siouxrunner

Going with green for helmets and pants/breezers would be nice, as I've said before. This would mean that the team would have to carry two helmets for each player, which does not seem that outlandish (I think black equip. will look best with green and black jerseys). For the pants, reebok makes shells for the pads in the pants in multiple colors. The team would only have to have a black shell and a green shell for each player to make that work. I think it's feasible. Won't happen this year, but it would be nice to see it next year. Anyone with photoshop skills that could give us a look at what the white sweater with green helmet and pants would look like?

I thought the new uniforms looked good on the ice. I continue to like the change of replacing (what used to be) black with green in places like the number, name on back (NOB) and captaincy letters. Interesting that the trim on the NOB was different than the numbers. The Edge scoop hemline wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but it would still be much better if they changed to a straight bottom hemline. It was nice to see the black-white-green-white-black stripe pattern from the uniform reproduced on the socks, pants and gloves, but I still think the home whites would look 10 times better with green pants and helmet. The black equipment will look nice with both the green and black sweaters though.

It'd be fun to see UND do well in the poll, but it's a little obsolete now that we've ditched that uni design. As an aside, do you think THN couldn't find a picture of an authentic jersey? I mean come on. The one they have presented is a replica...and not a very good one at that. Also, the green jersey was the best of that style.

There was mention of a new black jersey as well...I didn't see it when I was at the fan fest, but if you look at the first picture in this gallery, on the right side in the background you can see what appears to be Zajac with the new black uni.

As Uni Watch always says, when judging a new jersey, you have to ask only one question: "Is it good or is it stupid." I say this change is mostly good. Would have been nice to see the socks, pants and helmets as well, but I guess I can wait. It would be nice to see the team go back to green helmets, gloves and pants with the white jerseys, and black equipment with the green jerseys. I think the green equipment could look really sharp with the white jersey. First of all, I'm surprised to see the amount of negative reaction. Going to the reebok edge jersey could have been a disaster in so many ways. Have any of you seen the Oilers or Panthers or Flames NHL jerseys? I'm extremely happy they didn't include the apron strings or half sleeve striping like so many other edge jerseys. No extraneous or pointless piping = Good. The seams on the front of the jersey dictate how big the logo can be, which is why it has been sized down slightly. I'm guessing it was either that, or get rid of the wordmark and put a bigger logo on the front. I could go either way, but I think they probably made the right choice with keeping the Sioux wordmark on the front. Also, it looks like they will stay with vertically arched lettering (VAL), which is much better than radially arched in my opinion. The white trim on the Sioux name on the white jersey is unnecessary, but not terrible. Also, don't forget they could have eliminated the logo all together and just went with North Dakota. Keep logo, VAL = Good. The jerseys feel somewhat like a cheap replica at first, but that is simply because we are used to the heavy dazzle material and the reebok edge jerseys are much lighter weight. I don't really subscribe to all the 17% lighter company dribble, but I have to imagine the players will like this a lot. The previous jerseys were nice, but they were heavy, and seemed to hold moisture. Lighter weight = Good. IMO, the multiple stripes on the hem and sleeves is a good thing. It will look nice on the socks as well, assuming they repeat the same stripe pattern. Again, you only have to look at some of the socks in the NHL right now to see how bad this could have been. Let's face it, stripes and hockey go hand-in-hand. That is a classic look. The green cuff on the white jersey could have been a bit smaller (similar to the black on the Chicago Blackhawks white uni) but I'll reserve judgement on that until I see it paired with gloves on the ice. Also, limiting the black on the two jerseys is nice to see. While I'd like to see them get rid of the black altogether, it doesn't seem forced on the new jerseys. Stripes & limited black = Good The shoulder patch change was expected, but I'd say as far as the hockey team, it's neither good nor stupid - more like change for change's sake. I think the biggest detriment to these jerseys is the rounded hem. With the white jerseys especially, it is just not a good look. Putting the WCHA patch at the bottom of the hem on the back simply highlights this part of the jersey, and is a regrettable move in my opinion. Again, the shape is due to the reebok edge jersey design, but it looks silly. I'd like to see this part of the jersey cut back to a straight hem in the future. In the NHL, the Rangers actually flipped up the hem in the back and stitched it in place to make it look like a more traditional jersey during the first year they wore the design. Highlighting the already stupid rounded hem with the WCHA patch placement = Stupid. As for the reebok wordmark on the front, with the vector logo on the back, I say colossally stupid. But, not any more so than when it was a nike swoosh right above the Sioux name. I guess I'm of the same mind as the author of this site when it comes to company names/logos on uniforms. We haven't seen numbers or names on the backs yet, but it looks like they'll stick with the same font as before. I hope they don't stick a number on the front shoulder area, but I'm not too worried because it doesn't seem likely. Overall I think this is a great design change. I was a fan of the old jerseys, but they needed to be updated, especially the material. I think these will look sharp on the ice, especially if they go to green equipment with the white jersey.

Renovating the old Ralph is not a good idea. The land is better suited being used by the EERC. Consider that the EERC is actually growing during the recession, and you get an idea of the space needs there over the next 5-10 years. I used the old Ralph as a practice facility for track for a couple of years at UND. It was cramped, with tight corners, and not good for running. Also, I cannot imagine the football team using any of the space in there for practice, which is one of the main goals for an indoor facility. As a track/XC athlete, we constantly brought up the issue of not having an indoor training facility. The teams with indoor tracks (USD, Mankato, NDSU) consistently landed better recruits and finished higher at conference meets, both outdoor and indoor. We were always told it was being worked on and was a high priority. Well, do you think the track coach/Athletic department has called me, a former runner who went through harsh winters of outdoor training, for support of an indoor track? Nope. It seems like there are avenues that the AD could be pursuing as far as funding before they settle for trying to make the old Ralph work.

