Gophers Beat Mavericks 2-1
Marc Christopher, Sophomore Writer
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Number-two ranked University of Minnesota Golden Gophers hosted the Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks in the first game of a weekend series Friday night at Ridder Arena.
The Gophers are coming off a sweep at Bemidji State last weekend shutting out the Beavers 3-0 Friday and 7-0 Saturday. All three Minnesota goaltenders took part in the shutouts as Alyssa Grogan made 20 saves in Friday's game improving to 4-0-1 on the season, and Jenny Lura started the game Saturday playing the first 25 minutes making seven saves and Kim Hanlon played the rest of the way making 20 saves in the combined shutout, while 11 Gophers registered a point in that Saturday game led by Kelli Blankenship's and Monique Lamourex's four points.
Minnesota State, on the other hand, was swept by St. Cloud State last weekend losing Friday 3-2 in overtime and 4-3 on Saturday. Mavericks junior forward Christina Lee scored four goals over the weekend, two in each game, including two power play tallies for her third and fourth multi-point games of the season.
Dating back to 1998, the Gophers hold an all-time record of 37-3-2 against the Mavericks, including back-to-back shutouts at Ridder Arena last season. The last time MSU beat the Gophers was during the 2006-07 season in which the Mavericks swept them 3-2 and 4-3 at All Seasons Arena in Mankato.
"For whatever reason we started the game very suggishly in the first period, and we certainly picked it up in the second and third with some good energy" said Gophers head coach Brad Frost, as Minnesota only got off seven shots on goal in the first and committed three penalties, but got it going in the second scoring the games first goal at 13:25. Junior Brittany Francis got a one-time pass from Senior Melanie Gagnon just to the left of the net to score her third goal of the season on the power play and give the Gophers a 1-0 lead.
Minnesota Freshman Monique Lamourex was able to weave her way through the Mavericks defense out of her end going coast-to-coast right to Minnesota State goalie Alli Altmann and lifting a backhanded shot past her to give the Gophers a 2-0 at 10:43 of the Third period.
The Mavericks were able to cut the deficit in half when on the power play Junior Christina Lee fired a slapper from just in few feet inside the blue line that found it's way to the back of the net at 15:47. That goal by Lee was the third power play goal she's scored in the last three games, and now leads the team with nine on the season, but it wasn't enough as the Gophers defeated the Mavericks 2-1.
With the win Minnesota improves to 9-1-1 in the WCHA and 10-2-1 overall, while the Mavericks are now 6-6-1 overall and drop to 3-5-1 in league play.
Both teams go at it again tomorrow, with the faceoff at 4pm.
THREE STARS OF THE GAME
3--MSU--Alli Altmann
2--MN--Brittany Francis
1--MN--Melanie Gagnon
GAME STATS:
University of Minnesota Team Summary
Player G--A--PIM--Sh--(+/-)
Kelly Seeler 0--0--2--1--(+1) .
Melanie Gagnon 0--2--2--2--(+1)
Sarah Erickson 0--0--0--0--(0)
Laura May 0--0--0--3--(0)
Rachael Drazan 0--0--0--1--(0)
Kelli Blankenship 0--0--0--1--(0)
Jaimie Horton 0--0--0--2--(0)
Brittany Francis 1--0--0--4--(0)
Jocelyne Lamoureux 0--1--2--4--(+1)
Chelsey Jones 0--0--2--0--(0)
Emily West 0--0--2--2--(0)
Gigi Marvin 0--0--0--2--(0)
Monique Lamoureu x 1--0--0--8--(+1)
Anne Schleper 0--0--2--1--(0)
Dagney Willey 0--0--2--1--(0)
Jen Schoullis 0--0--0--1--(0)
Terra Rasmussen 0--0--0--0--(0)
Michelle Maunu 0--0--0--1--(0)
Alyssa Grogan 0--0--2--0--(0)
Totals 2--3--16--34--(+4)
Goalie Stats
Minnesota State
Alli Altmann 58:43 Min 2-GA 32-Sv
Empty Net 01:17 Min
Minnesota
Alyssa Grogan 60:00 Min 1-GA 14-Sv
Goals
MSU 0-0-1 1
MN 0-1-1 2
Prd--Time-Team--Scored by (Assists)
2nd--13:25--MN--PP Brittany Francis (Melanie Gagnon, Jocelyne Lamoureux)
3rd--10:43--MN--SH Monique Lamoreux (Melanie Gagnon)
3rd--15:47--MSU--PP Christina Lee (Holly Snyder, Lisa Edman)
Shots on Goal
MSU 7-4-4 15
MN 7-17-10 34
Penalties--Minutes
MSU 6--12
MN 8--16
Power Plays
MSU 1-8, 5 SOG
MN 1-5, 7 SOG
Faceoffs Won
MSU 39
MN 30
Gopher Women Sign Four
Mark Christopher, Sophomore Writer
University of Minnesota Women's hockey head coach Brad Frost announced that Megan Bozek (Buffalo Grove, Ill), Becky Kortum (Minnetonka, Mn), Mira Jalosuo (Lieksa, Finland) and Noora Raty (Espoo, Finland) have all commited to the U and will join the team in the fall of 2009-10.
