oldralph

Then why is it the team never looks prepared and pretty much always falls behind at the F4 if you believe they are well prepared? Which F4 other than the first one did our team look prepared ? Even this year that first period stunk. One other thing, if we don't score a goal on the PP in both the WCHA F5 and the NCAA regional, shouldn't that be a point of emphasis leading up to the F4? I'd sure hate to think they worked on that for two weeks considering how it looked. It was just plain bad. Hak had to know the only way Michigan could beat us was to slow us down with the clutch and grab, and our PP should have been the difference, but it was MIA...again. No PP goals in the last 5 playoff games is not good. I guess I choose to disagree on the preparation of the team leading into the F4 as I've said the same thing after the prior 3 F4's too. Oh well, maybe next time he can prove me wrong. Hopefully someday we shall overcome. Never looks prepared? Like beating Denver 6-1 in the regional final? Maybe Hak quit preparing once they got to the Frozen Four. Which part of F4 didn't you understand? The regional is one thing, the F4 on the big stage is another, and we don't do well on it. Yup, we make it there but success there has been completely absent. Yes, we ran into a hot goalie but you'd think our PP would have looked better seeing we hadn't scored a goal on it in 4 games prior to the F4. I think I'd have worked hard on that during my 2 weeks off and if we did it sure didn't pay off. We didn't even get any really good shots on it. Can't blame the goalie for that. 5 on 5 we were the better team. Special teams are what win in the playoffs and ours were missing once again. No, I'm not in the fire Hak group but I think the learning curve for him is quite steep. Deano would have brought one or two home by now...without a doubt. I just hope he gets over that hump soon, it's getting harder and harder to get excited for the NCAA's. Of course, I could be a gopher fan and then life would really suck!

You mean like in the last 3 F4 losses to BC then? We did look a lot like SC. Were you in St. Louis? Were they prepared? Good grief. Yup, Hak does a good job of developing players for the NHL. If you want to be a farm team instead of a NC team then you're in the right place.

Then why is it the team never looks prepared and pretty much always falls behind at the F4 if you believe they are well prepared? Which F4 other than the first one did our team look prepared ? Even this year that first period stunk. One other thing, if we don't score a goal on the PP in both the WCHA F5 and the NCAA regional, shouldn't that be a point of emphasis leading up to the F4? I'd sure hate to think they worked on that for two weeks considering how it looked. It was just plain bad. Hak had to know the only way Michigan could beat us was to slow us down with the clutch and grab, and our PP should have been the difference, but it was MIA...again. No PP goals in the last 5 playoff games is not good. I guess I choose to disagree on the preparation of the team leading into the F4 as I've said the same thing after the prior 3 F4's too. Oh well, maybe next time he can prove me wrong. Hopefully someday we shall overcome.

I have to say this is something I've noticed about Hakstol's coaching style over the years...he doesn't worry about the other team. He only tries to prepare his team to play it's best hockey. That's not a bad thing per se, but I would like to tell him he might want to consider attacking the other team's weaknesses and guarding against their strengths, as there is another team on the ice to worry about other than his. You know for sure Red B had a game plan against us and he shut us down. Yorkie in BC loves to exploit our teams weaknesses, but what does our coaching staff do to prepare for the opposition? I'm just saying that in order to win it all you have to cover all the angles and developing a game plan and looking at the tendencies of the other team have to be considered....it's not good enough to just take care of yourself as you end up losing this way. Wake up Hak, everyone is game planning against our Sioux and doing it very successfully. Give it a try sometime and you might just bring home that NC. Other than that Hak's a decent coach and I like the pride he instills in the program, but he/we will never win it all till he prepares for what the other teams do and don't do well, and not just prepare his team to play it's best. Fire Hak? No. But someone please tell him he needs a strategy against the opponents that is special for special games (aka F4). Now, rip away on me. Cya.

] So I guess everyone believes Derek Rodwell will be sitting? I for one don't think so considering his size and supposed abilities.

Wrongo Gopher-Bison. The nickname will not die in my life-time and I hope to live another 30 years. It may be retired, but it sure won't be dead! Long live the Fighting Sioux!

Thanks, I didn't notice that for sure. Blind in one eye and....

I don't think he's a volunteer coach anymore...I think they pay him. Not sure though, but I thought they added him to the payroll last year.

