The Sicatoka

I'll gladly take a shot at this. Defense: Up-tick. No Hale hurts, but having a much more mature group coming back (Schneider, Fuher, Jones, Greene, and yes, Marvin) compared to last year will soothe the pain. Mr. Smaby should help in the pain department also. (Read that last sentence any way you'd like. ) Goaltending: Up-tick. Someone needs to press Brandt for the job. In doing so it creates two things: a goalie good enough to press for the job, and Brandt working to keep the job. Alternatively, look at the goaltending numbers from the past season. In conference play clear front-runner Minnesota only gave up one fewer goal. There's food for thought. Forwards: (I'm probably not going to make many friends here.) There were too many of the "same guy" on the ice last year, too many "they work hard but don't score much" guys. On any given night half or more of the forwards fell into that category. Sorry, give me hard work, AND scoring, instead. Add that with a senior class of forwards who were better defensively (than offensively) and offense becomes a real problem if the top guys don't produce, as it did at the end of the season. As much as I liked to watch those senior forwards play, I know Fylling and Connelly can do many of the same things and handle those roles. Instead of six "role guys," how about three or four and get me some more, and more balanced, scoring. Here's another way to look at it: Looking at guys coming back, Minnesota got double-digit scoring (overall) from all but one forward (Smaagaard) and he had 9 points. UND had FIVE forwards (two juniors, three sophs!) in the single-digit realm, and all had fewer than Smaagaard's nine points. Minnesota had more balance in case the top line had an off night. That is what UND needs to restore next year up front. Enter Brady Murray and Drew Stafford, and I'll gladly take anything double digit Chris Porter wants to toss in as well.

flatspin: I'm saying the students knew the deal. If they saw some of their own breaking it they should have stopped it. "Those guys" may have been doing it, but it affects you as well so yes, responsibility does fall to you if want to keep the deal. You let some of your benefits go away by standing (pun not intended) idly by. (There is a great civics/government lesson in there for all of you.) And you really don't want to sit next to me at games. The day I was told I was "obnoxiously loud and boisterous," well, I considered it a compliment.

No, it would not have, but then REA would have been the "hardcase" and been railed on for that. The better question is why didn't the students take responsibility for their own who were causing the problem if it is as you say? The latest Herald article.

I believe NDSU (specifically football) asked for similar treatment from FargoDome regarding "logo-age" and dedicating space to "tenant history." Should the same verbage be used to describe that as well?

To put anything else (ideas above) near the Alerus Center more of the existing land would need to be acquired. And then I note the following headline .... (GF) Council OKs Alerus land deal

And in the only opinion that matters, Jeff Panzer won the award. Next question.

Various articles from last week's Herald: Team Notes: http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/s...rts/5720890.htm Facilities: http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/n...cal/5702604.htm Spring Game: http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/s...rts/5726838.htm http://www.in-forum.com/articles/cache/?id=32397

UND Student Senate votes to build Wellness Center on Bronson Property. That'd be by the new REA. Reasons for the decision in the link. REA, Wellness Center, possible new BB arena west of The Ralph (The Betty? ): The Bronson Property is finally being developed.

Then again, Colorado's population has grown by almost double North Dakota's total population in the last ten years. Growth and available money almost always walk hand-in-hand.

I had heard that UNC had a big campaign to get all of their scholarships endowed (meaning they'd never have to fundraise for scholarships again).

What you are saying is far from unexpected by me and is also confirming the "conventional wisdom" on those two goalie prototypes: - Shoot it at the ankles of the big goalies - Shoot it at the shoulders of the small goalies Ziggy is far from a "big goalie" but his style of play (in HS) tended to be like one: Stay up, show as much "body" to the shooter as possible. They tend to get "happy feet" when they are indecisive on when to move laterally.

I thought he meant that "Slim Shady" rapper dude.

(I've said it before, but I'll repeat myself anyway.) North Dakota doesn't need a Governor, it needs a "Three Strikes" Law.

My bad on that one folks. Dallas was the #1 seed in the Western so it's 1, 4, 6, and 7 remaining. But I still recall the announcers talking about "the one seed being knocked off." Don't tell me I'm becoming "old" like PCM!

What happened? Ed made a bad play moving the puck that cost them plus they gave up a goal with under a minute left in the first. That took the air out of them. They reverted to being the most penalized team in the league. Down a couple and having to kill off a couple of 5 on 3s, Toronto finally ran out of gas. On a somewhat related note, too bad Bombardir was hurt for the Wild or else we could have seen a UND guy playing in each Game 7 last night: Toronto/Philly: Toronto goalie Ed Belfour St. Louis/Vancouver: Vancouver captain Murray Baron Minnesota/Colorado: Minnesota captain Brad Bombardir

NDSU couldn't find a "weapon of mass hockey destruction" if it clanked off their crossbar (if they had one). However, we'll still gladly show you proof of the program. Welcome to "Shock and Awe."

UND's "Weapons of Mass Destruction"? The last few years they've been in the wide open, right across the line of scrimmage from the Bison offensive line and en route to the Bison backfield.

If memory serves, this must have been the year to be an even number Western Conference seed: #2 Dallas over #7 Edmonton #4 Vancouver over #5 St. Louis #6 Minnesota over #3 Colorado #8 Anaheim over #1 Detroit How .... odd (or would that be NOT odd). OK, who had that combination in their pool? Be honest.

I, for one, am glad that "last 16" didn't matter this season. UND (last 16 before NCAA seedings): 5-9-2. Ouch.

doggy: I thought that too, until I saw this: Suddenly, the words "goalie" and "neck injury" pop into my head. No, I don't have any solid info on this either.

Why are you fretting? It appears that ESPN (and ESPN2) will have all three of tonight's game sevens.

Isn't that "Blazer" .... , er, I mean "Firebird"?

Moorhead boys Jason Blake (UND, NYI) and Matt Cullen (SCSU, Florida Panthers) have been seen making divots there in the past as well.

Didn't anyone warn Handy and Greyeagle that for every 10 days that go by without their "numero uno" bolting for the door costs them another player? I think they're up to Vanek and Paul Martin by now. Come the first of May and no movement you can add Ballard to that list!

Apparently the AWHL isn't expanding but is relocating a franchise. The Great Falls Americans are moving to Fargo.