[Where to eat in Grand Forks.]

In the new strip mall on the south end it says Little Bangkok coming soon.  Is that a chain restaurant?

[2024 Early Departures and Transfer Portal]

4 hours ago, burd said:

Maybe I just have higher expectations of a program like ours, which used to be considered the best or at least one of.   Now we are content beating our rivals because they lose their best talent?  We used to say, "Bring your best and be ready to lose."   I hope the players and staff haven't lowered their standards like we have here. 

We don’t even expect to win a first round game anymore.  To me, giving the coaching staff a complete pass on that is lowering our standards.

[2024 Frozen Four]

22 minutes ago, nodak651 said:

Haven't listened to this one yet, but I bet it's interesting.

 

   I agree.  There were many of us two years ago after the loss to Notre Dame that were saying that the next year with everyone we had coming back would put pressure on Berry if they didn't advance further, and many of us were huge defenders of Berry.  

   Well, we didn't even make the tournament last year and had a first round exit this year.  At some point you just can't keep pushing it down the road and say we should be able to change the narrative next year.  What you do different, I don't know. 

   I certainly know a number of coaches at the NHL level change lines often, while there are many others that believe you need to keep lines together for quite a while and only change them if things are a complete mess.   Having won the league title, don't know that it could have come to that, but they still change lines so frequently.  

   If they are only doing it as a last resort at the big league level where guys can, and should be able to adapt better, maybe they need to let chemistry grow with guys who aren't quite as adaptable.   

   Not really sure that they keep the foot on the pedal when they are in the lead either, but really it only bit them in one game, but that was the game where they couldn't afford to let it bite them.   

   Guess I would like to see some evidence that they have a change of mindset, and when I see Schmaltz on the ice in the last 3 desperation minutes when we need a goal, I'm not sure they are willing to change their mindset.  Schmaltz is an important piece as a role player, but should then be used accordingly.  

   If Jordan Schmaltz is expressing this, how long is everybody else going to be fine with the same results?  I know some could go another ten years without a win, and would still say that such and such hasn't won either, and we are just having a string of bad luck.  Hopefully hearing this from an ex-player, is a huge red flag and does result in them taking a closer look in the mirror, and asking mentors for advice.  

[2024 Frozen Four]

49 minutes ago, .357 said:

I hope you weren't expecting objectivity from him about the program's extended playoff woes. No need to crucify big B, but he could have at least asked him why his team looked like they had been injected with horse tranquilizers during the 2nd intermission of their last game. And maybe also ask him what he might do differently next year to avoid another implosion in the playoffs. You don't fix a problem by avoiding it.

I guess I just don't buy the "we weren't that far off" argument because we beat them in the regular season.  If that were the case, then CC and Omaha were probably closer than we were. 

[2024 Frozen Four]

   Schlossman's article about what it takes to win a title talked mainly about goaltending and winning some coin flip games.   He also mentioned UND wasn't far off.  Well, they were actually 4 games off.  In order to get to a coinflip, you have to be mentally prepared for the better part of the game, and not have lapses like UND did.   I think there were probably teams outside of the tournament that would have been better prepared to take advantage of that kind of game.  By coin flip alone, you would think UND would win a game every once in a while in the tournament.  

   Would have been nice to hear from Schlossman about UND's shortcomings down the stretch rather than saying they weren't far off.  Save "weren't far off" for programs like St. Cloud State, Western or Omaha.   As Berry says playing for this program isn't easy because you have an expectation to win, and it isn't for everybody, so let's not get to the point where you settle for moral victories. 

[2024-25 University of North Dakota Hockey Season]

2 hours ago, Oxbow6 said:

James should be top 6 over Kunz.

Swanson is not big but he's got elite top end skill.

No way Berry has Schmaltz and the 5th on the 4th line. Zero chance. Do the names Hain and Senden ring a bell??

3rd line, 4th line, it doesn’t really matter if they are put out against the top players of the opposition.

[2024-25 University of North Dakota Hockey Season]

2 hours ago, Oxbow6 said:

James should be top 6 over Kunz.

Swanson is not big but he's got elite top end skill.

No way Berry has Schmaltz and the 5th on the 4th line. Zero chance. Do the names Hain and Senden ring a bell??

I like Kunz’s net front presence with Berg and Perron’s precision shooting.

[2024 Frozen Four]

3 hours ago, Benny Baker said:

To your point, when people read ESPN today, they will be left with the understanding that college hockey titans are Denver (10), Michigan (9), Wisconsin (6), and the Boston schools tied at fourth with five titles a piece.

I guess I’ll hang my hat on the fact they forgot Minnesota too, but no mention of North Dakota’s 8 titles?

Tied for fourth? Where are they getting their information, from Colby & Buccigross?

[2024 Frozen Four]

5 hours ago, SJHovey said:

Minnesota, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, BC, BU. Every blue blood except Denver. Teams with an embarrassment of talent, riches and advantages. And all with a longer period of natty futility than UND, an apparent washed up has been.

