mikejm

Unfortunately mikejm is best man in a wedding Saturday, so no tailgating. But, as most of you already know, he's already quite stupid. Merry Christmas everyone.

I know you started this thread in the true spirit of giving Fetch. But I didn't really want a freakin' heart attack.

I'm torn on this deal: I feel for the Gopher program and its fans. It seems like a real crappy deal for Kyle to bail at mid-season. But I also feel for Kyle and the holy he77 he's going to receive when he comes home as a pro; no kid deserves to be booed (well, unless he's killed a litter of puppies or something). What it ironic in that is many of the "boo-ers" at the X will be the same people who soundly booed our own TJ Oshie when he was introduced before every Final Five game. What bothers me most out of this whole deal is the arrogance Islanders' GM Snow displays in his comments about the UoM program: This is tacit acknowledgment of college hockey's unpaid and uncompensated role in developing players for the NHL. If Snow's sentiments are shared among a majority of the league, then its time for the NHL to start sending college programs bags full of cash. As to the rest of the Gophers' season? I'd say this will make them a hungrier, more dangerous team.

...wish I had a job like that.......

Jeeze cujo2... you keep making sane, even-handed posts around here and I'm likely to forget you're a Gopher fan!

With all due respect to both Blais and Bollinger, this latest tinkering with the process just stinks of more good ole boy crap. When will this university emerge from the back woods?

Judging by his jersey pop Tuesday I'd say he's more a UMTC recruit.

Four keys on which I am in complete agreement with you, yzerman...

I'm not hearing people here saying they favor Pat Sweeney over the Wooger and the RugWearer, am I? The Wooger is a classic.

IIRC the stations you mention are owned by the same companies who owned the baseball teams you cite. TBS=Turner=Braves and WGN=Chicago Tribune=Cubs. The baseball teams have now been (or are being) sold, so things will likely change.

I also heard he's in need of some TLC after eating a spoiled BLT at KFC. K?

Seems to be gettin' a little personal...

I don't think the silent majority has a say in this one.

This potential lineup does not instill a whole lot of confidence in this fan.

Probably be filing this under the "More information than I needed to know" category.

Seems the "brother" thing would kind of dictate that... 'less you know something I don't know

Cichy can still opt for major juniors; the LOI merely ties his hands in terms of a college team.

Wow. I wish I could be this optimistic. Or find a source for whatever you're smoking...

A root canal is cooler than Sweeney!

I don't think the Sioux strike fear into any team right now; there's only a 50-50 chance they'll show up. I know that's harsh, but these guys are making some so-so teams look pretty good. Time to deliver.

Didn't see either UMD game live, but the few glances I had on the television were disturbing. Pretty listless performance both nights. I know opponents are pumped about playing pre-season title favorites, so the Sioux are running into inspired foes everytime they take to the ice, but they simply haven't shown me a complete game playing like I think they are capable of. (Sorry for the rotten syntax ) Part of the "omg, its getting late" mood is legit: Saturday is 1 Dec, and the Sioux have only eight WCHA points available to them from now 'til the new year! They appear to have put themselves behind another eight-ball, which is not only flirting with playoff disaster, but disappointing from a team with this much talent.

You guys aren't even close. Keep thinking.............it will come to you pretty quickly.

Wasn't really sure where to post this, but Hakstol spoke to the Fargo Sioux Boosters today and essentially took a "where are we at" attitude. Some sound bites from the meeting, and from a conversation afterwards: 5-3-1 record isn't bad. Before the season they're wildest dreams would've been to have a 6-2-1 record. Have played toughest schedule in the country so far. Felt only one game didn't display the kind of effort coaching staff hopes for every night. Can't not have both Lapoint and Marto in the lineup. Extremely happy with the solid play both freshman d-men have displayed. Part of the reason in moving Chay Genoway up to forward is because staff is very comfortable with the remaining d-corps. He said Lapoint's frame can easily carry 200-210 pounds and his skills at that weight will make him a very effective professional hockey player. Liked the grittiness the team displayed in Madison. Hak said every team tries to neurtalize the other team's top 1 or 2 players, but cleanly. Not chippy, dirty. He said the team had had enough after the second period when TJ was punched in the head for the third time after he scored near the end of the period. The team decided not to take anything more from the Badgers from that moment on. Very pleased with the entire freshman class. He said they were unheralded and maybe overlooked nationally, but he said in a couple of years this class will have among its members the best player in college hockey. (I'll let you guess who. ) Andrew Kozek has spent a lot of extra time working on speeding up his release. While Hak said they want to see more consistency out of Kozek, they're happy to see him scoring the way they knew he would when he was recruited. He said Andrew has been working every morning with Coach Jackson on releasing his shot immediately. Last year, Hak said, Kozek had more shots deflected up over the glass than anyone else on the team, a sign that he was taking too long to control the puck and shooting. That is changing in a positive direction. Very happy to see Joe Finley make such big strides in his play, especially in the physical end. VandeVelde is maybe not used to having to be perfect every game. Centering TJ and Duncan, Hak said, Chris has to be. The coaches are confident he can be; just want to see more consistency out of him as well. They'll have the third goalie "situation" resolved by next Monday. Hak said they really only need the third for practice and in case either JPL or Walski goes down with an injury. He said Walski had earned the No. 2 job before AG left. Said this team has been making some so-so goalies look world-class. Too many shots right to the goalies chest protector. Said he is generally pleased with the two-ref, two linesman experiment, although he said UND has played thier complement of six games under the system. If it is adopted permanently he said the WCHA is going to have to go out and recruit new, quality, "career-track" officials from somewhere. Statistically, coaches want to see about 1/2 goal more per game. Like to see 22% success on power play (only at 18 now). Penalty kill has been extremely effective (91%). Hak said Jackson's system is obviously very effective. Team is generating plenty of scoring opportunities, just need to convert. Shots and chances allowed are acceptable. I asked him about Eaves conduct after the game Saturday. Hakstol wouldn't take the bait, but he asked me why Wisconsin didn't pull their goalie after scoring to make it 3-1 in the third. I believe he was hinting that his counterpart had lost his focus.

Hey! There are children reading this!!!!!

^I think Mr. Jacobs has a very accurate opinion on the situation.