Wilbur

I know a couple of guys who walked on, and yes they are enrolled at the college.

That clears things up a little bit. Left Wing-Center-Right Wing 1. Murray-Zajac-Bochenski 2. Prpich-McMahon-Fylling 3. Spirko-Genoway-Stafford 4. Porter-Kaip-Massen Press Row: Fabian, Canady. Defensive Pairings: Jones-Greene Smaby-Fuher Radke-Schneider Bina-Marvin Wow, are we loaded on defense!!!! Goaltending: To be continued, depending on new developments regarding one Nathan Ziegelmann.

Alright, line combo time. Last year I actually predicted the first line correctly!!! 1. Bochenski-Murray-Spirko 2. Porter-Stafford-Zajac 3. Prpich-McMahon-Fylling 4. Genoway-Kaip-Massen Those combos probably aren't gonna happen except the Prpich-McMahon-Fylling line. If you put Spirko on the first line that line is probably a little undersized, so maybe you put Stafford up there. But then if you have Stafford playing on the first line would you really want two Freshman in Zajac and Spirko playing with Porter or possibly Genoway.....I don't envy Hakstol.

The Minot goaltender playing preds is Tyler Stahl. He would have started for MHS last year, but some goalie from Arizona transfered in so he kind of got pushed out for a year. I'll still remain with my pick of the Rough Riders winning the state championship. Unproven goaltending, but they'll be there at the end.

Alright, its time to put the east-west discussion aside, and time to talk hockey. Central probably won't win state. They lost a ton of talent off of last years team and I don't think that they have the goaltending to win state. Red River only lost four or five players, and I'm pretty sure that they will fight for the title. Fargo South lost a couple key guys, but return their goaltender and that Weisgerber kid. Fargo North has a good goaltender and was pretty young last year, so you can't count them out either. As far as the west goes.... Minot and Bismarck will battle for the title. The juniors on Minot's team this year won the Bantam A state title as freshman, and they have a couple of returning seniors that can score. They have an unproven goaltender (who's also my neighbor), but the kid is playing predators this summer, and doing pretty well. With Bismarck high, a lot depends on whether Sam Aide leaves or not, he's Mr. Hustle for them, and a major impact player. East Region 1. Red River 2. North 3. South 4. Red River West Region 1. Minot 2. Bismarck 3. Century 4. Hazen

Very well said sir. Every year I attend the state hockey tournament and often times I hear, "Why does the west get four teams", "The West should just play the Minnesota girls teams", etc. People do think that west teams are inferior, hands down. I actually have to eat my words a little bit today because I just saw the recent hockey schedule for Minot High School and Red River is actually making a trip to Minot this year. The last time that this happened was seven or eight years ago if I can remember right. Squirtcoach, Red River is tough at home, I'm thinking they'll play the bears pretty tight.

Alright, I'm from a western school and here is my opinion on the matter. Of course the eastern schools are better than the western schools, we all know that, and it ticks me off that people keep bringing that fact up. East teams don't like playing west teams. Minot (where I'm from) used to play Red River every single year. Now Red River won't even think of traveling west of Jamestown. Instead of playing against west teams they play against tough Minnesota schools (I can't blame them, they want to get better). But then they are just being hypocritical because thats all the west wants to do, play better teams and get better. The only time Minot plays Red River or Central nowadays is when they go to the Holiday tournament (In Grand Forks) and the state tournament. The only east team that will play Hazen Buelah and Mandan is Wahpeton, and I have often heard them classified as "unworthy" of playing eastern hockey. As far as state being in Grand Forks: It has to be held in Grand Forks, its the hockey capital of North Dakota. But you can't tell me that REA (both the new and old) aren't major advantages for the Grand Forks teams, and Grafton. When I was a senior my team won the west region championship and played Central the first round of state in the old ralph. There had to be 5,000 people there cheering for GFC and maybe 200 for us. In the third period we had the game tied, but I believe the crowd (and Phil Lamoureax, to be fair ) made a difference in that game and we lost. And now with the new "no practice before your first game rule" some teams are coming into the Ralph with no experience in that building, and getting to play Central or RR in the first round when those teams have easily played five or six games in that facility. Facts are facts, there is no other facility that can hold State hockey like the Ralph, but I do believe that if Bismarck high was the number one seed in the West and played Central in Bismarck (at say the Civic Center, used to be ice there) wouldn't Bismarck have a helluva better chance at beating them there then in Grand Forks. Might as well throw out my top five teams 1. Red River 2. Fargo North 3. Minot (a West team, ALAS ) 4. Central 5. Fargo South

Sorry about the double post...

They better get their team GPA up before I worry about going to see them play!

They better get their team GPA up before I worry about going to see them play!

Past favorite: Karl Goehring-goaltending was never a problem during his tenure at UND. Current favorite(s): Brady Murray, Quinn Fylling. Future favorite(s): The Lamoureax's

Have you heard exactly where he may be heading? I've heard rumors of Alaska or Colorado??

Good luck in Ohio coach! It was a privilege to be able to watch your teams play!

I THINK it will be Hakstol, Sandeline, or Eades.

I voted for Steve Johnson. I remember him coaching at Grafton and making the move up to Lincoln. He has put out some great hockey players, and teams in Lincoln and I think its time he makes the jump to college hockey! PS: I don't want Sandeline back. Sandeline's wife (who was quoted by a Duluth fan as calling Grand Forks a dump) seems to wear the pants in that relationship, and if she's gonna go ahead and sound off on Grand Forks (a community that gave her a lot of support when she went through her breast cancer) then I have no time for the Sandelines.

I'm assuming Todd Berning.

Ummmm okay. Why would they fire/make him resign with the world junior tournament so close???

I wouldn't call it a huge step. A lot of players have gone from the AWHL directly to college hockey. I think its a league that is probably better suited for players that haven't graduated from high school and are a little bit younger (i.e. Layne Sedevie, P.J/Jacque Lamoureax). In Layne's case he played his senior year of high school in the AWHL, moved to the USHL, and had a scholarship at UND until they yanked it when he got injured.

I had the opportunity to watch Jechort play a couple of times this season and I think he's got what it takes to play DI hockey. He may have to get a little bit bigger, but he's a great skater, and a natural goal scorer. Give him two years in the USHL and I'm willing to bet he'll make it.

That 2001 defense was unbelievable. The way that season ended will never be forgotten though. The defense carries the team the whole way, and the offense wins it for them at the end... boo ya The 1993 team was pretty darn good to, too bad the weather had to play a part in that teams destiny....At least I think that was the year of the rain storm in Pennsylvania....

I believe it is undecided as to whether Ballard will leave yet or not. It wouldn't suprise me if he and Vanek stayed another year.

Does he plan on playing hockey/walking on??

I don't know if Matt will make the team directly out of high school, but if he does more power to him. Sando is a pretty good player who should have no problem making the team with the junior experience that he has. Either way, go Nodak boys!!!

Scheving is the man. He's got the stuff to beat Central Missouri State (thats who they play right?) The only concern I really have is who will pitch after him. Sukut has had an alright year, but they'll need a great performance out of him win or lose the first game.

By the hair of their chinny chin chins........ Its nice to see their season continue, although I would probably be upset if I was a Bison fan.