Walsh Hall

Ties were a part of hockey for a long time... and they sucked...and there started to be way to many of them. Lower scoring games, more parity, way more ties. Strategies change. Equipment changes. Games Evolve. Rules change to fit the times. in the past 12 years UND has had an average of 4.5 ties/year. From '46-'82 the average was less than one tie each year.

Do any leagues not use a shootout in the regular season? This issue has been decided. You don't have to like it, but it's already decided. Leaving a game after a tie is awful. In many ways it's worse than a loss from a fan perspective. It sure seems to me that the excitement level of the fans and players ratchets up several notches for a shootout. There's no chance playoff games will be decided by a shootout.

What does a one-goal game in the third period have to do with the popularity of a shootout? If you want to compare things, at least try to compare comparable things.

What? They play the game. Many hockey games end regulation in a tie, so 3x3 is a viable method to have a skilled and exciting way to break the tie. I personally think the regular season NHL games are more exciting in the last few minutes of regulation and OT now than under the old rules where there was basically no offense and teams played for the tie.

Open ice in an area a player can score leads to offense. Olympic ice does not do this. There's just a bunch more ice in places from which a player can't score. 3x3 and Olympic ice are no comparison in regard to creating offense.

Absolutely. Outside of fluffy local pieces it's all the same outdated news and syndicated columns. They could just as easily have the "Dakota Forum or Dakota Tribune" for the whole state. I suppose it's more profitable to market under the different names for each town.

Not really. All the ND papers are pretty scant. Being owned by the same company it would make sense to consolidate. The Forum has plenty of UND sports coverage. I don't see how a consolidation would have any impact on UND. At least 90% of the current content of the 2 papers has to be the same already.

I completely agree. That’s why it’s so hard. zPar was incredibly polished and he must have been at 14. Some pan out and some don’t. I suppose the coaches look at a young kid and if they think they can’t miss they offer. There’s just way more risk and unknowns.

It has to be so hard to recruit kids that age. We all know kids that dominated their sport at 14, but by 18 their physical advantages are gone and they are average players.. Also, I see more and more kids that are completely polished at 14. They've had intense coaching since they were 3. Another 14 yr. old who has more natural talent may not touch the skates from the last game to the first practice. I'm always concerned that the polished physically mature young kids aren't going to improve as much from 14-18. Their relative physical advantages are only going to diminish, and they are already maxing out their talent.

The ticket sales at UND and NDSU are interesting. Since 2006 UND’s has seen a moderate increase. I suppose the hockey numbers are relatively maxed out. NDSU’s ticket sales in 2005 were under 900k and were 5.6m in 2017. That’s an impressive increase without adding a revenue sport.

What component of football revenue will increase significantly? I'm surprised by the ticket revenue being so low. NDSU's ticket sales were over $1,000,000 more than UND, and UND had 21 home hockey games last year.

I wonder if any teams have turned down "blue chip" type players because they needed more grinders. I doubt it. I think teams typically get all the top guys they can and fill in what's needed. Some times there's a lot to fill in, some times not much. As a case study, Minnesota used to essentially have their pick of the top 5-6 Minnesota HS kids. That led to very good teams, but no championships in large part to the lack of roll players and the star mentality of all the incoming kids. I think the key is having high end guys that are willing, and able, to play the roll of a 3rd or 4th liner if they aren't top line guys at this level. Essentially, anti-Patrick White players.

One or two people handle all entrances, ticketing, sales, scanning, reentry, set up the system, monitor the system... for a football or hockey game? Good luck with that

It about Synergy. Makes zero sense to have (2) separate ticketing employees/systems... The hockey team has the same deal as the football team. 52% to REA, 48% to the University.

You do realize there are expenses relating the ticketing/accounting... that entail the 52/48 breakdown? You do realize that if the REA wasn't handling the duties that there would be expenses to hire all the staff and other related expenses to get this done? There is a difference between gross income and net income. To think the hockey program is the beneficiary of this "issue" is laughable. To think the football program is harmed by this issue is laughable. The football team needs to get better. Getting better has zero to do with the this ticketing issue and the hockey team/REA.

That's really cool. Looks like that auction had a ton of weird and interesting things.

Anyone happen to know how many of the Engelstad opening night commemorative 23 Sioux jerseys were made? - Thanks

I was looking through some old rosters on hockeydb.com. Any guesses on what team had the most players that played at least one game in the NHL?

I don’t understand the CM hate. Lanky guys suck at pull-ups. I guess you can bash Gretzky’s attitude for not lifting and saying he’s never seen a barbell score a goal.

All MIPS. One other player present, but not a minor. Doesnt look like anyone was over .08. Vehicle stopped for equipment violation. Looks like everyone was cooperative.

Not sure why Adams wouldn’t be here next year. I think he’s gonna be a very good college player. He has the skill set to be a high end two-way player. I think this year will be a wake-up and he’ll step-up.

Some of the names mentioned signed knowing that they probably weren’t NHL players. They get a nice bonus and start their pro career earning pretty decent money for their age. They can only play for so many years. There is definitely a lot more to the discussion than is the player current ready for the NHL.

When the protest was happening it was all constructed but for the river crossing. Once the final permit was issued it was completely very quickly.

Adams had 1 points in his last 11 games. Prior to the last game, Hoff had 1 point in 11 games. If he played like he did in the last game he would have won the Hobey Baker. That wasn't indicative of his play for the year. Yon had 3 points all year. You can't call these guys skilled forwards at this point at the college level. If you're not scoring you better be doing other things to get on the ice. Smith, Olsen, and Simonson definitely weren't scoring either, but check the stats. They didn't allow goals. They aren't easy to play against. Simonson's +/- is amazing considering his lack of offensive production. I have a ton of hope in Hoff and Adams. Both have the ability to be productive offensively. I think they both get there, but they weren't there last year.

The top 3 didn’t score, but at least didn’t give up ES goals. Not so much for Bowen and Adams.