The Sicatoka

I know a lot of folks think UND makes no sense for the Big Sky. Allow me to point out this: What other options do they have? Imagine a scenario where UND is booted and then Montana and Montana State leave. Who does the BSC pick up to have any sort of serious "name" credibility? The BSC would suddenly become a compilation of "directional" schools. Their new member options would be Utah Valley or Colorado or Washington based DIIs (think: Western or Central Washington). The BSC presidents voted to accept UND into their midst. Say what you will about believing USD was part of a package deal, but in reality, would UND and USD been great travel partners? Four hundred miles by bus in January? Seriously? Tell me which BSC members were looking forward to that. What I'm more likely to believe is that certain folks associated with the BSC (fans, writers, some coaches) aren't happy that a solid conference member is entering their midst, a conference member that is not only happy to be there, but that is thinking about winning conference titles, and that has the resources and drive to accomplish it.

This thread shows something I've known for a while: A lot of people that don't understand all of the factors regarding college athletics are making statements that just plain don't work. Going to just two sports. Nope, doesn't work at any NCAA level because all levels have minimum sport sponsorship requirements. Dropping to DII or DIII. Nope, those are NCAA divisions and under their same control, and moniker sanctions. Join the NAIA? Join an organization that doesn't sponsor hockey? Another state law? The NCAA has already shown they don't care about ND state law. The only option here is SL winning a suit against the NCAA. That's it. And don't hold your breath.

Does anyone else find it somewhat disrespectful to members of the military when Nike calls their uniforms "combat"? Those are game uniforms, not combat uniforms.

Is there any recent update on where Mitch MacMillan may land after he left SCSU?

I'm putting this US team performance on the US coaches. Yes, I'm saying Blais, Sandelin, and Ward messed this up. They stuck with Campbell in net when he was clearly not sharp from the start. He looked slow laterally from the opener. Those PPG against Denmark should've been a big red flag that Campbell wasn't the answer this time. They tried to run a diamond penalty kill instead of a traditional box. Yes, that probably led to Campbell's issues versus Denmark, but why would you run a PK that I'm pretty sure most of those players aren't all that familiar with. Beyond those two glaring issues, I just didn't see fire and passion out of this US team. And that's something the coaches needed to light.

What a lot of you are forgetting is this: A lot of folks want this issue done. Call it "moniker fatigue". They'll vote no to move on with life (in the Big Sky) ... if this ever gets to a ballot. I didn't see a lot of folks signing petitions outside REA (off REA property) over the weekend.

I was hoping for a "nyet" in that list.

The Denmark starter was horrid. I couldn't figure out how the Russian Red Stars goalie was playing for Denmark. But then I saw the three weak PP goals Campbell let in for the US. Campbell plays like that versus Canada and the US is sunk, big-time.

So the Bobcats win a 2-1 game over a team that UND beat 5-1 (when UND was short a world juniors defenseman and arguably a line that would be one of the best in college hockey in Knight-Lamoureux-Grimaldi) and folks think an NAHL team would have a shot at UND?

Actually, this is the 2012 WJC. (I used moderator powers to update the thread title.)

All I want for Christmas is a seventh year of NCAA eligibility for Case Keenum and him to have an overwhelming desire to work on an aviation degree.

I hope they don't do the trendy/flashy thing like Boise State and EWS and do the field and striping in school colors ... oh, ... wait ...

The best year of Mitch MacMillian's juniors or college career was 2009-10 with 61-32-93 and 94 PIM in 59 games. His center that year was some kid named Mark MacMillan. Not sayin', just sayin'; and you have to wonder if they see how much fun CC 8 and CC 13 are having.

Yes. He he'd have to sit out a year of competition: To be eligible January 2013 he'd have to be enrolled January 2012.

So we're complaining about the building sponsor logo on the artificial surface under the roof of the football stadium the team plays in. (Note: Most schools don't have "artificial surface" much less "roof".)

Mitch MacMillian was supposed to go to Northeastern (red and black). Instead he went to SCSU (red and black). Does this mean he's going to Omaha next (red and black)?

Don't you have five calendar years to complete four years of competition? He's a sophomore and he didn't redshirt. He's burned 1.5 years of 4 years of competition. If he were to transfer to another DI school he'd have to sit a year (five year clock at 2.5 after that) but would still have 2.5 calendar years to finish 2.5 years of competition.

FCS is a sub-division of Division I football. The holder of that sub-division championship can claim to be a Division I champion; however, there will still be many, many better college teams. That's the difference between Division I football and Division I hockey: Hold the hockey title and there's no other DI sub-division. You're it. There is no other DI team better.

I'd chalk it up to "counting abilities".

I think the Big Ten should hold their hockey tournament in United Center in Chicago. For numerous reasons (moniker policies, memories of the past), Minnesota and Wisconsin would surely enjoy all the Blackhawk logos in that arena.

There will always be kvetching about that.

I'm sure they feel special when they sparkle in maroon.

Flat (aka matte) black, ala Rutgers, I bet. http://www.nikeblog....elmet-uniforms/ OkySt did a flat grey and a black (not sure it was flat).

Would it be wrong to comment that Jewish hockey players will ... nail you to the boards?

I still see 200 miles from SHSU to Frisco, TX. That's a major advantage for one side.