2014 that team absolutely should have handled Union. I’d also argue we were the best team in the country in 2006 and 2013, and arguably 2007.

Oh well, our time will come.
 



Gophers1992 said:
We didn’t lose in dramatic fashion like 1989 or 2023 but 2014 that team absolutely should have handled Union. I’d also argue we were the best team in the country in 2006 and 2013, and arguably 2007.

Oh well, our time will come.
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Union was good. 2023 Gophers were much better than 2014 Gophers. In the arena it didn't really feel like the Gophers were in the 2014 game long after barely sneaking by UND.

2023 hurt 10x more than 2014 in person.

Just look at what they're all doing in the NHL
 
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I've always felt that currently, and realistically, the three Gopher teams with a real chance of NCAA championships are men's and women's hockey, and volleyball. I hold those teams to a higher standard. It really frustrates me that our hockey teams don't do better. I mean, we are the "State of Hockey" right?
 

Yes 21 years is unacceptable and the women's program is now a step below uw and OSU.
 

I mean yeah we all want a title but realistically the randomness of a one and done tournament makes a difference. We’ve been in the mix more often than not under Bob and just need things to fall our way once.
 



There is no such thing as randomness in competitive sports. There is parity, sure. But excellent coaching and preparation can make a difference when margins are tight. Or a single player (usually a goalie). Randomness would indicate the idea of luck which isn't actually what wins titles.
 

bonin21 said:
There is no such thing as randomness in competitive sports. There is parity, sure. But excellent coaching and preparation can make a difference when margins are tight. Or a single player (usually a goalie). Randomness would indicate the idea of luck which isn't actually what wins titles.
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Ok call it whatever you want but obviously it’s quite common that the best team doesn’t win the title. And of course luck is a thing too.
 

bonin21 said:
There is no such thing as randomness in competitive sports. There is parity, sure. But excellent coaching and preparation can make a difference when margins are tight. Or a single player (usually a goalie). Randomness would indicate the idea of luck which isn't actually what wins titles.
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BS. Good fortune plays a huge role. We have all seen those quotes like, " the harder I work, the luckier i get." And that's true. Not saying that luck is nearly as important as talent, preparation, etc. But it does play a role. The better you are, the better chance you have that things will go your way. But to win a Natty you absolutely need to have some good fortune.
 
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Crosby said:
BS. Good fortune plays a huge role. We have all seen those quicks like, " the harder I work, the luckier i get." And that's true. Not saying that luck is nearly as important as talented, preparation, etc. But it does play a role. The better you are, the better chance you have tgat things will go your way. But to win a Natty you absolutely need to have some good fortune.
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100% spot on. for example, they take cooley as part of matching minors (which certainly could've been the way it was called and 0 people would've batted an eye) and maybe the game isn't even a discussion. the puck doesn't go on edge on Snuggy on the yawning net so he snaps it way high and wide? Same discussion.
Next year. BC hits the yawning cage to start the game off a weird carom rather than the post? Denver hits the post and it bounces off and hits Fowler in the back of the shoulder and then goes in. dont forget the empty net save davis made diving across and leonard raised the puck and hit him the glove (versus sliding it on the ice and it's in). sports are full of randomness and good fortune. it's just how it goes.
 

upnorthkid said:
100% spot on. for example, they take cooley as part of matching minors (which certainly could've been the way it was called and 0 people would've batted an eye) and maybe the game isn't even a discussion. the puck doesn't go on edge on Snuggy on the yawning net so he snaps it way high and wide? Same discussion.
Next year. BC hits the yawning cage to start the game off a weird carom rather than the post? Denver hits the post and it bounces off and hits Fowler in the back of the shoulder and then goes in. dont forget the empty net save davis made diving across and leonard raised the puck and hit him the glove (versus sliding it on the ice and it's in). sports are full of randomness and good fortune. it's just how it goes.
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Yep, nobody has to apologize for winning a title, but if the title game was a 7 game series, BC wins in 2024, we win in 2023, etc.
 

None of that sounds random to me. Sounds like effort/skill (like making saves) and physics (weird bounces). And for the Gophers the Cooley penalty shouldn't have been a factor if they didn't go into a complete shell well before that.

There is no such thing as luck.
 

bonin21 said:
None of that sounds random to me. Sounds like effort/skill (like making saves) and physics (weird bounces). And for the Gophers the Cooley penalty shouldn't have been a factor if they didn't go into a complete shell well before that.

