Returning to the ice fully charged from an idle week, Minnesota junior forward Tommy Novak has a goal in mind. Three series remain in the Big Ten regular season beginning with this weekend's Border Battle in Madison Friday and Saturday against the Wisconsin Badgers.
Novak would like to be home at the end of it.
"To be at Mariucci for the Big Ten playoffs would be huge. Our seniors don't only want to play two more games here at Mariucci so that would be the biggest goal, getting home ice for the Big Ten playoffs," he said.
The top four teams host games in the new conference tournament format. First place gets a bye to the semifinals while second through fourth host a best-of-three quarterfinal series.
To get home ice in the quarterfinals would likely be enough for Minnesota (16-13-1, 7-10-1-1 Big Ten) to clinch an at-large berth in the 16 team NCAA Tournament. The Gophers are currently ninth in the Pairwise thanks in part to a 9-3-0 non-conference record and five wins over the eight teams ahead.
Showing posts with label Tommy Novak. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tommy Novak. Show all posts
Friday, February 9, 2018
Thursday, January 11, 2018
Gopher Hockey Notebook: Potomak plans, Lindgren speech, Novak status & more
Heralded freshman forward Amy Potomak has enrolled at the University of Minnesota. Unfortunately for Gopher fans, they will have to a while longer to see #16 skate in a game.
Potomak will take classes and practice with fifth-ranked Minnesota while continuing to redshirt, The Gopher Hockey Blog has learned. This allows her to keep a full four years of playing eligibility and get an extra semester of school. The 18 year-old will be a redshirt freshman in 2018-19 provided she doesn't skate in a game.
Potomak missed the first semester as one of 28 players centralized in Calgary with the Canadian Olympic team. Cut from the team in November, the Aldergrove, British Columbia native took her time with Gophers head coach Brad Frost making a decision. In the interim, she skated with teammate Lindsay Agnew on Canada's National Women's Development Team in the Nations Cup.
A side effect of the decision is that she will spend a semester with the team without older sister Sarah. The older Potomak, also cut from the Canadian Olympic team, will continue to redshirt by spending the semester in her native Canada.
Sarah will be a redshirt junior next season.
Potomak will take classes and practice with fifth-ranked Minnesota while continuing to redshirt, The Gopher Hockey Blog has learned. This allows her to keep a full four years of playing eligibility and get an extra semester of school. The 18 year-old will be a redshirt freshman in 2018-19 provided she doesn't skate in a game.
Potomak missed the first semester as one of 28 players centralized in Calgary with the Canadian Olympic team. Cut from the team in November, the Aldergrove, British Columbia native took her time with Gophers head coach Brad Frost making a decision. In the interim, she skated with teammate Lindsay Agnew on Canada's National Women's Development Team in the Nations Cup.
A side effect of the decision is that she will spend a semester with the team without older sister Sarah. The older Potomak, also cut from the Canadian Olympic team, will continue to redshirt by spending the semester in her native Canada.
Sarah will be a redshirt junior next season.
Friday, November 17, 2017
Pregame Blog: Minnesota-Harvard Friday Line Combinations, TV, Radio & More
Harvard (2-3-0, 2-3-0 ECAC) at #7 Minnesota (7-4-1, 3-2-1-1 Big Ten)
Date: November 17, 2017Time: 7:00 pm CT
Place: 3M Arena at Mariucci in Minneapolis, MN
TV: Fox Sports North PLUS/TSN5 in Canada
Stream: BTN2Go/Fox Sports Go
Radio: 1130 KTLK-AM (Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco)
Nate is covering for tonight: The Athletic/Zone Coverage/Wellsociated Press
Pregame reading: Gopher hockey loses its finishing touch in disappointing weekend at Michigan (The Athletic), Harvard 1989 shocker still haunts Gophers 28 years later (The Athletic)
Pregame listening: That Gopher Hockey Puckast Episode 8
"That's the million dollar question."
