2020-2021 Schedule

[BIll]

Not sure if we have a thread yet.

Colorado College is here for the Mariucci Classic.

[streakygopher]

Not sure if we have a thread yet.

Colorado College is here for the Mariucci Classic.

Strong start to the season....if there is a season.

[Rau4SkiUMah]

I'll be honest, I was hoping we would get to face CC in a series like when we went out there last fall but this will be a lot of fun too. I wonder who else will take part in the Mariucci Classic. Also I hope we get another solid non conference schedule this year. I know we have the Ice Breaker Tournament in Duluth and NoDak in GF. Here's hoping we also get to play some of the other MN teams, Denver or one of the Boston schools

[Bonin21]

Updated with SCSU
24 (12+12) Big Ten
2@Ice Breaker
2@UND
2 Mariucci Classic (CC, SCSU, and other)

6 remaining
Expect one home series vs a cupcake
Expect at least one series against another MN team (BSU or maybe home and home with Kato?)
Eastern team? Home or away?

If the eastern series really is away, probably no luck for a home and home with Kato because that would be 17 home and 19 away.

[Sioux Suck]

Read somewhere that BU wants to schedule the Gophers next year to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first title win in 1971. Possible Boston trip

[Bonin21]

There were 19 home games last year and there should be a minimum of 18 next year. I'd expect 20, but we'll see. You don't want to play half of your games on the road when you are a big school and have the bargaining power to get more people to come to you.

[D2D]

There were 19 home games last year and there should be a minimum of 18 next year. I'd expect 20, but we'll see. You don't want to play half of your games on the road when you are a big school and have the bargaining power to get more people to come to you.

Historically that's been the case, no? When was the last time they played more regular season games on the road than at home?

[Bonin21]

There were 19 home games last year and there should be a minimum of 18 next year. I'd expect 20, but we'll see. You don't want to play half of your games on the road when you are a big school and have the bargaining power to get more people to come to you.

Historically that's been the case, no? When was the last time they played more regular season games on the road than at home?

16-17 was a very odd regular season schedule.

16@Mariucci
2@Xcel (North Star)
18 away

[D2D]

Hmm, that is odd. Just wondering, would it be fair to say that games at Xcel could be thought of as "neutral site"? Not technically a home game, but no travel/hotel is required, and the majority of the fans in attendance were cheering for the good guys?

[Bonin21]

Hmm, that is odd. Just wondering, would it be fair to say that games at Xcel could be thought of as "neutral site"? Not technically a home game, but no travel/hotel is required, and the majority of the fans in attendance were cheering for the good guys?

You could classify it as neutral, or also a home game since tickets were included for STH.

Point is, the Gophers usually end up at 19 or 20 home games, and I'd expect the same next year. That makes an east coast road trip doubtful, in my opinion.

[Jupiter]

I know that Vegoe has been teasing an Eastern team.... But won't give it up.

[frozen4champs]

Oct 23-24 @ UND

[Bonin21]

24 (12+12) Big Ten
2@Ice Breaker
2@UND
2 Mariucci Classic (CC, SCSU, and other)

6 remaining
Expect one home series vs a cupcake
Expect at least one series against another MN team (BSU or maybe home and home with Kato?)
Eastern team? Home or away?

If the eastern series really is away, probably no luck for a home and home with Kato because that would be 17 home and 19 away.

SCSU will be in the Mariucci Classic

[Laxref]

I did see a tweet a few days ago saying it’s gophers/bulldogs and Mavs/Friars for the icebreaker matchups

[Jupiter]

I did see a tweet a few days ago saying it’s gophers/bulldogs and Mavs/Friars for the icebreaker matchups

I figured that was a no brainer.... There is no way UMD brings up MN to their barn with a chance of not playing them. Which is why I already have them set to play in game one of 2020-21.

[Vegoe]

Here is one of your eastern teams that may be on the schedule.

[ndgopher]

Oct 23-24 @ UND

I didn't realize we had UND for the third year in a row. Is this going to be a yearly series again. Hoping for better results at the Nazi Bunker this time around!

