Kevin G

According to his Elite Prospects page, Ryder McDonald played on SSM's 18U AAA team, scoring 79 points in 58 games. Is the AAA team different than the varsity team?

So Shaugabay is to Tony Hrkac as Pilgrim is to Bob Joyce?

Thank you for the write up. Your projections are very optimistic, but is this not the season for optimism? I hope you are proven right.

This times ten (or times 21?). Last season Strinden seemed to get overlooked a bit. Blake flashes skill with the puck, McLaughlin shows vision and edgework, James displays speed and defensive tenacity. IMO, Strinden hasn't shown a single trait that screams, Look at me! But my optimistic self thinks he's got something special that this team needs, even though I struggle to put my finget on it. Sturdiness, responsibility, smarts, and enough skill to be a winner, maybe?

Good question. James was so good on the PK last season, especially as the season went on.

The xG banner?

Gaber-McLaughlin-Blake This line would be fast and skilled but awfully light. Also, imo Gaber and Blake would be better on different lines.

Madison is no lady…

I’m so pumped right now! What should we call the trophy for winning the portal?

Just don’t give him #25.

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: