shep

JR whine? You certainly prove a strong understanding of hockey when you make comments like that. He came back from an injury like that in a short period of time, and with his 7th or 8th concussion no less, so this is NO whiner. What's next, you'll tell us that Richard Brodeur is a bad playoff goalie or that Tie Domi is a great goal scorer? I can't wait.

Ruff, For the record, Bobby Clarke is my favorite hockey player of all time. Tony Esposito, my favorite goalie.

Ruffian, No need to worry about my putting player before team, as I'm a Flyers fan, too and was quite happy when they signed JR. Yes even though Zach Parise is with their arch-rival the Debbies I am a Flyers fan. Imagine that.

Ruffian Forgive my sappy sentimentality, but I just have a soft spot for JR if only because his jaw was smashed by a slapshot less than two months ago, in which he suffered his umpteenth concussion, and now he's back, playing at a high level and without any protection for the still fragile jaw. If you wanna look at what a hockey player is, look at Jeremy Roenick. For the record, if I were only a sentimentalist, I'd cheer for Dave Andreychuk who is the current player who has the most points w/o a Cup.

I suspect they are weighing this question: If we indeed have the best 19 year old in the world, would playing him make us any more likely to win the Stanley Cup or would the 19 year old's inexperience cost us? I trust that organization to do the right thing. Still, I hope they lose in 4. Roenick deserves a Cup much like Bourque did a few years ago.

I know this is a UND Hockey board, and as a former student I'm a big Sioux fan, but to suggest Parise got robbed is nonsensical. Lessard is a very good hockey player and as noted, lead the country in scoring THIS YEAR. If they want to give ZP a Lifetime Achievement Award or something, fine, but the Hobey goes to the best player this year. Frankly I thought ZP would win, but no one can say Lessard is not deserving. REPHRASE: No one can credibly say Lessard is not deserving.

More correctly, it WAS the Blue Key's nickel. I believe possession is like 9/10ths the law.

I agree that some NHL teams switch things up, but I bet (and I mean A LOT) that the team that wins the Cup doesn't switch goalies at all during the playoffs. I hate to repeat myself, but this whole on-again-off-again #1 goalie is reminiscent of a couple that date for awhile and then break up only to commence the whole sordid situation again. My point: One goalie needs to step up. ONLY one. Based on what I saw this year and what I've seen of Brandt in the past couple of years, I'm guessing it's Parise. (THE ABOVE IS ONLY AN OPINION: I READILY ACKNOWLEDGE I COULD BE WRONG.) But I doubt it:)

My point a week ago, and still today is that I'd rather see Parise rather than Brandt in the nets next year. As far as goaltending NOT being an issue, I would just ask that you review some of the Herald's quotes of Blaise to see if you really want to go with a full fledged denial of that as an issue. I don't have the time (or the Herald) to do that, but I KNOW I read some Blaise remarks that showed his concern about this topic. Isn't that why Parise not Brandt played in the Regionals?

As a Flyers fan, I hope they keep playing like they did yesterday. Again, I don't mean to offend, and I appreciate Zach's talent, but I think Lou knows that he can't expect a college kid to come in and lead the team in the playoffs regardless of the lack of offensive punch they may have right now. Besides, the Debbies win w/ defense and perhaps the best playoff goalie ever.

No but the "only" was at least implied when you look at the post. You listed a small sample of results, but in the context in which it was presented it gave the impression it was a representation of a more substantial sample as in the whole year.

Uh...no offense, but if you think that the WCHA, in any way, shape or form is even remotely close to the clutching, grabbing and mugging that ZP will get in the pros, you haven't been watching the same pro games I'm watching. If the Debbies really wanted to "protect" ZP they would have told him to stay in college where it's much safer. MONEY lead to this. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

I read his stats the same way Big Grey Ant. This puts a very different spin on things.

All good points especially the last two, but that doesn't make me want to see Brandt in net in a really big game. It's just that when a Bina or Greene makes a mistake like that, I'd love to see the goalie, in a big game, step up and save the player and the shot, that's all. Call it a feeling in the pit of my stomach, or whatever, but I just don't see him as a goalie who will be a part of a NCAA champion. The goalie, as Denver proved, is so integral to a team going all the way and I just have a non-objective view about Brandt. I hope he proves me wrong, but for now, I'm hoping Parise really steps up next fall.

I'm not sure the CB will alter the amount the team's can pay in bonuses to players, but maybe you're right. That would be the only reason to take the money and run, now because I don't know if you can just ship your players to Europe because of labor troubles here. Haven't we had enough outsourcing of American jobs already?

I hope it's not Brandt if only b/c it's gonna take me a year to get past the memories of that debacle v the GOOFS in the WCHA title game. On one goal, he coughs up the puck like an old drunk hocking a loogy, and for the GWG he gets stuffed!! C'mon! I know one game doesn't make a career, but he was shaky throughout the season, and though I love a good stat, how much of the GAA is based on solid team D and how much is the goalie? Yes, Save Percentage is a nice number too, but it doesn't factor in any way, quality of shot/saves, so a dump-in from center ice counts the same as stopping a breakaway. Besides, I can't recall the last senior goalie to lead the team to a NCAA title. Eddie was a frosh and Karl was a Junior. Thus, his "experience" means little. Also, I wish Blais would pick one and stick with him for more than a weekend.

I am worried about a lockout, but I don't know what you mean about "locked out."

Well... Gather around my chair here you young'uns as I regale you with a tale of yesteryear. Seems we (DJ and I along with Rick Zombo and my friend Barry) were all in the same accountin' class at UND back in a time most of you can't remember but that we like to call the 80's. It was a mysterious time with no recognizable fad other than a pet rock and a Rubik's cube and strangely enough a band called the Flock of Seagulls was darn popular. But I digress. The night b/4 the final, Barry, Darren and I are studying and DJ realizes this aint sinking in so he starts talking about getting some assistance shall we say. Long story short, he doesn't trust Barry, who is seated next to him in class, to be his source of info and asks me to provide any help I can, and rather than create a whole academic investigation, I'll leave it at that except to say I got a B on the Final and he got a C.

Yes, I can confirm that the Pope is indeed Polish.

Thank you. More importantly, I thank you for your avatar.

Doesn't look like a fighter?" I'm not sure what a fighter looks like, other than the absence of a few front teeth, but I'm hoping the Sioux recruitment techniques are more sophisticated than viewing a few pictures and drawing conclusions from them. Beyond that is fighting truly a necessary skill in the college game anyway? Do we really want our guys to be suspended for a game or two every couple of weeks because they exercised their right to fight?

Blake Wheeler? Sounds like the name of a soap opera character. "Who's looking after this patient?" "It's Dr. Blake Wheeler." "Thank God. Blake Wheeler is the finest obstetrician in the country. He'll easily deliver Summer's triplets. Now we just need to figure out who the fathers are."

My bad. You're right. I knew a Michael was involved. Regarding the notion of "not having to go to class" allow me to say that I skipped more than I went, and still enjoyed the college life. In fact, that's why I enjoyed the college life.

That's a fair point. I guess I've had a stereotypical view of minor league hockey ever since I saw Slapshot and the Paul Michael Glaser character (The Zach?) didn't appear to enjoy the situation that much. But I guess there is some benefit to it.