tnt

Have they stayed on this long with post game stuff in the past? I know years ago they wouldn't stay even for the handshake!

Yeah, can't remember NDSU losing players early to the professional ranks, nor recruits at the last minute or mid season to another competitive league. Dynasty's are more likely in divisions where that doesn't happen, that's why Alabama staying near the top is fairly impressive as well.

True, but we relied on Zane quite a bit as well, and he could leave. Top that with the fact we lose 7 seniors as well, and it's all about what you get with the incoming freshmen, and that's a crapshoot.

Being a bit older probably was a bit of an advantage for him, but probably offset a bit by coming from another country and having to get comfortable in another country and with the North American game. Like you said, we need four year guys that want to be here.

Patrick Khodorenko, a '98 from California seems to have put up nice numbers for the national development team, and it doesn't show he's committed yet, but maybe he's contemplating Major Juniors.

Thanks for posting those stats. Just goes to show you that success at one level doesn't necessarily mean success at the college level, especially early on. A lot of those guys were average college players at best.

Can't find an archive for 2000-2001 USHL season, but it seems to me Brandon Bochenski, James Massen, and Brian Canady were all high in goal scoring that season. Only Bochenski carried that over to become an elite scorer in college, so it's not a given these guys will make an immediate impact in college, but you would expect given the opportunity they are going to get, one or two of them should put up some decent numbers. I really thought that Cammarata would be scoring more for Minnesota being how dominant he was in the USHL, but then again he isn't done yet, and maybe he just had a sophomore slump. I really like the fact that we have guys coming in who aren't afraid to shoot the puck, much like Bochenski.

Hopefully the experience lost can be made up for in skill level, but that won't be a given. If Stecher stays and can impart his work ethic I like what we have. Imagine that Duluth and Denver would be 2 of the early favorites if there aren't any early departures, and Omaha if they can find a decent replacement for Massa will be a team to deal with. We know one thing is the league will always be a dogfight, and if you can come out of it standing you should be set up to make the tourney.

From what I understand, Gino did. Word is that he was told to get new assistants and wouldn't throw his assistants under the bus and was then fired.

Does anybody really think if they don't choose a nickname that we won't be revisiting getting a nickname time and again, or even those diehards suggesting going back to The Fighting Sioux nickname?

The Wild haven't had the desperation they had for all that time, and some of the teams they have played have had just as much desperation. In the playoffs, everybody takes it up a notch, so we'll see if the Wild can still show signs of being a contender when the playoffs roll around.

Personally, I haven't bought any UND merchandise without the logo, not out of protest, but because everything else looks so generic and lame. I'm sure they could come up with something I would buy, but the ND logo inside a circle doesn't do anything for me. So many more possibilities with an actual logo.

Wouldn't be surprised if he starts out on a line with his buddy Gersich.

Clippers, as in Alberta clippers.

I assume they could, but don't think UND would bid with that venue because it is so big it wouldn't be quite the advantage, along with the ice problems that come about with ice that isn't in most of the time.

Taylor Chorney got called up by Pittsburgh.

Might be more of a southwestern type thing, but Caballeros would lend itself to a decent logo. I know Gauchos is a recognizable nickname already, kind of similar in nature. http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caballero

Hey, I'm on board with Badlanders. I do think you could come up with a cool logo with an old west type person with character. I also think that while it doesn't roll off the tongue perfectly, I think it could become second nature. I bet nobody thought Cornhuskers sounded like it rolled off the tongues right away either, and now anything else but that would seem strange for Nebraska. I could also get on board with Explorers or Trailblazers, depending on whether you are a Chevy or Ford fan.

Are you saying unique to colleges, or unique period? I would bet that it isn't totally unique, and if it is, I would guess that it won't be inspiring or representative of the state. Badlanders is unique, but would people deem it inspiring?

Just like all job descriptions are seldom met by applicants, I would bet that the nickname picked will not meet all of the criteria they set. In fact, I think we might be asking why more of the criteria weren't met, especially if it is something lame like the Gleeful Peacocks.

One thing he might take into consideration is that I would think Tomek would get a bit of net time next year, especially if he goes fairly high in the draft. It was different for Zane, in that he stayed that extra year in the USHL, but I don't think that is the plan for Tomek. Do they risk the chance of losing Tomek if he doesn't get playing time? I can't pretend to know what he would do in that scenario, or what the team that drafts him expects of his development.

I submitted Rough Riders and Sonic Jets. I too, thought North Dakota Jets was missing something, but didn't think "Fighter Jets" would be something they would approve.

Considering that Tom Ward used to play for the gophers, it is nice that he can be objective.

For sure, they should all stay, but I would have said the same for Gregoire, Jordan Parise, etc.

...and neither were 80 percent of the guys who leave early, but they leave. How many early signings this year will be playing next year in the NHL, not many. Not saying he will leave or would even contemplate it, but none of us has a clue what these guys are thinking, so to be so confident in percentages they stay or go seems strange, kind of like people who gave UND little chance to land Boeser or Mismash.