AJS

Like I said yesterday with Cam, numbers don’t lie. What’s ultimately frustrating this year, is after certain games or weekends (Western for example), I would have never thought this team would be having this much consistency issues. Still time to fix it and this year they look better than last. Need the win tonight, then hope better weekend next.

Turnover, turnover, turnover. What killed them last year was Non-NHL players Thompson / Johnson also leaving early. This year, 50 / 50 player Jost. They need to start winning some of those battles (like let’s say Gersich this year). It’s tough having huge freshman classes every year.

Posts like this are so frustrating, what are you talking about? Where did he say Cam has done nothing? He was great his Sophomore year, but we aren’t talking about that. He’s been mediocre his last two years, numbers don’t lie.

Cam and Special Teams. This team needs Thome to get healthy.

The good news is we’ll see Thome tomorrow (hopefully).

Michael Mancinelli (F) 01’ with another solid night last night (1G 1A). Has 9 points in his last 10 USHL games, impressive for either being a sophomore or junior in HS (June DOB).

If a tie & win were on the table, I'd take it. I hope UND proves me wrong, but I'd be surprised with anything other than a split.

Knowing fully well that very few truly cared about the Women's hockey team and so much of the noise right after was fake outrage, it really didn't have legs to become anything more than the flavor of the week protest. That being said, I'm still surprised how quiet it's been since the Title IX lawsuit failed. I mean, outside of Schlossman making sure everyone stays up on old players, I've heard nothing from anywhere about the program.

Here's some bullet points from what I could gather: 4th round WHL draft pick 6'0" Made Team Alberta in the WHL Cup (1-2-3 in 5 games) -- WHL Cup features the highest rated U-16 players in the 4 Western Provinces Currently plays for the Edge School for Athletes 15s, leading D-scoring, PPG would put him tied for 2nd overall (6-12-18 in 14 games) Seems like a solid player for his age, bodes well that he's currently one of the top d-man for his age group in Alberta. Like so many recruits that are this young, you just hope the continue on the trajectory they are currently at.

We can add Jake Sanderson '02 (D) to the list. http://www.eliteprospects.com/player.php?player=413015

He's definitely got the size that UND needs at ILB, based on previous drop downs, what can we expect? Like JJ, he was buried on the depth chart, but did get some action his Freshman / Sophomore year. This ILB group needs depth, which he will bring, but where is the expectation that he fits in? Starter playing besides Rodgers?, #3 guy, #4?

I agree, both goalies have a large enough sample size, 13 games for Johnson, 9 for Thome and similar numbers, I'd go with the guy that just got the shutout. If Thome plays well on Friday, give him the start again on Saturday or I wouldn't be against a rotation until one goalie separates themselves. It appears defensively they've found the 6 they want to go with, with Johnson being the odd man out. I'd like to see him get a couple games here on out, but like the 6 they have right now. I really like the offensive ability Kierstad has, only 11 games into his freshman year, he'll continue to become more comfortable as the year goes on. Now the question is with the forwards group, yes, they won 7-0, but imo that clearly isn't the best group they can put out there, Mismash and Adams need to be on the ice. Kawaguchi has been pretty snake bite from a goal scoring standpoint, he's had his chances, but I've liked what he's brought to the table. Need Bowen out there, JJ played possibly his best game of the year on Saturday. To me, it's clear that the bottom 3 are Olson, Simonson and Yon. At the beginning of the year, Berry did have both Olson / Simonson as healthy scratches, will he do it again?

Sit two of the only guys that have produced offensively this year, but keep in 10 & 11, makes sense.

Come on everyone, we've seen a large enough sample size this year to know this is a very solid team. Tonight they played terrible, just like they have other nights, but there's also been nights where they've looked great. They just need to work on consistency. Tonight was a little different, because for the first time all year you had them play terrible, combined with the worst goaltending effort of the year. They'll win tomorrow, which will still be a split against the 8th place team, which isn't acceptable.

The only way Olson shouldn't be in a suit is if they don't have any healthy scratches, he's absolutely the 14th forward / 22nd player.

So we have scoring chances 11-10 UND, which as bad as UND has played seems right. With a score of 4-1, I'm putting this loss 100% on Cam. Start Thome tomorrow.

