In the past 36 hours, three champions have been crowned in hockey, basketball and horse racing. These are their stories, in order of appearance.
Capitals Hit the Stanley Cup Jackpot
The Washington Capitals, established in 1974, won their first NHL Stanley Cup Thursday night in Las Vegas in five games over the Golden Knights. They were established only last year.
The Capitals erased years of disappointing DC fans and hockey pundits when their expectations exceeded their grasp, having great regular-season records before flaming out in the early playoff rounds. The fans would have been forgiven this season if they didn't quite warm up to what was going on with the Caps' playoff run. They defeated the Columbus Blue Jackets, Pittsburgh Penguins (their long-time nemesis) and Tampa Bay Lightning on their way to representing the Eastern Conference in the Cup finals.
Alex Ovechkin, generally rated one of the best players never to have won the Cup, finally got his chance to drink from it in his 14th season. He also won the Conn Smythe trophy for being the most valuable player in the playoffs.
The Vegas Golden Knights have just become the new standard for how to put together a winner in its first season, drafting a better crop of players than are usually allowed for expansion teams. (Seattle and Quebec City, candidates for the next NHL franchise, should be so fortunate.) After disposing of the Anaheim Ducks, San Jose Sharks and Winnipeg Jets in the Western Conference playoffs, Vegas became the first expansion team in 50 years (St. Louis Blues in 1968) to make the finals.
But the Stanley Cup now resides in the nation's capitol, not the entertainment and gambling capitol. Maybe we need a new version of the old line about the baseball Senators: "First in war. First in peace. First in the National Hockey League."
Three Times Golden
The Golden State Warriors won their third NBA title in four years Friday night in Cleveland, sweeping away the Cavaliers in four games. This was the first Finals sweep since 2007, and the Cavs were on the receiving end of that one too (to the San Antonio Spurs).
Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant and the rest of the Warriors played their roles successfully, with Durant taking home the playoff MVP trophy. This wasn't the powerhouse squad of past season, but they had just enough to get past the Spurs, New Orleans Pelicans and Houston Rockets to win the Western Conference.
The Cavs didn't have such a stellar year either, due to injuries and internal drama. But LeBron James almost single-handedly pushed his team past the Indiana Pacers, Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics for another try at a championship in his home town.
Like we said, neither the Warriors nor the Cavaliers dominated the NBA during the season. But everyone thought those two teams for the championship for the fourth consecutive year, and there they were. Whether they meet again for the fifth time depends on James' decision to either stay in Cleveland, or go somewhere else.
One thing we do know: The Warriors will not be saluted at the White House by President Donald Trump. He doesn't seem to want them there, and neither do the players. But the Capitals are willing to fill the void. Most of its players weren't born in the United States.
Justified at the Track
Until 2015, the horse racing world had been waiting since 1978 for a three-year old horse to win the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes in the same year. Then came American Pharoah. Now, for the second time this century, we have another Triple Crown winner. His name is Justify.
Having won his first two TC races on muddy tracks, one wondered how Justify would do on the dry track at Belmont. He did rather well, staving off the challenge of the other horses by half a length over the long distance to claim victory.
Justify is now the 13th horse to win the Triple Crown. The wait for number 14 begins now.
Saturday, June 9, 2018
Friday, May 25, 2018
The NFL and The Anthem: Love It or Leave It
Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, the National Football League's owners (without so much as a vote) decided to give its players a choice when it comes to Honoring America with "The Star Spangled Banner". They can either stand for the anthem on the sidelines, or they can sit in the locker room until it is finished. No more taking a knee unless it's to run out the clock.
This action meant that the league has caved to outside pressures. They are afraid of President Donald Trump's attacks on players who take a knee. They are afraid of plummeting TV ratings. They are afraid of turning off fans when they should be worried about other things that threaten their sport, such as concussions, long games and hiring players with criminal records. Most of all, they are afraid of losing money. They'll gladly take payments from the Department of Defense in exchange for jamming "patriotic" messages down our throats to increase recruitment.
