The Sicatoka

You can read the NDSU press release at http://www.gobison.com My apologies for poluting this site with a link to that one.

I know running and lifting are two big areas. (I was told lifting is normalized based on what you weigh so 140 pound Sofie lifting 140 is the same as 220 pound Massen lifting 220.) I believe the two-time defending champion is backup goalie Ryan Sofie. Tom Philion won it (four in a row?) before Sofie I believe.

Mr. Mahmoud had a very nice game. The nine yard TD run was good. The catch it on the dead run 45 yard punt return for TD was very nice. (This return was his first touch of a ball in a college game.) The let it drop, grab it after the second bounce, go to the sideline, cut back left, juke right, eeeeennnn-gage, ain't nobody in maroon got that gear, 87 yard punt return for touchdown was mindblowing. (First Sioux player ever to bring back two punts for TD in a single game.) However, people are impressed with the offensive numbers because they are easily spotted in the paper. Taking nothing away from Mr. Mahmoud, I'd argue that Digger Anderson (the new number 40) gave flashbacks of last year's number 40, Eric Schmidt and was at least special teams player of the game if not defensive player of the game. He had three or four special teams tackles plus a couple of good tackles on defense. Now having a smile about these things on my face I'm still forced to remind myself: It was only Minnesota-Crookston.

http://www.fightingsioux.com/sports/hockey...RELEASE_ID=1309 11456 average x 18 games at home = 206208

I believe the paper reported that WR Travis Lueck (from EGF, transfer from Ball State) is academically ineligible in 2002.

The story: http://www.northcentralconference.org/more.php?id=165 My favorite comment in there has to be Tim Hennessy's.

Folks, Goaltending is like money: There is no such thing as "too much."

Pierre Lamoureux was a goalie in the early 1980s at UND. He was overshadowed by some guys named Bob Iwabuchi, Darren Jensen, and Jon Casey. And don't worry about stature. UND has a history with smallish goalies. It's not like anyone will ever confuse the Timberwolves "KG" with UND's "KG."

I probably should have said "losses" in the secondary. I knew Thornberg was moving over to the hot corner. He'll need time to adjust to the different turns and rotations over there. The secondary spooks me worse than the linebacker corps for some reason. Maybe it's because I know that I saw more linebackers rotated in last season (compared to the secondary) so I know there's a larger experience base. But still, to me the offensive line will be the most important answer to the questions about this season's team. I normally reserve this comment for use on USCHO, but it's appropriate here: The only 'poll' that matters is the 'pole' that you raise a championship banner on.

How much do those opinions matter? How much do those folks know? Well, we'll let them speak for themselves: From http://www.gliac.org/m-football/FB_cpoll_02.htm and that is the official GLIAC press release.

Passing thoughts reading through the roster: Porcupine, Onterio. Yagatta lovit. More players from Alaska or Illinois or Colorado than Alberta. I'd have lost money on that bet a couple of years back. Heck, there are as many from Michigan as Alberta on that roster! Mr. Greene is wearing #2. That's a tough one to lug around given one of your coaches, and some in the past (Al Hangsleben I believe), who wore it. There are a lot of 2s on that roster .... 220 .... 215 .... 218 .... 224. No need to ask, "Where's the beef?" Is Colby Genoway really up to 200 pounds? And Spiewak too? Not one, but two 200 pound centers? Add to that Massen and Ryan Hale each over 215 on the wing .... All of those 2s make me wonder about team speed at this point. I remember some DU and Wisconsin teams that were big and slow. I hope that's not the case here. David Hale, Jones, Schneider, Greene: All over 6'0" and 215. Who would have believed that 6'1" or 6'2" and 196 or 197 pounds or wouldn't get into the group of the four largest defensemen? At 5'11" and 185, Chris Leinweber almost sounds ..... small. I believe those numbers, at least for the Hales. When I saw them they looked it.

He was, uh, too, uuuhhh, enthusiastic, yeah, enthusiastic, for the normally morgue-like atmosphere in Tragic, er, Target Center.

Looks like some of the mysteries are answered. Derek Faul and Brendan Connelly aren't listed. http://www.fightingsioux.com/sports/hockey/roster.asp

I believe it was the 1999 WCHA Final Five (it was at Target Center) where the cops tried to remove Al from the arena. I'd never seen cops/security get boo-ed so hard. I was worried .... for them. The best part: It wasn't just Sioux fans giving security the noise! The CC fans behind them were REALLY giving it to them! That whole end of the arena was watching that more than the game!