Effort is much better this period, good chances, nothing will go in though. I'd like to see them shake it up and start Thome tomorrow. Edit: I don't care if your 16 shots are all breakaways, 4 goals is pathetic. Definitely go with Thome, see if he can take over.

Omaha will finish last in the NCHC this year, you can't give up points at home to teams like Omaha.

No need to even play the 3rd period, this game was over once Omaha scored their third. I'll never understand it, they don't look like they care. Nightly frustration with the officials, but Poganski's hit wasn't a penalty, which lead to the PP that gave Omaha the 2-1 lead. I get it, UND wasn't winning this game with how bad their are playing, but that was a bad call that had a large outcome on the game.

What grade will the JUCO players be next year? Galvin Nelson Zimmerman Verde

Miller's early predictions for starters on defense: DL - Cieslak (Sr) DL - Harris (Sr) DL - Bennett (Jr) OLB - Palmborg (Sr) ILB - Hunt (So) ILB - Rodgers (Jr) OLB - Lawrence (Jr) CB - Harris (Sr) S - Shannon (So) S - Canady (So) CB - Holm (Jr)

Not a two deep, but yesterday during the signing show Tom Miller had his very early predictions on the starters for next year. Thoughts? Offense LT - Mortel (So) LG - Tobin (So) C - Rooney (Jr) RG - Nguon (So) RT - Helgren (So) TE - Fielder (Sr) QB - Ketteringham (Jr) RB - Santiago (Sr) FB - Pinke (So) WR - Toivonen (Jr) WR - Wanzek (Jr)

Explain

Looking back at 2017, I'm going to oversimplify it, but I truly believe the majority of the problems were directly linked to injuries in key positions where there was no depth. Nobody could have pictured after 2 games this team would have ended up where they did. Defensively, the team had no answers for every team who attacked the ILB position or threw at will at freshman Blubaugh. Keep every other injury that happened, but give that team a healthy Rodgers and Holm and the year is different. Not saying they'd make a deep run into the playoffs like everyone expected, but just with those two, the defense is considerably better, no doubt. Injuries happen, but I'm betting they don't take a toll like they did this past year again for a very long time. Positives going into 2018, the weaknesses of the defense, start with ILB (Rodgers, Larson, Hunt), take any two of those and you have a solid starting ILB. CB (Harris, Holm, Blubaugh), take any two of those and you have solid CB's. This isn't including any additions or other players on the team that will improve. Offensively, look at the O-Line, this team will have depth at QB, WR and RB. What does everyone think of the schedule? I know many hate it, but I like starting off against MVSU, good tune up game with an FCS opponent. Pretty ideal start to the "Big Sky" season with Idaho State at home, UNC on the road and then a bye heading into a home game against Montana, who's much better at home than away. Sac State is improved, but you'll take them as one of the away games on the schedule. Weber State is tough, but a home game. Finish with two tough road trips at Montana State and Northern Arizona, sandwiched between home game against Portland. I think the schedule lines up pretty nicely. Positives: MSVU at home start off season Getting Montana / Weber State at home (tough games) UNC / Sac State as "Big Sky" Road Games Negatives Sam Houston on the road - tough game with 1-1 record going into "conference" play Road trips to Montana State / Northern Arizona (latter being much better at home than on the road) Thu, Aug 30 Mississippi Valley (Home Opener) Alerus Center TBA Sat, Sep 08 Washington at Seattle, Wash. TBA Sat, Sep 15 Sam Houston State at Huntsville, Texas TBA Sat, Sep 22 Idaho State (53rd annual Potato Bowl | 102nd Annual Homecoming) Alerus Center TBA Sat, Sep 29 Northern Colorado at Greeley, Colo. TBA Sat, Oct 13 Montana (Family Weekend) Alerus Center TBA Sat, Oct 20 Sacramento State at Sacramento, Calif. TBA Sat, Oct 27 Weber State (Military Appreciation | Band Day) Alerus Center TBA Sat, Nov 03 Montana State at Bozeman, Mont. TBA Sat, Nov 10 Portland State (Senior Recognition Day) Alerus Center TBA Sat, Nov 17 Northern Arizona at Flagstaff, Ariz. TBA

Post moved to 2018 Season thread