[Vegoe]

Oct 23-24 @ UND

I didn't realize we had UND for the third year in a row. Is this going to be a yearly series again. Hoping for better results at the Nazi Bunker this time around!

"Minnesota will host series at Mariucci Arena in both 2019-20 and 2021-22 and North Dakota will host 2-game non-conference series at Ralph Engelstad Arena in 2020-21 and 2022-23.

Earlier today, it was also announced that the two schools would meet in the 2018 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game in Las Vegas, an event that is not a part of the four-year scheduling agreement."

https://www.gopherpucklive.com/future-schedules/
https://fightinghawks.com/news/2016/7/27/211087896.aspx

I haven't heard anything about extending it past 22-23 yet, but I imagine both schools want to keep this 'rivalry' going as it's a big revenue game for both schools.

[Bonin21]

No quotes needed on rivalry

[Laxref]

10 non-conference games correct?

So we got two in Duluth for the icebreaker, two in grand forks, two at home Vs CC/SCSU/Lowell in mariucci Classic. Any guesses on the four games we don’t know yet?

[Bonin21]

10 non-conference games correct?

So we got two in Duluth for the icebreaker, two in grand forks, two at home Vs CC/SCSU/Lowell in mariucci Classic. Any guesses on the four games we don’t know yet?

12 next year because IceBreaker are bonus games.

[Rau4SkiUMah]

Hopefully one against a BU or BC. I'm assuming one against an "easier" opponent. Maybe one more against another MN team.

Also I'm not sure if this is the right thread but since UND on the schedule was mentioned I have to say it'd be awesome if North Dakota became the 8th team in the Big 10. I know it won't happen in a million years but it would be really cool to have North Dakota, UMN, UW and Michigan all in the same conference. Plus pretty solid programs in Michigan St, Notre Dame, Ohio St, and PSU. Again, I know it'll never happen but a man can dream

[Bonin21]

Hopefully one against a BU or BC. I'm assuming one against an "easier" opponent. Maybe one more against another MN team.

Also I'm not sure if this is the right thread but since UND on the schedule was mentioned I have to say it'd be awesome if North Dakota became the 8th team in the Big 10. I know it won't happen in a million years but it would be really cool to have North Dakota, UMN, UW and Michigan all in the same conference. Plus pretty solid programs in Michigan St, Notre Dame, Ohio St, and PSU. Again, I know it'll never happen but a man can dream

Of course it would be awesome. And add UMD to that. And add DU to that.

[Laxref]

I wonder if they could do away with the conferences and just have a west and an east, teams fill out their schedules how they want, have the top 16 schools in PWR qualify for “west” and “east” post season tournaments. First round on campus, have the final 8 compete in a final five like Xcel and in Boston. And then move on to ncaas from there.

[D2D]

Good to see all the sheltering at home is not destroying our collective imagination!

[Norm]

Good to see all the sheltering at home is not destroying our collective imagination!

Yeah, especially when the season might not even happen.

[D2D]

Yeah, especially when the season might not even happen.

And if the season doesn't happen enough fans could stay away so that the ones who do show up will have their own row to occupy ("fandom distancing"). Despite hope for a greatly improved team, one would expect attendance to take a big hit as many will still not feel comfortable. Time will tell.

[Sioux Suck]

Hopefully one against a BU or BC. I'm assuming one against an "easier" opponent. Maybe one more against another MN team.

Also I'm not sure if this is the right thread but since UND on the schedule was mentioned I have to say it'd be awesome if North Dakota became the 8th team in the Big 10. I know it won't happen in a million years but it would be really cool to have North Dakota, UMN, UW and Michigan all in the same conference. Plus pretty solid programs in Michigan St, Notre Dame, Ohio St, and PSU. Again, I know it'll never happen but a man can dream

Illinois will most likely be the 8th member. My hope would be that B1G and NCHC form some sort of super conference, or have a large scheduling agreement between the leagues with even teams and rivalries in place. Part of me also reaalllyyy wants to see Iowa and Nebraska go D1 in the future. A Gopher-Hawkeye hockey rivalry would be very fun

[Rau4SkiUMah]

Hopefully one against a BU or BC. I'm assuming one against an "easier" opponent. Maybe one more against another MN team.

