The Sicatoka

Put on the Kevlar vest and the asbestos underpants. My unfiltered, brutally honest evaluation of the forwards follows. I'd take back in a minute: Gaber, Jamernik, Schmaltz, Costantini, Portz, Caulfield, Ness, Kunz ... in that order. Caulfield needs to show some fire. Kunz needs to figure out college or he's on the following list in a year. Ness survives because he's a bottom six centerman and you need those. I'd upgrade (trade up if I could): Calder, Albrecht, Montgomery. Calder, as an upperclassman, disappeared at crunch time; if he was hurt (wrist) I retract my statement. Albrecht brings energy but no offense and this team needs offense. Not fair to have Monty here because he is a freshman and was a very later roster add (thanks Weatherby). These guys would not be on my roster next season: Ford, Senden, Hain, Budy. Ford's out of eligibility; Senden has had his four seasons; Hain, he's had four and yeah he was hurt, but I have too many bottom six guys right now to run the risk of how he recovers. Budy's never shown anything at UND. So I'd be looking at bringing in at four freshmen. McLaughlin - we need a center; we only have LouieJam, Schmaltz, and Ness ... maybe Costantini. Strinden - hoping he can provide more offense than Senden or Ness Blake - offense Cole Spicer or Dylan James is the question ... unless there's a fifth opening, and I only opened four (Ford, Senden, Hain, Budy).

I'll stay in this century and not say "The Circus" to not confuse some of y'all ... and just sticking to forwards The DOT Line <- pure talent The CBS Line <- developed talent The Pony Express <- hard workers whose work exposed their talents The Famous Name Line (the original Heavy Line) <- the fourth line energy; true grinders

We don't know that ... the NHL/AHL has gotten squeamish on high (near head) contact lately also.

Not gonna win friends around here with that attitude.

WMU needs to get this game along the boards to use their size and strength. If it stays in the middle of the ice it favors the Molding Rodents.

Bold move Cotton.

Here’s GPL’s attempt at a transfer portal tracker: https://gopherpucklive.com/transfer-portal/

My guess. Might have one extra name, but it was that length this season, but only one repeat. And the same length the year before I do believe.

So … Frisch, with Jamernik, Gaber, Caulfield, and Kleven?

Expected. I hope for no other signings and expect at least one departure via the portal.

Reports out of St. Cloud say Perbix will be gone shortly. Cole Hanson (former GFC, current Colgate) is in the transfer portal, per Schlossman.

Worthless Google search trivia of the day: De Ridder is a Dutch surname, meaning "the knight" or "the horseman".

WMU exposed the problem on the UND power play in St. Paul: It is fine against a lane-clogging box. It struggles mightily against pressure penalty kills. Notre Dame took note.

Interesting notes on Drew DeRidder ... If that is written (and read) correctly, he had assists on two overtime GWGs? Puck handler, puck mover?

I have half a Frozen Four after yesterday. I can only get another Quarter. <-- there's a hint in there Blast you UMass! < shaking fist at sky >

Those of you claiming "X and 0" at any point after day one are admitting you picked against North Dakota in round one. <- A pox upon your house. Picking against PWR7 after round one is logical and sadly acceptable.

No, this is not the "name your roster" for the Cup playoffs game. That's coming when the official Cup brackets are set and the teams are known. This game is ... Name the Bracket. Rules: Name the sixteen teams to make the 2022 Cup playoffs, including naming first round opponents, effectively "Name the Bracket". (You are responsible to know how Cup brackets are seeded on your own.) Picks must be in before April 15. (That leaves about ten games to play in the regular season.) Scoring: One point for each correctly named of the sixteen. One point for each correctly seeded in the bracket. Results: When the official 2022 Stanley Cup bracket is announced.

OK, so it's the off-season, ... a-a-a-a-a-gain. And way too early mind you ... The game: Name the roster for 2022-23. Not the changes: The Roster, in full. And yeah, in a transfer portal world this game just got very challenging. Scoring: Every name you fail on ("name and is not" or "do not name and is") counts against you as a demerit. Fewest demerits wins. Entries: Due before the first early departure happens* or official release of the roster this fall (whichever happens first). Final scoring when fall camp roster is released. *For this year's game, Jake Sanderson is NOT considered as an early departure. The first other than Sanderson is the trigger. Someone entering the Transfer Portal is NOT an early departure until a new team is officially announced.

Calder is a shooter. He needs to be with a getter and a setter. For example, 13 is a getter, 11 is a setter, and 20 is a shooter, is how that grouping played when together. However, when 20 was spotted on other lines, he could play the getter role with his speed to the puck.

That defense is dominating the game? That it's time to reopen the game to offense to let that skill shine? That coaches are better at teaching sweep checks and gap control than offensive skills? One more ... That goalie pads of today compared to 30 years ago are king sized pillows compared to mini-marshmallows. http://sportsthenandnow.com/2013/10/23/goalie-pads-then-and-now-a-look-at-the-new-pad-restrictions/ http://blog.hockeyworld.com/the-evolution-of-goalie-gear/

I raise you one circus, one ... Hrkac Circus.

Another soccer game score … 1-0.

What good is a magic talisman that doesn’t work 100%?

Notre Dame’s PK scheme looks awfully familiar …

Maybe green lenses optimistic of me, but UND “took the hit” a year ago —> 14 new faces. About half the league, SCSU, UMD, UNO, WMU, faces that kind of turnover now. I’d rather be in UND’s position.