The Sicatoka

The Gophs in 2002: 0-3-1 on Friday 0-4-1 in WCHA weekend series game ones The Gophs are walking around with the "Friday night" (I like to think of it was "first game of the weekend") jinx on their minds. Nothing would make me happier than to see the Sioux come out and bang in a couple early and get them thinking about it even more.

Remember, the line in Vegas is set not by what the odds-makers think reality is, but by what the odds have to be to cause the books to be 'balanced' no matter who wins. To understand better, look at Nebraska football. Everybody in that state (and the nation) likes to put money on Big Red. What Vegas does is offer points so people take the other side so that no matter who wins the game the Vegas payout is equal and they don't have to cover payouts with house money. Same thing in hockey. Offering weak odds for Minnesota will cause some fans to shy away from placing a bet because it won't be worth it. Also those shy odds are based on the number of people looking to put money on UMn versus anyone/everyone else. Looking at the numbers: UA-Fairbanks and UND should both be "Field". Minnesota, SCSU, and DU appear to have either hit a swoon or peaked early. I wouldn't be surprised if only one WCHA team makes it to St. Paul. If CC maintains its pace it could easily be them. Don't forget that Ron Mason is retiring from MSU and they play on a lot of 200x85 ice (like the XCel) in the CCHA. But my gut says one of the eastern teams that's been consistent all year (UNH or BU) might be the one to pick.

No, no one has come out and said, "It's all the ice's fault!" but statements about how the ice doesn't favor the game they want to play, especially by Coach Blais, say a lot. UND's record on road NHL-sized rinks (assumably with good ice) is 4-0. (The GLI and at MTU.) Believe it or not, arena ice is more art than science. Figure all of the numbers and models you want, but it's not right until you adjust it to in-place physical reality. If Denny couldn't get that ice right, there was something wrong. Well, it sounds like they've got a good lead on the problem. Now just let the unsung member of that team, Denny G., work his magic. Just a random opinion: We know that young teams take their lumps. We see that teams with new ice (UMn, UW, DU) take lumps the first year. Personally, I'd rather take all of the lumps at once, and then return them all at once.

In the past (before going to Minnesota) Blais had commented on how well the team had practiced on the side (Olympic) rink. Apparently the ice in there is firm. Also this morning Coach Blais had made the point that their game is dependent on the ability to be quick, make sharp moves, and capitalize on the other guy's mistakes. (Soft ice doesn't support that.) The main rink had better be right soon. Mr. E spent some serious money for ice, not slush. Also with six of the next eight games at home and the other two at (190 x 85) The DECC in Duluth the main rink is rink to practice on. Mr. Hennessy (ya gotta love Tim) commented on how he "doesn't like those guys" (meaning Minnesota). His belief is that they tend to hit after the whistle and seem to like to put gloves up into faces. He also put forth his thoughts that this is a result of a number of them coming straight from HS and never having had the tar beat out of them for doing such things.

I knew there was a reason why I listen to AM radio. KKXL this morning (02/04/02) Coach Blais, in conversation with Tim Hennessy and Scott Swygman reported that (my comments in italics): Ryan Connelly will skate in practice this week (shoulder is better). Josh Siembida's ankle is fine and he will skate in practice this week. Chris Fournier will probably not be ready this weekend (concussion, elbow to head at MTU). Andy Kollar has looked better in practice. The phrase "old self" was used by Coach Blais. (Remember, Tyler Palmiscno was well enough (back) to replace Fournier Saturday at MTU. No mention of James Massen. Some have reported a shoulder problem.) Denny "I wanna drive the Zamboni" Gunderson has scraped down the main arena ice, repainted and rebuilt it. There was a problem. Under the concrete in the main rink it was supposed to be 40 degrees. It was 52 degrees. That is believed to be why the ice was soft, wet, and slow.

jk: OK, I gotta ask. Why "Krissy"? There's a scene in "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" that would be really, really good to run up on the Dak boards. If you've seen it, you'll figure it out.

I read somewhere that the suite floor level in the REA was an oversight. At the X in St. Paul the floor in the suites is a couple of feet higher relative to the last row of seats in the lower bowl than it is in REA. That's why standing students are a problem. Remember, students need to be next to the penalty box so next year they can toss Jeff "locked in a crapper in the Minneapolis airport" Finger of SCSU a roll of "White Cloud."

Someone say they didn't have S-SM's roster or stats? http://www.s-sm.org/hockey/prepstat.html No charge.

Wouldn't it be fun if opposing fans would have to say this as a plea for mercy: Less Fylling! As a Sioux fan, that would "Taste Great!"

I'm still in awe over this quote from the Saturday GF Herald: "Jon Casey was probably our last goalie that knew the game as well as Jake does." -- Dean Blais The 'Jake' is Jake Brandt. Since Casey (who I do think was the best of them at knowing and anticipating play) I come up with Brower (rest in peace, Scotty), Belfour, Schweitzer, and Goehring as netminders that seemed to know what was going to happen next and just got there first. That is very big pat on the back to Jake. Goon: Just call him Coach Gwoz.