Also I'm not sure if this is the right thread but since UND on the schedule was mentioned I have to say it'd be awesome if North Dakota became the 8th team in the Big 10. I know it won't happen in a million years but it would be really cool to have North Dakota, UMN, UW and Michigan all in the same conference. Plus pretty solid programs in Michigan St, Notre Dame, Ohio St, and PSU. Again, I know it'll never happen but a man can dream

Illinois will most likely be the 8th member. My hope would be that B1G and NCHC form some sort of super conference, or have a large scheduling agreement between the leagues with even teams and rivalries in place. Part of me also reaalllyyy wants to see Iowa and Nebraska go D1 in the future. A Gopher-Hawkeye hockey rivalry would be very fun

I think it'd be great if the B1G and NCHC could figure something out together. At least some sort of cross over tournament like I think the B1G and another conference do for basketball. I could be wrong on that. Illinois does seem to be the next one. A Gopher v. Hawkeye hockey rivalry would be a lot of fun and I think D1 hockey could do well in Iowa. As far as Nebraska, one thing that might be holding them up would be UNO. I'd imagine Omaha likes being the main college hockey team in that market

[thinkbui]

Illinois is kind of a wait-and-see for me and are probably at least a few years down the line if they are destined to bring D1 varsity hockey back to the Chicago market since peewee-aged kids who watched the 2010 Blackhawks are barely college-aged now, but you never know.

I don't know about UND since there's no benefit to bringing them into the conference outside of hockey and that's ultimately what matters to the people who make membership decisions.

I do like the idea of expanding even beyond 8 teams, but whatever happens I would like it to be an even number of teams. It seems silly to have to have a team sit out the last weekend of the regular season each year and that would be remedied by avoiding an odd number of teams.

[D2D]

Good interview with the coach.

Gopher Hockey Alumni Update from Coach Motzko
https://gophersports.com/news/2020/4/16 ... otzko.aspx

[Magic]

The Big Ten is looking at alternate scheduling if the pandemic drags into the fall. One option is just playing the Big 10 schedule (no fans) starting in December. Canceling all the non conference games would suck, but better than starting up and canceling the season again.

[thinkbui]

Hopefully this will all be over by October, but better to have a plan and not need it than to need it and not have it.

Curious if that would require changes to the PWR since nonconference action heavily affects comparisons if not critically.

[Laxref]

The Big Ten is looking at alternate scheduling if the pandemic drags into the fall. One option is just playing the Big 10 schedule (no fans) starting in December. Canceling all the non conference games would suck, but better than starting up and canceling the season again.

I’d think it would be safer to play more regional teams instead of flying halfway across the country every other weekend no?

[Bertogliat]

The Big Ten is looking at alternate scheduling if the pandemic drags into the fall. One option is just playing the Big 10 schedule (no fans) starting in December. Canceling all the non conference games would suck, but better than starting up and canceling the season again.

I’d think it would be safer to play more regional teams instead of flying halfway across the country every other weekend no?

It's a good question. Is sitting on a bus with 50 people for 5 hours (x2) better or worse than sitting on a plane with 100-150 people for 2.5 hours (x2)?

One has to assume if a team gets hit with the virus, they're going to be out of action for weeks, if not longer, since it is causing pneumonia.

[Jupiter]

The Big Ten is looking at alternate scheduling if the pandemic drags into the fall. One option is just playing the Big 10 schedule (no fans) starting in December. Canceling all the non conference games would suck, but better than starting up and canceling the season again.

I’d think it would be safer to play more regional teams instead of flying halfway across the country every other weekend no?

It's a good question. Is sitting on a bus with 50 people for 5 hours (x2) better or worse than sitting on a plane with 100-150 people for 2.5 hours (x2)?

One has to assume if a team gets hit with the virus, they're going to be out of action for weeks, if not longer, since it is causing pneumonia.

MN usually had their own smaller sized charter plane with just the team, coaches, staff, Wally & Frank on board.

