All games are gonna have some lows and momentum lapses, happens to great teams all the time. The gophers played a solid game and did enough to win. Umass didn’t that’s the shit of it.
Clymer actually had the fucking balls to say that Chesley “blew a tire” instead of calling it like it was. Gutless, just like the asshole refs. This is going to be a long offseason. Fuck Hockey East and the NCAA.
Another Motzko team built for the regular season.
Unbelievable reffing that led to not one but two goals.
This is the result I expected from this team but what a massive disappointment they were in the second half. The Motko plan coughed up a national title in '23 and now again in '25 by forcing them to play in a way they suck at.
It's mind numbing how all these so-called NHL-caliber players just fold in the tournament. You can set your clock by it, and Motko has been the captain of many a ship when she hit the reef.
Fans waited 18 days to watch them blow a 3-1 going into the third. And it wasn't an 18-day layoff that hurt them. It was Quinnipiac part II.
UMass ain't goin' nowhere but they're one goal better than the Golden chokers.
Pissed off!#$@ and feeling bad for Snuggy who had two goals but half-heartedly covered the GWG scorer.
The refs non calling blatant penalties is one thing. But the Gophers don’t HAVE to immediately let in a goal, do they?
generally no but when one of your guys is still flat on his face from a goddamn fucking penalty and you're skating 5 on 4zzz
Coughing up the lead was self inflicted. They tried protecting a lead...again. Bob calls the shots.
This team has never been known to play that kind of game but damned if they weren't trying in the most important period of their season.
This. They didn’t lose because of the refs, who were pathetic, yes. Stay in their game and they win 99% of the time. Credit to UMass, who no doubt played some role in getting Minnesota off their game.
Clymer actually had the fucking balls to say that Chesley “blew a tire” instead of calling it like it was. Gutless, just like the asshole refs. This is going to be a long offseason. Fuck Hockey East and the NCAA.
Clymer was at least consistent in calling things out earlier. Think it gets a little harder to get excited when he’s supposed to be commenting on a game winner when you watch a guy get tripped and it immediately leads to an odd man rush the other way
Clymer actually had the fucking balls to say that Chesley “blew a tire” instead of calling it like it was. Gutless, just like the asshole refs. This is going to be a long offseason. Fuck Hockey East and the NCAA.
He also said that the groans from the crowd when Wood was tackled by a guy hanging on his arm were from UMass fans because WOOD was interfering with the tackler.
The guy is a damn joke, but at least he’s not Parrish. Wish we had better options.
Coughing up the lead was self inflicted. They tried protecting a lead...again. Bob calls the shots.
This team has never been known to play that kind of game but damned if they weren't trying in the most important period of their season.
This. They didn’t lose because of the refs, who were pathetic, yes. Stay in their game and they win 99% of the time. Credit to UMass, who no doubt played some role in getting Minnesota off their game.
I know we aren’t supposed to say we didn’t lose because of the refs. But at least 2 goals are DIRECTLY after missed calls. Thats as close as it can get to losing because of the refs.
Coughing up the lead was self inflicted. They tried protecting a lead...again. Bob calls the shots.
This team has never been known to play that kind of game but damned if they weren't trying in the most important period of their season.
This. They didn’t lose because of the refs, who were pathetic, yes. Stay in their game and they win 99% of the time. Credit to UMass, who no doubt played some role in getting Minnesota off their game.
I know we aren’t supposed to say we didn’t lose because of the refs. But at least 2 goals are DIRECTLY after missed calls. Thats as close as it can get to losing because of the refs.
Possibly 3 goals if you count them making us put in a new goalie.
Feel terrible for the players. Egregious officiating.
If that’s how my career ended, I don’t think I’d ever get over it
One and done is tough, Huglen injury was hard to overcome. Worst refs ever. We need a top end goalie next year. Last decent MN goalie we had was Wilcox.
Have a nice summer everyone! Go Gophers!
