Brett0909

I get the perspective, and likely agree more than I disagree. All things equal, I think a change is necessary to start the upswing and now’s the time. Curious what you’re suggesting exactly? I personally believe it’s also clear that all those programs I mentioned are in much better shape than they were before making the coaching change, but we can split hairs on whether being a NC runner-up the last two years (BC and UMN) and multiple FF’s (Mich) is success or your point implying it’s not…when comparing to UNDs ongoing struggles. Regardless, appreciate the perspective and attempt to calm the overreactions and hope this debate is old history come this time next year.

Thank you for pulling together the history lesson. Certainly interesting and helpful to add some historical perspective when it’s easy to just dwell on the recent past. The only thing I worry about is the (perceived) mentality from some that past success/cycles indicate future success. There are just as many historical programs that fade into history and don’t bounce back. Simply waiting for the cycle to work its way out or expecting we’ll just stay at the top because we always have been is a recipe for fading out of relevance. Holding for Sears and Blockbuster on line 1. Programs generally have a catalyst that helps lead the cyclical upswing - new coach being one often talked about here (not saying I agree or it’s the only one). It obviously wasn’t easy to part with York, Lucia, Berenson, etc. but we’ve seen how that’s reinvigorated those programs. Every other program is fighting for every possible advantage, if UND doesn’t fight just as hard, possibly make some tough decisions, and be willing to deeply reflect on what needs to change in the postseason, what’s happened before may not matter…

I won’t keep belaboring my disbelief with the “some teams just have all the luck” crowd (and we’d be great / competing for championships if only we weren’t so damn unlucky every single year). What I saw? DU was composed and confident throughout. Psychologically they were rock solid even under intense pressure. Their goalie and team D bought in and made the right decisions in nearly every play, with no major breakdowns. They had a game plan and executed it. They showed up repeatedly in OT through the FF and when the game was on the line, even against greater talent. They got some luck, but played well enough to capitalize on it and/or overcome the bad bounces. They quoted you go to DU to win championships and I believed they believed. Felt the same under Sandelin for a while. This seems to be the contrast to UND teams lately..it feels like they don’t believe, and need things to go their way or else they start to break (not bend). I know many of us fans don’t believe right now. Players under Hakstol talked about believing in the curse of getting over the FF hump, so you know players pay attention. Some coaches get their team to believe and others don’t. I honestly wonder at this point if Berry and the staff believes they will win or if they’re trying to play not to lose? Just speculation and I’m sure it’s a lot more complicated than that, but whatever a “winning culture” is.. Anyway, kudos to DU and congrats on bringing home another title to the NCHC. May you lose all your top players and have a down year in 2024.

Wellness check time for Bucci. Sounded like someone kicked his puppy the longer it went and his superstars didn’t score..

Respectfully disagree (in part), but it’s cool that we have both sides of the debate here. If we were to talk to the other teams fans or coaches in all those same games, or take off our green-tinted glasses, they’d point out their own bad luck/bounces and be just as right (several waived off goals, their own key injuries, things that came to light after the season ended, TWO empty netters to tie it, UND having home ice and/or crowd advantage, talent, facilities, resources, all the bad calls or breaks other end that we didn’t notice because that’s how sports go, etc.). Cherry picking the things that weren’t perfect for UND and connecting that to defend the ongoing string of losses can mostly be chalked up to we were unlucky a lot continues to imply these things are just happening to one team. They happen on both sides, but are now a TREND for UND, not a bad luck bounce. I can almost guarantee Berry and the staff aren’t sitting around moaning about 8 years of bad bounces that always go against them (and if they are, count me in the fire Berry crowd). Michigan came out FLAT. UND had an incredible opportunity to capitalize for a big chunk of that game, against a team that even when they’re not flat, aren’t a world-beater by any stretch. And in my book, had the easiest 1 seed to go through this year, despite blowing the end of the season and a home crowd and #1 seed that were almost guarantees at one point. But they managed again to find a way to lose, instead of win. UMD, Notre Dame, etc. as have been pointed out…we had more than our share of breaks. BU? Well, that one just flat out sucked and UND was as close to deserving a win in a game they lost there as I’ve seen. Would have been the best game/crowd atmosphere I’d ever been to if a bounce went the other way, and I’m onboard with that just being an unlucky one. BU would argue playing in Fargo in front of a packed and RABID UND fan base when they were the higher seed was pretty unlucky I bet, and no doubt influenced their play. I’m not sure what the answer is here, but do believe the coaching staff has to figure something out vs “have better luck next year”. And I’m also pretty sure (and hope) they would say the same thing.

