If I thought anyone actually cared about U Mass hockey I would wonder if the refs had been paid off.
I heard the stripes left the ice before the teams finished shaking hands, leaving a lone linesmen to take the heat. What were the officials afraid of… getting verbally chastised.
I’m for the stripes tightening up the calls in OT, but not that blatant and tight. I’ve said before if it’s blatant and leads to a scoring chance or prevents a scoring chance to call it.
This is also why I’ve said before, maybe officials in sports should have a post game news conference to answer questions.
Keep your stick on the ice...
Immediately after the goal… I thought Notre Dame in 2019. Stripes miss a call and immediately led Notre Dame down the ice to score in OT.
Did anyone else think of this or have this feeling?!?!?!
Keep your stick on the ice...
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.
It’s tough. You’ve grown up playing and seen that be called a penalty 99/100 times. Your brain is innately ready for the call and not looking for your man on a possible transition play as you’re waiting for the whistle.
it’s the part of the couple no calls is the one on mittelstadt leads directly to a goal and this one you knew would lead to an odd man the other way. Chesley gets dumped as a solo guy in the offensive zone, fine I get it. Neutral zone clutching away from the puck ala Mankato, sure. These ones are just head scratchers to me because they entirely alter the complexion of the play and where it’s heading:
and if someone wants to argue ECAC refs won’t call it in ot, the qu Cornell game had qu lose in ot giving up a pp goal. Guys become morons officiating in the postseason and it ruins games for players, coaches and fans. There Are inevitably a couple every year and the gophers got bit this year. Both teams should’ve had multiple extra penalties last night and oddly enough I’d rather watch actual skill rather than takedowns and clutch and grab every single day of the week
Ooof. Stayed up to watch that shit show and just got to work to go through this thread. I really can't more than what others did but here is my 10,000 mile view.
- This game was the second best game played in Fargo yesterday. I thought the Gophers and Minnymen looked disjointed early, predictable, and really only had moments of looking good the rest of the game.
- How many passes did the Gophers fumble in the neutral zone? Our breakouts were shit, half because we couldn't pass and other I will give to the UMass forecheck.
- The game is played on ice...it's slippery but good lord.
- The game could have much worse if it weren't for Souly in goal.
- That last goal...watch Snuggy, he was still waiting for the refs to make the right call and didn't defend his guy...game over.
- The refs. Nothing to add. I get it, it's playoff hockey but the blatant non calls were so egregious it's not even funny.
This was a heck of a season but the way this team folded this past month is/was a crying shame. We have the players and the coaches to make a run. I wish we had Huglen for this game because we needed his presence on the ice. The season is done and now I can just watch playoff hockey with no expectations or stress. I'm looking forward to next year already. Go Gophers!
I am the official Iowa Hawkeye football fan of GPL!
- The refs. Nothing to add. I get it, it's playoff hockey but the blatant non calls were so egregious it's not even funny.
Again^^^ this^^^
What if UMASS didn't score on that final rush. The stripes would've set a major precedent that nothing was going to be called. And we'll never know. Just blatancy of it, is what's gut pouncing.
Keep your stick on the ice...
USCHO write up is pretty blunt, where typically they give a little more grace
Hard for me to be shocked by the result, but I have seen a lot in 35 years of watching this team...
Overall, the Gophers were a different team the second half of the season. They were 13-2-1-2 (using W-L-OTW-OTL)in the first half and 10-5-0-5 the second - essentially .500 since the first of the year. Yeah, I get that SO losses don't count the same as an actual loss or OT loss, but it certainly feels the same. I get there were injuries and all that, but a team with depth should be able to overcome some of that.
As for last night's game itself, yes the reffing was bad, but it was about the same as the WMU/MSU-M game as far as non-calls go. I also have NEVER seen a goalie not be able to make an equipment repair in a game. The goal that followed was certainly not Airey's fault, but throwing someone in there cold like that is absolute BS. And, the non-call in OT was a complete joke. However, none of those things cost the team the game.
There is no excuse to change your playing strategy just because you have a 2 goal lead. Why they stopped putting the foot on the gas is beyond comprehension. They were clearly the better team for the first 40 minutes and then gave it all away, thus putting themselves in the position to have to play an OT period and risk getting a non-call that would lead to the game winner.