Coughing up the lead was self inflicted. They tried protecting a lead...again. Bob calls the shots.
This team has never been known to play that kind of game but damned if they weren't trying in the most important period of their season.
This. They didn’t lose because of the refs, who were pathetic, yes. Stay in their game and they win 99% of the time. Credit to UMass, who no doubt played some role in getting Minnesota off their game.
I know we aren’t supposed to say we didn’t lose because of the refs. But at least 2 goals are DIRECTLY after missed calls. Thats as close as it can get to losing because of the refs.
Possibly 3 goals if you count them making us put in a new goalie.
right??? Lik, this isn't a ticky tack judgment call. It's three absolutely critical plays
equipment rush I've never seen before in 23 years combined with a question on deflection on the icing
Two horrific non-calls
When I watch a game like that, I am reminded of the fact that I got fired over an intentional offsides call... In the 2nd period... Of a non-conference game... Yeah.
Oh it’s so icky man hahaha. What a shitty way to end the season
Ugh after the collapse in Tampa, to this…
Another Motzko team built for the regular season.
Unbelievable reffing that led to not one but two goals.
This is the result I expected from this team but what a massive disappointment they were in the second half. The Motko plan coughed up a national title in '23 and now again in '25 by forcing them to play in a way they suck at.
It's mind numbing how all these so-called NHL-caliber players just fold in the tournament. You can set your clock by it, and Motko has been the captain of many a ship when she hit the reef.
Fans waited 18 days to watch them blow a 3-1 going into the third. And it wasn't an 18-day layoff that hurt them. It was Quinnipiac part II.
UMass ain't goin' nowhere but they're one goal better than the Golden chokers.
Pissed off!#$@ and feeling bad for Snuggy who had two goals but half-heartedly covered the GWG scorer.
While I am not sure of its sourcing, according to stuff I have heard about Bob's approach is he is ONLY focused on the National title. That is why they struggle on 3-3 and shootouts because in the national tournament they don't play those OT rules (of course we don't seem to be prepared for the 5-5 OTs either).
You are not going to win them all, but what concerns me is that we are going to lose a significant level of talent and our recruiting classes in the upcoming years are not high end. Even more of a problem, I think our goaltending this year was below average and they are going to have to rely on the portal to come up with a starting level goaltender. It can be done, but it is significantly uncertain.
In a thread that was deleted, I asked people what Bob had to do to be safe in his job. That made a lot of people mad. There is a lot to like about Motzko and he has accomplished a lot. But so did Doug Wook and Don Lucia. And they should have been fired two years before they actually were because the program was taking steps back. I think we are potentially there today. I dont think they will fire him but I think they should figure out a way to move him up and hire a younger, more modern head coach.
Early on I was so hopeful this team had the right mix. They had talented forwards, older players in key positions, a veteran goalie, and some skilled freshmen. On paper, they were built for a deep run.
But they started losing me in the second half and instead of showing resilience like a veteran team, they crapped the bed in the playoffs for the umpteenth time.
Honestly, between the Motzko playoff two-step and refs who influence games, i need some time away from hockey and the Gophers. Between them and Michigan over the years, never have teams with so much done so little.
My father is an official. I’ve always tended to defend them. I’ll say they made a bad call but not point to them as a reason for a loss. But this game was beyond anything I’ve seen before. Two goals were off of chances created directly by missed calls. Immediately. Not thirty seconds later after they’ve held the zone, but immediately. Not to mention the BS they pulled on our goalies, which I’ve literally never seen.
Sheehy’s “hook” in the B1G tournament all those years ago is no longer seared into my memory as the pinnacle. This game is.
Another Motzko team built for the regular season.
Unbelievable reffing that led to not one but two goals.
This is the result I expected from this team but what a massive disappointment they were in the second half. The Motko plan coughed up a national title in '23 and now again in '25 by forcing them to play in a way they suck at.
