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Would love for Minnesota to match up with Maine in the first round at the "X'. Hopefully a little revenge for Maine for the last time they played there in 2002 National Championship game. Maine is also one of the hotter teams in the country, and they have a terrific top line as well.

... and we lament not getting it done when we have high-end talent, can you imagine not making the Final Five with a first line and goaltender like CC has?

Yes, but you need the Kristo line intact to be considered with last year's team. Remember, a lot of that talent is young and unproven talent at this level compared to Frattin and Malone etc. that were men among boys at some points. Also remember that Nelson, Knight, Rowney, and to some extent Kristo were all secondary scorers on that team which is unbelievable. You can say that Nelson and Rowney have made humongous strides since then, but that is my point exactly that you aren't as polished and physically dominant when you are that age. I think it is possible to run the risk next year to depend on the fact that the talent and depth is there and not be as focused as they have been down the stretch this year. Sometimes when there isn't adversity, the work ethic might not be as strong. But that is next year, let's focus on what this team can accomplish down the stretch.

True, but now if Denver finishes better than us in the Final Five, we move down to the bubble again.

I think it's also time to quit the addendum to the end of the school song. Sounds to me like a Minnesota rouser wannabe and I always hated that. What is with fan bases that want to copy cheers from other teams instead of being a little creative.

On second thought, don't know if St. Louis will want to mess with the chemistry they've got going right now.

So how fast do we think that Jaden Schwartz will be in a St. Louis Blues uniform?

You mean the team that beat the WCHA Champs, that Vermont? Benilde might have what, 4, maybe 5 guys that could earn scholarships if they produce in Junior Hockey, but I really think you are kidding yourself if you think that they could compete with a college team.

They've got some talent, but Idaski said that the depth is not quite there, but thinks next year could be a turning point because of all the players they redshirted this year. From my perspective, they lack a game changer on defense, which is why Monique had to be moved back there. Hopefully Jordan Slavin comes back healthy next year and Sam Lashomb is a game changer like she appears she could be. I am hoping that they will be able to put Monique back at forward and use her on the point just on the powerplay. They did have two of the top rookie scorers in the league with ROY Karvinen and Jakobsen, so hopefully they will take another step forward next year as well.

Saving it for something special!

The Denver loss moves us up to a tie for 11th in the pairwise while Denver dropped to 13. Hope Wisconsin finishes the job.

When you say "every single person" and it was a few people, it isn't a counter argument. Yes, Minnesota does need to play those instates, but when you argue that you really want to play a rival like North Dakota, then lock up a four year agreement with Notre Dame, then are working on another agreement with Denver, I'll once again call it lip service. If you really want to play a rival, you can make it happen, just like you did with playing the instate teams. I was skeptical back then that they really wanted to play the Sioux, and so far both Schlossman and myself are skeptical now that they really want to work it out. Once again, I'll use the NDSU rivalry as a reference, when they really sat down in the other sports other than football, they figured out a way to make it work. The sports it hasn't worked out in, women's basketball and football, is because of the personalities and grudges that have kept it from coming to fruition.

Funny, Wisconsin worked out a schedule with us, and back when we played Minnesota when we were all wondering why progress wasn't being made in scheduling, we were not the Sioux, so that argument falls on deaf ears. Now all of a sudden they have to find people to fill their schedule and they can't wait. Kind of sounds like the petty back and forth NDSU and UND went through when they said they didn't have room on their schedule and they end up playing teams like SD School of Mines.

Sioux are now in a tie for 12th in the pairwise with Michigan State.

... and I have said all along that it is lip service just like the supposed support of Bemidji State all those years. You can talk all you want, but I don't see games scheduled like I do with Notre Dame, and now it appears Denver.

Seth Jones with a goal tonight in a win over Muskegon.

Hey, it worked great for 50 years, as the school has a lot of brandname recognition across the country coming from such a small school. I guess we'll find out going forward if using just the school name gives us the same recognition.

Really, but when they didn't have the nickname they were working deals with other schools but couldn't come up with one with a rival? Must not have been working too hard at it since Wisconsin and UND had already struck a deal.

Like I said before, the proof is in the pudding. Don Lucia does not want to play UND, and the fact that he is making scheduling agreements left and right proves the point. Before it was because of his son playing for Notre Dame, but don't think he has a son playing for Denver. On the positive side, if Minnesota's problems with Denver are any indication, the NCHC could benefit from an agreement in the Pairwise.

One thing I would ask Baggot is why didn't Wisconsin finish in fourth place or better when they have two All-WCHA players in his eyes, including the POY. Hakstol certainly should have been coach of the year if he didn't have enough talent to only be worthy of one third-team member, plus playing with basically two lines of walk-ons or defensemen-turned forward. Our first line obviously didn't warrant much with him, so he must have been pretty impressed with our second line -- just not good enough to warrant much recognition. Seriously, Hakstol must have manufactured home ice from smoke and mirrors, which isn't far off, but then shouldn't that warrant attention.

Thought I heard that Iverson was more inclined to the Major Junior route, but who knows.

Hopefully he will be in town on a night we clinch a berth into the Final Five and the building will be rocking with a stick salute to follow.

Certainly I wonder what the kid did to get kicked off the team, but I am sure the coaches know exactly what he did and probably determined that he is warranted a second chance. I think a lot of these kids that have played on elite teams growing up have been told how great they are and think they can do no wrong. It is nice when somebody comes along and draws a line in the sand, yet is willing to give them a second chance if they tow the line. From what I have heard from host families in Ann Arbor, there are a good number of jerks and punks with an attitude that needs to be adjusted, including those who people have made out to be saints. When you have those that are down to earth and have a humble view of themselves, they are rare and if the talent is there coaches jump all over them, because more likely than not, when you bring in some players they need to be brought down to earth a bit.

For those that don't see Kristo's performances night in and night out in which he is all over the ice, you almost have to use numbers as a guide. Brad has had to use numbers and the performance of J.T. Brown against the Sioux to put him where he is on his list. I am sure the Minnesota media contingent are more impressed by Brock Nelson with the numbers he put up against them. It kind of is a matter of when people watch you combined with overall numbers.

Thanks.