I Ranger

I agree. He is easily the most talented player in the country when he wants to be but I saw two maybe three shifts the whole game where he looked interested. If he played with Rau's intensity, he would be scary good. Just hate player's that waste their talent. If you would have told me at the beginning of the season that Bjugstad wouldn't even make the top 10 Hobey candidates I would have said you were crazy.

I think your first two are correct but the third will be Caggulia-Pattyn-St. Clair. I'd like to see Mitch Mac-Gaarder-Rodwell fourth line and spot them a shift or two per period. Let's not wait until we are down to roll these lines.

I hope the boys are careful around the boards today. After watching this first game, you better not hit anyone too close to the boards or you will be sitting in the box. Go Sioux!

Jim, based on your calculations it looks like Niagra is basically a lock. Looks like there will be a ton of interest in the Atlantic hockey tourney this weekend and a whole lot of Niagra fans except for Quinnipiac as they would most likely get the autobid if Niagra doesn't win.

I think you hit the nail on the head here. Bemidji shut down that line and Hak realized he needed to get more scoring throughout the lineup which is why Rocco was switched. I've said all year this team goes as far as the Rowney line can take them. That line, whoever is on it, needs to provide secondary if not primary scoring throughout the playoffs and I think it starts with Rowney elevating his game (Parks as well). Moving Rocco there obviously increases the chances.

I'm thinking getting forced to game 3 may have been a blessing for this team. I haven't seen an all-around performance like last night maybe all year. Hopefully it was a wakeup call and they can carry this play forward for the remainder of the year.

I'm guessing he is dinged up a bit. I don't think they would make a change like that without it being an injury. Panzarella hasn't played in a while.

Rocco from Parks and Rowney

I think it's safe to say that they want to spread out the scoring. I think that is the sole reason they were so hesitant to try Rocco on the top line in the first place.

After being in Omaha, I don't think there is any chance Nebraska would or should start a program. Most of the people I ran into had no idea there was hockey going on that weekend and everyone of them said we only care about Nebraska football here. Just don't think there would be enough fan support. They need to have only one program in that state in which they currently have.

I'm more cocerned about our defense than most. I am betting Forbort is gone and that leaves Simpson, Mattson, Schmaltz and Panzarella as the only returners and probably Ladue, Crisfield and a young Thompson coming in. That doesn't look like this extremely strong D-core that others are mentioning.

No thanks on that one. Region of death.

Mueller aged out of the U-18 team his senior year of high school and since he hadn't graduated from high school he either had to play in the USHL for a year and then go to the U or go Major Junior. He decided major junior was his best route. Not really similar to Miller in that Miller bailed in the late summer without any time to replace him as Mueller left a full year before he was going to play for the U. He wasn't a great student from what I understand but I don't know if there were any academic reasons behind it or not.

I have to agree with you here. Two weekends in a row and I have never been so bored at REA. No flow, no sustained offensive pressure and still shady D play. I,like you, am by no means calling for a coach change but if the lines aren't totally changed up tonight I will start questioning. There isn't one line right now that is even close to clicking and you can throw in the D pairs in there as well. Way too much talent to be playing this poorly.

This really is too bad for the Glendale area. I have been to a few Coyotes games while I was visiting over the past few years and the area around the rink is nice. Nothing like having a drink sitting outside at a restaurant in 60-70 degree weather about 50 feet from your entrance. Pretty cool area around the arena.

I will be there. Not overly excited about it though as I'm just not a big fan of outdoor gimmick games. I am more excited for the friday night game as I think it will be quite a large crowd and an intense game. I have just never seen an outdoor game have anywhere near the quality of play that an indoor game has.

And it's always scouts and professionals that he hears it from. There must be a scout in the Sioux locker room daily over the Hak tenure that relays this information to him. Or portraying students and hanging out with the hockey players away from the rink to get dirt.

Certainly not comparable but like was mentioned in a previous post, there is no doubt Frattin was hurt by his off-ice incidents (plural). I think Frattin wins it without the off-ice incidents as I have read at the time that many voters wouldn't vote for him based on his past run-ins.

I guess I would be a prime example of the other end as well. Born and raised on the Iron Range in Gopher and Bulldog country and I am as big a Sioux fan as you will find and as big of a Gopher hater as you will find. To each their own I guess.

Ask and you shall receive I guess. Looks like a nice pickup.

Anyone know if this has been confirmed or not? I haven't seen anything on it and Schlossman usually gets in touch with a new recruit after they committ.

I think even though he hasn't played well at all this year that we need to find a way to get O'Donnell going and fit int0 the lineup. I know Hak liked the Pattyn-St. Clair-Rodwell line to start the year and I really like that as our fourth line if we can find three other solid lines to go with it. What those are, I'm not sure at this point but O'Donnell picking up his play could be the difference for this team.

I guess this is the one thing I forgot in my rant. MacWilliam was horrible all weekend. He definitely needs to pick up his play. It is remarkable to me that even he was losing puck battles when he shouldn't lose many if any. i would have to watch replays but i believe he was responsible for a couple of the goals last night.

Here are my observations/rant from last night that I just want to get out. I would assume some if not all might have been mentioned in this thread but I don't feel like reading 19 pages. 1. I don't think I would have played Schmaltz the last 8-10 minutes of the game and especially OT. He was obviously overwhelmed this weekend and has a long ways to go. I don't know how we sit Gleason and Mattson for a game or two for Panzarella and Schmaltz hasn't sat yet. I think he has been our worst D all year. 2. I've never seen a Sioux team lose so many puck battles along the boards expecially in their own end and especially the D (see tying goal) in my life. Come on Berry work your magic. 3. Rocco was the best player on the ice for the last two periods and a half. He needs to play with better talent period. He almost took the game over himself. 4. Why St. Clair hadn't played the last two games amazes me. I thought he played well last night and has been one of our most consistent forwards all year. 5. Jim can do his job at times but their are better options especially on the big sheet. He helps with depth but I don't like him in the lineup unless we have injuries. 6. I thought Zane was pretty good but we just can't seem to make the key save when we need to. 7. I thought Mitch might have been the answer last weekend with Knight and Kristo but this weekend he was exposed. I think we have to try Rocco there. End of rant for now.

So it was Avery Peterson I'm assuming? I saw orange on his jacket. Must have been his Grand Rapids jacket.