It's mind numbing how all these so-called NHL-caliber players just fold in the tournament. You can set your clock by it, and Motko has been the captain of many a ship when she hit the reef.
Fans waited 18 days to watch them blow a 3-1 going into the third. And it wasn't an 18-day layoff that hurt them. It was Quinnipiac part II.
UMass ain't goin' nowhere but they're one goal better than the Golden chokers.
Pissed off!#$@ and feeling bad for Snuggy who had two goals but half-heartedly covered the GWG scorer.
While I am not sure of its sourcing, according to stuff I have heard about Bob's approach is he is ONLY focused on the National title. That is why they struggle on 3-3 and shootouts because in the national tournament they don't play those OT rules (of course we don't seem to be prepared for the 5-5 OTs either).
You are not going to win them all, but what concerns me is that we are going to lose a significant level of talent and our recruiting classes in the upcoming years are not high end. Even more of a problem, I think our goaltending this year was below average and they are going to have to rely on the portal to come up with a starting level goaltender. It can be done, but it is significantly uncertain.
In a thread that was deleted, I asked people what Bob had to do to be safe in his job. That made a lot of people mad. There is a lot to like about Motzko and he has accomplished a lot. But so did Doug Wook and Don Lucia. And they should have been fired two years before they actually were because the program was taking steps back. I think we are potentially there today. I dont think they will fire him but I think they should figure out a way to move him up and hire a younger, more modern head coach.
I have no goddamn idea how you look at souliere using any objective measure and say, "yeah. Below average"
My father is an official. I’ve always tended to defend them. I’ll say they made a bad call but not point to them as a reason for a loss. But this game was beyond anything I’ve seen before. Two goals were off of chances created directly by missed calls. Immediately. Not thirty seconds later after they’ve held the zone, but immediately. Not to mention the BS they pulled on our goalies, which I’ve literally never seen.
Sheehy’s “hook” in the B1G tournament all those years ago is no longer seared into my memory as the pinnacle. This game is.
in (many) years past I've been annoyed because you always are the voice of reason and say something like "<Minnesota team> did it to themselves."
for you to say "yeah, these guys were ass" is pretty crazy.
edit: the sheehy hook. Now im even more upset.
While I am not sure of its sourcing, according to stuff I have heard about Bob's approach is he is ONLY focused on the National title.
While that may be true, his efforts have come up short everywhere he's been. I dont want to pick on the guy, but if that's his self-proclaimed metric, he should be measured by it.
How's he doing?
yes clearly it’s not a question. The UMass fans online agree but it is what it is and now we get to watch at home
While I am not sure of its sourcing, according to stuff I have heard about Bob's approach is he is ONLY focused on the National title.
While that may be true, his efforts have come up short everywhere he's been. I dont want to pick on the guy, but if that's his self-proclaimed metric, he should be measured by it.
How's he doing?
im trying to imagine how hard I'd need to get kicked in the head by a horse to see conference titles in three out of four seasons and make the frozen four two of the last four seasons and think "deerrrrr we have a bad coach"
It looked to me that they started to play prevent defense once they had the lead. Or was that the team coasting? I’m sticking to my belief that Motzko teams start the season playing at their best and as the season goes on key players start to fall off. They look good compared to other teams early on then it evens out as teams develope. Being ranked top four all season doesn’t mean anything when you don’t get past a first round ncaa game. So if Bob retires does the U go straight to Grant Potulny?
I saw just the opening clip of Motzko at the press conference and he said it was one of the most enjoyable coaching years he's ever had because of this group of kids. I'm not sure how to feel about that since I think it's one of the more disappointing teams overall in recent memory to me. Sorry to see the season end like this, it's a long time til October.
yes clearly it’s not a question. The UMass fans online agree but it is what it is and now we get to watch at home
The refs failed to call several blatant penalties, but in particular after Chesley was hauled down, 3 Gopher players in neutral zone stopped skating & didn’t get back to contest 3 on 2 & resulting GWG.
