AJS

Of course, you're correct with this, he isn't going to do something that he knows would hurt the team, but still, somethings don't make sense. Especially Yon being on a power play unit, I mean come on.

As far as UND goes, this is the first year in a long time that there's no definite flight risk. I look at four as potentials. Poolman, Mismash, JBD, Adams (transfer). I have a good feeling that the first three will be back next year, I wouldn't have had Adams on the list, except for the past couple weeks. Like anytime we talk about players leaving early, it's so key to keep them an extra year. Poolman / JBD are Top pair quality players (as are Kierstad / Bast), we've seen Tychonick really coming into his own as well. Returning 6 guys on defense would be huge, they would have the chance to be the best defensive unit in college hockey next year. Mismash still has so much talent, is a legitimate Top line guy. Adams has the talent, just needs higher caliber players to play with. He's one that could really blow up in the right situation.

I can see Adams potentially leaving too and unlike Wilkie and Murphy, this one is going to really bother me. It's so clear the talent is there, he just needs to be with the right guys (see Rizzo next year). How he isn't with Kawaguchi right now is so frustrating. Even more frustrating seeing 29 getting stuck with Yon and Bowen. Or Yon / Johnson getting power play time for some reason. It appears to me like Berry is playing favorites with local players who clearly aren't even close to the same caliber as player. The big question is why, because it doesn't make any sense. It sounds conspiracyish, but it's like Berry knows he screwed up with the Junior class and instead of admitting it, he's going to give them every benefit (Bowen, Johnson, Yon being local guys) and opportunity to try to get them going (which isn't going to happen). It leaves a guy like Adams on the outside.

Is it still a higher scoring league than the USHL, yes, but the overall numbers have steady decreased over the years in the BCHL. Newhook (Top 10 pick) is the only guys putting up ridiculous numbers and there is only other who is above 1.50 PPG. Really looking at the Top 20, the PPG is just slightly better than the USHL this year. I always make a point when looking at a guy like Rizzo / Blaisdell (who still have good numbers), that they are still Seniors in High school. For guys that have played over 30 games, Blaisdell is 13th in PPG, Rizzo 21st. 14 Guys in the Top 20 have a DOB either 98 or 99, 3 guys '00, Newhook / Campbell are the 01's who are ahead of them in PPG.

I think everyone is correct, the number is one, that's the number of losses UND has over the next two possible weekends for a shot at an at large birth. If the Denver series goes to three games (and they win of course), then it'll take the NCHC tournament championship and the autobid. It'll be a fun weekend of following games, there's just so many things that can alter the conversation night to night.

Given the circumstances UND is in, being on the road and currently 18th in the PWR, this is as good of a matchup as UND could have hoped for. We've seen them play Denver four times and they carried play in three of them (leading to 0 wins and 1 point). Denver also has an NCAA bid locked up, no matter how they do this weekend. There is that mental component where you have one team playing for their NCAA lives and the other who's not, which will be an advantage to UND. Denver is currently #7 in the pairwise, UND can potentially make up a lot of ground this weekend. Denver has also struggled in the 2nd half of the season. There's a lot of things to really like in this matchup, given how this season has gone, I'm probably irrationally confident in UNDs chances this weekend. I like UND in three games. Win and advance. That scenario will most likely lead to UND needing to win the NCHC tournament to get a birth, since any chance at an at large bid, I see only one loss in the NCHC tourney to have a shot.

Do you not follow this at all? Wouldn't take your long to find out UND does have current recruits from Minnesota.

Bowen probably earned himself a spot on the power play after that boneheaded play. You have to have two things to be immune from potentially sitting, no matter what. 1) You have to suck 2) Be local... if you have the combination of both, you're good.

