Hilarious that the TSN guys didn't think the first CAN penalty should have even gone for 2.
I know. I am okay with having bias in announcing though. It is funny though. According to that guy Team Canada has never commented a penalty. 🤣Hilarious that the TSN guys didn't think the first CAN penalty should have even gone for 2.
I know. I am okay with having bias in announcing though. It is funny though. According to that guy Team Canada has never commented a penalty. 🤣Hilarious that the TSN guys didn't think the first CAN penalty should have even gone for 2.
The guy came off as some doofus they grabbed off the street and threw into the chair. Like the fan in between periods who can't hit an open net from 10 feet away, this guy had no clue.
Not once did he observe that the Canadian player extended his knee on the trip. That could have been a serious outcome and a 5-minute major. Canada was lucky that it wasn't. (NCAA probably would have been.)
The US had a very long stretch of pure domination yet I was afraid it would go for naught, but they get a late goal and the 1st ends USA 1 - CAN 0.
The US should be up by at least 3 goals right now, but as it stands it's 3-2 late in the 2nd with a bit of time left on the PP. How they haven't scored on the PP is a mystery, although the play of George in net has been a huge part of it.
Canada scores 2 goals on a major PP then another 5x5 and lead 5-3 with 5 minutes left. Ugh.
Ziemer with a redirect goal, 5-4 CAN with 4:24 left.
Dammit again.
George is the player of the game to me.
That major penalty was a killer. Very poor penalty kill.
That is a shame. The US had them but didn't score enough when they had the major play advantage.
I can't imagine what the US player was even thinking on that shoulder to the head check. It was one of the dumbest plays at the worst time. Truly a game killer.
The US speed and depth were levels higher than Canada. But they ran into a hot goaltender, had mediocre goaltending themselves, and handed their opponent the opportunity to get back into the game.
The kid on the US who was called for the 5 minutes will be haunted forever. That was even worse than giving the ref a chance to change the game on a meaningless play away from the puck with 4 minutes to play in a national title game. 😔
Really high level of play in the U18 gold medal game. All 3 future Gophers looked the part.
Too bad Connelly took the stupid penalty.
If Mooney hits a growth spurt watch out. His stick is crazy quick.
Huge Ziemer fan, interested to see where he will plug into the lineup next year.
Whipple isn’t flashy but he’s grown on me after watching most of the tournament as he plays a poised defensive game. Isn’t going to drive play on offense, more like a Cal Thomas style.
In non-U18 news. Three other future Gophers (Gruba, Pahlsson, Hendrickson) competing for USHL title.
Of the 6 incoming freshman, 5 still playing in May with significant roles is a great sign.
Really high level of play in the U18 gold medal game. All 3 future Gophers looked the part.
Too bad Connelly took the stupid penalty.
If Mooney hits a growth spurt watch out. His stick is crazy quick.
Huge Ziemer fan, interested to see where he will plug into the lineup next year.
Whipple isn’t flashy but he’s grown on me after watching most of the tournament as he plays a poised defensive game. Isn’t going to drive play on offense, more like a Cal Thomas style.
I agree with you on Whipple. His coach trusted him in big situations. That's positive. After watching the game, I felt he made good decisions and played his angles well. If he is another Cal Thomas type, that's good for Minnesota. Not every defensive player needs to drive offense, but they must move the puck and hit their passes into neutral ice. Ryan Johnson was that kind of player.
The defensemen in Lucia's later years were barely college average and set up the team and its fans for some painfully mediocre seasons. We don't want to go back there, but non-flashy types with great fundamentals like Johnson and Thomas are bedrocks for a good team. Hopefully, Whipple is one of those guys.
Really high level of play in the U18 gold medal game. All 3 future Gophers looked the part.
Too bad Connelly took the stupid penalty.
If Mooney hits a growth spurt watch out. His stick is crazy quick.
Huge Ziemer fan, interested to see where he will plug into the lineup next year.
Whipple isn’t flashy but he’s grown on me after watching most of the tournament as he plays a poised defensive game. Isn’t going to drive play on offense, more like a Cal Thomas style.
I agree on Whipple. Hadn't really watched him before this tourney and wasn't expecting much given how many people on here seemed to think he should be headed to USHL. But he looked very solid defensively when I focused on him, and being out there for the PK seems to indicate the coaches feel the same. He wasn't looking to do much more than hand the puck off in the O zone (drop the Charmin rather than give it a squeeze) most of the time, but having a solid stay at home wall to pair with a offensively skilled D gives that guy more freedom to create and is nice to have for PK situations and late in games where you have a narrow lead. I like how Whipple looked but also realize the USHL still might be best path given depth of D corp if Koster is coming back.
Really high level of play in the U18 gold medal game. All 3 future Gophers looked the part.
Too bad Connelly took the stupid penalty.
If Mooney hits a growth spurt watch out. His stick is crazy quick.
Huge Ziemer fan, interested to see where he will plug into the lineup next year.
Whipple isn’t flashy but he’s grown on me after watching most of the tournament as he plays a poised defensive game. Isn’t going to drive play on offense, more like a Cal Thomas style.
