yungblud

I understand that it is always great to land bluechip recruits from your own area when available, but is it Idalski's job to improve North Dakota high school hockey or U. of North Dakota hockey? The fact is, most of the incoming recruits are playing for national team U18 programs and I don't believe there is one North Dakota high school kid that did. With a limited amount of recruiting time, time needs to be spent convincing the bluechippers to come to North Dakota especially when it is a still up-and-coming program. Has in the past been easier for recruits to choose Minnesota, Wisconsin or Duluth because if their goal is making a national club, that is usually where they come from. Now that has obviously changed as we are getting them to sign here with three or four (?) with national team experience coming in. And I believe the better the team gets, the more interest the game is growing in North Dakota on the women's side and the high school side players will continue to get better. Maybe I am completely off base if it is in his contract to improve NDHS hockey.

Curious why you would say Idalski overlooks North Dakota girls? Don't they have two on their roster (not counting Lamoureuxs) in Parizek and Berg that saw plenty of playing time? And one from East Grand...Sure seems he his giving local talent a fair shake to me.

The five that haven't played at all yet are Shelby Amsley-Benzie, Shannon Kaiser, Leah Jensen, Layla Marvin, and Josie Johnson.

Mullets didn't work the two previous years, going blonde didn't worke this year ... wonder what they will come up with next year.

Who is the only Canadian head coach to not take home a gold medal in the Olympics?

From Brad's blog we have these kids coming in: Michelle Karvinen, F (Olympian and will immediately be a top-20 player in all of NCAA, IMHO, next season) Leah Jensen, F (Had 49 goals, Class A All-State team from EGF) Layla Marvin, F (29-35-64 regular season, 2010&11 state champion Warroad, 7-2-9 in this year's tournament, Class A All-State team) Lisa Marvin, F (25-44-69 led 2011 state champs as a sophomore, Class A All-State team) Kayla Gardner, F (Also had 62 points for Warroad, Class A All-State team) Shannon Kaiser, F (Had 39-19-58 for Crookston, Class A All-State team) Cecilia Ostberg, F Josefine Jakobsen, F (I saw on the television broadcast UND/UM that she was leading the swedish elite league in goals and points) Marissa Salo, F (NAHA) Klara Myren, F/D Andrea Dalen, F/D Sam Lashomb, D (Lost to Warroad in championship game, led her team as a defender with 25-28-53, Class A All-State team) Shelby Amsley-Benzie, G (Still in the running for Ms. Goalie I believe, outstanding career numbers, Class A All-State team) I don't feel like hunting the numbers down for the other euros but would be willing to bet that because of Idalski and Elander that they have stolen a few from Shannon Miller and Minnesota Duluth.

Nice. Thanks for the link. Will have to check some of the game out tonight. Have heard only good things.

First of all congratulations to ladies! This is the first step in what is hopefully the continued rise of this program. Should be a really exciting finish to the regular season at #1 Wisconsin, at home against #4 Minnesota and then the playoffs on "home ice". Now my question and maybe it is what it is, but why are the women playing second fiddle to the high school tournament in their home rink in what will be IMO the biggest games in program history? The REA had to have known the women had a great chance this season of achieving this? Is this going to be how it is going to be in years to come as well? I already think it is crazy the men have to play Saturday/Sunday because of the high school tournament. Again, just my opinion and I don't know what is in store for future years, but can't we figure out a way to let the ladies play on there true "home ice" at the Ralph.

Big weekend for the Sioux. Even though it doesn't look like much of a matchup on paper the Sioux need to sweep. Have done a good job taking care of opponents they should beat (besides the tie in Vermont) in the second half. The Mavericks upset the Sioux in Mankato but would be surprised if they can do so again. Hopefully the ladies can get a good crowd with no other events going on tonight in GF.

She was also at D for the game in Roseau. Doesn't seem to have stopped her offensively as she scored two goals and three assists in the two games. The ladies looked very impressive this weekend and have potential to win their next six six games and then end the series at Wisconsin (hopefully a split but the Badgers are REALLY good) and then what could be a huge series to end the season at the Ralph against the Goofs. Will definitely be attending those games with men's hockey and both basketball teams on the road that weekend.

Hopefully they can show up today for a full three periods. Sounds like they played well after the first period. Will be a big game today! Will also be interesting to see who Brian starts in net today.

Should be an interesting weekend. Wisconsin surprised me by almost getting swept last week against Duluth. Should get to see how for real they are this weekend by how they respond having to now hit the road until nearly February after a heavy first half of home games. The Sioux coming in shorthanded without a couple players on an already short bench is scarey but are pretty battle-tested already this year with tough team's played. Just like last year, I predict split.