It was a brutal non call…but the Gophers appeared so stunned they basically stopped playing then which resulted in the rush. You cant let a guy get a back hand pass across 2 defenders back door either. Incredibly tough end to the season, feel bad for the players.
My wife said it best. "We had one bad period of hockey in a great season where we get to hang a banner"
I don't know a shitty team who does that. This was a very good team and a very good year. And one bad period.
If that's what you call a bad season, man...
He's not a bad coach. He's a good recruiting coach who makes awful decisions in big games, such as '23 and now '25.While I am not sure of its sourcing, according to stuff I have heard about Bob's approach is he is ONLY focused on the National title.
While that may be true, his efforts have come up short everywhere he's been. I dont want to pick on the guy, but if that's his self-proclaimed metric, he should be measured by it.
How's he doing?
im trying to imagine how hard I'd need to get kicked in the head by a horse to see conference titles in three out of four seasons and make the frozen four two of the last four seasons and think "deerrrrr we have a bad coach"
He deserves criticism. He claimed they didn't change anything against Quinnipiac but Martin broke ranks when he admitted later it was a mistake for the team to play like that without ever really practicing. Tonight they tried it again.
When you start coaching like you're playing with house money, you just might not get the result you're hoping for.
Older deep team with a deep run written all over them turns into a first-round flame out. The arrow is pointing at the coach.
Wally's season ending call.
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
This season feels like it was a fun season and, on paper, a good season (conference co-champs, ranked top five all year, two hobey baker candidates, etc.) but at the same time a disappointing season. I’m just walking away feeling like we were left wanting more. Especially in second half and in particular tonight. Oh well, time to stay off of social media for a few days and enjoy the spring. See y’all in October 😔
My father is an official. I’ve always tended to defend them. I’ll say they made a bad call but not point to them as a reason for a loss. But this game was beyond anything I’ve seen before. Two goals were off of chances created directly by missed calls. Immediately. Not thirty seconds later after they’ve held the zone, but immediately. Not to mention the BS they pulled on our goalies, which I’ve literally never seen.
Sheehy’s “hook” in the B1G tournament all those years ago is no longer seared into my memory as the pinnacle. This game is.
I was at that game too. Aren’t refs supposed to be the last ones off the ice? Three ran and hid before the teams were finished and left one linesman to receive Bob’s ire. A lot of F words were involved.
Snuggy was the last one down the tunnel. His body language said it all.
I’m still not over 2023 but the wound was just ripped back open.
I need a drink or nine to help forget for a little while.
In the words of Motzko, that was fucking bullshit.
As I've said for my entire life: Officials who are paid to call the game that "don't want to decide the game" almost always do by not doing the job they are paid to do. It happened again tonight. Instead of 3-1 with a PP, it's 3-2. Two minutes later it is 3-3 because for the first time in my hockey-viewing life they forced a team to change goalies because of a minor equipment fix, and the game ends in OT as a direct result of a blatant penalty that they "didn't want to decide the game."
Absolutely inexcusable. None of those guys should be allowed to ref an NCAA game again.
The Gophers deserved better tonight.
The second half of the season was certainly frustrating and disappointing. But they deserved better tonight and they got jobbed by incompetent officials.
Multiple non calls from the East Coast Officials
Poor coaching strategy in the 3rd period
Bad luck with Clark accidentally tipping in UMASS 4th goal.
The Gophers were clearly the better team, but because of the three items above a slightly inferior team stole it.
Yeah that whole nonsense was super disappointing so I might check out for a bit
I know we’re ready to jump on the strategy thing here, but I didn’t see this the same as the 2023 title game. Meaning I could believe this time around the kids really did just sag a little and it wasn’t instructed. That sag combined with the unbelievable officiating spelled doom, with an emphasis on the officiating.
Imagine with 12 and a half minutes left being up 3-1 going to the power play. What if they don’t eff up the icing call and play continues, and eventually Souliere can get a new lace without any issue? Monster impacts on the game there.
