Chad Graff, Author at Minnesota Hockey Magazine

Dinkytown Dynasty

Chad Graff — Mon, 21 Mar 2016 15:05:33 +0000

Gophers dance their way to fourth NCAA crown in five years

DURHAM, N.H. – After their latest national championship, this one their fourth in five years, even Gophers women’s hockey coach Brad Frost shook his head in amazement at the accomplishments of his program.

With a piece of net from the Gophers’ 3-1 national championship victory over Boston College in the pocket of his button down shirt, Frost reflected on a five year run better than any other in women’s college hockey history.

“We’re just in the midst of a stretch here where it’s kind of mind-blowing,” Frost said. “When you’re in the midst of it, it’s hard. I remember when we went 41-0 and won the national championship in 2013 and I said the same thing. It’s just surreal. You never get used to it. Every time is a little different and super exciting.

“When this eventually, ends we’ll be able to look back on it and say this was one heck of a run. To get to five national championship games in a row is nuts. And to win four of them? That’s where the surreal comes in.”

The Gophers’ latest national championship adds to a dynasty that’s already among the best in collegiate sports history.

The 2016 NCAA national championship trophy that the Gophers were presented on the ice here at Whittemore Center on the campus of the University of New Hampshire will return to Dinkytown to join trophies from 2000, 2004, 2005, 2012, 2013, and 2015.

“It never gets old,” said Frost, the ninth-year coach. “We’re just so excited and happy and grateful to have won the 2016 national championship. It’s somewhat surreal. Just so proud of our team and how they have come together here in the last latter part of the year. Our second half was tremendous and brought us great momentum coming into the tournament.”

In reaching the pinnacle of women’s college hockey again, the Gophers had to beat a Boston College team that was threatening to become the second ever to record an unbeaten team, a feat only ever accomplished by the 2013 Gophers.

But behind a game-winning goal from Amanda Kessel, the Gophers (35-4-1) handed Boston College (40-1) their first loss of the season.

“We didn’t talk once about ending their perfect season,” Frost said. “It was all about playing in the national championship game and doing our best to go out and win it. BC had a tremendous year. Any time you can get to the Frozen Four is a great job let alone go 40 wins in a row.”

Kessel’s winner capped a remarkable run in her return to hockey, the sport that caused concussion symptoms so severe she missed a year and a half from hockey.

At the end of the Gophers win, as the players hugged between a scattering of sticks, gloves, and helmets thrown in celebration, Kessel spent time to reflect on her remarkable journey.

In 13 games since her February return, Kessel scored 11 goals, none bigger than the game-winner in her college hockey finale Sunday.

“I thought I’d be more emotional going out,” she said. “There was a moment maybe a minute after we won where I was sitting there almost laughing to myself. I can’t believe it. I never would’ve imagined this happening. I’m just so grateful. I’m waiting to wake up. It’s just unbelievable.”

At the end of each Gophers win this season, the team played Shania Twain’s, “Man! I feel like a woman” in the locker room, a tradition Frost usually avoided.

After another national championship Sunday, the song again blared from the team’s locker room.

But this time, Frost entered the room to celebrate with his team, national champs once again.

Asked at his postgame news conference whether he sang or dance, Frost smiled.

“He sang,” interrupted Kessel, seated next to Frost.

“I might’ve sang and danced just a little bit,” Frost said.

Such is life at the helm of a dynasty.

The post Dinkytown Dynasty appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Wheeling and Dealing

Chad Graff — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 21:52:46 +0000

Minnesota Wild’s Torrey Mitchell warms up before the first period against the Florida Panthers at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul on Friday, November 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

Wild send Torrey Mitchell to Buffalo for Matt Moulson

After trading for backup goalie Ilya Bryzgalov Tuesday, the Wild have acquired left-winger Matt Moulson and center Cody McCormick from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for winger Torrey Mitchell and an undisclosed draft pick, The Buffalo News reported.

Members of the Wild front office didn’t immediately return phone calls seeking confirmation.

The move was reportedly made just a few minutes before the 2 p.m. trade deadline.

Moulson, 30, is in the final year of his contract, meaning he’ll be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, something the Wild desired. A three-time, 30-goal scorer provides top-end talent to a Wild team that ranked 25th in goals per game entering Wednesday, and 27th in shots per game.

Moulson was traded from the New York Islanders to the Buffalo Sabres in the move that sent former Gopher Thomas Vanek to the Islanders earlier this season.

Moulson, who comes with a $3.13 million cap hit, has 17 goals and 19 assists in 44 games.

McCormick, 30, has played in 358 NHL games, recording 19 goals and 40 assists in those games. He also will be an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

Mitchell, who reportedly asked for a trade out of Minnesota, is headed to the Sabres.

He signed a three-year contract with the Wild in 2012 but never received the playing time he anticipated after the team added Zach Parise and Jason Pominville. He also had been outplayed by some young players.

This season, Mitchell has been relegated to the fourth line, where he’s recorded one goal and eight assists in 58 games.

Follow Chad Graff at twitter.com/ChadGraff.

The post Wheeling and Dealing appeared first on Minnesota Hockey Magazine.

