The Sicatoka

Allow me to toss in this season's +/- for each (collegehockeystats.net doesn't list career +/-) : Simonson: 35 games, +10Olson: 28 games, evenSmith: 37 games, +7Bowen: 30 games, -8 Yon: 26 games, -5 For reference/comparison: Best plus by D: Poolman +14 (40 games) Best plus by F: Simonson (35 games) Worst by D: Peski -3 (34 games) Worst by F: Bowen and Adams -8 (30 games, 26 games) Top 5 +/- for season: 14 - Poolman 12 - Wolanin 11 - Thome 10 - Simonson 9 - Jones/Janatuinen (tied) Worst 5 +/- for season: -8 - Bowen, Adams -5 - Yon -4 - Hoff -3 - Peski -2 - Kawaguchi, Kierstad

Stats from here: http://www.uscho.com/stats/overall/division-i-men/ Of the top 20 offenses in the country 8 did not make the tourney. Of the top 20 defenses in the country 8 did not make the tourney.

15 forwards. How many are legitimate "top six" guys? We have this strange affection for bottom six grinder guys. Yes, you need them, but not 12 of the 15 forwards. Simonson: 139 games, 9 goals Olson: 121 games, 11 goals Smith: 66 games, 8 goals Bowen: 66 games, 8 goals Yon: 60 games, 4 goals This team needs offense, both mindset and production.

We as fans (and coaches?) fall in love with the "hard-working third and fourth line" guys. Well, right about now it feels like we have 12 or 15 forwards that are bottom six guys. Traditionally, post-sophomore year is when guys are 'evaluated' and may move on.

Direct observation. Show a little passion.

Pogo's goal yesterday sums up the season: Pogo shows no reaction; Jones almost jumps over the glass with joy. Pogo and yes, Gersich, just never showed "it" to me as far as leadership. No emotion. No inspiration. And dare I say, no heart? At some point you have to quit being satisfied with being as good (ties) and want to be better (win).

Um, honestly, they've underperformed miserably in big games. UND was in this game because of 8 and 29.

He didn't play the end of the game Saturday last week. I think he's dinged.

The way he's fawning someone needs to tell him they're both married.

Ding-ding-ding! Look at the extensions in downtown Fargo -- whacked by plow blades and needing repair.

Offer it to me and I'd take it. I'd get my hockey jones from the Bolts (UCF to Amalie is 99 miles on I-4).

Nothing personal, but I doubt it. Very, very few athletics programs show a profit, and even fewer departments*. *Meaning actual profit from actual revenues (gate, media, etc) and excluding subsidies (from the school, state, or student fees).

"UND was impatient." - Mike Jacobs 15 seasons. 15 seasons of futility. By comparison, I give you ... Clarkson. They started one season after UND. Though their first 15 seasons they have ... 4 conference regular season titles.2 conference post season titles. 7 NCAA tournament victories*.2 NCAA championships*. *These two numbers could still go up as their 15th season is still ongoing.

WIU is set to fiscally implode. That staves off needing UMKC. Let ORU go back south. (Do they really want Fargo in January?) And that staves off "Greeley". UND-NDSU SDSU-USD Omaha-Denver (easy flight) Montana-Montana State Idaho-EWU There's 8FB, 10BB (7 FB games, 18 BB games). Perfect would be one more FCS and one more BB only (9 FB, 12 BB; for 8 FB games*, 22 BB games). Yes, this is where some bring up UNC and UMKC as the solution to that. *Home/road annual balance.

You were so, so close until you said "Idaho State". The correct response is "Eastern Washington".

Oooh! OOOH! Pick me! Pickme! Conference regular season titles. Conference post season titles. NCAA tournament victories. NCAA championships.

No more ties. If it ties, it dies.

He understands the fundamental concept of "put puck in their net". I wonder if some of our guys understand that concept. And to win, you must put at least one puck in their net. Finally ...

Minn/Wisco or Minn/Wisco/Duluth

Oh yeah? 6-66-1 or 11-101-2 Hint: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota_Fighting_Hawks_women's_ice_hockey

So ... other head coaches could get those players into the NCAAs ... Looking back, the biggest factor to getting UND WIH to the NCAAs was the Lamoureux twins, but even with them it only happened 2 out of 3 seasons. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Dakota_Fighting_Hawks_women's_ice_hockey Facts are pesky things.

I want a double Gordie Howe hat-trick mano a mano.