BleedGopher
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- Nov 11, 2008
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Per Jess:
On the streets of Tampa, at the waterfront bars, along the city’s riverwalk and on the plaza outside the arena, one could see that distinctive University of Minnesota ‘M’ logo everywhere during Frozen Four week 2023.
Fans of the Gophers, whether they were alumni or just interested in supporting the State of Hockey, showed up on the Gulf Coast by the thousands for what coach Bob Motzko would call “four minutes away from a perfect weekend.”
But while the alumni groups from other Frozen Four schools like Michigan and Boston University had highly-visible gathering places (“Terriers in Tampa” was the slogan plastered everywhere at one tropical-themed restaurant near the rink), the many, many former Gophers players who made the trek found themselves with no central place to gather.
“It was difficult because we’re such a close-knit unit, but we never had anything official organized, and I think we’re a bit fragmented in the different classes,” said Nick Angell, a four-year letterwinner on the Gophers’ blue line whose final game was the 2002 national title tilt. “We just needed an impetus to get together.”
Angell, 43, and his former teammate Jordan Leopold are among a handful of Gophers alumni currently working on the formation and organization of a new, more active group of former U of M players. Previously, the school handled alumni functions, but the new group has bigger plans.
www.therinklive.com
Go Gophers!!
On the streets of Tampa, at the waterfront bars, along the city’s riverwalk and on the plaza outside the arena, one could see that distinctive University of Minnesota ‘M’ logo everywhere during Frozen Four week 2023.
Fans of the Gophers, whether they were alumni or just interested in supporting the State of Hockey, showed up on the Gulf Coast by the thousands for what coach Bob Motzko would call “four minutes away from a perfect weekend.”
But while the alumni groups from other Frozen Four schools like Michigan and Boston University had highly-visible gathering places (“Terriers in Tampa” was the slogan plastered everywhere at one tropical-themed restaurant near the rink), the many, many former Gophers players who made the trek found themselves with no central place to gather.
“It was difficult because we’re such a close-knit unit, but we never had anything official organized, and I think we’re a bit fragmented in the different classes,” said Nick Angell, a four-year letterwinner on the Gophers’ blue line whose final game was the 2002 national title tilt. “We just needed an impetus to get together.”
Angell, 43, and his former teammate Jordan Leopold are among a handful of Gophers alumni currently working on the formation and organization of a new, more active group of former U of M players. Previously, the school handled alumni functions, but the new group has bigger plans.
Revamped Gophers hockey alumni group aims to encourage life-long love for the maroon and gold
More than 125 former Gopher hockey players recently gathered for their annual golf outing, as a group works to establish an expanded and more active network of those who have worn the U of M sweater.
www.therinklive.com
Go Gophers!!