My biggest frustration with this year's team is that I can only think of about 5-6 games where they played 3 completely solid periods of quality hockey. When you play 40 games, and want to play 43, playing a handful of games for all 60 minutes isn't going to cut it. As the late Gene Hackman said in "The Replacement," you need to have heart. Miles and miles of heart. This team never had that this year.
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...
Did your wife watch the last 3 months? One bad period??
Immediately after the goal… I thought Notre Dame in 2019. Stripes miss a call and immediately led Notre Dame down the ice to score in OT.
Did anyone else think of this or have this feeling?!?!?!
I actually thought of the Soviet’s scoring right after the no slash call on team USA 1980
Watching this team is like listening to some screeching new age song my daughter likes on repeat. You’re going to be annoyed and tired of the outcome every time.
I get the ref hate. But, and I love Bob, how many times does Bob have to lose big games when up two goals (across SCSU and UMN) because he gives up attacking in the 3rd instead of playing to his team’s strengths and working for the dagger goal? UMass was playing 5 Dmen. We had a chance to take advantage in the third and use our speed against their fatigue. But we, once again, turtled.
You don’t fire a coach who gets you into the tournament 5 years in a row and has two championship appearances in the past 4 years, but do something different. Learn. Grow.
This team after the break faded faster than my grill cover in the blazing summer sun. I can only hope we’re now on schedule. 23 years ago MN lost in the first game to Maine. It motivated a team to win their first title in 23 years the next year. Here’s hoping we play UMass in the title game in Vegas 2026.
Also, man does the West just suck this year. Gross.
Put another way, when the refs refuse to call the rulebook--especially objectively obvious infractions that turn the puck over or create scoring chances--they allow the other team to cheat.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.
@camo-coat-guy I thought of Randy Skarda hitting the post and Harvard going the other direction with the puck....well, we know how that ended.
Hard work will beat talent, if talent doesn't work hard.
Put another way, when the refs refuse to call the rulebook--especially objectively obvious infractions that turn the puck over or create scoring chances--they allow the other team to cheat.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.
eh I don’t blame UMass at all. They’re just playing the game. It slants the game to one team generally (and we’ve gotten benefit of some of those calls as well such as against Duluth in the past) but I don’t think he intentionally trips Chesley rather that he’s just trying to make a play.
Well the sun came up this morning.
Dammit.
😉
“When your best friend is the son of God, you get tired of losing every argument.”
― Christopher Moore, Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
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Put another way, when the refs refuse to call the rulebook--especially objectively obvious infractions that turn the puck over or create scoring chances--they allow the other team to cheat.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.
eh I don’t blame UMass at all. They’re just playing the game. It slants the game to one team generally (and we’ve gotten benefit of some of those calls as well such as against Duluth in the past) but I don’t think he intentionally trips Chesley rather that he’s just trying to make a play.
I think the point is intent doesn't matter. Effectively it's allowing the other team to commit infractions without penalty
Bob said he didn’t change anything in the 3rd and the UMass coach said he didn’t see a different style from the gophers in the 3rd, but, some will stay adamant that Bob told the players in the second intermission to sit back and go into a shell. Maybe a good UMass team found their game and played well in the 3rd?
Can’t help to feel this was a wasted year. This team had the ingredients to be special. Players have to “wear” this one too. Same mistakes kept being made the entire second half of the season. That ain’t coaching.
I’d be fine if a coaching change were made. Not for the reasons that many on social media want it for. But for the simple fact that after 7 years a fresh perspective on things wouldn’t be a bad thing. Especially in today’s modern athletics. Bob’s going to call his shot on that though and retire when he wants to.
Yeah, the 2023 ending still stings for me especially being in person there and the talent on the team.
The no call sucks, but the whole goalie thing was baffling. Like no explanation or time to warm up. Souliere was gone for like 5 minutes?
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.
I thought it was pretty obvious they went into a protect structure. Starting the third, UMass took chances holding in pucks while Minnesota laid off the forecheck, favoring the off wing circling back into the neutral zone. I remember seeing Lamb do that and thought "oh, oh."
The parallel to me is that in Tampa Q came out playing like a team that had something to lose. Instead of smashing them in the teeth, Minnesota went into protect mode. Last night, UMass came out the same way and Minnesota obliged. I think much of that is coaching. At the very least, in both cases Motzko couldn't get his team back again...they let the fire burn out.
