Here’s a stat for those who maybe don’t fully appreciate the bulk of the Motzko era (2020-2025). Before this past season, the 2020’s were actually on pace to be the second best decade in modern program history in terms of win%:
80’s - .709
20’s (pre 2025-26) - .670
00’s - .652
90’s - .632
10’s - .604
50’s - .579
70’s - .577
60’s - .527
unfortunately, imo you don't get to throw out that season given Bob would still be our coach if not for that year.
Here’s a stat for those who maybe don’t fully appreciate the bulk of the Motzko era (2020-2025). Before this past season, the 2020’s were actually on pace to be the second best decade in modern program history in terms of win%:
80’s - .709
20’s (pre 2025-26) - .670
00’s - .652
90’s - .632
10’s - .604
50’s - .579
70’s - .577
60’s - .527
surprised the 70’s are 2nd-lowest and relatively close to .500 — wasn’t it super difficult back then to get 1 of 4 (6?) available bids to the NCAA tourney?
Here’s a stat for those who maybe don’t fully appreciate the bulk of the Motzko era (2020-2025). Before this past season, the 2020’s were actually on pace to be the second best decade in modern program history in terms of win%:
80’s - .709
20’s (pre 2025-26) - .670
00’s - .652
90’s - .632
10’s - .604
50’s - .579
70’s - .577
60’s - .527
surprised the 70’s are 2nd-lowest and relatively close to .500 — wasn’t it super difficult back then to get 1 of 4 (6?) available bids to the NCAA tourney?
Yeah we made 5 of the 10 national title games that decade but still had 4 sub .500 seasons mixed in there.
The 1970-71 Gophers are still the only sub .500 team to play in an NCAA title game I believe.
A close second is the semifinal vs. BU in Tampa, which is still the most complete and dialed-in 60min game that I’ve ever seen any team play. We looked unstoppable that afternoon, and I appreciate the BU full game tape way more knowing how the next game ended
Thanks for reminding me about that BU game, and you are right: absolutely complete game. I remember how nervous it made me for the Q game, thinking we'd just played the best game we could, and we might let down...
A close second is the semifinal vs. BU in Tampa, which is still the most complete and dialed-in 60min game that I’ve ever seen any team play. We looked unstoppable that afternoon, and I appreciate the BU full game tape way more knowing how the next game ended
Thanks for reminding me about that BU game, and you are right: absolutely complete game. I remember how nervous it made me for the Q game, thinking we'd just played the best game we could, and we might let down...
Well I wasn’t planning on drinking tonight…😢
Humphreys and Kitchener beat Everett to go to 2-0 at the Memorial Cup. Have one more game today but have the inside track to be in the championship game as the direct bid team given their goal differential so far (+9, no one else is positive)
Damn, I have NHL Network but I keep forgetting to check out these Memorial Cup games.
Humphreys had the GWG on a snipe from outside the top of the circles last night.
was watching this interview that randomly showed up on my feed of a former gopher goalie.
One thing that’s interesting is referenced is that everyone on the gopher team thought Motzko would be done after 2022-2023. Happens around 7 min mark.
makes me think the lockerroom thought he was closer to retiring than the twin cities community thought.
He's talking about Close not Motzkowas watching this interview that randomly showed up on my feed of a former gopher goalie.
One thing that’s interesting is referenced is that everyone on the gopher team thought Motzko would be done after 2022-2023. Happens around 7 min mark.
makes me think the lockerroom thought he was closer to retiring than the twin cities community thought.
Yep, definitely talking about Close
Humphreys left the game in the third after having his foot stomped on three times by Tourigny from Chicoutimi. Tourigny was given a match penalty and game misconduct.
Humphreys left the game in the third after having his foot stomped on three times by Tourigny from Chicoutimi. Tourigny was given a match penalty and game misconduct.
Here is video of it.
https://twitter.com/TSN_Sports/status/2059477211124580772
That is insane and completely unacceptable. That’s not even “playing on the edge” or anything that’s just gross. I don’t know anything about the kid so I’m going to refrain from completely passing judgement on him as a person but using your skate blade to intentionally stomp on a opposing player is wildly unsafe and irresponsible. Hopefully it was just a moment of extreme poor judgement and he learns from it and hopefully Humphreys is ok.