Said by Don Lucia earlier this week, the Gopher head coach was responding to the question "how do you pull the positives all together?" Minnesota has found success on defense, allowing 2 and 1 goals against in back-to-back weekends, as well as offense, scoring 10 goals in 2 games.
However, the two have yet to go together in the same weekend.
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Feature: Gopher hockey loses its finishing touch in disappointing weekend at Michigan (The Athletic)
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — If Minnesota needed a reminder of the cliché “you’re only as good as your last game,” the team got one this past weekend.
Entering a two-game series against Michigan and new head coach Mel Pearson, the Gophers were 7-1-0 on the season when leading after two periods, with seven consecutive wins. Consistently finishing close games had been a point of pride for head coach Don Lucia.
That all went out one of Yost Ice Arena’s many windows this weekend. Any goodwill built up over seven wins was lost in a span of two nights.
Minnesota left Ann Arbor back at square one in closing out games. Twice Minnesota jumped out to at least a 3-0 lead. Twice the Wolverines were able to come back, winning 5-4 in overtime Friday and tying 6-6 Saturday.
“That’s not the result that we want,” Minnesota captain Tyler Sheehy told The Athletic. “Eleven goals (given up) on a weekend is not Gopher hockey. We have to get back to Gopher hockey as a whole.”
Entering a two-game series against Michigan and new head coach Mel Pearson, the Gophers were 7-1-0 on the season when leading after two periods, with seven consecutive wins. Consistently finishing close games had been a point of pride for head coach Don Lucia.
That all went out one of Yost Ice Arena’s many windows this weekend. Any goodwill built up over seven wins was lost in a span of two nights.
Minnesota left Ann Arbor back at square one in closing out games. Twice Minnesota jumped out to at least a 3-0 lead. Twice the Wolverines were able to come back, winning 5-4 in overtime Friday and tying 6-6 Saturday.
“That’s not the result that we want,” Minnesota captain Tyler Sheehy told The Athletic. “Eleven goals (given up) on a weekend is not Gopher hockey. We have to get back to Gopher hockey as a whole.”
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Wednesday, July 12, 2017
BLOG: How to get your offseason hockey fix & watch Gophers all at once
Friday and Saturday marked the midpoint of Minnesota's offseason. Each passing day brings us closer to the start of a new year, so it should be no surprise that mid-July features players ramping up in preparation.
In addition to ongoing NHL development camps, several University of Minnesota players are spending their July and August participating in Da Beauty League. Featuring Twin Cities-based NHLers, minor leaguers and collegians playing 4x4 hockey at Braemar Arena in Edina, the league's second season begins today (July 12, 2017) and runs through August. For three games a night (5:10 pm, 6:35 pm, 8:00 pm) at $10 it's a decent value.
In addition to ongoing NHL development camps, several University of Minnesota players are spending their July and August participating in Da Beauty League. Featuring Twin Cities-based NHLers, minor leaguers and collegians playing 4x4 hockey at Braemar Arena in Edina, the league's second season begins today (July 12, 2017) and runs through August. For three games a night (5:10 pm, 6:35 pm, 8:00 pm) at $10 it's a decent value.
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
BLOG: Mike Szmatula out for the weekend
Mike Szmatula will be out for the second straight weekend.
Szmatula was ruled out of this weekend's series against Michigan by head coach Don Lucia during Wednesday's media availability.
The team travels to Ann Arbor tomorrow and can only bring 23 skaters, necessitating the quick decision. Szmatula suffered a lower body injury 3 minutes into Minnesota's 6-3 win against Penn State on February 17th.
Although he needed to be helped off the ice, Lucia initially believed Szmatula would not miss an extended period of time and would be back last weekend.
Szmatula currently has 25 points (10G-15A) in 26 games for the Gophers. Unfortunately missing a chance to play at Yost Arena means the Commerce Township, Michigan native will have been injured for both Michigan road series this season.
Everyone else, besides Tommy Novak (out for the season after suffering an injury when the Gophers hosted Michigan in mid-January), is healthy enough to play. Being without both means Ryan Norman likely gets another opportunity to play at center.
As far as the Wolverines go, top freshman forward Will Lockwood missed both games against Ohio State last weekend, but is practicing this week. Michigan also got a bit of good news with senior Alex Kile returning for the first time in a month, however.
Szmatula was ruled out of this weekend's series against Michigan by head coach Don Lucia during Wednesday's media availability.
The team travels to Ann Arbor tomorrow and can only bring 23 skaters, necessitating the quick decision. Szmatula suffered a lower body injury 3 minutes into Minnesota's 6-3 win against Penn State on February 17th.
Although he needed to be helped off the ice, Lucia initially believed Szmatula would not miss an extended period of time and would be back last weekend.
Szmatula currently has 25 points (10G-15A) in 26 games for the Gophers. Unfortunately missing a chance to play at Yost Arena means the Commerce Township, Michigan native will have been injured for both Michigan road series this season.
Everyone else, besides Tommy Novak (out for the season after suffering an injury when the Gophers hosted Michigan in mid-January), is healthy enough to play. Being without both means Ryan Norman likely gets another opportunity to play at center.
As far as the Wolverines go, top freshman forward Will Lockwood missed both games against Ohio State last weekend, but is practicing this week. Michigan also got a bit of good news with senior Alex Kile returning for the first time in a month, however.
Friday, January 20, 2017
Feature: Gopher Hockey preps for Badgers without Tommy Novak (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
(This article originally appeared in the St. Paul Pioneer Press)
Connor Reilly has an idea what Gophers hockey teammate Tommy Novak is going through.
Twice Reilly, a redshirt senior and alternate captain, had his season end early because of lower-body injury, just like Novak, who was hurt in Minnesota’s 4-2 victory over Michigan on Saturday and is out for the season.
He pulled Novak aside and talked with him for a little bit.
“There will be some good days. There will be some bad days,” Reilly said he told Novak. “It’s not easy. It’s a difficult process, but I told him to treat it as an opportunity to learn a lot about yourself as a person. Hopefully you grow more as a person because it is an interesting process. You can’t look too far ahead; you can’t look too far behind.”
Just as quickly, attention turned to how seventh-ranked Minnesota (13-5-2, 5-1-0-0 Big Ten), currently on a six-game winning streak, will replace the sophomore center’s playmaking abilities in the lineup beginning with this weekend’s road series against top rival Wisconsin (10-7-1, 3-1-0-0).
Connor Reilly has an idea what Gophers hockey teammate Tommy Novak is going through.
Twice Reilly, a redshirt senior and alternate captain, had his season end early because of lower-body injury, just like Novak, who was hurt in Minnesota’s 4-2 victory over Michigan on Saturday and is out for the season.
He pulled Novak aside and talked with him for a little bit.
“There will be some good days. There will be some bad days,” Reilly said he told Novak. “It’s not easy. It’s a difficult process, but I told him to treat it as an opportunity to learn a lot about yourself as a person. Hopefully you grow more as a person because it is an interesting process. You can’t look too far ahead; you can’t look too far behind.”
Just as quickly, attention turned to how seventh-ranked Minnesota (13-5-2, 5-1-0-0 Big Ten), currently on a six-game winning streak, will replace the sophomore center’s playmaking abilities in the lineup beginning with this weekend’s road series against top rival Wisconsin (10-7-1, 3-1-0-0).
Click here to read the rest!
Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Puck Dynasty Podcast Episode 9
Puck Dynasty is a weekly podcast covering the University of Minnesota men’s hockey team and college hockey. Nathan Wells (SB Nation College Hockey/various outlets), Declan Goff (1500 ESPN/GoMN Sports) and Drew Cove (Minnesota Daily) discuss the latest news, analysis and give their opinions about the Gophers and sport as a whole.
On this week’s episode 9 the crew discuss Minnesota extending its winning streak to six games with a weekend sweep of Michigan at Mariucci Arena. They touch on Vinni Lettieri’s penalty shot and hat trick Saturday, the Gopher defense during the past six games, and the significance of sophomore forward Tommy Novak’s season-ending injury, among others.