Are we going to lose this game because the goalie had to shit?
I had to go back for this one, thank you! It’s the only thing that’s made me laugh in the last 9 hours.😂
I’d like to know what/how the refs feel about having made huge no calls that drastically influenced an outcome of a game. Do they know that they suck at reffing? Do they look at themselves in the mirror and say, I called a great game? I see they weren’t men enough to stay on the ice. Side note, I have never seen ref’s get in the way of the game play like they did last night. Stopping clearing efforts, actually skating themselves into players with the puck. I hope they all stubbed their pinky toes before getting into bed! They weren’t the only reason why the Gophers lost, but a major contributor. Sorry for lashing out at the refs I don’t like to do that. But I am in a hurt place right now.
Yeah, the 2023 ending still stings for me especially being in person there and the talent on the team.
Gopher Hockey (2023) and Vikings (1998) will always sting for me.
Keep your stick on the ice...
I’d like to know what/how the refs feel about having made huge no calls that drastically influenced an outcome of a game. Do they know that they suck at reffing? Do they look at themselves in the mirror and say, I called a great game? I see they weren’t men enough to stay on the ice. Side note, I have never seen ref’s get in the way of the game play like they did last night. Stopping clearing efforts, actually skating themselves into players with the puck. I hope they all stubbed their pinky toes before getting into bed! They weren’t the only reason why the Gophers lost, but a major contributor. Sorry for lashing out at the refs I don’t like to do that. But I am in a hurt place right now.
Honestly, I bet they have completely justified it in their heads. I don't think they care at all.
USCHO write up is pretty blunt, where typically they give a little more grace
Have a link?
Bob said he didn’t change anything in the 3rd and the UMass coach said he didn’t see a different style from the gophers in the 3rd, but, some will stay adamant that Bob told the players in the second intermission to sit back and go into a shell.
I wouldn't call it going into a shell. Jacques Lemaire knew how to coach this style of play and the team practiced it...like every game. Minnesota isn't built to play this way and obviously isn't very good at it. Teams who are good at it bust you up when you press for a goal.
Bob also said he didn't change anything after the Tampa disaster, but his own defensemen coach contradicted that (and it was pretty obvious Martin was right). They played a trap game starting the third, an ersatz version of Lemairian hockey and then had to climb back into the game after icing their offense for 10 minutes.
Are we going to lose this game because the goalie had to shit?
Funny... When I saw the review from the back of the goal and he was shaking his leg. I thought he forgot to take a leak during intermission and had to go.
Keep your stick on the ice...
I read the comments from the Masshole fans in that article and some comments on Facebook. They keep saying,”that’s playoff hockey”. I was not aware that in the playoffs anything goes likened to the 1987 WWF Royal Rumble NO HOLDS BARRED!
I read the comments from the Masshole fans in that article and some comments on Facebook. They keep saying,”that’s playoff hockey”. I was not aware that in the playoffs anything goes likened to the 1987 WWF Royal Rumble NO HOLDS BARRED!
if it was called the exact opposite way they’d be pissed and justifiably so. Most UMass fans I’ve seen (or at least their more know fans such as the guy who writes recruiting articles for the NE) basically have said it’s a trip but they don’t care because it’s not on them to call it or let it go, which I think is a fair take. They played their game, got desperate at the right time (and we didn’t match it)and got some luck and those are the bounces.
It’s only “playoff hockey” when your team gets the advantage. WMU would’ve been similarly fucked over had Kato won the game yesterday
Bob said he didn’t change anything in the 3rd and the UMass coach said he didn’t see a different style from the gophers in the 3rd, but, some will stay adamant that Bob told the players in the second intermission to sit back and go into a shell. Maybe a good UMass team found their game and played well in the 3rd?
Well, if true, then there is a bigger disconnect and issue because we've seen this time and time again. '23 National Title game, last night, against MSU earlier this season at home on Saturday night (yes, aware of the short bench for that one, it only bothers me in the context of being part of a pattern).
It's an inability to finish that carries over from game to game or season to season. Something is changing in the 3rd period consistently in these scenarios and it transcends the individual players who have come and gone. I also don't believe it's every single opponent finding their inner Rudy magically when playing the Gophers in a once in a lifetime against all odds moment. If it happened once or twice, ok. It happens too frequently - whatever the reason.