Not sure I've ever seen something that disgustingly dirty referred to as "greasy".
"The Canadian Hockey League (CHL) announced today that Jordan Tourigny of the Chicoutimi Saguenéens has been suspended for the remainder of the 2026 Memorial Cup."
https://chl.ca/article/2026-memorial-cup-disciplinary-action-announced-by-chl/
Not sure I've ever seen something that disgustingly dirty referred to as "greasy".
Yeah, that was a weird way to describe it. You could tell, especially by the end of the clip, that the color commentator did not like what he was seeing but using the word greasy almost made the situation sound less severe than it was. Unintentional I’m sure on the part of the commentator.
I think that term might have a slightly different meaning in Canada, I remember hearing it in Trailer Park Boys when they were about to commit some type of really low criminal act.Not sure I've ever seen something that disgustingly dirty referred to as "greasy".
Yeah, that was a weird way to describe it. You could tell, especially by the end of the clip, that the color commentator did not like what he was seeing but using the word greasy almost made the situation sound less severe than it was. Unintentional I’m sure on the part of the commentator.
I think that term might have a slightly different meaning in Canada, I remember hearing it in Trailer Park Boys when they were about to commit some type of really low criminal act.Not sure I've ever seen something that disgustingly dirty referred to as "greasy".
Yeah, that was a weird way to describe it. You could tell, especially by the end of the clip, that the color commentator did not like what he was seeing but using the word greasy almost made the situation sound less severe than it was. Unintentional I’m sure on the part of the commentator.
correct. Great show
greasy, scuzzy, scabby, etc
Greasy plays would be typically illegal things that are maybe not egregious. I wouldn’t call this greasy though as it’s a blatant attempt to injure, even if on accident. Similar to a slew foot or jabbing someone in the cup
Damn, I have NHL Network but I keep forgetting to check out these Memorial Cup games.
It's some great hockey, don't miss out...you don't need NHL Network either. TSN broadcast is streamed globally for free on Victory Plus. Just like sports should be.
Feel like if they wanted another center Larson would’ve just brought over Roed from SCSU. The fact he didn’t leads me to believe he’s done up front.
Feel like if they wanted another center Larson would’ve just brought over Roed from SCSU. The fact he didn’t leads me to believe he’s done up front.
How do you think this team stacks up as it is? Both in the B1G and nationally? I was rewatching a bit of the GPL season finale last night and Vegoe seemed to think that they’ll be pretty solid next year.
Feel like if they wanted another center Larson would’ve just brought over Roed from SCSU. The fact he didn’t leads me to believe he’s done up front.
How do you think this team stacks up as it is? Both in the B1G and nationally? I was rewatching a bit of the GPL season finale last night and Vegoe seemed to think that they’ll be pretty solid next year.
solid returners. Remade d core with some high impact guys there and improved floor. Good goalies. Not as good as Michigan and less “talent” on paper vs MSU.
michigan
Large gap
MSU
MN
WI
Little gap
PSU
OSU
moderate gap
ND
that would be my way to early assessment. nationally, UND and UMD should be very good. DU seems to reload well. Western lost quite a bit this offseason. The Boston schools on paper don’t have quite as much talent as some years, but have enough. UMass is a sleeper type team who may surprise.
think that national tier list has und and umd above slightly the middle tier B10 category. The rest probably lumped in that middle pack.
gophers look like a tourney team but not a favorite imo. Michigan should be far and away the favorite, similar to BCs loaded team a few years ago (and moreso than the Gophers runner up team who still had a very loaded Michigan team in conference plus a Quinny wagon type team)
Top 10 nationally and a home ice Big 10 team are my early loose predictions. Big 10 will be loaded: Mich & MSU will be legit, Minnesota should be back to normal and Wisconsin looks very promising too. They have an incredibly veteran backend paired with great goaltending. Add Hastings to the equation and they just won’t give up any goals at all.
Feel like if they wanted another center Larson would’ve just brought over Roed from SCSU. The fact he didn’t leads me to believe he’s done up front.
Roed was hesitant to make the transition. He knew he would be top line and top PP minutes at St. Cloud. The move to MN was discussed with Larson.
@mikeeruzione11 they better get a first line center or this team is a 3 seed at best. Really weak down the middle right now.
