Minnesota Sucks Week

Let's keep that goal scoring theme going all day...

Minnesota Sucks Week

Last time Minnesota and Wisconsin played each other for a National Championship...Boom.

Minnesota Sucks Week

Let's get that goal scoring vibe going early on game day...

Minnesota Sucks Week

Minnesota Sucks Week Preview

Two weeks ago the Badgers felt pretty good about themselves. Home ice in the WCHA playoffs looked like a solid bet, and barring an epic collapse, it looked like an NCAA tournament bid was going to be in the cards.

What a difference a week makes. After being swept by Nebraska-Omaha the Badgers are 3 points away from going on the road in the first round of the WCHA playoffs and are hanging on by a thread for NCAA tournament contention.

From here on out, every weekend needs to be treated like a playoff series. As if Wisconsin didn't need any more motivation, their biggest rival, the Minnesota Gophers are set to roll into town this weekend.

The Badgers seemingly couldn't catch a break last weekend in Omaha. Playing a defensive style of hockey that looked like some past Wisconsin teams UNO took advantage of Wisconsin turnovers and converted on what seemed like every opportunity that they had.

Taking another page out of the Badger playbook, the Mavericks were shot blocking machines last weekend. There was one power play where UNO had to have set a record for blocked shots in one shift.

Not all bad came out of last weekend though. Despite trailing 4-1 in the third period on Saturday night, the Badgers battled back scoring two late goals to make it a game. They out shot the Mavericks 12-4 and looked more like the team that had won 12 out of the last 13 rather than the one that showed up the previous 5 periods.

Junior forward Jordy Murray had a big weekend for the Badgers scoring goals in both games over the weekend. Murray's 15th and 16th goals of the season put him in a tie for the team lead with Craig Smith.

The Gophers roll into Madison after playing their most complete game of the season on Saturday night versus Denver. After an early Denver goal was inexplicably waived off, Minnesota exploded for 7 goals en route to a 7-3 victory.

Unfortunately for Minnesota, it looks like they will be without the services of leading scorer and senior captain Jay Bariball. Lucia said he is not expected to play due to a lower body injury.

You're familiar with the rest of the crew. Mike Hoeffel and Jacob Cepis are always threats and freshman Eric Haula has found his scoring touch after a lengthy drought.

Junior Kent Patterson is the full time man in between the pipes after Alex Kangas was lost for the season when he had hip surgery. Patterson has been arguably the Gophers best player this season and is in serious contention for end of the season award consideration. His .925 save percentage is second to only Wisconsin's Scott Gudmandson in league play.

The Badgers continue to lead the WCHA in team defense and on the penalty kill. While the Wisconsin power play has struggled the past few weeks they came to life in the third period last Saturday night scoring twice. The Gophers have the worst penalty kill in the conference so taking advantage while on the man advantage will be the difference between winning and losing this weekend.

COVERAGE

The Friday night game is being broadcast by the Big Ten Network and the Saturday night game will be on Fox Sports North. Note the Saturday game time is 8 PM not the normal 7.

POLLS

The Badgers dropped from 7 to 12 in the USCHO.com poll and from 7 to 13 in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll. Minnesota is receiving votes in the USCHO.com poll.

INJURIES

Joe Faust hasn't' been heard from since he injured his shoulder a few weeks back but it's unconfirmed if he hasn't played because of the injury or because of his play. Minnesota will be without senior Jay Bariball

PREDICTIONS

Traditionally the Badgers have taken the Friday night game at the Kohl Center and Minnesota usually bounces back on Saturday. The Badgers are pissed about not bringing home any points last weekend and I can assure you that won't happen again.

Friday: Wisconsin 4, Minnesota 2
Saturday: Wisconsin 3, Minnesota 3

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Minnesota Sucks Week

Minnesota Sucks Week

Minnesota Sucks Week

Minnesota Sucks Week

Need to move on after those two games at Omaha. Here's a video that is sure to make you laugh. They are performers alright.