Wild acquire goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, shut down Niklas Backstrom

Chad Graff — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 20:01:26 +0000

Calgary’s Mikael Backlund (11) is stopped by Edmonton goalie Ilya Bryzgalov (80) during their game in Edmonton, Alberta, on Saturday, March 1, 2014. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Jason Franson)

After informing injured veteran goalie Niklas Backstrom on Monday that he would be shut down the rest of the season, Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher intensified his search for a replacement in the net.

He was looking for a veteran, someone with playoff experience — and in the final year of an expiring contract.

On Tuesday, a day before the NHL trade deadline, Fletcher found his man, picking up 33-year-old Ilya Bryzgalov from the Edmonton Oilers for a fourth-round draft pick.

With Backstrom and Josh Harding sidelined, Bryzgalov is expected to back up 23-year rookie Darcy Kuemper in goal the rest of the season.

“He’s a goaltender that’s certainly playing very well right now and can give us some depth and fit well with Darcy Kuemper as we go down the stretch,” Fletcher said of Bryzgalov, a Russian who has been playing in the U.S. since the 2001-02 season. “He’s had some very good seasons in this league.”

Kuemper has started the past 15 games for the Wild (34-21-7) and is set to remain the top goaltender as they make a run at a Western Conference playoff spot over the final 20 games of the season.

Backstrom, 36, has played just 21 games because of abdominal issues that have limited him since the season started. He is 5-11-2 after going 24-15-2 in yeoman duty for the Wild last season.

At this point, Fletcher said, the team wants to shut down Backstrom to make sure he’s healthy for the start of the 2014-15 season. Backstrom still has two seasons left on his contract, a primary reason Fletcher wanted his incoming goalie to have an expiring contract.

Fletcher said Backstrom likely will need surgery, but didn’t provide specifics.

“I give Nik a lot of credit,” Fletcher said. “I think a lot of goaltenders would’ve shut down a month or two ago. He’s battled through it all year. I’m not quite sure he’s ever been healthy.”

The trade was made under the assumption that both Backstrom and Harding are out for the remainder of the season.

After performing as one of the NHL’s top goalies the first half of the season, Harding, out since Dec. 31, has not skated over the past nine weeks, taking time off to adjust to medication to treat multiple sclerosis. He was playing his best hockey of his career over the first three months of the season, going 18-7-3. His 1.65 goals-against average still leads the NHL by a longshot, and his .933 save percentage is second in the league.

“If Josh is able to come back, it’d be tremendous, and certainty we’d bring him back and let him compete,” Fletcher said. “But at this point, we have to make the assumption that Nik and Josh will not be playing for us this year and this is the direction we’ve chosen to go.”

That leaves the Wild dependent on two goalies who weren’t around at the start of the season.

Kuemper was the organization’s No. 3 goalie entering the season, but he moved into the top spot in early January when Harding couldn’t return. After seven seasons in the NHL, Bryzgalov had his contract in Philadelphia bought out over the summer. He spent the first part of this season without a team before signing with Edmonton.

Playing behind the Oilers’ poor defense, Bryzgalov posted a 5-8-5 record with a .908 save percentage and 3.01 goals-against average in 20 games.

He became a familiar foe to the Wild during two season as a backup goalie in Anaheim and four seasons as a starter in Phoenix. He was 3-1 with a 2.00 GAA against the Wild in the first round of the 2007 playoffs, filling in for the Ducks when starter Jean-Sebastien Giguere was out for personal reasons.

Now, with the Wild trying building a cushion in the Western Conference wild-card race, Bryzgalov has a chance to make the playoffs for the sixth time.

“I look at this as a great opportunity for me to play, and it’s like a new challenge because it’s a new team,” he said. “I know the Minnesota Wild are in a playoff spot and fighting for a playoff spot. It’s the most exciting time of the year when you’re fighting for the playoffs.”

Before the trade, Wild coach Mike Yeo said at his morning media session that Kuemper, 11-3-2 with a 2.19 goals-against average in 18 games, likely would remain the team’s starter the rest of the season.

But with the Wild playing 20 games in 37 days starting Saturday at Dallas, a backup goalie was needed to spell Kuemper on occasion.

Kuemper is expected to start Saturday night’s game against the Stars, and Bryzgalov likely will make his Wild debut Sunday night at home against the St. Louis Blues.

“There’s no question he’s done enough that we’re going to keep giving him opportunity to go out there and show what he’s done,” Yeo said of Kuemper. “In large part, (we’re) where we are right now because of the job he’s done. We love his potential, but more than that we love the way he’s playing right now.”

The Wild considered several other goalies, including Jaroslav Halak of St. Louis and future hall of famer Martin Brodeur of New Jersey, but weren’t willing to give up a higher draft pick or one of their talented young players.

For Backstrom, who signed a three-year contract over the summer, this has been a difficult, frustrating season.

He didn’t fully heal from offseason surgery over the summer, strained his knee in the third game of the season, and then suffered a concussion Nov. 13.

“I’m sure it’s been extremely difficult for him,” Yeo said before the trade. “He’s a guy that is very proud, and that’s a part of what makes him such a great competitor. So it’s frustrating for him not being at 100 percent and not having the opportunity to get out there. But I think he’s handled it unbelievably well.”

Follow Chad Graff at twitter.com/ChadGraff.

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