Kevin G

That list might relate to this list: 156, 157, 163, 165, 169, 170. These are listed weights of the six lightest forwards: Owen Mac, Perron, Gaber, Blake, Montgomery, and Ness. I wonder if the coaches think our smaller forwards might need some protection from bigger d-men.

UND allowed 2.8 goals per game last season, ranking 29th in the nation. And that was with an abysmal Team Save Percentage of .886 (tied with hockey powerhouse LIU!). Assuming a slight improvement in overall save percentage and assuming a slight improvement in overall defensive structure--that's more than a little assuming, I concede, but it's the offseason and hopium is on the menu--I think a top 15 defense is realistic. (At 2.5 goals allowed per game, UND would have been tied for 14th in the nation.) It probably all comes down to the fishbowl though.

It's as good a theory as I've heard.

Does anyone have any information on Hobie Hedquist? He hasn't played since April 19 because of an injury (I believe). Penticton is playing Alberni Valley, Hedquist's team, for the BCHL championship and Hedquist isn't even listed on the line chart. (OT: Penticton was 50-3 in the regular season and is 14-1 so far in the playoffs. Surreal numbers.)

The portal closes on Thursday, May 18. The new coaching staff at Mankato will probably throw a party.

I was today year's old when I first heard of Le Moyne College.

Youngstown downed Fargo 2-1 in OT in the USHL finals. A couple of observations from the game: 1) Neither Strathmann nor Swanson tallied a point in the game. Strathmann looked confident with the puck and seemed defensively responsible. Indeed Youngstown as a whole was defensively sound and pretty physical, giving Fargo very few grade A chances. 2) As for Swanson, he's quick and he was able to absorb contact while staying on his skates. Tonight however he didn't impact the game much. He did turn the puck over a couple times. You can see the potential though. A growth spurt would do his game a world of good. 3) I thought the best player on the ice was Jacob Fowler, Youngstown's goalie. Calm and always in good position. The only goal he allowed was on a breakaway. I thought the best skater tonight was William Whitelaw, a forward for Youngtown. He created more chances than anyone and was regularly buzzing in the o-zone.

In the Strathmann (Youngstown) vs. Swanson (Fargo) series: Youngstown won last night 4-1 over Fargo. Neither Strathmann nor Swanson registered a point. Swanson's line--Cole Knuble (Notre Dame), Bret Link (Colorado College), and Mac Swanson (UND)--was a -3 on the night. Youngstown's goalie, Jacob Fowler (Boston College), saved 29 of 30 shots. Game 2 tonight at Scheels Arena, 6pm.

Good question. I’m not really sure.

I was wondering the same thing. I might try to catch one of the games this weekend. It's extra fun that both teams have a UND commit.

So with Youngstown's victory over Chicago, the Clark Cup Finals will be Strathmann (Youngstown) versus Swanson (Fargo). I was kinda hoping Chicago would advance, only because UND has so many commits on the team, but it wasn't to be. Youngstown is red hot right now.

Livanavage with an assist for Chicago in a 2-1 loss to Youngstown.

Your feed must be way ahead of mine.

Knuble is committed to Notre Dame.

Good catch.

UND commits in USHL playoff games tonight... In Youngstown's 4-1 win over Chicago, Michael Emerson had a goal for Chicago and Andrew Strathmann had an assist for Youngstown. Also Jayden Perron (CHI) had a roughing penalty. Don't mess with Jayden. In Fargo's 8-4 win over Lincoln, Mac Swanson had a goal and two assists.

That story would’ve been better had there been a floating tiger head between each paragraph.

Mac Swanson with an unassisted goal in Fargo's playoff game which is nearing the end of the second period.

Let’s go! Strathmann with a goal in the game as well.

Mac Swanson scored his first USHL playoff goal last night although the Fargo Force lost to the Lincoln Stars 4-3. Jayden Perron scored his fourth USHL playoff goal last night for Chicago as the Steel lost to the Youngstown Phantoms 4-1. Jake Livanavage had one of the assists on Perron's goal.

Just for the record, Barry Alvarez is no longer AD at UW-Madison. For all I know, Alvarez is still at UW in some capacity--I don't know--but some fellow named Chris McIntosh became AD in 2021.

Wisconsin hires Mankato's Director of Hockey Operations. It would've been easier to just move the Badgers to Mankato.

Mankato being absolutely gutted. Gamache has the potential to be a difference maker.

Meanwhile the A-topic, the actual physical altercation between two actual coaches, fades to the background as soon as UND and Michigan St. are alleged to be aggressive in the portal. Someone told me a long time ago: When you're big, you're an easy target. And when you're an easy target, expect cheap shots. In college hockey, UND is big.

Just a heads up: the USHL draft (Phase I) starts at 4pm. Follow here or here. Hopefully some of these higher-end kids are UND recruits some day!!