What I Want During Minnesota Weekend

Let's get to the point. It's Minnesota this weekend, and I need to pack for Purdue. I'll be brief and not particularly eloquent. Here are a few things I want this weekend.

1. I want you guys to read these.
Five years ago, while on a marching band road trip to the Twin Cities, my friend Peter wrote his "Discourse on the History and Origins of the Suckiness of Minnesota". That trip ended with an epic blocked punt by Jonathan Casillas, cementing one of the most memorable Wisconsin victories over the Goofers. Five years later, they may have a new football stadium, but they're just as bad as ever, and Peter updated his treatise to reflect modern times. I know much of this is football-related instead of hockey-related, but it's an entertaining read nonetheless.

2. I want to see a butt-kicking.
Here's hoping the Badgers give the Goofers a bigger shellacking this weekend than the Republicans put on the Democrats on Tuesday.

3. I want to see Saturday's game on TV.
I'll be in West Lafayette this weekend for the Wisconsin-Purdue game. Let's just say that there had better be at least one bar there that gets the Big Ten Network at 7:00 on Saturday or $#!% is going to hit the fan.

A Reminder...

Gopher Fans are a weird bunch. Know thy enemy. It's best to be prepared.

There are some dated references in there. Forget all the Kangas and Schack stuff and just remember: chanting, cheering and otherwise making noise at a hockey game frightens them.

Friday Lineup Analysis vs Minnesota

Edit: I didn't want to create a new post for this so I tacked it on to my lineup analysis post. Here is an archived interview from Thursday morning on KFAN in the Twin Cities interviewing Ryan Cardinal who is a writer for the Gopher Puck Live website. Cardinal is one of the few Gopher fans that I respect and his weekly interview on KFAN is always a must listen even if the Gophers aren't playing Wisconsin.
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One of the best features that Badger beat writer Andy Baggot brings to the table is providing the fans with the Wednesday practice lines which typically mirror the lineup that head coach Mike Eaves will roll out on Friday night.

The coaches have decided to make a few changes for this weekends series versus Minnesota and with good reason. Offensively, the Badgers have held in tact the Murray-Smith-Zengerle line which has been together and generally effective all season. Eaves has also kept together the Johnson-Dolan-R. Little line which has been surprisingly more offensive than I think anyone would have guessed.

The changes come to the unit that Derek Lee has been centering. In an effort to jump start some production, Eaves has paired freshman wingers Michael Mersch and Tyler Barnes together with Lee. Offensively, Barnes and Lee aren't quite where we thought they would be at this stage in the game but obviously both have plenty of ability. I like the idea of pairing those two with a bull like Mersch who we just saw scratch the surface of his potential over the past weekend.

The fourth unit has Jefferson Dahl in his familiar spot at center but now includes Podge Turnbull on a wing along with freshman Jason Clark. Dahl is a very responsible center who is going to take care of his end of the ice and Turnbull has the ability to hit everything that moves and provide energy. Clark is just getting his feet wet and pairing him with a veteran in Turnbull and a responsible center in Dahl is a good way to let him just go out and play hockey.

The biggest changes are coming on the defensive side of the puck. Paired together on the top tandem for the the Badgers is Jake Gardiner and Justin Schultz. In Baggots article, Eaves noted that those two playing together on the same power play unit had something to do with it, "but also it gives us a chance to see what they can do 5-on-5.'' Schultz and Gardiner are both elite skaters and puck movers and I'm intrigued to see what they can do while paired together.

The second unit will pair shut down defenders Craig Johnson who has far exceeded expectations in his Badger career and John Ramage. This is a very solid tandem which you can throw out against any line in the country and feel comfortable.

The third unit will feature freshmen Joe Faust and Frankie Simonelli. Baggot asked Eaves if the freshmen would skate at the same time, Eaves said: "Sometimes, not all the time.''

I'm guessing that playing time for the defensemen will shake down into something like 28-30 minutes for Gards and Schultzy, 20-22 minutes for Johnson and Rammer, and 8-10 minutes for Faust and Simonelli. Elite players like Gardiner and Schultz should have no problem playing 28-30 minutes a night at this stage in their careers. They are big time players who need big time ice in big time series.

