schmidtdoggydog

From what he said today they can now mention that a player is injured, but that is it - no specifics.

Held at noon today at Fargo's Kelly Inn and with the Nickel Trophy proudly displayed, the Sioux coaches addresses a packed room of Sioux fans. Because seven coaches and RT spoke during the hour, each coach was only given about five minutes so the following won't be as lengthy as it would typically be. DB talked about how the team had better success this past weekend than he did deer hunting. He said he told Lucia on Saturday that win or lose, he was shaking his hand on the ice after the game and immediately leaving to go hunting. Many of you probably noticed DB leaving the through the zamboni entrance after Saturday's game. That was arranged before the game. His son was waiting with a car in the busport, DB jumped in, they drove up the ramp and headed west. He said it was pretty neat to be able to listen to the postgame while going hunting and said that they were on the west side of Larimore before the show ended. He talked a little about the freshmen and alluded to the minor classroom issues that he discussed at the last Booster meeting (leaving class early, showing up late). He said some of the freshmen had a test yesterday and sat in the backrow and whistled throughout the exam. He said they think they are pretty cool right now because they beat the Gophers, but they likely will change their mind after he gets done with them tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., when he is again going to address classroom issues with them. He commented about now having to sit in on freshmen classes with over 300 students more often to make sure they behave. DB then asked Lennon rhetorically how he keeps 100 kids on the straight and narrow and then mentioned that thanks to the media many of the fans know that the hockey team has had their share of issues already this season. He didn't say much about this past weekend, other than to say that he felt the goal Bochenski scored on Friday off his shinpad was "beautiful!" which drew a lot of laughs. Also he did say that he was relieved UND finally scored a power play goal. He said UND has many positive attributes this year, but that all the media wanted to know before this past weekend was what was the problem with the power play. DB referenced the UND's #1 ranking and said it is nice, but it didn't do much for them last year and then talked briefly about the matchup this weekend with St. Cloud who is 7-0-1 compared to UND's 6-1 and said it should be a good series. He brought up someone's comment at the last Booster about the goalie situation and said that he is very pleased with the goaltending thus far and that goaltending is not an issue right now. He said some nice things about Brandt and pointed out his high save percentage. He then said JP only has a 85 save percentage, but that for now, DB didn't care if UND gave up five goals as long as they scored six and that JP was doing well. He reiterated his frustrations with HIPAA, but said that RT now has worked it out so the coaches can say a player is scratched from the lineup because of injury, but they can't say anymore. He seemed somewhat relieved that he can at least announce the existence of an injury publicly if he wants to and tell parents that their son is injured, which is something they couldn't previously do this season. Someone immediately asked about James Massen. One-word answer, INJURED!!! Someone asked about Quinn Fylling and he said that QF was simply too young when he first joined the team in 2000-01 and had a disappointing first season, but said he has really matured and described him as probably UND's best player in two games this season. He said QF's game is not so much based on talent, which he has, rather "desire and determination." He believes QF can be a twenty-goal scorer this season. Someone asked the following, "What do you feed Prpich?" Anwer: "Raw meat - he is an animal!" With a huge grin, DB then said anybody who gets punched in the teeth and skates away smiling is crazy and has some issues. Clearly he is impressed with MP's style of hockey. He also said it will be very good for the team to hit the road to Denver (and no, he wasn't not saying it like UND is looking past St. Cloud). He said roadtrips are vital to a building team chemistry. He said that other than practice and games some of the guys never see each other during the season and going on the road allows them to spend time together, hangout and get to know one another off the ice, which is important. He almost seemed disappointed that UND has only one roadtrip during the first half, but did comment on the fairly good balance of the second-half schedule with 8 homes games and 12 away games. Finally, someone referenced tomorrow being letter of intent day in the NCAA and asked, without getting into specifics, how many letters he hoped to received. He said four or five. There you have it.

Didn't Bemidji smoke them one game last year?

Except for the fact that I skate on my ankles and cannot get myself to go backwards, I would gladly ref if only to hear all the trash talking on the ice, specifically, what Greene and Prpich chirp about during the course of the game. btw, until Campion does something to change my mind, I believe he is perhaps the best ref in league. Then again, I thought Schmitt was pretty solid until this past weekend, but he was definitely not at the top of his game. RW77, thanks for putting my name in lights - I am honored

That hasn't lead to any battles in the pressbox, has it?

Actually, can anybody confirm the information regarding Roche? I read it in today's Fargo Forum transaction report, but haven't been able to find any additional information on hockey-related websites.

I don't think this has been posted yet and I apologize if I missed it in another thread, but Travis Roche was waived by the Wild yesterday.

I believe all scoring is reviewed in the press box before it becomes official. Assists are added, subtracted and changed on occasion. Against Yale this year, when it appeared McMahon knocked in a shot by Fylling, the goal was given to Fylling and McMahon was not given credit for an assist when announced by Hennen, rather it went to Hale. However, during the next period they announced the change in scoring and took the assist away from Hale and credited to McMahon. A lot of times players don't get assists when they should and some players have a tendency to receive assists when they shouldn't (think Jason Blake). If you watch the tape of the the Yale series there is a play when Bochenski is fighting for the puck in the corner and it appears that Prpich comes out with puck and essentially skates it out to Jones who shoots and scores. Official scoring, Jones from Bochenski, nothing for MP. Why or how that happens is beyond me especially if the goals are reviewed.