Bozek, a 5-9 defenceman, enters the Gopher program with a high level of experience on the USA Hockey scene. In 2007 and 2008, she was a two-time member of the U.S. Under-18 team when she competed against Canada in a three-game series.
Kortum, a 5-7 forward, is in her senior season with Hopkins High School under head coach Vin Paolucci. As a junior, Kortum led the Hopkins Royals to a Classic Lake Conference title when she scored a team and league-high 37 goals and 59 points.
Jalusuo, is a standout 6-0 defenceman from Finland who was a member of the Finnish National Team that competed two weeks ago at the Four Nations Cup. She is also a two-year member Finland National Team in 2007 and 2008.
Raty, a 5-4 goaltender, has been Finland's top goalie since she started with the national team. The starting goalie for the Finnish Olympic Team, Raty was 15 at the time of the 2006 Olympics, and last year she helped Finland to a bronze medal at the 2008 World Championships.
Friday, November 21, 2008
November 21st
End of an Era
This Saturday night marks the last time that the University of Minnesota will play host to a football game off campus and at the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. This, as marked on the plastic collector schedule glasses handed out on every soft drink sold at the Dome this season, is "The End of an Era", and for many it's an Era that couldn't have ended sooner.
The Era, of course, is the non-collegete indoor football environment that's perfect for a NFL team like the Vikings, whom the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome was built for, but not the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Like most Gopher football fans I could go on a five-page rant on why the Dome isn't and wasn't a good home for Goldy, but it's nothing that hasn't been discussed and voiced over the last 26 years.
It's sad to say, but there's a generation of Gopher Football Fans, not to mention all the University Graduates, that haven't experienced a home game outside and on campus. The last graduating class to walk from their doom room to Memorial Stadium, and maybe stop at Stub n' Herbs for a burger and beer before hand, are in their mid to late 40's and might have taken their kids to a Gopher game at the Dome or had one already graduate from the U without knowing the experience of a home game on campus.
While I don't remember a whole lot about "The Old Brickhouse" I do remember my dad taking me to a few games at that big stadium across from "The Barn" and sitting on a wooden bench. Most of my Gopher football memories revolve around going downtown to the Dome. I wasn't at the Nebraska slaughter in which the starters were still in game in the fourth quarter because 'Huskers coach Tom Osborn (well known for running up the score) wanted his running back to get 30 carries, but I do remember Ricky Foggie directing the offense, Darryl Thompson running out of the backfield, "Air Wacker" and those 56-52 games against Purdue, handing Wisconsin there only loss in 1993, beating Iowa for the PIg and seeing the Iowa bumble bee vans parked on the street outside the Dome, along with all those night games in the mid 90's, the 4th quarter collapse against Michigan in '03 and several other both good and bad memories that would fill more then 10 pages.
The question that has been asked over the last quarter century plus is, "Why did the Gophers move to the Metrodome when they already had a stadium to play in?" I don't know if there's really been a good answer given, by either the University or somebody else, but surly if the U knew then what they know now, either Memorial Stadium, or a renovated one would still be standing across from Williams Arena in Stadium Village.