Feel like if they wanted another center Larson would’ve just brought over Roed from SCSU. The fact he didn’t leads me to believe he’s done up front.
How do you think this team stacks up as it is? Both in the B1G and nationally? I was rewatching a bit of the GPL season finale last night and Vegoe seemed to think that they’ll be pretty solid next year.
I’m a bit more bullish for several reasons but I’m busy at work so I’ll circle back around on this.
First, I’ll touch on what @upnorthkid said:
(1) Not as good as Michigan and less “talent” on paper vs MSU.
. . .
(2) gophers look like a tourney team but not a favorite imo. Michigan should be far and away the favorite, similar to BCs loaded team a few years ago (and moreso than the Gophers runner up team who still had a very loaded Michigan team in conference plus a Quinny wagon type team)
(1) Ehh… I think Michigan was a bit of a paper tiger this season and perceptions got clouded by some of their stars padding their point totals early, on the PP, in blowouts, etc. They relied heavily on guys like TJ Hughes, Tyler Duke, Luca Fantilli who are not really pro-caliber players. Ivankovic is underwhelming relative to the level of hype around him this year. Horcoff went ice cold on the scoresheet for the entire 2nd half, after feasting on PP goals in the 1st half.
As to Michigan State: sure, Lindstrom got drafted 4th overall, but that was clearly a bad pick and he’s definitely not been a 4th overall level player in NCAA so far. On paper they’ve got great depth with tons of early round picks, but they’ve had that in each of the last 3 years and have not been able to put it all together yet. Late-1st thru ~4th round picks are kind of a crapshoot in terms of NCAA results; Mooney had a way better season than Lindstrom did, for example.
(2) no, our 2023 team was the best in NCAA that year by numerous stat measures, roster talent, etc.
Like, we were #1 in team/scoring offense (4.2 GF/G) and 2nd- or 3rd- best team defense (~2.0 GA/G), all while playing by far the hardest schedule of any team that year. Cooley was +38, which set a new NCAA record.
We were ranked #1 in the polls by early/mid October and never dipped below #4 the entire year; whereas Michigan at the halfway point was #7-9 in the polls, second to last in B1G standings, and their goal differential was always rather ugly (high GF but high GA). We also didn’t really get challenged in our first 3 games of that NCAA tourney; no OTs + we outscored our opponents 19-5 total leading up to the Q game. From start to finish that season, we absolutely were the frontrunners for a national championship and everyone following/covering college hockey knew it
Not saying anything about the upcoming season, but I think calling Michigan a "Paper Tiger" is a bit too far. Did their stars run up big numbers early in the season? Yes. But, they were one of the top 4 teams in the country essentially all year, and made the Frozen Four as the number one overall seed. That's NOT the resume of a "Paper Tiger"
Not saying anything about the upcoming season, but I think calling Michigan a "Paper Tiger" is a bit too far. Did their stars run up big numbers early in the season? Yes. But, they were one of the top 4 teams in the country essentially all year, and made the Frozen Four as the number one overall seed. That's NOT the resume of a "Paper Tiger"
They were the best team in the country this year by NPI but I don’t think they were anything special, relative to #1 overall seeds in other years. They were much closer to a 2025 BC (lost in the Manchester regional) than to a 2023 Gophers or 2024 BC. Hell I think the 2022 Michigan squad (w/ Beniers, Power & co.) would stomp 2026’s Michigan
Not saying anything about the upcoming season, but I think calling Michigan a "Paper Tiger" is a bit too far. Did their stars run up big numbers early in the season? Yes. But, they were one of the top 4 teams in the country essentially all year, and made the Frozen Four as the number one overall seed. That's NOT the resume of a "Paper Tiger"
yeah they were #1 in KRACH almost all year while playing the 5th SOS and had a 2.1 goal differential/game. Lol to call them a paper tiger.
they're not a historic great team like some other years, but they were very good
Feel like if they wanted another center Larson would’ve just brought over Roed from SCSU. The fact he didn’t leads me to believe he’s done up front.
How do you think this team stacks up as it is? Both in the B1G and nationally? I was rewatching a bit of the GPL season finale last night and Vegoe seemed to think that they’ll be pretty solid next year.
I’m a bit more bullish for several reasons but I’m busy at work so I’ll circle back around on this.