It’s always going to be “something”, right? Every NCAA tourney on this streak of losing can be picked apart and excuses made for why UND just had “bad luck”. Yes, some luck’s required at times to win it all…and most of these teams have been competitive, making for some close games at least. But despite their seeding, makeup, etc. for nearly a decade they’ve all been in the position that they needed bounces to go their way and couldn’t overcome any that went against them. You’re not going to win many postseason games (and certainly not four in a row) when every game is dependent on things going your way vs. controlling. And we can’t make the same “bad luck” excuse year after year; turns out all the other teams winning or losing all play the same game and face the same bounces. You need to dominate a few games, dig deep in others (winners find a way to win), AND likely get a little puck luck at the right time. Some teams right now have it..and UND clearly doesn’t. This isn’t doom and gloom from me, we’ll all be hoping they figure it out next year. It’s just hard to hear the bad luck excuses year after year as if every other team just gets lucky in their wins. Most on here would be making fun of any of our rival fan bases making excuses every year about being the better team but losing because of luck. I’d like to think we’re better than making those same excuses. UND hasn’t been good enough to win without luck, for whatever reason…and winning the luck-battle isn’t a great strategy. Hopefully they figure it out soon.

All goalies will give up a few…felt his bad game was just at the worst time. He won the Richter and was UND’s all-time leader in career goals against and save percentage after all…I guess in my book that makes him pretty good.

While I can enjoy this as much as anyone here…really sucks we’re relegated to celebrating other teams losing, especially Gofers only winning one game in the tourney after back to back frozen fours and a championship appearance - while we’ve continued the losing streak or not even making it. I don’t think I’ll be getting in their face anytime soon about Motzko not getting it done, at least until Brad can prove he can win any games again in March or April.

My bad, I was thinking of McIntyre who was great all season…until those softies to BU.

I get it. And don’t disagree that the extremes of the argument on both sides get ridiculous and tiring. My guess is you feel the need to over-index on defending the team to balance out all the negative crap; I appreciate that and am sure it gets old for you too. Last point on the concocted blame (bubs magic whisperings). I can tell when my car, appliance, etc isn’t performing when I need it to. I may not know why, but that shouldn’t be required of me as a consumer. It’s up to the engineer to figure out and address if they want my business. Fans are just trying to rationalize why the postseason result is SO consistently not matching the expectation. To argue the opposite side and defend as if a coach has no say in this ( parity, prep/strategy, game/psychological readiness, culture, etc) implies that the best coaches out there really don’t do anything differently than the good. I don’t agree; even if I don’t have access and/or expertise to tell you the difference.

Both? It’s on Berry to ultimately build and coach a squad to go out and win; something that we haven’t seen much at all of, in the playoffs for nearly a decade. Passionate fan loyalty and dedication is earned. And while it’s great to have thousands of fans supporting you wherever you go, giving you and the athletes travel destination opp’s and taking away much of their home advantage even when you're on the road, fans don’t OWE you that. Keeping in mind many fans have spent thousands of dollars lately to support the team only to routinely see them lose (destinations, NCHC and NCAA tourney), often in very lackluster fashion and when they were the better team on paper…you can’t really fault them for some pessimism or frustration in my book. I also don’t think the teams owes fans wins, or that it’s realistic to not lose. But you can’t have it both ways. Analytically, I’d love to see UND’s record in the post-season vs expectation (KRACH or similar), under Berry. I could be wrong, but I expect it would show drastic underperformance vs expectation, which is what many fans struggle to understand. Most people I’ve talked to just expect UND to lose today, because that’s what keeps happening. I’m still holding out hope and like the bracket overall, but if I’m honest and had to bet my house one way or the other..I’d have to take the underdog in this one. Hopefully Berry and the boys can prove the naysayers wrong and start winning the games that matter. I’ll be cheering (and possibly some griping) for the team for as many games as they have this year and beyond, regardless.

Thank you for taking the time to compile these updates; really appreciate it!

Normally I’m focused on UND, but I think this week will be a really interesting tell for Mankato’s season. I expected it to be a dumpster fire after the offseason exodus, but sweeping St. Cloud and being swept by a likely pretty good UMass team isn’t too bad of a start. Of course, St. Cloud is looking so far like they may be pretty bad, definitely the outlier dragging down the NCHC’s OOC record. Have to think it would be pretty huge for the Purple Cows confidence to have a good showing. I’m actually rooting for Mankato to find success this year after how Hastings handled things…just not this weekend. Sweep!

Not at all. I (and everyone here) fully acknowledge YOU choose not to consider it a rivalry. And some others do too. Good on you, that’s your choice. The difference is you continue telling everyone else that it’s not a rivalry or they’re wrong to consider it a rivalry. In spite of the team, most of the fan base, and objective measures like ticket demand disagreeing.

Two top teams with a ton of speed, I thought UND managed to stay very disciplined and surprisingly structured (given all the roster turnover). Only taking two penalties, and one of those being a clear even-up, is a huge improvement over the chasing, reaching, and panic penalties that plagued the team last year. Talk about a fun start to the season. I can’t fully argue that there’s some gamesmanship going on with Blake making sure the refs see he’s being tripped or hooked. They were all good calls in my eyes, but suspect he could’ve skated through one or two..but while I thought the refs missed a few overall, I appreciated them letting the guys play on both sides…each team had some collisions with goalies, etc but they kept the game under control. Also have to say I wasn’t sure what to make out of the coaching decisions on roster last year and heading into this. Great to see the team is just getting to work and aren’t nearly as worried as I was!