We seem to have forgotten that players such as Colin Kaepernick, whose football-playing career came to a screeching halt because of this, have resorted to taking a knee during the anthem to protest incidents of police brutality against African-Americans. It was never intended to be an attack on America's manhood. But that's the way it was interpreted by Trump, conservative activists and holier-than-thou veterans groups. They'd rather see these players check their First Amendment rights at the door, or they can leave.
And what athlete wants to sit in the locker room while his teammates are saluting the flag, then risk getting booed and called a traitor by fans once he goes out onto the field? This doesn't sound like much of a decision at all.
It's getting difficult, if not impossible, to separate sports from the rest of society. Racial issues, sexual harassment, violence and other things have injected themselves onto the playing field, and athletes are making their voices heard. We may not like what they have to say, but we should defend their right to say it. Forcing them (and us) to salute a piece of cloth and a bygone way of life is not the way you Honor America.
UPDATE (6/5/18): The Philadelphia Eagles will not get to celebrate their Super Bowl championship at the White House. Trump disinvited them because not all the players agreed with his "my way or the highway" approach on standing for the anthem. That's not how patriotism is supposed to work, but Trump seems to have a different set of values and we're all paying the price.
This action meant that the league has caved to outside pressures. They are afraid of President Donald Trump's attacks on players who take a knee. They are afraid of plummeting TV ratings. They are afraid of turning off fans when they should be worried about other things that threaten their sport, such as concussions, long games and hiring players with criminal records. Most of all, they are afraid of losing money. They'll gladly take payments from the Department of Defense in exchange for jamming "patriotic" messages down our throats to increase recruitment.
We seem to have forgotten that players such as Colin Kaepernick, whose football-playing career came to a screeching halt because of this, have resorted to taking a knee during the anthem to protest incidents of police brutality against African-Americans. It was never intended to be an attack on America's manhood. But that's the way it was interpreted by Trump, conservative activists and holier-than-thou veterans groups. They'd rather see these players check their First Amendment rights at the door, or they can leave.
And what athlete wants to sit in the locker room while his teammates are saluting the flag, then risk getting booed and called a traitor by fans once he goes out onto the field? This doesn't sound like much of a decision at all.
It's getting difficult, if not impossible, to separate sports from the rest of society. Racial issues, sexual harassment, violence and other things have injected themselves onto the playing field, and athletes are making their voices heard. We may not like what they have to say, but we should defend their right to say it. Forcing them (and us) to salute a piece of cloth and a bygone way of life is not the way you Honor America.
UPDATE (6/5/18): The Philadelphia Eagles will not get to celebrate their Super Bowl championship at the White House. Trump disinvited them because not all the players agreed with his "my way or the highway" approach on standing for the anthem. That's not how patriotism is supposed to work, but Trump seems to have a different set of values and we're all paying the price.
Friday, May 18, 2018
Lynx 2018: What Do You Do For An Encore?
The Minnesota Lynx have won four WNBA championships in this decade, more than anyone else in the league's history except for the Houston Comets in the 1990s. They are excellence personified in a sports market where every other pro franchise (Vikings, Twins, Wild, Timberwolves and United) have had their hand-wringing moments.
But now it's a new season. All the regulars are back--Seimoine Augustus, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Rebekkah Brunson and Lindsay Whelan--along with new faces Lynette Kizer, Danielle Robinson and Tanisha Wright. The Lynx have said goodbye to Renee Montgomery (traded to the Atlanta Dream), Natasha Howard (traded to the Seattle Storm), Jia Perkins and Plenette Pierson (both retired). And after a sojourn in St. Paul last season, the Lynx return to their newly remodeled digs at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Coach Cheryl Reeve has seen her status rise too, having also taken on the role of being the tean's general manager, which means she's now responsible for her players on and off the court.
Forgive Whelan if she's sometimes distracted this season. She recently became head coach of women's basketball at the University of Minnesota (her alma mater), replacing Marlene Stallings, who has moved on to Texas Tech. Whelan has never coached before, so the Gophers must see something in her besides boosting the program and selling tickets. So far it's not a problem, since she's playing basketball during the summer and coaching it during the winter.
The challenge for the Lynx this season is not just to repeat as champions, but to do so in consecutive years. They've won WNBA titles in 2011, '13, '15 and '17--all odd numbered years. Which is why most basketball pundits are looking at the Los Angeles Sparks (the most recent champion besides the Lynx), Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury as possible title contenders. And the San Antonio Stars are now the Las Vegas Aces.