As usual Scott Gudmandson will start in the nets for the Badgers on Friday night and the coaches will asses the situation and make a decision for Saturday when the time comes. I still strongly favor playing both goaltenders in a rotation until later in the season when one of them forces Eaves hand one way or another.

Projected lineup:

Jordy Murray-Craig Smith-Mark Zengerle
Patrick Johnson-Sean Dolan-R. Little
Michael Mersch-Derek Lee-Tyler Barnes
Jason Clark-Jefferson Dahl-Podge Turnbull

Jake Gardiner-Justin Schultz
Craig Johnson-John Ramage
Joe Faust-Frankie Simonelli

Scott Gudmandson
Brett Bennett

Photo by Neil Ament

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Minnesota Week

We're officially one month into the season and the water is still quite murky. Wisconsin has handled it's business so far in games against inferior opponents, sweeping Alabama-Huntsville and Michigan Tech at home and taking care of Holy Cross in the Ice Breaker. Yet Wisconsin is still looking for a signature win.

The Badgers have faced two tournament caliber teams, Boston University and Denver and have only managed a tie in three contests (yeah we know we got screwed against BU).

This weekend is important for Wisconsin on multiple levels. First, Wisconsin doesn't have a true road win yet in the early season. Holy Cross was on neutral ice in St. Louis. Mariucci is a solid barn to play in and as a player if you can't get up for this series, you don't deserve to wear Wisconsin across your chest.

In last weeks preview, I called out a few names that I felt needed to provide some secondary scoring behind our top line and Sean Dolan. Some of those guys certainly got the message. Michael Mersch had a 3 point Friday night and Podge Turnbull and Patrick Johnson, two guys the Badgers desperately need offense from this season also found the back of the net on Friday. Johnson continued his hot streak on Saturday assisting on 3 Badger goals and Ryan Little chipped in a goal.

I wouldn't be honest with you if I told you I predicted to see Sean Dolan with 8 points in the first 8 games of the season. The kid has taken his captaincy to heart this season and has stepped his game up to another level. Dolan has already surpassed his point total of last season (7) and has a realistic shot at passing his 3 year point total of 26.

I'm happy that Eaves went back to the rotation in nets this weekend. It's important that Brett Bennett stays active and sees shots. Both goaltenders have been very solid for the Badgers this season and we're going to have to rely on them heavily through the next 8 game stretch against some very talented teams.

One of the biggest keys for Wisconsin this weekend is going to be converting on the power play. Minnesota is one of the worst penalty killing teams in the nation with a 78.4 kill rate while the Badgers are third in the country in converting on the peeps at 31.1%. The big ice surface at Mariucci should give our PP specialists like Mark Zengerle and Justin Schultz room to work.

Minnesota comes into this series on a high after crushing Colorado College over the weekend. The Gophers racked up 13 goals over the weekend in the sweep and are still a very talented group despite losing Jordan Shroeder and Nick Leddy to the pros in the off season.

Offensively, senior captain Jay Bariball, back after a medical red shirt leads the charge for the Gophers. Bariball has looked solid this season and has 11 points in 8 games including 8 goals. Jacob Cepis and talented freshman Erik Haula have also been playing at a high level with 10 points a piece. Haula has been centering the Gophers top line all season.

Wisconsin native, and freshman forward Nate Condon from Wausau had a big weekend for Minnesota against CC. His 5 point night Saturday earned him WCHA Rookie of the week honors.

In goal it looks like Minnesota will go with Junior Kent Patterson on Friday and most likely Alex Kangas on Saturday depending on Friday's results. Patterson has much better numbers but by all accounts, the defense has played much better in games that Patterson has started, so it's not all Kangas's fault.

COVERAGE

Friday night's game will air on Fox Sports North and Fox Sports Wisconsin. Saturday night's game will be broadcast in HD on the Big Ten Network.

POLLS

Wisconsin checks in this week at #15 in the USCHO.com poll and are just out of the top 15 in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll. Minnesota is #17 in the USCHO.com poll and are also receiving voted in the USA Today/USA Hockey poll.