I will continue to say, the inability to score a breakaway or shootout goal haunts. That lost point really changed the trajectory of the Gopher post season. It's like Final Destination, mapping back to the thread of time.
One point, we don't play Notre Dame, Huglen isn't hurt, we advance to the Semi's, likely retain our #1 seed, blah blah blah. Though in that scenario, Mankato probably does to us what UMass did anyway.
Well the sun came up this morning.
Dammit.
😉
So the Sun consistently does its' job.
The Sun >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Refs 😉
I feel like I'm being gaslighted by UMASS fans saying that Chesley took a dive. Literally losing my mind looking at this play over and over.
I’ve been patient with Clymer for the most part but to quote from the movie tombstone, “Not anymore, not after this night.”
Getting news from a source close to the situation the ncaa is pulling those refs from the regional, unbelievable
People want to hang onto something positive and call this a successful season. I dunno. Minnesota shared instead of won outright a regular season title because of an inconsistent second half and an inability to beat the best team.
Then they flamed out with a 1-3 playoff record.
*yawn*
I can’t say I’m surprised by the reffing when they were just as bad in the game before that, they let two blatant trips go late in that one too. This year seemed especially cursed in that respect, the big ten reffing was horrible all year letting the most blatant stick work go all the time not to mention the occasional tackle and constant obstruction. Getting that horribly unlucky with the two missed calls AND whatever the goalie equipment thing was is hard to overcome no matter how good your team is. Not to say this gopher team was that caliber because it wasn’t.
IDK why this team manages to have a lot of games where they get worse as the game goes on but it’s kind of a concerning trend imo. There were a decent number of games I can think of where they got worse as the game wore in and the team was completely out of gas toward the end of games. IDK if it’s conditioning, coaching, or god knows what but that isn’t a recipe for success. The Michigan State series at home was kinda understandable with all the guys out but it happened in a few other series I can think of like the ugly PSU win at home, the various Notre Dame series, the Michigan road games, and the MSU road series. It wasn’t every series but it happened enough times that it was concerning.
I don’t blame Motzko for being mad at the officials, it seemed like one final screw job in a season full of them with B1G officials being atrocious and all. But at the same time he is responsible for how this team plays overall and recruiting and both of those things seem a bit down recently. Whether it’s fair or not I do think this loss combined with what could possibly be a down year next year (can’t say for sure but I kinda doubt it’s gonna exceed this year) could heat up his seat a little. Maybe they’ll land some big recruits and things change quickly but as of right now that’s kinda the outlook as I see it, hopefully I’m wrong. Guessing Motzko would retire long before he ever got fired and I’m not suggesting that but I’m kinda curious what his plans are.
I’ve been patient with Clymer for the most part but to quote from the movie tombstone, “Not anymore, not after this night.”
What's funny is last week in the Big Ten Champ game he was livid at the non-calls and how dangerous it was getting. It was almost all he talked about. Then this week in two OT games, he just glossed over any penalties as part of "refs not trying to decide the game." Maybe he knew ESPN was a bigger audience than Big Ten Net, but he really changed his tune this week.
So will the NCAA get involved and not allow last nights ref crew to do any more games for their terrible non called penalties?
Aloha!
As far as the game goes, nothing really new to add except the person sitting next to me summed it up perfectly-- This game was a microcosm of the year in 1 game.
My observations--
Most everything about the over all game has already been discussed, so here is my 2 cents.
They allowed UMass to score right after we scored. How many times has that happened this year?
In all of my years watching hockey, I have never seen a goalie have to be pulled to fix equipment and that it was a major issue that it took that long.
Someone elsewhere said Moore played this year with 1 foot out the door... BS. He was inconsolable on the ice after the game. Just like in SF last year. A true Gopher and I hope he comes back.
On the other end of the ice, Koster, Nevers and another player just stood together knowing that this is it.
Snuggy was the last player off the ice. Best of luck in St Louis.
Leaving the arena and walking by the stunned parents hugging and saying goodbye for maybe the last time, was hard to watch.
As I said before, I saw some actions by our fans that were unacceptable. There was 1 person in particular who I hope woke up this morning and took a long look in the mirror.
