sagard

Maybe one the knowledgible Canadian fans can help here. What does it matter where a player gets picked in MJ hockey? Aren't most players getting simply expenses and maybe some education picked up? To me a player picking his team would rank a lot higher than draft position.

Lucia has been frustrated with them in the past as well. If I recall he didn't appreciate the lack of PT that Tallackson and maybe Guyer recieved in the '03 WJC. Hagemo should have sat both nights this weekend if he is banged up, so the Don is just as guilty as USA hockey.

Now you all are going to get me ranting. Why replace the scoreboard with some extravagant piece of crap with video when you by policy are not going to show a single replay of anything important. I'll tell you why. So the "U" can then sell commercial time to folks who wish to advertise on the scoreboard. So my season tickets go up so others can show me crap commercials. I guess I'll be thrilled to see the mug shots before the games. I wish I wasn't simply a bandwagon Vikings fan, then I at least could have truly enjoyed that Packer humiliation.

It was a matter of time before some Gopher railed Sterling, in this case it turned out to be Chucko. CC did a fantastic job baiting the Gophers all weekend. Three times tonight the Gophers took stupid retaliation/instigation penalties. In my opinion too much was expected from Chucko by many Gophers fans. He like Stafford last year entered as a 17 year old. His best hockey is a year or two away, I don't think he will be that much of a factor down the stretch. Other than tonights hit he really hasn't delivered many cheap shots. Tallackson has taken over for Ballard as king of the stickwork. He was brutal this weekend. It's not like the refs aren't going to notice a guy who is likely 6'-7" on skates wind up with his 3 wood and take some guy out. Had he focussed on getting back instead of whining about the waived off icing the Gophers might have taken the lead into the 1st intermission.

The main thing I think I've noticed is that the Sioux don't have as many kids from Canada on their roster anymore. I don't really think going four years without winning the NCAAs is truly a sign of a problem though. Especially do the fact that the Sioux have been NCAA runners up and have a couple of WCHA titles in that span.

I was sitting right behind Briggs and I think Stevens or some Gopher D-man backed into it and it crossed the line. The only way it wouldn't be good is if the ref had blown the whistle, but I don't think he did. About a minute after that play it looked like CC scored again but the net came up and puck slid under with play continuing. Did anyone see that or was I and my section imagining things? The Gophers margin for error is not large this year. If another scoring line does not emerge they will have a tough time the rest of the year. They obviously could still make it to the Frozen Four, but they would be unlikely to win either the McNaughton or Broadmoor. The two Colorado schools are the best I've seen this season. They both are fast and deep. CC may be a little vulnerable as well in the NCAAs due to their reliance on Sterling and Sertich. Very similar to the Gophs with DI and RP.

Even though it would clearly help UND, I hope this kid comes to UND and excels.

I think the scout was defending his draft pick. Goligoski will do fine eventually at higher levels than NCAA play. The primary difference to me was the WJC he could get by the first forechecker, but then the next player would be on him. In NCAA hockey, he seems to gets by the first forechecker and has more space to make better plays and decisions. His game is fantastic on the big sheets and with more exposure to higher competition he will improve.

The US team has disappointed a little, but the strength of this field is very strong. If the US does indeed manage to beat the Czechs this time around, it will have to be considered a decent showing for them. I personally felt at the beginning that nothing less than a silver to Canada would be a good effort, but after seeing the Russians play I don't think they lost due to lack of effort. They were certainly in the semi-final until midway through the third period. A couple of things that stood out to me is that the US did in fact have three returning defensemen and a returning goalie. The clearly should have performed more consistantly defensively. Goligoski has been lugging the puck out of the zone all year for the Gophers and he didn't seem to adjust to the competition level and make his decisions earlier and get rid of the puck on time. This led to his making bad passes and turnovers, which is something I have rarely seen from him during WCHA play. Suter was fantastic in the '04 WJC and the WCHA last year as a focussed stay at home defensemen. By expanding his offensive role, he seems to have been caught up ice more this tourney than anytime I saw him last year. Hagemo and Lee will likely return for next years team and should see expanded roles.

Conference games are not eligible either. It's a stupid rule created to try and create an element of surprise during tourney selection.

Currently the Sioux do not score bonus points due to Maine not being in the top 15. Rest assured when Maine rises to the top of the Eastern hacks, UND will get their bonus points.

Unbeknownst to many, there was a time keeping glitch at the end of the second period. Everyone thought the game was over and CSTV shut down the broadcast. Then in the "extra" time the Gophers tied it up and held on through the OT to gain a 2-2 tie.

Come on. No more recruiting those overage Canadians.

Also, the '01-'02 Sioux really weren't as bad as we are remembering them. Had they managed to hold two of the three third period leads they blew against the Gophers they would have had a winning record and likely would have qualified for the NCAAs like SCSU did the following year. I don't remember many other teams playing the Gophers tougher than the Sioux that year, of course the Gophers playing them seven times that year may have had something to do with it.

The Sioux will be right in the thick of things (as will the Gophers) whether or not the Gophers get Kessel for a season or two. The '01-'02 Sioux is a rare exception for the Sioux program. I expect programs like UND and UM to be NCAA tourney qualifiers a minimum of 9 of 10 years. Special recruits come and go, but the programs recruit so well there usually won't be too much of a dip.

You won't be seeing that final if the US can bounce back and defeat the Czechs. They need their best effort yet and force the Canadians and Russians into a semifinal tilt.

I don't think there is any question the US will need to improve defensively and in nets to win the tourney. When the tourney is finished we have a better feel for how good or bad the Swiss were. They need to get there game in order tonight and start playing there very best in the Czech game. Then maintain it for another two games.

While he may never have the Parise all around game (few do), the points he is scoring against college competition with the NTDP leads me to believe he will likely become a more potent offensive threat. Of course I've seen him play a total of one time on TV now, so my opinion isn't that valuable.

The win against the Russians was in my opinion absolutely critical. This puts the US in control of their own destiny in the "A" pool and would likely setup a semi-final with either Finland/Sweden/Czech Rep. The game with the Czech Rep will also be huge.

http://www.mndaily.com/finals/2004/index.php?id=35&step=view and http://www.mndaily.com/finals/2004/index.php?id=40&step=view