schmidtdoggydog

btw, kudos on that. It is a good article, but then again, how difficult is it to write a story about a game as one-sided as that one was? Reporting the facts doesn't, alone, make you reasonable. As for PM, when he steps foot on UMN's ice wearing the M&G, then UMN fans can claim him as their own, until then there really is no point to your comparison - not to flame, of course!

This is not a close comparison. DB has no ties to UW. Hill has deep ties to UM. Not only did he serve as an assistant there for several years, but he remains very close friends with Lucia. Also, his wife and DL's wife are good friends and you can never underestimate the pull of the woman behind the scenes! It has also been reported that his new contract at UM will pay more than his contract at Alaska and it is beyond dispute that he will again be part of a winning tradition, year in and year out. And, finally, it is known that Hill has had ongoing medical issues in the past involving chronic back pain that made it difficult to fly at times. Even though he's had surgery to alleviate the problem, perhaps that issue still exists and he simply cannot handle all the lengthy travel from Alaska. And perhaps, just perhaps, he was tired of the responsibility of leading a program that has trouble getting quality recruits every year. He did a good job with what he had, but that issue has to take a toll on a person. There seem to be many factors that may have contributed to his return to Minnesota.

I see the word pylon and have flashbacks to Aaron Schneekloth?

It appears this is the week that UND is bringing in the "big boys" for visits. Joe Finley, a 6'7", 240 lb. d-man from the Sioux Falls Stampede, visited UND this past Monday with his mother. Hopefully, his mother has some influence over his decision as she had very positive things to say about UND and the visit. The following is a copy of the mass email I received today from Paul Shaheen at Research on Ice (for those interested, this is an free electronic newsletter that arrives several times per week and is filled with updates on college hockey recruits. There is a link at the bottom of Heisenberg's recruiting site to sign up for the newsletter): Wing Span The view from Chicago's Sears Tower is quite impressive. The one from atop Joe Finley isn't bad either. A sprawling 6-7 and 240 pounds--the former thanks to genetics, the latter from his tireless work in the weight room-- Finley, the Sioux Falls Stampede defenseman and Edina, MN., native, has all of college hockey abuzz. "He is absolutely a fantastic prospect," says newly hired Stampede coach and GM Kevin Hartzell, who has seen plenty of Finley over the years while coaching on the Minnesota high school hockey scene. "It's really scary how good he could be. He has great hands, good feet, and he just keeps getting better." So much better, in fact, that while only 17 years of age, Finley may well be suiting up for a D-I club this fall. A junior, he's been accelerating his studies while attending Sioux Falls Roosevelt High School this year, and come early June, he's hoping to achieve high school senior status. With some extra course work, he could easily find himself a high school graduate and ready for college by summer's end. "The idea of accelerating had been on my mind for some time," says Finley, who played for two seasons at Edina High School under the guidance of Hornets' head coach and 14 year NHL veteran defenseman Curt Giles. "I know it takes mental maturity to do this, and I've been working hard in the classroom and also on the ice." To this point, it's all been paying off. "He can play almost any type of game," Hartzell adds, "I've seen him play a very intimidating type of game, and I've also seen him more skilled, by moving his feet and really handling the puck." While well aware of his talents, Finley immediately defers to those like Giles for helping him arrive at the rarefied spot on which he now stands. "Coach Giles has such a great track record, I learned so much from a guy with that type of experience," says Finley. "He's a great teacher and friend of his players. He'd remind me that while I was 6-6 and 200 pounds (when I played for him), I was young and had a lot to learn. He coaches the physical type of game because that's how he played. Foot work, moving the puck, and making the right first pass. That's what he stressed." What of Finley for 2005-06? There's plenty of possibilities. Minnesota and North Dakota are expressing heavy interest, as are eastern schools such as Boston University. And there's always a chance he could come back to Sioux Falls and play for Hartzell, someone for whom Finley has great respect. "I haven't known him that well, but I'm getting to know him," Finley says, "like coach Giles, I've seen something out of the ordinary that sets him aside. He's passionate about doing what's best for his players. He has great support for me, and wants what's best for me, be it Sioux Falls or college next year." For the moment, Finley isn't worried so much about when he'll get to D-I as he is about what he needs to do to be effective once he gets there. "All I want is to be a guy who plays and not sitting on the bench. Right now, all my focus is on continuing my development, because I know better years are only ahead of me. I just need to keep practicing, improving my foot work, and keep weight lifting." Honest and direct is Finley's approach to the game. It's the same off the ice. "Hockey is a game of ups and downs. Staying level is something I think I'm known to do. If I'm up, I've got people to bring me back down, and when I'm down, I've no problem coming to a coach, like a man, and speaking openly, and hoping to get an honest answer. In the locker room," Finley continues, "I don't get too up or down, but if I see things going in the wrong direction, I'm not afraid to open my mouth, because accountability is something I value greatly." Honesty, hard work and athleticism bleed through Finley's family. His father runs a construction company and coaches girls basketball, while his sister, Kelly Finley, just completed her freshman year of college basketball at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL. Says Joe of his sister: "She's a brain, and she's a good athlete." Sounds like brother and sister are a lot alike. REGULAR SEASON YEAR TEAM GP G A PTS +/- PIM PP SH 2004/2005 Sioux Falls 55 3 10 13 -18 181 2 0

Unrelated, but of interest - how many times in the past have Sioux fans heard Gopher fans chirp about UND's cupcake schedule? What goes around, comes around I guess! Check out MN's home non-conference schedule: Alaska-Fairbanks, Union College, Massachusetts-Lowell, Canisius and Niagara. Take away UML and what are you left with?

