mikejm

+1 Why monkey around with the WCHA when it is obviously the top conference in the country?

Please explain your thoughts here ^.

I just don't believe that losing Wisc and Minn is the death knell for the WCHA. If we are talking about a "loss", those two schools come out on the net-negative side of the equation compared to the rest of the WCHA. I'm not weeping, nor gnashing my teeth. So far I have refrained from shredding my clothing. I think I'll be okay.

From a strictly constitutional point of view, I think Omdahl is correct. I made a comment earlier about a constitutional crisis in the making; this would be the second time it is accurate. This is going to be a real mess, and I am not including the NCAA in making this determination.

I don't really care too much about missing two schools that have placed 1-5-5-8-3-3-2-6-6-3-2-7 (Wisc) and 6-3-3-2-4-3-1-1-7-5-7-5 (UMTC) in the WCHA final standings the last twelve years.

The UND/DU game was a battle, and the Sioux were fortunate to get the win. But I think a re-match next weekend will be a very different game with a healthy Gregoire in the lineup. Either Trupp/Malone/Frattin or Gregoire/Knight/Hextall would be THE top line on 90% of college hockey teams. It is pretty easy to bottle up one top line; I think the Pioneers will have trouble trying to match up with two.

Thursday,

I think I read the 2011 Final Five attendance was over 70,000; not too bad for a show without Minnesota and Wisconsin. Who needs 'em? Oh, and might it be fun to tell the Gophers they can't play the Sioux once they are no longer "obligated" to do so by conference affiliation? Mariucci is getting to be a ghost town; wait 'til they try to fill the place with the BTHC.

I am feeling a very lop-sided game tonight.

You don't think there might be anything wrong with the test?

No kidding. Seawolves hit a post, and had a wounded duck roll just wide. I was impressed with how UAA had CC bottled up in their own zone so much. Normally they'd be content to just mow them down at the blueline. If the Sioux play either their speed game or their garbage game tomorrow they shouldn't have any trouble.

That's a little harsh. They've actually played a pretty good game; they are out-shooting CC 15-11 through two. One of CC's goals went off a UAA d-man.

Just to give us all an idea of the weight the fan voting has on the Hobey contest, here are the ten finalists and their vote percentages: Matt Frattin, Senior Forward, North Dakota 28% Jack Connolly, Junior Forward, UMD 0% Justin Schultz, Sophomore Defense, Wisconsin 0% Cam Atkinson, Junior Forward, BC 0% Paul Thompson, Senior Forward, UNH 2% Chase Polacek, Senior Forward, RPI 17% Carter Camper, Senior Forward, Miami 0% Andy Miele, Senior Forward, Miami 1% Gustav Nyquist, Junior Forward, Maine 0% Paul Zanette, Senior Forward, Niagara 0%

I've got kids older than me. Great ending! I'm happy for Bemidji. Knocking off Omaha and now Duluth sort of makes up for a so-so first season in the WCHA. Good for them.

Y'all are aware who owns Plains Daily, right?

That would be sad. And a travesty.

Hey, at least he's not Anthony LaPanta.

I was lobbying; not testifying.

Um, I've flown to Bismarck on state airplanes to lobby.

(Soon to be) State Law:SBoHE:UND Looks to me like a constitutional crisis in the making.

Despite vote, UND still plans to drop nickname This is going to get interesting.

Not a whole lot to argue about there. I'd be interested to see who got the rest of the votes for POY: Frattin got 58 votes out of 96.

No kidding! Horrible brackets. I think they are claiming travel was the deciding factor.

This brings up a critical point in defining "Player of the Year": is the award presented to the best player in the conference, or to the most valuable player to his team? That is quite often two very different players. I think this year's UND MVP might very well be Aaron Dell. Based on the struggles the incumbent, all-WCHA goalie had in the early part of the season, do you really think the Sioux would be clearing a spot on their trophy shelf for the McNaughton Cup without the play of the "back-up" goaltender? By that measure alone, Dell is more valuable to this team than is Frattin. And by making that statement, I by no means am insulting or demeaning the contribution Matt has had on this team. Now, to talk about the best player on the ice, I think Frattin is very deserving of such an award.

Yes. This program made huge strides this year, and is poised to succeed in the future. Disappointing not to make the tourney field, but they accomplished a lot.