tnt

The good thing for UND in the probability that they will need to win the Frozen Faceoff to get a tournament birth is that none of the teams in the league are in the "can't lose" category. Western has been impressive, but other than Bump aren't loaded. The problem for UND is that they have lacked the consistency to go on a long run. Get home ice and a first round victory, and who knows if they will even have to face the team with the most talent in Denver. This weekend is the first step in keeping home ice alive.

True, but in many circles hockey is a niche sport too. Regardless, NDSU is getting far more national exposure than UND is these days. UND used to get talked about every year during tournament time. When is the last time when they have the selection show for the National Tournament where UND is even mentioned, much less someone picking them as the candidate to win it all?

Remember when there were arguments on which was the premier program in the state of North Dakota - NDSU football or UND hockey? It appears that question is moot now, as NDSU has a much, much higher standard of excellence, and culture. UND hockey gets complacent after 3 or 4 wins in a row, while NDSU doesn't get complacent after 3 or 4 titles in a row. Long for the day when the passion is there to actually compete for National Titles again in hockey.

UND used to have the best winning percentage in the NCAA tournament. UND made the NCAA tournament just about every year under Hakstol and made the Frozen Four a good deal of the time. Yes, there were those that wanted Hakstol run out of town, but there were also a lot that knew if they kept getting that close the door would be knocked down. Now they make the tournament about half the time, and are one and out when they get there. To miss the tournament when you are bidding on regional sites is even worse. I don't even want to start on the destination performances and Frozen Faceoff one and outs. The same people that are fine with the decline, would have not recognized the need to move on from Gasparini. Sometimes a new face is needed to bring the program to another level. We could still very well be at five national championships if there weren't people that could see a change was needed.

North Dakota State Bison (North Central Conference) (1997–2002) 1997 North Dakota State 9–3 7–2 T–2nd L NCAA Division II First Round 1998 North Dakota State 7–4 6–3 4th 1999 North Dakota State 9–2 7–2 3rd 2000 North Dakota State 12–2 8–1 2nd L NCAA Division II Semifinal 2001 North Dakota State 7–3 5–3 3rd 2002 North Dakota State 2–8 1–7 9th Total: 46–22 This is Bobby Babich's record at NDSU. One bad year. Probably doesn't make him a bad coach, but sometimes you need a new voice. Why weren't NDSU fans just happy and go with the flow because it is just a sporting event? Whatever you do in life, do well and get the most out of it. I think most of us believe that UND hockey should aspire to be in the conversation every year, and that there is a lot being left on the table. Doesn't make Berry a bad coach, but sometimes a change is needed to change the culture and mindset because based on the postgame interviews the message doesn't seem to be getting through to the players. It certainly worked for NDSU. Do you think NDSU would be fine making the NCAA playoffs about every other year, then when they do make it suffer a one and done?

We’ll see if the “next man up” that the preach comes to fruition, or if when the weekend is over Tim Hennessey is interviewing Berry about who was missing with injuries.

Obviously, it is less fun when the team isn't winning, and when that starts becoming more of an issue like it was for Minnesota, you saw how the fans reacted to that. It is plain to see that apathy is setting in here as well.

You are absolutely correct, this isn't life or death and it is just a leisure activity. In saying that, why are any of us supporting something from an institution that doesn't hold the value on anything more than that of a leisure pursuit? The fact that we are paying a half a million a year to a coach, and goodness knows how much for the entire coaching staff, doesn't meet with it being fairly insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I would also argue that those that feel like that should in no way be supporting something like NIL, when there are more important things in society where that money could go. Goodness knows how much an education costs now, so for a leisurely pursuit, a free education should be more than enough.

I would expect we rebound next year, as there isn't a regional in Fargo, but the following two years there is, so that could continue the trend.

Regardless if he can come back, I think they need to carry an extra defenseman.

I would think J.T. Miller, but we know what happened there. But I think even then, Grimaldi was probably thought to be the prize, but since he was so small he wasn't as high in NHL draft circles.

We have seen a goalie that comes up and plays great to start out, then can't match that the rest of the way. Seems to me Josh Siembida started out pretty well then faded.

Think about it, how many times do you hear our rivals have a hatred for Berry like they did for Hakstol, Blais or Gasparini? That should tell you something. Never hear gopher fans continually ranting about Berry.

I’ll say it again, you know the program is in a bad state when the fans are way more pessimistic than optimistic. Pumping UND for getting championship #9 seems like it is in the rear view mirror.

The problem for him is he is now getting the reputation for diving, so the refs are on the lookout for his antics.

But we were actually an elite program then, making the frozen four all the time. Plenty of teams to change your mind that are contenders almost every year. UND is not the elite program it once was, thanks to a run of mediocrity.

CC are a bunch of divers and yappers, yet UND was lucky to come out of this and save face. Hate to complain in a win, but the way they played after CC scored once is why it looks like UND has no discipline. They run around and panic, and throw pucks away. Things don’t seem to be getting better in that regard and CC didn’t cash in.

But then when they win the league or have a comeback season as they have done the last few cycles, it is hard to not renew, and the players might be more apt to leave when you aren’t renewing a coach under those circumstances. Also pretty hard to recruit with a lame duck coach when players don’t know who they are committing to. Also, you have more time to re-recruit the guys Berry already has committed like McKamey and Simpson. More time to find replacements if they bolt because of the change.

If it is anything like our football program, they will do just enough to push a decision down the road another year, until they finally are forced to confront it.

What gets me is when they spout off about our culture is that of “next man up”, then when they do a postgame after a loss or discuss why they are underachieving they inevitably bring up injuries as an excuse. Last night the announcers were lamenting all game about Perron being out. You had a lead in the second, why can’t you play sound defense to help out?

Regressing! Yes, think about that, what are our best games of the season? I would say Providence and Boston University when we destroyed them the first night. So look at both of those teams since those meetings, both getting much better. Wouldn’t you think that a young team like UND would continue to get better, rather than regress. So the more the coaching staff is working with the guys, the less they use their own gifted instincts (which we know because most are drafted), and fall into a pattern that doesn’t allow for utilizing their full potential. It gets worse, once we get ahead, then they turn into robots trying to hold on. How can we blow away BU, Providence and Duluth early, then lose or play tight games with Robert Morris, Bemidji State, and Miami? Just about everyone blows away Miami.

Maybe just sell it as an opportunity for Berry to have time to watch his son’s college career.

Cuz his little brother had his public urination pass.

Especially when we can’t kill penalties.

Anyone on “X” that can ask Schlossman if UND has ever lost 5 times in a row to CC.