Time to reload and go after it next year....
I was recently informed by a GPLer that I'm related to Airey
While I don’t think it’s true that they changed nothing in the third (as streaky explained well), I’ll also say that it ultimately doesn’t matter and it’s kinda on the coach to not allow this to be a trend. You can’t get absolutely owned in puck possession in the third and deserve or expect to win. It’s his job to get these players to play to their capabilities and not well below them in critical moments like the third period of a one and done game.Bob said he didn’t change anything in the 3rd and the UMass coach said he didn’t see a different style from the gophers in the 3rd, but, some will stay adamant that Bob told the players in the second intermission to sit back and go into a shell. Maybe a good UMass team found their game and played well in the 3rd?
Can’t help to feel this was a wasted year. This team had the ingredients to be special. Players have to “wear” this one too. Same mistakes kept being made the entire second half of the season. That ain’t coaching.
I’d be fine if a coaching change were made. Not for the reasons that many on social media want it for. But for the simple fact that after 7 years a fresh perspective on things wouldn’t be a bad thing. Especially in today’s modern athletics. Bob’s going to call his shot on that though and retire when he wants to.
I don’t solely judge this season off that game either, it was a good but not great gopher hockey season where they kinda fizzled out at the end again. I think I’d be more accepting of losses like this if they didn’t have an 18 day break because of the embarrassing ND debacle. Or if they just didn’t play like shit the entire third period of that last game.
As I said before, I saw some actions by our fans that were unacceptable. There was 1 person in particular who I hope woke up this morning and took a long look in the mirror.
Yep... fans take sports way too far and serious. Throwing stuff on the ice is a bit too far, but making verbal threats to officials or players is alcohol speaking and/or someone who needs their head examined. And all fan bases have them.
I keep hearing on the radio a commercial on threating athletes over sports betting. I've won and lost my fare share in sports bets. Though it's never crossed my mine to go after an athlete over me losing. I just wonder all these people who go after athletes over losing, do the same when they win and give them a cut of the pie from their winnings.
Keep your stick on the ice...
So will the NCAA get involved and not allow last nights ref crew to do any more games for their terrible non called penalties?
The last thing the NCAA and even the BIG is going to do is start scrutinizing their official. It just seems like more times than not, officials are off limits and both the NCAA and especially the BIG have their backs.
Keep your stick on the ice...
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.
Would love to hear your thoughts on the equipment issue. The rule got an "additional guidance" update a couple of years ago which makes it more amorphous rather than being helpful imo. Here's the update
Goalkeeper equipment issue (protocol). The Ice Hockey Rules Committee added additional guidance when goalkeepers have
an equipment issue. When an equipment issue causes the goalkeeper to come to the bench for assistance, officials shall instruct
the coach to prepare the backup goalkeeper for play.
If the issue requires additional time, the coach will be given the chance to use their timeout or substitute for the goalkeeper. If
the team does not have a timeout, a delay of game penalty may be issued.
Rationale: While rare, the Ice Hockey Rules Committee believes clarity is needed for officials and coaches to manage these
situations
Would envision that this will need clarifying as there's no discussion of what amount of time this is nor the types of equipment issues. Pretty sure in the NCHC tourney Slukynsky broke a skate and they allowed him to go to the bench and have the blade replaced and waited.
I call BS. Please don’t come on here the day after a huge disappointment and spout gossip you don’t back up. “source close to the situation” is who? Or in what capacity? You’re just being a shit stirrer.Getting news from a source close to the situation the ncaa is pulling those refs from the regional, unbelievable
When people tell me I’ll regret not having kids, I say that’s okay I know a really good place to cry. It’s my vacation home.
Getting news from a source close to the situation the ncaa is pulling those refs from the regional, unbelievable
I have heard the same from a reliable source.
Great, the NCAA can issue a meaningless apology to the Gophers like the Wolves got in last year's NBA playoffs that didn't change anything. "Hey, we acknowledge we hosed you and likely cost you the game. Oopsie, we're sorry. Good luck next year."
I guess at least the Wolves forced a rule change.
@gophers_ingf is this on twitter?
Twitter (and fb) is the last place I would ever quote a source, and that goes for most reliable twitters or whatever you call them.
Keep your stick on the ice...