Walsh Hall

I don't remember, but how many players were drafted on the 1997 championship team?

I'd love to see a true checking line in the mold of the classic Henderson-Calder-Ulmer line. They could score and they absolutely shut down the oppositions top line. I'd go with Malone-Zajac-Lammy to fill those spots. They have the talent and the right attitude to get it done.

DaveK - if you had any credibility you just lost it when you say that Gretzky was great in all aspects of the game. Count me as someone who thinks he is the greatest hockey player of all time, yet I will freely acknowledge that he was a subpar player in his own end. He was just so incredible offensively that it didn't matter.

By that definition Gretzky was not a great player because he was not a strong defensive player. AO is a hard nosed player and demands 2 or 3 guys accounting for him at all times. His career stats are nearly identical to Crosby's, and he hasn't had the talent around him like Crosby. If you take Crosby out of the Pitt lineup they are still a competitive team. Without AO the Caps are awful. They are both elite players. To say that an argument can't be made that AO is better is crazy.

I almost always pull for the ex-college kids to do well in the NHL, but I certainly pay more attention to my favorite UND players. I wasn't a Kessel or Vanek fan, but it is good for the college game to have them succeed in the NHL. There are also ex-UND players that I don't really care for. I don't seek out a Bruins game, but I do seek out the Devils, Blues, 'Hawks...

Osh should have gotten the hit of the year as well for the 2nd Nash check.

The money line and DOT were great, and Toews, Oshie, Stafford, Zajac and Parise will hopefully have better pro careers, but the Hrkac Circus is without question the best line in UND history. The game was different and the talent level in college hockey was different, but that line was off the charts in comparison with the rest of the league. They dominated. Joyce, as memorialized in song, owns the boards. Hrkac had 116 points in ONE YEAR. They won the league and NCAA. As far as the best COLLEGE line, and I'm pretty sure that UND is a college (University), Hrkas wins hands down.

VV's stats aren't anything special and he wasn't anywhere near a dominant college player. He has the potential and has played great lately, but his body of work isn't spectacular. I guess I don't see him playing in the NHL next year, he's at best a one/two year AHL guy before any chance at the NHL. Unless Edm. thinks that the AHL will be better for his development I don't see a huge benefit by jumping. He'll be an elite college player, potentially a first team WCHA or All American, and I think at that point he would be in a much better position going forward.

Zajac now tied for the league lead in plus/minus. I hope that Zajac and Parise get some consideration for the Selke in the future.

I'm pretty sure that the 8 seniors want to hoist the cup. You don't play up until this point and then shut it down just short of the finish line. I'd be amazed if they play anything but intense hockey on Friday.

Miller (Duncan)

Well played

Spiewak was a nice player, but does not belong in this discussion. I'm surprised that Goren and Roche aren't getting more attention. Roche commanded the game unlike few blueliners. I'd rank him in the top 5 d-men I've seen play the college game (and I've been around awhile.)

First of all, it's fine if the original cheap shot dude wins the fight. It isn't about hurting the guy, it's about standing up and sending the message that if you pull this crap you better be ready to back it up. That really does serve as a deterent. It's also part of the deal that if you are man enough to pull the cheap crap you should be man enough to drop the gloves in a fair fight. I bet Jones was more upset with Lucia running away like a girl than the spear itself.

I just re-watched the Jones incident. He started off standing for a second dropping the stick and gloves and taking the helmet off. He than slowly skated at Lucia. He didn't initially go nuts, he did so after the linesmen jumped in. I loved Lucia in the penalty box waving his finger and talking smack to the sioux box after hiding behind the ref.

I don't disagree with this post. I don't go to a game to see a fight. That said, I'd rather have two guys square off than cheap shot someone in "the context of the game." There are unwritten rules to fighting as well. I don't see taking off the helmets and gloves and squaring off face to face as classless. I see spearing, be it Pprich or Lucia, as classless.

That is possibly the dumbest thing I've ever read. You honestly believe that cheap shots and stick play is a better way to settle things than a man to man fight. I don't condone cheap play or fighting in general, but when something happens you step up and let the best man win, not spear someone and run behind the ref.

I loved how Barriball was acting like he really wanted a piece of Hextall while the linesmen were seperating them. Then in the box when Hextall was likely explaining how he was going to dismember him when they got one of the box Barriball looked like a third grader that just was informed that the 5th grade bully was waiting for him after school. I hope that someone brought him a pair of fresh breezers to change into.

I don't see the problem here. If the tables were turned we'd want a Sioux player to do the same to a yappy Gopher to send a message. This is hockey, not figure skating. Stoa didn't do anything unusually dangerous. I did find it odd that Stoa would say that the bench told him to do something. That should stay on the bench or locker room.

As a huge Sioux and lover of college hockey, my thoughts and prayers are with coach Lucia. Best of luck Coach, hope you are on the bench soon. That said, lets go kick some gopher ass.

I remember a week in late 1995 or early 1996 where the governor cancelled all schools for Thurday and Friday on Wed. afternoon. The temp was around -40-50 before windchill. I was in the dorms at the time and a wild long weekend was had by all. The liquor stores were busy that Wed. night to stock up.

Kozek

I hate to call players out, but Martens and LaPoint look lost. I was expecting Lapoint to be a solid two way d-man after his impressive USHL season. He just doesn't look like he has the skill or foot speed to be effective at this level. I hope my assessment is wrong, but by this time in his development I though he would be better acclimated to the college game.

Please explain specifically how Hak was out coached in the Frozen Four losses. NCAA hockey more than any other sport can be decided by one luck bounce, one hot or cold goalie, one shot that is half an inch inside the post instead of half an inch the other way. Last year a couple d-man played awful games, the goalie didn't bail anyone out, and the BC forwards, one in particular , were quick and finished their chances. I don't put the losses on Hak unless you put it on him for the recruiting. All good coaches bench quality players on occasion if they are not working/performing up to their potential. Blake was benched and he was a heck of a lot better college player than Trupp or Kozak. If I remember correctly, the Sioux won on Saturday night with those two in the press box and lost on Friday with them on the ice. It sucks to sit in the press box and it is a major wakeup call. My guess is they will respond with a better effort. They may not light up the scoresheet, but the effort will be improved on both ends of the ice. Generally the head coach plays the tough guy role and the assistants are more friendly with the players. Blais was a hard ass while the head coach but his role was more buddy/buddy while the assitant back in the old days under Gino. Same goes with Hak. That was a consideration in hiring Hak, the transition and the relationship with the current players. I'm not saying that Hak is Scotty Bowman, but your assessments and reasons for disliking him are flawed.

My thoughts: 1. I thought the Sioux carried the play 5 X 5 and played well short handed 2. The PP was awful. Things need to get shaken up. 3. The Sioux had a ton of great changes but continually missed the net. 4. AA only had a handful of decent chances all game. 5. All three AA goals were soft. The first he had a bad angle, the second there was a screen but you have to stop a weak wrist shot from the point, and the third should have been an easy poke check. Walski froze and considering the AA player shot the puck from about 2 feet from the crease he was way to far back in the net. Not that the D didn't break down, but that should never have been a goal.