The Sicatoka

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?

(Sorry sagard, but this is too easy, and you set it up so well.) A Gopher fan acknowledging Canadian MJ? Isn't this just a path to more "25 year old Canadians" in the NCAA? (You know I had to do it.)

I thought sand volleyball was just voyeurism gone Olympic. Those "uniforms" the women wear ... pretty soon you won't be able to print the Olypmic logo on them because there isn't enough material. Here's your next NCAA championship platform photo. Pretty sad when the NCAA starts selling that "product" (cough-sex-cough) now too. Oh, but I'm sure we'll hear it's about the student-athletes ... I think I'm going to call NOW and tell them that's "hostile and abuse" toward women.

For some reason this is on repeat mode today ... I'd like to dedicate it to Mr. Longie. http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Eagles/Get-Over-It.html With thanks to Don Henley and the rest of The Eagles.

Omaha and Kearney explored it in the past and the Nebraska legislature had none of it. (It's all about the Huskers.) It was a linked story here at one time. It's mentioned here. The notion's been around since the NCC started shedding teams; however, UNO has massive budget and personnel problems right now. Not. Gonna. Happen.

Many people look at Ritchie Smith and all they see is JQ Paulsen and Joe Chapman. That situation has little to do with this one.

Can you read? It has been brought up there. Not. Gonna. Happen. It's all about "Big Red" in Lincoln.

Chicken. Dinner.

Not. Gonna. Happen. Ask the Nebraska Legislature.