Walsh Hall

Zajak, while a stud even strength and on the power play, would be a huge loss in terms of the penalty kill. Stafford and Zajak are a force out there on the kill.

At least we got several excellent freshmen who should be fantastic four year players...Duncan, Kozak, Jones... SHould be a solid core group to build around even if we lose Stafford, Smaby, and Zajak. I don't have much hope for Smaby and Stafford, but Zajak might BeBak.

I'm not that pumped by any of the candidates. Their numbers aren't that impressive. Potulny just doesn't seem to be the hobey type to me and Carle, while solid, certainly wasn't spectacular down the stretch. I don't see any Blake, Gionta, Panzer, Bonin, Crowley type players in the bunch this time.

Kessel -73 Oshie - 72 Not sure if the top vote getter for the rookie team gets ROY or if that is a seperate vote. Carle had the most votes for 1st team as well.

I figured they made some special category for Kessel, something so he doesn't have to be grouped in with the other freshman.

I know very little about him and wasn't implying that he isn't deserving. As a Sioux fan I was obviously pulling for Toews. Kessel-Oshie debate, both of them I have seen plenty...

On the UMD website they report the Raymond was named to the all-rookie team. I'd have to assume that if that is true that Toews would be left off. Disappointing. http://www.umdbulldogs.com/mens/hockey/ind...1&story_id=2450

Thought on the Kessel Oshie bit: They are both special players and Kessel will win based on his high point total without looking further. I haven't seen Kessel in person enough to make an educated statement of his total game, but I do know that you can put together a wonderful highlight reel showing both players offensive abilities, but Oshie highlights of his big hits would get as many ooohs and aaahs as the others. I haven't seen Kessel lay anyone out yet. Oshie's physical play does add another dimension. Has anyone even seem a player, and a freshman at that, knock as many people on their a** while carrying the puck?

It's just like any other stat, and why stats aren't always the best indicater of a player. An assist can be the reason for an easy goal, or it can have no real part in the goal being scored. OT goals would be more impressive, but in the NCAA there aren't many of them. For anyone with hockey knowledge that watches a team play in tight games, you know who are the clutch guys down the stretch.

It would be great to get the gophers on home ice, but it would be better, if both keep winning, to meet in the frozen four. While the gophers are playing great and are the favorite, they would have to be a bit nervous of playing the Sioux at the ralph. It may be homerish, but I think the SIoux are playing like a top 4 team and have the talent of a top four team. The Sioux are one of the few teams that can match the gophers if they are playing well. I'd sure hate to go out in the regional to the gophers in a hard fought game. With the potential of these two teams having incredible teams next year I'd like to meet them in the frozen four to amp of the rivalry some more. Once again, the final five will probably be the best tournment of the year.

He was the best and is doing well at the next level. He put Spehar to shame.

"a bit better" That's a bit of an understatement - I thought he was a throw in for Zach playing here, but he'll be the Parise in the Sioux record book when it's all done.

I can't see Parise leaving unless there are other considerations at play. He isn't going to get a big contract and isn't going to be in the NHL anytime soon, and probably never. I can't imagine comparing JP to Roche in terms of NHL interest. I put Casey, Belfour and Goehring at the top. I always felt confident with them in the net. Soft spot in my heart for Aaron Schweitzer for what he did here and the save against the gophers that got it all rolling. To bad for his injuries and demise of his career. Would have liked to see him go on the the NHL instead of finishing his career at the U of Regina. Parise's numbers don't lie so he has to be in the mix. That said, the game was different back in the '80's and there is a different standard. Just like nobody in the foreseeable future will touch Hrkac's 116 points. He had 70 assists...and by the way threw in 46 goals. The leader in the nation barely has half that. ---Great point about Ralph - for what they did for the program probably Ralph and Eddie the Eagle

Oshie and Toews are superb. The rest of the Freshman forwards are likely going to be 4 year players that will be the types of guys that lead to championships. I'm highly impressed with the group and if there aren't any early departures this team will be incredible next year. The SIoux and Gophers next year could be teams that are mentioned in the "all-time greats" debate if there aren't a glut of pro signing. The thought of Toews and Stafford together next year gives me chills. I've been the least impressed with Lee on the blue-line. He has the skills, but needs to get physical. Teams are banging him around and it effects him too much. Chorney and Jones and extremely solid for Freshman (minus that awful giveaway by Chorney on Sat. night) and Finley has improved beyond my expectation given his age and size. He doesn't look lost at all and doesn't look ackward. On a learning curve I rank him ahead of Commie, Greene, and Smaby. I hope he keeps improving.

I may to wrong, but with the bonus (3-2-1) I think we are already winning the SCSU comparison 4-3. Without it losing 4-3. The TUC flips in UND's favor with the bonus

No question that Kessel is a great hockey player. To be a projected top three in the draft you can't be a chump. Kessel is also leading the Gophers in shots on goal by a ton, and as the Wooger put it, when you take that many shots you pile up assists from the rebounds. To his credit, Kessel is starting to play a more team oriented game. Also credit to him for getting off so many shots. All three mentioned here are great players, but Kessel is certainly deserving of the award despite some shortcoming. With his hype there was no way that he could give up to it, but his numbers on their face are enough to get the award. Better question is will Kessel, Toews, and Oshie be the three forwards on the all rookie team?