So what does the Minnesota Lynx do for an encore? It comes down to how much longer they can delay Mother Time, and how much they want that one for the thumb. We'll see what happens.
But now it's a new season. All the regulars are back--Seimoine Augustus, Maya Moore, Sylvia Fowles, Rebekkah Brunson and Lindsay Whelan--along with new faces Lynette Kizer, Danielle Robinson and Tanisha Wright. The Lynx have said goodbye to Renee Montgomery (traded to the Atlanta Dream), Natasha Howard (traded to the Seattle Storm), Jia Perkins and Plenette Pierson (both retired). And after a sojourn in St. Paul last season, the Lynx return to their newly remodeled digs at Target Center in Minneapolis.
Coach Cheryl Reeve has seen her status rise too, having also taken on the role of being the tean's general manager, which means she's now responsible for her players on and off the court.
Forgive Whelan if she's sometimes distracted this season. She recently became head coach of women's basketball at the University of Minnesota (her alma mater), replacing Marlene Stallings, who has moved on to Texas Tech. Whelan has never coached before, so the Gophers must see something in her besides boosting the program and selling tickets. So far it's not a problem, since she's playing basketball during the summer and coaching it during the winter.
The challenge for the Lynx this season is not just to repeat as champions, but to do so in consecutive years. They've won WNBA titles in 2011, '13, '15 and '17--all odd numbered years. Which is why most basketball pundits are looking at the Los Angeles Sparks (the most recent champion besides the Lynx), Connecticut Sun and Phoenix Mercury as possible title contenders. And the San Antonio Stars are now the Las Vegas Aces.
So what does the Minnesota Lynx do for an encore? It comes down to how much longer they can delay Mother Time, and how much they want that one for the thumb. We'll see what happens.
Friday, April 27, 2018
Wild and Wolves: Five and Out
Minnesota's extended winter is finally over. So are the Wild's NHL season and the Timberwolves' NBA schedule, with both teams' playoff runs as fleeting as springtime snow.
The Wild finished their regular season with 101 points and a sixth consecutive Stanley Cup playoff appearance. And for the sixth time they were shown the door early, this time to the Winnipeg Jets in five games. It didn't help that (A) the Wild's two best players Zach Parise and Ryan Suter were out because of injuries, and (B) they also went a long time without scoring. Goalies Devan Dubnyk and Alex Stalock could only do so much to keep the Jets grounded.
Years of big-name free agent signings such as Parise, Suter, Eric Staal and Matt Cullen with little to show for it has cost general manager Chuck Fletcher his job after nine seasons. Bruce Boudreau will likely continue as coach for at least another year.
Whoever the Wild hire as GM will find that there's not much he can do to improve their lot in the draft as long as they are playoff regulars, or in the budget they have to sign current players and free agents. Reportedly, most everyone in the Wild organization seems to agree that the roster needed to be tweaked more than to be torn down. If they go in that direction, expect more early playoff exits.
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The Timberwolves qualified for the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2004, winning 47 games and the final Western Conference spot over the Denver Nuggets. Their reward was in facing the top-seeded Houston Rockets, who in five games reminded everyone why the Wolves haven't been playoff contenders for 14 years. They just folded like a cheap suit in the presence of the Rockets' James Harden.
In spite of all the hype around the Wolves' young stars such as Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, the most impressive player on the team was veteran Jimmy Butler, whom coach Tom Thibodeau lured away from the Chicago Bulls. Butler made quite an impact on the offense, which is why his absence due to knee problems and a few bad losses to bad teams almost drove the Wolves out of the postseason.
Towns and Wiggins (now the subject of trade rumors) were nothing if not inconsistent on the court all season. How long is that going to last, or can we just chalk it up to their youth--an excuse that's getting old with each passing day. Also, Thibodeau's reputation for wearing out his players seems to be coming true.
Maybe this season will be a stepping stone to better things for the Timberwolves. They and their long-suffering supporters deserve it after more than a decade of missing out. But remember folks, it doesn't take much for them to go back to the bad old days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is where we like to project into June to see which teams will be facing each other for the right to be crowned masters of the hockey and basketball domains. So here goes.
NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Vegas Golden Knights
NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors
The Wild finished their regular season with 101 points and a sixth consecutive Stanley Cup playoff appearance. And for the sixth time they were shown the door early, this time to the Winnipeg Jets in five games. It didn't help that (A) the Wild's two best players Zach Parise and Ryan Suter were out because of injuries, and (B) they also went a long time without scoring. Goalies Devan Dubnyk and Alex Stalock could only do so much to keep the Jets grounded.
Years of big-name free agent signings such as Parise, Suter, Eric Staal and Matt Cullen with little to show for it has cost general manager Chuck Fletcher his job after nine seasons. Bruce Boudreau will likely continue as coach for at least another year.
Whoever the Wild hire as GM will find that there's not much he can do to improve their lot in the draft as long as they are playoff regulars, or in the budget they have to sign current players and free agents. Reportedly, most everyone in the Wild organization seems to agree that the roster needed to be tweaked more than to be torn down. If they go in that direction, expect more early playoff exits.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Timberwolves qualified for the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2004, winning 47 games and the final Western Conference spot over the Denver Nuggets. Their reward was in facing the top-seeded Houston Rockets, who in five games reminded everyone why the Wolves haven't been playoff contenders for 14 years. They just folded like a cheap suit in the presence of the Rockets' James Harden.
In spite of all the hype around the Wolves' young stars such as Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins, the most impressive player on the team was veteran Jimmy Butler, whom coach Tom Thibodeau lured away from the Chicago Bulls. Butler made quite an impact on the offense, which is why his absence due to knee problems and a few bad losses to bad teams almost drove the Wolves out of the postseason.
Towns and Wiggins (now the subject of trade rumors) were nothing if not inconsistent on the court all season. How long is that going to last, or can we just chalk it up to their youth--an excuse that's getting old with each passing day. Also, Thibodeau's reputation for wearing out his players seems to be coming true.
Maybe this season will be a stepping stone to better things for the Timberwolves. They and their long-suffering supporters deserve it after more than a decade of missing out. But remember folks, it doesn't take much for them to go back to the bad old days.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is where we like to project into June to see which teams will be facing each other for the right to be crowned masters of the hockey and basketball domains. So here goes.
NHL: Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Vegas Golden Knights
NBA: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Golden State Warriors
Monday, April 2, 2018
NCAA Basketball 2017-18: Triumph and Scandal
The NCAA Men's Basketball championship in San Antonio, Texas was won by Villanova for the second time in three years, defeating Michigan 79-62 Monday night. Other than the Wildcats' domination, this tournament will be remembered for (A) Maryland-Baltimore County (a #16 seed) defeating Virginia (a #1 seed), and (B) Loyola of Chicago being this year's Cinderella. Having not won a national title since 1963 (the year before UCLA began dominating college basketball), the Ramblers made it to the Final Four with a 98-year old nun as its mascot, but lost to the Wolverines in the semifinals.
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The NCAA Women's Tournament in Columbus, Ohio was won by Notre Dame, its first since 2001. The Irish won on consecutive buzzer-beaters by Anike Ogunbowale, first in the semifinals over Connecticut (who were going for their 12th title under coach Geno Auriemma) for a 91-89 win in overtime, then another one against Mississippi State for a 61-58 victory.
OK, so UConn didn't win another national title like everyone said they would. But at least another brand-name school did.
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This was also a year of scandal in college basketball, and the end is not in sight. The FBI is investigating fraud and corruption in recruiting at several big-name universities. One of those schools, Louisville, fired its coach Rick Pitino. They also had to give up their 2012 Final Four appearance and their 2013 championship. But not North Carolina. The NCAA found no evidence of any wrongdoing in the Tar Heels' program, so they let them go. Just like in the business world, there are some institutions of learning that are "too big to fail".
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The NCAA Women's Tournament in Columbus, Ohio was won by Notre Dame, its first since 2001. The Irish won on consecutive buzzer-beaters by Anike Ogunbowale, first in the semifinals over Connecticut (who were going for their 12th title under coach Geno Auriemma) for a 91-89 win in overtime, then another one against Mississippi State for a 61-58 victory.
