The Gophers played their last regular season home game Friday night and did
themselves proud! Who would have thought that after their dismal 0-5-1 start,
they could turn their season around and have a shot at the WCHA title? (well,
besides me?) ;-) And finishing second in the WCHA is nothing to be ashamed of
either.
 
The Gophers came out fired up and had the crowd giving them an ovation after
only two minutes of play! Then it was all St Cloud until about mid-way through
the period. Lots of jockeying by both coaches about which forecheck to use,
etc. The crowd was large, announced at 9,360, but there were about 500 missing
as there were empty seats and all the standing room had been sold!
 
The student section was unusually obnoxious, and very funny. When they
announced the Denver -Colorado College score they chanted Wal-en-hei-mo!! For
Denver's goalie who puts on a great performance in the nets. ;-) Too bad he
didn't give some of his greatest Minnesota fans more to cheer about Friday
night.
 
The Gophers scored FOUR goals in the first period. Unbelievable. We speculated
in between periods, had they ever done that this year?
 
The first two periods had a little chippy stuff, but not unexpected. The
surprise of the evening came from St Cloud goalie Grant Sjerven, who received
two minor penalties and a major penalty with a DQ. The minor penalties were
for slashing and roughing in the second and third period. He MUGGED Tony
Bianchi after he slid into the net unavoidably after a goal, punching him
several times, he received two minutes for roughing. He should have gotten a
10-minute misconduct at that point also, and it would have prevented him from
missing tonight's rematch because of his DQ with 10 seconds left in the game.
Sjerven viciously slashed Gopher Jeff Nielsen on the knee, and when Nielsen
then charged the net, Sjerven punched Nielsen two or three times. Nielsen kept
both his hands on his own stick and crosschecked Sjerven. Unfortunately for
Sjerven, all the officials saw this and quickly broke it up sending both
Nielsen (off with 4:00 in penalties) and Sjerven to their respective locker
rooms.
 
St Cloud coach Craig Dahl was visibly upset at his team's play. He was quoted
in Saturday's Star Tribune (in an article by John Gilbert) as saying:"I was
very surprised at the undisciplined nature of our team, especially in the
third period when the game was on the line. That is not characteristic of our
team, and it was some of our veteran players. I will more than likely sit
somebody; they must never forget that this is my team and we'll play my way.
We had some penalties that took us out of it in the second period, and then
when we turned it into a game, the same thing happened in the third."
 
Well, I wouldn't know if it's characteristic of the Huskies having only seen
them play twice this year against the Gophers. But, in the past few years it
has been their goal to beat the Gophers and sometimes they get so wrapped up
in hating the Gophers that they quit playing hockey. Can't win games if you
quit playing! Evidently, Craig Dahl did some pretty good coaching on Saturday
night when St Cloud effectively won the rematch and spoiled the Gophers bid to
be Co-Champions of the WCHA.
 
Again on Friday night, when we got to the local watering hole, all the people
were crowded in the front room watching the Denver - CC game on PRIME. We got
our usual table in the back room, and took turns running out to get the
updates on how the game was going. ;-) Of course we could hear the oohs and
aahs of the crowd, but needed visual confirmation. Most of the crowd left when
CC won the game. :-(
 
Although it is disappointing not to have finished in first place or even tied
for first, Colorado College and coach Lucia has done an amazing job this year
and I'd like to congratulate them on a great season!
 
On Saturday night, we hunkered down to listen to the Gopher game on the radio
and watch the CC-Denver game on PRIME again. But, the game wasn't ON! I called
PRIME in Colorado and they said that WE were mistaken, that the cable company
fouled up by listing the game. Well, we were disappointed, but watched the end
of the Gophers hoops game (with the sound off). Well, after a while the phone
rings and it's Pam telling us that the CC-Denver game is ON PRIME now. Holy
mackeral! Maybe half of Minneapolis called them and they got the message! ;-)
But, it was a tape delayed broadcast, and we just couldn't wait! So, we called
the CC press box and asked for the score! It was SO loud, they had just gone
into the OT. Then, at 11:10-11:15 during the Gopher Sports Extra show, we saw
that the tie was final. Oh, well, there's always next year!
 
Finishing in second place, holds Woog's record in place of never finishing
lower than second in nine years. We are looking forward to meeting Denver in
the first round of the playoffs, and going on to Milwaukee from there.
 
Congratulations Colorado College!  WCHA Champions!
 
-Carol
GO Gophers!!! (We're #2!!)
 
Carol S. White                            BITNET: c-whit@uminn1
University of Minnesota        internet:[log in to unmask]
Office of the Registrar
(612) 625-8517                                    GO Gophers!!!