The Sicatoka

"Mom, Dad, the Goalie Whisperer called ME!"

Hockey is a funny game.

Perfect season ... gone.

I know his name ... but I always hear "Rico ... Suave ... "

Wow ... just wow. I found this just now looking up Jake Sanderson's DOB. His father Geoff is partner in Breakaway Matting (equipment for oil and gas industry). His business partner is Brendan Morrison (Hobie winner that played at Michigan). And yes, that Brendan Morrison is of the infamous 1997 Frozen Four quote " ... sometimes the best team doesn't win" after Michgan's semis loss. That quote came full circle.

Jake Sanderson turns 19 in July. (Soak on that a bit ... that was an 18 year old flying around in 3, 4, and 5 OT.) His dad (Geoff) played a "couple days" in The National. Sanderson will make the best decision for his development.

I bet if you asked the coaches the 2024-25 roster right now they could name half.

Another recruits source: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1PDAoPmkmLlVdQYZ1hiHhnjHEgVgDTLqtqB5APOKhu2k/edit#gid=1466169803

Here's what I have by position group then age (old to young): Forwards: Portz, Nick Schmaltz, Jake Montgomery, Dane Bowen, Ethan Strinden, Ben Kunz, Jackson Constantini, Matteo Blake, Jackson James, Dylan Panzer, Jaksen Singleton, Bowden Spicer, Cole Defense: Bast , Luke Morrow, Scott Benoit, Nate Johnson, Brent Dunbar, Tyler Ausmus, Trey Goaltender: Johnson, Kaleb Hedquist, Hobie

As it sits right now, making no assumptions about anyone, we need eleven (5F/4D/2G) to fill out a traditional UND 15F/8D/3G twenty-six slot roster. I don't have any insights to Bubs' magic roster plan white board. What I can see is announced recruits (and their DOBs) and current stats. What I can also see is players in the transfer portal. Most portals will be one-hit wonders (seniors looking to use the Covid year) but there are a few underclassmen in there also. If ever there was a time to bring in a transfer, this is it. You don't want to live with a bubble class of eleven in your recruiting pipeline. You want a flatter profile (6/7/6/7 over four years). What we have right now is 11/3/6/6. Not cool. So let's start looking by position. Goalie: Right now we need two. Thome returning is a reasonable assumption given the known at this time. Kaleb Johnson turns 21 in January. We might know more here than we realize. However, if the second coming of Ed Belfour is in the portal ... Defense: We need four. Yikes. Luke Bast is 21 before Thanksgiving. Scott Morrow seems like a fair guess. Speculation here is Benoit needs another USHL year. Brent Johnson was recruited just recently. And there's the shadow of Gabe Bast or Josh Rieger to the side. This seems like a place where if the right portal defenseman was available you could give the recruits that turn just 19 during the coming season (Morrow, Benoit, Johnson) another USHL year if they need it. Forward: Nick Portz turns 21 next month. Jake Schmaltz turns 20 this month. Dane Montgomery turns 20 in January. Beyond that, well, it's portal (UND players or other) and other UND recruits. Here I won't even try; too many variables. This is the most unsure about a fall roster I've ever been at the end of a season. Bubs' and staff has some work ahead of them.

Lance more than most (strictly based on post-HS time, and not talent) needs a year on the NFL bench just taking it all in and learning.

I had heard Flag Family was operating WDAY-AM under a management agreement. Is that for sure going to transition?

Savage ... Just ... Savage.

The list: https://valley-football.org/calendar.aspx?path=FB&start=4/2/21&end=5/22/21

I have a multi-head shower and a 110 gallon (off-peak electric) water heater. Trust me, I've tried the steam-it-out thing.

UNI @ USD is now cancelled.

Pinto has had two partial seasons as the number two center. A page from the books of Gaudreau and Nyquist (return to NCAA) would not hurt Pinto. And if @TSNSimmer (the morning host on the radio flagship of the Sens) is pointing that out ... I smile ... a little.

Jonathan Toews, eh?

I felt the first drainage on March-flipping-22! And I'm on a daily multivitamin, plus extra D and zinc, and Airborne (can't hurt even if too late). Just when I think I've beat it the next day I'm fatigued. I ended up not able to control the cough, going to the doctor, and with a Z-pack yesterday. So yes, I believe we've done more harm than good with the isolating. Our immune systems are out of shape. (And I don't believe sucking air through a damp mask did my bronchitis any good.)

Sure hope someone points out this interesting stat to Pinto.

Um ... what? ForumComm owns WDAY-TV (Fargo), The (Fargo) Forum, WDAY-AM (Fargo radio). <- single market And they owned WDAZ-TV (Grand Forks) and the GF Herald. <- single market

With a change to clarify state law recently, if you are licensed you can carry a firearm in a bank. And you can also wear a mask. Strange times.

If you believe UND will run an opening day roster with just 6D ...