tnt

I think if you have a lot of these guys coming in their first year as well as guys who did the same this year like Blake and James, they will most likely be looking for experienced USHL guys or utilize the transfer portal to fill in a bit, depending on what's available and the roles they need filled.

Have you read any of his posts? Many of them are meant to antagonize, and there is a reason he has been banned on several occasions.

Plus, just like you can see the similarities between Jason and Jackson Blake, I'm sure genes have probably played a part in Mac Swanson's abilities. Not saying that guarantees anything because we have seen the opposite, but when you grow up with former Hobey Baker candidates it's a good place to start the learning process. Sometimes instincts are passed on.

Hopefully we can hit on a few of the guys that are doing well in the USHL as younger players. A couple years down the line could be decent if USHL success translates. If Blake, McGlaughlin,James and Strinden are still around, guys like Perron, Boisvert and Swanson up front and Strathmann, Livanavage and McInnis on defense could give us a solid foundation to expand from.

Ask programs like Maine and UNH about teams that have fallen off. People assume that because of our facilities that we should always be at the top, but like others have said, kids have many priorities in what they are looking at. Coaches like Shawn Walsh and Dick Umile had Maine and UNH on top, but they have gone down several notches without them, and replacement coaches aren't necessarily going to bring you success. I would think that either program would love to even be in the conversation about league titles or tournament appearances now. Like I said, let's see how this season pans out before we go off the rails, because you could end up going through several coaches like the basketball program has, and maybe still not find the answer. Many of the people begging for the days of Hakstol were ripping Hakstol because he couldn't win it all.

It was horrible for Montana as well, only they don't have a win against a team with a winning record.

It's up now. I see Red River has quite a bit of experience coming back. It will be interesting to see what role Tyson Ulmer plays with that much experience back.

Actually were 4-7-2 before the General had his talk, then they went on a 10 game unbeaten streak. Would argue goaltending is probably too inconsistent to have that type of run, but they just need to start stringing complete weekends together and see where they sit after Christmas. They definitely can't afford to wait to do that.

Don't forget quality losses.

Seems to me I remember a 6-5 Western Illinois team getting in ahead of us when we had 7-4 record and a win over an FBS team. Is that the year they threw a quality loss into the equation as reasoning? It's hard to remember because the reasoning is ever changing.

Yeah, if they go out and get drilled, it only gives the NCAA the ability to think that they did the right thing with the "performance" criteria, even though we all know it is a joke regardless.

Yeah, at least we're in, can you imagine how Youngstown State feels today seeing Montana hosting a playoff game?

I think it was Jim Nance that said that the pass interference call against Dallas in the first half against the Vikings was the first defensive pass interference call against them this year. Is that possible? If so, it makes you wonder if this is not only "America's team" but the NFL's team! Most teams have probably had two defensive pass interference calls in the same series.

Well, the committee just showed that the whole process is a farce.

Did someone say that Montana hasn't beaten a team with a winning record?

I realize you can't use a pairwise system in FCS because there isn't enough cross conference play, but they should find some system that has a ring of truth to it.

Frankly, with how bad their defense has been, I can see them losing a lot of the one score games they have miraculously won this year. I guess the margins in the NFL are so tight now, but it has become more and more likely you make the playoffs one year and miss the next based on how you perform in the last two minutes of the game, or critical point in the game anyway.

So we are saying this less than half way through the year, and after winning the toughest league in college hockey for the last 3 years? Winning the toughest league means you are winning more games against the toughest competition around. Let's wait and see how this plays out because frankly we see this same conversation every year, under Hakstol and Berry.

It certainly wasn’t from pressure when the coaches say they came out sleepy. And you obviously don’t know me if you think that is the case, but your language and attitude sure give a window into your world.

On the positive side, you don’t have to worry about being shot going to an event here.

People said the same thing last year after the New Year. Still a little early to say what we are going to be.

Now it has become necessary to win 5 of the next 6. Four wins would be a minimum to keep our head above water.

He doesn’t seem too concerned about laying a body on anyone. If a stick check doesn’t work, the goalies is going to have to come through with a key save.

If you could get the defense to play near how they played last year, those positives could really be huge in the second half when those guys really start getting comfortable. The problem has been that players have been too comfortable. Guess lineup competition isn’t what we thought it would be.

You would think Berry could get his team to perform better for his old coach when he is celebrating a National Championship reunion. Performance ruined the reunion of many people in Vegas and now this reunion.