[Bertogliat]

The Big Ten is looking at alternate scheduling if the pandemic drags into the fall. One option is just playing the Big 10 schedule (no fans) starting in December. Canceling all the non conference games would suck, but better than starting up and canceling the season again.

I’d think it would be safer to play more regional teams instead of flying halfway across the country every other weekend no?

It's a good question. Is sitting on a bus with 50 people for 5 hours (x2) better or worse than sitting on a plane with 100-150 people for 2.5 hours (x2)?

One has to assume if a team gets hit with the virus, they're going to be out of action for weeks, if not longer, since it is causing pneumonia.

MN usually had their own smaller sized charter plane with just the team, coaches, staff, Wally & Frank on board.

If other teams have the same set up, then the location shouldn't matter at all.

[Gopherguy05]

Guessing all the big ten teams charter. Less so the non power 5 schools who play hockey.

[frozen4champs]

Guessing all the big ten teams charter. Less so the non power 5 schools who play hockey.

I think Ohio St bused to Minnesota. There was a painted Ohio St Buckeyes bus near the loading dock this year before the games. Other than Wisconsin, that was the only B1G 10 buses I recall seeing.

[Butters Stotch]

Interesting read on another person's proposal:

https://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/ ... ing-In.php

[Bonin21]

Divison 2 = Amazing
Our Division = Awful

[thinkbui]

Guessing all the big ten teams charter. Less so the non power 5 schools who play hockey.

I think Ohio St bused to Minnesota. There was a painted Ohio St Buckeyes bus near the loading dock this year before the games. Other than Wisconsin, that was the only B1G 10 buses I recall seeing.

I don't know how much we can read into seeing team-decorated coach buses. OSU likes to throw money around, so it wouldn't surprise me if the bus drives in advance largely empty save for some equipment and limited staff just so they can use their own bus and driver while the players and coaches fly.

[Bonin21]

[Jupiter]

I am guessing that they may have sent the bus with the hockey equipment and gear ahead of the hockey team and staff that flew. This is fairly common.

[Bertogliat]

Divison 2 = Amazing
Our Division = Awful

Division 3 is fine, Eyeore.

If they did something like this it would make more sense to have 8 divisions to fill the 16 NCAA spots. 2 teams from each division.

No whining if you're the 3rd best team in a tough division.

[frozen4champs]

I am guessing that they may have sent the bus with the hockey equipment and gear ahead of the hockey team and staff that flew. This is fairly common.

I had no idea hockey teams did this. I assumed big money sports like football would do something like this. I learned something new today.

[JoeGopher]

Divison 2 = Amazing
Our Division = Awful

Division 3 is fine, Eyeore.

If they did something like this it would make more sense to have 8 divisions to fill the 16 NCAA spots. 2 teams from each division.

No whining if you're the 3rd best team in a tough division.

Agreed. FWIW, Divisions 4 and 10 are actually pretty solid as well. It's an interesting idea.

[Gopherguy05]

[Bonin21]

Well, I don't really expect that game to happen, but that's an interesting scheduling move on what would usually be exhibition weekend.

24 (12+12) Big Ten
2@Ice Breaker (UMD, Kato, Providence)
2@UND
2 Mariucci Classic (CC, SCSU, UMLowell)

6 (or 5) remaining
Expect one home series vs a cupcake
Expect at least one series against another MN team - One game w/BSU (Makes sense since other MN schools are possible in tournaments)
Eastern team? Home or away?

I expect that last series would be home. You don't want to drop from 19 home games to 17, as it cancels out a lot of the season ticket price drop.

[Cowgirl]

Interesting it’s only one game. No home football so not like they are awaiting a tbd for that.

[Bonin21]

Interesting it’s only one game. No home football so not like they are awaiting a tbd for that.

As far as I know, teams are not allowed to play on that Friday, so apparently the teams decided against the Sunday game.

[Slap Shot]

Interesting it’s only one game. No home football so not like they are awaiting a tbd for that.

Perhaps it puts either team at their limit for total games allowed?

