Wilbur

Ask the world Junior team today if they would take a 4-3 win over a weaker opponent in a hostile environment..... The Beavers are a good hockey team that can't be overlooked. After the GLI, I'll take any positive outcome that we can get. 10-10-1, not the greatest record, but a win tomorrow puts us over 500 heading into the goofs series. If we can get anything over 2 points in the goofs series I think we have a very strong possibility to get home ice in the postseason. Ugly wins are better than good losses any day.

COMPLETELY AGREE!

A couple thoughts about the game/US. in general..... ~They need a coach that has some discipline...this team played with very little. I say give Red Berensen a turn. ~McCollum was horrible. I don't care what his stats are in the OHL, he was brutal. He didn't make any key saves the entire tournament. Why they didn't go to Unice at least one time kind of befuddles me....All of the goals that McCollum gave up today were soft goals....all of them. ~A couple times in the game especially later in the game the U.S. didn't have its top PP unit on the ice (Schroeder, VanR, and Wilson). They did get the PP goal in the third, but other than that late in the second you didn't see much of them on the PP. When it comes to elimination time, and everything is on the line, your studs need to be on the ice, no matter how tired they may be. ~I thought the U.S. defense played very well. Minus that turnover goal off the official. I did call a friend of mine who is an official and he told me that the official shouldn't have even been trailing the play on the wall, and was out of position. That didn't cost the U.S. the game, but another great officiating moment in this tournament. The officiating never surprises me in this tournament.....ever. Its always horrible, and certain guys (Della Rovere) end up getting away with stupid crap because the officials are affraid of the home crowd. I would like to personally recommend Mike Lee for the goaltending position for next years squad. He'll be in his first year at SCSU and is one of the more solid goaltenders in the USHL at this time. He's also had some success with other U.S. junior teams, as I believe he played on the U17 team or something like that up in Canada and won gold. I hope that McCollum has no eligibility left......I don't understand how he can be a first round draft pick....I just don't....

Wow.....he will make any team he plays for instantly better. He's got great hands, and that Jonathan Toews scoring touch around the net. He'll be the tournament MOP unless Schroeder does something more magical than he's already done. Before the U.S. talks about any redemption against Canada they'd better get their heads on straight for today's game with Slovakia.

A couple thoughts on the game: ~Stupid stupid stupid USA hockey players.....make sure that you wake up a sleeping dog after you score....dumb..... ~The U.S. needs better goaltending. The guy is a first round draft pick, I haven't seen him make any game changing saves. ~That should have definitely been a 5 minute major for hitting from behind on the Canadian player (I can't even remember the guys name). That is absolutely the definition of hitting from behind. The international official got scared of the Canadian crowd.... ~John Tavares is a sick freak.....why he isn't in the NHL.....well we can only wonder.... I like the U.S. draw heading into the playoffs. They match up well with Slovakia, and if they get past that one they've had Sweden's number as of late. I like the fact that they avoid playing Russia. The U.S. doesn't need to play an arrogant hockey team with the support of the Canadians behind them. That game could turn into what happened in Grand Forks a couple years ago.

I agree that Kazakhstan has a ways to go, but I don't think its a bad thing for them to be in the tournament. They'll go through relegation and be back who knows when. Like someone mentioned I just can't believe that Belarus and Switzerland aren't in the tournament. I mean Belarus beat the U.S. in Grand Forks, and Switzerland wasn't a walkover by any means with some of the big kids that they have. As for predictions for tonight: Pierre Mcquire (sp) said it best the other day, a lot depends on the officiating. If it gets into a special teams war I think the Canadians win 5-1. If the officials let them play hockey and don't let the crowd influence their decision making I think the Canadians win 3-2. Prove me wrong USA!!!!

Cade had a great game. Completely controlled the ice every shift he played. He wasn't the only U.S defenseman to have a great game, but was definitely deserving of getting the player of the game award. I don't think casual hockey fans can truly appreciate what it means to hold a team to 10 shots in a sixty minute international hockey game. Thats a tough thing to do, no matter who you're playing (well, I guess if its like Japan.... .) Kristo played well for the U.S. as well. I thought he added some jump to the lineup and created a couple of great chances.

I like the Canadian fans booing the U.S. after they get their 12th goal of the game. They must have short memories of the 15 spot their precious boys put on the Kazaks a few days ago. Also it was a very classy gesture to boo Cade Fairchild while getting his player of the game award..

One thing that needs to be looked at by the IIHF is the absolute BLOWN CALL on the U.S. empty net goal. That play was clearly onsides, and it nearly cost the U.S. in the end as they survived a major flurry. Whoever the bozo linesman was on that play shouldn't see the ice for the rest of the tournament, or should head over to France or wherever the relegation round is being played. The hockey coach in me completely has no time for brutal officiating, and when I see a call like that one it just boils my blood even more. You're hearing it here first, Canada will be on the powerplay more than the U.S. will when the two teams meet on Wednesday night. BTW Schroeder had a helluva game for the U.S. The kid should be in the NHL next year.

Did anybody hear what the shots were in the game? Thanks.

