The Sicatoka

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).

It was clear that Mason was going to call nothing in the third unless it was obvious and blatant: UAA trips Bochenski. So what happens next? Bochenski gets cross-checked into the crease on the 5 on 4 in front of Mason and .... no call. Yet, I recall Greene making the same hit earlier in the game and the call being made. I don't care if it's 3 on 3 hockey all night: Call what the rulebook says. We'll fix the rulebook as need be. I don't mean to shock you all, but some teams in the league have more talent than others. Allowing rules violations to make up for talent disparities is a disservice to the players, coaches, and, most importantly, fans. Sorry. I don't drop $16.50 per game to see Zach Parise bleed on a "holding" call.

I think he started a line that he hoped would control "The Gold Line."

My sincerest apologies for my egregious overstepping of your domain. By your lead, Your Grace and Eminence.

How do you know you're not bidding on the stuff they want?

Someone's gotta tell Greene that you gotta keep the left up when you're throwing the big right. Nation's leading scorer Bochenski erupts again to lead UND past Seawolves. (GF Herald)

I think we're in violent agreement here on this.

Canad unveils theater and water park plan.

He got the "natural" by scoring three goals in a row (no teammate or opponent scoring in between). His "natural" just happened to be his 2nd-3rd-4th goals on the night. A hat trick is hard. A natural hat trick is harder. A natural hat trick in a period is just amazing.

Lost in the shuffle of Bochenski's four goal outing is that he had something nearly as rare: A natural hat trick in one period.

It cost over $6,000,000.00 to run UND Athletics last year. I like it when they come up with creative ways like this to raise money. They get operating cash. The fans get cool stuff.

Indubitably.

Too bad I couldn't get some of that "bad luck" action on that big PowerBall jackpot a couple weeks back.

I thought once the game starts the South Club Room reverts back to being a bar for all arena patrons and standing space for SRO tickets. I didn't like all the 'maroons' in there either, but that's where their tickets were.