I'm in this boat, where I think the problem is more with the talent on the roster than with the system. We've talked ad nauseam about the Junior class, but it's a genuine problem. It appears starting next year that Berry has learned from this problem, with the forwards that are lined up, so it's really wait and see mode with this offense. Some talk about guys who put up big numbers in Juniors that haven't materialized, which is true, but when you look at this forward group, it probably isn't as big as it may seem. Contributing: Kawaguchi, Jones Falls into that category: Adams, Mismash, Hoff, Weatherby, Gardner, JJ -- outside of Hoff, you can make an argument there's still significant upside with Adams (needs the right linemates), Mismash (had a solid Freshman season with 22 points, hurt most second half) and Weatherby (Freshman). Gardner outside of this year has had a solid (not great) career offensively, but like the rest of the team is having his worst year offensively of his career. Solid Juniors: Hain - Meeting expectations for his Freshman year, but should have been looked at as a Solid 3rd liner on a good team. I don't know what you expected category (Freshman): Senden, Keane -- Senden has wildly outplayed expectations. Keane has been fine, given his junior stats I don't know what you expected: Smith, Bowen, Yon, Johnson After breaking it down, it's a little more 50/50, but my thought still stands on the roster construction. You can't have that many in the 'I don't know what you expected category'. The chances of a guy who doesn't materialize is much higher than someone who can't score in Juniors magically finding a scoring touch in college.

This will sound dumb, given they've won the last two games, but my concern with Berry is I still don't believe he's maximizing the potential of this team with his line combinations. I understand this team is offensively challenged, but what doesn't help is putting the leading scorer with two offensive anchors. You can't spread out the scoring when this team can't score to begin with. Did we find out if Adams is hurt? If not, there's no reason he shouldn't be in the line up. This team needs Mismash to get back to full game action and Adams back in the lineup.

Agreed. Also, Shaw has quietly had a really good Senior year.

Johnson on one power play unit, Yon on the other, I feel like I'm going insane. It's like this coaching staff is hand picking the worst units they can. This coaching staff cannot be criticized enough in my mind.

I hope this isn't another JBD situation and that Adams is nicked up. Otherwise, I really have no words. The fact that Yon and Johnson are somehow immune to seeing the stands even though they are in a category of their own on the ice is beyond frustrating. I have a great idea, lets stick the leading scorer with a guy who has 1 point this year! I get it, what do I know, but these line combinations are almost impossible to defend.

Looking at the Seniors playing in the tournament, who would you want as a recruit over the following (also HS Seniors), Blaisdell, Rizzo, Caulfield, Pinto, Frisch, Bast?

Easy Brad!

Yeah, I still can't really wrap my head around the explanation.

There's two guaranteed weekend left in the year, for someone who not only enjoys watching the games, but also likes looking ahead, there's still a lot to dissect coming up. Each weekend is important to me as there are things we can carry into the off season speculation. Although it potentially (most likely) won't matter once selection Sunday comes, where they finish in the standings / pairwise, how they end all can lead to conversation going into next year. Looking at Omaha I'm most interested in two things (1) Thome's play - I thought last weekend might have been his best overall weekend at UND. He's had great performances in the past, but for the first time I thought he truly looked in control. It just might be his style (?), but even looking back to the Duluth Friday night game where he made the saves, there are so many times he looks out of position. Not last weekend. Looking forward to next year, these next two weekends can help him continue to build and gain confidence, putting UND in great position with the Scheel / Thome goalie combo. (2) JBD - I still don't know what to make of the healthy scratch yesterday. I know I initially overreacted, I hope, but am anxious to get the next weekend going.

Canisius was a huge blow, we all know that, but to me what's just as crushing is from a pairwise standpoint, this team had so many more opportunities. All things the same, if UND had won this past Friday against CC, they would be sitting at 15th instead of 20th. You never know what can take place on any given weekend, things can change quickly.

Strength of schedule is important to a point, but what ASU has done is they took care of the teams they should have. You're still better off sweeping a terrible team, then you are splitting with a top ranked team. That's why looking towards next year, although some aren't thrilled with some of our non-conference opponents we have at home (Canisius (I know) and Huntsville), if UND takes care of those games it pads your win column, which is ultimately the most important thing.

UND has played 33 games this year and has given up more than 3 goals only 5 times (7,6,5,4,4) this year. What could have been if this team had any resemblance of a consistent offense or half way decent special teams (Power Play - 50th / Penalty Kill - 37th).

Thome was excellent this entire weekend.

I'm not saying he couldn't, I'm just saying it would be preposterous if this isolated incident was the reason he did.

Took me only an hour to realize I (& others) overreacted to the JBD situation. There's no way him sitting one game would be a reason to leave after this year. No way.

I'm curious what your definition of bandwagon jumper is? Those who are voicing their frustrations, you don't consider them fans?