Kevin G

The importance of leadership on the player side is hard to overstate. Last season there just seemed to be something a bit off in that department.

As someone born and raised in the Red River Valley, I can assure you that the earth is flat.

I would just skate to the Zamboni door and start knocking.

Ha! That's exactly what I was going to say, then remembered that humor/sarcasm often doesn't come across on an internet forum (or email, or text...). (My wife would say, "Well, if you want your humor to come across, first you've got to be funny.") But yes, I will blame you if he falls short of my irrational and unrealistic expectations! In all seriousness, I'm pumped Zmolek is joining UND and saddened by what's transpiring in Mankato.

I commend the coaching staff for partially rebuilding the roster with what looks like excellent portal additions. Good job. Now, please beef up the recruiting pipeline so we don't need the portal quite so badly.

Too late. I've already penciled him in as "Cale Makar 2.0."

My son and I got to visit briefly with Matteo at the Western Michigan series in Kalamazoo. He got checked hard into the boards during the Friday night game and was in street clothes on Saturday night. We thought he may have hurt his wrist or arm or something. Happened to bump into him in the concourse on Saturday before the game, asked him if he was okay. He said he was fine and was just sitting for precautionary reasons. He seemed to have a great attitude. Very friendly. Wish it would have worked out for him with UND. Wish him the best at WMU.

Ah right, he's used three of his five academic years. I forgot about that.

Here is Matt Staudacher's EP page. I might be misreading it, but it looks like he'd have three years of eligibility left (since the COVID season doesn't count). He played at Shattuck St. Mary's and then for Muskegon in the USHL. Undrafted. Never been a scorer. Consistently positive +/-. Good size (6'1", 194 lbs).

I'm wondering the same thing. I keep checking to see if he's latched onto another program, and so far he hasn't (at least not that I've seen).

Well, color me disappointed. I thought by now there would have been at least two announcements for portal d-men who are so excited to continue their journey at the University of North Dakota. Nevertheless, hope springs eternal. Even if spring itself seems hopelessly distant. (Maybe they're waiting till the snow melts to make new roster announcements?)

It could be a thing: #7 is just reserved for the current Alaska portal transfer.

That is an inner-circle HOF movie, with some classic music too. (Every second- or third-year piano student has played the theme to The Sting.)

Badge-stards

But @Blackheart:

To your point: while at Green Bay in 2020-2021, Kunz led the Gamblers in goals scored (23g in 50gp). That team had some good talent: Mason Lohrei, Ryan Kirwan, Cam Thiesing, Ryan Greene, and our very own Jake Schmaltz. It would be HUGE if Kunz rediscovered his goal scoring this coming season.

Wanting some news on d-men, Mr. Brad Schlossman!

Forum members must have had alot of Easter ham yesterday... ...because we're a little salty today.

<getting frustrated by issues with UND roster> <reads ESPN article about Minnesota Timberwolves> <UND problems don't seem so bad>

I think the vast majority of us agree with this assessment. I imagine Coach Berry agrees too. The question is, Why are we in the place of needing the portal so badly?

Where are the d-men needed to fill out the roster? Patience, patience.

Like I always say, when you think of upscale Mexican food, think of Denver, Colorado.

The two youngest teams in the nation made it to the Frozen Four.

Minny and QU were the two best teams in the country. Game went to OT. If QU was going to win, it was going to be close and low-scoring. If Minny was going to win, it was going to be 7-2.

I expect next year’s team to have significant offensive punch, so when it comes to finding portal defenseman, I’m just hoping for guys who are defensively sound.