tnt

I don't think you'll see that unless somebody does something that instigates it. MacWilliam and Blood can handle anything that comes along, but I don't mind them not seeking out tough guy situations when the play doesn't warrant it.

Don't become like the Minnesota gopher fans and once something doesn't go your way or you lose, the default reaction is to make fun of the town, the state, the people, the color of the grass... If USD can be the only difference between the Big Sky being a good decision or not, then maybe A.) The Big Sky isn't that great after all or B.) USD is that great. I tend to choose C.) None of the above. It might be a little less appealing, but if it was good to begin with, it is good now. So let's not be haters!

So does anyone know what Rowney's injury is from the hit from Bennett? I hope it is not a concussion, because to me it certainly looked like contact to the head.

Agreed, but then be consistent. It looks likes Beau Bennett's hit on Rowney on Friday has put him out for this weekend against Duluth. He got an elbowing penalty, but my contention was that it should have been a hit to the head as well. I think the inconsistency is what becomes the issue. It shouldn't take a year-ending injury or someone laid out on the ice for them to make the calls.

It definitely would be nice to have him because you can't have enough recruits with top-end talent, but in reality, it's what you do with them when you get them, and I'm confident that the Sioux coaches do that better than our counterparts do.

I guess we'll see how it plays out, but I think NDSU will do just fine recruiting. Who are the best players in the state this year? I guess that will be an early testing ground.

From my slow motion replay, he left his feet and made helmet to helmet contact. To me Denver got off easy on that one. One contact to the head missed. I know it was on replay, but I suspected contact to the head to begin with, that's why I replayed it in slow motion.

It looks like Brendan Odonnell has picked it up a bit since Mark MacMillan has come back. Both have a couple points tonight already.

The article was written in 2009, but your point is very relevant.

He's a junior in High School! Let him take his sweet time. Should the Sioux have pulled Grimaldi's offer because he took an extra month or two? I think it's pretty arrogant to think that kids should know NOW what they want to do in a couple years. Part of the reason you get a lot of these decommits is because kids commit so early. When I said he should have all the evidence he needs now, doesn't mean it feels right for him now. Maybe he is waiting to see what plays out with the gophers -- maybe not. Should players that the Sioux are looking at commit elsewhere when they don't have a commitment from the Sioux right away? It goes both ways. The coaches have reasons for holding out on an offer, likewise players want to be sure that they are making the right decision for them and their career. Let's face it, the Sioux wouldn't have Jason Gregoire now or Colton St. Clair in the future, if they adhered to that philosophy.

I got to see Mattson play in Fargo the other week and he looked better than St. Clair on that occasion. I think people are putting too much emphasis on stats. These aren't the USHL days of Kevin Hoogsteen and Greg Johnson where you have 100+ point seasons. In fact, on a night in and night out basis you would have a hard time telling between guys that have college scholarships in hand and those that are still hoping to get the call. I suppose guys like Grimaldi stick out on a nightly basis, but guys like him are few and far between. Look at a guy like Seth Ambroz for example. He has a goal and an assist in 6 games, yet it is possible he is a top 10 pick in the NHL draft, although supposedly his stock is falling a little bit. I see a guy like Mattson as a good role player. Fast, and from what I saw, a good penalty killer. Don't know if he would have the same opportunity on the powerplay here, but whose to say. I know I thought LaPoint would be the offensive stud here at UND, and look at the role he is playing now, Friday's game aside. That role is no less important. I find myself looking at stats for the purpose of quantifying how good they are, or could be, but I see many of the players that came to UND with high expectations and big stats seemed to underperform or not be as important as some of the role players that came in with low expectations. I'm sure everyone can think of a few players like that.

I remember a time when the Sioux would be about the only top program in the country that didn't have USA team members in their program and used to get a lot of our recruits from Shattuck. Now it seems it has gone the other way, although Koules played at Shattuck. I would assume they have prospects for defense for next year that they are waiting for verbals from.

I don't know, it wouldn't surprise me if he is holding out to see if Minnesota turns it around a bit. I would think he has all the other information he needs to make an informed decision. If he waits to the end of the year, there also could be talk of new coaches at Minnesota if things aren't going well, so if he wants to go there he might want to see where things are heading. On the positive side if he hasn't deciced before the season, he will get to play at the Ralph a few more times before making his decision in the Jason Statstad tournament.

So does Mario Lucia wait to see what happens to his dad before commiting to Minnesota? I think it's safe to say that the North Dakota wouldn't be an option anyway, the way tDon whines about their style of play. Kind of funny how he and Minnesota fans despise it, but then say how Minnesota needs to be more like that.

Thanks for the kiss of death! And I can name a number of reasons he might not come here, among them being staying close to where his parents can see him play and schooling. It all depends on what is important to him and his goals.

Any reason given? Any animosity for his dad being slighted on 3 or so attempts to coach at UND?

To me if you offered to him, you either want him or you don't. Why would you leak out "cooling" if you still want him in the fold. Maybe they aren't as confident as Hakstol is in tapping his potential and want him to be a finished player so they can't be accused of screwing him up.

Tickets sold.

Was thinking the same thing. And what is cooling, changing the scholarship offer? If they're not sure, tell Michaelson and we'll take him.

I think intensity is going to have a lot to do with the results this weekend. I don't know if the Sioux will be able to match the intensity at the beginning of the game on Friday, but if they can be close most of the weekend, they could have good results. Their lack of success against us in the past is incentive enough, but throw in the opening of a new building that they will want to usher in with a victory, and the Sioux better be ready to play from the drop of the puck on Friday. The one positive is that it will be a league game and the Sioux will want to start off on the right foot. Hopefully the Sioux will show A.J. Michaelson why he should want to be a part of their team in the future with the intensity and grittiness that is the hallmark of the Sioux tradition.

No. It's too difficult to try and sell some of the less attractive series separately.

I have two season tickets in Section 302A for sale on the end the Sioux shoot twice. These seats are on the aisle in a row of only six seats above the entryway in the upper deck. $780 for both.

Grimaldi with a goal and 4 assists with 6 shots as Team USA puts up a 10 spot on gopher recruit Joel Vienneau. Also Michael parks with 2 goals and 4 shots against Fargo.

Mussman happy with the way the defense battled. Talked about the four players that went down with injuries making it a shell of a defense. Problem with that is that they had all of those players in the first half and still could not stop Southern Utah.

No kidding! I will be mad if we miss any of the hockey game because of the football game. Know where your bread is buttered.