The Sicatoka

Shocked, just shocked, I am at that statement. Or not.

Hobey? To Europe? Krog. Sejna. PS: Blake > Krog

Folks, folks, folks, ... another key and relevant section: Let's parse that out, assuming a 10 game schedule: - six of ten games must be against FBS schools - five of ten games must be "home" games - one of the "home" games can be at a neutral site against an FBS school The answer is clear: Play an FBS school at a neutral site and use it as a home game. I believe other schools have done this. (Didn't someone play Tennessee not in Knoxville but in the Titans' stadium in Memphis?)

Luckier deflection: Ladd's tip or the tip by "The Mule" for Detroit's second goal in game four. I say very few could make either* and thus that's skill. If you or I could do that we'd be gettin' paid to skate too. Detroit's problems were because 40, 81, 93, and 96 were invisible for the first three games; 5 and 13 can't do it all. Notice that 93 kicks up a little and the Ducks get plucked. That series turns on 40, 81, and 93 Red. If they don't show, Red don't go. * Ladd tipped it through his own five-hole to get it past; from high-slot Mule tipped it from over knee high to make a 45 degree turn and just inside the near pipe.

Only 3967 in attendance last night and the UP Center holds 5000.

That is correct (section 14.5.6 "4-2-4 College Transfers"). So, did Forney transfer to a 2-year school, average 12 transferable credits per semester with a 2.000 GPA, and graduate from a 2-year school? That would be a big signal as to his thoughts of returning to UND or going elsewhere.

The USHL year worked out just fine for Quinn Fylling because he didn't transfer. That USHL year for Quinn was his "fifth" (some call it "redshirt") year under the "five academic years to complete four seasons of competition" rule. A quick review of section 14.5 of the 2008-09 NCAA DI Manual shows that if you tranfer, yes, you must complete an academic year in residence at the new institution without competing before you become competition-eligible. In Forney's case the "five year clock" he started in fall of 2006 at UND is running. 2006-07: freshman at UND 2007-08: sophomore at UND 2008-09: at Green Bay, USHL 2009-10: ? 2010-11: ? If he were to transfer that'd say: 2009-10: completing year in residence at new institution --> no NCAA competition allowed 2010-11: last NCAA eligible season If he were to come back to UND that'd say: 2009-10: junior at UND 2010-11: senior at UND Now here's where I can really confuse you all: Forney, during 2007-08, met the criteria* to request a sixth academic year to complete four seasons of competition (see 2008-09 NCAA DI Manual section 14.2.4). He'd get to play during 2011-12 if the NCAA granted the sixth year. (However, given the year away in the USHL, I wonder if the NCAA would grant a sixth year at UND or anywhere else.) * He was injuried in NCAA play, played in less than 30% of the scheduled games that year, and none of the play was in the second half of the schedule that year.

I can envision a scenario where a year from now Gregoire, Malone, and Frattin are all leaving early. Highly likely that all three go? Not really, but possible.

Shall we parse that? Let's. Miami's next three guys were 12, 9, and 9 points. Alternatively, UND had ten players who scored 20 or more points, six return, including second in team scoring Chris Vande Velde. UND's next three guys were 17, 17, and 17 points. UND returns four defensemen who saw extensive time (30 plus games each) plus Corey Fienhage (9 games). And UND returns Brad Eidsness in goal. Miami's credentials: Good for #1. UND credentials: Not even a mention. No worries. I like "under the radar".

This is the bulge class. 2008-09 roster (25 players): 8 seniors 3 juniors 6 sophomores 8 freshmen (<-- I don't expect to have to replace all 8 at once, I expect some early departures from this number) -- or looking at it another way -- 3 goalies 7 defensemen 14 forwards and Brad Miller ("The Brad Miller I know plays forward," says Ryan Duncan.) I'm torn on your statement: I'd like to see a 15F, 8D, 3G (26 player) roster shape (ala the Blais years) to help cover injuries. Bringing in another player in fall 2009 would take the total to 26; however, ... - that makes the bulge worse - the shortness is more at defense than forward - the team has more forwards waiting in the wings (no pun intended) than defensemen If you're looking to level the bulge, you replace the seniors this fall and bring the "26th" player in next season to try to flatten out that "gap". However, I don't expect we'll be losing just 3 (Genoway, Vande Velde, Zajac) a year from now.

I still go with what I said here in post 151 and in post 158.

For Omaha today -- Shortest trip 548 miles. Allow me the leeway to say 555 miles and 548 miles are insignificantly different, and that in a potential 12-team (BSU, UNO) WCHA UN-Omaha would have 8 teams in that 555 mile range. That's eight conference foes closer than their nearest conference foe today! Better? Tech would be their second longest trip (by miles), yet in their present conference they have four trips longer than that (OSU, NMU, LSSU, UAF) right now! Seems "simple math" to me.

Linky-to-Linky.

Uh, ... that's not an imprint ... the muffler was hot and things just kinda stuck ...

Better. Money. That's via lower travel costs or better conference revenues or better home gates (as it'd be easier for road fans to attend*). * I'm guessing you don't see a lot of Western Michigan Broncos fans making a visit to the Qwest.

Bemidji is a travel problem. But it's a bigger "gate" problem for DU and CC. Life is a series of give and takes: If you can get a 12th member that's better for travel and at the gate they might view it as "a wash". I think that could be UNO in the eyes of DU and CC.

OK, "another team not mentioned" ... a) a new team (like MSU-Moorhead)? --> same issues regarding timeline b) a team new to the NCAA (like U of British Columbia)? --> timeline problems, and see "Wild Scenario 2" as that could trigger a new western conference down the road c) an existing team called Alaska (formerly called Alaska-Fairbanks)? No way unless a schedule where you were guaranteed no more than one trip to the state of Alaska (Anchorage or Fairbanks) per year could be worked out ... PS - Denver would be really excited about trying to fill a barn for Bemidji and Fairbanks. d) Alabama-Huntsville? They applied to the CCHA. Let the CCHA pick up part of the CHA problem. Which other teams are left?

The logical guesses ... Northern Michigan - Why it works: Former WCHA member, partner for Michigan Tech. Why it won't: Money problems in Michigan, they can bus to all the CCHA except Fairbanks. Nebraska - Omaha - Why it works: Better travel makes for lower costs to UNO. Why it won't: History. There's some baggage regarding why UNO is in the CCHA and not the WCHA. Air Force - Why it works: Proximity to Denver and Colorado College. Why it won't: They just joined AHA to be with Army (and some day Navy). Minnesota State - Moorhead - Why it works: Travel, geography, and MnSCU (SCSU, MSU-Mankato, assumably Bemidji State). Why it won't: Timeline and money. You need a program with institutional support. My guess: Money talks, and the new UNO AD (Trev Alberts) won't know the history (only Mike Kemp does, and how long will Kemp last) I'm guessing Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha to make 12 in the WCHA. Now, longer term wild scenarios ... Wild Scenario 1: Bowling Green hockey folds in 2011 Michigan Tech goes to the CCHA to save money (bus like NMU). Open slot in WCHA for ______ Wild Scenario 2: Wyoming or Colorado State or _____ starts hockey A far west hockey conference breaks from the WCHA and forms. That opens the doors to many things, like Air Force, or MSU-Moorhead finding a home in a few years. Wild Scenarion 3: Big Ten Hockey Conference Minn, Wisc, Mich, Mich St, Ohio St: 5 <-- too small Add affiliate Notre Dame: 6 <-- too small, only 20 conference games So, add affiliate or affiliates of ____ and ____: criteria would be "hockey cred", big rink, and TV. ... or ... Another Big Te(leve)n-er starts hockey (Iowa or Penn State) Target number of teams guess: 8 teams (28 game full interlock conference schedule)

The NSIC would seem the first look. They're 14 right now. Morningside or Minot would seem to be the logical guesses, followed by Dickinson maybe? I'd think Morningside would have the better time of it (but UMary would hope for Minot for travel-partner sake).

And Fighting Irish I believe is the "G"-rated, prime-time, version of the slur first first yelled at Notre Dame teams. I believe Notre Dame initially heard from opponents something far less kind: F______ Irish.

Never trust the Fargo Forum to get a hockey story completely right. Trust Brad: http://www.areavoices.com/undhockey/?blog=50130

fourwindsboy: Did you try striking up cheery, jocular banter with her? It does take two to tango.

How in the world did she pick that one? Uh, ... Campbell is married to Brad Pascall, an employee of Hockey Canada ... and a guy who skated in the old Engelstad Arena a couple times.

I have two concerns: 1. Do you always view people by the color of their skin ("caucasions" <sic>) and not the content of their character? 2. Say you are correct and the name changes: You will have great emptiness in your life. Which windmill will you tilt at next?