First, I’ll touch on what @upnorthkid said:
(1) Not as good as Michigan and less “talent” on paper vs MSU.
. . .
(2) gophers look like a tourney team but not a favorite imo. Michigan should be far and away the favorite, similar to BCs loaded team a few years ago (and moreso than the Gophers runner up team who still had a very loaded Michigan team in conference plus a Quinny wagon type team)
(1) Ehh… I think Michigan was a bit of a paper tiger this season and perceptions got clouded by some of their stars padding their point totals early, on the PP, in blowouts, etc. They relied heavily on guys like TJ Hughes, Tyler Duke, Luca Fantilli who are not really pro-caliber players. Ivankovic is underwhelming relative to the level of hype around him this year. Horcoff went ice cold on the scoresheet for the entire 2nd half, after feasting on PP goals in the 1st half.
As to Michigan State: sure, Lindstrom got drafted 4th overall, but that was clearly a bad pick and he’s definitely not been a 4th overall level player in NCAA so far. On paper they’ve got great depth with tons of early round picks, but they’ve had that in each of the last 3 years and have not been able to put it all together yet. Late-1st thru ~4th round picks are kind of a crapshoot in terms of NCAA results; Mooney had a way better season than Lindstrom did, for example.
(2) no, our 2023 team was the best in NCAA that year by numerous stat measures, roster talent, etc.
Like, we were #1 in team/scoring offense (4.2 GF/G) and 2nd- or 3rd- best team defense (~2.0 GA/G), all while playing by far the hardest schedule of any team that year. Cooley was +38, which set a new NCAA record.
We were ranked #1 in the polls by early/mid October and never dipped below #4 the entire year; whereas Michigan at the halfway point was #7-9 in the polls, second to last in B1G standings, and their goal differential was always rather ugly (high GF but high GA). We also didn’t really get challenged in our first 3 games of that NCAA tourney; no OTs + we outscored our opponents 19-5 total leading up to the Q game. From start to finish that season, we absolutely were the frontrunners for a national championship and everyone following/covering college hockey knew it
on that point 2, that team went 2-3 vs michigan and finished behind Quinny in KRACH. We played the 2nd toughest schedule and Michigan the 3rd. The 22-23 Michigan team had 5 1st rounders (14 total picks) and a fill of upperclassmen and 1st rounders staying bonus years. MN had 3 1st rounders (15 total picks) and an old D core but was young up front.
The projected and returning talent on Michigan's team this year is going to be of that caliber (8 of 9 top scorers are back) and there's not the degree of other teams in that loaded stratosphere talent wise. Hage, Horcoff and Nesbnitt are already 1sts and Hurlburt will be. They will absolutely be the favorite, particularly if they land Dupont as seems to be expected.
Again this is a differential comment, not comparing the teams historically, etc.
Yeah also they got unlucky vs Denver and probably should've beat them, Denver has a habit of pulling off wins like that over the years though.Not saying anything about the upcoming season, but I think calling Michigan a "Paper Tiger" is a bit too far. Did their stars run up big numbers early in the season? Yes. But, they were one of the top 4 teams in the country essentially all year, and made the Frozen Four as the number one overall seed. That's NOT the resume of a "Paper Tiger"
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24131129/gallery_image.JPG "Hey_Sioux_Suck")
Humphreys on the ice for Kitchener during warmups
Kitchener going to have 1:05 to start the 3rd to try get a goal that may effectively be the dagger on a 5v3. Up 3-1 into the 3rd
Humphreys with an assist and the ENG to seal it. Kitchener wins 6-2.
Scott Wheeler said in an article that Humphreys avoided a major injury but the skate did cut through his boot. He has an ankle sprain and along with the cut “will need the summertime to allow it to recover”.
Scott Wheeler said in an article that Humphreys avoided a major injury but the skate did cut through his boot. He has an ankle sprain and along with the cut “will need the summertime to allow it to recover”.
Thank god.
Could have easily broke his ankle and/or cut his foot.
Clown behavior.
I suppose the DuPont sweepstakes has started.
If I had to guess? Denver (unless Carle leaves, which I doubt very very much). BUT his dad did play with Larson and he has teammates coming here.
Drain the NIL fund and get him here!
