The Sicatoka

Sure it's nice to lead the WCHA today. March 7 would be a better date .... I just want to see the team continue to improve, and there are opportunities for that. Ask Matt Greene or Mike Prpich (causes of 5 on 3s who sat the next night). And a powerplay percentage above the teens would be good.

They are 9-1-2 in their last 12. Decide on the credibility of the rest for yourselves from there. They'll be good. They'll have to be dealt with. But won't they all?

Woe is Dean. Too much goaltending. Oh woe is Dean. It, it, it's like having too much money! Or is that "Money."

All of Adrian Hasbargen's siblings' names start with "A". Like Amber, and most likely Andrew.

Lee's dad? I don't think so. Grandfather and a couple of uncles I believe it was. I'd guess Andrew Hasbargen knows one of the womens team goalies.

Knowing the show is being beamed right to Don Lucia's recorders , saying nothing is the best move by Berry.

I'd suspect a similar set-up even if Ralph were still with us. It puts the arena apart from the whims of a single person.

You guys apparently never look beyond the hockey forum here.

Ralph Engelstad, out of his pocket, built the $104,000,000.00 Ralph Engelstad Arena - Home of the Fighting Sioux. Thanks Ralph. First there was "The Ralph." "The Betty" is due to open in September.

The majority of UND's hockey team at that time was Canadian. (Note from this year's WJC roster and history that Team Canada picks from major junior, not American college, rosters to form a team.) Next note that in the era in question, UND Lost the 1979 National Championship game Won the 1980 National Championship (two months after Lake Placid) Won the 1982 National Championship How long did it take you to learn to talk out of that oriface?

A letter to the Fargo Forum.

Things change. The University of North Dakota is extremely fortunate because it has seen changes for the better. From Memorial Stadium to The Alerus Center - I loved the home advantage (the cold north wind) of Memorial but tell me The Al isn't a better facility in this climate and it already feels like home. From the Winter Sports Center (renamed Ralph Engelstad Arena in the 1980s) to the new Ralph Engelstad Arena - What can you say? The best facility in all of college hockey ... was out-done. You can see it physically in the new one. We're slowly realizing that "mystique" or what I've called "the gods of Sioux hockey" (the fortunate bounces, the "jet-engine" crowd roar, that extra edge at home) have slowly found their way over to it. They'll all make their way over with time. From Hyslop to The Betty - There will be fondness for the Hyslop as in each other case. But things change. Track record says they'll be fine. (Based on what I heard Coach Roebuck say on the radio last night, he'd like to play WBB games in there unless they are sure they will have attendance over that capacity. I think that'd be a good plan for both MBB and WBB.) I can't say it better than this letter in yesterday's Fargo Forum.

About half way down this page are the requirements that go into effect in fall of 2005.

"Fight on Sioux" and "Stand Up and Cheer" both. If only they had some super-cool electronics, like a lighted display ring or Daktronics video and score boards, to put the lyrics on .... Lecture notes here. There will be a quiz.

For those of you who don't read the board at USCHO.com, this is how I started my week on this subject: Me, rant? Never. We have to stay on message here. If we want the quality of WCHA hockey to improve we can not stand for this "two rule books" mentality.

GRAND FORKS: Water park issue trickles back. Council to discuss Canad Inn request. ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX: Committee smiles on plan. Canad's latest hotel, theater, water park proposal greeted with strong support.

So "two rule books" is the solution to make college hockey "better." Well, if "better" is pseudo-parity today, sure. If a make-believe close scores and standings are better, sure. If pandering to the lowest common denominator is "better," sure. But what incentive does that give "the rest" of the schools to improve? You are not going to improve college hockey, build it up, if you allow "the rest" to tear down what there is of it today. The only way college hockey will get better is to show "the rest" they have to get better.

I said frugal, not cheap. Cheap means they won't spend it. Frugal means they spend it very carefully and wisely. Press that frugality against a new CBA on the horizon and what do you get? I get expect no signings until there's a new CBA. Others may get something else.

I'd guess the one on this page.

So there should be two rulebooks: - one for the good teams - one for the rest (<-- notice how nice I was there ) Since certain actions aren't penalties under "the rest's" rulebook I'm sure the injuries suffered by good teams due to the actions don't count either. See the problem?

It takes two to make a deal: - a willing seller - a willing buyer. Some players may want to sign. Will the teams sign them under this CBA? If the frugal Devils, led by frugal Lou, think they can get Zach at a number more in their favor later, under a new CBA, don't you think they'd wait to sign him?

I am impressed. Very nice. Mine is sent as well.

The stick didn't cause the cut? A skate did? Considering the location of various major blood vessels in the human anatomy that is even scarier. Greyeagle: It's gone from laughable to dangerous.

From my angle: Parise was hooked high, the stick got up on him (and cut him) and slowed him down, and he was then grabbed and put down on the ice. This all happened along the boards at the dot as he was trying to cycle out of the corner. The "holding" was called. Did I mention that later he was taken down and held and "fisticuffed" in the UAA crease when he nearly beat the 1 on 5? The NHL has cleaned up their act (lowered the amount of hookin', holdin', obstructin', clutchin', grabbin' mess) in the last two years. Why can't the NCAA/WCHA?

When is the NCAA and WCHA going to get smart and play by the rules the rest of the world uses? And I mean just by those rules. (Half-shields, no "extra games" for fighting.) IIHF World Junior Championship Rulebook Look at some of those pictures of penalties. Most of those tactics are standard operating procedure in the WCHA and NCAA (by all teams, including the one home-rinked at Ralph Engelstad Arena).