Snake

I'm glad to hear the Sioux will be using the umbrella a bit more. It may lead to more posession time in the zone for them. From my observations, the Sioux have been using an overload system, making them too vulnerable to the weak-side clear when they lose puck support along the end boards. I think the umbrella will keep teams a bit more honest when they get the chance to clear the zone. I posted Friday night about the D-men playing the opposite points, and I'll be interested to see if this is the strategy the coaching staff uses when running the umbrella.

I blame the Herald. They sponsor the powerplay... A more appropriate sponsor would be Bridgeman's Ice Cream because it's Ice Cold! The puck movement isn't very crisp, and guys aren't moving a heck of a lot when they don't have the biscuit. I also noticed that the point men are playing their respective sides (righty on right point, etc.), which tends to lead to blocked shots because they have to pivot to shoot and can't one-time the puck. It also doesn't make for very crisp passing at the point. Just my two cents...

"Help control the pet population; Have your pet spayed or neutered" or Now I know what Bob Barker was talking about!

Since David Hale is going to dress but only play 10-15 minutes, Blais probably needs all of the flexibility he can get out of Ryan Hale and Lee Marvin. I bet we'll see Marvin and R. Hale both spend time on D and at Forward. Bochenski, Parise, Massen Speiwak, Lundbohm, Notermann (Hale/Fylling), McMahon, Prpich (Marvin/Fylling), Palmo, Canady D. Hale (R. Hale/Marvin) Schneider Jones Fuher Greene I would think this to be the case if Blais planned to play R. Hale at defense and still dress Marvin.

This year's team doesn't generate offense with the transition game like past Blais teams. They seem to get too cute when bringing the puck across the blue line and turn it over, and when they dump the puck in it's usually right to the defense (or not all the way deep) and on it's way out before they can get get in there and start cycling. Also, when was the last time we had a good, clean breakaway?

If Mankato plays team defense like they did this past weekend they'll be one and done faster than you can say SCSU!

Our seats are in section 116, second row behind the HOME bench. This was the case in 2001 and last year. This is the opposite of the Wild. Their bench is in front of section 117. Ticketmaster may assume the Home team uses the same bench as the Wild. Of course, it may have changed since last year, but don't be surprised if the Home team is shooting at section 123 twice.

If there is a policy, it must only involve mullets, because I can still picture Commie's hair sticking out the ear hole of his helmet a couple of years back!! That was a sweet 'doo.

I will be in Grand Forks this weekend for the playoff games if anyone in GF is interested in buying them this weekend.

I have 4 tickets to the Frozen 4 that I will not be using. Section 307 Row 11 Seats 19-22. $500. Anyone interested, please e-mail me at: stanman34@hotmail.com

FYI - Club seating sections are designated by a "C" in front of the number (i.e. C6, C7). Section 217 would be in the upper level.

I'm not sure about everyone, but I get the feeling (from Siouxrock in particular) that some people would rather see Moreland brought in instead of Lamoureux. Would Philipe have been a senior at GFC this year if he hadn't jumped ship to the USHL? If not, my next few sentences are moot, but if so, who do you think is farther along in their development at this point? Unless you're prepared to have a guy come straight out of NDHS to play for the Sioux, it doesn't make sense to talk about bringing in both Moreland and Lamoureux! Obviously, the real issue is how does UND solve their goaltending situation for NEXT year, not '04-'05 when the aforementioned players will be ready. Maybe Ziggy is a step in that direction. I really don't think it can hurt at this point.

At home, the #1 scoring line rarely starts because Blais has the last change and he likes to match his top defensive line with the opponent's top scoring line. I think the top scoring line will have more of a tendency to start for the Sioux on the road when it's not as easy for the coach to match-up the lines.

I thought this article was very well done. Enjoy! STrib Parise Article

Funny..... I seem to remember the "worst goalie in the WCHA" stonewalling the Gophers for 2 games in Minneapolis the weekend after beating Michigan State in the GLI championship. I enjoy listening to PA and Dubay....they're very passionate about their teams, and about ripping other teams, so I wouldn't put it past them to call him "the worst." Siembida showed flashes last year that were encouraging. Consistency is key. Jake

On that note, jk, if Waibel leaves we're set!!

I think it is from DJ Skribble's Essential Spring Break. I think the name of the track is Sandstorm, but I'm not sure.

I don't put too much stock in Freshman point production, however, when the team is comprised of a dozen "newbies" is is hard to ignore. Bryan Lundbohm wasn't exactly a world beater his first season, and neither was Lee Goren. One could see glimpses of greatness during their first years, and I think this is the case with a lot of this-season's freshmen. I think what hurt the team most this year was the upperclassmen play/production. Spiewak had 16 points as a freshman.......and now 17 points as a junior. New "hungry" recruits will be nice, but I hope next year the team is full of a bunch of hungry sophomores and a few unsatisfied seniors!

Hey Goon, Lay off Siembida. If there was a sniff of defense out there he wouldn't have looked so bad. We don't have to worry, because the first two cuts that should be made will be graduating -- 27 & 23!

We can't forget that Andy is supposed to be a leader of this team also. Being down 2-0 after 2 somewhat harmless shots puts a lot of pressure on the players to try and get back into the game. They start to grip the stick a little harder, etc. It didn' t show much leadership when Andy pulled himself from the game, but I guess I don't know the whole story behind that incident. The team was obviously working harder that night and it probably let them down a bit. I don't believe the BS about the new arena being a distraction. He and KG didn't seem to have a problem at the Xcel Energy Center last year which is very similar to the Ralph. It just boils down to concentration and focus. Andy seems to lose his at times. All in all I hope Andy finds a way to put it together for the rest of the year. He's definitely going to need improved play from the team in front of him since hockey is, after all, a team sport.