If he does come here, how long does he stay? One and done or get a couple years out of him? Don't think Schaefer taking the league by storm at 18 bodes well for a long NCAA career for Mr. DuPont.
I suppose the DuPont sweepstakes has started.
If I had to guess? Denver (unless Carle leaves, which I doubt very very much). BUT his dad did play with Larson and he has teammates coming here.
Drain the NIL fund and get him here!
If he does come here, how long does he stay? One and done or get a couple years out of him? Don't think Schaefer taking the league by storm at 18 bodes well for a long NCAA career for Mr. DuPont.
One and done
How many one and done's have won a title the past 10 years?
Not making an argument either way but I am curious.
How many one and done's have won a title the past 10 years?
Not making an argument either way but I am curious.
Because I decided I wanted to not work for a bit here, here you go to best of my abilities. The 1st rounder argument has been the more oft cited one, but here's what I could drum up for 1 and dones through UNDs 2016 title
2026: Denver, all freshmen expected back
2025: WMU, none
2024: Denver, Miko Matikka signed after 1 year at DU
2023: QU, none
2022: Denver, none
2021: UMass, none
2020: covid
2019: UMD, none
2018: UMD, none
2017: Denver, none
2016: UND, none
that calculus may largely change with the current state with CHLers coming down for 1 year of "polish", but there are very few one and done college hockey players in general.
How many one and done's have won a title the past 10 years?
Not making an argument either way but I am curious.
Because I decided I wanted to not work for a bit here, here you go to best of my abilities. The 1st rounder argument has been the more oft cited one, but here's what I could drum up for 1 and dones through UNDs 2016 title
2026: Denver, all freshmen expected back
2025: WMU, none
2024: Denver, Miko Matikka signed after 1 year at DU
2023: QU, none
2022: Denver, none
2021: UMass, none
2020: covid
2019: UMD, none
2018: UMD, none
2017: Denver, none
2016: UND, none
that calculus may largely change with the current state with CHLers coming down for 1 year of "polish", but there are very few one and done college hockey players in general.
I think the last statement is the key one. The numbers are low and render most questions about it moot. Buium was an impactful player for DU in his D minus 1 season and I think it is the only factor at play when discussing whether or not to add Dupont.
How many one and done's have won a title the past 10 years?
Not making an argument either way but I am curious.
Because I decided I wanted to not work for a bit here, here you go to best of my abilities. The 1st rounder argument has been the more oft cited one, but here's what I could drum up for 1 and dones through UNDs 2016 title
2026: Denver, all freshmen expected back
2025: WMU, none
2024: Denver, Miko Matikka signed after 1 year at DU
2023: QU, none
2022: Denver, none
2021: UMass, none
2020: covid
2019: UMD, none
2018: UMD, none
2017: Denver, none
2016: UND, none
that calculus may largely change with the current state with CHLers coming down for 1 year of "polish", but there are very few one and done college hockey players in general.
I think the last statement is the key one. The numbers are low and render most questions about it moot. Buium was an impactful player for DU in his D minus 1 season and I think it is the only factor at play when discussing whether or not to add Dupont.
yep. same deal with Celebrini, McKenna (for his defensive flaws), etc.
Question is more if he ends up looking like Verhoeff or Power did or if his game translates right away. Either way, you take a guy with this level of talent in a heartbeat and you figure it out.
How many one and done's have won a title the past 10 years?
Not making an argument either way but I am curious.
Because I decided I wanted to not work for a bit here, here you go to best of my abilities. The 1st rounder argument has been the more oft cited one, but here's what I could drum up for 1 and dones through UNDs 2016 title
2026: Denver, all freshmen expected back
2025: WMU, none
2024: Denver, Miko Matikka signed after 1 year at DU
2023: QU, none
2022: Denver, none
2021: UMass, none
2020: covid
2019: UMD, none
2018: UMD, none
2017: Denver, none
2016: UND, none
that calculus may largely change with the current state with CHLers coming down for 1 year of "polish", but there are very few one and done college hockey players in general.
I think the last statement is the key one. The numbers are low and render most questions about it moot. Buium was an impactful player for DU in his D minus 1 season and I think it is the only factor at play when discussing whether or not to add Dupont.
