WCHA...The Offseason

[thebrain]

What do we have to look forward to for next season? Bemidji State has an opening for their head coaching position. The rumors of Miller going to Vermont. Plus, will UND make a switch at the head coaching position?

[taz91]

Will Wall return to Minnesota from the National Team? Will Minnesota State get healthy? Will Lesteberg get a new contract?

[brookyone]

What do we have to look forward to for next season? Bemidji State has an opening for their head coaching position. The rumors of Miller going to Vermont. Plus, will UND make a switch at the head coaching position?
I was gonna take a little break...but one thought I have is...as topsy turvy as the recently concluded season was regarding the difficulty in predicting outcomes I think the 2006-07 season being even more so is a distinct possibility...or an idea / possibility that merits discussion at least.

Best approach over the off season could be to break it down team by team, then form your opinions, or perhaps more accurately, your wild guesses. I expect we'll have a pre season poll down the road a ways.

I was reading another forum linked in the UND thread, seems there's lots of turmoil or displeasure with how that program is progressing, particularly over results...at least among fans, but the rumors are it exists among players as well. All a little premature for a team with just two seasons of WCHA membership under their belt IMO.

As per coaching, I like to stay out of those discussions or speculations...or leave them to the people who get paid to worry about those details. I'll just say I think there are a couple coaches in Minnesota that could do well in the WCHA and perhaps improve programs some may perceive as in need of a change, if called upon and interested that is.

At the moment I think there are three or four teams that will be stronger editions than the '05-'06 versions...on paper anyway, but I suspect on the ice as well. I don't see the recently crowned National Champion being any less formidable in 2006-07 either.

Okay...maybe a few thoughts.

Edit: A link to the forum / discussion I mentioned:

http://siouxsports.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=5762

[brookyone]

Just a question for Gopher fans...nothing urgent, take your time, think about it. Would you prefer a Gopher specific off season thread or are fans fine with tossing all off season WCHA team banter in here?

[ARM]

Gopher specific, but lets wait a little while. The current "Gopher Season" thread will suffice for any news through the banquet, which is April 7th, like team awards. Those belong with the current season anyway.

[Hckysk8tr8]

I think next year's new crop of Gophers have a lot of positive examples to live up to. The class and work ethic of the Gophers this season certainly says what a wonderful group of people they are. What a great opportunity the new girls will have to skate with that level of athlete and learn team commitment from them. Go Gophers! You are definately "winners" in our book!

[brookyone]

I think next year's new crop of Gophers have a lot of positive examples to live up to. The class and work ethic of the Gophers this season certainly says what a wonderful group of people they are. What a great opportunity the new girls will have to skate with that level of athlete and learn team commitment from them. Go Gophers! You are definately "winners" in our book!
Just like to go on record with my concurrence with the above (bet that comes as a major surprise to all). I think I can speak for all Gopher fans when I say we are really looking forward to the new crop of Gophers joining the team in 2006-07. They will certainly be joining a solid returning group. Can't wait to see them in action, witness their contributions and added dimensions they'll undoubtedly bring to the team.

A considerable number of very exciting & talented players are joining WCHA rosters in 2006-07.

Have I mentioned that before? :confused:

[brookyone]

http://wcha.cstv.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/032806aac.html

Halldorson gets my vote, with what her team accomplished after the serious hits to her previous roster. Many worthy candidates with outstanding coaching / results in 2005-06. I think a completely legit case can be made for any one of the four FF team coaches...but I do think it should be one of those four.

[brookyone]

...and player All American (RBK) recognitions...

http://wcha.cstv.com/sports/w-hockey/spec-rel/032806aab.html

...congratulations!!

[ARM]

brookyone, I agree that the Gopher coaches did a nice job, but I think Coach H. winning so often in the past makes it less likely that she wins this year. Coach Flanagan has also won before, and I can't see why he would get the nod over the others at the FF. So that would leave McCloskey or Johnson, both very worthy recipients. If Johnson doesn't win now, then I'm not sure what he would need to do in the future to win.