As it stands the U will have that on campus stadium across from Williams Arena, just on the other side so to speak. While it might be a sign of the times, or the only way for the University to get public money to build the stadium, current season ticket holders who want their same seats, or to upgrade to better ones, have to pay a per seat charge. To be guaranteed a seat between the 40 yard lines is $500, and between the 20 yard lines it's $250 per seat. The New Yankee Stadium in New York, along with a few other new stadiums, have adopted this same "Fee" and in some cases it's been more. It's been suggested that this "Fee" is the team's/University's way of coming up with their share of the money, otherwise they would've had to ask for more public money and the stadium bond/bill might not have passed, etc... but no concrete reason has really been given. The bottom line is Gopher football season ticket holders who want to either keep their same seats or upgrade to better ones will have to pay either $250 or $500 per seat per year for the privilege of close good seats. (Unlike the one-time fee that was associated with the Williams Arena renovation back in the early 90's to guarantee first deck seats.) An interesting question is, what if you decide to pay the $500 for two-years then change your mind? Does that mean you're moved out of those seats and to the back of the season ticket holder line and reassigned seats in the back row of the end zone?
That along with several other questions have yet to be answered regarding TCF Bank Stadium, like if Alcohol will be served only in the suites or if the whole stadium will by dry?
Back in the days of Memorial Stadium (and Williams Arena) the ushers would give the adults a pass (allow them to leave) at halftime to walk across the street to Stub n' Herbs so they could get a "beverage" and get back in to watch the second half (I believe it was the firehouse with Williams Arena). Chances are that probably won't happen, as Stub n' Herbs is a few blocks away, so maybe it's fitting that for the final Gopher Football game at the Dome the adults will be able to enjoy a "beverage" to not only rejoice finally getting out of downtown and back on campus, but to celebrate and remember the past 26 years of Gopher Football and "The End of an Era" at the Dome.
This Saturday night marks the last time that the University of Minnesota will play host to a football game off campus and at the Metrodome in downtown Minneapolis. This, as marked on the plastic collector schedule glasses handed out on every soft drink sold at the Dome this season, is "The End of an Era", and for many it's an Era that couldn't have ended sooner.
The Era, of course, is the non-collegete indoor football environment that's perfect for a NFL team like the Vikings, whom the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome was built for, but not the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. Like most Gopher football fans I could go on a five-page rant on why the Dome isn't and wasn't a good home for Goldy, but it's nothing that hasn't been discussed and voiced over the last 26 years.
It's sad to say, but there's a generation of Gopher Football Fans, not to mention all the University Graduates, that haven't experienced a home game outside and on campus. The last graduating class to walk from their doom room to Memorial Stadium, and maybe stop at Stub n' Herbs for a burger and beer before hand, are in their mid to late 40's and might have taken their kids to a Gopher game at the Dome or had one already graduate from the U without knowing the experience of a home game on campus.
While I don't remember a whole lot about "The Old Brickhouse" I do remember my dad taking me to a few games at that big stadium across from "The Barn" and sitting on a wooden bench. Most of my Gopher football memories revolve around going downtown to the Dome. I wasn't at the Nebraska slaughter in which the starters were still in game in the fourth quarter because 'Huskers coach Tom Osborn (well known for running up the score) wanted his running back to get 30 carries, but I do remember Ricky Foggie directing the offense, Darryl Thompson running out of the backfield, "Air Wacker" and those 56-52 games against Purdue, handing Wisconsin there only loss in 1993, beating Iowa for the PIg and seeing the Iowa bumble bee vans parked on the street outside the Dome, along with all those night games in the mid 90's, the 4th quarter collapse against Michigan in '03 and several other both good and bad memories that would fill more then 10 pages.
The question that has been asked over the last quarter century plus is, "Why did the Gophers move to the Metrodome when they already had a stadium to play in?" I don't know if there's really been a good answer given, by either the University or somebody else, but surly if the U knew then what they know now, either Memorial Stadium, or a renovated one would still be standing across from Williams Arena in Stadium Village.
As it stands the U will have that on campus stadium across from Williams Arena, just on the other side so to speak. While it might be a sign of the times, or the only way for the University to get public money to build the stadium, current season ticket holders who want their same seats, or to upgrade to better ones, have to pay a per seat charge. To be guaranteed a seat between the 40 yard lines is $500, and between the 20 yard lines it's $250 per seat. The New Yankee Stadium in New York, along with a few other new stadiums, have adopted this same "Fee" and in some cases it's been more. It's been suggested that this "Fee" is the team's/University's way of coming up with their share of the money, otherwise they would've had to ask for more public money and the stadium bond/bill might not have passed, etc... but no concrete reason has really been given. The bottom line is Gopher football season ticket holders who want to either keep their same seats or upgrade to better ones will have to pay either $250 or $500 per seat per year for the privilege of close good seats. (Unlike the one-time fee that was associated with the Williams Arena renovation back in the early 90's to guarantee first deck seats.) An interesting question is, what if you decide to pay the $500 for two-years then change your mind? Does that mean you're moved out of those seats and to the back of the season ticket holder line and reassigned seats in the back row of the end zone?