Tidbits from today's Forum:

So, you only cheer for and enjoy watching these young men during the years they wear the green and white, but not beyond the date the leave UND? You don't enjoy or didn't enjoy in the past following the post-UND careers of guys like Tony Hrkac, Bob Joyce, Doug Smail, Russ Romaniuk, Ed Belfour, Travis Roche, Mike Commodore, Zach Parise, Brandon Bochenski, Troy Murray, Dave Tippett, James Patrick, Howard Walker, Garry Valk, Landon Wilson, etc? No one on that list played four years at UND, but they still were Fighting Sioux hockey players and will always be associated with the program. Although it is frustrating when players leave early, especially those that are fun to watch, I am of the mindset that once a Fighting Sioux, always a Fighting Sioux and I continue to wish all such players well in their pro careers and beyond, quite frankly. And I certainly cannot begrudge Brady Murray the money he is going to make next season playing a mere forty games. If the lockout continues (and not knowing the particulars of Bo's, ZP's, Hale's, MC's and Roche's minor league contracts), BM could very well be the highest paid Fighting Sioux alum playing hockey next season. More power to him, I say.

Come on, it is hard to argue with the money he is going to make. Tell the posters on this board that $300,000 is not a lot of money - yeah right. I know you are an accountant and you see some people, at least on paper, that do that every year, but let's be real, not a lot of people make that kind of money, even in today's society. Of late, that is true even in hockey circles. Matt Cullen has played roughly five years in the NHL, and signed a contract to play in Italy during the lockout for about $8,000.00 per month, per reports. That dude has NHL experience and even if the Italian league was year around, he would've made $96,000.00, which is a heck of a lot less than what Murray is being offered with no pro experience, for 40 games nonetheless. Murray's signing is a no-brainer for the kid. Also of note, Murray is a great player, but played little this past season and UND still participated in the national championship game. His leaving is a big loss, but let's not overstate its importance.

I believe they are displayed in the common area near the hockey coaches' offices.

From minnesota hockey journal: David Lundbohm has helped the Florida Everblades to a 3-2 series lead against the Charlotte Checkers of the ECHL. Lundbohm leads the postseason with 19 points and nine goals and is tied in plus-minus (+9).

Scroll down for some nice comments about Bochenski. btw, I didn't realize Potulny played for the ugly helmets?!

Article about Lee and Vandevelde and the NHL combine.

Article from Wisconsin State Journal regarding ME's salary increase including comments alluding to the ranking of recruiting classes. If this is referring to the 2005-06 classes, I am a bit surprised by the rankings. Although I like UND's incoming class, I find it hard to believe the Gopher's class would not be ranked #1.

The Capital Times - scroll down for UW's policy regarding the scheduling of teams with American Indian names, logos and mascots

Points of interest from that article:

Here is a recent review of the Oilers top 20 prospects from hockeysfuture.com. Moderator's note: Transcription removed due to copyright.

The flip side is a guy like Tyler Arnason, formerly a St. Cloud Huskie. He has struggled with weight issues, while carving out a pretty nice NHL career, thus far, anyway.

Hey clown, go back to your hole. Previously, I haven't minded your posts, but after reading the following at GPL, I had a change of heart: For what it is worth, Sioux is spelled Sioux, not Sue, and this place is not a hole, until or unless visited by crackers like you. Don't come over here and ingratiate yourself by being all lovey-dovey, when, obviously, you full of crap. btw, I am not sure Gopher fans ever expected anyone to skate circles around Harrington!

Berry watched Darcy Zajac play several times this season. If he comes to UND, it would likley be for the '06-07 season. The kicker is there is a brother younger than Darcy who was described to me at the FF as being the "best" hockey player in the family, relatively speaking. Time will tell. Probably one of those cases of Blais recruiting a brother just to get the younger, younger brother.

Oilers 2004-05 prospect review from hockeysfuture.com. Comments about Matt Greene:

My good friend who works security at REA, is a GF PD sergeant and uses my extra ticket when not on duty is well-versed in the methods described above. The majority of officers that work the games do it because they enjoy Sioux hockey and get to watch for free while getting paid, they are not overly concerned with someone sneaking alcohol into a building that readily serves alcohol on every corner. Like any good cop though, he picks his battles and if alcohol-related issues do arise, which obviously happens in places that serve alcohol, they are immediately addressed and resolved before the majority of fans discover that "something" took place.