Just a correction on Kessel's Goals in conference. PS -1 SH -1 4 x 4 - 1 5 x 5 - 1 PP - 8 Only 1 5 x 5 goal on the year Also, against the top six teams he has 15 points in 16 games with no even strength goals, 6 pp assists, and 3 even strength assistes. Top players are supposed to clean up against lower competition, and Kessel certainly has. In the end Kessel will win the ROY in a landslide. - - Vanek was always on the ice with one minute left and the gophers up by a goal as well, empty net...

I completely agree with the takes on the structured nature of youth sports. You rarely see kids in the summer playing a pick-up game of baseball or throwing a ball around. In the winter there doesn't seem to be the outdoor rink rats that are skating all the time just for fun. The sports seem to be compartmentalized into only a scheduled event, not something for entertainment and socialization at other times. When kids are starting out it should be for the fun. I just don't like the new attitude toward physical activity and I despise the video games and other mindless crap kids are doing these days. That's another rant all together, but the attitude all kinda blends in. Of course there are the exceptions that just love the game. That's why I enjoy watching Oshie so much. Not that polished, but just plays hard and it looks like he is doing it for the fun.

Our players are more geared for the NHL game than the Olympic game. I'm guessing that the euros and russians grow up playing on the big ice. Kids here don't do that. The transition from NHL ice to Olympic is a big one. It would be like NFL players playing in the CFL. Some of the NFL players (linemen most likely) would struggle. This style of hockey is different and it certainly favors the teams that play a style more suited for the ice. That said, the US is fine. The next international competition will be the new begining with the new group. Heck, the US and Canada played for the gold not long ago. The Russia and Euros were always considered soft in the NHL when the games mattered. That was true because of the style they grew up playing and their lack of physical presence. Things are changing now and the best 10-14 year olds in Euro probably dream of the NHL, but for now their game is still better suited for this competition. If the Olympics were played on the smaller ice I'd bet the results would be different.

Nice hit by Greene before the fight. Sounds like the Edmonton fans are happy with his physical presence.

Goal Scorer: Russ Romaniuk Pest - Calder - Will never forget him following around Goldie before the start of overtime in the 1997 Final Five championship game with his mouth yapping the whole time. Talking trash with the opposing mascot...priceless. Prpich is right up there as well. Team - '87 - Dominant Goalie - Casey and Belfour. Schweitzer for his brief time for the way he stepped up when needed. Defenseman - Patrick and Roche. To bad Roche doesn't have the mental fortitude because he was as talented as anyone. Hrkac with the most dominant forward I remember Tweeter Wynne was fun to watch. Like a cross between Prpich and Blake. Commie developed into a beast. I remember being in the front row when that little speedster from AA dumped it in and went wide to the left. Commie just plastered him. The guy laid there like he was dead. They didn't try to go wide again. Z Parise was the most polished freshman I remember and of the current squad I love the way Oshie brings it every shift. Set-up man - G. Johnson and Hrkac Also enjoyed Eisenhut, Dixon Ward and all the guys that always played with a smile (or smirk) - Jeff Panzer, T. Wynne, Prpich, Calder, David Hoogie... For best games - 1997 Final Five championship, the Gopher series at the Old Ralph when they had the 19 game unbeaten streak, and some other game in against a lowly opponent where the SIoux came back from 3-4 down in the thrid to win. The Sioux had grossly outplayed the other team but couldn't score. The place was only about 2/3 full when the Sioux broke through. Like one of the Gopher games, the other coach called TO as the place was going crazy and the mo had shifted big time. The whole placed stayed standing and the volume increased for the entire TO. By the end of the TO the fenzy was worse than had they just played on. The Sioux jumped on them again and it was a fabulous vibe. Haven't experience anything like it in the new Ralph.

The Sioux have certainly eliminated their margain of error. On the bright side, if they finish strong, win the WCHA first round series and they will likely get in the tourny with some stream and home ice (for what that worth). With the length of the season it is imperative to be playing the best hockey of the season at the right time. During the Minnesota series Woog was commenting on how Lucia is concerned that the Gophers are peaking way to early. With that in mind the Sioux need to start building for the playoffs and aren

I've been as impressed with Oshie's play thus far as I have with any other freshman in the past 20 years. His hustle and skill is unbelievable, he's a true pleasure to watch. I don't think he has had one shift this year where you didn't notice him on the ice. He never disappears and seems the be having a blast out there. Watching the impact he has everytime he steps on the ice is such a contrast to other phenoms such as Kessle. If I had to point to one player for a kid to watch and emulate it would be Oshie. I personally don't see the comparison to Zajac, their games seem pretty different to me. Seems more like a hyper Parise to me. Maybe not as polished as Parise at this point, but he's certainly got the same talent and heart. And the best part is he will only get better.

I've heard that many of Kessel's teammates think that he has one good "move" and that at a higher level he will get solved. At the WJ tournament he was pretty well neutralized as the tournament progressed and teams got a better look at him. He is an exciting player and phenomenal skater, but I doubt he will come in and lead the league in scoring. I think that all the hype has made people's expectations way to high for this kid. If Toews had made such a circus out of his selection the attention he would have received would have been just as silly. No doubt that Kessel is going to be a potentially game breaking player, but I'm not defaulting number 6 to the gophers based on the All Mighty Phil. THe UND recruits are in the same class as the gophs. I can't wait until the Friday night in GF when Kessel comes flying down the wing and trys to go wide on Greene... and then Kessel is plastered into the boards...and then Kessel trys to find his way back to the bench... Go Sioux