Three years ago in the visiting locker room of Wells Fargo Center, Minnesota's freshman class experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows.
Their team had defeated its biggest rival with a final second buzzer-beater win. Then two days later they fell short to Union in the 2014 national championship game.
They - Jake Bischoff, Taylor Cammarata, Justin Kloos, Vinni Lettieri and Connor Reilly (Mitch Rogge joined later) - spent three years trying to get that feeling back.
Several came back this season for an opportunity to change the past. They turned down NHL offers in order to be the one team of 60 who doesn't conclude their year with a loss. In the process they earned a #1 seed and fourth straight regular season title.
Nearly tasting ultimate success as freshmen, that's the closest they'll get.
Manchester, NH marks the end for the second time in three years. They leave SNHU Center short of the Frozen Four with Minnesota's season and, for the seniors, their college careers over, losing 3-2 to Notre Dame at the NCAA Northeast Regional semifinal.
Showing posts with label Mitch Rogge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mitch Rogge. Show all posts
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Pregame Blog: Minnesota-MSU Senior Night Line Combinations
Saturday's Game Info
Michigan State at #5 Minnesota
Date: March 11, 2017
Time: 7:00 pm CT (8:00 pm ET)
Place: Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis, MN
TV: Fox Sports North Plus (Doug McLeod and Ben Clymer)
Stream: Fox Sports Go (Free for cable subscribers)
Radio: 1500 ESPN (Wally Shaver and Frank Mazzocco)
Nate is covering for tonight: St. Paul Pioneer Press
BLOG: Mitch Rogge to play Saturday
One benefit of Minnesota wrapping up the Big Ten title Friday night is senior Mitch Rogge will get to make his Gopher debut on Senior Night.
Head coach Don Lucia made the announcement following Friday's win against Michigan State.
"Now you can put this behind and get ready for Senior Night, which to me is a really important night," he said. "We'll make sure Mitch Rogge plays (Saturday) because he's been such a great program guy. We want to make sure, he's played some exhibition games, that he gets to put the uniform on in a real game. I think he's earned that right. "
Rogge has yet to suit up in a game for Minnesota since transferring from Sacred Heart in 2014, where he made two appearances.
"I know the guys are excited to see that," said Lucia. "It's not easy to be a guy who comes in and practices every day for a few years and be in the weight room. You don't get the reward. Tomorrow he gets his reward."
The Gophers will honor Rogge and five other seniors - Jake Bischoff, Taylor Cammarata, Justin Kloos, Vinni Lettieri and Connor Reilly - prior to the 7pm puck drop against the Spartans.
As far as other personnel changes go, Lucia doesn't plan on straying too far away from the normal lineup despite clinching the title and first round bye.
"We're playing to win. We're playing for NCAA seeding," Lucia said. "It's all about the seniors for me tomorrow. History tells me our seniors will play with heart tomorrow."
Head coach Don Lucia made the announcement following Friday's win against Michigan State.
"Now you can put this behind and get ready for Senior Night, which to me is a really important night," he said. "We'll make sure Mitch Rogge plays (Saturday) because he's been such a great program guy. We want to make sure, he's played some exhibition games, that he gets to put the uniform on in a real game. I think he's earned that right. "
Rogge has yet to suit up in a game for Minnesota since transferring from Sacred Heart in 2014, where he made two appearances.
"I know the guys are excited to see that," said Lucia. "It's not easy to be a guy who comes in and practices every day for a few years and be in the weight room. You don't get the reward. Tomorrow he gets his reward."
The Gophers will honor Rogge and five other seniors - Jake Bischoff, Taylor Cammarata, Justin Kloos, Vinni Lettieri and Connor Reilly - prior to the 7pm puck drop against the Spartans.
As far as other personnel changes go, Lucia doesn't plan on straying too far away from the normal lineup despite clinching the title and first round bye.
"We're playing to win. We're playing for NCAA seeding," Lucia said. "It's all about the seniors for me tomorrow. History tells me our seniors will play with heart tomorrow."
Friday, March 10, 2017
Feature: Six seniors put Gopher hockey in a good place (St. Paul Pioneer Press)
One of the best compliments coach Don Lucia could give his six Gophers seniors came going into last weekend’s series against a Michigan team struggling without five players who departed early.
“I guarantee I’m a lot smarter because they’re back,” he said, calling them the team’s difference makers. “They’re guys you can’t replace.”
Minnesota’s 2016-17 senior class — forwards Taylor Cammarata, Justin Kloos, Vinni Lettieri, Connor Reilly and Mitch Rogge, along with defenseman Jake Bischoff — will be honored before Saturday’s regular-season finale against Michigan State. Their final series at Mariucci Arena carries a variety of emotions mixed with an opportunity to make history.
“Experiencing it, you realize (the four years) go by quicker than ever,” Bischoff said. “I’m going to try to live in the weekend and come away with a couple of wins.”
The first class to spend their entire playing tenure in the Big Ten has meant much to Lucia and the Gophers program due to their success and loyalty.
Leading Wisconsin by three points with two games remaining, Minnesota (22-10-2, 13-5-0) needs any combination of four points won by the Gophers or lost by the Badgers to win its fourth consecutive Big Ten regular-season title and sixth in a row overall dating back to 2012.
To do so would be an unprecedented feat in college hockey. Boston University won five straight Hockey East titles between 1993 and 1998.
Click here to read the rest!
“I guarantee I’m a lot smarter because they’re back,” he said, calling them the team’s difference makers. “They’re guys you can’t replace.”
Minnesota’s 2016-17 senior class — forwards Taylor Cammarata, Justin Kloos, Vinni Lettieri, Connor Reilly and Mitch Rogge, along with defenseman Jake Bischoff — will be honored before Saturday’s regular-season finale against Michigan State. Their final series at Mariucci Arena carries a variety of emotions mixed with an opportunity to make history.
“Experiencing it, you realize (the four years) go by quicker than ever,” Bischoff said. “I’m going to try to live in the weekend and come away with a couple of wins.”
The first class to spend their entire playing tenure in the Big Ten has meant much to Lucia and the Gophers program due to their success and loyalty.
Leading Wisconsin by three points with two games remaining, Minnesota (22-10-2, 13-5-0) needs any combination of four points won by the Gophers or lost by the Badgers to win its fourth consecutive Big Ten regular-season title and sixth in a row overall dating back to 2012.
To do so would be an unprecedented feat in college hockey. Boston University won five straight Hockey East titles between 1993 and 1998.
Click here to read the rest!
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