I don't get this team. On paper, they look to be talented, but I'm not seeing it. Where is Chloe? Are there injured players keeping the team from reaching their full potential?
Watched Ohio State and Wisconsin play at Wrigley and it was a fight from start to finish. Two very good teams. I just don't see how in the world Ohio State has 5 losses to be honest. They are a very well coached team...and this is a team that graduated 7 PWHL draft picks from last year's national champ season.
Chloe Primerano is in Finland playing for the Canadian U18 team in the World Championships. She’ll be gone this coming weekend also. The only injured players I’m aware of are Skyler Vetter and Maddie Kaiser.
My biggest problem is the lack of production by anyone beyond a small few.
Impressive. Could this be the start of something good? I knew on paper this can be a very good team. It's time to start showing that is true by beating the top end teams now. A win today and the Gophers are definitely showing they are on the rise. Still, the Badgers women's team remains the top overall team, but does seem to be stagnating based upon their past two performances on the ice. But we all know that can change very quickly. Too much talent on that team and too well coached for sure.
Does Brad Frost have a lifetime contract or something? Seems like Minnesota hasn't been very competitive with Wisconsin and Ohio State in years. The women's program is overdue for a shake up.
How can a supposed Top 5 team in the country not compete with another? Is the disparity really that bad in the women's game?
Wisconsin is loaded beyond belief this season. They have put distance between them and Ohio State is a clear #2. They are an absolute juggernaut.
But yeah, this year there is 1, then 2, then 3-7ish is all about the same.
Again we also were missing two of our best scoring forwards who were in Europe for Olympic Qualifying. Wisconsin wasn't missing anyone as their entire team is American or Canadian. That wouldn't have solved everything, but when WI can roll 4 lines easily and we realistically have only 2 lines that can score with our players out, it makes a difference.
There is a reason Frost has gone back to the Canada and Europe well recruiting wise recently and it's because the best local players don't want to be here for some reason.
How can a supposed Top 5 team in the country not compete with another? Is the disparity really that bad in the women's game?
Wisconsin is loaded beyond belief this season. They have put distance between them and Ohio State is a clear #2. They are an absolute juggernaut.
But yeah, this year there is 1, then 2, then 3-7ish is all about the same.
Again we also were missing two of our best scoring forwards who were in Europe for Olympic Qualifying. Wisconsin wasn't missing anyone as their entire team is American or Canadian. That wouldn't have solved everything, but when WI can roll 4 lines easily and we realistically have only 2 lines that can score with our players out, it makes a difference.
There is a reason Frost has gone back to the Canada and Europe well recruiting wise recently and it's because the best local players don't want to be here for some reason.
That should be a big concern regarding any head hockey coach at Minnesota.
In the past three seasons, The Gophers are 6-17-4 against Wisconsin and Ohio State and they have been outscored 109-67 in those games.
Take away 22-23 and they are 2-13-1 in the past two seasons, outscored 75-34. I don't believe the talent gap has been that large, it falls on coaching in my book.
Barring a WCHA title, a national championship game appearance, or Abbey Murphy straight-up saying that she'll come back for another year on the condition that Frost stays, I think there should be a new head coach next year.
Barring a WCHA title, a national championship game appearance, or Abbey Murphy straight-up saying that she'll come back for another year on the condition that Frost stays, I think there should be a new head coach next year.
No way Mark Coyle fires Frost and has to pay that buyout while needing to replace Ben Johnson.
Even if they go one and done in the NCAA Coyle won't fire him.
The Women close out a weekend 🧹 of Duluth with a 1-0 win today on one of the stranger goals you’ll come across.
Murphy's shot deflected off the back glass and back towards the Minnesota Duluth net before being gloved by goaltender Eve Gascon. However, Gascon's glove then crossed over the line, inadvertently resulting in a Minnesota score and subsequent victory.
Gophers host Mankato next weekend in the first round of the WCHA tournament.
Now they just need to beat Ohio State again when it really counts and find a miracle against Wisconsin.
Good news is with the sweep they are back to #3 in the Pairwise which should nearly clinch a home NCAA Quarterfinal barring an upset to Kato next weekend.
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