There is no such thing as luck.
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Randomness defined:
the quality or state of lacking a pattern or principle of organization; unpredictability.

Naturally a one and done tournament is going to lack a pattern and be less predictable than a full season or a 7 game series. I know you're an intelligent guy and capable of understanding these concepts, so top being intentionally dense.
 

bonin21 said:
None of that sounds random to me. Sounds like effort/skill (like making saves) and physics (weird bounces). And for the Gophers the Cooley penalty shouldn't have been a factor if they didn't go into a complete shell well before that.

There is no such thing as luck.
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in an N of 1 situation, randomness is luck. if a play happens 100 times (ringing the boards) and 1/100 times it hits the stanchion and comes on net, but that play happens to you to lose the game in overtime, that's bad luck. it happened because physics exist, but despite having all the skill in the world and unpredictable event occurred.

The same can be said to a ref making that call versus deciding nope that time it wasn't obstruction, the puck jumping on edge, it hitting a random rut in the ice, etc.

Things happen in games. Blaming luck in a 7 game series or a game you're not competitive in is silly, but if it comes down to one play at some random point, luck absolutely can play a role. sometimes you get the breaks in your favor, sometimes you don't. that's why a one and done hockey tournament isn't going to crown the best team every single year. it's fine that you can keep doubling down on this horrible take, but all the rest of us will agree that it's a horrible take.
 

upnorthkid said:
in an N of 1 situation, randomness is luck. if a play happens 100 times (ringing the boards) and 1/100 times it hits the stanchion and comes on net, but that play happens to you to lose the game in overtime, that's bad luck. it happened because physics exist, but despite having all the skill in the world and unpredictable event occurred.

The same can be said to a ref making that call versus deciding nope that time it wasn't obstruction, the puck jumping on edge, it hitting a random rut in the ice, etc.

Things happen in games. Blaming luck in a 7 game series or a game you're not competitive in is silly, but if it comes down to one play at some random point, luck absolutely can play a role. sometimes you get the breaks in your favor, sometimes you don't. that's why a one and done hockey tournament isn't going to crown the best team every single year. it's fine that you can keep doubling down on this horrible take, but all the rest of us will agree that it's a horrible take.
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Maybe stated another way. I can't think of a season the Gophers didn't win the title since their last title where they failed to win it because of bad luck. And being at both of the games, they absolutely did not lose 2014 nor 2023 due to bad luck. In 2014 they got their asses kicked and in 2023 they blew it.

I can see the weird bounce thing being called "lucky". If that's what it takes for the Gophers to win one this year and it happens, I for one will never refer to the championship as a lucky one. The same way no fan of a team that won any title will ever do so while opponent fans would. That's the disconnect. When you're on the positive side, it's not "luck" but when you're on the other, it is.
 

bonin21 said:
Maybe stated another way. I can't think of a season the Gophers didn't win the title since their last title where they failed to win it because of bad luck. And being at both of the games, they absolutely did not lose 2014 nor 2023 due to bad luck. In 2014 they got their asses kicked and in 2023 they blew it.

I can see the weird bounce thing being called "lucky". If that's what it takes for the Gophers to win one this year and it happens, I for one will never refer to the championship as a lucky one. The same way no fan of a team that won any title will ever do so while opponent fans would. That's the disconnect. When you're on the positive side, it's not "luck" but when you're on the other, it is.
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I don't think anyone is claiming that luck drives everything, but in a game with a slim margin of error, luck and randomness, and frankly officiating are not insignificant in a one and done scenario.
More often than not, the goaltender from Maine is going to stop that shot from Matt Koalska, but this one time it worked out. Adam Hauser could have had a penalty called on him late in that third period, but it didn't get called. Who knows what type of difference those could make. Justen Close typically makes a save on that second Quinnipiac goal, but he didn't in that scenario. Call it luck, random, whatever you want, but you'd be a fool to admit that quite often the best team doesn't win in a single elimination tournament.

Doesn't mean you can't be disappointed - I think we're all frustrated to have a 20+ year title drought, but personally I'm not going to act like the entire program is a failure because of it. And for the purposes of being objective, I wouldn't claim that UMass or Quinnipiac are on the same level of UND over the last 20 years despite having the same number of national titles in that span. Unless you want to claim that the whole Dave Hakstol era was meaningless in Grand Forks, which again would be silly.
 

