TheGoldSeat

Following the comments of the “Paper Champs”, I too have noticed that hockey is running rampant through the “state of hockey”, and it could not come at a better time. Vikings fans have been eagerly awaiting free agency because of the amount of money available to spend on players. Now that it is here, fans have had little to be excited about, AGAIN!! With the exception of Steve Hutchinson and a couple others, the Vikes have made some less than spectacular moves during free agency in recent years. With the fan base slowly creeping out the door, one would think the Viking’s brass would want to make some sort of blockbuster signing or create some buzz with an exciting draft pick, but no. I have a sinking feeling that fans will be left with a bitter taste in their mouth again.

I could continue to rant about my beloved Vikes, or even the T-wolves (that would be too easy), but I would rather bring the positivity and mention that we are the “State of Hockey” and we are smack in the middle of hockey playoff heaven. The Wild are ranked 13 in ESPN’s power rankings and are on the brink of making the playoffs, the Gopher men’s hockey team is entering the playoffs as regular-season champs, and the state high school hockey tournaments are under way.  Unfortunately, I currently am living out-of-state, so I am unable to watch the storied state high school hockey tournament. I love watching the uncomfortable faces of the cheerleaders when the camera hits them, or hearing every single player say “Hi Mom” with a big smile on their faces thinking they are all that and a bag of chips because they made it to the tourney. Every year, you see a player you can’t help but get excited about and hope they choose to go play for our beloved Gophers. Growing up in the state of hockey, if you are a hockey fan,  almost nothing beats the high school tounaments,  ALOMST nothing!

The only thing that could mean more right now would be the Gopher’s pursuit of a national title. The Gophers have repeated as WCHA champs  and are looking to avenge a early exit from the Frozen Four last year courtesy of Holy Cross. The Gophs have reached some road blocks recently, but hopefully Lucia skated that out of them with his rare Sunday morning practice following the loss to Michigan Tech.  The Gophers will face Alaska Anchorage on Friday in the best of a three game series which the Gophers should sweep. The last time the Gophers faced the Seawolves they beat them handedly the first game 8-2, and then only beat them 2-1 in the second game. Hopefully, we will see the team that beat them 8-2 and not the team we have seen lately. In the weeks to come, most of my attention will be on the Gophers and watching them in tournament action.

This may be the last time we see some of these kids in a Gopher uniform, for sure Erik Johnson who has said he is leaving to play in the NHL next year. Johnson has publicly stated that he wants to “make the jump to the next level so I can keep developing the way I want to” next year and will play for the St. Louis Blues who made him the number one overall draft pick  in the 2006 NHL draft.

He is good and his presence will be missed on such a young team, but I say “don’t let the door hit ya” because after making comments like this, “I think here at Minnesota, I could have been used more effectively in the system, so that has been frustrating” he is not leaving any room for return.  Somehow, I doubt that he was used ineffectively when he has played on the first line and has had the most shots on goal of any player on the team. He has a great shot which Lucia knows and uses to their advantage.  Effectively used or not,  I will be watching Johnson and the rest of the Golden Gophers take it to the ice Friday, watching and praying that we will return to mid-season form in the upcoming tournaments.  Sky-U-Mah my friends, Sky-U-Mah!