This weekend’s Border Battle series against Wisconsin in Madison is also previewed.
In between segments, Twitter questions about who replaces Novak, the Big Ten and whether Penn State is truly deserving of being the #1 team in the country get answered.
Second line center applicants can check it out at 1500 ESPN, Podcast One or subscribe on iTunes.
On this week’s episode 9 the crew discuss Minnesota extending its winning streak to six games with a weekend sweep of Michigan at Mariucci Arena. They touch on Vinni Lettieri’s penalty shot and hat trick Saturday, the Gopher defense during the past six games, and the significance of sophomore forward Tommy Novak’s season-ending injury, among others.
This weekend’s Border Battle series against Wisconsin in Madison is also previewed.
In between segments, Twitter questions about who replaces Novak, the Big Ten and whether Penn State is truly deserving of being the #1 team in the country get answered.
Second line center applicants can check it out at 1500 ESPN, Podcast One or subscribe on iTunes.
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Leftovers From The Michigan Series
No, this wasn't the same Michigan team.
That much was apparent early and often during Minnesota's 5-2 and 4-2 wins over the Wolverines to extend its winning streak to six games.
(You can read both of my game stories in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Friday here. Saturday here.)
Michigan's goals Friday came off of two turnovers in the defensive zone (the second being about as easy of a giveaway that Leon Bristedt could have given up to Brendan Warren). The offensive juggernaut from last season had barely any offense this time around.
By the time head coach Red Berenson spoke Friday he said what we all knew.
"We have to be better defensively as a group. We're not a gifted team. We're not last year's team. We're not going to lead the country in scoring," said Berenson, who has seen it all in a 30+ year coaching career with the Wolverines. "In fact it's hard for us to score. How many games have we scored three goals? "
Lose as many dynamic players as Berenson's team has over the past two seasons and trying to replace becomes a steeper and steeper task. (It's something Minnesota fans can relate to after the string of one-and-dones from 2004-2007.) Not every class contains a Dylan Larkin or Kyle Connor. Getting an upperclassmen resurgence from Zach Hyman or Tyler Motte takes time.
This year, however, the Wolverines - without top freshman forward Will Lockwood last weekend - have gone back to square one. Michigan led the nation in goals per game a season ago. Without the CCM line and Zach Werenski the shooting gallery is gone in Ann Arbor. Only three teams in the country have a worse Corsi close (42.5%) than the Wolverines.
Minnesota focused on shot suppression this weekend, holding Michigan to 42 shots in 2 games. Putting the pressure on the Wolverines defense and goaltending, the road team was more conservative and Minnesota controlled possession almost at will.
"Too many shots. Too many chances. We weren't good enough with the puck or without the puck," said Berenson after Friday's loss.
Berenson, for what it's worth, did have praise for the Gophers.
"They're as good of a team as any team in the country on any given night," he said.
Five more leftover thoughts after the jump:
That much was apparent early and often during Minnesota's 5-2 and 4-2 wins over the Wolverines to extend its winning streak to six games.
(You can read both of my game stories in the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Friday here. Saturday here.)
Michigan's goals Friday came off of two turnovers in the defensive zone (the second being about as easy of a giveaway that Leon Bristedt could have given up to Brendan Warren). The offensive juggernaut from last season had barely any offense this time around.
By the time head coach Red Berenson spoke Friday he said what we all knew.
"We have to be better defensively as a group. We're not a gifted team. We're not last year's team. We're not going to lead the country in scoring," said Berenson, who has seen it all in a 30+ year coaching career with the Wolverines. "In fact it's hard for us to score. How many games have we scored three goals? "
Lose as many dynamic players as Berenson's team has over the past two seasons and trying to replace becomes a steeper and steeper task. (It's something Minnesota fans can relate to after the string of one-and-dones from 2004-2007.) Not every class contains a Dylan Larkin or Kyle Connor. Getting an upperclassmen resurgence from Zach Hyman or Tyler Motte takes time.
