Doc Nodak

Here's the link to the story in the Wisconsin State Journal: http://www.wisconsinstatejournal.com/sports/8984.html To be honest, I can't believe that Sauer has hung on this long. It's been apparent for some time that his Badger teams have lacked discipline and speed. A renewed Wisconsin program will make the WCHA even stronger, but could make recruiting a little tougher for some schools. Denver may have to cough up some big bucks to keep George Gwozdecky (a UW alum) as their coach.

My favorite chapter in the book is "The Wisconsin wars: 1981-1982." Great memories. The Sioux were national champs in '80 and '82. The Badgers were national champs in '81 and '83. A couple of quotes: "Between the Sioux (12 players) and Wisconsin (nine), a mind-boggling 21 players who battled in the 1982 title game in Providence, R.I., went on to play in the National Hockey League." "All of Gasparini's freshman (81-82) recruits--Archibald, Sherven, Patrick, Zombo, Donnelly and Tippett--went on to play in the NHL. Has any college ever had a better rookie class?"

Dagies, a word of advice: don't tell the Commodore-Westrum story on PrideOnIce.com. "Sabrina" will melt your computer with venom.

HKNTSMN, I respect your opinion and I'm glad that you take the time to contribute here. Thanks! You are probably right about Spiewak and Notermann on the PP. Afterall, Blais has been putting them out there pretty consistently for two years and the last I heard he was pretty well respected coach.

Kuhnica, I think that you are overly fascinated with stat sheet. Why didn't our upper classmen score? They didn't have the puck much. Why didn't they have the puck? Two reasons: the Sioux couldn't get the puck out of our own end and the Gophers excelled at getting the puck out of their own end. In other words, the Gophers are a better team right now and the ability of their defensemen to move the puck is the biggest difference between the two teams. I'm not down on the Sioux. They have improved dramatically, especially in their level of intensity. They have talent. It just hasn't quite ripened yet..

The Sioux were not screwed by Adam on Sunday. I think he called a reasonable game--at least by WCHA standards. The DeMarchi decapitation of Palmiscno on Saturday was a different story. That definitely should have been a major penalty.

My take on the Sioux so far: Goaltending: I think we are going to like this Siembida fellow! Jake Brandt has put together four consecutive solid games and he deserves to play again soon. In the past month, goaltending has went from poor to good. Defense: The Sioux have six pretty good defensemen, but no Travis Roche or Jordan Leopold. Schneekloth and Mazurak have had lapses in their own end (better recently), but (at this stage) have the most playmaking ability. David Hale is very solid, but I don't think he is great at moving the puck. Schneider and Jones have been good--but they are definitely still freshmen. Either or both could be All-American candidates before they are through. Nick Fuher has been a pleasant surprise. Overall, a good group--but not nearly as proficient at moving the puck (and certainly not as dangerous offensively) as Minnesota's fantastic group of Leopold, Martin, Ballard, and Stevens. Forwards: Ryan Bayda has been Ryan Bayda. Skarperud might be the most improved player in the group. Lundbohm has been up and down. Spiewak and Notermann are outstanding role players but not big scoring threats. Ryan Hale, Brian Canady, Ryan Connelly, and Rory McMahon are their potential heirs. Those guys consistently bust their tails. Brandon Bochenski and James Massen are both potentially big-time goal scorers. Both have had lapses of intensity and both have taken some bad penalties. I still expect big things from Chris Fournier. Small, average speed, but eyes in the back of his head and great hands--I think he could end up being a John Pohl-type. Penalty Kill: Spiewak and Notermann have been excellent for three years. I personally don't like Bayda and Skarperud on the PK. I'd rather have them fresh for 5-5 and PP situations. I would like to see the coaches try Canady and Connelly here. Maybe McMahon. Power Play: Point men are adequate at best. Schneider and Fournier may pan out in time. Bayda, Skarperud, Bochenski can do the job down low. Probably Lundbohm and Massen, too. I don't like Spiewak and Notermann on the PP. They are better suited to 5-5 and PK. Overall: slow start, improving freshmen, some ups and downs. About what we expected. Probably a spoiler this year.

Re Chris Fournier: he tweaked his shoulder in practice last week. Apparently, it is a minor recurrence of a chronic problem. I'm told he should be back soon. I agree that Fournier has been coming on. I think he has the best playmaking skills on the team. I'd like to see Fournier and Bochenski together on one of the top lines, but for that to happen, they are both going to have to consistently play well in their own end and avoid dumb penalties.

Someone just mentioned Kevin Maxwell over on prideonice.com. Kevin Maxwell, oh yeah! The feisty little center played only one year year for the Sioux (78-79) before joining the Canadian Olympic team and then signing a pro contract. His first shift may have been the unofficial start of the "modern era" of Sioux hockey (and it happened to coincide with Gino Gasparini's first game as head coach. He scored 82 points as a freshman! He was dynamic enough to outshine teammates like Mark Taylor, Doug Smail, and David Christian. Some of the other Sioux freshmen in 78-79 (I think) were Cary Eades, Phil Sykes, Howard Walker, and Bob Iwabuchi..

dagies, I think you are pretty close. The official Shattuck site lists Zach as 5'10" and 170#. http://www.s-sm.org/hockey/prepros.html

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In the summer of 2000, I helped put the kids to bed one night and went out for a bike ride. I was pedalling down a path, feeling pretty good about myself when I heard the sound of someone rapidly coming up behind me. I pulled over slightly to the right and turned my head in time to see a young man on roller blades zoooooming by and off toward the horizon--Jeff Panzer! For one moment, I felt like a Gopher defenseman.

Blais is happy with the progress being shown by the team and he believes they will make a run at a home ice playoff spot. Chad Mazurak may be back in the lineup this weekend, but David Lundbohm is probably still out. The Sioux will take 3 goalies to Mpls. Siembida will probably play one game. Kollar is said to being showing signs in practice of regaining his confidence. Blais compared Brandon Bochenski's production as a freshman to guys like Bayda, Jeff Panzer, and Ian Kallay. He said that Bochenski and James Massen may be the most talented goal scorers on the team. Massen is finally starting to bloom. Oh...and Brady Murray (Zach Parise's linemate at Shattuck St. Mary's) has apparently verballed to UND. Murray is a junior, so he would not appear on campus until the fall of 2003.

This is...very...surreal... I guess we shouldn't be surprised that Blais won't accept the status quo. I hope he is able to balance the sense of urgency against the need of some of the young players for stability.