tnt

I would say as in any relationship, you want to tread lightly on touchy subjects, especially when you need to get pertinent information for your readership. I do think there is a way to approach it without coming across as accusatory, and to this point, we don't know what actually happened. Brad doesn't have the luxury of going off with brash perceptions like you do, because he has to walk that fine line and foster relationships to be able to still get his readers information they want about recruits, potential recruits and what have you, well before they get out in the general media.

Yeah, we certainly didn't like it when Major Junior was operating behind the scenes to poach our recruits. Don't know if they had been in contact with Smith after he decommitted from Denver and said they didn't have room at present but there was mutual interest, and then offered him when this opened up, but nonetheless he was committed. Would be interested to have Brad talk to the coaches about that in the light that they know how it feels to have recruits poached, if indeed that is what happened.

If that were true, then Eades should have been fired for that. Bridges should never be burned because you never know when someone is going to develop, much less a kid still in high school, that by the way put up huge numbers. I am sure the competition was a concern, but I would think you would always keep a door wide open to one of the leading scorers in the state of Minnesota. I would also add that I don't hold a lot of credence in what some parents say, simply because they all seem to have an axe to grind. I have heard about parents this year and last that have very different thoughts about how good their kid is and how much they should be playing, compared to a fans perspective, nevermind a coaches.

I think that is probably something they do with a lot of kids, especially for the more elite programs that don't need to take a chance on players that aren't considered elite at the time. I think Morelli is another player that Blais jumped on early that UND needed to see more before offering. When you miss on those kinds of players though, it hurts your depth. Of course on the other end of the spectrum, UND has missed on elite players that committed then backed out, which also has hurt their depth and taken a toll on several recruiting classes now.

Funny that Adam Tambellini can score four points in 3 months with the junior varsity, but can score 4 points in one game with the varsity.

He stopped 46 of 47 shots in a game last weekend with Waterloo, which I believe was his first game with them.

What is the NCHC conference record against the Big Ten right now?

I believe his dad played for the gophers, so I would think that if he impresses in the USHL, they would have the inside track on him, but who knows.

Rather then questioning the moderators, perhaps you should look at yourself and ask the question what it is about your actions that has made you change your name on this board many times over. I think you are in a bit of denial with the "it's not me it's them" mantra.

Was great to get the sweep, but it was touch and go because of the inability to convert and increase the lead on the powerplay, When you have several chances to increase a one goal lead, you've got to at least use those powerplays to create or sustain momentum. This is especially the case if you get to the NCAA tournament and are in a one and done situation. The fact is that if you have three or four powerplays in a row like the Sioux did tonight and you don't extend the lead, chances are that the opposition is going to get a few chances to tie it up, or take the lead like Colorado College did tonight. Thankfully, they fought back and won, because that could have been a devastating loss going forward. If it's a matter of not bearing down until you need to, then that is a recipe for not winning in the NCAA tournament. Need to have the feeling that this may be the only powerplay they will be getting and needing to take advantage of it.

Jim, given the NCAA new approach to winning Non-conference road games being more valuable than in the past, is it more important that UND wins in Bemidji? They obviously need both games, but is the one in Bemidji more valuable pairwise wise?

True, but I think people have mentioned before that Minnesota might be able to gain depth on their squad if guys like Lou Nanne would/could pay for the scholarship of his grandkids to go to Minnesota without using up valuable scholarship dollars. Obviously it didn't work out like that, but if someone who gives to the University anyway would be able to save scholarship money and thus provide the team with possibly better depth, who knows if they would donate in that way as well.

Of course they'll only have one recruit in this weekend, the weather is going to be nice. Save bringing in the vast majority of the recruits when it is 30 below.

I know the NCAA wouldn't allow it, but perhaps a few challenge games between Major Junior and College teams are in order. If the Major Junior teams don't want to play, use that as propaganda for going the college route.

Even if they are super talented, it may take a while to learn the systems and adjust to the college game. Was thinking of Jack Rowe in Fargo as a possibility because of age, but don't think he would add anything more than a Coltyn Sanderson, and who knows if he is still on the radar, even for next year.

So if you are Hakstol, and you have two players of similar skills, one in traditional Major Junior territory, and one in non traditional Major Junior areas, I think you need to get the player more likely not to bolt, I don't care the connections to Canada. Max Coatta would have been a nice add at mid year had he not committed to Mankato.

One common denominator between all the players mentioned, all from Minnesota. Minnesota seems to have an a lot of players that don't respect the game with their diving, chirping, what have you.

Don't know why he is leaving, but I would hope the New York Rangers knew that he was going to be a slow developer and needed the time to put on strength and bulk.

Two phrases you say that don't go together. "Even if Wheeler did" and "extends his hand in a show of sportsmanship". If Wheeler did, then he wasn't extending his hand in a show of sportsmanship. We know Finley was dumb and broke the "sanctity" of the handshake line. Because of the circumstances, and the people involved it is also believed that Wheeler broke that sanctity in a different way.

Forgive me if I choose to believe that people don't just arbitrarily pick someone out of a handshake line and focus on them. Why not take the first guy in the line then. But I guess we should be proud as Sioux fans because your obsession with our program speaks volumes!

Wow, you really have no ability to be objective whatsoever. I could understand you thinking Blood was an instigator, but the Sioux just finished a successful weekend in Minneapolis, so who do you think would have had a level of frustration, Finley or Wheeler. Let's be clear, Finley and Blood made poor choices regardless, but I tend to believe they didn't decide to wait to retaliate for something that transpired during the game until the handshake line. Gopher fans always complain about the Sioux taking cheap shots throughout the game, so why would they wait? True, Blood and Finley are no schoolboys, but what about Wheeler and Rau's reputations leads you to believe they wouldn't do such a thing. Let's face it, plenty of people would like a piece of Rau because of his chirping and actions on the ice. But of course Rau wouldn't chirp in the handshake line.

Is he transferring, or is he just being funny because of how cold it is today?

You can! But life is too short to always be negative and always look at the downside of everything, especially for those that can't look at the positive side of anything. People can say duckies and bunnies all they want, but there is an opposite side of that spectrum, and I choose not to be part of the doom and gloom crowd led by Irish.

Did anyone see Tom Chorske say that there should have been more Minnesotans on the Olympic team but they weren't taken because they were from Minnesota? Seems to me they got a lot of Minnesotans on the team, including several that were on the bubble like Oshie, Wheeler and Martin.

It seems odd that you say that you cannot claim you know why they left unless you know the players, yet you know that less players would have left if there was a coach in place by December 10th. You then use boosters talk to change your opinion of Brian Faison. Depending on which booster you talk to, Dave Hakstol doesn't deserve to be head hockey coach either.