Minnesota Gophers 2018-2019

[D2D]

I can't believe a coach of his pedigree would be so overlooked by his own University. Another black eye for women's sports.

Was Mark Johnson "overlooked by his own University" two years ago when the men's coaching job opened up at Wisconsin?

[ARM]

Actually, careful what you wish for with Muzzy making a name for herself with the Buckeyes she would be a shoe in if he left.

I think Joel Johnson would be the shoe in; it helps to have your foot in the door, and the Gophers' record in the years Johnson has been on staff speaks for itself. Although admittedly, it was even better with Muzzy on staff.

[ne7minder]

Was Mark Johnson "overlooked by his own University" two years ago when the men's coaching job opened up at Wisconsin?

No, only MN does bad things, WI never ever ever does anything wrong.

I used to think that a large number of MN fans suffered from cranial insertion but this board is convincing me they would have to go a long way to catch down to Badger fans

[ne7minder]

BTW - I want it noted I called it, right here on this board.

Motzko won the audition with his teams performance against Air Force!

[Timothy A]

Was Mark Johnson "overlooked by his own University" two years ago when the men's coaching job opened up at Wisconsin?

I thought it would be too obvious if I put the on that post.....I guess it worked out ok. Johnston or Muzzy would just keep the train rolling. What we have to do is get that guy out of the Nursing School. Clearly that program is going to be a thorn in our sides for awhile, especially with all those 21 yr old freshwomen.

[vicb]

I thought it would be too obvious if I put the on that post.....I guess it worked out ok. Johnston or Muzzy would just keep the train rolling. What we have to do is get that guy out of the Nursing School. Clearly that program is going to be a thorn in our sides for awhile, especially with all those 21 yr old freshwomen.

Fear the Green and Gold.

[bluffrinkrat]

I thought it would be too obvious if I put the on that post.....I guess it worked out ok. Johnston or Muzzy would just keep the train rolling.

Johnston? The former Blackhawk George "Wingy" Johnston? Don't think he's available to coach.

[pokechecker]

What we have to do is get that guy out of the Nursing School. Clearly that program is going to be a thorn in our sides for awhile, especially with all those 21 yr old freshwomen.

you should talk, your coach is sending them to a pro league for a year of seasoning apparently

[Puckdrop14]

you should talk, your coach is sending them to a pro league for a year of seasoning apparently

And how old will Pankowski be when she graduates?

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

And how old will Pankowski be when she graduates?

Probably similar in age to Timothy A's favorite...Kessel.

[pokechecker]

I wonder if this will now be the new norm ... just like men's hockey, delay entering college in hopes of being a more complete player.
One thing it will do is make a victory over Wisconsin and Clarkson that much sweeter.

[bluffrinkrat]

Probably similar in age to Timothy A's favorite...Kessel.

Both at age 24, I think. I took Intro to Math as my last class in college and only because it was required, so...

[HockeyEast33]

I wonder if this will now be the new norm ... just like men's hockey, delay entering college in hopes of being a more complete player.

Probably, but it's silly. For the men, many of them have dreams of a career in the NHL or overseas. For the women, they have a dream of .... graduation? coaching? making $5K a year playing "professional" hockey? There was once a study done that showed that for (I think) 75% of men's hockey players the 2-3 years of lost work time playing prep/junior hockey more than offset the value of their scholarship - plus they started with an age disadvantage in their chosen profession.

[Timothy A]

Probably similar in age to Timothy A's favorite...Kessel.

There ya go again with that 6 letter word, I knew I should not have come in here. Reminds me of a scene from Monty Python & the Holy Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrail.

There is no comparison to Pankowski & Kessel, other than their ages when they use up their eligibility.

See the UW thread for thoughts on Ms. Shirley's situation. I'm pretty confident MJ really wanted her in Madison last year seeing they lost 60% of their scoring and there aren't any retired players to bring back and save the day.

[ARM]

... there aren't any retired players to bring back and save the day.

Mostly because Duggan, Knight, and Decker seem to have been the last Badgers capable of saving the day.

[FiveHoleFrenzy]

Mostly because Duggan, Knight, and Decker seem to have been the last Badgers capable of saving the day.

Another reason to hit the thinner...

[ne7minder]

Another reason to hit the thinner...

PLEASE DON'T DRINK TURPENTINE!
https://gizmodo.com/please-dont-drin...ine-1824088253

[FredsDeadFriend]

That is a good question...Probably needs to be redirected to the Sconnie expertise that sometimes graces us with their presence.

Gunderson, Peiper, and Smith won't see the ice much at all and Keller could also see her minutes diminished coming back from injury. Another question is how will Taylor Williamson's health be next year? Definitely more competition next year than this past year. My opinion is that Skarzynski should be in the mix at D not a forward but we will see what happens there.

Now I'm in no way an expert, hence why I am asking the question. But with us losing 7 Forwards at the end of the season, would it be unheard of or unreasonable for maybe Gunderson and/or Smith to redshirt, instead of an incoming frosh? Pieper already redshirted, and Keller is only a Jr of the 4 you mentioned who won't see much ice time or might have their ice time dimished, so if you say those 3 seniors aren't going to play much anyways, why not redshirt them, giving our younger players some good experience right away while we have Kelly, Sarah, Nicole, Jackie, Sierra, Taylor and Grace all here at the same time. That's a ton of both talent and plenty of experience right there, with 5 seniors & a very talented Jr and a very talented Soph, and the 3 returners I didn't mention and 5 incoming frosh, that would be 15 forwards with 2 Seniors redshirting. Healthy and injury free, that's 5 full lines. Now I'm assuming Skarzynski goes to the D.

This way we'd only be losing 5 forwards at the end of the season, and would have some experienced players already here to fill in for the departing players come next season.

Now honestly I don't even know if its allowed to redshirt a non-freshman without there being an Olympic invite or an injury, or if its something athletes would ever be willing to do, as a lot of these gals finish school in 4 years? Just seems we'll be losing a lot of experience at the end of the year and if those players won't play much anyway, maybe next year with Kelly, Nicole, Jackie, Sierra & Taylor all leaving there might be more minutes available and a greater need for experienced players in the lineup?

Just a thought?

[Still Eeyore]

You can redshirt at any time during your eligibility, but I don't think there's any point in doing so with Gunderson or Smith. Frost has pretty much indicated that he won't give them regular playing time under any but the most dire circumstances. I'm convinced that he doesn't trust his depth enough and there should be more sightings of the fourth line on the ice. At this point, though, it is what it is, and Gunderson and Smith don't really add depth in any practical way. Given what the depth chart looks like, I wouldn't be surprised if at least one of Gunderson/Pieper/Smith follows Anna Barlow's lead and hangs up the skates.

That said, I'm also not sure that it's necessary. Yes, the Gophers will graduate 6-7 forwards next year, depending upon where Skarzynski plays, but that's more a product of having more than enough for 2018-19 than not having enough for 2019-20.

[D2D]

Just saw where Amanda Kessel is petitioning the NCAA for another year of eligibility. Sure hope she gets it!