The Sicatoka

The snarky-cynical answer would be: To get it on tape for his "family advisor". Otherwise, burning him out on PK makes little sense.

A week ago 9, 17, and 22 were each -9. 9 and 22 held serve and remain -9. 17 is now -11. Are we going to talk about Gaber's defensive deficiencies or will that draw ire from the "Cult of Momma G".

The NCAA FCS selection committee would be much harsher regarding a loss to a mid-pack BSC school than to an FBS, so I disagree. But yes, 3-0 solves all the concerns.

I'd say it clicked for him that third season at Brooks ...

Did the incoming guys lose a critical year of development to lockdowns? (See: four below goal line.) Do the coaches not see this lack of fundamentals? The coaches need to step back to "Hockey 101" training it seems. You know ... coach.

Well ... Sidorski basically has been ... and when he was picked up via portal I did not expect that. I expected 4, 6, and 24 to be better and 2 to be modeling that fine Wall Street suit nightly.

Our last "depth add" skated top four last weekend ... not sayin', just sayin' ...

@Sodbuster Kleven: About 00:04 on the clock he just casually chucked the puck from the defensive slot to the NE corner half wall with Bulldogs still in attack mode. It's like he thought there was even less time left than there was. If he wanted to dump it he should've gone "south"; or, he could've just skated it to the half wall to maintain possession and control. Poor situational awareness.

You're right. And thanks for reminding me to switch to my computer glasses and not my everyday glasses. Going from 8 in 58 to a PPG pace ... something clicked.

Can I hope he's Tucker P 2.0 (late bloomer with good mobility)? But to still be available at age 20.5 is reason for pause. He put up 94 pts in 58 games in the AJHL last year. And he's 6'4" but only 190. https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/561395/tanner-komzak

Based on what I was told, affirmative. He is now the oldest recruit in the pipeline (by five months over Benoit).

Frankly, I hope this thread is on a monitor in a fancy leather-chair stadium-seating room somewhere in REA and the team is reading it together. I'd love to hear them try to refute these points.

Things I just didn't like Saturday: Kleven ended the first period four seconds early (and the whole arena gasped). That's what you call an omen. Blake is trying to be a one-man band. Does his stick not pass ... or shoot for that matter. Our sticks are not heavy on the puck. A cool breeze garners a take-away. Our passes are short, soft, and late/behind. Shoot the puck. Everyone, just shoot the puck. Right now it is OT and any shot is a good shot. This team lacks fundamentals: four below your own goal line? There are squirts laughing at that.

We don't play games at game speed. We are wholly predictable on breakouts from the defensive zone. How many times Saturday did a D take the puck behind the net ... and wait. Wait for the forwards ... during which time UMD got a full line change and the center ice (call it what it is) trap set up. That didn't happen last year because in that same time last year the one man breakout named Jake Sanderson would already be entering the attack zone. And you're missing one other factor: Leadership.

Are you sure about that? "Incontinence issues" may be involved with you two. Personally, I'd take the "high ground".

The Arizona "desert night" jersey is approved.

A recap of those times ...

Frankly, I'd only have one "Covid year" guy on the roster next year if at all possible: 15. For the defense. Like I said, 15, 4, 6, 24, and four freshmen. If one of the freshman forwards isn't ready you might convince me to bring back 28. But that's it. If it could be done with no Covid or portal skaters, I'd do it. Goalie? Quite the conundrum. I could see going one portal for sure, if Hedquist isn't ready, second portal, even if Hellsten and Johnson both stay. Yes, potentially four goalies.

Does anyone truly want a defense of 4, 6, 24, with four freshmen, and a portal? (I see 25 signing.) Folks should be hoping and praying 15, the 2022 NCHC Defensive Defenseman of the Year, comes back to teach the freshmen.

With two minutes left Frisch made a poor play. Where was Kleven at that time to give him a better option? And Senden said post-game to Hennessy that he didn’t come back hard enough to cover up the middle. Lots of fail there. It was an issue because earlier in the game four white jerseys went below the defensive goal line and left Howard all alone. Shall we name those four? That last play wouldn’t be of any note if not for DeRidder making a couple “on zero” saves he had no business making. UMD should’ve had four or five on the board if not for 34. Point at 15, but it was a total team loss effort.

Dude, you are the best.

Do I need to restart ... The Vast Fighting Hawks Conspiracy ... if you only knew ... I believe my title was "Kommissar of Skulduggery" Before anyone says it: Hawks in the name is part of the conspiracy.

Sioux Falls plays in Fargo tonight. Be an easy on-campus visit. Anyone on the Stampede roster of interest (other than the existing commit)?

@jdub27is running the oldest joke in the book on us ... Q: How do you keep a bunch of hockey bobos in suspense? A: He'll tell us later.