The next time Finger is 'locked' in the penalty box someone should toss him a roll of Charmin, .... or should that be .... White Cloud?

Big strong tough guy for SCSU locked in a bathroom. http://miva.sctimes.com/miva....37+5+11 You think Bochenski has taken a razzing this year? You ain't seen nothin' yet.

With 10 games left this team could go 2-8 just as easily as 8-2. I normally can figure out a Sioux team by now. Not this one. They seem to run hot and cold. I guess it is the freshman factor (inconsistency). However, I know that most of them haven't played on a team with a losing record for a long, long time. I'm hoping that they play the rest of their season for pride (meaning to finish over 0.500). If they do that, other things will take care of themselves.

Not to sound like some of those USHR junkies (quoting it left and right), but the throwing Matt Greene's name into a search engine came up with this from the July 2000 USHR: Matt Greene, who played for Chris Coury's Little Caesar's squad last winter, is 6'2", 201 lbs, and loves to hit hard. He's still raw skill-wise. That is, the skills are there, they just need smoothing out. In addition, he hasn't finished growing into his body. Greene, with his size and physical style of play, is a potential first-round NHL draft pick. He's going to the U.S. National Program this fall. Also in that report they list "Select 17 Standouts" from the camp in the summer of 2000. Defensemen: 1. Ryan Whitney 2. Matt Greene For reference, Whitney is the highly touted D-man now at BU. Not bad company considering who was next on USHR's list: 3. Matt Jones Currently he skates in jersey #3 for Dean Blais. You've heard of him, yes? http://www.ushr.com/july00news.htm

Do you keep O'Leary and Hasbargen when Canady and McMahon can play that same grinding game plus have scoring talent? I believe that was the deciding factor. The rest of the league sees 10 new faces in Sioux jerseys each night. They know that "payback" time (for 1997 through 2001) is now because it won't get easier in the future. I'm sure Brandon Bochenski, James Massen and the rest have good memories and will return this year's "favors" to the league in coming days. Patience.

On that goal Siembida looked tired. He went to cover it and didn't get there first. I like playing the number 2 goaltender every other Saturday. It keeps them sharp. It keeps the team sharp. It gives the number 1 a rest.

Hot off the wire from http://www.fightingsioux.com : UND to introduce Shantel Gammie as head women

Siembida has played six straight (Mich, MSU, UMn, UMn, UAA, UAA) and it sounds like it'll go to seven tonight. I'd say it's time to get Brandt back in there. Remember, he played well at Wisconsin and got two wins at St. Lawrence before the arrival of Siembida. A number 1 and a dependable number 2 goaltender is needed (for example Goehring/Kollar). Get him some playing time so we know if he can do the job. If he battles Siembida for the number 1 role, all the better.

Dixon Ward as the Gopher trainer? He'd either run them into the ground and leave them for dead: "Whaddaya mean you can't benchpress that Buick off your chest? PUSH! It'll be a Cadillac next time!" or it'd be: Hey boys, lots and lots of beer and chips are good for you! And don't forget the nachos.

Clayton (and his psychic link dagies ): Leaving four skaters only takes 18 skaters on the road.

Along this same line of thought .... The NCAA lets you travel with 19 skaters and no more than 3 (and not less than 2) goaltenders. I figure Siembida, Brandt, and Kollar are all going. Which 19 skaters are going to CC?

In the 1997-1998 schedule, league games went from 32 to 28 per year. How many points has it taken to get home ice since then? 1997-1998: 30 1998-1999: 26 1999-2000: 31 2000-2001: 32

I'll get this out of my system here so I don't start something somewhere else. Eric "Skateblade" Westrom! Matt "The Knee" Doman! Matt "Back Injury" DeMarchi! That should do it for now. Whew! Do I feel better.

I watched Pelawa a couple of times. Imagine Jay Panzer All-American skills (I say Jay because GP wasn't as quick as Jeff) in a Mike Commodore frame but with bulk like Lee Goren. GP wasn't just tall, he was solid. The best comparison at the time was Joel Otto (big, strong, skilled) of Bemidji State then Calgary.

A Siembida/Brandt rotation doesn't sound too bad based on the last six or seven games. The defense needs to learn to make a twelve foot pass and let the forwards move the puck and out. None of them (right now) have the ability to carry it out, or make the long on-the-tape pass, consistently. Give them time. Spiewak and Notermann are best suited for that PK and the "shut down their #1 line" role. When they can be put back to that (meaning not having to worry about creating their own offense but strictly being opportunistic) they will probably show up with more scoring (as backwards as that sounds). Please note that the recent success seems to correspond with the emergence of ..... James Massen. The team began to win when he started playing well enough to be out there with Bayda and Skarperud. Canady and Connelly showed a flash of Waterloo on Saturday. They were all Waterloo had last year and they were good. Now that I've seen Fournier's eyes and hands and Bochenski's shot first hand I know why they were 1-2 in USHL scoring last year. They have trouble in defensive zone. Maybe McMahon could fill in what they lack there. How's Tyler Palmiscno (other than sore and lucky)? Anyone heard?