Oldguy

Stickhandling and passing tonight was sub-par. The boys looked a step slow too - I found myself asking "where the hell is the oppostion"? (meaning, where are the green jerseys) too often. However, this team found a way to win, which they have been doing. Need to put a better start together tomorrow, but a good ending tonight.

UND looks slow and sloppy, and unwilling to shoot.

Maybe it puts a target on their back a little, but it also makes them a target for young guys seeking the best place to commit. And, this sure as hell beats last season, where we just watched their ranking plummet and plummet some more, until they were unranked.

Nailed it. First time that our GT has looked "iffy", and the turnovers in our zone need working on. If Livanavage can't move that big forward from in front of the net, lift the stick or block the shot instead. I'm sure they'll cover that on film. Horrible reffing did not help. If Gaber's inadvertent trip during the 4x4 was called, then another three or four should have been called on Miami, especially the bearhug on Perron. 8-2-1 is a hell of a lot better than last year, though. Last season's team would have lost this game with 2.4 seconds to go.

Good result for a good effort. Still coughing up the puck in our own zone too much, but the support to move the puck up ice was solid tonight. BU is as-advertised. Highly skilled upfront, but they aren't exactly great defensively. Their GT had a big weekend. Until the very last play, I was thinking "Blake has sure been quiet".

Very winnable game tonight, but Ness took that dumb penalty, and a couple of "hope" type passes led to turnovers in our zone, at least one of which gave BU a goal. 90% of the time, they looked pretty good tonight. The 10% bit them.

Nice to see that this team can do "what they decide to", meaning that, when they get focused, they can perform against the best. Last night, I think they lost their focus for most of the 2nd & 3rd. Tonight, encouraging.

Probably stating the obvious here, but... Never going anywhere with Tommy as QB on the road. Play him at home, play anyone else on the road. O-line: What the hell today? Defense, generally: What the hell today?

Tommy sucks again on the road. Wow, what a surprise (not). The O-line and the D aren't faring any better. This is a disgrace so far.

I thought two things were evident yesterday. UM, under Matzko, is a damn good team and played about the best game they could. ND had a decent start, but as the game went on they could not figure out how to set up in the UM zone. No effective forecheck, poor passing, poor stick handling, bad penalties. If that is the best "teamwork" they can manage, we will be in for an ugly spanking again tonight.

This is not a hockey moment per se, but I remember about 30+ years ago when the Minny cheerleaders skated a sign that read "Minnesota: America's Team". The fans at the old Ralph were so enraged that they started throwing things at them. The funny part was the next day on the news, when Pat Sweeney (if I remember right) put together a video segment on the sports news of that, and added in a clip from SNL: "They pelted us with rocks and garbage"!

This game was far different from the Army game, as Wisconsin is a fast, north playing team with lines that play well together. Persson was lucky, but he also was in great position all game, making players shoot over him and perhaps "causing" some of the pipes. This team seems night-and-day compared to UND last year at this time, IMO. Just a more focused, grittier team with better skill as well. Johannes has been the best surprise of the newcomers, although Perron might give him a run by the end.

Are we done with the BS about Schuster somehow being a "great" QB? He has very good numbers at home, but how often have we seen him implode against good teams on the road? UND will never go anywhere without a QB that can perform under pressure, and Schuster is not that guy.

On Schloss' podcast, he mentioned they are doing a real search, meaning they might be keeping an open mind for the best possible person.

Most anti-climactic week ever....

Hockey (& other programs) to have Alston Awards now: https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-plans-to-spend-nearly-1-million-annually-in-alston-awards-to-athletes Aug. 1 is the opening day for college hockey programs to offer high school juniors. UND can now inform potential recruits of the 701 Award. "I know some programs are already doing it, the Big Ten, and others at their own pace," hockey coach Brad Berry said. "A big thank you has to go out to Bill Chaves and Erik Martinson for diving into it and making it happen. "You can bring someone to campus and you can show them what you can offer them as far as development, with your program and academically. When you're (recruiting) against some other top-end schools with their budget and arsenal, it's a situation where we now have this and are on pace with Big Ten schools and others who have it."

Having taken in all the moves in the offseason (including the departures of EVERY eligible defenseman), I'm guessing that the coaching staff concluded that the collective ability/mindset of their D-corp was simply sub-par and unable/unwilling to learn. The guys they have brought in through the portal appear to be some elite college-level folks. Really pretty happy about them. Not sure what is in the works, but at least they have proven that they can kick everyone out and still field a legitimate team. One or two more portal folks might be needed, but I for one am impressed with the offseason.

Johannes is a bruiser that also scored 29 points in 28 games, and he's a guy that has always wanted to be at UND. Can't fault bringing in a guy like that. Now, how about a defenseman?

The last several days have been ominously quiet.

Any player that cares about the weather should probably not come to GF.

I've never seen anything like this - we now have 11 returning players that have been in more than 1 game with UND, and all of them are forwards. That means UND will have more new players than returning players. Never heard of such a thing. That doesn't exactly lend itself to "culture" (or chemistry).

After this season's debacle, I can't be optimistic about next season. D and G are huge, gaping holes that we have no confidence in at this point. Scary where this program looks to be headed.

Shall we recap what got them here? Horrible loss in the destination game in Vegas Lost game 2 against Miami at home (how does that even happen?) Swept badly at SCSU Swept at home by WM Lost on Saturday to Duluth at home (after all the above, how do you not come out flying?) Swept by Denver at home Then, after it was WAY TOO LATE, they finally started playing better. Too late, not enough. End of story.

Said it before but I'll say it again. EPIC FAIL OF A SEASON.

So what is the lesson here? You can't PISS AWAY the first 2/3 of the season, and expect to make the tournament, even if you are playing well at the end. Too little, too late.