[Bonin21]

Both have an even number game limit

[D2D]

In scheduling, Gophers coach Bob Motzko thinks locally

https://www.startribune.com/in-scheduli ... 570500432/

[Bonin21]

Well of course because the fans want to see the old WCHA teams.

[thinkbui]

While I wish there was room for East-West matchups on the schedule, I can't disagree with the budgeting argument here, especially when season ticket prices had just been slashed. I know that enthusiasm for playing the littlest Minnesota school has significantly waned since they joined the old WCHA, but I guess we're just going to have to settle for that until finances recover.

Curious if that means we'd probably see the Tommies on the schedule for 2021-2022 should their hockey team go D1.

[Bonin21]

I could see UST becoming a bigger rival than MSU/PSU/OSU/ND within ten years easily. Giving them a few years to get up to speed, otherwise it would be faster.

Fans want to watch the Gophers play against the other MN kids they watched at local rinks for years and at the state tournament.

[thinkbui]

Fans want to watch the Gophers play against the other MN kids they watched at local rinks for years and at the state tournament.

That may be true about UMD, SCSU, and UND, but those teams were already on the schedule anyway because of the fan demand you're referring to. Games against MSUM and the littlest team I was referring to, BSU, that Motzko specifically named on top of those haven't been that well attended, only about as well as games against MSU.

Unless we're also considering the whole old WCHA footprint, where state tournament players often end up, as "locally".

[frozen4champs]

Yes, the fans didn't exactly break down the doors for the all MN Mariucci classic this year.

[Slap Shot]

Most fans don't give a flying crap how man MN kids are on the opponent's roster outside of, "Hey, that's neat". If the Gophers were bringing in AIC and they were ranked I wouldn't care less where their players came from. Contrary to someone's belief, the movie Miracle appeals to hockey fans of all kinds not just Minnesotans.

[ZCar Guy]

I agree, I don't give a crap about where the the other teams players are from. I care if they are good or not and if they are fun to watch.
Paul Kariya (sp) the 2 guys who played at Michigan not long ago. The list can go on and on and have a Minnesotan anywhere in site.

[Sioux Suck]

I agree, I don't give a crap about where the the other teams players are from. I care if they are good or not and if they are fun to watch.
Paul Kariya (sp) the 2 guys who played at Michigan not long ago. The list can go on and on and have a Minnesotan anywhere in site.

The 2016 Gopher team won the Big Ten regular season title with ten freshmen, edging Michigan who had three Hobey finalists (Compher, Connor, and Motte), as well as all-B1G defenseman and current NHL player Zach Werenski. Hell, the Gophers were 20 minutes short of beating them to make the NCAA tournament. Not a traditionally successful Gopher season, but still worth being proud of, right? NOPE. Why should we ever be proud of winning the Big Ten? It’s a subpar $h!t league with nothing but D3 players who aren’t from Minnesota. It’s not a fabled McNaughton cup. Oh my goodness the horror. It was one of those moments where I was embarrassed to be a Gopher fan.

This is also why we have no rivalries with PSU/OSU/MSU/ND, because no one in Minnesota wants to acknowledge or build new rivalries. Some fans are more content to $h!t all over the non-traditional power Big Ten schools for no other reason than their jerseys have a B1G patch on them. Why don’t we have a rivalry with Penn State? Because we have to fly to play them? A team that’s whooped our ass and tucked us into bed the last how many times we’ve played them. A team that’s ended our season or title hopes in heartbreaking fashion more than once. A team THAT IS THE SOLE REASON THE WCHA BROKE UP!! Hate them for that reason alone. You don’t have to be an hour drive away to have a rivalry with someone.

Edit: spelling

[Grovetown Scotty]

Most fans don't give a flying crap how man MN kids are on the opponent's roster outside of, "Hey, that's neat". If the Gophers were bringing in AIC and they were ranked I wouldn't care less where their players came from. Contrary to someone's belief, the movie Miracle appeals to hockey fans of all kinds not just Minnesotans.

I was a much bigger college hockey fan when the Gophers were in the WCHA. The fact the WCHA Tournament was in St. Paul was huge. You had the State High School tournament followed by the WCHA Tournament. So much fun to be on West 7th.

