[Closed] Gophers 2026 Off Season

Next episode with Luca coming Monday.

https://twitter.com/GopherHockey/status/2098529816563593366

Attended the Minnesota State adult hockey camp for the second year this past weekend and had some time with the players and coaches for Q&A.  One takeaway...Gopher hate is alive and well with them as well as the Maverick faithful that were in attendance as well.  It is easy to tell that Thanksgiving weekend is circled on the calendar by them.

@g-manpuck that would make sense. Im curious to see how that roster is. Have a lot of young players not sure how that will go for them. They also got some transfers from bigger schools that did not play well. I am fascinated to see how they perform this year. I think all the Hastings players are gone at this point.

Quote: Jankwi01

@g-manpuck that would make sense. Im curious to see how that roster is. Have a lot of young players not sure how that will go for them. They also got some transfers from bigger schools that did not play well. I am fascinated to see how they perform this year. I think all the Hastings players are gone at this point.

Watching the scrimmage on Saturday this year's team is just as good as last season's IMO.  Yes, it does look different on defense with losing the top 3 in Cichosz, Wheeler, and Murr.  The transfers looked good along with the freshman.  We'll definitely know what kind of team MSU is after their opening weekend vs. the Baaaadgers.  This was the second scrimmage I've seen of theirs in the last month and they have improved over the last month.  

Quote: g-manpuck

Quote: Jankwi01

@g-manpuck that would make sense. Im curious to see how that roster is. Have a lot of young players not sure how that will go for them. They also got some transfers from bigger schools that did not play well. I am fascinated to see how they perform this year. I think all the Hastings players are gone at this point.

Watching the scrimmage on Saturday this year's team is just as good as last season's IMO.  Yes, it does look different on defense with losing the top 3 in Cichosz, Wheeler, and Murr.  The transfers looked good along with the freshman.  We'll definitely know what kind of team MSU is after their opening weekend vs. the Baaaadgers.  This was the second scrimmage I've seen of theirs in the last month and they have improved over the last month.  

always the trouble of scrimmages though, you're only comparing to yourself and you learn tendencies while developing your own cohesion. Same reason why NFL teams so look forward to their intra-squad practices where you can actually see how they match up

Going to be weird with no UST in the CCHA now. I'll have to do a deeper look at them all, but seems like MTU and Augie should be the best in conference coming in with Kato being right there as well?

Feel like the CCHA rosters have so much turnover every year its hard to keep track

@upnorthkid I expect Michigan Tech to be really good.

Quote: Jankwi01

@upnorthkid I expect Michigan Tech to be really good.

It was also my expectation they will be the best in the CCHA, which is part of why I’m nervous for my road trip to Houghton 😅

Quote: upnorthkid

Going to be weird with no UST in the CCHA now. I'll have to do a deeper look at them all, but seems like MTU and Augie should be the best in conference coming in with Kato being right there as well?

The CCHA coaches poll came out this morning and they put MTU #1, Bowling Green #2, and MSU #3 with Augie at #4.  Really those top four could be interchanged pretty easily.  Look at how the year ended the last weekend where any of the top 5 in the standings could have won the McNaughton.  Things fell the right way and MSU won it from fifth place.  The landscape for sure changed with UST leaving but it really just moves Augie up to the top 3 with Tech and Mankato in the conference annually.  

The latest episode is now live

I like how you can tell Jim Rich is forming the words in his head as they’re coming out his mouth

With the Big Ten basketball schedules being officially announced on Wednesday I would expect we would get the official hockey schedule with actual game dates here very soon as well.  

Quote: Gopherguy05

With the Big Ten basketball schedules being officially announced on Wednesday I would expect we would get the official hockey schedule with actual game dates here very soon as well.  

I just snuck a peek and season tickets are visible in your account. 

I would not rush there if only looking for time/date insights beyond what is known here. 

Quote: maroon and gold

I like how you can tell Jim Rich is forming the words in his head as they’re coming out his mouth

Incredible chirp

Quote: maroon and gold

I like how you can tell Jim Rich is forming the words in his head as they’re coming out his mouth

Just like me on the podcast!

Gopher hockey benefit perk to watch practice announced for next week on Thursday AM. Bummed I can't go because of work, but certainly happy to see if I can forward it on to someone else if they'll let me and someone here is interested in going. can feel free to reply here or PM me

Lamb made the official NYR training camp roster.

View this post on Instagram

I think most Rangers fans (being stinky East Coast elitists) don't appreciate that Lamber could definitely compete for NHL minutes this year 

Lamb was fantastic last year. I hope he at least gets his cup of coffee and a chance to prove he can stick.