Shut them down. They should be ashamed of themselves.

   I was never in the fire Hak crowd, as I loved being relevant every year and having North Dakota being in the national spotlight. It certainly helps recruiting when you are in the Frozen Four every year and the media raves about the program. How many times do you hear North Dakota even mentioned during the tourney as a team that was going to be a significant threat?

It also keeps the fanbase involved knowing their team is going to be competitive every year.  People would make plans for regional tickets early on, and while many still do the same, most are making plans on how to sell their tickets because UND doesn’t make the tournament, or implode so they don’t get to their desired regional.

   So as long as the above schools don’t win a title, even though most of them have been quite relevant, we should be fine with not making the tournament or first round exits?

   No wonder people are fine with Denver winning it all, they have relegated themselves that UND will never catch Denver and Michigan to allow them to be considered the premier program in the country.  Maybe we should cheer for Denver every year to make sure none of those other schools win it, so we can say 10 years down the road that at least those schools haven’t won it either.

  I get it, there are a lot of things that need to go right to win 4 games in the tournament very often, but there needs to be some expectation for a program like ours to make a run and win a couple games consistently.  I don’t consider Air Force to be a team that we should need to catch for tourney wins over the last 7-8 years.

[2024 Frozen Four]

2 minutes ago, Username Taken said:

You have to be so wildly lucky to win this tourney. Riding a 98 save percentage and winning 3 out of 4 by 1 goal is crazy to think about. 

Of course it helps if you recruit goaltenders like Chrona and Davis that have potential to play lights out for 4 games.  

[2024 Frozen Four]

10 minutes ago, Godsmack said:

Some our celes lately have been over the top. Not sure if our cele in the second period against Michigan was the best decision. Also, tossing the twig into the stands at CC two seasons ago in overtime was not in good taste either. Credit CC for not returning the favor at the Ralph this year. Crap like that should be reigned in by the coaches.

  I get that celebrations are part of what to expect now because it has been such a part of the lower levels of hockey, but it doesn’t mean I have to like it.  Personally when we talk about culture, I think that could be reigned in a bit and not have over the top celebrations on every goal.
   I much preferred Blake’s overtime winner where he didn’t celebrate at all because he was mad it came to that.  Bottom line is act like you’ve been there before and save the huge celebrations for big time games.  

[2024 Frozen Four]

22 minutes ago, .357 said:

What culture does Berry dislike?

   Hennessy has always said while they respect Denver, they do not like Denver’s way of going about things, which could simply be on ice behavior or other behind the scenes stuff.  To me, how is holding up your sticks skating by the bench after you score a goal any different than the little Chelsea Dagger hand motions UND does, or some of the one off celebrations from guys like Blake or Johannes.  
   Whatever the petty differences, they might need to copy Denver’s recruiting philosophy of getting guys that are used to winning and know what it’s like in big game situations.

[2024 Frozen Four]

Five All-Americans and BC can’t get it done.  Those always impressed by the high end talent and the thinking that they were practically unbeatable should learn a bit from history.  It is becoming more evident though that the culture that Berry dislikes > the culture that has produced year after year of early tournament losses. 

[2024 Early Departures and Transfer Portal]

25 minutes ago, InHeavenThereIsNoBeer said:

Really good well reasoned post.  As amazing as our facilities, tradition and staff is Grand Forks is not a bustling metropolitan area that has kids clambering to come here.  There's a reason I moved out of state as soon as I could after high school and again shortly after graduating college.  I came back because as I grew up I realized the positives but when you're a teenager or in your early 20s and focused on having the best possible college experience it's tough, for example, to compete with games at The Big House in Ann Arbor or the mountains and incredible outdoor hiking just outside Denver.  Or even the weather and co-eds at ASU. We'll get a certain type of kid(Canadian kids aren't faced by winters) and our fair share of talent but we won't get all of them.

   Agree, and we never did get all of the players.  I would say our biggest calling card has been we have always been hard to play against and we brought it every night.  I would argue that teams like Western, St. Cloud, and Omaha have more consistent work ethics than we have with less talent.

   In this age when you might get fewer of the super skilled guys, you better have experienced junior guys coming in, and you better have less games where the coach has to repeat “we didn’t come out ready to play”.  
 

   Not hearing media or coaches talking about how hard North Dakota is to play against, in fact you don’t hear much about the program as a team to be feared at tournament time.  It doesn’t help not having any exposure during the Frozen Four, much less the National tournament.  That kills recruiting.

 

[2024-25 University of North Dakota Hockey Season]

20 hours ago, Big A HG said:

Food for thought using the Frozen Four teams this year.

 

David Carle (DU), 34 years old - 3 Frozen Fours in 4 seasons.

Brandon Naurato (Mich), 39 years old - 2 Frozen Fours in 2 seasons.

