mikejm

Yes. And the use of the word "stole" seems inappropriate.

Absolutely. I am in complete agreement with you that the league is running a horrible game right now. I spend a lot of money every year to be able to watch excellent players demonstrate their skills. Players who will shortly be taking those skills to a professional level. I can say I saw them play "when they were kids, playing for the love of the game". The officiating has diminished the level of play, and by extension, my ability to enjoy the games. I am completely fed up with McLeod et al. But as long as the WCHA is making money and attracting top talent, I just don't expect any executive heads to roll. I wish they would.

Here's the problem with you and I thinking about McLeod et al doing a crappy job: the league is once again approaching a dominant position in the (admittedly small) world of college hockey. Six (or seven, counting Bemidji) of the top 11 teams in the latest USCHO poll; the Final Five is a huge money-maker; top recruits continue to pour into the WCHA. I don't think the powers-that-be are coaches: doesn't each member school have a representative on some governing body? IIRC UND's rep isn't even the AD. It isn't people are directly involved in hockey who are in charge of McLeod et al keeping their jobs. I don't expect to see wholesale changes in the WCHA until it is irreparably broken.

No way are their jobs on the line. The only people upset about this are UND fans. And we don't count.

Mario was suspended because he was public and vocal about "it". This had very little to do with what happened

nm

"Anger most harms the person who holds it" - Dalai Lama

Knight is another of those kids who really lit the lamp in Juniors, only to come to UND and learn how much tougher the WCHA is to play in. I think he scored over a point a game as a rookie in juniors, was named rookie of the year, and was a top-10 scorer in the AJHL. Nice to see him get some quality ice time, and to show his abilities.

I still get a little nervous whenever Blood handles the puck in front of our net, though...

Mario with 28

You know, I dislike the Gophers as much as anyone, but I think you might be reading a little more into the "development" comment than is really there. How about if the Wild just decided they don't like the way Leddy himself has developed, without comment about the program. You know, like they thought he looked really good as a high school senior, but now that he's nearly a year out, they're thinking maybe the kid hasn't grown physically or emotionally enough to justify their continued interest. I'm sure there are a lot of former Sioux players whose development didn't live up to the expectations of the teams they were drafted by. Several come to mind in just the last three or four years. See if you can come up with a list of your own.

Nice post, noob. Who are your sources?

Better?

Holy Cow! This is what I'd call a necro-post!

You don't think Hak and the players know their fans are upset? Don't you think Hak and players are angry at their own record? By all means, then, let them know "we're" unhappy. I'll bet they'll be surprised.

Still chugging.

Nah. I'm just having fun. Blizzard does odd things to a man's mind.

^Well. That's the way some people think it all happened.

Number one, it seems absurd to think of a not-yet-17 year old coming in next year. Who was the last to do that? JToews was 17, wasn't he? I've never heard anything to indicate Simpson is in that class. Number two, I don't think Fienhage is the weakest link in the d-corps as currently configured.

The IQ continues to wend its way southward.... (Not you, 31)

If no WCHA team had been there for 30 years, I'd say the rink is extremely intimidating. And, by definition, an advantage.

The collective IQ here has dropped considerably.

Wait. Wut? Is this belly-aching about what USCHO and some other message board posts said? Get a grip people.

Wow! The INCH man-love for the Sioux continues! A split moves UND up 3 spots to #4 in the Power Rankings! INCH Power Rankings

Dude, with all due respect...we (UND for those following along at home) are equivalent to a 6th place squad in the WCHA.