Wilbur

Interesting outcomes this year to say the least. I think its safe to say that Central will end up at the state tournament, but after that its really up in the air in the EDC. Out west I think I've seen enough to say that Minot, Century, and Legacy are locks to be there. Century has played the EDC teams on their schedule tough. OT with North, a 1 goal game (with EN) with WF, and beating Sheyenne. The same could be said for Legacy in matchups with WF and North, and played Minot tough. Could be a year with multiple west teams making it out of the QF at REA. Been a few years since we've seen that.

NDAHA puts together teams after tryouts. They play Sioux Falls Power in best of three. Winner heads to nationals.

"It was just a tiny shot to the head" "The American player turned" I think they will be fine if they don't put themselves on the kill for almost a period of the game. The line is extremely clear in IIHF. And the officials over call just about everything (see USA slashing penalty). No clear favorites at this point in time.

Wilbur's quarter picks: Germany avoids relegation. Sweden sends the feel good story home. The USA beats the Swiss, but make it more interesting than it should be. Finland beats Slovakia. Canada finds a way against a good Czechia team. Maybe in OT.

So playoff rankings. This is for reseading purposes after the quarters. 1. Sweden 2. USA 3. Czechia 4. Finland 5. Canada 6. Slovakia 7. Latvia 8. Swiss

I get why they aren't there, but I miss Russia being there....I do.

Canada with some immature penalties in this one. International hockey boys, anything to the head is going to get called to a fault. Good to see Augustine show up and play with some swagger. He was solid. Now it's the Swiss on Thursday.

TSN reporting that Trey is going in the net against Canada. Perfect time for them to get Hammer in before the quarters, but time for him to be the goalie that showed up last year.

The game in Detroit is huge. You lose, and you've got to win three games (likely on the road) starting the next week to make it to the big game. The only chance to play at home would be if Green Bay and Washington knocked off Philly and the Rams. Then you've got Green Bay at home. Either loses and it's the road to Philly or LA. Both lose, and it's back to Detroit. I'm not saying it's impossible, but you are stacking the deck against yourself if you don't win at Detroit.

I watched Minot's squirts play Edina last year at the squirt A international. I think they had 10 total kids on the team and one team entered. Edina had 15 kids and multiple teams (3 I think) entered. Edina could have made a super team and just walked everyone, but development for later on is more important to their program in the long run. As a Minot alum of many moons ago it's frustrating to watch it play out. Minot North is a reality, and you've got to be proactive at the youth level to ensure both teams have the tools to be competitive.

With the number of kids on the Jr. Gold team on the boys side I've got to assume Minot North hockey will be a reality next year. I counted 28 kids rostered on the Wolves site. It puts the onus on the youth program as well to start doing the right thing and start creating multiple A teams at each level to get more kids playing A competition each year. Kind of upsetting to see that they don't have a AA bantam team this year. In my opinion then you bring the B1 kids up and create two A teams as even as possible to make that high school transition a bit smoother.

You've got: Minot North, Minot High, Our Redeemers, Bishop Ryan, South Prairie, Nedrose.......I think. Minimal kids from the private schools, but a few.

I'm not willing to gloat. Good for UNLV and their D1 push. Huge in the long run for college hockey. That game did good things for the growth of college hockey. I'd love to see Minot State at the Ralph instead of the Bizens.

Honestly, probably the best thing that could've happened to them. Wake up boys.

This is what I hate about the FCS football life. And now with the portal and NIL, it's essentially the factory for guys to use and abuse before going where the green is. (Note. I'm not stupid, of course I'd take the money just like the rest of em.)

One team putting their heart and soul into the biggest game of their season, and one team going through the motions thinking this game is below them and a waste of time. If I was Denver I'm not sure I would've done the shootout.

I think next year they get split up.

I thought Hammer was pretty good today for Team USA. I'd assume they'll still go with Augustine tomorrow against Finland. Hammer against Canada on the 31st would be a treat!

Now the USA needs to make a point and beat Latvia like 8-1. Latvia just won their superbowl, overwhelm them early and don't let them hang around.

Get the yips out now Augustine. He did not look comfortable at all. Hammer time?

Schmidt has been here a week and we are already more athletic on offense.

Let's see if he beats out Romfo....

If only we had more opportunities to get him in..... Every time I see Jerry it makes me think of the old barbers in the union, Tom and Jerry. Those guys would be an HR disaster today.....

Does a 6'3 220 lbs QB who can throw it around the yard come to UND via the Portal?

Half the family is NDSU and I remind them that the Michigan people aren't cheering for Ohio State when the playoffs start. I've got to think NDSU will be favored in Frisco. I don't think the Cats defense can stop the NDSU run game.