Taz Boy

Sadly, yes, I must take time away from my important business to educate where it is needed most. UND hockey is just fine... has been, currently is, and will be. Down year? Sure. But I can tell you the experience in Las Vegas was outstanding. Say that out loud. It. Was. Fantastic. This team had to play against the alumni's hated rival at a remote venue in front of thousands of rapid Sioux fans who spent thousands of dollars bringing the family on a weekend vacation-- just to see them beat the Gophers. And they did. The nay-sayers suggest the weakened Gopher team was an easy win, expected. But, it was NOT expected. How convenient for the untalented expert to criticize after the fact. When in Denver, I saw a fast skating, hard working team that never gave up. Lack of net front presence, ugly goals, whatever. This team is not far from being a top-10 PWR. It is fixable, unlike the whineyness here.

So what you're saying is that I win? taz

"So... You're saying that..." ...is the standard preamble to alert all that a sophomoric, false representation is forthcoming. It's the Bill Maher go-to when he wants gushing applause from mindless sycophants. I'm saying what I'm saying, or in this case, writing. You can pretend all you want, I'm simply recognizing that the Canisius sweep did real PWR damage, which was rooted in the inability to convert SOG to ESG and PPG. That's fixable, especially with the level of talent currently and coming into the program. And, down the stretch they demonstrated what they are capable of against UMD and St Cloud. So, no, you don't need a wholesale gutting of the Berry system-- which is the Hakstol system, which is the Fighting Sioux system, which is the best system. You may disagree with me, but that's a problem only you can work on, striving to overcome your intellectual deficiencies vis-à-vis hockey.

Decades ago, a little taz enjoyed Booberry cereal growing up. Made the milk all blue and tasted like sugar-soaked crunchy marshmallows, sugar injected blueberry's, and vanilla cookies coated with sugar. The previous two sentences contain about as much hockey coaching knowledge as the previous 260 posts. Berry stays and wins another title. He is a premier college hockey coach and a fantastic human being. The team this year was exciting to watch, worked extremely hard, and played the best teams in the nation extremely tough. Remove the weekend at Canisius, and y'all would be giddy with NCAA tourney excitement. Many of you need to stick to Fortnite or your robotics club. taz

Ah crap! I was so excited to respond to that one, but I had to stop for what seemed like hours to process the logic with jaw agape, saliva drip, and once recovered you had beaten me to it! A noble effort, Mr. Baker, but the SS board has brought together some of finest in Millennial-isms. Great authorities on all that is just not so.

Kicking in high heels, stomping on the accelerator... She's all rock-n-roll, baby. Even the OJ fling is bad ass. I mean, c'mon, why NOT scratch a Chevy Suburban? And then, this... "What he's going through are the regular ups and downs people go through in their personal life," Shapiro said. So true, Mark Shapiro. So. True.

Things Taz has learned while reading through this quality candidate for most embarrassing SS thread ever... Engelstad generosity and REA leadership/vision never cease to amaze me. Best arena ever. The Gophers are probably going to pull their netminder in the 1st. Some Twitter guy Mike McMahon doesn't know the difference between OpEx and CapEx, private vs public funding, or discretionary vs budgetary (non-discretionary) spending. The NCAA does not care what's under the scoreboard. They don't care anymore period. They have new traditions to ruin, schools to shame, and event revenue from which to siphon. People like to bitch about stuff they don't understand, which doesn't affect them, they aren't invested in, but yet they still benefit from. This editor has a numbered list formatter thingy. I still miss Dippin Dots... and Tawny Kitaen on the car hood. taz

Kudos on the Omaha trip! I'm booked for Denver, so I have to wait a few more weeks to see my beloved Sioux on their road to PWR recovery. It is going to be splendid.

Well... not so sure about that... It was a must win game for a young team playing in front of an aged, rodent-hating, hyper-partisan, liquored-up crowd who had just shelled out gobs of dough to take their family on an extended weekend at an expensive locale all because of an October game between two "also-rans". Coach: "No pressure, boys, but I'm told they just ran out of beer before puck drop."

...and I do this at no charge to SS.

You have immediately redeemed yourself with this; solid play.

WARNING! Rational thinking above, high risk of creampuff triggers! Read only while under supervision by your Safe Space Facilitator and with stuffed teddy firmly in clutch.

