mikejm

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.

Might not have a rink to play in, but yeah, he's got a job........

Yeah, I thought it was a done deal.

Jeeze man, step back from the ledge..........

I know I'll get killed for this, but... I watched Sat's game on the tube, so my view might be completely skewed, but I think both JPL and Marto laid eggs with their performances. And when is the last time anyone recalls a team getting so many 3-on-1s against a Fighting Sioux squad? Lots of breakdowns on defense. Finally, CC plugged up the middle and didn't allow the Sioux any passing room. Get used to that.

Wait 'til Perp finds out about this!

Brian Lee is Binghamton's second-leading scorer through the team's first eight games: 1g 8a 9 pts +3 0PIM Kid must be getting some playing time, he's also second in shots attempted, at 21.

$$$

Alas. A whimper. Not a bang.

Sioux-cia will be happy to her herself referred to as "hot".

redwing? please?

Frattin looking off the reigning Hobey Baker award winner and rifling a shot of his own says everything necessary about the kid. He's got a set.

^ Jeeze Triouxper... why d'ya have to go all good sportsman on us?

NM (originally an obscure Nathaniel Hawthorne reference)

While I don't dispute the main points in your post, this statement is patently false. I have attended sporting events as Chapman's guest. I can assure you he is a big sports fan. All sports. He is also, among other things, a very cheerful, jovial man who has become a friendly public face for NDSU. That might be the most important criteria UND should seek in its hiring process.

Wow.

Two someone elses: Harmeson and Martinsen. That's messy.

Cary Eades spoke at the Fargo Sioux Boosters luncheon today and said (probably violating all sorts of HIPPA rules) that Michael Forney is way behind where the team wants him in terms of development because of the shoulder injury and surgery. He said Forney is working very hard in practice, but might be a little gun shy as to re-injuring the shoulder. Other interesting tidbits from the luncheon: Eades also called Brent Davidson a "walk-on project". He said the other five freshmen will all get significant playing time. He noted Aaron Walski has worked himself into a position where he is challenging Grieco for the #2 goalie position. Grieco, Eades said, was brought in a year ahead of when the coaches projected him, and they recognize he is still very young. I don't know if it was because he was in Fargo or not, but Eades was highly complimentary of Walski's work ethic and the strides he has made in his craft.

State has but six freshmen on its roster, so youth isn't a factor. One has to remember that this team last year barely made the NCAA tourney after finishing 4th in their own league and getting trounced in the CCHA playoffs at Joe Louis. State's championship is as clear an example of a good team riding a really hot goaltenders through a single-elimination tournament. As long as Lerg is between the pipes for State, the Sioux will have to be sharp to beat them. If he has an off night, the Sioux should walk over the Spartans.

I hope you meant "doze". Otherwise, I'd hate to think of how to clean up 11,000 used hypodermic needles after the game!

My pick(s) for play of the game: