The Sicatoka

That's a good answer to that. So, given that Hak has been heard to say "by Monday" regarding a third goalie I'd be led to believe it would have to be a student. I guess the "last day to enroll" question might be key (unless there's an option already on campus). EDIT: Last day to add a full-term course was back in early September.

I know there's an NCAA rule that says you have to dress two goalies per game (and having just two leaves no margin for health issues). Given that .... Some simple little questions: Are there NCAA rules about who can be in a practice? Do they have to be an enrolled student? When's the last day to add/drop a class? The answers to those may help to narrow who is being looked at.

What does this team need more of on the ice right now: Grit or Goals. I see Kaip, Watkins, Jones, Finley, and Malone (even Kozek) out there "load testing" the boards with opposing players. What I also see is an anemic 26 goals in 9 games (< 3 goals per game). That number needs to be closer to 4 goals per game if the plan is to fill in some open rafter space.

Riddle me this: Whom do you sit to play Radke? Miller? Martens? Malone? Surely not Oshie, Duncan, Vande Velde, Kaip, Watkins, Kozek. Not Zajac or Frattin or Trupp. Not Genoway. So, whom?

I asked John Gotti for permission. He said there's no such thing as the mafia (kind of like Alaska-Anchorage's mythical Seawolf) so it's OK.

That is because of the young defense of this team. With a young defense a ball control offense becomes more critical. The more time your offense has the ball the less time your defense is on the field. So how do you achieve this? Run the ball more and go for short completions to keep the clock running. The key is first downs and possession. If you can pound it at the other team (running or low-risk passing) you are maintaining possession, gaining ground, and wearing out their defense. After doing this a while, yes, if it's there, you take the deep shot. However, if you have backs like Chappell and Murray, or run after catch receivers like Dressler and Trenbeath, more often than not the long pass doesn't happen because they break loose on a simple play.

There's this new thing called "Google". I put in "hockey trap Wiki" and got .... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutral_zone_trap There, now you know how to fish. Catch some on your own.

Folks, if you didn't realize this season's defense would be a work in progress with growing pains at times you hadn't been paying attention. You can't lose the quantity and quality of players UND did over the last two years and not feel some growing pains. They haven't always been assignment sharp and they've been fooled a couple times. They also are learning that wrapping up in college is a lot tougher than in HS. But, UND got through this season, with some injuries to boot, and have a pretty decent defense. And for the first time all year it's healthy. (Healthy for the playoffs. Darn the bad luck. ) I'd say the coordinators did pretty well all things considered, and I'm looking forward to seeing a "year smarter" defense next season. They should be a lot of fun to watch. What I like is that this year we really only lose Alexander, Meek, Cadwell, Weigelt, and a few supporting folks. A year ago that's all we were keeping! What concerns me more is next year's offense. Losing Dressler, four offensive linemen, the starting FB and TE, and a couple others puts a lot of pressure on Dan Freund and Ryan Chappell (and Josh Murray) next year.

1. What is their mascot doing anywhere near our goaltender? JPL should've flipped him with the spatula then "waffled" him. 2. " ... the dressing rooms for the visiting team and the mascot playing Bucky are in the same hallway, and they share a tunnel to the ice ... " --> That's not very smart. But, it is Wisconsin.

That, and both Russian goals were ... on the power play.

Mentioning use of a stick on a leg .... What was that crap little tug-hook Turris took at Jones' ankle during the opening volleys of the 3rd period melee? Jones should have "stored" Turris' stick for him for that.

Food for thought for the team going into this week: First Previously 0-8 St. Louis - 37 Currently 4-5 New Orleans - 29 Next Clear favorite Buffalo - 13 Cake-wake patsy Miami - 10 Just showing up isn't good enough. Come to play.

Does anybody really know for sure who their boss will be in six months?

The round of 8 is down there for ease of travel. The final round will be on campus.

I'm surprised this idea has lasted this long without being picked apart.

Didn't I declare "The Mafia" as the "perfect moniker" in a thread a while back? Where'd that go?

What I've learned through this whole ordeal: Expect the unexpected.

Why not change someone's job title to: Vice President for General Administration and Director of Athletics You could have Associate ADs (CEO, CFO, COO) reporting to him.

Guys, two-time defending champs Florida lost their top six from last year. They're ripe for the picking by a former NCC team on Friday.

"Sioux" is derived from a French suffix for the diminutive. Shouldn't the money for the word go to the French? (Somewhere "ScottM" just spewed and sprayed his morning coffee all over his desk. )

If this is turning soap oper... er, I mean "daytime drama" (as they prefer to be known), let's just hope that for the time being our goaltending situation doesn't become "General Hospital". That would be bad.

How many times do I have to say this: When you find yourself in a situation where nothing makes sense, where up is down and left is right, where nothing is as it seems: Stop. Rise above the situation. Look at it objectively from the outside. And then follow the Benjamins. All will become clear.

Uh-uh. Nope. More like "Lady Marmalade" .... gitche-gitche yah yah dah

That would be good information to have ....

http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/index.cfm?id=56298