Quote: Walker? I Barely Know Her

Lamb made the official NYR training camp roster.

View this post on Instagram

I think most Rangers fans (being stinky East Coast elitists) don't appreciate that Lamber could definitely compete for NHL minutes this year 

i mean the rangers give an absolute bum like Matt Rempe minutes. 

i don't think Lamber plays NHL minutes, but hey i didn't think Tommy Novak was going to stick either and look at him moving right along to his 300th game this coming year

Quote: upnorthkid

Quote: Walker? I Barely Know Her

Lamb made the official NYR training camp roster.

View this post on Instagram

I think most Rangers fans (being stinky East Coast elitists) don't appreciate that Lamber could definitely compete for NHL minutes this year 

i mean the rangers give an absolute bum like Matt Rempe minutes. 

 

i don't think Lamber plays NHL minutes, but hey i didn't think Tommy Novak was going to stick either and look at him moving right along to his 300th game this coming year

I mean Soucy and Pionk both played top-4 roles for the Rangers within this decade despite both not being very good. More pertinently, RW depth has always been a major issue for NYR going on 5,6+ years now, ever since Buchnevich got traded.

I don't think the Rangers will be playoff contenders either unless they get very lucky, so it'll be a pretty favorable situation for Lamb to at least get a cup of NHL coffee. He was a better college player than Noah Laba (NYR's 3C last year) imo.

Last year for me the Gopher alum w/ the most surprising pro success was Matthew Wood. Originally I thought he didn't play with enough pace in his college showings to be fully NHL ready, but glad he proved me wrong.

Quote: frozen 4 champs

The latest episode is now live

Dang he was a great listen, probably the best yet.  

The Rat likes to cut people off lol.  

Quote: Johnny Five

 

 

The Rat likes to cut people off lol.  

“I wasn’t really listening, just waiting for my turn to talk”

Quote: Mike Eruzione 11

Quote: Johnny Five

 

 

The Rat likes to cut people off lol.  

“I wasn’t really listening, just waiting for my turn to talk”

Youngest son of 8 (?) so it's never surprised me. The contrast with Joe's broadcast demeanor is comically absurd though

Are the Michigan Tech games going to be televised locally?

Quote: Laxref

Are the Michigan Tech games going to be televised locally?

The TV schedule is always the $1MM question.  Hopefully we hear something in the next couple weeks regarding broadcasts.

Quote: Laxref

Are the Michigan Tech games going to be televised locally?

I believe it will be on some sort of Midco broadcast or stream.

Quote: Jûpe ♃

Quote: Laxref

Are the Michigan Tech games going to be televised locally?

I believe it will be on some sort of Midco broadcast or stream.

All CCHA games are on MidCo Sports streaming.  You can do monthly for $24 or annual for $10.75/month.  However it is not showing currently as an upcoming game.

Quote: Viking

All CCHA games are on MidCo Sports streaming.  You can do monthly for $24 or annual for $10.75/month.  However it is not showing currently as an upcoming game.

Not showing up yet, but MTU's schedule says it will be available.

https://twitter.com/GopherHockey/status/2100705863010808084

Cory Laylin up next on Mondays Gophers Podcast

https://twitter.com/GopherHockey/status/2100978163371397412

League game dates coming at 1pm.

Quote: Jûpe ♃

League game dates coming at 1pm.

WTF th/sat for the wisco series in Nov. with a fb game Saturday? 

Quote: Cowgirl

WTF th/sat for the wisco series in Nov. with a fb game Saturday? 

Because both Mens BBall and Womens VBall play Friday night, Just not going to work.

I think hockey could be early on Saturday with football in the evening. Cannot really do 11am football that day because that is 9am UCLA time and I think they would avoid that.

Yikes.  So I suppose we’ll be waiting on times and some possible changes yet due to almighty football? 

Quote: Jûpe ♃

Quote: Cowgirl

WTF th/sat for the wisco series in Nov. with a fb game Saturday? 

Because both Mens BBall and Womens VBall play Friday night, Just not going to work.

I think hockey could be early on Saturday with football in the evening. Cannot really do 11am football that day because that is 9am UCLA time and I think they would avoid that.

 

Sign me up for an 11am or noon hockey game that day.

Quote: Jûpe ♃

Quote: Cowgirl

WTF th/sat for the wisco series in Nov. with a fb game Saturday? 

Because both Mens BBall and Womens VBall play Friday night, Just not going to work.

I think hockey could be early on Saturday with football in the evening. Cannot really do 11am football that day because that is 9am UCLA time and I think they would avoid that.