I agree with this 100%. I see the very same things...and it makes me wonder what I am missing since the coaching staff continues to play him in key situations.

I could see Duncan coming back and coaching at UND in the future. He seems like the kind of player who could end up being a coach...maybe as head coach, maybe as an assistant. If I were a betting man, I'd put money on it.

So UND has been playing hockey since the 1946-1947 season. (There were a few games back in the

I thought Blood played very well last night. I honestly like him in the lineup better than LaPoint. It seems like LaPoint is often hesitant with the puck in the defensive zone. I think Blood is lacking some footspeed, but he is a solid d-man. He seems to make good decisions with the puck. Once he gains a little quickness, he will be a very important player for UND. That said I like Jones in the lineup. He's stronger and faster, and you don't like to have one of your captains in the stands. I like UND to win tonight...I'll say 5-3 with an empty net goal.

Anyone know where we can find the attendance numbers for the rest of the schools in the country? I'm having trouble finding anything on it other than the Herald release.

Congrats to my 3 former teammates, Litz, Fick, and Heidi. Heidi was probably one of the best all around athletes in a long time at UND. Good for her to win the first ever NCAA outdoor title for the Sioux women. For Litzinger especially, this must be very rewarding. A couple years ago he wasn't even sure he would throw again after surgery on his knee. What a way to end a career for an unrecruited walk-on athlete. Heckuva nice guy too.

use the organ more than once a month make the pregame videos available to the public through the arena's website

Using your logic, we would also be well advised to drop women's softball, both golf teams, women's tennis, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's track, men's and women's swimming/diving, and maybe even women's volleyball. None of them draw "crowds" either. We'll keep football, basketball, and hockey. I think you can see where I'm going with this...it is not the goal or objective of every athletic team at UND to make money and draw big crowds. Sport diversity within the athletic department is important. Maybe baseball no longer fits in with Sioux athletics when we leave division II, but don't make the mistake of assuming it should be dropped just because they can't bring in crowds the way the basketball or football teams do.

It seems to me Duncan has a knack for shooting the puck to the area of the net that the goalie isn't covering. More often than not last year, that opening was high glove side. I think the perception that high glove is the only kind of goal Hobey, er, Ryan can score will help him next year. Goalies will undoubtably cheat there, and in doing so, will leave other areas open.

Corrected your post.

I saw this guy eating lunch with Coach Eades today. Anyone know anything about him?

5th place game is usually played in the Olympic rink. I imagine they could play the 3rd place game over there too.

I never said we need a new basketball arena. It was just a "for instance." I agree that future basketball games will probably be housed in the Ralph, but if some alumnus says "hey, I want to build you guys a new basketball game facility with this $20M I've got sitting around," I bet UND would be willing to build one. My point was that UND could group all new athletic facilities, no matter what their purpose in one location (Ray Richards). I wasn't trying to speculate on what particular facilities UND needs.

What kind of practice do you think they do? I'm pretty sure they could practice at King's Walk without much problem. They'd be either at the range (no problem there) on the practice greens (no problem) or on the course, and it isn't like the teams have 50 golfers each. 10 on the women's team and 12 on the men's side. You're talking two or three tee times a day, a couple days a week, if the players are practicing together. A few tee times here and there wouldn't be a big deal...I bet it could be arranged.

Re: locations for new athletic facilities At first glance, UND seems to be running out of room that would be best suited to be used by the athletic department. The soccer field probably should (and will) go to the med school. I think the EERC will make the best use of the land currently occupied by the old Ralph (and maybe even further west to Columbia). I think if Hyslop is remodeled/torn down, the site would probably be better served for academics. The Bronson property sounds like it will be developed with a hotel, retail and residential construction. So where will our new indoor track, baseball field, swimming pool, basketball game facility, etc., etc. go? How about a piece of land already used by UND "athletics." I'm guessing that Ray Richards Golf Course will be "taken over," so to speak, when we move to Division I. I'm sure the course makes some money, but probably not much. It isn't a championship course by any stretch, and the golf teams already play most home events at King's Walk anyway. And as great as it is for spectators, the cross country course set up there leaves MUCH to be desired for the runners. I doubt there would be much fuss if the golf course is converted to an "athletics campus." It would create somewhat of a split between athletic programs location-wise, with hockey and volleyball being at the Ralph/Betty, but I don't really see that as a problem. Thoughts?

Wow. According to whom?

My take on the captains for next season, sans Toews Chorney - C Kaip - A Duncan - A Bina - A If Toews comes back... Chorney - C Kaip - A Toews - A Bina - A I really think Chorney will wear the C next year...although if it goes to anyone else I think it will Kaip.

This happened once a couple years ago. The microphone for the girl that was singing wasn't working, and there was a brief moment where it was quiet. Then the whole crowd started singing and finished the anthem. It wasn't as enthusiastic as you see in the NHL playoffs in Canada, but it was a really cool moment. I think the people at the Ralph tried to re-create the moment a game or two later, but it didn't really work.