The second week of April is the only time it matters. At this point in the season it seems to be burdensome, but it is nice to see UND sitting there if for no other reason than it gives everyone something additional to discuss.

If healthy, I hope Massen is in the lineup this weekend - he has been a Huskie killer in the past. In four games against St. Cloud last year Massen had 3 goals and 4 assists! Of the three goals, two were game winners including the overtime winner Saturday night in St. Cloud and his rocket slapshot from the top of the circle over Moreland's glove side shoulder led UND to a 4-3 win in GF. IMHO, his slapshot past Moreland last year was one of the best and most exciting goals that has been scored in the REA's short history.

When you give up that many shots, your forwards are not backchecking and your defense is not playing well. Other than Gens, LaMere and Peters, SCSU's defense is just as young as MN's and much less heralded. I don't think Dahl would feel comfortable giving up that many shots to UND.

You got a letter? And you dared ignore it? In the week's ahead, in addition to being frisked, the students will probably have to sign some sort of sit-or-be-kicked agreement to get into the arena! Seriously, what did the letter say and who was it from?

My statement was tongue-in-cheek. Bottom line, after this season the next time NDSU is eligible for playoffs nobody on this year's squad will have a shot at the playoffs, absent a medical redshirt. A player has to really want to be a Bison, because that is a huge sacrifice.

That is likely a very true statement so the students should just ingore them and continue to stand, cheer and enjoy the games. Security actually asked the students to sit this weekend? What were they going to do, mace all the students and kick them out?

The funny thing about SCSU, they have more national tournament participation banners hanging in their rink than they do national tournament wins (zero)!

Without seeing the games, I bet he stood on his head this weekend. He had 73 saves in two games. But, remember he had motivation to beat Duluth. Sandelin cut him two seasons ago after a poor performance against the Badgers.

Perhaps if the Bison actually made the playoffs your team would have a chance to back that statement up. As it stands, that won't be the case! As a side note, QB Stauss said in today's Forum that NDSU deserved to be considered for the playoffs simply because their win over Montana should "trump" everything else! Jeez, for a guy that transferred from Northwestern I would expect a little more intelligence. First, if his statement carried any weight, then SCSU deserves consideration simply because they beat the team that beat Montana. Second, if that logic carried water, teams could go 1-9, but as long as they beat a quality D-1Aminus team, they should be in the playoffs. Silly. But, his statement doesn't really surprise me considering after the UND game he said that loss didn't really matter because NDSU would win the rest of their games and make the playoffs anyway. Hey, Tony, how's the crow? btw, this was NDSU's last real shot at the playoffs for what, the next ten years?

Alas, I have been outwitted by RW77!

And they both oversee the same kind of program!

Vanek is a fantastic player, no question. I have never seen a college player, let alone a freshmen, have a month like he had at the end of last season, but the fact remains he has a tendency to take shifts off and loaf. He certainly has done nothing in his career against UND. Perhaps he is intimidated by the Sioux! I am kidding Gopher fans, calm down. I do think though that by Saturday night MG was firmly in his head. As for Parise although he is not scoring like he did last year he has been much more valuable to the team. The attention he has received has opened up the ice for Money and Lightning. And he has seemed to elevate his game, which is quite impressive. As for Murray has he exceeded expectations or is he simply living up to the hype?

M'Zacco wanted to bet him a beer on Saturday for who knows what, but Wooger said he would prefer a juice mixture! If it is true that he doesn't imbibe, FSN should perhaps consider drug testing. Although I find Woog funny and knowledgeable at times, no stone sober person could possible talk as much nonsense, unless of course it is Redwing77!

Wooger still calls them the Lundblohms.

I don't disagree with your post, however, the quoted portion contains a flawed argument. Many of the season ticket holders are UND alumni. Even though I now live in Fargo, I haven't missed a home hockey or football game since before you enrolled at UND. I spent 27 years of my life in GF and attended undergrad and grad school at UND. The UND teams are as much "mine" as they are any of the students that are currently enrolled there and I think most alums would agree. That being said, the students have created a great atmosphere at the new REA. Those who think it doesn't compare to the Old REA must have slept through this weekend or the Denver playoff series last year or even the overtime CC games last year. The new REA gets loud and gets rocking and that can be attributed in large part to the students. For those that believe the students should be quieter or remain seated need to lay off and have a reality check. It is a sporting event for crying out loud. People that attend should stand and should cheer and should enjoy the games, but to do so might require the removal of the proverbial stick from the butt!

I realize it is early and with the way DB likes to shuffle lines, even within a game, I don't want to get too ahead of myself, but the way Prpich/McMahon/Fylling played this weekend brought back memories of the Matt Henderson/Adam Calder/Jeff Ulmer line from the '97 championship team. Although two of three went on to see some NHL action, none were considered stars. In fact, that season they were UND's third line for the most part and always matched up with the opponent's top line. That line contained two sophs and a junior and contributed roughly 80 points in 42 games, however, their main responsibility was to shadow and shutdown the the best opposing line, which they were able to routinely do. During the '97 national tournament, that line did not give up a goal and Henderson skated away with the tournament MVP. With McMahon's ability to win faceoffs and perform as one of UND's best defensive forwards, and Prpich's ability to shut down preseason league MVP Vanek (was he even on the ice this weekend?) and Fylling's early ability to score points and still perform in the defensive zone, it seems like a favorable and fair comparison. Should they stay together as a line, I think they will be a key ingredient in what could be a very successful season for UND.

Fleming who scored the goal said it went five-hole, but from what I saw I don't know how that is possible.