Some will say “Hey you just gotta play through it!”
They did! They kept clawing back I the possession game and kept having trips and holds go uncalled against them.
I think that’s what has me the most irritated. They did respond and push back. Didn’t matter, though. Officials don’t want to decide a game so they invariably end up deciding it for the worse team. Tale as old as time.
Not a fan of our fans throwing stuff on the ice after the game. I know the refs sucked, but not the way to handle it. It makes the WHOLE Minnesota fanbase look bad.
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
I agree with most of this but Snuggy had a good game, the problem like you mentioned was the defensive shell, the bad calls on the second goal (and final) where the refs trolled, and the overall talent level of the team just not being enough to overcome all of this. I think if wood didn’t take a penalty on that early 5v3 they probably would’ve went go up 1 without having it tied up either, that was also unfortunate. The equipment issue with the goalies was mind boggling too, idk what to even make of that.Another Motzko team built for the regular season.
Unbelievable reffing that led to not one but two goals.
This is the result I expected from this team but what a massive disappointment they were in the second half. The Motko plan coughed up a national title in '23 and now again in '25 by forcing them to play in a way they suck at.
It's mind numbing how all these so-called NHL-caliber players just fold in the tournament. You can set your clock by it, and Motko has been the captain of many a ship when she hit the reef.
Fans waited 18 days to watch them blow a 3-1 going into the third. And it wasn't an 18-day layoff that hurt them. It was Quinnipiac part II.
UMass ain't goin' nowhere but they're one goal better than the Golden chokers.
Pissed off!#$@ and feeling bad for Snuggy who had two goals but half-heartedly covered the GWG scorer.
I like Motzko but this year heats up the hot seat imo and idk what to expect out of the next year or two with this recruiting. This team needs to get better as the game goes on, not play their best hockey early and just shit the bed late game. Idk if that’s conditioning, coaching, talent or what have you but that’s obviously not ideal and it’s happened more than once this year and other years.
I don't know how anyone could refer to this as a disappointing season. It was a disappointing ending by giving away the game in the 3rd, but overall I really enjoyed watching this team play and it was a top notch group of men representing the M.
Yeah… there’s a reason I stopped reffing in the prime of my life lol. There’s a dude I played with back in the day who was a below average house league player in youth with subpar skating and he’s now doing high level USA hockey national level officiating 😆 . I realize there’s different ref orgs and leagues/levels etc. but it always seemed like a lot of them focused on all of the wrong things, ie sucking up to the right people was more important than anything.When I watch a game like that, I am reminded of the fact that I got fired over an intentional offsides call... In the 2nd period... Of a non-conference game... Yeah.
I never know what to say at the end of the season. I’m sad the season is done. I’m sad I don’t get to watch this team play again until October. I’m mad at the way it ended. I’m mad we can never win the last game. I wonder why I let it get to me so much, but if I didn’t, what’s the point in watching?
The sag or let ups that I remember were because of shock and disbelief there wasn’t a ref holding his arm up or blowing a whistle and then having to pick themselves back up mentally. How do you wanna practice that or involve that somehow in a locker room as a coach to prepare for it? Tell them to just expect it and move on? I don’t think the foot was off the gas even close to how it was in ‘23 but whatever it’s done. I feel bad for the whole team.
With how goal scoring has shot up in the past half decade in hockey, to go into a defensive mindset for an entire period, is a recipe for disaster. Two goal leads mean absolutely nothing nowadays. Thank you Koster and Nevers for all the years they put into this program. Also shout out to Snuggy. He came back to play his best hockey in March and April. That's exactly what Snuggy did last night. I'm in complete disbelief at the officiating. Got a big pit in my stomach this morning. I can't begin to imagine what it's like to be a player right now.
Hard not to look at officiating as a main reason for the outcome last night. Anyone wanna look up the rule book and get an official explanation on the equipment malfunction situation?