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I agree that this year's team could make a splash, am stoked as well. They seem to have the right mix of everything right now, except consistency, but that'll come in time. I wasn't trying to draw you or anyone into an argument over Hakstol's long-term viability. I love the team as well & am the epitome of a homer, but any serious fan should look to all possibilities as to why his storied team isn't bringing home the hardware over such a long period.

What?! LOL, yes I based my opinion on what others wrote; sometimes one has to do that if they don't have the privilege of making it back. Do I actually have to be in the physical place to have an opinion of something? I know going off others isn't as authentic as those who've actually been there, but it's all I have at my disposal. So I don't care for Hakstol's post season record & make note of it, big deal. I asked awhile back how long a coach of a storied program should get to bring home a NC & I heard crickets in return. So you tell me, wise one, how long should his leash be? 10, 20 years? No leash? It seems pretty petty that you'd get your panties in a bunch over some stranger's (mine) comment about the atmosphere at the Ralph. Big deal what I think how fans act there, it's just a generic comment & I wasn't targeting any one person. Or are you more upset that I mentioned Hakstol's lack of success in the post season? Seems to be a Cult of Personality following with him. One can comment on the players, but people act like they've been off their medication a few days once you bring Hakstol into the conversation. But I will give you credit for the whale & dolphins comment..

Like i said, I was basing my opinion on what I had read from some other posters; I thought I made that clear. You must have a low standard for humor if you find that "quite hilarious". Slow day on your end?

LOL, you usually get this bent out of shape over grammatical mishaps? Too funny.

Haven't been in Grand Forks since 1990; would love to experience all that is the Ralph.. Thanks for your feedback .. was basing what I said on what I had read from some other posters..

Yes, it seems to have disrupted yet another knitting party..

Yes, UND is an enviable hockey program. It's also greatly respected & the epitome of what a college hockey program should be. But the program didn't become great without great fans who wanted a winner. My first experience with Sioux hockey was as a little boy in 1972. Behind me was a sober middle-aged woman & her friends who were literally yelling at the Sioux for their poor on-ice performance. Fast-forward a generation & that passion has largely been replaced by a corporate mindset & many fans who go to the Ralph because it's the "in" thing to do in the Forks. I wouldn't call that kind of fanbase good for a program & it can be terminal if it goes unchecked. Of course I'm not saying all fans are like this, but a good segment are..Just trying to keep the tradition going, is all..

Sounds good to me, could care less which puppet is at the helm..

I hear what you're saying, but you did say that those who don't agree with how things are being run can find another program if they don't agree with the status quo. Regardless of the niche, from sports to politics, & where it lies in the spectrum, dissension should be welcomed; & politics, like sports, is also a voluntary pursuit. And the minority should never be expected to find another team if they are unsatisfied with how things are being handled; that would make the remaining fans automatons. I don't consider myself envious, but I do like to keep the torch lit for a storied hockey program. Mostly because I want it to continue being great. Maybe it's a generational thing, but I see complacency in some of the posts. Sports is about as unpredictable a pastime as you can get, but a repeated pattern over many years usually means it's something besides bad luck or more competitive teams out there. Not saying I'm right, it's just my opinion at this moment.. I just missed the Barn days, but was around when the Winter Sports Complex first opened for hockey.. And I try not to base my happiness on something like hockey, but I will be joining Oxbow6 & a few other diehards in a ceremonial mass suicide if # 7 doesn't turn into # 8 this year..Maybe..

Sorry, but it helps my vision.

Your thought process reminds me of a recent president's rhetoric, "If you're not for us, you're against us." Meaning any dissension from the norm won't be tolerated. How's this, SJHovey? I respect your opinion & you tolerate mine. This board is largely opinions & the greater the diversity of ideas that are allowed to flourish, the better. Or, we could all conform to your views so everyone thinks & expresses themselves just like you. Just let me know if it's the latter so I can start reviewing some of your older posts & molding my thoughts to conform to what you & the norm think..

To want results doesn't mean that you hate the head coach, that's ridiculous & a non-sequitur. Sometimes complacency or apathy can spell disaster, regardless if it's in one's personal life or in a hockey program. I drink non-fluoridated water to retain the passion & avoid such a mental state.

Great programs shouldn't be compared to lesser programs, just like apples aren't compared to oranges & the Crimson Tide isn't compared to eastern Carolina..