Hey SS Dipshits: This thread clearly needs some adult thinking and perspective, so Taz is happy to oblige. Many of you creampuffs appear to be personally offended by UND's recent struggles, somehow expecting to be assuaged your strife as the most noble of professions: the disappointed, untalented fan. Yes. Tough to sit and watch others work, try, and at times fail at a high competitive level while you shart your undies from too much Juul fruit medley and creme brulee vape. Why not work on improving your own self-esteem rather than expecting a college athlete to do it for you? Of course, I'm a big Hakstol fan, and Blais before that, and Gasparini... you get the picture. But, I also dig me some coach Brad Berry big time. Let's just remind ourselves what the relatively short Berry Era has produced: 2016: Natty #8. The Frozen Four performance solidifies he can coach at a high level, big games, big talent. He also showed such caring and humility afterwards to members of his fan base back home that sadly many will never know just how nice and genuine a person he is. 2016: UND 4, BC 3 at Madison Square Garden: Epic awesomeness-- big stage, big exposure. Equals 1 National Title in Taz' book of sweet-ass Sioux memories. Thank you, Sir. May we have another? 2018: UND 3, UofM 1. Berry and his team say "Yes, you may have another!" and it was so, so delicious . What a great time for those who actually nutted up and traveled there. A coaching and execution performance well deserving of our respect. Not quite Natty level, but pretty darn close. So, spew away into your keyboards. I'm going to continue to enjoy all of this epic winning with all of my true Sioux faithful traveling to exotic locale, draining local bars of their inventory, and furthering the greatness that is North Dakota. Go Sioux!! taz

Taz far more concerned about the mob of ladies, aggressors driven by animal lust, which accompanies my presence at any locale. Go Sioux, Nashville Baybay!! taz

Getting fired will do that to you.

Sioux Nation invading Golden Knights territory could be quite a scene. Is it October yet? taz

Now, THAT's a logo.

Go Sioux!!

I've watched these two play several times and no question they are a constant threat and can generate tremendous offense. Even though it's a long way to big boy hockey and there are a lot of other kids who don't really come into it until age 15-16, it's still quite an accomplishment. All the best to them. I look forward to watching them succeed; just not against the Sioux. Hengen's quotes are a bit over the top, although I'm not sure what else he can possibly say given the circumstances. Things become a bit self-fulfilling in elite youth hockey groupthink. My only recommendation to those talented, team-first, grinder-type kids who never get noticed on the absurd "it's all about the goals" youthhockeyhub strokefest is that they keep working and playing hard for as long as they love it. Plenty of roads to get where you want to be, whether it's hockey or your next passion. taz

The video is actually good humor, a bit self deprecating. I've grown to appreciate Ms Dunst. She does this, and then goes and hits it out of the park with her work on the Fargo miniseries. Or maybe it's just the outfit. taz

If Recruit X actually thinks that way, then I fear they may struggle to maintain academic eligibility, even at the NDSCC.

Good point, here they are celebrating that success...

Ahm, yeeeeaaah... that's quite a stretch. But, no question it's been a strong past 12 months. So, if heaven forbid we suffer another drought the next few years, will you attribute that to the lingering effects of the Sioux Forever fanbase? Energy somehow redirected again? This cause-effect relationship does not hold under any reasonable scrutiny or historical fact. We've been winning at each level for quite some time. I'm inclined to give Student Athletes more credit. Rather than wringing their hands worrying about nickname stuff, they are training, hard, and looking to the best college programs to further their athletic careers, as well as academics. They don't come to UND just because they get to wear a peace dove on their jersey or helmet, but they come to compete at a high level. Sioux or Hawk, they come to have success and win, period. taz

How does one prepare for such an event? It seems as though this is the near perfect confluence of factors: Vegas, hockey, Sioux, Gophers, alcohol, weekend. New York was special, if even a bit regal. Whereas, the presence of the filthy rodent, in a town known for sin, just seems like trouble is in the making. Oh the stories we will tell, our children will tell to theirs. It is going to be epic. taz

Likely because law enforcement might be blocking that snuff film from public distribution, using it as evidence in their criminal investigation. Oh my, was that a beat down. I honestly don't like those games, tough to watch. Let me be clear, no softening from me for the great Dean Blais and his boys. UND really needs a sweep this weekend for NCHC standings and PWR cushion so there can be no letting up from the Kelly Green. But, holy moly that's ridiculous. I recall Saturday November 9th, 1996, Gophers pounded a Dean Blais led Sioux team 10-6. Dean and team responded just fine that season. taz