I don't really know if you can fault the effort. The guys put up 38 shots on goal, buzzed around the Duluth net the entire second and third period, and played pretty well defensively, and got some good goaltending. Stalock was phenomenal, but at the same time he better keep his lucky rabbits foot in his breezers, because a couple of times the puck went right into him when he was all but down and out. I guess the only thing I'm really disappointed in is the powerplay, and the finishing. Other than that I can't be upset with the effort. Someone mentioned Lamoureax in for Martens.....boy do I agree. It seems like every guy on the team loves Martens or "Marty" but what has the guy done in his time at UND? Ohh yeah, FIRE HAK!

You could definitely call benching Kozek and Trupp a very gutsy move on Hak's behalf. I couldn't believe you take those two guys out of the lineup after last night. I can see where you'd put Trupp up in the press box, but at least Kozek had some chances last night and put himself in some positions to be successful. Either way, Hak got the performance that he wanted tonight and the Sioux get a much needed win. It seems like every time I get down on Hak when he does something questionable the team comes through in the clutch. I'll quit doubting him, and let him lead the team to another frozen four.

I think for the first time this year, last night and tonight, we saw Eidsness play with a little bit of a swagger. And in goaltending swagger=confidence. I had all the faith in the world with Parise and Lamoureax in the net because of the way they went about their business, I think Brad took a couple of steps forward tonight and really gives Hak no other choice but to make him the starter from here on out in the league games. Keep pressing him though Walski!

After watching the replay of the Duncan goal and seeing Hextall go hard to the net and hit the guy, all I have to say is........ THAT WAS A FIVE MINUTE MAJOR ADAM?? You have got to be kidding me....that was a horrendous call...no doubt about it....

Boy its scary to hear about all of the injuries. Just a typical week in the WCHA though I suppose. Playing without your top two defenseman, losing a top line player on a STUPID call, having a lot of guys playing nicked up, with a Freshman goaltender, to play that close of a hockey game with the #1 team in the country......I'm very proud to be a fighting sioux fan tonight. Great effort fellas! I wish I could have heard TH on the radio tonight. I bet it was classic.....

Once again Don Adam doesn't surprise me with his making it up as he goes along. UND is shorthanded to begin with and he decides UND needs one less forward as well..... The guy needs to lose his job... Time left???

Gosh, I absolutely love to watch those old Sioux hockey clips. If anyone has any more of those I would love to see them on Youtube. I'd love to see some highlights from the 97 national championship in Milwaukee or other old footage. Thank you to those of you who take your time to put those on the net. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Keep em coming!

I really admire the Denver hockey program (mostly Gwoz) for honoring the kid's scholarship. Too often we hear of young athletes who end their careers and then really have nothing to fall back on. Although you hate to hear that he's done playing hockey, he's got a great opportunity to succeed in the future because of where he's going.

I know he's a grown guy and all but I feel horrible for Lamoureax. The last game that he'll ever wear a UND uniform and its probably the worst any of us have seen him play. I can never remember him giving up this many soft goals, but then again after BC popped in two goals the UND effort has been pretty flat. I know we expect these guys to have heart and play hard 100 percent of the time, but when you're getting outplayed/outworked/outeverything its tough to find that extra gear. Thanks to this years Sioux team for a tremendous hockey season. Watching this team was a lot of fun, and I'll hate the next couple of weeks when we start seeing the early departures take place. I sure as heck hope Chorney is okay. Took a pretty bad knee on that play.

I'll be in Fargo on Sunday, and I'm wondering about possible bars or restaurants that would have ESPNU? If the Sioux are lucky enough to be playing on Sunday it would be nice to be able to watch them and some other regional games as well. Thanks

Okay, Red River wins 3-0. Here is next weekend's state tournament. 11:30 Bismarck (1W) vs. Fargo North (4E) 2:00 Grafton Park River (2E) vs. Mandan (3W) 6:30 Red River (1E) vs. Century (4W) 9:00 Williston (2W) vs. South (3W)

Some updates: The West Region Tourny is over. Bismarck 7, Williston 4 #1 Bismarck #2 Williston #3 Mandan #4 Century At the east region: In the third period Red River leads Grafton 2-0. South over GFC 3-2 North beats DL 5-4 #1 Red River (if score holds) #2 Grafton #3 South #4 North

Here's a rundown: Fargo South over Shanley 6-0 or something like that North over West 5-3 Red River over DL 8-1 Grafton over Central 3-1 I think That sets up: Devils Lake vs. North Central vs. South Red River vs. Grafton Out west: Century over Bottineau 6-2 Mandan over Jamestown 4-3 OT Bismack over Minot 3-0 Williston over Dickinson 5-2 That sets up: Minot vs. Mandan Dickinson vs. Century Williston vs. Bismarck

The one thing that worries me about this weekend is that the Gophers haven't scored many goals of late and are almost a ticking time bomb to have a great offensive night one of these games. Being at home, playing one of their top rivals, just adds to the equation. Its not like the gophers have been horrible the past couple of weeks. They took three of four in Duluth and could have easily split with a Bucky team that is playing inspired hockey. Their goaltending is much better with Kangas, and they aren't giving up a whole lot defensively either in front of Kangas. I'm hoping for a split. Get the two points, get back to the cities in March.

Whats really interesting about this season is after UND finishes off this win they will be in third place in the WCHA..... With a 7-7 league record. I love how UND wins on Friday at home, loses Saturday. On the road....loses Friday, plays some of their best games of the year on Saturday..... 6-2 Sioux. Completely dominating play. If they wouldn't take so many penalties they could be up 10-2. Stay out of the box fellas....