Gophers1992 said:
I don't think anyone is claiming that luck drives everything, but in a game with a slim margin of error, luck and randomness, and frankly officiating are not insignificant in a one and done scenario.
More often than not, the goaltender from Maine is going to stop that shot from Matt Koalska, but this one time it worked out. Adam Hauser could have had a penalty called on him late in that third period, but it didn't get called. Who knows what type of difference those could make. Justen Close typically makes a save on that second Quinnipiac goal, but he didn't in that scenario. Call it luck, random, whatever you want, but you'd be a fool to admit that quite often the best team doesn't win in a single elimination tournament.

Doesn't mean you can't be disappointed - I think we're all frustrated to have a 20+ year title drought, but personally I'm not going to act like the entire program is a failure because of it. And for the purposes of being objective, I wouldn't claim that UMass or Quinnipiac are on the same level of UND over the last 20 years despite having the same number of national titles in that span. Unless you want to claim that the whole Dave Hakstol era was meaningless in Grand Forks, which again would be silly.
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I think I wrote it up at some point but one title is worth like 25 or more like 50 regular season titles to me at this point. YMMV for other people.

With that, I really hope the Gophers make the FF and I really hope if that happens Gopher fans drive/fly down and take it over even more than they took over Tampa.
 

bonin21 said:
I think I wrote it up at some point but one title is worth like 25 or more like 50 regular season titles to me at this point. YMMV for other people.

With that, I really hope the Gophers make the FF and I really hope if that happens Gopher fans drive/fly down and take it over even more than they took over Tampa.
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I would suspect there will be no shortage of gopher fans. MN and UND are the best traveling fan bases bar none. Tampa was a hell of a good time until the final second. Fan base is way too hungry for one so I’d envision they’ll be there if the Gophs can do their part even if stl isn’t as great a destination as Tampa
 

upnorthkid said:
I would suspect there will be no shortage of gopher fans. MN and UND are the best traveling fan bases bar none. Tampa was a hell of a good time until the final second. Fan base is way too hungry for one so I’d envision they’ll be there if the Gophs can do their part even if stl isn’t as great a destination as Tampa
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Michigan Tech’s fan base says “ Hold my beer.”
 

Outsider said:
Michigan Tech’s fan base says “ Hold my beer.”
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*Best traveling fan bases that might actually make the FF

I agree, as long as UND doesn't also make it, if the Gophers make it we should have a big share of the arena.

I would argue that Mankato has a wild and big fanbase that could also make the drive down if they make it. And Michigan State isn't that far but I don't think they'll travel that well.

Regardless, if the Gophers make it we need people make the trip to help the team with the little difference that a home ice advantage can feel like.
 

Outsider said:
Michigan Tech’s fan base says “ Hold my beer.”
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they did travel super well last year and were very fun to see in action. if they made it yeah I'd guess they'd have a pretty good contingent, however i'm going to take the gophers and their larger fan base travelling in better total numbers to a FF.
 

bonin21 said:
*Best traveling fan bases that might actually make the FF

I agree, as long as UND doesn't also make it, if the Gophers make it we should have a big share of the arena.

I would argue that Mankato has a wild and big fanbase that could also make the drive down if they make it. And Michigan State isn't that far but I don't think they'll travel that well.

Regardless, if the Gophers make it we need people make the trip to help the team with the little difference that a home ice advantage can feel like.
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i mean if its those 2, those 2 fanbases will be most of the rink and it will be an awesome crowd/a ton of fun (and STL may run out of beer even with the local manufacturing).

Them having the Fargo regional once again makes it as the one region I don't want to end up in though I'll be 0% surprised if so. All the more reason you want to get the 1 seed to protect bracket integrity and get yourself the AHA first round game. We'll see how far they extend that this year with the CCHA having one bubble team as of now (Mankato) and the ECAC having no one in the field and if they protect those matchups as well. Obviously none of this matters if UND goes on a second half heater and gets up to a 2 seed. Joys of the season in getting to start watching the PWR a little more (though still very very early). Part of why this weekend and 2nd half is really big for MN as OSU, MSU and MI are all road series and you get relative RPI bonus for road wins, which we don't have much for "good" (ie high RPI QWB wins) road wins so far
 

Watching what they're doing in the NHL... JFC the 22-23 team was the best Gopher team ever assembled, not just last 40 years. :mad:
 

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