FantasySharks.com

17 days away from hockey season

Here's how I predict the WCHA this year:

1. Denver - Even without their goalie, I expect DU to be right up there at the top

--- I think spots 2-5 will be very close, a lot of teams have questions, but all of the teams I have 2-5 have to potential to be very very good. ---

2. UMD - Lost a lot, but they aren't left with a bare cupboard

3. UND - Lots of questions here, lost 7 of their 8 top scorers, but I expect them to have a pretty good season regardless

4. Minnesota - I think we will be in the top third of the league this year. I think Hill gone and Guentzel in will make a BIG impact, Pride on Ice returns to Minnesota with a return to the tournament after an unacceptable drought.

5. Colorado College - They will probably have one of the best lines in college hockey, their depth is a question, though.

6. UNO - Blais will have a good squad and get home ice.

7. Wisconsin - Bucky might have a tough year, I'm not in love with their squad.

8. SCSU - I think I picked them second in the league last year. No idea where to put them this year. They have a good core of upperclassmen so it wouldn't surprise me at all to see them in the top half when all is said and done.

9. UAA - They have actually looked solid at times under Shyiak

10. Mankato - Just don't have the talent this year to compete

11. Bemidji St. - Goaltending is solid, might bump them up a spot or two if their tender/s can get hot.

12. Michigan Tech - It's Tech.

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks

I will use the second post for my maroon and gold goggles post

I think Bjugstad will have a breakout year. I really really hope he does, I'm getting sick of players regressing after they come to campus. Nick has all the tools, big frame and a wicked wrister, he turned it on at the end of the year and I expect it to carry over.

Another sophomore who I think will settle in this year is Haula. I liked him last year, and if he is on a line with Bjugstad he could also put up some big numbers. Budish will be back after taking a medical redshirt last year, he is a big body that can do some work in the corners, always nice to have guys like that around.

Freshman look good, they always do. Will have to wait and see. Ambroz looks like he should be able to step right in and make an impact, big physical kid. I expect Mr. Hockey, Kyle Rau to have a slow start. Small kid who will need to learn how to play in the league, but hopefully he can play the small grinder role that Cepis played so well. I also think Ben Marshall will be a good addition to our blue line.

Like I said in the OP, I think Guentzel will drastically help our D-Core. I really think Hill was a poison for this program, and it will be nice to have Mike back, very passionate guy who wore the M and knows what it means. Should be able to teach the Pride on Ice mantra to these kids.




I'm hoping these last couple years of the WCHA doesn't turn into a "my conference will be better than your conference" pissing match, I want to enjoy the last two years of the best conference in the land without having to deal with any of that talk that's been thrown around on message boards that I visit this offseason

Can't wait to get back to the rink to watch some hockey

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks

UND will be in each and every game with Dell in goal.

We don't rebuild, we reload.

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Gophers get commits from Louie Nanne and Vinni Lietteri (Grandsons of THE Lou Nanne).

Hammy (Gopher hockey guru) said he expects good things from the team this year, apparently they were zipping around at practice yesterday, lots of skill on the team.

DROP THE PUCK!

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks

Are you going to leave the UMD logo up for the season, too?

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks

Until the first puck drops at a UND game.

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Guys over at Gopher Puck Live have put together a podcast: http://www.gopherpucklive.com/audio/podcast/episode001.mp3

Obviously they talk about the Gophers, but a pretty solid chunk of the podcast is them talking about the landscape of college hockey, and WCHA/awards predictions. If you're dying for some college hockey talk it's a pretty good listen

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks

The Gophs have had a great little on on the recruiting trail in the last 2 weeks. Nanne, Lettieri, and now Gabe Guertler, committed to the Gophers today.

Sounds like it may be getting even better soon. Cammarata and Fasching may be soon to follow

Apparently Mike Guentzel is paying immediate dividends on the recruiting trail.

I really like the direction we are headed in...

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks

Can't freaking wait to get down to Mariucci tonight. Hockey is BACK!

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks

NCHC has announced that they will be an 8 team conference. Moving on without Notre Dame.

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks

Great news for Bowling Green hockey, they are in the WCHA now. Obviously we all know it's a shell of it's former self, but regardless, I was glad to see them get into a conference. And the WCHA should provide them a little stability.

Notre Dame to Hockey East.

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks

Puck drops for real tonight

I'm talking to myself, where have all the college hockey sharks gone?

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks

The Sioux logo is back!

Sioux yeah yeah!

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Great to see the Gophers dominate a lesser team again. 9-0 over Sacred Heart

The last few years we would not have won 9-0. We would have gotten up by a couple goals, gotten lazy, and let them back into the game. Not tonight. And I am a firm believer that it's a direct result of Mike Guentzel being back behind the bench. He was very actively coaching behind the bench, which is quite different from John Hill.

We never let up on the back-checking tonight, even when we were up by 6, 7, 8 goals in the 3rd period. Jake Hansen was a great example of this. Late in the third period, when we were up by 6, he hustled his rump off to get back and prevent a 3 on 2 break. Would have been very easy with that big of a lead that late in the game to slack off and let it happen, but he didn't, and that is a fantastic sign.

Nick Bjugstad is an absolute man among boys on the ice. He is going to have a big year. Kyle Rau will be fun to watch this year, he has a chance to put up big numbers playing on a line with Bjugstad and Budish. Our defense looks better already, Thompson and Warning look solid, a couple puck moving D men who look competent in their own zone. Ambroz scored two goals tonight, and I hope he continues to play with a chip on his shoulder for however long he is here, big kid who can make an impact immediately.

You'll have to excuse the giddyness. I'm very excited for this team. This crop of freshman look like they can make an impact right away on this team. Especially Rau; might see some very good things from him this year.

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks

6-0 Gophers. Great game

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University of Minnesota Golden Gophers

Minnesota's Pride On Ice: 1974, 1976, 1979, 2002 & 2003 NCAA National Champions

"The name on the front of the jersey is a hell of a lot more important than the one on the back"
-Herb Brooks