True enough, but there will be other elections and we know politicians love to be in there for life! If JH does nothing then I vote for Tracy Potter...plain and simple. Do you think the AG has a chance next election? How about the other two biggies running that keep running from this issue....won't vote for them either. They all act like they shouldn't get involved but the fact is, this is a people of ND issue....like it or not. Get with it Hoeven, it's time to act!

I'd say so, did anyone care that NDSU went D1? I still believe it was a huge mistake for UND to go D1. NDSU may feel differently but now they are a goldfish in an ocean rather than a shark in the tank. Sure, once in awhile they'll make the BB tourney and be one and done but that's all it will garner from D1. Let's face it, do you want to go to NDSU in frigid ND or UCLA in sunny Cal. And D1AA is a joke. Nobody even watches their NC game. I bet more people watch D2.

I thought Mankato was a cow? Or had a cow...or something....

Yes, this year they actually had a decent start. How about the other 5 years under Hakstol? Who did we lose those years? I hear a lot of excuses but we had a team that was red hot and didn't even show up until the 3rd period against Yale. I don't know what the real problem is but the only Sioux team that showed up in the final game of the NCAA's with a real good effort was Hak's first team. If Denver doesn't get the bounces we would have beaten them...we sure outplayed them. The other times we fell behind every game (except New Hampshire where we found a way to lose it late-real late) and had to come charging back. Our NCAA appearances are a reflection of our regular season. We start very slow then come on late. I think it's too little too late. We need to be ready for the drop of the puck whether it's for the season or for a game. Same thing with St. Cloud in the WCHA Championship game this year. Same thing against Wisconsin a couple years ago in Madison....down 2-0 after 2 and tied it up and won in OT. I just don't understand the lack of preparation and mental attitude in these big games. If it's the goofers we're raring to go. Tell em they're playing the goofers and I say they come out flying. Something has to change or we're never going to win another NCAA championship.

That's exactly the problem under Hakstol. Every year we have to push down the stretch to get home ice and into the NCAA's. Our players have nothing left once we get there. They are either pooped out or hurt. This is a pattern I would like to see changed. Let's come out early and play well; lots of other teams do it, why can't we? Let's try to rest some of the key players prior to the NCAA's instead of playing them with injuries just to get there. UND needs to put it together sooner during the season so we're not in playoff mode in January! Playoffs wear a team out. Being in playoff mode for 2 1/2 months wears a team out. I don't like this pattern and if we keep doing it we'll keep getting the same results. Hak needs to figure out how to motivate his teams earlier. For once it would be nice to go into the playoffs healthy and with some energy. We had none in the first 2 periods against Yale....and BC scored 9 goals on them! Ok, I'm done.....

I'm kind of with you on this. Me and a buddy usually go to the Final 5 but were unable to make it this year. The last time we didn't go...guess what...we won it then too. I will be accepting donations to keep me out of St. Paul during the next F5. Address to be posted later :D

I think Hak still has one more hurdle to clear....win a National Championship. Getting to the Frozen 4 is nice (4 times), but getting there and being embarrassed is not my idea of a great season. Hopefully we can get there and NOT give up 6 goals in a losing cause. There...some pessimism in this optimistic post :-) Go Sioux!!!!!

I've heard Fienhage has a broken thumb. I know they've said he is a healthy scratch, but someone close to him told me he was at a party and his thumb was all bandaged up. Don't know if this is true or not but it would make sense as I don't believe Davidson is better than Fienhage. If it is true I'm guessing he'll be playing with a broken thumb if Gleason is out. I saw him limp off too and thought it might be serious.

Yup, you're right...I completely missed it. And maybe I am a bit negative. But that's only because it does mean a lot to me...maybe more than it should. That said, Go Sioux!

Who said the team wouldn't win another game? I'd be shocked to see another NC under the current coaching staff , but we'll be a decent team...if that's good enough for ya'll then so be it. "Close the Ralph and lock the doors" was gleaned from "But I didn't say much about their record...more to the style of hockey that's being played and how they've done in the big games over the past 5 years. The way people around here try to stay so positive it sounds to me like they are happy with the status quo". Like I said earlier, don't question the methods of the coaching staff or say anything negative about their results...they're untouchable. I will continue to question them until they prove me wrong, and I won't apologize for it.