INJURIES

Wisconsin looks to be at pretty much full strength. Jordy Murray got banged up Friday but he's a warrior and should be ready. Minnesota has big time injury issues. Freshmen Nick Bjugstad and Jake Parenteau are both going to be out this weekend with mono. Junior forward Nick Larson has also been ruled out for this weekend and Sophomore forward Zach Budish tore his ACL in a moped crash earlier this week and is out for the season.

Predictions

Very hard series to handicap at this stage in the game. Minnesota is already playing short handed and I think that Wisconsin has the better squad this season. But as last year showed, the best team doesn't always win every time out. I think Minnesota comes out hard on Friday night to defend home ice but gets lazy on Saturday. Split.

Friday Night: Loss, Minnesota 4-Wisconsin 2
Saturday Night: Win, Wisconsin 5-Minnesota 4

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Cha Cha Cha Chia!

6 > 5

Ryan Walters De-Commits From Minnesota **UPDATE: Just Spoke With Walters**

Just spoke to sources close to the situation (Updated: Talked to Ryan as well) that have confirmed that Ryan Walters has de-committed from Minnesota.

Walters from the time he committed was promised a spot in 2010. Even when he left for Des Moines this fall he was still told he would be a 2010. He committed in the fall of 2007. He did everything that was asked of him.

I was told that Minnesota set goals for him, and that they wanted him to have a 60+ point season in the USHL this year and he put up 61. They wanted him to be a USHL All-Star and he was the MVP at the All-Star game.

I spoke to Ryan this afternoon and he confirmed the rumors were true. "I sat down with my family today and we came to the realization that this was the best decision for me. I've been trying to get a hold of Coach Lucia all day but have been unsuccessful."

Minnesota met with Walters on Friday and told him not only was he going back to the USHL for another season but they wanted him to change his style of play. They wanted him to stop being "chirpy" and an agitator and more of a pure scorer. The source told me that he was willing to change his game for the coaches, "but it was like they were just coming up with one more thing because he met all the goals maybe they thought he wouldn't."

When asked if high school players that were brought in early affected his decision Walters said, "I'm happy that those guys are Gophers, they are my friends and they deserve everything they have been given."

The source I talked to this afternoon talked about the Gophers recruiting strategies, telling me that not one of the Gopher coaches called Ryan to congratulate him on being a USHL All-Star or for the season that he had. The source also said, "Minnesota was at several games at the end of the season but not once did they stay after to say hi while other schools were talking to their guys."

I talked to Ryan about why he made the decision and he talked about wanting to play college hockey this season, "My family felt that I am ready to play college hockey this upcoming season so I'm going to try and find a school that will allow me to do that."

I asked about potential schools and he didn't hesitate, "I want to play in the WCHA. Minnesota-Duluth and North Dakota are two great schools, but I want to play in the WCHA."

I wrote an article back in early March talking about how the Gophers have over-recruited the forward position for 2010 and that there were going to be a lot of pissed off players. I knew that there were going to be some kids that wouldn't make it to Minnesota and it looks like Walters is the first shoe to drop.

This is what I had to say about Walters in the article, "Ryan Walters committed shortly after Youso. Walters is having an excellent season in the USHL right now. He's averaging over a point per game right now for Des Moines. I know that there has been talk that he'll do what the coaches tell him, but you don't ask a point per game player in the USHL who is committed for 2010 to play his third season in the USHL so Tom f'ing Serratore can come in and play."

When I talked to the source early this afternoon they referenced the article stating, "You were right, if he didn't go in this year, he's never going to the U of M."

Looking at the Minnesota roster for next year, it was clear that they were going to have issues. They return 11 forwards. From what I can tell, they have at least 7 forwards committed for next season (Youso, Condon, Bjugstad, Ambroz, Haula, Larson and Serratore) putting them at an INSAINE 18 forwards. That is not including Max Gardiner (Projected Second Rounder), or Christian Isackson both who will be drafted in the upcoming NHL Draft. This is all in addition to Walters.

