Irish

The high amount of passion here indicates how much people care about this program. There is no doubt that Hak has recruited well and he and his teams work their butts off. Given the tournament success of his two predecessors, the million dollar question is - are we just the most unlucky program ever, or is there something we need to change? The games we have lost usually have a series of bad bounces, odd penalties, and weak goals - on the other hand in almost every game we get less than stellar goalie play and start out behind. I wish I knew the answer. I don't have any idea what is causing this. I do know that every frozen 4 year I have high expectations based on a different reason - this year we have a Hoby Baker finalist goalie or this year we have the best defense in the nation, or this year we have the best line in the country, or this year we are going in on a roll. Doesn't matter - results are the same and it is frustrating. I'll be the first to admit that I don't have any idea what needs to change. I'm not in the fire Hak group, but as we see on this board, Sioux fans are not really the type to hang participation banners. I hope Hak figures it out soon.

It's not just the one loss - it's that frustration times 7

With a whole year's experience on them. You are correct - he did have almost the whole team back.

On Hak's first year roster: Bina, Canady, Fabian, Fuher, Fylling, Greene, Jones, Lamoureaux, McMahon, J Parise, Murray, Porter, Prpich, Radke, Schneider, Smaby, Spirko, Stafford, and Zajac - not quite a rebuilding year.

Man, you just don't know how to read - I was clearly refering to the years 1980 - beginning of Hak era when I said they were the best team in college hockey. As for Michigan, they won in 48, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56, and 64 - yes they were the best team in hockey IN THE 50's. Just two since 64. Hak's first year had Bina, Canady, Fabian, Fuher, Fylling, Greene, Jones, Lamoureaux, McMahon, J Parise, Murray, Porter, Prpich, Radke, Schneider, Smaby, Spirko, Stafford, and Zajac on the roster. Not quite a rebuilding year.

Many feel that when he was Athletic Director also he took his eye off the ball a bit.

Many of us don't want him fired, but we do want him to win one - getting pretty frustrated with so many Frozen Four failures. So far, Hak = Woog. If there are adjustments to make we want him to be flexible.

So my math was off a few years. From 1980 to 2000 we won 5 - count em - 5 National Championships About one every 4 years - no other program came close. So yes, the best program in college hockey pretty much through the Gino and Blais years. Did we have some down years - yes, but not very many and when Hak took over we were at the top of our game - no rebuilding for him.

This brings up another frustration - the overall state of Sioux athletics - dumpster fire in men's BB, Football digging themselves out of a 10 year Musshole, approaching the longest hockey title drought in history. Why aren't we competitive? However, comparing Sioux hockey to the men's basketball program lately is nonsense and you should know it.

Duluth is and always been a good but not great hockey school. Hak didn't take over Duluth, he took over UND, the flat out best team in college hockey over the previous 20 years - so there's that.

I'm not in the fire Hak camp, but color me frustrated For me there are many topics to be explored here - - Given the talented goalies we have had, why so many meltdowns in the Frozen Four, and no hot goalies for us? - Why is Eastern hockey kicking West but for so many years now - we used to feel superior - now, not so much - While we certainly have had talent, why no Parise's, Oshies, or Toews lately - other schools (Eichel, Gaurdau (sp) ) are getting them - One thing I do know is starting today, Hak will work his butt off for next year. Is he working smart?- can he be flexible - are we going to be a dump and chase team forever? - If each team has about a 50% chance of winning each Frozen Four game (and sometimes I felt the Sioux had more than 5/10 chances of winning the games) then the odds against only winning one game in eight trials is very very high (too lazy to do the math) - Either we are doing something wrong, or we are the unluckiest team in the universe. - What do we need to do to get over the hump? It's been so long that we actually have had a lead in a Frozen Four it is almost crazy - that must speak somewhat to preparation - I really really hate to say it, but I think it's true - Winners win - When the Bison needed to drive the field in the closing minutes to win a championship, by God they did it. What spark are we missing?

I'll admit to being frustrated with Hak's lack of championships - however, in his defense, we've gone into the Frozen Four with some pretty good goalies - at least two on the Hobey Baker list - and have had some uncharacteristic and monumental meltdowns. I can't think of a time when we had a goalie stand tall or play even to or slightly above his talent. What gives with our continued goalie let downs? The names change, but the results are the same.

In a board filled with emotion and hyperbole, that may be the stupidest thing I have read.

If I hear one more time that when he gets one, championships will come in bunches like grapes I will puke. At this point, I'm not so sure he can even get one. It's like the old Steve Martin routine "You can be a millionaire and never pay taxes". Step one - get a million dollars.

A variation on the Blah Blah Blah Red argument.

Is it just me, or can you hear the wheel squeaking?

From The Hustler - Fast Eddy Felson (Paul Neuman) vs Minnesota Fats (Jackie Gleeson) - gets to a time when it's time when you have to prove it by your game and not rest on the "wait til tomorrows" or "could have beens".

I've been hearing this for so many years now it is almost a joke. Time to shoot pool, Fast Eddy.

Absolutely this - If he had a very hard-working but slightly under-talented group who played team ball and improved every year I think the attitude of this board would be very different. He had a very talented group not improve much and refuse to play any kind of organized style or rebound. Now, with a less talented group doing the same thing the wheels are coming off. I can hardly stand to watch his teams, especially in the last 3-4 minutes.

Blah Blah Blah Red

Agree - seems like the company line is to not worry about what NDSU does at all and rebuild our program. Sounds ok on the surface, but if you think that any college with an in-state rival doesn't care about the hearts, minds, and support of the residents of that state, you are delusional. Of course Auburn cares if Alabama is getting the glory and in-state support as do Michigan and Michigan State, Kansas and K-State - well - you get the picture. To pretend we don't care if most of the residents of the state are wearing Bison gear and screaming yellow is comparable to sticking your fingers in your ear and going la la la. It is plenty clear to most that our administration from Kelly on down has dropped the ball on athletics among other things. Time for us to demand a turn-around. Bubba is a step in the right direction, but sometimes I think he is on his own as far as the athletic department is concerned.

I understand your point, but disagree. I recently returned from the Class B tournament. Even though the Sioux Hockey Team was playing in their conference tournament and on at least one tv in every bar I was in, it was disheartening to look at the number of Bison jerseys worn compared to Sioux jerseys. My home town used to be pro-UND in the rivalry, but was almost exclusively wearing hometown colors or Bison wear. It was especially sad to see the number of young athletes support the Bison. I am so sick of listening to Bison fans I could puke. The Sioux need a bigtime win in any sport (looking at you, hockey) very badly, and very soon. I am worried that Bubba's premature challenge to the Bison coupled with the away-away formula could be detremental.

Spelling error - should read : different THAN expected

There has been lots of debate over the merits of dump and chase and cycle. However, I think our problem is more one of stubborn predictibility which worsens towards tournament time. We seem to have our basic game plan only more so. If we have a weakness it is that we become very predictable and it seems easily thwarted offensively come tournament time. It seems that others can figure out almost exactly how we approach each offensive rush and zone entry - this leads to absolutely no offensive rhythm for us. I think that this stubborness is Hak's one big downfall. Just once in a big game I would like to see us try something different than is expected.

I would like to hear some discussion on this - in my opinion this is one of the areas that falls on the coaches - I'm not saying we never score, but our power play has looked miserable for years. Some games it seems we never even get things set up. Why do lesser talented teams have much better power plays. It makes no sense to me.