This year, however, the Wolverines - without top freshman forward Will Lockwood last weekend - have gone back to square one. Michigan led the nation in goals per game a season ago. Without the CCM line and Zach Werenski the shooting gallery is gone in Ann Arbor. Only three teams in the country have a worse Corsi close (42.5%) than the Wolverines.
Minnesota focused on shot suppression this weekend, holding Michigan to 42 shots in 2 games. Putting the pressure on the Wolverines defense and goaltending, the road team was more conservative and Minnesota controlled possession almost at will.
"Too many shots. Too many chances. We weren't good enough with the puck or without the puck," said Berenson after Friday's loss.
Berenson, for what it's worth, did have praise for the Gophers.
"They're as good of a team as any team in the country on any given night," he said.
Five more leftover thoughts after the jump:
Saturday, January 14, 2017
Pregame Blog: More on Tyler Sheehy's 2 goal night + Minnesota-Michigan Line Combinations
Trying to defeat the same team twice in a row is never easy. Minnesota would know as the Gophers try to sweep the Wolverines on Saturday. Both series last season saw Minnesota get blown out by Michigan on Friday only to regroup a night later and salvage a split.
That said, Minnesota's 5-2 win over Michigan featured several impressive performances.
Several players who hadn't celebrated a goal in a while did just that. Tommy Novak scored for the first time in nearly two months. Rem Pitlick, who had 46 goals in juniors last season yet entered the weekend with only two, showed why with another highlight-reel goal. (All three could be put in that category.) Junior defenseman Ryan Collins had two assists for his first multi-point game since November 28, 2014 at Boston College.
“The guys that we need scoring had a boost tonight,” said Minnesota head coach Don Lucia.
As a team, the Gophers nearly finished with both a nearly 2:1 shot and shot attempts (78-40) advantage against Michigan. Minnesota's special teams extended its penalty kill streak to 19 straight. Although this isn't the same Wolverines team as the one a year ago that could almost score at will and possessed one of the best power plays I've ever seen in college hockey, it was unable to get even strength chances against the Gopher defense in the final two periods.
However, the most impressive performance might have been one which on the surface sounds predictable. Tyler Sheehy scoring twice and assisting on Pitlick's goal. It's the fourth 2 goal game for him so far this season. He has points in 10 of his last 12 games.
Why impressive? His two goals came two days after being too sick to practice.
Sheehy, along with the rest of the Gophers, built on past performances Friday despite not being 100%. He leads Minnesota with 14 goals this season. That number already bests the sophomore forward's freshman total.
“You never want to look ahead and past an opponent, but at the same time you have to build off momentum from previous games,” said Sheehy. “It’s a little bit (difficult coming out of the break), but we were able to come out tonight fast and keep the momentum we had the last two weekends.”
--
Coach Lucia mentioned post game that he would likely make a couple changes for the second game of the two-game series.
He stuck to that word.
Forwards Brent Gates Jr. and Taylor Cammarata are out tonight. Connor Reilly comes back in and moves up to the second line with Vinni Lettieri and Novak. Leon Bristedt, meanwhile, moves back to the third line he has made his own as of late.
Not sure if Gates is a coach's decision, but if so that's a message sent only a couple games removed from the Grand Rapids, MI native scoring a hat trick. (UPDATE: Gates' absence is indeed from the illness going around the team.)
Ryan Norman replaces Cammarata on the fourth line.
Defense and goaltending remain the same. UPDATE: Jack Sadek has been scratched due to illness. Jack Glover will play.
Freshman Hayden Lavigne gets the nod in net for Michigan after Zach Nagelvoort allowed five goals Friday.
