tnt

I do agree that Gleason probably might have a tougher time adjusting, but you never know, as I thought Marto adjusted better than LaPoint his first year, and USHL success would have dictated otherwise.

What do you think the power play units will look like. If Gleason isn't in the lineup, do they put a Blood with Genoway and have Marto and Lapoint together, or do they move a forward to the point, and if so, who would fit the Martens mold? When you look at all the possibilities, there is going to be someone who has powerplay potential that won't be on the first two units. VanDevelde, Gregoire and Hextall could be the forwards on one unit, and Kristo, Cichy, and Trupp, or Toews on another with some rotating depending on gaining experience or slumps. Even so, how do you leave someone like Frattin off, or would he, Toews or Trupp be a candidate for the point? I guess the coaching staff has the insight to know the answer to most of these questions. Once again, good problem to have huh!

Without seeing Knight and Rowney, I can only speculate on why Rowney is coming in ahead of Mattson and Knight. The fact that he was MVP of the AJHL playoffs may suggest that he is more experienced than others in the league and it shows up at the right time, which means he might have a shorter learning curve in college hockey than the others might have. Again, having only seen Mattson, it could be that we have enough high-end skill players already and need to fill other roles. We all know that the Sioux coaching staff, perhaps more than any other, has a defined formula on what works for them, and if Rowney is a grinder, perhaps he may fit a role that the staff thinks needs more attention. Of course, if the other two go fairly high in the draft and only end up playing here a couple of years, some people may second guess the decision much as with Forney coming directly from high school. It wouldn't necessarily mean that bringing in Rowney would be wrong, because who's to say what that extra year will do for both Knight and Mattson. I for one will enjoy going to Fargo to see Mattson like I got to see Cichy and Kristo in the USHL.

I just wish that Bennett Brien would continue to sell logo items as his artwork. I am sure he couldn't tie anything with UND, but some green clothing with the logo on it would sell nonetheless, and I would continue to buy updated clothing items if he did.

Guessing and for sure coming seems like a contradiction to me.

Do they generally have 4 captains? I thought they normally went with Tri-captains, have they changed that?

No, he's not coming back, or No, I don't know if he's coming back?

If Knight and Mattson both come in another forward would have to be out other than Davidson and Bruneteau. With Frattin, Malone, V, Gregoire, Toews, Hextall, Trupp, Kristo, Cichy Knight, Mattson, Zajac and Lamoureux you have 13 forwards, so another one would have to sit. There is a lot of skill and speed there, so I like keeping Lamoureux's grit in the lineup. I would bet a lot of splitting of time early in the year for a few players. Great problem to have.

I would have said the same thing about David Toews last year, so you never know. If you look at the players coming back and the ones that are coming in not including Knight or Mattson, and you still have good players who will have to watch from the pressbox. I have a feeling practices will be pretty intense.

Which makes the NCAA's argument that you need tribal support bogus, doesn't it? If just the symbols can be abusive, then Florida State should have to give up their name as well. All I ask for is a little consistency from the politically correct crowd.

I certainly don't want the Bison getting credit for UND's accomplishments by default. I think without a nickname, that would happen more and more. That said, I certainly don't want them to rush into a nickname and regret the outcome. Research and poll ideas and logo's and work up the best possible and then make an informed decision.

I think I heard the same thing about Michigan State and Michigan Tech in the Great Lakes Invitational last year. The Sioux didn't win a tourney game all year if I'm not mistaken.

Plain and simple, they want something to be offended by. Why else would they feel the need to "educate" other tribe members who aren't offended? Talk about being hypocritical! People aren't offended, but they want them to be? That really is being hostile and abusive.

Interesting to see Nolan Zajac's name, as I would have thought he would follow his brothers to Salmon Arm. Not saying he would go to Cedar Rapids, but to go at # 12 you would think they would have some inkling of his plans.

Fairchild certainly could develop into a Hobey candidate, but that is my point, that they are projecting pretty liberally. They could be right in the end, but it may take those liberal projections and a few more surprises to do it. The lower end of the top ten would be more realistic, but who knows. The Sioux need some things to go right themselves to be contenders, and perhaps a few surprises.

I just read the 10 for 10 teams thing again, and I had to laugh when they said Kangas, when he is on his game can be a difference maker. Can't that be said of any goalie when he is on his game? The problem is that he has been off his game for half of his career almost from confidence issues or what not. I would think that if they are making predictions, they would take into consideration consistency of performance over the season. It seems to me that they are grasping for things to warrant Minnesota's inclusion near the top. Granted, Minnesota has some key players, but they had those players last year too, including two they list as Hobey candidates.

... and the countdown begins for him to be ridiculed again by the WCH blog.

I don't think Ladd's deflection is any luckier than any other deflection. In fact, he positioned himself perfectly and turned his stick to deflect it back to the short side, so he set himself up to succeed.

Does anybody know if Stanislav Galiev of the Indiana Ice is going to play Major Junior, or if he is being recruited by anybody? I see he is the only 1992 birthdate in the top 10 scoring in the USHL regular season at # 7, and he is # 8 in the playoffs. Other than Cichy, a 1990, the rest are either 1988's or 1989's, mostly 1988's. Unless he has a major attitude or learning problem, I would think teams would be hot on his trail. Pretty impressive for someone that young.

It looks like Matt Van Voorhis of Edina, formerly of Grand Forks, has accepted a spot with the USA Developmental Under 17 team in Ann Arbor. Hopefully he will develop into a great player there and the Sioux will have an inside track.

I think Minnesota will be better with the addition of Leddy, but I hardly think that Fairchild warrants the "exceptional" adjective up to this point. It's really not anything to get worked up about, as the powers that be aren't any smarter in prognostication as anybody else. In fact, they are probably worse, as they had the Sioux as a seventh place finisher in the league last year.

Nevermind the fact that some schools wouldn't be thrilled about competing with UBC for British Columbia talent when they are so close to home. Probably wouldn't change every kid's mind to stay close to home, but it would be an Ace in the hole for UBC.

Yes, he played on the 1st line at a traditional hockey school like Red River as an 8th grader. A lot of potential there!

How many fans will their hockey facility hold?

Why should the league AD's have to ask McLeod to be more aggressive in searching out a 12th member? I would have thought that would be a no-brainer for someone in that position. Perhaps they should ask him to do something else if he doesn't accomplish this!