Snake

It's sad when you have to depend on Freshmen for "energy." Toews and Oshie are goal-scorers, and they work like they're goal scorers. Energy should come from guys that don't get to play too often, or upper-classmen whose hockey playing days are dwindling. There were plenty of those types in the lineup last night. This loss hurts a lot when you consider that they're positioned for a 5th place finish in the WCHA and at the mercy of the PWR when it comes time for tournament selection.

I think the game starts at 7:35

The drive back to GF right after that game was the most brutal I've ever taken - nine hours to think about our season being over.

It's a pretty nice place, plus, since their show is from 9AM - NOON it's a good place to get BREAKFAST!

I think you're suggestion is interesting, and I definitely agree with your assessment of the checking from behind calls; but if most of the punishment is dealt specifically to the player, what's to prevent a coach from sending out a goon to run an opposing player intentionally? The player who commits the act would get punished with little detriment to the team. Granted, the referees can't police everything, but if they had to make a call about protecting the Win-Loss record of the team or the safety of the players involved, I'd hope they'd choose the latter. If the officials in the WCHA are more interested in protecting the Win-Loss records of the teams, then an overhaul is definitely needed.

We shouldn't have to take the refs off the hook when they're not the ones COMMITTING the infractions. I think a player would be more apt to learn his lesson if he cost his team a win and he had to deal with his teammates and coaches.

Just a simple question: Can there even be player signings if there's no Collective Bargaining Agreement? What "rules" would exist for any contract signing?

I believe they will honor their commitment to USA Hockey and play for the WJC team. Also, they'll need as many games as they can get to develop some team chemistry.

Have any of you seen how they do the Canadian National Anthem at GM Place in Vancouver? It's strong and the crowd is completely involved because the singer allows them to sing the middle verse alone. It's pretty awesome.

David Tanabe? Chuck Kobasew?

There should be plenty of activity at Tom Reid's or McGovern's. They're a block or two down from the X.

I find it funny that Dippin-Dots has been the "Ice Cream of the Future" for about 10 years now!

I think the great atmosphere we all know and love at the old Ralph (at least in it's last 5 years or so) can be attributed to the "re-birth" of the program under Dean Blais. I think this is what most fans choose to remember about the old Ralph. It wasn't always that way, as I remember attending lots of games in Gino's last few years that didn't have much but a bunch of green and white seats staring at me from across the rink.

I agree completely, Riverman. I sent an e-mail to the Ralph asking them to please put out-of-town scores on the fascia ring instead of "advertising" for the next game, which by the way, season ticket holders know is going to happen. The response from the Ralph was "thank you, we're working toward a solution." Obviously the solution is to have Hennen talk more. Maybe more people would look at the scoreboard if they actually had a reason to a la out-of-town scores.

Thanks for the info, Lawkota. I was at the UND Bookstore last weekend and saw that they have dazzle cloth home jerseys, I think made by Koronis Sports Apparel. The only downer is that the lettering is green as well.

I wish I could find an authentic, too, but I'd buy a replica if they would make them right. I haven't yet seen a home "replica" jersey that has the correct color of lettering for the word SIOUX spelled on the front. The "replica" jerseys made by Nike have it in green, when the authentics are in Black. Has anyone seen a newer replica jersey with black lettering on the front?

A split would be fine with me, but... The Sioux need to take care of business themselves, so that's who I'm rooting for this weekend!

Is the NHL using the two referee system full-time? I ask this because I am reading a lot from people that say the NHL has improved it's officiating in the past couple of years and I wonder if this could be part of the reason. I know Hockey East experimented with two referees a year or two back, but I haven't heard what their results were (maybe it's still in progress). Using the two referee system in the WCHA would help to alleviate any problems refs would have in keeping up with the play, but could you imagine having Mason and Adam doing the same game!?! Yikes!!!

I'm not sure the trap is going to limit shots specifically, but it will definitely limit the number of quality shots and second opportunities off rebounds. I would think scoring chances would be a better indicator of dominance when looking at teams that play a defensive style. In my opinion, better goaltending and a focus on defense overall has allowed "inferior" teams to keep scores close.

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?