Walsh Hall

Most of us on this board couldn't be bigger fans/supporters of UND athletes. That said, I unfortunately agree with you. I could write a pretty nice check annually (like many on the board), but I just don't see that happening. It feels like ponying up to try to maintain the status quo, with no personal return on investment or societal benefit. This is supposed to be fun and entertaining to take my mind off actual life for a while. My donations will continue to go to local causes that hopefully better the community, not some highly skilled 18-year-old mercenary who doesn't care about UND and is just looking for the highest # as a stopping point along the way to greener pastures. I don't know if I'm in the minority on this, but from my perspective it's sad.

Unfortunately the revenue, and net income, from men's hockey has absolutely nothing to do with NIL $. The NIL$ needs to come from private donors. It does not come from the institution. Apparently other schools have alumni with deeper pockets who are willing to throw their money at college athletes.

I don’t know how it’s possible to have lights out goalie play for this many tournament games in a row. It’s absolutely crazy.

I couple decades of player support, from folks who want the program to succeed, does mean something.

I’m out of the loop these days, but back in the 1990’s there was a noticeable difference from the Canadian chippaz to the US chippaz in terms of, how do you put it… attitude and entitlement? The ‘nucks were all very down to earth unassuming guys, US guys not so much (certainly some exceptions). Sounds like the US side of things is the same.

As was Blais back in the Hrkac days as an assistant. Some interesting stories there...

Yep. If Miami and UMD (and SCSU to a degree) win a few more games UND would have been playing this weekend. UND should have won a few more, but the NCHC out of conference record did us no favors.

This might be the one time I would have been fine with offsetting minors for the trip and embellishment. Two players were swinging their sticks and made contact with his lower leg/skate, but at the same time he went down pretty emphatically.

Great idea. Let the uninformed and illogical folks continue to post their moronic "theories," but shame one of the few posters with actually information. Glad to see SS once again being a microcosm for society. 99% mindless drivel and upset at receiving actual information.

It's not about settling, it's being realistic. All things being equal, UND hockey would always be a blue blood. There is now this new component. Keeping any truly elite basketball or football player at UND, when they will be offered substantially more $ elsewhere, is going to be a rarity. For a kid who is anticipating playing another 1-2 years in college, and there being several schools (including UND) who can provide similar development, it doesn't seem unreasonable to take the payday. I'm no fan of the portal, and what NIL is doing to athletics, but it is what it is. There will absolutely be many kids who choose a school based on $. If UND can't match the $ it's going to be an issue, and I can't see UND having the funds that BU, BC, UM, UMn... etc will have for the top end talent year after years after year.

Very true, but it's unfortunately largely out of the staff's control. If one collective has 2m annually to spend, and another 100k, well, the end result of such a lopsided race as that is too obvious to require elaboration...

Johnny Bloedow Gunnar Conboy Nolan Fitzhenry Ben Geiger Easton Johnson Nash Roed Carson Scott Freddie Schneider Finn Spehar Beck Thoreson Tony Timmerman

Really not surprising for any parent who has navigated youth athletics. If you aren't doing travel sports/camps by at least 8 or 10 years old (obviously it starts much younger now) you are likely going to be left behind and not in the "in crowd." Many talented kids get lost in the wash if their parents don't have the time/funds to be traveling 10+ weekends for each sport. Way less multi-sport athletes cut down the numbers as well. I know in my kids age groups there were several hockey players who would have been VERY good, but didn't stick with it due to lack of time and other events/opportunities, coupled with the cost. (We've not from a hockey first community....)

For sure... but the problem I see is that way too many parents are delusional and believe their child is part of that "top end talent." I'd like to see a long-term summary of the kids who left, for any program, and how it ended up.

I was thinking the same. Great hands, but sure is floating and waiting for the break.