The Sicatoka

Yesterday, the pastor of Cathedral of the Holy Spirit (in Bismarck) asked parishoners to pray for the family of a UND student and member of the parish who'd taken her own life. If you are troubled, this may seem like the answer. It is not. It's never as bad as it seems. Talk to someone, anyone. Please. Now, out of good taste, and deference to that family, I think this subject is now closed.

The Best Little Monopoly in America.

Before y'all start chalking up pleasant exhibitions victories you may want to take note of a recent college/U-18 matchup.

If you had Mayville State and 83.5 points ... you lost!

Let's see ... - No Sioux game on Saturday the 20th - Des Moines Bucs at Fargo on Saturday the 20th - Bruneteau, Gleason, and White all play for Des Moines Hmmm ...

2005: UND lost to DU in Columbus in the championship game (after defeating Minnesota in the semis). 2006: Lose to BC in Milwaukee in semis 2007: Lose to BC in St. Louis in semis 2008: Lose to BC in Denver in semis Geez I hate teams that wear maroon and gold (tip of cap to UMD today).

I'm probably going to regret this later (as he'll probably "Lasch" out at UND for it), but didn't SCSU have a Hobey 10 guy last year who returned this year? Is he on a milk carton now?

How much was not having to play UND and USD and UNO worth to UMD this year? Those three games normally cause nagging injuries at a minimum. I wondered if the old NSIC power, now with NCC experience, and back into the NSIC, wouldn't be able to do big things.

Braegelmann and Troen!

For some reason I read that and could just envision you in a Jim Mora-esque rant. Four? Playoffs?

Blais seemed to make his roster on the philosophy of "if two guys are playing equally well I skate the younger one in hopes to get him to develop for later". Evidence: How many times did (a junior or senior) Tom Philion* sit while a high-potential freshman played (and admittedly made some mistakes along the way)? That's one Blais-ism that Hak is apparently using. I like it. Hak used "skate or sit" recently with Kozek and Trupp. I like it. Now I just wish Hak would go with Blais' offensive approach, especially since obstruction and clutching are being called: When those horses are allowed to run, they can run. Just ask Cornell. * Picked a Minot, ND, guy to make the point.

Geez, talk about reverting (as 'sprig' says) to the ugly "DU v. Maine" officiating style. Which would you rather watch for style of play: Friday* or Saturday? I sure hope the head of officials Greg Shepherd reviews this tape and sanctions those officials for not calling according to the NCAA strict enforcement of obstruction standards. Oh, ... yeah, ... one of the officials was Greg's son: Brad. Nepotism. Gotta love it. * Before DaveK chimes in about "defensive hockey" UND only gave up 3 on Friday in a fast skating game. That's just fine defense by me. I don't like "golden goals" and soccer.

UND Medical School Dean Leaving Nov 25, 2008 GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) The dean of the University of North Dakota medical school is stepping down at the end of the academic year. H. David Wilson says he's not ready to retire. He says he's looking at several national administrative posts. Wilson has been at UND for 13 years. He also serves as the school's vice president for health affairs. UND says Wilson is the fifth-longest tenured dean among the nation's 130 accredited medical schools. The university plans a national search for his successor.

I have the solution: WWCND.

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I second.

Older players? We have any? Seriously? The only guys I see showing up night after night so far are freshmen: Gregoire and Hextall. I haven't seen much of the older guys. Maybe they (Gregoire, Hextall) haven't bought into this "turn it on at the end" nonsense because they haven't been here the last four years. This turn it on at the end (game, season) got them beat by UAA last night. Hak preaches a never too high, never too low approach; he preaches consistency. Fine. Dandy. How about consistency in game to game performance: To run with CC one weekend then get used by UAA the next (at home no less) is just plain immature, and totally unacceptable. Dear Dave: Stop being their buddy, their older brother, their protector, and their excuse maker. Start being their coach, their task master, and sometimes, yes, their hash and unrelenting disciplinarian. Set the standard very high and guess what: You and these guys will achieve it.

Would Genoway please stop hanging his partners out to dry by his offensive zone decisions, please.

What concerns me: 1. Decisions. The team needs a win and he starts the career backup goalie. 2. Intensity. His teams don't show up until it is past critical and gone to desperation, and that means either game or season. 3. Maturity. When the intensity shows up it is a finger, or a stupid boarding call late in a game. Yes, they are related and would not have happened under the past regime. The goodwill is gone when the team has 6 losses before Thanksgiving. Sorry, but it is.

You'll understand if I say I'm somewhat skeptical of a story that includes: Yes, I-29 is desolate in some areas, but you don't block a Federal highway and fire weapons at someone and have it go completely unnoticed by law enforcement.

That's part of the picture. The other part is that Congress, or the subcommittee overseeing Fannie Mae at least, was led by Barney Frank who had an, ahem, unique relationship with the Fannie Mae management during that same period of time.

Do we? Haven't really seen it for quite a while. So if we do, pretend I'm from Missouri: Show me.

I'm tired of "hot goalies" and "battled and battled". Those are excuses. UND has unproven goaltending right now. The solution to that is fairly simple. Yes, it's pretty simple: skate, shoot, score. Skate. Shoot. Score. You come out with the intention of hanging up 2 goals per period and not many will hang with you. Skate. Shoot. Score. Folks, that's how the rest of the country is playing. That philosophy has whipped UND hard in the playoff the last couple of seasons. And now it kicks off this season. Yes, defending your net is important, but goaltending can relax and play better if you do something very important to help it out: Skate. Shoot. Score.

I heard Steve Hallstrom (or was it Scott Miller) saying that Mertens is the best option NDSU has right now*. Seriously? Ouch. I guess I'll smile every time I see Jake Landry in the correct shade of green. * I was listening for Bob Brinker's MoneyTalk on WDAY and instead I got to listen to the Fargo version of Vikings Fan Line, but called "Bison Feedback".

Last I'd seen regarding FSU and the (real) Seminole Nation, there is an annual straight cash payment (~$500k).