sprig

That is the breakout on the PP and even strength (if you're not pressured behind the net by an opponent forecheck), coached at all levels. Dman sets up behind the net, two forwards drop down and breakout towards each wing. Dman starts up the ice with the puck, hopes to draw the opponent forechecker to him, then dishes to one of the wings. On the PP, both wings are never covered since the opponent is short a man. Although it seems like a waste of "time", it is usually more successful than dumping the puck up into the neutral ice area, where opponents are lined up ready to break up the rush before it even makes it into their zone. The exception is when the opponent makes a line change. then the long pass from the goalie to neutral ice is often effective.

If you mean dman complaints on this message board, what difference does that make? The current Sioux d corps have been part of putting up some of the best goals against per game in Sioux history. THey will be hard to replace.

Not to mention: Fired up REA crowd--->Totally deflated REA crowd

Completely overlooked Genoway, but yes, I agree, I like McMahon/Prpich/Kaip also.

Keep Stafford/Zajac/Spirko together, get Brady with Porter centered by McMahon.

I'd have to say yes, but for the reason that CC just didn't look that good in 4 games vs. the Sioux. Sioux were dominant in all four, yet won just 1 (maybe that is a sign of a good team to win even when you don't play well). I think Denver should win the McNaughton, although if their long hot streak is a direct result of the league calling the game by previous year's standards, rather than this year's early standards, they may be in trouble in the NCAA. Denver certainly appears to have the talent to be good under the early season rules, but having to switch on the fly from the current holding, hooking, obstruction game that they played this weekend may be tough.

The light went off on your desk again this morning Hope you had a good trip back to TC. Looked bad for a bit before the game Saturday with the freezing mist.

Won't try to answer your whole question, but the Denver backcheckers put very strong hooks on Sioux forwards for all 6 periods, without one call being made. Early in the season very minor hooks were called. I have no complaints about the officiating I've seen earlier by Campion and Zelkin, but this weekend was glaringly one-sided. I didn't see the Sioux apply the same strong hooks and holds that Denver did, so possibly little Shep would have let the Sioux do it also, but given the few weanie obstruction penalties Shep called on the Sioux, that had nothing to do with creating or preventing a scoring chance, along with Denver picks that left Denver players all alone with great scoring chances, I left believing that little Shep is either pro-Denver or anti-Sioux. Denver played the game they were allowed to play very well.

He did look big out there, but also (as all SSM players), a very good skater. Impressive laterally movement from a guy that big and didn't make mistakes defensively. He didn't make any big hits, but looks like he could. Would appear to be a good pickup with the defensive losses the Sioux will face next year.

On another (BCHL) note, Duncan was also the number 1 star for SSM on Saturday with a hattie and an assist, to take over the #2 spot in BCHL scoring. Kozek remained close behind with a goal and assist in Surrey's win. The younger Zajac is also starting to show up more regularly in the Salmon Arm scoring.

SSM clearly outclassed the Chicago team, and did look good top to bottom. I was expecting Toews/Gergen/Okposo to be on the same line given their scoring numbers (somewhat like Parise/Murray/Hirsch), but Okposo played on a different line (although the 3 were together on the PP unit). Toews uses his height/reach very well, hard to knock off the puck, and great in a crowd. Chicago resorted to wrapping him up and taking him down to get the puck away several times. Chorney, unlike reports from Friday, played very well, very fluid skater, was solid defensively and moved and carried the puck well (didn't see any giveaways like several saw the day before). Gergen didn't stick out like Toews and Okposo, but SSM is so good top to bottom it's hard to watch more than those one is especially interested in seeing. The Genoway line with Esposito got a lot of ice time, and looked very good. Was nice to see the very Sioux-like short passing game employed by SSM, even on the large Olympic ice. Good experience for playing next year in the NHL-sized REA. rink. They are good at it, impressive to watch. Many of the Sioux players watched a fair amount of the game. Hoped some of the SSM scoring might rub off, maybe in two weeks.

Is there parking, and are you allowed to leave your car when you walk over to the hockey game?

A disappointing weekend. Denver looks good, but do they have more experience with little Shep, or is this the way Denver has played all season? THey were the same hooking, holding, interference team we've seen the past two years, although with more offense (some of it created by obvious picks). They seem to know that they can get away with almost anything with little shep. Would have been interesting to see the Sioux do the same things. Lots of missed scoring chances, and hot teams get good bounces (shot off Greene's leg), while those not going well do not. Sioux has an obvious drop off after line 1 this weekend, and will need all forwards back in the lineup to have any chance in the playoffs.

Separated shoulder, 4-6 weeks (maybe UAA).

We may have found the caller?

happy with two m's

Murray may be back for the UAA trip, or maybe not. He's sure missed a lot of the season. I"ll be there for my second series this year, guess I"ll have to wait unitl next year to see Brady

Does KFGO stream the show. I see Rush and Ed are streamed there If we could listen, we could then read PCM's "it's not a transcript" report and provide grades for his future as a sudo-reporter

Sioux would have to add a bit of holding and obstruction to their game also, although that has become more allowable of late in the WCHA. In the NCAA's, with referees from other conferences, it may be closer to what we saw in the WCHA early in the season. I think WCHA teams in the playoffs are going to be in for a shocking surprise.

I'd guess the fourth line will see limited duty this weekend, unless the Sioux can put up some goals and get a lead. Having a hard time understanding how a Sioux team that dominated CC (and lost), were dominated by a BSU forecheck on Friday. Part of it could be attributed to missing Greene and Fuher? Although the Sioux played better on Saturday, they again did not dominate BSU on the forecheck, they way they did CC through most of the 4 games played. BSU was certainly better than expected, but I don't think they rank up there with the current top of the WCHA. Still waiting for a total Sioux performance (including goals), hope waiting doesn't carry on into next season.

Being so concerned over what anyone here says about a Goph radio show is equally as silly. Could care less, myself, about KFAN's predictions, they mean no more than any of our predictions for this weekend. Just heard it on Monday, and for lack of anything else to talk about, posted it. Glad you cared. Woog, on the other hand, continues to promote Sioux related fallacies on Gopher broadcasts, even when the Sioux are not the opponent. Sagard probably has it right.

This week's bracketology, with 3-2-1 bonus. Sioux have flipped back into the midwest region. I like the Sioux there, they have been the better team in the 3 CC games I've seen, and reportedly the most dominating performance was the one I didn't see (1-0 loss). Of course they just won 1 of those 4, so getting past Harvard may be harder than it seems (getting past anyone without scoring is hard). Both western regions "seem" a bit easier than the east regions. Hard to imagine the change from dominating CC to being dominated by BSU in consecutive games. Not too much time left for the Sioux to break out. Would seem it has to start this weekend. Minneapolis: Ohio State vs. Minnesota UML vs. Cornell Grand Rapids: UAH/Bemidji vs. CC North Dakota vs. Harvard Amherst: Holy Cross vs. BC UNH vs. Wisconsin Worcester: Colgate vs. Denver BU vs. Michigan

Missed it.

And what better to do on a Monday, after a weekend of less than stellar Sioux hockey.

Why do you care?