You didn't see much of Jones on the offensive side of the offensive blueline until later in the year. I think that was cautious play on his part. You can't blame him. He was learning the college game. When he did start to jump up into the rush later in the year he did it at smart times. You could see him pick his spots. He never hung his D partner out alone; there was always someone else back to cover. One of his goals this year was a "jump up into the play" attack that even fooled the opposing defenseman. (I don't think they expected Matt to move up.) Jones showed soft hands in receiving a snap pass into the slot and a shot that gave the goaltender no chance. He may be 6 feet tall and 200+ pounds, but don't forget that he only turns 19 later this week. That's still fairly young in hockey terms, especially for defensemen. His skating? That's the least of the concerns. Actually, his skating covered more than one of his "errs of youth" last season. Maybe it's the number on his back, but his size and composure always seem to give me flash-backs to another defenseman who wore 3 at UND. I don't think Matt will have the offensive upside that James Patrick had in the collegiate game, but I do think he'll provide the same fan confidence in the defensive end.

Of the "second year" players, Fylling has more games than any (42). I suspect he'll work his way into the normal line-up.

For the record: Canady played in 36 of 37 games last season. Matt Jones was the only freshman to play in all 37. Canady, Bochenski, and McMahon were all at 36. When I think of Fylling I think of the best pure skater on the 2001 team. Not the fastest, just the purest skater. What he didn't have was strength along the boards on those skates. If he fixed that he could be a lot of fun to watch.

Just random ramblings, and I'm sure most of these won't meet my own past thoughts/criteria: Fournier and Bochenski were a force in Lincoln two years ago. What I perceive them to lack is the grinder mindset. My first pick would be, based on numbers, either Fylling or Prpich or Canady, because you'll need a guy who can agitate and pick up their cheap points too. Spiewak and Notermann have a natural synchronism. Spiewak loves to pass and Notes loves to hit pipes. Put someone out there that has what they don't: size and a more of a scorers touch. James Massen needs to become their "third." He did it with Skarp and Bayda when Bochenski wasn't there. He'd get a lot of points trailing them down the rink and picking up their garbage, plus he's strong enough to take care of himself if either sends him away with a pick and a long pass. Parise is going to need some time to adjust. All freshmen do. He's also going to be a marked man. I'm thinking let him adjust on the left wing at the start. I'm also thinking personal escorts and body guards. McMahon (at center) and Ryan Hale could do that. And if either of those two aren't available for whatever reason, I'd have Canady and Prpich ready. Oh, did I mention I'd like to see Schneider and David Hale out with him also? Beyond that? Who knows. We'll all probably be surprised by what we see. The beauty-part of all this? We'll ALL be right at some point in the season the way Coach Blais bounces his lines whenever he feels he needs to.

Pssssst, dagies, ..... NHL CSB says Parise shoots left. Otherwise, I agree with the rest.

Who was the offensive defenseman in the early 1980s? You could argue James Patrick, but Craig Ludwig outscored him one season. I guess the point I'm trying to make is this: It can be done (and very well) without an offensive defensman. Patrick, Ludwig, and Zombo (heck, Glen Klotz and Scott Sandelin) were far from offense machines. They had solid (if not outstanding) forwards to get the puck to. No, it's not a glamourous formula (like a Murphy, Williamson, or Roche) but it's effective. But mentioning Patrick, Ludwig, and Zombo: No, they weren't offensive machines, but they also made a lot of money later on doing 'the job' for pay.

The answer is very situational: Offensive or defensive zone? Goalie's right or left, or better, goalie's stick or glove side? Power play? Are you looking to get the puck on net and try to scrum one in, get it to a shooter in the high slot, get it to the boards and try to cycle it, or draw it back and set it up? Of course, if your guy can't win a draw, all the best strategy is worthless.

gosioux: ScottM has seen all four sides of the block more than once (and not just on this board) and I can tell you the last thing he is is that. Greyeagle: Why, when I read your post, did I hear a mechanical, air-filtered, James Earl Jones voice?

What do I know about all of this? Well, I don't care about a guy's mailing address: Can he play? I don't care about where a guy's been: I care about where he is, and where he's going. And finally, I know that this guy from Devils Lake had better be better than the fifth best defenseman on the team at the start of 2003. Why? Because if he's less than that, with only two years of eligibilty remaining, he won't see much ice. (If it comes down to two equally skilled guys, I normally see Coach Blais playing the younger hoping he'll develop further. Don't believe me? Look at last season. Who played more, Brendan or Ryan Connelly?) Dahlen has two years of D-I experience behind him; his play had better be at that level or the best he can hope for as a walk-on is seats close to Tim Hennessy. I'm not cheering for or against him. I'm cheering for the best 20 we can put jerseys on on any given night. Good luck to him in his pursuit of one.