A few weeks ago some folks would have been happy with home ice for the
playoffs, others kept up the hope that things would turn out for the
better. Much better.
 
Saturday night, with Minnesota's sweep of Wisconsin and Denver's sweep
of league-leading North Dakota....the Minnesota Gophers clinched a
share of the WCHA Championship for 1996-97.
 
The Gophers' play this weekend was erratic, sometimes dominating completely
and at others looking very out-of-control. However, they managed to beat
their arch-rivals the Badgers and have quite a bit of fun doing it.
The Badgers losing streak in Minneapolis continues, it was noted in the
Star Tribune on Friday that the Badgers haven't won in the Target Center
or the New Mariucci Arena since 1992! Badgers are now 0-8 in Mpls.
 
Ryan Kraft who has been really on a tear lately, finally got the Hat
Trick on Saturday night. Friday night Ryan got two goals at the Target
Center. His point total for the weekend was five points.
 
After the Gophers had finished shaking hands with the Badgers and were
lining up to do their traditional center ice salute, Kraft held up the
salute by insisting that Brent Godbout be given a stick and be able to
join the players at center ice in street clothes. Brent was not suited
up on Saturday night but played on Friday.
 
Gopher freshman Ben Clymer, who has been out with an inner ear problem
was also on the bench at the end of the game and was permitted to
don his jersey and skates, along with Godbout to join in the festive
celebration. Clymer, who was thought to have vertigo, has been
diagnosed with neutris, which is a viral infection in a nerve in his
inner ear.  The nerve should recover in time, or the nerve in his other
ear will take over the functioning and his dizziness will abate.
Clymer is practicing in non-contact drills with the team and will be
evaluated on a week to week basis.
 
After the Gophers left the ice, most of the crowd left...but about a
quarter of the crowd stayed around to try and hear the audio broadcast
being put over the PA system. I must also say that the cheer which
went up from the crowd after the Denver score was announced in the
third period was unbelieveable. THe Gophers got a standing ovation
to spur them on to finish off the Badgers.
 
The radio broadcast was mostly unintelligible due to all the empty
seats and our wonderful sound system in the arena. But they put
"Denver" and "North Dakota" up on the scoreboard with the time left
and the current score with updates on the time about every 90 seconds
or so. The anticipation was palpable in the arena.
 
When it seemed unlikely that North Dakota was going to score the pieces
of the celebration began to fall into place. THe Gopher team had come
back out about 10 minutes after the game had ended and sat in their
bench area.  Ryan Kraft, Casey Hankinson and Dan Hendrickson were tossing
around a nerf football and then the crowd got into it. Mostly Casey and
Ryan would toss the football into the stands and the lucky person got
to catch it and toss it back.  At one point Casey spotted me and got
ready to toss it up my way, as I am looking right at him and saying
"No Casey, don't throw it up at ME!" A kid two rows in front of me
caught it instead. I'm not any good at playing catch! :-)
 
When the final Denver-North Dakota score was announced the crowd
went nuts! Too bad there were so few of us left.
It was a great party...with the presenting of the fabulous Mac Naughton
Cup as the start.  WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod called the three
Gopher captains forward, but as they did skate forward...they hesitated
and motioned for the rest of the team to join them. All the players
took turns hoisting the Cup as they all skated around the rink,
presenting the CUp to the crowd. A few of the band members stayed
and they played the Rouser and the Minnesota March as the team
skated the trophy around.
 
The players finally ended up at center ice, all together posing
with the Cup and all personnel attached to the team. Coach Woog
who had tears in his eyes at the end of the game was very emotional
during the celebration.
 
I'm very proud of this team who seem to be pulling it all together
at the right time!
 
On a Minnesota note, this is the first time in the history of the
University that the Basketball team and the Hockey team have won
their respective conference championships the same year!!
 
Sharing the trophy with North Dakota will be worked out in the near
future. Never in the history of the WCHA have they had Co-Champions
What a weekend for Minnesota!
 
Congrats Gophers!!!
 
-Carol
GO GO Gophers!!!    1997 WCHA Co-Champions!!!
 
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