OK, so UConn didn't win another national title like everyone said they would. But at least another brand-name school did.
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This was also a year of scandal in college basketball, and the end is not in sight. The FBI is investigating fraud and corruption in recruiting at several big-name universities. One of those schools, Louisville, fired its coach Rick Pitino. They also had to give up their 2012 Final Four appearance and their 2013 championship. But not North Carolina. The NCAA found no evidence of any wrongdoing in the Tar Heels' program, so they let them go. Just like in the business world, there are some institutions of learning that are "too big to fail".
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Twins 2018: Playoffs or Bust.
After the Minnesota Twins shocked the heartland by going to the American League playoffs as a wild card instead of another 90+ loss season, it's been widely assumed that this could be the start of bigger and better things for manager Paul Molitor's team.
Yes, the future looks pretty bright when you have young stars like Byron Buxton, Max Kepler and Miguel Sano on the field and at the plate, and with Trevor May. Ervin Santana and Phil Hughes on the mound. Visions of facing someone other than the New York Yankees in the playoffs are dancing in fans' heads. Or is that too many beers?
But then again:
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Here's who we think will make it to October.
American League
East New York Yankees
Central Cleveland Indians
West Houston Astros
Wild Card Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels
National League
East Washington Nationals
Central Chicago Cubs
West Los Angeles Dodgers
Wild Card St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers
Yes, the future looks pretty bright when you have young stars like Byron Buxton, Max Kepler and Miguel Sano on the field and at the plate, and with Trevor May. Ervin Santana and Phil Hughes on the mound. Visions of facing someone other than the New York Yankees in the playoffs are dancing in fans' heads. Or is that too many beers?
But then again:
- After promising to be more active in the offseason free agent market, the Twins fell way short in the Yu Darvish sweepstakes (the pitcher eventually signed with the Chicago Cubs). They did manage to pick up a few past-their-prime players for the right price like they usually do (pitchers Fernando Rodney and Lance Lynn, for example), when they weren't raiding the financially-strapped Tampa Bay Rays' cupboard for the likes of Logan Morrison and Jake Odorizzi.
- The Twins couldn't get rid of Kennys Vargas or Brian Dozier, no matter how hard they tried.
- Jorge Polanco is out for the first 80 games of the season, suspended by Major League Baseball for using performance enhancing drugs. He won't be available for the playoffs, should the Twins be fortunate enough to be included.
- Joe Mauer is in the last year of his contract, for better or worse.
- Ervin Santana won't be pitching for at least a month or two due to an injury.
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Here's who we think will make it to October.
American League
East New York Yankees
Central Cleveland Indians
West Houston Astros
Wild Card Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Angels
National League
East Washington Nationals
Central Chicago Cubs
West Los Angeles Dodgers
Wild Card St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
Enter Kirk Cousins, Exit Don Lucia
In what has been the most over-hyped, yet inevitable NFL quarterback free agent signings in recent Minnesota Vikings history (or at least since they got Brett Favre), the team finally got Kirk Cousins to sign on the dotted line. For this to happen, they had to let last year's quarterback roster scatter to the winds: Case Keenum to the Denver Broncos, Sam Bradford to the Arizona Cardinals, and Teddy Bridgewater to the New York Jets. This is kind of risky because, if you're a team on the cusp of playing in a Super Bowl, you do not change horses in midstream unless you're forced to. That's what happened last year when Bradford got injured after the first game of the season, leaving Keenum (who had just arrived from the Philadelphia Eagles) to take the Vikings to the NFC championship game, losing to the team he had just left.
Cousins did not have that opportunity during his years as the starter in Washington, but is expected to perform much better with an improved cast of characters in Minnesota. The Vikings also signed Trevor Siemian from the Broncos to play backup when they could have kept Keenum, Bradford or Bridgewater to do the same job. Depending on how the Vikings' 2018 schedule is set up (they're reportedly playing the Eagles in Philadelphia as the Thursday night season opener), Cousins will have plenty of chances to prove he's worth the money they spent on him.
