tnt

Yeah, I just keep picturing Boeser trying to get off a one-timer or loading up his wrist shot with the puck bouncing all the time.

http://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/3986896-und-hockey-und-averages-more-sellout Attendance figures for this year. UND with almost 2000 more fans a game than Minnesota which was 2nd on the list. Of course if it was butts in the seats, that figure would probably be 4000-5000 more. Would imagine Omaha might even be 2nd on that list with their new arena.

Berry was just on 1440, the Fan, and he said another part of the reason to take the afternoon game, besides the rest, is that the ice surface should be at it's best. With the skill on this team, you can't argue that line of thinking. If the puck is bouncing and such, it really would hurt Nick Schmaltz's ability to use his best skill, and really the team as a whole.

Wonder if that is what happened in this circumstance.

Really?

Sure, haughty now for UND, but if they lost, you would be the first calling out the team for not living up to your expectations and backing up your smack talk.

Yeah, let's hope he doesn't lose it at the wrong time. I saw a few times where UND players went after guys after they felt they were wronged. Chyzyk and Boeser have looked for retribution a few times after missed calls the other way. Hopefully they take some for the team and the refs make up for missed calls going forward. Did anyone from UND address the video review of Poolman's hit? I can see them reviewing the play for a major if they called a penalty initially, but when they didn't call anything, how do you review that. That is opening a can of worms that can make games 2-1/2 to 3 hours long.

I'm really not sure who could win this year. The factors that could go against him, are that he is a freshman, playing on a high scoring, poor defensive team in the Big Ten. Yes, his plus/minus is just below the leader in Caggiula, but in a league that hasn't been that good defensively. I'm not sure he is the clear cut leader, but in absence of another one, he could still be the leader in the clubhouse.

Yeah, if a goal that takes that kind of timing and teamwork x5 isn't the play of the year, why bother. To have that many passes just inside the line is incredible. One pass is off slightly and the whole timing is screwed up.

To be fair, Tim Hennessey used to say that a lot about UND as well, and it really is hard to win consistently with that many freshmen in the lineup because they don't fully understand what it takes to win both nights of a series. This UND team has been the exception to the rule by being more consistent than past teams loaded with upperclassmen. That is all the more reason we should be in awe of what UND has done this year with so many freshmen and all of the injuries and such we have had to deal with. It is interesting that it was mentioned that UND was led by their Senior class and upperclassmen. Yeah, that is how it is supposed to work. Agree that if that isn't the case with Minnesota, it is an indictment on recruiting and development. How many people were all over Caggiula as an impact player coming in? In contrast, Cammaratta, Fasching and Guertler were touted as the second coming, and now 2 of the 3 remaining aren't providing the upperclass leadership required of helping along a young team?

No, they just aren't eligible for an at large bid is my understanding. The advantage of having the conference tourney champ getting the auto bid is to keep those teams that have had poor seasons interested and have that Cinderella type March madness atmosphere.

At some point, every team that wins a National Championship has a moment or many moments where you can say, "they got lucky". We got lucky in '97 when BU beat a loaded Michigan team. Providence got lucky last year when BU's goalie became afraid of his shadow, and so on ...

But they have the National Championship that year, not us. Shoulda, woulda, coulda! Weren't we supposed to spank Michigan too? That's why it amazes me how many times people underestimate teams, especially teams that have a record like Quinnipiac.

They are 4-1-7 in overtime which is a lot of overtime, but in 2011 when Duluth won it all, they were 7-2-6, so they seemed to find a way to win those games even better. I always thought it would catch up to Duluth that year, but it worked for them. When it gets down to this time of year, it's about finding a way to win, period.

It says in the paper today that Mitch Meindel is off the team for violation of Athletic Department policy. Is this something that just happened? Who will perform the punting duties this fall?

How good would Archibald have looked in a Sioux uniform?

Add to that a goaltender that they consider their MVP, and in a one and done he could steal one. Of course, the fact that he has to be their MVP reveals some underlying problems as well, but the point still stands.

Got an email trying to get me to buy tickets to the Big Ten Tourney and for the first 2 days they had a deal for 4 tickets in the lower level with hot dogs and sodas for just $99 each day. Apparently they want the lower level to look a little more respectable.

Since we have seen big upsets just about every year in the tournament, every team is scary to me. How many times have we heard that kind of refrain in the past where teams aren't scary, yet have ended up winning. With us it has been Michigan, Yale a couple times and so on.

Your rant would best be directed toward the gopher fan base and even guys like Nate Miller and Pat Michelletti, who say that they don't follow it as closely because they have no idea when they are playing. I thought it odd that fans and guys that used to play for the gophers think it is a chore to keep up with their team. Although I wouldn't like the odd games as much, I am certain I would know when they were being played. Most of the fan base is so keen on finding out when and whether games are on TV, it wouldn't be too much of a chore to find out if they are having a game on a different night, or a different time like they are this Friday.

Whoever replaced him better have a decent name for sandwich naming purposes.

Of course things might change, but Berry has expressed that he is at a stage where he is completely happy where he is at because he has seen how unstable things are in the NHL. Who knows what he would do confronted with an offer like Hakstol got though.

I would guess that with the disaster for attendance at Joe Louis Arena last year, the Big Ten might be looking at playing at the X every year. If that is the case, the X would probably lean towards the Big Ten tournament, knowing that Minnesota in the current format will play in it every year, while the possibility of North Dakota not making it for the NCHC might sway them towards the Big Ten as well. Of course the businesses around Xcel might rather have the NCHC because of all the out of town traffic they would see.

With the way things are in college hockey now with Pairwise, you don't see as much splitting goaltending duties unless there is inconsistency. Remember Gino used to split goaltending duties many times during the first half, then chose to ride the hot goaltender after Christmas. Now you almost can't afford to throw a new guy in, unless bad play dictates it. Also don't know how any pro organization would look upon having a high draft pick ride the pine for a long time, although Tomek being so young, coupled with how long goaltenders usually take to develop helps the situation. Agree that Tomek will play a bit next year if he is as advertised and healthy.

Yeah, noticed he was in the top 4 or 5 in points per game in the BCHL, behind guys like Jost and Conway. Also love to see him described as "relentless".