That along with several other questions have yet to be answered regarding TCF Bank Stadium, like if Alcohol will be served only in the suites or if the whole stadium will by dry?
Back in the days of Memorial Stadium (and Williams Arena) the ushers would give the adults a pass (allow them to leave) at halftime to walk across the street to Stub n' Herbs so they could get a "beverage" and get back in to watch the second half (I believe it was the firehouse with Williams Arena). Chances are that probably won't happen, as Stub n' Herbs is a few blocks away, so maybe it's fitting that for the final Gopher Football game at the Dome the adults will be able to enjoy a "beverage" to not only rejoice finally getting out of downtown and back on campus, but to celebrate and remember the past 26 years of Gopher Football and "The End of an Era" at the Dome.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
November 20th
Canucks Nip Wild
Mark Christopher, Sophomore Writer
ST PAUL -- Fresh off a 2-1 Shooutout win Tuesday in Pittsburgh against the defending Eastern Conference Champion Penguins, the Minnesota Wild returned home for the first of a five-game homestand Thursday night hosting the Vancouver Canucks.
Just one-point seperated Vancouver (24pts, 11-6-2) and Minnesota (23pts, 11-4-3) heading into the game as both teams have either shared or at least had a share of first place in the Northwest Division since the season started, and both clubs have been playing well as of late. The Wild are 4-1-0 in their last 5 games, while the Canucks are 3-0-2, and won the first meeting between the two back on November 8th at GM Place 2-0.
Vancouver beat the Rangers 6-3 Wednesday night and is playing the second of back-to-back games in their third of 11 total back-to-back series this season, and so far this year has a 3-1-0 record in those games. Last season the Canucks were 13-14-3 in back-to-back series, posting a 7-6-2 record in the first game played and 6-8-1 in the second game played.
Curtis Sanford got his second start of the season in net for the Canucks, as Captain Roberto Luongo got the night off, and in 2 games played had allowed 5 goals with a .878 save percentage.
Both teams skated a scoreless opening period, but the crowd came to their feet 12:04 in as Erik Reitz of the Wild and Taylor Pyatt of the Canucks pushed each other in front of the Wild bench and were about to drop their gloves when at the last second Vancouver's Shane O'Brien got between the two and slashed Reitz, while they both went at it to a draw that saw several good punches thrown.
Minnesota broke the scoreless tie at 7:16 of the second period when Mikko Koivu fired a slapper from the left face-off circle that went five-hole on Sanford for his forth goal of the season. Vancouver tied it 1-1 at 12:00 when Steve Bernier in the high left slot turned around and released a wrister that went just a quarter-inch above Niklas Backstrom's glove to the high right corner of the net. Just 2:22 later Koivu scored his second goal of the game, a shorthanded one on a breakaway, to give Minnesota a brief 2-1 lead. Former Wild Forward Pavol Demitra scored a power play goal off a pass from the corner that took a weird bounce in the crease and found it's way to the back of the net at 16:10 to tie it 2-2. That power play goal was just the second Minnesota had surrendered at home this season, and only the fifth this season. Heading into the game the Wild had outscored it's opponents 9-1 in the second period at home this season, and marked the first time since October 29th in Dallas that they've allowed two goals in a period.
Since Daniel and Henrik Sedin came into the league in 2000, the Canucks have lived and died with the Sedin's, especially when both of them get involved or are shut down in a game, as Vancouver's record when both Sedin's register at least one point is 154-50-21. Henrik assisted on Demitra's goal in the second period and Daniel scored the game winner at 11:41 of the third to give the Canucks a 3-2 win over Minnesota and a three-point lead in the Northwest division standings.
Vancouver improved to 5-0-1 in the division and are the only team without a regulation loss versus the Northwest this season, while Curtis Sanford recorded his first win in almost a year dating back to December 12th, 2007 against Anaheim.
Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom lost at home for the first time in 15 regular season decisions (11-1-3) dating back to March 4th, 2008 as the Wild fell to 1-3-1 on the season when allowing three or more goals, lost for just the second time in regulation in the last eight overall meetings against the Canucks, and lost for the first time this season (8-1-0) when Koivu gets at least one point.