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Don Lucia is stepping down after nearly two decades of being men's hockey coach at the University of Minnesota. His resume is one of success: Over 19 seasons with the Golden Gophers, his record was 457-248-73 (Overall, including prior stops at Alaska-Fairbanks and Colorado College, he had a 736-403-102 record in 31 years behind the bench). His teams have won several conference championships, 13 NCAA tournament appearances, and two national titles in 2002 and 2003.
But Lucia and Minnesota became victims of the changing times in college hockey. The Gophers switched from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) to the new Big Ten conference, which meant trading in traditional rivals like North Dakota and St. Cloud State for the likes of Ohio State and Michigan--football schools that have hockey programs. They haven't made the NCAA tournament in two of the last three years, and they're hosting this year's Frozen Four in St. Paul. And they no longer have a monopoly on Minnesota talent with St. Cloud, UMD and Minnesota State Mankato rising in prominence.
For athletic director Mark Coyle, it's nearly decision time on what to do about his coaches besides naming a replacement for Lucia. The jury is still out on football coach P.J. Fleck, whose team finished 5-7 in his first season. Men's basketball coach Richard Pitino, after his team made the NCAA tournament last year, finished out of the running with a squad decimated by injuries and suspensions. Marlene Stallings would have been a good candidate to be let go had her women's basketball team not gone as far as the second round of the NCAA women's tournament.
Don Lucia deserves the credit for keeping Gophers hockey near the top for all these years. Now it's time for another coach to keep Minnesota competitive in the ever-changing world of college hockey, and to deal with fans and alumni who want nothing less than another national championship. It won't be easy.
UPDATE (3/28/18): The next Gopher men's hockey coach is going to be one of Lucia's former assistants from the national championship years. He's Bob Motzko, who until recently had been the head coach at St. Cloud State. The Huskies have had pretty good teams under Motzko, but moving down I-94 is going to be a step up in terms of talent and expectations. Maybe he can handle it.
Cousins did not have that opportunity during his years as the starter in Washington, but is expected to perform much better with an improved cast of characters in Minnesota. The Vikings also signed Trevor Siemian from the Broncos to play backup when they could have kept Keenum, Bradford or Bridgewater to do the same job. Depending on how the Vikings' 2018 schedule is set up (they're reportedly playing the Eagles in Philadelphia as the Thursday night season opener), Cousins will have plenty of chances to prove he's worth the money they spent on him.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don Lucia is stepping down after nearly two decades of being men's hockey coach at the University of Minnesota. His resume is one of success: Over 19 seasons with the Golden Gophers, his record was 457-248-73 (Overall, including prior stops at Alaska-Fairbanks and Colorado College, he had a 736-403-102 record in 31 years behind the bench). His teams have won several conference championships, 13 NCAA tournament appearances, and two national titles in 2002 and 2003.
But Lucia and Minnesota became victims of the changing times in college hockey. The Gophers switched from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) to the new Big Ten conference, which meant trading in traditional rivals like North Dakota and St. Cloud State for the likes of Ohio State and Michigan--football schools that have hockey programs. They haven't made the NCAA tournament in two of the last three years, and they're hosting this year's Frozen Four in St. Paul. And they no longer have a monopoly on Minnesota talent with St. Cloud, UMD and Minnesota State Mankato rising in prominence.
For athletic director Mark Coyle, it's nearly decision time on what to do about his coaches besides naming a replacement for Lucia. The jury is still out on football coach P.J. Fleck, whose team finished 5-7 in his first season. Men's basketball coach Richard Pitino, after his team made the NCAA tournament last year, finished out of the running with a squad decimated by injuries and suspensions. Marlene Stallings would have been a good candidate to be let go had her women's basketball team not gone as far as the second round of the NCAA women's tournament.
Don Lucia deserves the credit for keeping Gophers hockey near the top for all these years. Now it's time for another coach to keep Minnesota competitive in the ever-changing world of college hockey, and to deal with fans and alumni who want nothing less than another national championship. It won't be easy.
UPDATE (3/28/18): The next Gopher men's hockey coach is going to be one of Lucia's former assistants from the national championship years. He's Bob Motzko, who until recently had been the head coach at St. Cloud State. The Huskies have had pretty good teams under Motzko, but moving down I-94 is going to be a step up in terms of talent and expectations. Maybe he can handle it.
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