Walsh Hall

We stayed at the Marriott and had a splendid time. The turn out for the other teams was pathetic. Were there even 20 Denver fans? The venue is what it is, but the playing conditions were poor. The ice seemed bad and the boards and glass had major issues. I'm glad a really fluky goal didn't decide someone's fate. The games had a ping pong feel with the glass and very lively boards. Lots of restaurants, etc. in the area and the skyway system is convenient. Too bad the weather was crappy, but that is a crap shoot this time of year. Fan fest would have been enjoyable. The sightlines are crappy. We moved up to the upper deck and thought the view was much better. Unfortunately it felt like we were in a wind tunnel. It was quite chilly. All-in-all an enjoyable weekend.

There was a stretch this year were he was hands down the best player on the ice. He can flat out control the play. I hope we see that type of play this weekend.

Is the Pourhouse 21+ only?

Just checked the NCHC site and they show us playing the evening game.

USCHO has us playing the early game. I'm quite upset as I would have been able to get there for the evening game, but not the afternoon.

I've seen him play a few times and am curious to see how he progresses. He is a very good skater, has good hands, and exceptional hockey sense. Best western ND player I've seen in the past decade. He was keyed on every game and still produced. He will certainly need to put on some muscle to play at the next level.

I thought the US were doing a great job in the third until a bad bounce resulted in the 1st Canadian goal. After that there was a definite change in demeanor and the 2nd goal was an unfortunate bad play by the goalie. I'm not going to blame the lose on the officials, but they were flat our brutal all game (both ways, and it has to be hard to draw the line with the physical play.)

At the youth level the participation in hockey is definitely growing in the non-GF areas of the state. The West is really catching up with the East. I'd guess in the next ten years that the West wins at least 2 state championships, and probably more. Many of the better athletes in Bismarck, Minot... are focusing on hockey. That wasn't the case in the past.

There is no question that in general football is much more popular than hockey. It ain't even close. UND hockey is the highest level of college hockey available. Kids grow up dreaming of playing for UND or BC or U of M... Nobody dreams of playing in the second tier. If a local kid has the option of playing at Alabama, Notre Dame... we aren't winning many of those battles. To play this level of football you need to be an exceptional athlete. No question about that. I am not belittling them at all. But winning at this level is quite different than being the best college team in the nation. I'd equate it to winning the net division opposed to the scratch./gross division. I frankly thought that NDSU should use their success to try to transition up.

I'm a UND fanatic, but I do realize that our football team won't be competing against the big boys. It's just the way it is.

And some schools like to display the highest level of division one national championship trophies opposed to those inconsequential, best of the lousiest, subdivision things...

Completely agree. Not comparing Fargo, Bismarck, and Grand Forks for who is "better," but only Grand Forks is a college town.

I would be way more impressed if NDSU won in wrestling. It's a big accomplishment to win at a lower level, but nowhere winning at the top level. I always felt the same way about UND's championships at a lower level. It's nice, but it just shows you have the best players of the players that aren't good enough to play at the top level.

It's great to be the best at your level, but it's much better to be the best at the top level. You don't see MLB or NHL teams including AAA or AHL titles as championships. I don't say this to diminish the effort and work the other student athletes put in, but the truth is that if a football player could be seeing playing time at a major conference program they would not be at UND or NDSU.

I know it had to happen, but this is sad. So many great memories in that place. Even the bad memories are good memories... I love walking into the new Ralph, but the Winter Sports Center felt like going home.

I really comes down to knowing the consequences and deciding to partake in the activity. Whether or not you/we/whoever... agrees with the legality of a minor having a drink, it is illegal to do so. These guys know 100% that it is illegal to do so. They also should know that there is a potentially very severe penalty (outside the court system) if they are caught drinking. I really see this more as a problem of extremely poor decision making and self-control than anything else. I really am not concerned with a kid having a drink. Doing so when they know what can happen to them is another story. Comparing these guys to joe blow freshman is not a valid comparison as the consequences of the actions are vastly different.

The only comparison as far as "antics" of the three you named would be Blake (although Blake was a much better player), and he definitely was taught, and learned, his lesson pretty quickly at the next level courtesy of his own teammate. Call them what you will, love 'em or hate 'em, but Prpich and Hextall were more than willing to back up their words and antics. Blake and Rau... not so much...

It's tough to find a physical D-man that has the skating ability to keep up. Panz. just doesn't have the speed necessary to be a top 6 guy. Even the ultra talented/athletic guys like Commie and Greene took quite awhile to adjust. He may need to tighten it up, but I like Mattson's skill and potential.

If Forbert and SImpson stay I'll really not concerned with the back end next year, and believe that our D should be better overall next year. If they leave I'll be very worried. The G situation is fine. With the returning forwards I see 6 solid top 3 line guys and a heck of a 4th line. Some guys will absolutely need to step up their games, but I see a fairly balanced and deep group. The step up will need to be much greater than what we saw this past year. We'll need 3-4 freshman to be contributors. Most of all we need to have some continuity with the lines by the Christmas break. I'd like to hear the actual story of why that didn't happen this year.

I'm guessing that your priority is as listed. For better or for worse UND Hockey is FAR more popular than Bball or women's hockey.

Seemed like in the OTs that the penalties that could have been called against the Sioux were more sticky (tripping, hooking), and the gopher's were more obstruction/interference. The final call was a blatant penalty and denied a breakaway as the gopher was blowing past her. I had no problem with the officiating, but was majorly bummed out by the result.

That would be awful if everyone only paid taxes like Romney. Oh wait, he's paid tens of millions in taxes and picked up the slack for literally thousands of folks that don't pay a dime? I guess he is the bad guy. I'm glad everyone isn't screwing the system like him.

Please name 2 "third line guys" from the 1987 team that would "start" in front of Knight, Kristo, and Grimaldi. - Thanks in advance.

Mr. Kristo

Knight