The Sicatoka

It might be that UND and Johnson Controls and Mac McLennan have been talking. Mac's organization has excess capacity that may be useful in this venture. You don't need tall stacks when your local fired systems are the backups to electric powered primaries.

Correct. Look at a map and the full pipeline route. It had already crossed the Missouri River once, and in a way that would have affected many, many more people.

OK, so it's the off-season. Here's a blast from the past to pass the time. The game: Name the new players on, *and* name any early departures from, the official hockey roster for 2018-19. Scoring: For every new player you name correctly you gain a point. For every new player you claim will come in but that isn't on the roster you lose a point. For every new player that comes in that you don't predict you lose a point. For every early departure you predict correctly you get a point. For every early departure you claim but they stay you lose a point. For every early departure you don't predict but that happens you lose a point. 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.

I'd say Oxbow or Mafia can do that.

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 ...