Wilbur

Yeah, after the season ends you hold your breath for about four or five days as the agents and NHL teams come a-callin. Or I should say, the AHL teams come a-callin. This year the Sioux don't have a T.J. Oshie/Toews type player who would make the immediate jump. I know the wild are out of the playoff hunt and their season is over, but I was still kind of surprised that Zucker was in the NHL almost right away.

UND would rather see Mike Lee in the net than Farragher.... Everyone knew that Duluth was going to lose Brown, but my goodness do they lose a ton of points overall. Add to that the fact they lose Reiter and they've got a rebuilding year on the horizon.

I've never seen the kid play, but have heard tremendous things about his ability to play the puck and his lateral movement. Obviously if he comes back Dell will be the starter for the Sioux, but it will be fun to see what Zane can do. Saunders is the wild card. Big body, takes up a lot of the net, some good numbers on a poor team. Like someone mentioned. Nothing wrong with too much depth at arguably the most important position for a hockey team. PS: Congrats to Brad Eidsness!

If Dell decides that he's coming back, and with Saunders coming in wouldn't you think it would be logical for the coaching staff to have Gothberg play another year in Fargo? Couple of factors come into play here to completely squash my theory: ~Unless he's too old (believe he still has a year of junior eligibility after this one). ~Unless they don't believe he will be a four year netminder for the school. Aka...flight risk before senior year, get the years you can out of him. ~He would de-commit and sign at another school if he doesn't end up at UND next year. I'd just hate to see the kid come in, ride the bench, and play in six games. If Dell or Saunders got hurt you bring him in at Semester time or ASAP. He'd easily play in 45 plus games in the USHL for the Fargo Force. Just thinking out loud here....

I am all for moving it back to campus sites, but very much agree with you on the point of making sure that the competition is played on the same size sheet of ice. Minnesota/St. Cloud could host at XCEL if they had the bid, Wisconsin could host in Milwaukee, you get the point.

Good points brought up by all. Putting the shoe on the other foot, obviously Minnesota has a huge advantage when teams come to play at Mariucci and the bigger ice surface, but I don't believe it is as huge of an advantage when they play the Sioux, due to the fact that the Sioux have an Olympic arena to practice on any time they desire too. The gophers have Ridder arena, the Sioux have the Olympic rink.......its not like either team is at a huge disadvantage when the ice surface size changes from week to week with the facilities they have available to them.

I would bet no, based on the fact that Tate was simply enrolled as a student at UND before becoming part of the hockey team when they were in need of another practice goaltender. The kid is human though, and wouldn't be sane if he didn't want to get in a game at some point in time. Hopefully they find a home game for him to get a start in next year.

I'd be interested to hear the negotiations between Kristo and Les Habitants..... I think a few posters have summed it up pretty well. Its either play another year of college hockey at a place that seems like a great place to play your college hockey, or play a year in the minors and get paid to play hockey. I'd love to hear what Gregoire, Hextall, Travis Roche, etc... would say about their decision to leave school early.

Its fun to play what if with the group coming back next year. Just think of having a third line centered by Rowney, a guy that is starting to turn it on and could have a big year next year. Here is what I think: Because I believe Kristo will be gone Nelson-Knight-Grimaldi O'Donnell-MacMillan-Parks Chyzyk-Rowney-Rodwell Pattyn-Gaarder-Koules Sorry Jim.....you'll be a healthy scratch....

Minnesota has as good of a chance as anyone of beating BC the way that they played this weekend. It won't be a cakewalk as that dimwit posted earlier in this thread.

The next couple of weeks will give us a good idea about next years squad. Obviously we say goodbye to a good group of seniors, but at the same time you always wonder who the flight risks are. Here is what I think in concern to flight risks..... More than likely gone: ~Kristo 50/50 Gone ~Nelson, Forbort Likely Back: ~Dell, MacWilliam

Could you please coach the team next year?

I hate to agree with Dave Starman, but he's right about the fact that the Sioux look gassed. Lot of game left though.....keep fighting fellas.

A gopher player fell and they didn't call a penalty.....it helped that a Sioux player wasn't within ten feet of him.

Love the Sioux....no matter what......

Senkbeil needs to pick up that stick.....yikes....sloppy.

Officiating has been good....but they have to call the interference on the faceoff there.....That lead to a scoring chance.

Blood needs to WAKE THE #### up.....

There we go. Lets go fellas.

Can't leave a guy that wide open in front. YEAH!!!!

What a crazy deflection off of Lamoureax's skate. The shot was an absolute rocket that I guess found the right spot. Period 2.... 2-0 Gophers. Can't leave a guy wide open in front.

Power Play for the Sioux here. Hopefully this settles the pace down a bit. UND can't play at this pace the whole game....

Can not believe the intensity of this game. By garsh....

Great time for a TV timeout. Right after a third line shift in the gophers end. Back to the top unit....

Puck drop moments away. For the next three hours our hearts will all be in our throats.