I enjoy watching the Minnesotans on other teams as I am a huge high school hockey guy and have seen most of them play on the local sheets. The UMD-Gopher game is the one game I will not miss whether at Amsoil or Mariucci.

Big10 Network is subpar with weird start times although Starman>Clymer when he is on.

I have moved on but it's not the same and attendance reflects that.

[Bonin21]

Big Ten teams other than uw (and I guess ND but it's pushing it) won't magically become "road trippable". That's a major issue. On the flip side of that the fact that their fans don't come here and stir it up. It's just a bunch of similarly structured schools doing their own thing and they happen to play hockey, too.

My new team has a college hockey group with alumni from all over the US. Pretty exciting, but the teams represented are UMDx2, UND, CC, Cornell, BC, and BU. You just don't have that workplace $h!t talking with other Big Ten school hockey fans in MN, because they basically just don't exist.

[Cowgirl]

[Bonin21]

You don’t have to be an hour drive away to have a rivalry with someone.

What do 95% of the biggest rivalries at all levels (youth, HS, college, NHL, even a lot of international) have? Proximity.

It's damn fun to walk into another arena with Gopher swagger where everyone else hates you, but it's mostly because they're jealous. When the Gophers can play well enough to have that swagger again, those away games will be super fun again. They're already really fun.

[Sioux Suck]

You don’t have to be an hour drive away to have a rivalry with someone.

What do 95% of the biggest rivalries at all levels (youth, HS, college, NHL, even a lot of international) have? Proximity.

It's damn fun to walk into another arena with Gopher swagger where everyone else hates you, but it's mostly because they're jealous. When the Gophers can play well enough to have that swagger again, those away games will be super fun again. They're already really fun.

Take a trip to Pegula. Besides being a beautiful arena, their fans really don’t like maroon and gold. It’s new. And, they’re learning. But, Penn State seems to take sick pleasure being the new guy beating up the old guard. You’ll get that feeling wearing maroon and gold there.

This can be one of those 5% rivalries born out of something other than proximity and office banter.

Edit: This is what kills me. Gopher diehards doing mental gymnastic to NOT get excited for an opponent for no other reason than they are far away. How elitist do you have to be to feel this way?

[Bonin21]

Take a trip to Pegula. Besides being a beautiful arena, their fans really don’t like maroon and gold. It’s new. And, they’re learning. But, Penn State seems to take sick pleasure being the new guy beating up the old guard. You’ll get that feeling wearing maroon and gold there.

This can be one of those 5% rivalries born out of something other than proximity and office banter.

I'll take a trip one day for sure and once in a while because I am very lucky and have the ability to do it financially. A LOT of people don't. Or they love Gopher hockey but they don't love it enough to spend what is a lot of money to them for an away trip when they have other things to choose from like family vacations and stuff.

We've talked about the shift from blue collar fans in old Mariucci to white collar these days and its effect on the atmosphere in the arena. The school is slowly lowering prices to make them reasonable again for more blue collar workers. But away trips are much cheaper in a car.

[Sioux Suck]

Take a trip to Pegula. Besides being a beautiful arena, their fans really don’t like maroon and gold. It’s new. And, they’re learning. But, Penn State seems to take sick pleasure being the new guy beating up the old guard. You’ll get that feeling wearing maroon and gold there.

This can be one of those 5% rivalries born out of something other than proximity and office banter.

I'll take a trip one day for sure and once in a while because I am very lucky and have the ability to do it financially. A LOT of people don't. Or they love Gopher hockey but they don't love it enough to spend what is a lot of money to them for an away trip when they have other things to choose from like family vacations and stuff.

We've talked about the shift from blue collar fans in old Mariucci to white collar these days and its effect on the atmosphere in the arena. The school is slowly lowering prices to make them reasonable again for more blue collar workers. But away trips are much cheaper in a car.