Jay Pandolfo (BU), 49 years old - 2 Frozen Fours in 2 seasons.

Greg Brown (BC), 56 years old - 1 Frozen Four in 2 seasons.

Brad Berry (UND), 59 years old - 1 Frozen Four in 8 seasons.

**2020 season omitted in statistics since tournament was cancelled

 

The younger hires of David Carle and Brandon Naurato have both shown to be successful hires so far.  Pandolfo is younger now than Berry was when he was hired.  Greg is of similar age to Brad, but has shown he is able to provide elite recruiting.  There's no agenda to push here, just some interesting tidbits to note.  Maybe having a younger head coach wouldn't be such a bad thing.  Maybe just having a fresh face can spark new life into the program.  Maybe none of it matters and you just need a good coach.  But, combined, the four of those coaches have 8 Frozen Four appearances in their 10 collective seasons while UND hasn't been to one in 8 years.  Not only that, we've only won one NCAA tournament game since then.

   If I recall, Blais said that 10 years at one place is about right, as you run the risk of overstaying your welcome.  Of course that is when Sandelin started to come into his own at Duluth, so you never know.  
   Gino had his run from approximately 1978-1987 before things started to deteriorate and he was forced out by Wanless.  We saw that Gino was loyal to a fault, having two goaltenders as his assistants in Craig Perry and Jim Scanlan.  
   I get the feeling that Berry isn’t going anywhere either unless it comes to the same ugly conclusion. Having said that, we are nowhere near that kind of fall, but we do have more advantages now than we used to. 
   I see Berry being loyal to guys that have been loyal to him, but he needs to look at some things and some players with more of an objective eye.  We know who some of those players are/were that seemed to have an extra long leash.

 

 

 

[2024 Frozen Four]

Didn’t watch the game, was it one of those games where the stats were irrelevant, or was BC just more opportunistic?  Or did Michigan just start to press when they fell behind?

[2024 Frozen Four]

27 minutes ago, RhettRingers said:

Is UND in 3 years guy on SiouxSports?

No, but probably just as angry, if not more!

[2024 Frozen Four]

We don’t want Denver, but are able to have some level of objectivity, you would think that would be required of announcers as well.  Again, where are Starman and Alex?

[2024 Early Departures and Transfer Portal]

20 minutes ago, .357 said:

Snuggerud: drafted 1st round, #23 overall; 6'2" 190ish, physically able for pro game now, opts for 3rd yr with Gophers.

Blake: drafted 4th round, #109 overall; a generous 5'11"  & about 170, goes pro after 2nd year.

Would be interesting to know how much NIL, or lack therof, impacted the above 2 players' decisions.

So you’re saying UND is developing players better than Minnesota?   Snuggerud seemed like he wasn’t nearly as dynamic without Cooley and Nies (which is expected to some degree), but Blake was the driver of UND’s offense, finishing quite a bit ahead of everyone else.

[2024 Early Departures and Transfer Portal]

2 hours ago, fightingsioux4life said:

He's gonna need that good luck. Or he could surprise me.

It may take a bit for him to adapt to the speed and strength at the next level, but he reminds me of Johnny Gaudreau in that he is small but has the hockey sense and shiftiness to be a step ahead of the average player, which should make him successful at some point.   

[2024 Early Departures and Transfer Portal]

Was there just bad info out on Berg leaving, or has there been some behind the scenes NIL activity?

[2024-25 University of North Dakota Hockey Season]

1 minute ago, Oxbow6 said:

UND FB is a hot mess. UND hockey is just disappointment. Not apples to apples IMO.

I'll give you that, but personally I think with all of the recruiting advantages and the portal advantages, I can think of a handful of ex-UND players that could produce the same results we are seeing now.  

[2024-25 University of North Dakota Hockey Season]

If the other Bubba got extended, chances are Berry would be too.   I think we could go down the same path for the next 6 years and not win a tourney game and there wouldn't be an impetus to change as long as we make the tourney half the time.  

[2024 Early Departures and Transfer Portal]

3 hours ago, 1972 said:

it was like watching in slow motion..i could see he was thinking of sweeping it to the corner, and in my head im screaming COVER THE PUCK UP!....and then its in the back of the net...that was a killer..could just see the team was out of it after that

That would be a huge indictment on the mental toughness if that was the case.  Yes, it was a disappointing goal to give up, but I would argue the response to it was far more disappointing.  Good teams react positively to adversity, not fold under a small bit of adversity.

[2024-25 University of North Dakota Hockey Season]

31 minutes ago, SiouxFanSince1990 said:

Would be the biggest mistake of his life. I just don’t see his game translating well to the NHL. Has a year to prove me wrong.

So if another year isn’t going to make a difference in development, why not start getting paid in the AHL or another league before deciding if you would want to go to Europe or something.  Even those scenarios pay pretty well compared to what the average guy makes.