The Sicatoka

I like the FB jersey for UND shown here ... http://www.geminiathleticwear.com/ ... especially the shoulder region.

I've given you people the answer key once already. Too bad it seems (via USCHO thread) that UNO and NMU are happy where they're at (CCHA).

To be fair, that lax game was over nine seconds into the first OT. It's just that one of the officials thought they were being paid by the hour, and not by the contest, so they blew an inadvertent whistle trying to make some extra cash.

... until a UND team coached by Rylan Kaip is in the Lax Final Four. And for the record: I have Midco cable and with it I have ESPN2 and ESPN2HD. Lax was on ESPN2HD but when I jumped down to just ESPN2 there was UND/UNH. Anybody else try that?

If over the past 12 years he'd have led the city in building flood control like the other major cities on the Red (Winnipeg, Grand Forks) he would be able to sleep at night (and wouldn't be sticking his foot in his mouth). Then again, he was getting sleep when he admitted, the day after the crash, Fargo's negligence regarding lack of street repairs causing the traffic death of a juvenile. (The city attornies had to cringe at that one.) Denny was talking "second crest" just last week. A lot of wet snow has landed in the southern RRV. I'm guessing he'll get 39+ feet to deal with again. If you're in the RRV: sleep fast while you can.

And he's got some really dumb ones lately ... Wasn't he president of Bison TeamMakers? <punch line here>

Brain-gap. Sorry. I meant Fontaine (the sophomore) but had Sharp on the brain from post-season. Should Donny be worried about Schroeder?

I'm surprised that there isn't more MacGregor Sharp speculation.

Uh, folks, from that article: Check the dates. That article's over a year old and Jones and Davis are long gone.

Philadelphia.

I like to generalize and just call them "cadavers in opposition jerseys" because they're just dead weight.

"MIAMI" on that jersey is the name of a tribe folks. And before "RedHawks" they were ... Miami of Ohio is in the category of and Stanford and Dartmouth and other changers when it comes to monikers. They've made part of the problem for North Dakota.

cough-Walaker-cough-cough... Mayor Walaker should be focused on about a foot of new snow and a 30 mph NNE wind that's coming. Whitecaps and levees are not a good mix.

Let's run it, with prior week off teams in CAPS: MIAMI v. Denver -- week off teams 1-0 AIR FORCE v. Michigan -- 2-0 Princeton v. Duluth VERMONT v. Yale -- 3-0 OHIO STATE v. Boston -- 3-1 AIR FORCE v. VERMONT -- (how to score this?) Cornell v. Northeastern NEW HAMPSHIRE v. North Dakota -- 4-1 MIAMI v. Duluth -- 5-1 BSU v. Notre Dame -- 6-1 BSU v. Cornell -- 7-1 NEW HAMPSHIRE v. Boston -- 7-2 Yup, I think you got it.

All the regional US Highway 2 schools make the tournament ... and Bemidji's the one going to DC. Whodathunk.

So who's at the Frozen Four from the west? Let's see ... Miami, which plays in the CCHA, which plays strict enforcement of rules against obstruction, meaning speed and skating are valued, and Bemidji State, which plays in the CHA, and which plays a speed and skating game. Are you listening Greg Shepherd? Are you listening Bruce McLeod?

Air Force joined Atlantic Hockey. The CHA has four right now: Robert Morris and Niagara are also going Atlantic Hockey (that'll make 12 there). Bemidji and Alabama-Huntsville are the odd-men out of CHA. If Bemidji went WCHA that'd make 11, an unworkable number. However, if Bemidji joined and Northern Michigan came back to the WCHA (to make 12) maybe UAH could get into the CCHA to restore them to 12. Don't expect UN-Omaha to move. Publicly at least they're pretty steadfast in their desire to stay in the CCHA.

The weather: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/fgf/ The rivers: http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=fgf

The best hope for a fresh start is pointing out that the WCHA has only shown up in recent Frozen Fours by playing speed, not obstruction.

Never truer words typed.

Since I'm on a good rant, indulge me. Can Gwozdecky coach offense? Can Eades? Can anyone anymore? Where have the skilled offensive players gone. I ask because I see teams with awesome ability to make a sweep-check, chase the puck to the corner, put it in skates, find an opening, and then give up possession by going high off the glass even when down a goal or two. I saw what Miami did to Denver. Miami wanted the puck on their stick, both in the attack and defensive zones. Miami seldom willingly gave up possession of the puck. Denver wanted to dump it in, apply nominal pressure, and then hope to pick off a pass or some other miscue and use that to spur an odd-man (1-on-0 or 2-on-1). Same for Duluth. And that's Wisconsin's game. Heck, that's most of the WCHA's game: no possession, counter-punch, trap. That game requires guys with long reaches and average skating skill. It doesn't even require much ability to make a decent pass (because the glass is a big target. Teaching a sweep-check is a nothing skill to teach. Teaching guys to stand in skating and shooting lanes is easy. And I'm sure it keeps coaches in jobs (by keeping scores low, as long as the guys are allowed to obstruct along with it). Now ask yourself: From dead-center between the dots, how many guys in this league can snap a backhander into a top opening on a corner board more than 50% of the time? Heck, how many guys can get a low shot (snap, wrist, or slap) through traffic on net? How many can use the boards to make a head-man pass to themselves (and not end up icing it instead)? The trap is a bane and a pox upon hockey because it devalues offensive skills. And any ol' fool can teach trap skills to any group of reasonable skaters. Who's teaching guys the fundamental offensive skills anymore?

Smaller and quicker is what the Sioux will be. The benefits of that will be defined by how the WCHA brass views the following: In this year's NCAA tournament the AHA (Air Force) got as many tournament wins as the WCHA. In this year's NCAA tournament the CHA (Bemidji State) got as many tournament wins as the WCHA. In this year's NCAA tournament the CHA (Bemidji State) got MORE tournament wins THAN the WCHA. That is bloody embarrassing. The WCHA Administration (head office and officiating) needs to raise its "game" to the level of the talent playing the game in the league. I'm quite sure that the NCAA Rule Committee has taken notice of the WCHA's hijinx this year (wandering coaches, mysterious suspensions) as well as the WCHA's total lack of commitment to enforce the rules against obstruction and holding and checking from behind. The WCHA needs to start officiating like the rest of college hockey or else these trends (nobody left to go to the Frozen Four) will only continue. Let's look at this from another angle: Would you rather play with a cadaver in a Mankato jersey on your back and risk the injuries from guys like Trevor Bruess or would you rather play in a league where obstruction and checking from behind is called. Look at the Michigan/MSU situation this year. The CCHA, not Michigan State, suspended those fools. But who suspended the dashing dasher dancing monkey? DU. Who suspended Trevor Bruess? MSU-Mankato. No wonder talent is bolting for leagues (pro and college) where they can showcase it because they can't depend on the league to set a standard of conduct and play and maintain it. Commissioner McLeod's contract is up for renewal. I'm sure it's on the April meetings agenda. Quit manufacturing parity (by not calling obstruction). I say it's time for sunshine and a fresh start. Show me the speed game. Show me hockey.

I just finished reading the list of hidden injuries this team was playing through and it begs the question: How many happened because of lack of enforcement (by league officials) of the points of emphasis?

Jackie Parker's retirement party gift?

If that's the real BU everyone else should be real scared.