Sioux fans don't directly say that, but there are indirect references to more programs being around or the landscape being more competitive, making it more difficult than 20 years ago. I don't think anyone on this board personally hates Coach Hakstol. But there are many who are dissatisfied with the zero NCs so far & who want to see some results. I don't think pressuring a coach or a team to succeed on the big stage is bad at all. A fanbase who expects their team to win the NC & starts pressuring when none is realized year after year, is more conducive to eventually winning it all than a fanbase who is complacent with just successful regular seasons. If a coach feels pressure from the community, he is often forced to change his coaching philosophy when this same philosophy didn't work in previous years, lest he be looking for a new job. No pressure, or reduced expectations, leads a coach to use the same approach year after year because he's not being forced to alter a failed philosophy or strategy. Last year was encouraging, though, because Hakstol appeared to have finally figured it out coaching-wise at the FF, aside from the last second. This topic is better left for the off-season (if needed), but it should still be openly discussed & not shunned as being hateful or irrelevant; because coaching is a results-oriented profession, especially at this level. And going by your other response, you didn't say if there should be a timetable or not for a Sioux hockey coach to win a NC. Am curious what your opinion is..10, 20 or more years or no timetable at all? Not trying to be a thorn, just wondering..

To me it seems like the fanbase is atomizing into two camps: those who are content with the current results & those who are about to lynch gfhockey to appease their anger. You could extrapolate Hakstol's career another 12 years & if he's 0-24 there would still be Sioux fans who love that he's still brought 24 years of winning hockey in the regular season. Time will tell. When does a Sioux hockey coach reach a point in his career when the fans demand a national championship? I'm addressing the fans who are content with Coach Hakstol's results so far. Does this point exist or doesn't it matter?

I'm looking for qualities in this team that resemble those of the 1996-97 freshman class who brought home two national championships. Peter Armbrust was in that class & he didn't have the greatest of talent, but he had a lot of character & played big in big games. There weren't any outstanding stars in that class that I remember..

Games like these are good for target practice and seeing if you can hit double digits both nights, but I don't think they really help a team like the Sioux become all that much better. If we pound them both nights, it helps our PWR & is good for the guys' egos; but I don't think playing down to this level helps them become better prepared for March. It maybe gives them a false sense of how good they really are. I suppose it's better than not playing at all, though, as it keeps the guys in shape & is a good time to play Murphy both nights to see if he can get out of his self-imposed rut..

Panzarella played smart, physical hockey & didn't try to play beyond his abilities or role. Plus he stuck up for his teammates when needed without drawing dumb penalties. Ausmus & Stecher are beasts out there ...Ausmus is very confident & capable when it comes to holding the blueline without backing off prematurely & Stecher just doesn't quit out there. Stecher not only plays hard all the time, he plays smart & sets a great example for his teammates. What a steal he's been & he exemplifies what Sioux hockey is. Poganski showed excellent acceleration in the O-zone last night when he blew by an Omaha defender for a good scoring chance; he's definitely figuring out the college game very early in his career. K. Thompson showed confidence in his game when he went end-to-end & got off a good shot; L. Johnson showed some tenacity & was moving his feet this weekend. Don't know what's going on in J. Schmaltz's head. He doesn't appear to have an undisclosed, nagging injury & it seems his tentative play is stemming from a lack of confidence, overthinking or maybe he's got something going on in his personal life. I wonder if his relationship to star brother Nick precludes him from riding the bench, albeit briefly. I suggest this as the coach has no qualms benching other players who aren't producing or who are too inconsistent. No clear-cut dominant teams at this stage in the season. The Boston schools are very beatable, MN is too up & down & their conference is mostly down, defending champ Union got whacked by W. Michigan like 8-2 this weekend, the Sioux are talented but too inconsistent at this point for them to be ranked as high as #2, imo. We'll see in 3.5 months who's gelled & improved the most..Oh, & did someone keep track of how many times Omaha tried to go backdoor on UND? I lost track of how many times both UND defenders would be staring down an Omaha forward in the corner while one of their defensemen rushed in from the blueline without being noticed.

I understand now. Try losing the snarky attitude..

Thanks, all I needed was an explanation; not an editorial about everyone needing to already know this..

Schlossman said Omaha gets the extra point, though .. So how many pts does each team get?

I thought it was considered a tie if no one scored in OT?

Thank goodness we have another nail-biter, blowouts don't keep Sioux fans on their toes....

UND scores: 2-2

A good coach whose team is behind will make the necessary adjustments.