You are such a wise man; a sage almost. But I didn't say much about their record...more to the style of hockey that's being played and how they've done in the big games over the past 5 years. The way people around here try to stay so positive it sounds to me like they are happy with the status quo.....that just getting there is the feat in and of itself! I remember back when our winning percentage in the NCAA's was over 70% and we showed up for big games. I'm not seeing that under this regime. Just my two cents and being it's not glowingly positive I guess I should have kept that to myself.....

I am just amazed at how if you are critical of the team or coaches you are not a fan. Why can't we criticize the team or the coaches when we're not happy with how it's going? I am tired of watching this team come up short but I'm still watching. I've missed about 5 games in the last 20 years so have taken the good with the bad and haven't exited the bandwagon yet, but I'm not happy with what I'm seeing and I don't feel it's wrong to say so. Personally I'd like to see a more open style of hockey like Blais and Gasparini had when they were here. Were they perfect; hell no. Did they stand to be criticized when warranted; well by-gosh I think so. Does Hak need to hear about it when we're not happy; by-gosh I think so. How about the players, they are known to read these boards...do you think they stand to hear from the fans. If it were me I would just be more fired up to prove the poster's wrong. I don't believe Hak is getting all the offense out of these kids they are capable of. Yes, he develops players for the pros but I'm not worried about the pros, I want the school to win. People around these parts are becoming content with becoming the new gophers prior to Lucia coming in (and not so hot lately either). With Woog they always got there and always choked (aka the Golden Chokers). Are we fans supposed to be happy just getting there now? I don't think so...we want to win when we get there and Pro player development be damned. I for one would like to see Hak and Co. open it up a little more. Where's the speed of Danny Kristo we saw at the WJC's? Why don't I see that kind of speed out of him here? I'd like an answer to that. I have a theory, but I'm sure I'd get pounded into submission if I postulate it. How did we lose with 6 seconds on the clock against NH last year? Take a look at the injured players Hak had out on the ice and you'll know why. Why weren't they instructed to tackle them......lots of questions. Why is Dell the one to be pulled out when he gives up a few and when Eids is having a bad night (Minny) Hak leaves him in. Ok, I've said a few things I'm sure I'll get pounded on for but I want this team to win another NC and I'm not seeing it happen the way things are going. I also understand this is a young team but that doesn't explain the lack of showing up in some of the Frozen Fours we've participated in. Hak is a decent coach but I don't believe his style bodes well in the big game or for the future of this program. And yes, it would help if someone would put the puck in the net! Ok, blast away...I'm tired of whining and your all probably tired of hearing it.

I'm not sure....all losses by one goal (except the last one)? This team would be high in the standings with a shutdown goalie. I don't think Eids is as good as either Lammy or Parise before him, who often stole games for us. Eids isn't stealing any.

Eids better start questioning his goalie coach. I'm not seeing a lot of improvement in his game; if anything he's regressed. To me it's a lack of concentration as well as fundamentals. I don't think it's anything that can't be fixed, but I don't see anyone fixing it as he's making similar mistakes to last year. I thought he was pretty decent last year too, until the playoffs started, then I'm not sure what happened but he didn't look like the same goalie. His numbers are good, yes, but on this team most goalies are going to have decent numbers. They really should be up around .920 instead of .901. My two cents....don't come down on me for it...you know what they say about opinions.

I doubt a Badger would become a Sioux.....maybe if the price was right, but there is a good example of a great goalie coach. About the Coach: - Assistant coach and Goalie coach at the University of Wisconsin for 36 years who tests, uses and updates his teaching methods every year while coaching at all age levels year round. - Developed 8 NHL goalies who have been outstanding goalies in the NHL, including Jim Carey, Mike Richter and Curtis Joseph and present NHL Ottawa goalie Brian Elliott. - Developed 8 NCAA Division I All American Goalies, including an All American in 2004 and in 2006 - Involved as an assistant/goalie coach in all 6 of Wisconsin

I guess that's one way to do it, but I'm guessing a hands on approach with the goalie coach there during games and practices would be more productive. Instant feedback as opposed to a mail it in approach. We have lots of former tenders and some in the area that would probably donate their time to help out with our goalies. I've heard Pierre Lamoureux is a great technical goalie and he's in town. Anyone ever ask him? He did a pretty good job with Phil... I'm not trying to volunteer him, I'm just saying we have some good past goalies that could help out with minimal costs to the program. The cost/benefit might be worth the effort.