What a weekend. WOW! The Gophers in the last two weeks have proved that they
can skate with anyone. So much for their slow start...
 
On Saturday in Mariucci Arena, the Gophers defeated the Wisconsin Badgers 5-2.
It was SWEET! Especially so, because Badger coach Jeff Sauer, when he was
interviewed after the game, said "There's also no sense of intimidation
whatsoever in this building. It's nothing like the old building, even when
they score." Interesting quote considering they lost the game! ;-) Actually
the crowd was really into the game on Saturday and it was the largest crowd
we've had since the opener. The crowd is FINALLY getting used to the arena and
coming together with inventive chants. The students got into it big time. Not
only did they do the "black hole" cheer, but at the end of the game started
chanting OVER-RATED! and the entire crowd picked it up. I do believe coach
Sauer was as red ('scuse me, cardinal) as his team's jerseys. He was not happy
with the way they played at all, according to the article in the Star Tribune
this morning.
 
Gophers Brian Bonin and Andy Brink each got 3 points, and Tony Bianchi and
Jeff Nielsen each got 2 points on Saturday. The Gophers dominated in the first
period,scoring three unanswered goals. In the second period, they fell flat
and the Badgers scored twice. In the third it was even up, with the game
getting very physical. The Gophers scored twice late in the third to wrap it
up.
 
Senior defenseman Chris McAlpine was injured in the second period when he
suffered a deep thigh bruise from the knee of a Badger player. No penalty was
called. There was also an interesting call by the officials, Greg "I officiate
at ALL the Gopher-Badger games" Shepherd and Mike Schmitt. Jeff Nielsen
checked a Badger player behind the net (it was either Chris Tok or Mickey
Elick) and sent him flying, when he hesitated in getting up, Nielsen received
a penalty for charging. That was a stretch, and after watching the replay of
the game, the "injured Badger" was laughing by the time he reached the bench.
Got up right after the penalty was called. Coach Woog was laughing too,
probably at the absurdity of it all. There was also one time where one ref
called a penalty at the same time that the other was waving it off! The
officiating wasn't bad, but there were a couple of times when the players
looked ready to go at each other on a moment's notice. I was afraid that they
were going to lose control of the game, which wouldn't have been pretty.
 
On Sunday the Badgers outshot the Gophers 35 to 33 but lost the game 4-3 in
overtime when the Gophers Dave Larson scored with 22.7 seconds to go. The
crowd at the Target Center went NUTS!!!! Brian Bonin got two more points and
Justin McHugh also got two points with a goal and an assist on Sunday.
 
Sunday's game was much more physical than Saturday. It was almost comical that
the 6'2" Chris Tok was shadowing Tony Bianchi who is only 5'4". Tony held his
own most of the time too.
 
The announced paid attendance was 17,109, but there weren't that many people
actually there (too bad they missed a fantastic game).
 
Badger goalie Jim Carey, who had a rough afternoon on Saturday, started the
game on Sunday, but was replaced after the Gophers scored two goals in the
first period. Kirk Daubenspeck replaced Carey and kept the Badgers in the
game. Minnesota got a 5-minute power play when one of the Strobel twins
slashed Justin McHigh in the neck, but they were unable to score and only got
one shot on goal in that time.
 
After scoring the winning goal, Dave Larson cruised up the ice for a bit then
jumped in the air and landed on his knees, to wait for his teammates to mob
him, which they did. A major pile-up at center ice! ;-) The Gophers poured off
the bench and raced across the ice to bury Larson under a human pile. Doug
Woog joined in on the fun too. It's been a long time since I've seen him look
THAT excited!!!! Jubilant to the extreme, he lost his glasses in the pile-up.
I hope he found them afterwards. ;-)
 
The Gophers are now only FOUR points out of first place in the WCHA and the
season is really looking up. For those of you who doubted them, shame shame!
Those of us who kept the faith are extrememly pleased!! (Myself included)
 
Next up are the Huskies from Michigan Tech. Too bad that they can't sneak
Bob G. on the bus with them! ;-)  Stay tuned.
 
-Carol
 
Carol S. White                            BITNET: c-whit@uminn1
University of Minnesota        internet:[log in to unmask]
Office of the Registrar
(612) 625-8517                                    GO Gophers!!!