[brookyone]

If Johnson doesn't win now, then I'm not sure what he would need to do in the future to win.
A good point ARM. It's hard to argue with a 36-4-1 record en route to a National Championship.

I do have a tiny little issue with Jinelle's "Wisconsin is the new State of Hockey" comment. ;)

[Radar3535]

;) Just a question for Gopher fans...nothing urgent, take your time, think about it. Would you prefer a Gopher specific off season thread or are fans fine with tossing all off season WCHA team banter in here?I'd like yo see a Gopher specific off season thread. ;)

[banditbun]

Okay....folks simply have to lay this rumor to rest.... Shannon Miller will not be going to Vermont this year.

[Top Row]

Okay....folks simply have to lay this rumor to rest.... Shannon Miller will not be going to Vermont this year.
:mad:




. :p

[Skeeterman]

Any coaching changes in the works? Anyone on the hot seat?

[brookyone]

Anyone on the hot seat?
The seat seems to be gettin' a little warm in Grand Forks if ya listen to the fans...and perhaps a few players as well. I read one of the Wooster twins left the team in addition to at least one other player. It's unfortunate if true. Rumors of internal team turmoil disturb* me more than anything else in hockey. Just about the worst situation for any team. Particularly in UND's case, the newest member of the WCHA and still at a disadvantage to most regarding scholarships. I don't think you can compare the teams success (records) as an independent to their success as a member of the WCHA, or expect to improve upon your record as an independent instantly after joining the WCHA, which seems to be a source of complaints...or even the teams success from one year to another within the WCHA at this early stage...also mentioned in fan complaints. It's a competitive conference with all teams striving to improve. A steady advance to compete with top teams is never a given...or easy, and especially hard without a like number of scholarships. Couple of stories linked in "North Dakota Hockey" thread may provide more insight.

Do the Sioux need a new coach? I dunno. Specific complaints I've read are that pratices are unstructured and game strategies vs. various opponents are non existent.

*Of course most would say I'm quite disturbed at all times anyway.

[monstersfan]

North Dakota situation- ND has given the Badgers some troubles over the years. There has been some strategy, and some good play, something seems to be missing or inconsistant- I'm surprised that they've remained at the bottom of the WCHA.

Bemidji- betcha they take Paulson. Yeah, she's new and young. But she's the Sis, man. Anyone who's watched her play as Captain of the Badgers knows. She was always the last one off the ice. She made sure the band was taken care of. I suspect she had as much of establishing the tradition of the Wisconsin defensive tradition as the coaches in the early years. Bemidji stated playing better in the last half of the season with her as a co-coach. Maybe the other co-coach was great too, but come on. She's the Sis. Bemidji's gotta take her.

Bemidji, Mankato, and Saint Cloud all have the potential to play in the top next year- there's very few top quality seniors graduating in the WCHA this year, other than the Badger senior forwards and several goalies. The Badger's freshmen were spectacular this year despite getting froze out of the all-freshmen teams, probably because no one Badger newby stuck out, they were pretty much all good. They just had to settle for a couple little plaques from the WCHA and the NCAA.

'Bout the only folks I don't expect to be tougher are ND, Ohio State, and Duluth, could be very wrong about Duluth.

[ARM]

'Bout the only folks I don't expect to be tougher are ND, Ohio State, and Duluth, could be very wrong about Duluth.My fear is that you are in fact wrong about Duluth. Kind of a strange situation there -- they have the 1st team All American goalie returning, but yet they've probably upgraded the position. Apparently, they have added talent at some other positions as well. The one question might be how they have a roster of about 28, lose a couple of seniors, and then still add several more players. I guess how they split 18 scholarships between 30 or more is their business, not mine.

IMO, both assistants at Bemidji seemed to be doing a good job over the second half, much like the UW coaches did down the stretch in 2002.

[Top Row]

Morris has spoken. http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060405/SPORTS/104050013/1002

[Willie Plett]

Morris has spoken. http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060405/SPORTS/104050013/1002


Kurtz is a ****** bag!