gophers/ncaa

I wish his favorite part of the job was getting his butt to canada and recruiting quality kids who love hockey and a chance for a degree. Woudl anyone be surprised if Ness spends the next 6 years in the AHL?

this is the whole story: "the Gophers were swept by Alaska Anchorage in a first- round WCHA playoff series at Mariucci." What the hell? You can not tell me this does not tell you the guy can't coach. Name me one superstar he's recruited that has done anything in the last 5 yrs. they all leave the program for the NHL. Gone are the great days of back to back championships. I pine for yester year when we spanked everyone, we had the winningest college hockey team in the history of the NCAA. today. lucky to be .500. wow-o-wow.

Lucia will re-evaluate, and re-re-evaluate, and re-re-re-evaluate, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. Does Nero fiddling while Rome burned bring the Gopher hockey program to mind to anyone else?

This program needs a change...NOW. Ness is nowhere ready for the NHL, but he was given an opportunity to jump off a sinking ship and he took it. Just dont see how things will improve from this year to next with the current coaching staff. And its mind boggling to hear that Joel Maturi wants to give this coaching staff a contract extention. Where is the logic in that thought process?

NHL CBA killed college hockey. In the good old days NHL signing was for top Jr.s and Sr.s. Today, they rob the cupboard sign anything that might work in the ECHL or AHL. NCAA hockey is a waterdown product that sure aint what it used to be!! Good luck Ness, I hope he makes it some day!!

The Gophers decline is not because of the NHL CBA or series of bad luck. North Dakota is still a consistent, top program. Same for Denver, and Boston College, and other of the traditionally elite college programs. No, the Gophers are declining. No, the problem is hinted at in Lucia's comments themselves. Do the Gophers actually believe they want to be a team, that they'll "be where they want to be", when they HAVE to sweep Alaska just to be on the bubble for the NCAAs? The fact remains that none of the talented kids that come to the U are being developed year to year. The team fails to win most of the first games in any of their weekend series... they always come out flat and unprepared to play (only 2 Friday wins at home this year). Lucia had some great years with some great players. But, he has failed to adapt his approach and his style of play. His players are getting yanked out of the program only because they are not improving under the current coaches. We won't even get into the rumors and conjectures, and in some cases flat out statements, that former assistants and players bolted simply to get away from Lucia himself.

Ness is no where near being ready for professional hockey. He is a mid-level talent in the WCHA. He is either getting bad advise, or NY believes his developement has stalled out.

Recent natural disasters, goooooooofer hockey season ends abruptly, Ness signing any kind of contract. If any one sees any locusts, we know the end is near. I hope Ness enjoys playing hockey in even less filled arenas then the cow palace (if that is possible) with less lighting. Enjoy your time being forgotten. GO SIOUX...

Ness could not contribute at the college level, how in the heck does he expect to do anything other than flounder around in the minors????

Lucia's extension shows how lazy Maturi is, and that he is just going to "go with the flow" until he can collect a bigger pension.. Pathetic that this is what UM athletics is becoming.