University of Minnesota Golden Gophers lines
Forwards
Rem Pitlick (#15) - Justin Kloos (#25) - Tyler Sheehy (#22)
Connor Reilly (#21) - Tommy Novak (#17) - Vinni Lettieri (#19)
Leon Bristedt (#18) - Mike Szmatula (#9) - Luke Notermann (#11)
Ryan Norman (#23) - Darian Romanko (#26) - Jack Ramsey (#16)
Defense
Jake Bischoff (#28) - Ryan Lindgren (#5)
Steve Johnson (#4) - Jack Glover (#3)
Ryan Zuhsldorf (#20) - Ryan Collins (#6)
Goaltenders
Eric Schierhorn (#37)
Nick Lehr (#34)
Brock Kautz (#1)
--
Tonight's game starts at 7 pm CT from Mariucci Arena. Fox Sports North Plus airs it on television. 1500 ESPN has radio coverage.
As a reminder, I am covering this weekend's series for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
That said, Minnesota's 5-2 win over Michigan featured several impressive performances.
Several players who hadn't celebrated a goal in a while did just that. Tommy Novak scored for the first time in nearly two months. Rem Pitlick, who had 46 goals in juniors last season yet entered the weekend with only two, showed why with another highlight-reel goal. (All three could be put in that category.) Junior defenseman Ryan Collins had two assists for his first multi-point game since November 28, 2014 at Boston College.
“The guys that we need scoring had a boost tonight,” said Minnesota head coach Don Lucia.
As a team, the Gophers nearly finished with both a nearly 2:1 shot and shot attempts (78-40) advantage against Michigan. Minnesota's special teams extended its penalty kill streak to 19 straight. Although this isn't the same Wolverines team as the one a year ago that could almost score at will and possessed one of the best power plays I've ever seen in college hockey, it was unable to get even strength chances against the Gopher defense in the final two periods.
However, the most impressive performance might have been one which on the surface sounds predictable. Tyler Sheehy scoring twice and assisting on Pitlick's goal. It's the fourth 2 goal game for him so far this season. He has points in 10 of his last 12 games.
Why impressive? His two goals came two days after being too sick to practice.
Sheehy, along with the rest of the Gophers, built on past performances Friday despite not being 100%. He leads Minnesota with 14 goals this season. That number already bests the sophomore forward's freshman total.
“You never want to look ahead and past an opponent, but at the same time you have to build off momentum from previous games,” said Sheehy. “It’s a little bit (difficult coming out of the break), but we were able to come out tonight fast and keep the momentum we had the last two weekends.”
--
Coach Lucia mentioned post game that he would likely make a couple changes for the second game of the two-game series.
He stuck to that word.
Forwards Brent Gates Jr. and Taylor Cammarata are out tonight. Connor Reilly comes back in and moves up to the second line with Vinni Lettieri and Novak. Leon Bristedt, meanwhile, moves back to the third line he has made his own as of late.
Not sure if Gates is a coach's decision, but if so that's a message sent only a couple games removed from the Grand Rapids, MI native scoring a hat trick. (UPDATE: Gates' absence is indeed from the illness going around the team.)
Ryan Norman replaces Cammarata on the fourth line.
Freshman Hayden Lavigne gets the nod in net for Michigan after Zach Nagelvoort allowed five goals Friday.
University of Minnesota Golden Gophers lines
Forwards
Rem Pitlick (#15) - Justin Kloos (#25) - Tyler Sheehy (#22)
Connor Reilly (#21) - Tommy Novak (#17) - Vinni Lettieri (#19)
Leon Bristedt (#18) - Mike Szmatula (#9) - Luke Notermann (#11)
Ryan Norman (#23) - Darian Romanko (#26) - Jack Ramsey (#16)
Defense
Jake Bischoff (#28) - Ryan Lindgren (#5)
Steve Johnson (#4) - Jack Glover (#3)
Ryan Zuhsldorf (#20) - Ryan Collins (#6)
Goaltenders
Eric Schierhorn (#37)
Nick Lehr (#34)
Brock Kautz (#1)
--
Tonight's game starts at 7 pm CT from Mariucci Arena. Fox Sports North Plus airs it on television. 1500 ESPN has radio coverage.
As a reminder, I am covering this weekend's series for the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
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