What's wrong with the Gopher's appears to be the most commonly asked question regarding this years team. Some people have said the team is very young and inexperienced. True. Others have mentioned that depth is a problem. Possibly true. Even others have said the club doesn't possess any on-ice leadership. Very true. Here's my opinion. Coaching. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not lobbying for Doug Woogs head. I think the problem is the assistant coaches, Guentzel and Ward. Being a former player and now a coach, I believe that day-in-and-day-out team preparation is the responsibility of the assistants. Video analysis, speciality teams, scouting, and individual skill development fall on the shoulders of the assistants. In the recent past Woog's assistants were Mark Mazzoleni and Bill Butters. Mark is now the head coach at Miami of Ohio, currently a top 10 team, and Butters is currently at Bethel College as a co-coach. Bottom line, the Gophers were more consistant and successful when these guys ran the show. Why? RESPECT! ALL of the assistants mentioned above are knowledgable coaches. The difference is the players listened to Mazz and Butters. The players would go through a brick wall for Butters! Positional play was better under these coaches. Each player improved their game over the course of the season under these coaches. The team played for each other under these coaches. I don't believe that the current roster listens and acts on what Guentzel or Ward have to say. If they did would they continue to play with such as lack of discipline? If they listened would their defensive zone coverage be so pathetic? If they believed in these guys would they lack the heart to play for three solid periods? Yes, players want to play well for friends, family, and the fans. But in the end you want to play well for the people you respect the most, your teammates and coaches. Sometimes out of love, other times out of fear. This team doesn't have the passion for either. Steven M. Bernhardt [log in to unmask] Armstrong Youth Hockey & Golden Gopher Hockey "Minnesota's Pride on Ice" HOCKEY-L is for discussion of college ice hockey; send information to [log in to unmask], The College Hockey Information List.