I agree with you on Whipple. His coach trusted him in big situations. That's positive. After watching the game, I felt he made good decisions and played his angles well. If he is another Cal Thomas type, that's good for Minnesota. Not every defensive player needs to drive offense, but they must move the puck and hit their passes into neutral ice. Ryan Johnson was that kind of player.
The defensemen in Lucia's later years were barely college average and set up the team and its fans for some painfully mediocre seasons. We don't want to go back there, but non-flashy types with great fundamentals like Johnson and Thomas are bedrocks for a good team. Hopefully, Whipple is one of those guys.
Depends upon what you call Lucia's final years.
Mike Reilly Michael Brodzinski Brady Skjei Jake Bischoff Pretty good top end D talent with guys like Jack Sadek who were much better than "average".
There is also no doubt in my mind that most of the D-corp on this team would have been recruited to U of M no matter who the head coach was including Faber LaCombe and Rinzel.
People forget that the Gophers were WCHA or Big Ten champions six years in a row that were Lucia's final 7 seasons.
Phase 2 of the USHL draft starts now. If John Whipple gets selected that should let us know what the plan is for next year. Beckett Hendrickson got selected very early in last year’s draft before we even knew he wasn’t coming in. Same could happen this year with Whipple.
Whipple to Sioux Falls. Might mean he’s not coming in this fall.
Interesting. Makes sense if both sides mutually decided heavy minutes were in his best interests.
Bob seems to have a very good relationship with Sioux Falls so I could see this being “arranged” with the Whipple pick. Would join Moore, Reid and Grimes on the roster for next year.
Bob seems to have a very good relationship with Sioux Falls so I could see this being “arranged” with the Whipple pick. Would join Moore, Reid and Grimes on the roster for next year.
Can we rename them the Sioux Falls Gophers and change their colors to maroon and gold?
Tact is the ability to step on a man's toes without messing up the shine on his shoes - Harry S Truman
Might be a sign Koster is coming back too
Might be a sign Koster is coming back too
This seems most likely. I would imagine you'd want Whipple as an option rather than relying on Begley or Rud nightly next year.
Really high level of play in the U18 gold medal game. All 3 future Gophers looked the part.
Too bad Connelly took the stupid penalty.
If Mooney hits a growth spurt watch out. His stick is crazy quick.
Huge Ziemer fan, interested to see where he will plug into the lineup next year.
Whipple isn’t flashy but he’s grown on me after watching most of the tournament as he plays a poised defensive game. Isn’t going to drive play on offense, more like a Cal Thomas style.
I agree with you on Whipple. His coach trusted him in big situations. That's positive. After watching the game, I felt he made good decisions and played his angles well. If he is another Cal Thomas type, that's good for Minnesota. Not every defensive player needs to drive offense, but they must move the puck and hit their passes into neutral ice. Ryan Johnson was that kind of player.
The defensemen in Lucia's later years were barely college average and set up the team and its fans for some painfully mediocre seasons. We don't want to go back there, but non-flashy types with great fundamentals like Johnson and Thomas are bedrocks for a good team. Hopefully, Whipple is one of those guys.
Depends upon what you call Lucia's final years.
Mike Reilly Michael Brodzinski Brady Skjei Jake Bischoff Pretty good top end D talent with guys like Jack Sadek who were much better than "average".
There is also no doubt in my mind that most of the D-corp on this team would have been recruited to U of M no matter who the head coach was including Faber LaCombe and Rinzel.
People forget that the Gophers were WCHA or Big Ten champions six years in a row that were Lucia's final 7 seasons.
In my head, I was thinking Glover, Steve Johson and the like.
Might be a sign Koster is coming back too
This seems most likely. I would imagine you'd want Whipple as an option rather than relying on Begley or Rud nightly next year.
I think that is safe to say at this point.
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There was nothing wrong with Steve Johnson per se (he had 39 points his last 3 years with a +6 and only 24 PIM) rather during his senior year for instance there was also Phillips, Rossini, Glover, Ramsey, Zuhlsdorf, Sadek and Lingren. Lindgren obviously has done fine for himself in the NHL, but Johnson led that core in scoring.
There’s nothing wrong with the Steve Johnson’s, Sadeks and Gates Jrs of the world that came through the only problem is that they shouldn’t be your go-to guys like they were when they were upperclassmen. They were good supporting player caliber. That showed a clear drop off in talent from where Gopher hockey should be. If there’s one thing Motzko has done it’s gotten recruiting back on track.
https://twitter.com/USHL/status/1789456396439662710
https://twitter.com/USHL/status/1789453305778749673
I actually give a @#$* about the Twins
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Impressive edge work by Beckett and that shot by Gruba reminded me of Nate Schmidt.
Brady Yakesh no longer has gopher hockey tagged on his instagram. Also has “LU Hockey #7” on his twitter. Lindenwood maybe?
Brady Yakesh no longer has gopher hockey tagged on his instagram. Also has “LU Hockey #7” on his twitter. Lindenwood maybe?
Good catch. Certainly seems that way. People on here have seen this coming for awhile. If he did make it to campus he never would’ve seen the ice so good for him.