Minnesota will contuine their season long five-game homestand Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues, and then Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Monday.
Three Stars of the Game (Picked by Doug Johnson of Lets Play Hockey)
1--MN--Mikko Koivu (2 Goals, including a Shorthanded one in 2nd period)
2--VAN--Pavol Demitra (Goal and Assist)
3--MN--Cal Cutterbuck (8 Hits & a Blocked Shot)
Mark Christopher, Sophomore Writer
ST PAUL -- Fresh off a 2-1 Shooutout win Tuesday in Pittsburgh against the defending Eastern Conference Champion Penguins, the Minnesota Wild returned home for the first of a five-game homestand Thursday night hosting the Vancouver Canucks.
Just one-point seperated Vancouver (24pts, 11-6-2) and Minnesota (23pts, 11-4-3) heading into the game as both teams have either shared or at least had a share of first place in the Northwest Division since the season started, and both clubs have been playing well as of late. The Wild are 4-1-0 in their last 5 games, while the Canucks are 3-0-2, and won the first meeting between the two back on November 8th at GM Place 2-0.
Vancouver beat the Rangers 6-3 Wednesday night and is playing the second of back-to-back games in their third of 11 total back-to-back series this season, and so far this year has a 3-1-0 record in those games. Last season the Canucks were 13-14-3 in back-to-back series, posting a 7-6-2 record in the first game played and 6-8-1 in the second game played.
Curtis Sanford got his second start of the season in net for the Canucks, as Captain Roberto Luongo got the night off, and in 2 games played had allowed 5 goals with a .878 save percentage.
Both teams skated a scoreless opening period, but the crowd came to their feet 12:04 in as Erik Reitz of the Wild and Taylor Pyatt of the Canucks pushed each other in front of the Wild bench and were about to drop their gloves when at the last second Vancouver's Shane O'Brien got between the two and slashed Reitz, while they both went at it to a draw that saw several good punches thrown.
Minnesota broke the scoreless tie at 7:16 of the second period when Mikko Koivu fired a slapper from the left face-off circle that went five-hole on Sanford for his forth goal of the season. Vancouver tied it 1-1 at 12:00 when Steve Bernier in the high left slot turned around and released a wrister that went just a quarter-inch above Niklas Backstrom's glove to the high right corner of the net. Just 2:22 later Koivu scored his second goal of the game, a shorthanded one on a breakaway, to give Minnesota a brief 2-1 lead. Former Wild Forward Pavol Demitra scored a power play goal off a pass from the corner that took a weird bounce in the crease and found it's way to the back of the net at 16:10 to tie it 2-2. That power play goal was just the second Minnesota had surrendered at home this season, and only the fifth this season. Heading into the game the Wild had outscored it's opponents 9-1 in the second period at home this season, and marked the first time since October 29th in Dallas that they've allowed two goals in a period.
Since Daniel and Henrik Sedin came into the league in 2000, the Canucks have lived and died with the Sedin's, especially when both of them get involved or are shut down in a game, as Vancouver's record when both Sedin's register at least one point is 154-50-21. Henrik assisted on Demitra's goal in the second period and Daniel scored the game winner at 11:41 of the third to give the Canucks a 3-2 win over Minnesota and a three-point lead in the Northwest division standings.
Vancouver improved to 5-0-1 in the division and are the only team without a regulation loss versus the Northwest this season, while Curtis Sanford recorded his first win in almost a year dating back to December 12th, 2007 against Anaheim.
Wild goaltender Niklas Backstrom lost at home for the first time in 15 regular season decisions (11-1-3) dating back to March 4th, 2008 as the Wild fell to 1-3-1 on the season when allowing three or more goals, lost for just the second time in regulation in the last eight overall meetings against the Canucks, and lost for the first time this season (8-1-0) when Koivu gets at least one point.
Minnesota will contuine their season long five-game homestand Saturday night against the St. Louis Blues, and then Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals on Monday.
Three Stars of the Game (Picked by Doug Johnson of Lets Play Hockey)
1--MN--Mikko Koivu (2 Goals, including a Shorthanded one in 2nd period)
2--VAN--Pavol Demitra (Goal and Assist)
3--MN--Cal Cutterbuck (8 Hits & a Blocked Shot)
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