Dean Spiros, Pioneer Press Journalist Profile

Articles

Frost have tough job ahead and plenty of time to think about it

1 week ago | inforum.com | Dean Spiros

With only three regular-season games left and the Frost’s postseason hopes hanging in the balance, the intensity and anxiety usually associated with such a scenario have been replaced by unwanted downtime and a splintered roster. In other words, a less than ideal situation. It’s all due to a nearly month-long break for the World Championships and an unfortunate reality for the fledgling league that could get even worse before it gets better.
Prospect-heavy Saints win opener at CHS Field as David Festa leads way

3 weeks ago | twincities.com | Dean Spiros

With spring training dwindling to its final days, right-handed starter David Festa still wasn’t sure whether his season would begin on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Louis or along the Mississippi in St. Paul. As things turned out, Festa headed north from Fort Myers, not to St. Louis but further north to St. Paul. With Simeon Woods Richardson nailing down the fifth-starter spot with the Twins, Festa was sent to the Triple-A Saints of the International League.
Frost’s playoff hopes take hit in loss to Montreal

4 weeks ago | inforum.com | Dean Spiros

After squeaking into the playoffs last season before going on to win the inaugural PWHL championship, it looks as though the Frost are going to have to follow a similar path if they are to have the chance to defend their title in the postseason. Playing their first home game since Feb. 23, the Frost fell to the first-place Montreal Victoire 4-1 on Wednesday night before an announced crowd of 6,330 at Xcel Energy Center.
Women’s hockey: Gophers season comes to a close

1 month ago | inforum.com | Dean Spiros

Part of the motivation for the Gophers women’s hockey team for reaching the Frozen Four at Ridder Arena was preventing another team from taking over its locker room. While the Gophers succeeded in that regard, they couldn’t prevent the Wisconsin Badgers — and their fans — from taking over their arena.
NCAA Frozen Four: Gophers, Badgers ready for Chapter 6

1 month ago | inforum.com | Dean Spiros

The Gophers women’s hockey team is unanimous in the belief that it is playing its best hockey of the season as it prepares for a meeting with top-ranked Wisconsin in the semifinals of the Frozen Four on Friday night at Ridder Arena. Just as they’re in agreement that they will have to raise their game to an even higher level to have any hope of advancing to face the winner of the Ohio State-Cornell game in Sunday’s national championship game.
Women’s hockey: Gophers roll early, hold off Colgate to earn Frozen Four berth

1 month ago | inforum.com | Dean Spiros

The Gophers women’s hockey team is returning to the Frozen Four, and the game that got it there — a 3-2 win over the Colgate Raiders on Saturday afternoon at Ridder Arena — was a microcosm of the Gophers’ season. As a whole, they painted a pretty picture, but not without having to cover up some errant strokes.
Women’s NCAA hockey: Gophers have confidence, and home ice

1 month ago | inforum.com | Dean Spiros

It’s the carrot that’s been in front of the Gophers women’s hockey team since the first day of fall practice: Earn one of the top four seeds in the NCAA tournament, and with it the guarantee that every postseason game it plays will be on home ice. All these months later, the Gophers are enjoying the sweet taste of success — and are hungry for more. As the fourth seed, they will host the fifth-seeded Colgate Raiders on Saturday afternoon, with the winner advancing to the Frozen Four.
Women’s NCAA hockey: Gophers have confidence, and home ice

1 month ago | twincities.com | Dean Spiros

It’s the carrot that’s been in front of the Gophers women’s hockey team since the first day of fall practice: Earn one of the top four seeds in the NCAA tournament, and with it the guarantee that every postseason game it plays will be on home ice. All these months later, the Gophers are enjoying the sweet taste of success — and are hungry for more. As the fourth seed, they will host the fifth-seeded Colgate Raiders on Saturday afternoon, with the winner advancing to the Frozen Four.
WCHA playoffs: Gophers rebound from upset loss to dispatch Mavericks

1 month ago | twincities.com | Dean Spiros

Gophers women’s hockey coach Bud Frost said that there usually are no more than two times a season when he will elect not to have a film session with the team following a game. Sunday morning was one of them. Frost determined there would be little to gain by getting into the ugly details of the Gophers’ 5-4 double-overtime loss to Minnesota State Mankato on Saturday that forced a deciding Game 3 in the quarterfinals of the WCHA playoffs. Best to focus on the job at hand.
Women’s hockey: Gophers drop double OT game to Minnesota State, will face deciding Game 3

1 month ago | inforum.com | Dean Spiros

It took nearly 25 minutes of play on Saturday afternoon at Ridder Arena for the Gophers women’s hockey team to fully comprehend it was facing a desperate team in the Minnesota State Mavericks. The Gophers needed the next 35 minutes to overcome the damage that had been done, battling back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game 4-all at the end of regulation, only to lose 5-4 in double overtime.