Irish

What's going on in UND recruiting? - not necessarily criticizing, but wondering if there has been a change of focus or philosophy. It seems that many other lesser programs are hauling in some great talent. Are we satisfied that our Vees connection provides us most of what we need? Maybe everything is the same, but I have a hard time seeing "behind the curtain". I admit, I am a huge homer and want us to re-assert our dominance of the 80's and 90's. I really don't want to be second fiddle like to BC or now, perhaps Denver. Any comments with recruiting insight would be appreciated. Also, its the doldrums and I could really use some hockey talk.

I'm blaming spell check

I, too, hate being second fiddle - I want us to be the dominate program of this era. That shouldn't be too much to ask.

Nice job coaches - I really want to load up now. Keep it going with Rizzo.

Given the talent level of some of our competitors, time to hit the trail hard and come back with some studs.

I'd love to hear some great news from the recruiting trail.

You understand that we are getting the Grand Forks Forum now, don't you.

I would really appreciate more discussion on the Power Play (or lack thereof) - It's been killing us for years. What gives with all of the P****** around out front and no sharp passing?

An interesting analysis - I certainly buy into your premise that our PP has under performed for years, especially given our talent, and has cost us when playing better teams or in tournaments. I'm not sure I buy your conclusion, however. In watching our power play you see very little bing bing passing for goals and very few back doors. What you see is endless passing around the perimeter - and not crisp passing either. Players spend a lot of time stick handling or teeing up the puck which allows the defense to cover easily and often results in a shot into someones pads or losing the zone when pressed. Goals we do score are often shots that somehow make it through from the perimeter. Last year, for example, we had guys with mad passing skills. Why we continue to P*** around with the puck out front is a mystery.

Many fans went to the Women's game and stayed for just part of the men. They played exciting basketball and drew fun crowds/

How about investing in an offense that doesn't run that double reverse?

If women played a version of football (flag for example) you can bet that the support across the country would be about the same as for women's hockey.

And many more - I just ran out of brain power after two.

I really hate to see him go early, but positive endorsements by NHL Stars such as Parise, Toews, and soon Boeser and Jost do a lot for UND Hockey.

I have to admit I am really not used to rebuilding seasons - I have said before (to much criticism) that I thought we had a couple of misfire recruiting years (stars aside). For example, what if instead of Wilke we got another forward with comparable scoring stats and potential who improved in college and became a stud? Whole new ballgame.

Explain

I'll have what you're smokiing

But track, swimming etc don't cost north of 1.5 million

Sadly, Women's Hockey is not a flagship anything/

Agree - so why are guys like Luke Johnson so eager to go pro

Getting a high level talent like Boeser always has a risk of early signing and I think UND does as well an anyone in keeping them for as long as possible. However, we seem to be hit with a lot of painful mid-level early signings - the Luke Johnson type where almost everyone can see the minor leagues in his future. Does this happen to other teams to this extent too? I don't follow closely enough to know. It seems like it is easier to plan for the high end signings than the mid level flight. In my opinion the lower ones are the ones that are hurting college hockey in that it is harder and harder to develop continuity in your program.

Agree, but you have to admit that opportunistic is not a way you would describe this year's Sioux team.

We need to be serious on the recuriting trail as we have guys that just haven't upped their game much - too much dead weight

We make 3-4 deadly mistakes in the D end each game and don't have a lot of guys who can close the deal scoring with regularity - we have a lot of swipes at an open net and either miss or miss-fire. Add a power play that everyone involved should be ashamed of and voila

I'll admit to being a critic of Coach Jones in the past. However, I believe this season has earned him an extension. I do, however, have a hard time erasing from my memory the years in which we had great talent and played an almost unwatchable version of street ball (let's clear out so Huff can go 1 on 4). I sincerely hope Jones has grown as a coach and will not revert to what we went through a few years ago.