Sorry, I know I said I was retired but when this gem falls in your lap I had to inform my readers. Now...back to retirement.

Former Gopher Throws Puck In Own Net, Typical

ITT Tech Wins Intense College Hockey NIT

What a great weekend of hockey at the Bloomington Ice Gardens. Third seeded ITT Tech was crowned champions this afternoon when they defeated the Chef's of Le Cordon Bleu 2-1 in an epic battle.

ITT Tech got to the title game after they knocked off Normandale Community College in a semi-final on Saturday afternoon. Normandale was the sexy pick of the tournament by hockey experts. Normandale's premier player, forward John Cooper was shut down for the most part this weekend.

Le Cordon Bleu, who is led by goaltender and All-Culinary Conference MVP Chef Johan Svendson knocked off top seeded Minnesota in the other semi-final. Many experts felt Minnesota was a bit over-rated and was only given the #1 overall seed to help attendance on Saturday night in Bloomington to compete with the WCHA Final Five championship game in St. Paul.

In the championship game, forward Michaela Powers took over. Le Cordon Bleu's goaltender Svendson was great but Powers had two goals and the Chef's couldn't muster enough offense to take the title.

Powers got ITT Tech on the board early in the second when she took a feed from Jeff Holloway and beat Svendson glove side. Le Cordon Bleu would tie the game late in the second on a tip in by Timmy Smith. Powers netted the game winner with 6:35 left in the third on the Power Play when she picked up a rebound and snuck it by a sprawling Svendson.

All-NIT Tournament Team
F-Michaela Powers-ITT Tech
F-Jeff Holloway-ITT Tech
F-Calvin Yount-Normandale CC
D-Matthew Swisher-LeCordon Bleu
D-Houston Sampson-Hennepin County CC
G-Johan Svendson-LeCordon Bleu

Thanks For Coming Schroeder

Minnesota golden chokers sophomore forward Jordan Schroeder has officially signed a contract with the Vancouver Canucks, forgoing his final two seasons in a choker uniform.

Schroeder had a pretty good freshman season recording 45 points lurching off Ryan Stoa. This season, when Schroder was supposed to step up and be the man at Minnesota, he flat out wasn't that good. His point total dropped from 45 to 28. I got to see quite a few Minnesota games this season and there were games where Schroeder was flat out invisible on the ice.

Schroeder was picked as the pre-season WCHA Player of the Year and when the all conference teams are named on Thursday, Schroder's name won't even be brought up for third team consideration.

Schroeder isn't the only first round draft pick to disappoint while playing for Don Lucia at Minnesota lately. David Fischer, a first round selection of the Montreal Canadiens and Patrick White, another first rounder by the Canucks have been flat out BUSTS. The Canucks cut their losses with white trading him to the Sharks, and Montreal is just screwed with Fischer.

Schroeders career at Minnesota was anticipated with much hype. He led them to a whopping zero NCAA tournament births, and a 35-32-9 career record (including going under .500 this season). In the same time span, Wisconsin was 44-25-8, and we're still playing this season while the Gophs are drinking long islands at the Library.

In my opinion it was a no brainer on Vancouvers part to sign Schroeder. Schroeder was quoted in the Star Tribune saying that the Canucks wanted to sign him immediately. And how can you blame them? Players are going to Minnesota's wasteland and falling into the abyss. Minnesota can get all the players that they want, but there is no excuse for the seasons that they have been having.

The player development in the land of Prince is simply non-existent right now. Check out this quote from Minnesota Wild Assistant GM Tommy Thompson, "It's just the general situation there," Thompson said of the struggling Gophers. "They've had a poor year with their team, and the whole team. Every guy on that team just looks, there doesn't look like there's a passion to them."

Thanks for playing Jordan.

College Hockey NIT

The College Hockey National Invitational Tournament (NIT) starts Tuesday. I've been sent this bracket in a press release from the tournament. Game times are 12, 2:30, 6 and 8:30 today. All games played at Bloomington Ice Gardens.