AJS

"Maybe the best news? My predictive two-deep at inside linebacker features four players who played a total of eight games for UND a year ago. Maybe that sounds strange as a positive, but I think it is considering the results." Miller isn't breaking any news, but this is why I'm extremely optimistic that defensively, last year will be an abnormal blip for UND's defense. Thinking back to games like USD / Montana State where they could run up the middle at will. That won't happen this year. Rankings are obviously subjective, but on a 1-10 scale (10 being the best), what's everyone's rankings for this team defensively: 2016: 7 2017: 3 2018: 7 Does anyone think they'll be back to how they were in 2016? Slightly worse? Slightly better?

By what metric? I'm not saying Thome should play from here on out, or that he's a huge upgrade from Johnson, but I also don't think that Johnson with his play this year (the guy has a .906 SV%) should automatically be the guy. Johnson played well this weekend and I'm all for starting him Friday against CC, but if he has a bad game and Thome plays well the next night, just don't automatically start Johnson after that. Edit: Play the best goalie, regardless of class, I'm just not convinced Johnson is better.

Whatever weakness Thome has, he still has a better SV % than Cam (they are close .913 vs .906). I just think it'd be crazy to play Cam no matter what, given his very mediocre numbers. This isn't saying play Thome every night, but given where we are at, I'd prefer to go with whichever goalie gets hot.

Did you forget how well Cam played his Sophomore year? Do I think they'll get swept if Cam is playing, no, but I am in the corner that there isn't a big difference between Cam / Thome. If both are healthy, I'd like to see them split time and whoever plays better takes over. If that's Thome, then he should be the one in net.

Interesting! Does GF have a Jackson Kunz type player this year, or overall depth (or both)?

I'm actually optimistic going into tonight's game. You'd think otherwise given (1) Special teams in Duluth (2) Playing on CBS Sports (3) Playing Denver who has as much talent as anyone in the country. All these factors are going against UND, but I tend to believe that everything evens out. (1) Special teams can't be as bad as it was last weekend, Duluth's PP percentage was absurd (2) They can't lose every single game they play on CBS Sports, can they? It's time for Cam to step up and possibly steal a game for UND. They need to come out with urgency and play like their season is on the line.

Saying this is a big weekend is an understatement. They need to have a playoff like mentality this weekend. Need to win on Friday.

The blame for their recent play isn't on just a few people, but on the group. That being said, it's frustrating that it appears if you have a letter, you're in the line-up, no matter what. Looking at Simo / Olson, who should be fair game to sit (because they aren't very good), but instead you have guys like Mismash / Adams, who have talent in the stands every other night. Berry, maybe mix in 11 & 10.

Here’s my one huge frustration with Berry (and Hakstol before), it’s clear special teams is a complete disaster, I don’t want coach talk or his normal “we just need to get one to go” quotes. Something is wrong, (1) Figure it out (2) Fix it — a little transparency would be nice, explaining what is wrong and how they plan on addressing the issue. Take some accountability. Year is far from over, but it needs to get fixed now.

Well its sucked for 20 years, so I wouldn’t count on it.

Cam and Special Teams night 2

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.