tnt

If anyone knows what jerks the NCAA are, it is Hakstol. He had to leave halfway through his senior season because he tried to get a head start on college class work.

If he indeed feels like that, why in the world would he make a verbal comittment at such a young age. I would think if he had any leaning to the OHL, he would wait a few years and see how he feels then. It's not like he was getting a ton of pressure from the Sioux.

I agree, that is why I don't see the fuss over a player who likes to celebrate his goals, especially since it isn't an in-your-face celebration to the opponent. Considering some of the examples of poor sportsmanship that have already been put forth, celebrating goals, or even a bit of over celebration pales in comparison.

I think everybody can agree that participants on both sides have shown poor sportsmanship on occasions. I think fans of both sides are guilty as well. But you are suggesting that something that creates some of that bitterness between the rivals is for school pride, when it is more of an instigating factor. There is a reason you don't see it much in pro or college hockey, and it isn't because teams don't take pride in their team, it is because you most likely would have to answer to it. Let's hope it doesn't make a comeback.

If that is true, why doesn't Minnesota still do it? I would bet the Minnesota coaches directed the players that it wasn't the best sportsmanship. Could be wrong, but usually when something like that gets started, it doesn't disappear quickly unless it was frowned upon.

I should probably mention that I am not a huge fan of celebrations, especially when the player needs to be chased down by his teammates to celebrate together, but I think you are splitting hairs when you determine that it is o.k. for certain occasions and not for others. You could argue that players that get excited for every goal might have a level of intensity that others don't, or you could argue that they are seeking the glory for themselves. It depends on how you look at it. If someone could post a video of the celebration they deem excessive, then we have a standard to go by -- and I would bet when you have that standard, you could find celebrations by Sioux players that are similar. If it is the number of celebrations, then who decides you can celebrate a lot here, but not there?

I guess I would take the on ice celebrations rather than the off ice situations that arise -- including with Oshie.

I guess I don't have a major problem with getting excited about scoring goals. I would have concern if the players weren't getting excited. After Minnesota players didn't seem to care in the past, I think they will take a guy who will stick his nose in there and get excited in various situations. As long as he isn't jersey popping and getting in the opponents face after scoring, I have no problem with it. Remember Blood after his goal against Maine? I even think he gave the Maine player a shout in the penalty box for the shot he took at Blood's head. Yes, Blood doesn't score that much and it was basically the winning goal, but excitement about any goal I don't have a problem with, unless you are down by 5 in the third period. We haven't even had the chance to see Grimaldi celebrate yet. Heck he might go Theo Fleury on us and ride his stick down the ice for all we know, but I doubt it.

Keep in mind that at some point they might charging FSC members for women's hockey, and they won't have the $2 tickets for showing a football or hockey ticket stub. I hope they get the support they deserve, but I think filling the lower bowl in the next few years would be a nice accomplishment.

How did the whole Garrett Clarke thing work out when he decided not to come to UND?

One thing I was pleased with today, was that they used Jake Miller in the screen game effectively, and they also used him as a decoy split out wide, which gave Goska a few running lanes. Would still like to see more play action with him to give our passing game a better chance at succeeding, especially on first down when the opponents will be expecting run.

It certainly seems like the Sioux have the makings of a good Big Sky team if they could find a consistent passing game. In the NFL and NCAA football, you aren't going to go far without a passing game, and the Sioux and the Vikings both are on the lower end of the spectrum in producing an acceptable passing game. I would hate to see Jake Miller's ability be wasted because teams don't have to respect the passing game. To me it is remarkable how well he and Adrian Peterson have done with virtually no passing game to complement their abilities. Unless the Sioux can have someone step up this year and next, Miller might have only one year to work with an offense that is balanced, which would be a shame. Makes me even more upset that he and Garman weren't redshirted.

Wasn't that the score of the last women's game down there?

Minnesota almost always looks better than UND -- before Christmas. And by keep playing like they are, do you mean giving up 50 shots on goal? I would guarantee you that they will not finish top three if they give up 50 shots a game.

You could ask Phil Jackson if he would be willing to put up some money to have his "Roughriders" suggestion put into place, especially since they said it would take $750,000 to implement a new name.

Which makes Matt Frattin taking his discipline and going back home and straightening himself out all the more impressive. He could have easily taken the easy way out and played in the minors for the Leafs organization, but he chose to make amends.

Wonder if the Sioux coaches have enough players that can change years to cover that scenario this time. I would assume guys like Gaarder and Pattyn aren't on scholarship, so the Sioux should be able to throw around a little more money for next year to make sure they aren't in the position they are this year. Any late bloomers, let's get that depth in here. Remember when we thought we had too much depth last year, and that depth was a blessing. Hopefully they can be ahead of the game this time should they have any defections. Cross your fingers that it isn't necessary.

Yeah, I guess it is part of the rivalry, but if you get in trouble like Frattin you're an idiot, and if you have a strong sense of morality you're also an idiot. How do you win. I guess I would tend to focus on the Nate Hagemo and Jerrod Reinholz's before I would focus on kids with character.

Just picking up where Mazzocco left off. If he begins using "masterful" in his description, I might just throw up. He acted like a freshman player wouldn't know to set up on the goal mouth on the powerplay to tap in a pass, after Rau scored a wide open goal from a goal-mouth feed. It kind of detracts from the really great plays when every play is unbelievable.

I don't think that UMD cares if anybody was impressed by them. They are hanging a National Championship banner, and really that's all that counts.

All I will say is that confidence is a strange thing. If the gophers sweep Vermont this weekend, as I fully expect them to, I think they will gain even more confidence and will be a team that should finish top four or five. One thing that was characterisic of gopher teams that made the NCAA tourney is scoring on the powerplay, and they sure took advantage of that last weekend. Now as far as Gorg goes, he apparently isn't supposed to be objective because he refers to everything as a "no-brainer" even though most fans could see it called two ways. I like the time when he thought the Bulldogs should get the additional penalty in a scrum, and Lapanta thought the gophers should. Speaks volumes about which one has at least some objectivity.

To whom much is given much is expected. I guess NDSU is given less because they expect less of them, and if this incident is any indication, I guess we know why they expect less of them.

Idalski talked about another possible European recruit that could come to fruition by November sometime. Anybody have a clue about who that would be? I would think if you are going to go through all the NCAA clearing headaches, that it must be a high-end type of talent.

Could also have thrown Cichy in there somewhere. I think we could use his offensive upside this year.

Maybe that is the reason that NDSU has such a problem with athletes shoplifting. Maybe the new case from last week was just an athlete trying to help pay for their own scholarship to help the Athletic Department. Do you really believe the ends justifies the means?