The Sicatoka

Those around me thought there was something wrong with Cheese late and that he should've been pulled. Heck, DeRidder was stretching during one of the late third breaks. They were sure he was going in.

I was watching the D Saturday. I only came up with one UND defenseman that did NOT make an unforced error: 15. The rest all either made a tape pass to the other team or iced the puck unnecessarily or worse.

Love the promo on NHL Radio on SiriuxXM: Not sure who is talking but says he was in probably 40 closed door meetings as a pro and only one triggered any real change.

Culture means a lot of things, even to cottage cheese. What I see is a lack of leadership. Leaders see problems and root them out.

Trying to stick-handle your way through four defenders screams "team play" doesn't it?

Thinking about it, UND has the same problem in football: Our head coach still coaches like his 1980s mentor. The game has changed.

Eades is the same as Berry and Sandy. They are legacy-1980s hockey guys. Can we jump into this century, when speed and skill and team defense began to be emphasized over dump and grind. See: Jon Cooper.

Any coincidence that time may have finally caught up with two guys that played under Gino and coached under Blais? Any chance the game has passed their style of play by finally? Asking for David Carle. No. Wait. He doesn't care.

I know what GFH reported. I've observed that NTDP players believe, right or wrong, they're ready to jump right to college. Some are; some are not.

You were in REA Saturday night?

I do believe the request by UND and denial by Spicer to do a USHL year was reported by the GF Herald.

For those of you home on MLK Day and with NHL Network ... Coming up at 4 Eastern, 3 Central: https://www.biosteelallamericangame.com/2023game Rosters: https://www.biosteelallamericangame.com/news_article/show/1255315 Strathman and Emerson on Team White (Livanevage is injured scratch).

It's not hate, it's disappointment. Big body, good skills, ... and invisible most nights. I like my defensemen invisible and unnoticed*, not my forwards. *When a defenseman is memorable it's seldom for good reasons.

Forward? Looking to who'll have a slot next year: 27 centering 9, 17: 27 should get a ton of "trailer" and "grease" goals, and some defense on that line finally 8 centering 26, 21: take some of the physical load off 8 (if you've been watching he's been banging hard out there) 18 centering 20, 29: put 18 back at center, tell 29 "hit or sit", if he doesn't 22 moves up 11 centering 13, 22: 22 would be the effective extra skater or in-game line switch (for 9, 26, or 29), take some pressure off him Sit: 10, 19, 5, 28. <- there, I said it

I'd like to hear about the old Hakstol post game grading (1, 2, or 3). Frankly, I'd like to see it after the games this weekend.

If the coaches are playing favorites, we can find new coaches.

If you don't play as a member of a team, the portal's over there.

Skate or sit. What a concept. Dean Blais where have you gone.

Q: Trevor Lawrence, you just completed a 27-point comeback! What are you doing next? A: I'm going to ...

For those of you looking for answers I refer you to ...

Fixed that for you because my knowledge would fill most of a thimble.

None I can prove. I can point out what I see. I can't prove why it's happening.

In the timespan of 2020-2022* was there a lack of player fundamentals development in lower tier hockey because of reduced coaching contact? If so, are we seeing it now and those fundamentals need to be (re-)taught like pee-wees/squirts all over. If you don't constantly reinforce fundamentals they are lost quickly. *Not using the word, just citing the timeframe.

A defenseman can't keep the shooter to the outside and cover a trailer on an odd-man.