mikejm

^That's funny.

Losing Bowling Green obviously would not be good for DI hockey. But the economics continue to make it harder and harder to justify big-time programs. I can't find the link I used to have that detailed the expenses involved in college hockey. But just in generalities, compare the expenses to, say, basketball. More scholarships, a much more expensive facility to build and maintain, vastly more expensive equipment, and especially with the dwindling number of DI teams, travel distances that translate into ever-increasing expenses. And for what? A trophy, certainly. Exposure, to some extent, but hockey remains such a regional phenomenon that south of, what, Iowa (?) what difference does a hockey title mean? Look at the potential income a DI basketball team can hope for should it earn its way into March Madness or even the NIT? Heck, NDSU might make the Dance; what kind of check will they get for their investment? The hockey community started out small, and continues to get smaller. The strong, storied programs (UND, UoMN, Mich, et al) need to focus on the growing the sport somehow. I think the onus falls upon the big, midwest public schools to entice more entries into DI hockey; the east coast teams are glorified DIII schools for whom hockey is simply a perk for the former preppies enrolled inside their ivied walls. The WCHA is in a position to help expand DI hockey. Obviously the conference can't grow into a 20-team league, nor should it. But it has tapped into a rich income vein through the Final Five tourney, and is earning money hand over fist. There are some schools similar to WCHA and CCHA members who presently have ACHA teams that could be grown into DI programs with some financial help, either direct or indirect. Penn State, Illinois and Iowa State all have quite successful ACHA teams. They're not going to step right into either the WCHA or CCHA, they'd be killed. But if the weaker WCHA and CCHA teams were spun off into a new league (complete with an auto-bid) and some of these healthy ACHA (or even DIII) programs were invited in, we might grow the sport a little instead of watching it die a slow death. Heck the WCHA and CCHA teams could agree to schedule one team in the new league AT THEIR RINKS for a few years to help them grow their attendance. Something has to be done to stanch the outflow from this sport. The colleges themselves are fighting for every dollar they can find to fund their own programs, so I think the conferences are going to have to step to the plate and try to make a difference. It is in their own best-interests.

I was there; I know he scored. His presence on the ice was not obvious as it is for most "stars"; he was just there. He'll be a nice addition to the Sioux, but I was, frankly, hoping to be wowed. I wasn't.

meh. just meh.

Minnesota might just end up playing at home in WCHA first round; the schedule sets up pretty well for them.

Just win, baby.

Please don't construe this as casting aspersions, or raising doubts, but are there NCAA rules against steroid use?

I just make sure the woman who picks me up at the bar afterwards has a nice place!

They didn't have any choice, really. The NCAA shut down DII hockey; there isn't any. Schools that were there had to chose to move up or become DIII teams, which IIRC is non-scholarship. Bemidji State was DII national champ five times if memory serves me. Mankato State won the DII title in 1980! And Alabama-Huntsville won one of the last DII titles before NCAA shut it down in 1999. I think in 1980 all three college hockey titles were held by schools with which "we" are all well acquainted: UND (DI), Mankata (DII) and Bemidji won one of its NAIA titles.

Um yeah. No kidding. All anyone has to do is get a little hot at the end of the season here folks. Win the Final Five, get the auto-bid and win your last four. That's all it takes to hang a banner. Minnesota has scads of talent; it is way, way too early to be counting them out yet.

Travis Roy missed a check and put himself into the boards headfirst. Unfortunate and tragic, granted. But in no way similar to the Lapoint accident, unless you are referring to the fact that the boards were involved in both incidents.

Oh puh-lease...

He's playing in the National Hockey League. Jeebus, give it a freakin' rest.

Great sweep, but man, what is with all the odd-man rushes allowed? Gotta tighten up on that crap. I'm proud to see the Sioux not go all ape-sh*t in retaliation for the Lapoint injury. This game could've gotten real ugly. Oh, and those standings: 7 teams separated by 6 points? Wow, gonna be a fun last three weeks in the regular season.

Um, yeah, okay. Eids was lucky early in Friday's game: he was completely out of position twice and the Landcows missed on one, and had a centering pass missfire. I'm a big fan, but the first last night wasn't one of his proudest moments.

Nice get on the statistics, daggies. The LandCows always play the Sioux tough and they certainly have the muscle to make this a pretty physical series. I hope Hakstol has his boys fired up but also on a short leash; this is not a weekend to incur a bunch of penalties reacting to face washes and chippiness.

She single?

Probably the first time Neil Diamond and "coolest thing ever" have been used in the same thread!!

I'd forgotten about Forney's injury-laden year, so yeah, he'd be a junior. I'll bet he wishes he could forget it as well.

No, I think he'd still have three years of eligibility remaining, so a sophomore.

I think characterizing the Gophers as being done for the year is pretty premature.

The WCHA should be paying interest on my money they've had for so long.

wanna bet?

Well that'll make things a little crowded, huh? Good for Forney, though. The kid was snake-bitten and never got a real shot in GF. I might have to sneak a peak this weekend, although I hate the thought of patronizing the UP(yours Fargo) Center.

And then there's the issue that any addition to the WCHA requires a yes vote from at least eight current members (iirc). I'm not so certain even BSU, which "we" seem to think is a lock to join the conference, has the votes necessary to gain admission.