By your point then we shouldn’t have rivalries with CC or Denver because they are too far away to drive. The Gophers had a rivalry with BU for years. Bemidji has a rivalry with Alabama-Huntsville. Michigan Tech fans on Reddit absolutely hate Penn State got breaking up the WCHA and they have never played a game. There are examples in other sports where a rivalry is born of competition alone, or other matters. Proximity helps but it’s not the sole reason for a rivalry. You can still really dislike a team without going to their arena or constantly antagonizing their fans.

[Bonin21]

By your point then we shouldn’t have rivalries with CC or Denver because they are too far away to drive. The Gophers had a rivalry with BU for years. Bemidji has a rivalry with Alabama-Huntsville. There are examples in other sports where a rivalry is born of competition alone. Proximity helps but it’s not the sole reason for a rivalry. You can still really dislike a team without going to their arena or constantly antagonizing their fans.

Flights to CO are dirt cheap and the area is BEAUTIFUL, which makes it worth the cost.

[Sioux Suck]

By your point then we shouldn’t have rivalries with CC or Denver because they are too far away to drive. The Gophers had a rivalry with BU for years. Bemidji has a rivalry with Alabama-Huntsville. There are examples in other sports where a rivalry is born of competition alone. Proximity helps but it’s not the sole reason for a rivalry. You can still really dislike a team without going to their arena or constantly antagonizing their fans.

Flights to CO are dirt cheap and the area is BEAUTIFUL, which makes it worth the cost.

Never been to central PA? Not exactly the Rockys, but still very beautiful

[Bonin21]

Never been to central PA? Not exactly the Rockys, but still very beautiful

The only thing that's going to bring me to central PA is a Gopher hockey game, so no I haven't yet. The flights, tickets, and total trip cost would probably be a lot higher than my trip out to CC last season with less amazing food options like in Denver and Colorado Springs.

[trixR4kids]

We only really had “rivalries” with the CO schools when they were on an up year and they were in the same conference.

Personally I’m not gonna blame the fans who don’t like the shift, even if I don’t totally agree with some of their logic. Telling them that they’re wrong isn’t going to fix anything and they have some valid points as well. I think college hockey was in a better place in the early 2000’s but there are a lot of factors that went into that besides the conference makeup.

[Sioux Suck]

Never been to central PA? Not exactly the Rockys, but still very beautiful

The only thing that's going to bring me to central PA is a Gopher hockey game, so no I haven't yet. The flights, tickets, and total trip cost would probably be a lot higher than my trip out to CC last season with less amazing food options like in Denver and Colorado Springs.

I'm sorry to keep posting in the schedule thread. Sorry everyone. It's no argument that Colorado is probably the better trip. Denver and Colorado Springs are nice. And, the other many legal activities there are fun. State College can't compete with that. But, it does have a nice college town vibe with a couple nice small breweries and restaurants, and great views in the Appalachian Mountains. If you are able to scrap together the small fortune to fly to State College and go for a weekend series, it would not be a disappointing experience. Or fly into Pittsburgh and drive through the hills. You made me think, how much of my travel is related to Gopher hockey and it made me laugh. I left a wedding reception in Madison this season to go to the Saturday night game, and I have no regrets about that. Sad to think these trips probably won't happen this year. Just hope there is a season

[Bertogliat]

By your point then we shouldn’t have rivalries with CC or Denver because they are too far away to drive. The Gophers had a rivalry with BU for years. Bemidji has a rivalry with Alabama-Huntsville. There are examples in other sports where a rivalry is born of competition alone. Proximity helps but it’s not the sole reason for a rivalry. You can still really dislike a team without going to their arena or constantly antagonizing their fans.

Flights to CO are dirt cheap and the area is BEAUTIFUL, which makes it worth the cost.

Never been to central PA? Not exactly the Rockys, but still very beautiful

Yes I have and no it is not. It’s just fine if you’re into rolling farmland. I can go to southern MN for that.

I get you want to force a rivalry. But some of us have deep rooted hatred built up over decades. Much of it comes from personal experiences and feeding off the players hatred/battles on the ice. You can’t just flip a switch and now Suddenly want to crush PSU. For most of us it’ll never be the same. The memories that stir emotion aren’t there.