John Whipple thanked his USNTDP teammates for the last 2 years on instagram. Not sure what his bio said before today, but is says Gopher Hockey and not Gopher Hockey commit like others recruits usually say if they are not coming in this year. But, purely speculation.
I actually give a @#$* about the Twins
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
Javon Moore comes in at No. 78 on this draft list and Brodie Ziemer at No. 95.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5518310/2024/05/28/nhl-draft-rankings-2024-prospects/
Whipple not ranked.
Here's the Wheeler list.
Ziemer at No. 61 and this kind of syncs up with everything I've heard about him. "Ziemer is a competitor who seemed to make his linemates better regardless of who he played with at the NTDP over the last two years. He’s committed to the details. He’ll block shots. He sticks with the play. He’s opportunistic. He makes the right decision more often than the wrong one... He’s by all accounts committed to getting better and will take his career as far as it will go."
Whipple came in at No. 87 on this one and seems that the microscope of playing at the USNTDP caught him, "Viewed by many as the star D prospect in the American 2006 class when he arrived at the program, Whipple became more of a piece of the puzzle with the national team than the guy. He's a solid player with a competitive spirit and decent tools and skill."
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5521848/2024/06/03/2024-nhl-draft-rankings-top-100-prospects/
Every time I see these lists I hope to see them fall more and more down the list selfishly cause I know we’ll get more years out of them. Whipple seems like a no doubt 4 year guy and Ziemer probably 3-4.
I don’t know how they project to the NHL but I think it’s somewhat safe to say they’ll be great college players which excites me the most.
I think Whipple will overcome these reviews and be at most here 3 years.
I think Whipple will overcome these reviews and be at most here 3 years.
I hope you’re right! (The Whipple proving himself part, not the leaving after 3 years part😉)
Every time I see these lists I hope to see them fall more and more down the list selfishly cause I know we’ll get more years out of them. Whipple seems like a no doubt 4 year guy and Ziemer probably 3-4.
I don’t know how they project to the NHL but I think it’s somewhat safe to say they’ll be great college players which excites me the most.
This group - acknowledging best laid plans go to hell - looks like a lot of three and four year players. Expecting most to contribute early with a lot of long-term upside. Good complements to experienced players in 2024-2025.
Nothing wrong with being a 4 year player. We have gotten a lot of run out guys like that.
Nothing wrong with being a 4 year player. We have gotten a lot of run out guys like that.
Never said there was so...
Not that it was really much of a question but Teddy Townsend is at Waterloo camp so he’ll be there again next year.
Not that it was really much of a question but Teddy Townsend is at Waterloo camp so he’ll be there again next year.
An encouraging rookie year given he was the age of a high school senior. Excited to see what he does in year two.
https://twitter.com/MLarkinHockey/status/1804864483409412353
Javon Moore, LW (Minnetonka, Minn-HS)
Moore didn’t get a ton of eyes on him given he played high school hockey, but scouts liked what they saw. At 6-foot-3, he’s got the size teams crave and his skating is high-end. There’s a ton of power in his game, and I think he’s one of the more athletic kids you’ll find. But the University of Minnesota commit can struggle with consistency and his hockey sense is lacking compared to others around this point in the list. It’s always hard to judge high school players because the competition isn’t great, but the raw talent is noticeable, at least. His time in the NCAA will be crucial to round him out because the raw talent is excellent.
I actually give a @#$* about the Twins
Looking down from my High Horse
Morality Police
https://twitter.com/MLarkinHockey/status/1804864483409412353
Javon Moore, LW (Minnetonka, Minn-HS)
Moore didn’t get a ton of eyes on him given he played high school hockey, but scouts liked what they saw. At 6-foot-3, he’s got the size teams crave and his skating is high-end. There’s a ton of power in his game, and I think he’s one of the more athletic kids you’ll find. But the University of Minnesota commit can struggle with consistency and his hockey sense is lacking compared to others around this point in the list. It’s always hard to judge high school players because the competition isn’t great, but the raw talent is noticeable, at least. His time in the NCAA will be crucial to round him out because the raw talent is excellent.
This is pretty much exactly correct.
Yeah I was gonna say that scouting report is exactly what I see when I watch Javon. Physical tools are off the charts but I just don’t know what kind of hockey player there is there. Thats why I think he should spend two years in Sioux Falls but many on here want him on campus after 1 year.
Yeah I was gonna say that scouting report is exactly what I see when I watch Javon. Physical tools are off the charts but I just don’t know what kind of hockey player there is there. Thats why I think he should spend two years in Sioux Falls but many on here want him on campus after 1 year.
I don't see it as a want so much as a realistic expectation based on where he will be drafted, though his development and the team with his rights will have a significant say. With his size and tools he can contribute if he has a good motor, even if he never develops into a star.
Maybe I should have put this in the Potential Recruits thread, but 
recruit Gavin Katz is involved so here we are. The “USA Hockey” National 17 Development Camp starts on Tuesday. They’re spicing the games up by going back to games between districts like they used to instead of splitting players on to random teams. You can follow camp games HERE. Minnesota players involved can be found HERE.