tnt

So in other words ... we don't have room in our schedule, but if we can get a free game we will make sure we play you. Seems to me at the very least they could be invited to the Mariucci classic every year rather than Rochester Tech and Air Force.

I heard Mazzocco and Woog talk about how Lucia would like to play Bemidji State in the opening of their new arena and that it is nice to be able to help out a program. From what I have heard, Minnesota will not play Bemidji State in Bemidji now, nor have they played them for some time. It bothers me that they think they would somehow be doing them a giant favor by playing them in the first game in a new arena. Yes, it would be a nice draw, but so would North Dakota, a team that has been helping them out every year.

Miller didn't make the trip because he is really sick. Tim Hennessey said that Evan Trupp will be on the top line.

Sioux fans above all people should know the value of players that might not be necessarily as skilled as others, but will go through a wall for the team. Erik Fabian being the most recent in a long line of players with grit and heart. Ironically, he was also a Roseau boy. Not saying Landman isn't talented, nor am I saying the Sioux should recruit him, only that I totally understand taking players to fit certain roles that need to be filled for a team to have a good all-around chemistry. Robbie Bina might be the perfect example on this years team.

I knew Novotny committed to Denver, but where is he playing this year? His name wasn't on the Shattuck roster.

Who else would be ready for the WCHA in 2008? Kostolansky from Shattuck? Also, does anyone know what happened to Stepan Novotny for Shattuck? Did he go play Junior hockey somewhere?

I'll say! I heard some player beaming to his folks about the arena and how packed it was for the Friday Michigan Tech game. It was also nice to hear his parents say what a nice town Grand Forks is. Of course we didn't have quite as bad of weather as we did last year during the midget tourney. I'm sure that was the talk of the players last year, especially the ones from Los Angeles.

Who was it that Bowen was talking about on the coaches show that was introduced to UND hockey through the midget tourney and will be playing here?

I want to see Toews with Shattuck and Nolan Zajac with Winnipeg. I also want to see that goalie from Winnipeg that people have talked about.

I think Scott Koberinski said he will be playing with one of the Winnipeg teams at the midget tourney here starting tomorrow. Lot of great talent at that tournament. Should be great to watch David Toews and other potential recruits.

Just out of curiousity, when was the last time the Sioux came from behind in the 3rd period to win a game?

I agree, but it is also not in Lucia's best interest to piss off pro teams, no matter what he is thinking. I know there was also a problem with Sutter, although that one Sutter brought on himself with his hatred for college hockey. I don't know how you can be a professional coach and not try to keep your relationships across the board professional, and I think it is probably the same with college coaches today in the new NHL environment. The less said in the media the better, and that probably goes for both sides.

You never know, this might be a come together type situation with the rest of the team or they might respond negatively. It wouldn't surprise me to see the rest of the guys pick it up as sort of a "we don't need you anyway" statement to Okposo. I guess time will tell. There is still plenty of talent on that team as Hakstol said on the coaches show, so it will be a test of Lucia's ability to bring this team together after some negative things have happened. The only thing I will say is that you don't win WCHA Championships by being a bad coach.

Would it not be smart to have inroads to as many places as possible? I remember Lennon talking about having some contacts now in Arizona because of a recruit they got from there. When pickin's are slim in your traditional areas, it isn't necessarily bad to have a backup. Ideally you would like to take recruits away from your competition, but I think Lennon will take the players he feels fits into their system and philosophy, along with taking into consideration the character issue. Why cherry pick? Chris Kuper of the Denver Broncos is why!

Sounds like someone finally took Scott Swygmann's idea.

Isn't he related to former gopher and NHL player Lance Pitlick? If so, I would guess that Minnesota would have the inside track on him, but you never know.

I am glad Hakstol doesn't base who plays on how much scholarship they have. Forney will get his chance again, and when he does, it will be up to him to make the most of it. If you had your way, we would have only had two years of Oshie, so I'll give Hakstol the benefit of the doubt on this one. Besides, is anyone completely sure that there are no lingering nagging side effects to his previous injury?

I can't say I'm a "fan" of Woog, but considering he works for the U of M, what do you expect. If you take a good portion of what he says with a grain of salt, then he becomes much more bearable. Just let the goofy things like "phantom assists" reflect poorly on his envy from his years as coach and lack of ability to win the big one.

I noticed that both Brett Hextall and Kelly Zajac were first star in their respective games last weekend.

I thought the same thing before the series with Michigan Tech before Christmas. Hopefully the results this year are polar opposites from that series last year.

This is exactly what I mean, it doesn't really affect our series with St. Cloud, but Wisconsin could be without McBain, Geoffrion, Turris and Smith, while CC will be without Billy Sweatt. It effectively takes away the Badger's home ice advantage, and one could argue could make them lose home ice for the playoffs. It obviously affects some teams more than others, and it just so happens that Wisconsin takes the brunt of it this year. McLeod's policy on a number of things seems to be out of sight, out of mind. He says one thing, apparently to appease people, then does another. Remember when the Final Five was going to be switched where Minnesota woudn't have to play the night game unless it was warranted by where they were seeded. I guess I'm just hoping he will follow through.

I see that Bruce McLeod still hasn't backed up his talk that there would be no league games during the World Juniors. Last year Minnesota was able to reschedule to play on Sunday so their players only missed one league game, and this year they play Wayne State. Are other WCHA schools just bad at scheduling, or why is it that they are playing league games, some against tough competition when the WJC is a possibility? Message to Bruce McLeod -- either there should be league games across the board, or there should be none. Be consistent, to make the WCHA championship as fair as it can be with the alternating schedule.

Hakstol said on Mac Talk, that he will be playing, and he will be back at defense.

They should call him Powder Puff because he is always complaining about the weather. My niece has lived in Florida all her life and came up here a few years back at Christmas, and she never complained about the weather. I like the fact that we get our worst weather when Puffy is in town, it's why we live here, it keeps Riff-raff like Dubay away except for weekends he has to be here. As for Woog, I can deal with his homerism because he is an upbeat guy, the person I can't deal with is Dan Terhaar for the Minnesota Wild. I finally had to turn off the sound when watching the Wild so I didn't have to hear "No Call" in a whining voice. He could take many pointers from the Hockey Night in Canada announcers. How Terhaar got that job is beyond me. He wasn't a good announcer when he was in Grand Forks and he sure hasn't improved much since. He is like the fans that call for a penalty everytime someone from their team is knocked down. His partner Golberg isn't much better, but at least he has a little objectivity. Being a homer is one thing, but no objectivity at all is beyond listening to.

"I see 4 for sure"