Yeah this is a really good point. Like if we had won against QU, Logan Cooley was the only 1-and-done player on our team (+Snuggerud probably goes sooner but not 1&done).
Michigan gets tons of draft-year guys but thinking back to their last few cohorts of top level players, most of those mega-hyped 2020 & 2021 1st rounders (Power, Beniers, Kent Johnson, etc.) have spent/are spending 2 years in AA. Fantilli is basically their only 1&done who comes to mind and he was ready; even Quinn Hughes played 2 years.
Yeah this is a really good point. Like if we had won against QU, Logan Cooley was the only 1-and-done player on our team (+Snuggerud probably goes sooner but not 1&done).
Michigan gets tons of draft-year guys but thinking back to their last few cohorts of top level players, most of those mega-hyped 2020 & 2021 1st rounders (Power, Beniers, Kent Johnson, etc.) have spent/are spending 2 years in AA. Fantilli is basically their only 1&done who comes to mind and he was ready; even Quinn Hughes played 2 years.
All of those guys were 17 when they entered Ann Arbor and not eligible to be drafted until after their first year in NCAA. Then they followed the pattern of high drafted guys in playing one year after they were picked in the draft.
I do not know how Michigan consistently finds these players born in the fall. Powers November, Beniers November, Johnson October........there are several more.
I do not know how Michigan consistently finds these players born in the fall.
It’d be trivially easy to build a list of all projected 1st-2nd rounders w/ an Oct or Nov. birthday playing USHL, CHL, or at Shattuck in any given season.
For starters, each year’s draft class can only have ~90ish guys projected to be 1st or 2nd round picks. Before CHL rules changed, this subset of potential Michigan recruits was much smaller too.
My guess is that Michigan usually gets a neat little spreadsheet of player birthdays from the USHL, but even if they don’t get any favors like that it’d still be easy to compile 90 birthdays every year just from public/Web info
How many one and done's have won a title the past 10 years?
Not making an argument either way but I am curious.
Because I decided I wanted to not work for a bit here, here you go to best of my abilities. The 1st rounder argument has been the more oft cited one, but here's what I could drum up for 1 and dones through UNDs 2016 title
2026: Denver, all freshmen expected back
2025: WMU, none
2024: Denver, Miko Matikka signed after 1 year at DU
2023: QU, none
2022: Denver, none
2021: UMass, none
2020: covid
2019: UMD, none
2018: UMD, none
2017: Denver, none
2016: UND, none
that calculus may largely change with the current state with CHLers coming down for 1 year of "polish", but there are very few one and done college hockey players in general.
I think the last statement is the key one. The numbers are low and render most questions about it moot. Buium was an impactful player for DU in his D minus 1 season and I think it is the only factor at play when discussing whether or not to add Dupont.
In the era of NLI that is no longer the only factor. Can/will Minnesota make the offer that tilts the decision in their favor?
@slap-shot, I sure as hell hope so. Landing DuPont would be massive for the program and future recruiting up north whether they'd hoist or not, and I imagine they're handling it that way.
How many one and done's have won a title the past 10 years?
Not making an argument either way but I am curious.
Because I decided I wanted to not work for a bit here, here you go to best of my abilities. The 1st rounder argument has been the more oft cited one, but here's what I could drum up for 1 and dones through UNDs 2016 title
2026: Denver, all freshmen expected back
2025: WMU, none
2024: Denver, Miko Matikka signed after 1 year at DU
2023: QU, none
2022: Denver, none
2021: UMass, none
2020: covid
2019: UMD, none
2018: UMD, none
2017: Denver, none
2016: UND, none
that calculus may largely change with the current state with CHLers coming down for 1 year of "polish", but there are very few one and done college hockey players in general.
I think the last statement is the key one. The numbers are low and render most questions about it moot. Buium was an impactful player for DU in his D minus 1 season and I think it is the only factor at play when discussing whether or not to add Dupont.
In the era of NLI that is no longer the only factor. Can/will Minnesota make the offer that tilts the decision in their favor?
I am not following. NIL is not a factor in the question of "Should you add Dupont, if only for a year?" Assuming the program has money, which all indications are they do.
It will be a factor in where he ends up.
Not sure where to put this, so I will drop it here.
https://twitter.com/StarTribune/status/2062202710544298449
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Not very objective