 

Or the opposite.  Don't quote me but I overheard some Gopher productions people talking about that a few weeks ago and they were assuming a 2:30 football kick and an 830 hockey puck drop. 

Since it's November pretty sure the opponent needs to approve all football night games and guessing UCLA prob is not into a night game in November in the upper Midwest. 

Quote: Gopherguy05

Quote: Jûpe ♃

Quote: Cowgirl

WTF th/sat for the wisco series in Nov. with a fb game Saturday? 

Because both Mens BBall and Womens VBall play Friday night, Just not going to work.

I think hockey could be early on Saturday with football in the evening. Cannot really do 11am football that day because that is 9am UCLA time and I think they would avoid that.

 

Or the opposite.  Don't quote me but I overheard some Gopher productions people talking about that a few weeks ago and they were assuming a 2:30 football kick and an 830 hockey puck drop. 

 

Since it's November pretty sure the opponent needs to approve all football night games and guessing UCLA prob is not into a night game in November in the upper Midwest. 

Good lord no for a 2:30 football start. When they do an 11am start and 8pm hockey it is a cluster to clear out the lots. That would be a disaster.

Quote: frozen 4 champs

Quote: Gopherguy05

Quote: Jûpe ♃

Quote: Cowgirl

WTF th/sat for the wisco series in Nov. with a fb game Saturday? 

Because both Mens BBall and Womens VBall play Friday night, Just not going to work.

I think hockey could be early on Saturday with football in the evening. Cannot really do 11am football that day because that is 9am UCLA time and I think they would avoid that.

 

Or the opposite.  Don't quote me but I overheard some Gopher productions people talking about that a few weeks ago and they were assuming a 2:30 football kick and an 830 hockey puck drop. 

 

Since it's November pretty sure the opponent needs to approve all football night games and guessing UCLA prob is not into a night game in November in the upper Midwest. 

Good lord no for a 2:30 football start. When they do an 11am start and 8pm hockey it is a cluster to clear out the lots. That would be a disaster.

It would be a mess but they might not have a choice. The production people were complaining because all their cameras and other equipment is always used for football so they were going to need to tear down and re install in a span of about 4 hours which sounds like hell.

@gopherguy05 Let's say they keep it at 230 and the game lasts 3 hours. 530 ending and getting the lots cleared before hockey .. no chance

Doesn’t football have until 7 days prior to announce an official game time? I would hope they have to be more timely than that given a more important game is also being played that day. 😉

Just noticed that the return trip to Madison they are doing the same to us.  Schedule is Friday/ Sunday.  

Quote: frozen 4 champs

@gopherguy05 Let's say they keep it at 230 and the game lasts 3 hours. 530 ending and getting the lots cleared before hockey .. no chance

Yeah its going to be a mess.  I could see the U trying to see if we could get the game to be like a 1 PM kick--which obviously limits TV options.  

But looking at the rest of the Big Ten schedule that day, its definitely possible,  Three goodish games and the rest are terrible. 

Oregon @Ohio State is probably NBC night game.  Penn State @ Washington is prob 2:30 game.  Michigan St @ Michigan might be big noon 11 am kick.

Rest is UCLA @ US, Iowa @ Northwestern, Rutgers @ Wisconsin, and Maryland @ Purdue.  

So I could see a 1pm FS1 kick or something like that. 

These schedules get worse every year. Two Thursday games. North Dakota Friday game is at 6. A Saturday game competing with football. And a FRIDAY GAME AT FOUR PM. I understand its Black Friday. Still ridiculous. Just bush league all around.

Quote: Gopherguy05

Just noticed that the return trip to Madison they are doing the same to us.  Schedule is Friday/ Sunday.  

I was planning on going too. Maybe it’s a Sunday afternoon game because anything after 4 would be a heck of a time driving home. Wouldn’t get home til 11. 

why so many game times still missing? just asking

Quote: gopher6

why so many game times still missing? just asking

At this point I am expecting B1G won't even give us puck drop times until week-of, maybe day-of. lol

Really seems like B1G hires only the most incompetent morons they can find to work their hockey ops

I don't understand why we can't grow the game while playing these games at times people can't watch or on days that aren't consistent or make sense!

Quote: upnorthkid

I don't understand why we can't grow the game while playing these games at times people can't watch or on days that aren't consistent or make sense!

One word:  Television

They're not going to re-schedule football, basketball or volleyball to just to make hockey times convenient.

Quote: Gopherguy05

Just noticed that the return trip to Madison they are doing the same to us.  Schedule is Friday/ Sunday.  

That sucks. Was going to make the trip this season. That’s out now. 

This is interesting.

https://twitter.com/TwinCityVTG/status/2100559827197927907