The Sicatoka

How does Shepherd deal with fans that are abusive to his referees when those same fans can turn to him and say, "You've done the same to game officials."

Could be .... WCHA Sets "Duncan-Free" Zone DENVER, CO - WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod today announced a zone to be added to WCHA ice surfaces. This "Duncan-free" zone is an area to the left of UND opponent goaltenders. The area is on the goalie's left from the center of the rink to the boards, from the top of the circle to the endboards. This initiative was started by 9 of the 10 WCHA coaches. UND coach Dave Hakstol opposed the move. "We hope this Duncan-free zone will allow WCHA goaltenders to sleep better at night, allowing them to be both better student and better athletes," Commissioner McLeod stated at the press conference announcing this change. Violations of the Duncan-free zone will trigger a two-minute bench minor that must be served by any team member named Duncan. The new rule goes into effect immediately.[/code][/indent]

I didn't spit in anyone's eye. Actually, I think I nearly agreed with someone who's been agreeing with you.

With the announcement of Brent Davidson, I guess I had the right notion but the wrong spot on the ice.

"Shay-shay" for the update! You should have "shing" and "shay-shay" figured out now.

Please excuse the spelling but ... Nee-how! If you want me to call say "Shing."

Yes, you are correct in that analysis. And having folks like Radke and Genoway (and Robbie Bina has played F in the WCHA) give some "margin for unexpected". I'm looking back further I guess in that Blais ran a roster with 8 defense and 15 forwards. Blais said that was best for the wide-open style (game and practice) that he ran. Hak seems to like to run with a smaller set than that. If he's good with that, well, it's his team.

Ask Tiger Woods' wife.

Pure speculation by me, but 7 defense and 14 forwards (Radke at forward, Hextall not until 2008) seems like a small roster. There isn't much room for an injury or two, plus good stiff competition for playing time, along the way. Given the potential departures at defense after this season, if another person is a late add (a project if you will) a defenseman seems like the right place.

O'Keefe's letter to Buning? Seen it. Read it. Old news. I was embarrassed for both recipient and sender. After reading it my question was, "Did Tim send one like it to Dave Hakstol after Dave by-passed Steve Johnson for open positions ... twice?" But I'm not "inside" so my take matters not. Oh well. (shrug) Like GeauxSioux said: At this point I could start another thread like the "Buning's Day Planner" thread of long ago, but I'm not "inside" to know that Buning needs to: - be working on DI schedules for 2008 and beyond including finding conference homes for the teams, - get coaches under contract for and through the transition in all sports, - continue to work on a facilities master plan so the teams have space to train, and most importantly, - create and implement a budget that will work for UND during the transition. The Bottom Line: Mr. Buning is either doing his job the way his superiors (President Kupchella and newly named VP for General Administration Phil Harmeson) expect him to, or he'll be gone. It's that simple.

Let's try this one last time: If you really were trying to put together a case against Buning you would: - cite firing a womens hockey coach mid-season - not dealing head-on with Glas when he was dangling UND's MBB future over an job at UNI - allowing two open positions to occur (base/softball) when just heading into transition and conference hunting Then you would bring in all of the wonderful rumor and inuendo that you're fond of calling "inside" knowledge, things like the hiring of Glas' replacement and how that went, or the same for womens hockey, or Dale looking at leaving (in 2007, as in 2002), or Hakstol's contract not being reworked (with 10 months to go). There's enough out there that if you really wanted to make a case you could. You could sew a few facts in with some good, juicy "I was told" and have quite a tale of intrigue. UND Athletics is an enterprise headed by the AD. To look at it from only hockey or football is a mistake in reviewing what the AD is doing at any time. You're going about it by thinking one-dimensionally, and acting that way. That pattern of action doesn't tend to bring folks to your point of view.

A 14 year head coach leaves. You should be trying to use that as an indictment against Buning, but instead it's no big deal. I don't get you man. It's like you have one thing and don't see the bigger picture that you could've used in your favor of making your case. Heck, UND is looking for both baseball and softball coaches while looking for a conference. Common sense says you should be all over Buning for not getting things stable (fill openings ASAP) while looking for a DI conference. Instead you're locked onto something that isn't as immediatly pressing to an AD searching for an all-sports home and being able to tell them names of head coaches of teams, not to mention heading into the first of five DI transition seasons. (There're a couple months until Hak's team hits the ice; if no deal is done then, then I start to wonder.) No charge for helping you with your side.

A long-time UND coach leaves and you don't know or care? It would have worked perfectly for your cause; I figured you to use it as "more proof" and have pinned it on Buning.

Of course those too, but then again all this does is pad the post count.

Sure he would. He'd be a fool not to. But is that enough to keep him if the next level comes a calling? My opinion: Nope. Just like Toews signed when he was ready, Hak would do the same and who could blame him. I knew that Ziegler was going to REA days before it was announced (ask Walrus or UND92,96 or PCM or jimdahl). But I also learned that he didn't want it talked about publicly until he told his team so I waited to start that thread until it was officially announced. That's having a source and being responsible with it. 6300 posts don't give me credibility. The information, and how it was used responsibly, does.

Mr. Shepherd's public mistreatment of officials, even if of a different sport, and even though he apologized, should disqualify him from continuing in his role as head of officials of the WCHA.

Yes, and that 2005 group had the benefits of Parise/Lamoureux behind them. Lee leaving now serves to level out that recruits bubble. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised to see a "late add" four-year type defenseman show up in camp this fall.

Does "under contract" really mean squat? Blais was "under contract" when he left for NHL Columbus. If Hak were to go to a fourth straight Frozen Four I'd be more shocked if he stayed. Hak's not 40. I struggle to believe this is the final stop on his coaching path. And if Hak were to go, Brad Berry is up in Winnipeg, Steve Johnson is back in Grand Forks, and Cary Eades has an office down the hall.

Go Cavalry.

I think you meant FBS (aka the BCS) above in each case that you said FCS. (Get it right or people will jump all over you. )

Why's the phrase "race based preferences" rattling around in my head ....

Poor Brian, he trades one "hostile and abusive" jersey for another.

If there is a blessing in this it's that it forces playing time onto the freshmen defensemen. A year from now it could be Genoway, Jones, LaPoint, and Marto as the only returners.

If it'd sell papers, heck yes. Don't believe me? See your favorite "Robbie Bina" thread and the hatred toward WDAZ right now. There's my GF media will report on UND datapoint. The better question might be: Would other town's media report anything negative toward their local favorite? MSP media did the Blarney's thing. WDAZ did the Judy's incident. Everyone else must be pure as the driven snow.

Yes, OU Law, '68.