.....just lost in OT to Michigan Tech. By far the worst team in the conference. How does this even happen? Is there anyone to blame for this? What needs to be done to fix this team? Is the season a throw-away, or can there be any late-season miracles?
I'm a huge gopher hockey fan, but I don't even know what to think anymore. Are any other hockey fans also frustrated to no end with this team?
I talked about this in another thread, but I think it bears repeating. No one on this team or in the hockey program is willing to accept any accountability. There is no dedication to going out on a consistent basis and getting the job done. Frankly, I'm tired of hearing all the excuses these guys have trotted out the past two years about key players leaving, younger guys being tired after the world juniors, we're not getting any bounces, etc...
Even the coaching staff seems to coddle these guys to no end, especially after embarrassing performances. They don't rebound with better efforts after games like this. Rather, they come back with the same lazy, aw-shucks attitude and get pasted again. The biggest reason for it appears to be that they're too concerned about their NHL draft status and the dollars that come along with it.
The fact of the matter is this: Most of these guys don't care about the program. They may say that they've always dreamed of being Gophers, but to me, that's just lip service. There is a big difference between saying "I've always wanted to be a Gopher" and then going out and showing it. Guys that "dream about being Gophers" don't come out and go through the motions as much as these guys do. Guys that "dream about being Gophers" don't lack such focus when they step on the ice that they make the same mistakes over and over and over again. When it comes right down to it, this is a group of guys that consistently take games "off" and then bolt at the first sign of any dollars a pro contract can guarantee. It's a complete joke.
I'm not ready yet to start up the "fire Lucia" chants quite yet. But if this coaching staff and these players don't seriously get their act together over the next year or so, it's going to be time to start considering heading in a different direction. This is Minnesota hockey. It's time to start acting and performing like it.