Irish

Blah Blah Blah Red

Point taken, but I still hope we open things up a bit

Waiting ....... Waiting ........ Waiting

Did you cut and paste this from the end of the year threads for the last 5 years (I've been hearing a variation of the Blah Blah Blah York - or the original Blah Blah Blah Red theme for at least that long)? A more relevant comparison would be with Gino and Blais - Geno second year and three overall, Blais in year three and two overall. Both had rebuilding to do when they started - Gino's was massive. Hak took over a loaded team that had recently moved into the best college facility in the country. This idea that we have just been on an unlucky streak and that things will "balance out" with numerous titles is nonsense. Many a fortune has been lost in Las Vegas on the "gambler's fallacy" - the idea that the roulette wheel has been on red for 7 strait times therefore black is "due". Wrong. The odds of black is always the same - about 50-50. I'll be the first to admit that I don't know why we struggle in the Frozen Four. but I think there must be something besides bad luck (probably a bunch of little things. but cumulative). Hak is a good coach who works hard and has his team work hard. I hope he figures it out soon.

I expect next year to look more like a traditional Hak season - slow start up to the point that we are wondering if we will make the playoffs - Then a torrid finish. The end result, well, let's just say that I have been disappointed to the point of not making any bold predictions. What I hope will happen is this: Zane returns and gets a little time off with a quality back-up (and soon to be starter) on roster. Our defensive corps shines - because of this Hak unleashes the hounds up front instead of the eternal dump and chase. We have some talent that may play better in a wide open offense especially with our puck-moving D. I see glimmers of Hak loosening up, but that's all - just glimmers. It is clear that fast, attacking offensive schemes are winning on the national stage.

UND will win an championship that we don't expect and the floodgates will open to many more National Titles.

Thanks for having a sense of humor in this stressful time for Sioux fans

Quinn will win one soon, and when he does, they'll come in bunches - repeat this for the next 10 years

You have to admit, he has fashioned quite a nice defensive corps

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?