mikejm

Here's a link for you.

Everyone who is afraid that Jon will be gone from the Sioux roster this summer should be jumping for joy at this news.

Your seat numbers are on your season ticket renewal invoice.

I hate to say this, but go ahead...don't renew. The waiting list is still pretty deep to buy season tickets. Sorry, but it is what it is. p.s. sorry to cross post, but DAR was sad that college hockey has turned into a business. We've come to expect a very, very high level of play by our young men wearing the Fighting Sioux sweater. It costs more and more money to recruit, train and educate these kids every day. Think of what Berry's gasoline bill is while he's driving from rink to rink to rink trying to find the next first round draft choice. We can't expect to enjoy this same top level of play year after year if we aren't willing to pay the piper.

82SG, you are far more patient than most of us. Thank you for answering the question AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This should put an end (or, on second thought, perhaps escalate) the "sky is falling" talk: From no less than INCH: http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/7Archiv...trisks_0433.htm BTW, they also say BLee and TJ could leave

Sodbuster, this is a hit, to be sure, but not a fatal blow to the Sioux. As many here have pointed out, I think this is a one-year wonder: the first three lads to leave will enjoy a financial windfall that simply won't be around anymore. Spirko, well that's another story. Come off the ledge. Get outside and enjoy the summer. The Sioux cupboard is still stocked, with reinforcements on their way. I hate to point fingers, but look at the Gophers. They lost, arguably, their heart and soul with Potulny and Irmen fleeing. Chucko's gone too, although he won't be missed nearly as much. And I don't think Minnesota's roster

I find it amusing that so many here are flaming others for posting rumor and speculation about Fighting Sioux players. We all

I hope I'm not giving too much credit to the coaches, but don't you think they expected Matt, Drew and Travis to be gone after this year? I don't want to downplay the holes left on the roster these guys leave, but I've got to believe Hak, et al have been planning for this eventuality for at least a year. I also think this is one of those triple-witching hour kind of things: the NHL lockout, the new CBA, etc. have all combined to makes these young men leave now to their maximum financial benefit. We'll continue to see early departures as long as the Sioux continue to fill the roster with high-caliber talent, but I believe this year will be an anomaly in the large number of early outs. (At least I hope so!)

I think the only "sure" bet to return to college is Towes. I just don't see him physically ready for the big time yet. He certainly has the skill, the hands and the vision to step up now, but I think he'd be a lot better pro closer to 200 pounds. Oshie, Wheeler and The Thrill could all, very easily, be gone. Sad to even think that, but I believe its possible.

Back on topic: good luck Drew. Thanks for three exciting years in green. You'll have a wonderful NHL career and do promise to bring Lord Stanley's cup to GF for a visit when it's your turn.

Man... this is a lousy deal, on every level imaginable. If the allegations are true, well, it should go without saying. If the charges are eventually found untrue it indicates a similarly serious problem with the accuser. Either way, the fact that the authorities are saying they found what appears to be controlled substance(s) in the residence is a real lapse in judgment by these young men; even if it is not theirs they should've been smart enough to not be in the same place! This is not good for Mankato's program; and probably not good for college hockey. Granted, there are far fewer student athletes involved in hockey than there are in big-time football and basketball, but we hockey fans have been confronted with relatively few reports of illegal misbehavior, pull-tabs and underage drinking notwithstanding.

This is great news for college hockey...but I keep thinking of the double secret probation thingy from Animal House. (Now why can't Kupchella find something like that to help UND with the nickname/logo deal?)

I was shocked to read in last week's Sports Illustrated that Lemaire had been voted the NHL's best coach through a poll of current players! His schtick is getting old, as is the Wild's penchant for "sticking with the system".

I can't believe the CHA hasn't been able to attract someone into their conference. IIRC they were offering serious money to Kennesaw State (or someother bubba school) to add varsity hockey and join the CHA. There are a lot of pretty well-established club hockey teams, especially in the Alabama-Huntsville neighborhood, that would seem to be pretty natural candidates to make the jump to varsity. http://www.achahockey.org/league.php?scrip...E&leagueID=7700 Losing the CHA is not good for college hockey, and certainly doesn't send a positive message to any school that is considering moving up. We're down to 59 schools playing D1 now, and Huntsville is likely to drop to club status when the CHA folds its tent. I think it behooves all the rest of college hockey to see the CHA pick up at the very least another member, and to help pay the bills until the situation stabilizes. Might be a good place for the NCAA to drop some of the billions it has amassed!

Sorta like the Sports Illustrated cover jinx? http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/7Archiv...eams07_0431.htm Discuss:

Unless I am incorrectly reading something, this would seem to make it unlikely that any Fighting Sioux freshman will lured to the NHL by a fat signing bonus.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: having Fighting Sioux skaters leave "early" for the NHL is the price we pay for enjoying such talented college hockey year in and year out. Sure I am disappointed seeing these young men leave after a couple of years, but I am also extremely happy for them, and for the prestige that their leaving adds to the UND program. Think of how much easier it is to recruit a blue-chipper when one of the coaches can point to all the NHLers who've passed through Grand Forks. And think of how cool it is to be able to say (while watching the NHL on the tube or in person) "Yeah, I saw him as just a kid while he was a Fighting Sioux!" Congrats Travis. I look forward to the day you, Zach and David can pull an Eddie and bring Lord Stanley's Cup to Grand Forks for another visit.

And then there's the whole graduating class deal...if a drafted player isn't signed by, I think it's August, of the year they graduate, the player becomes a free agent and can shop himself around the league. So this year seems to be sort of a triple witching hour for players like both Stafford and Smaby, and it would appear they are in the driver's seat.

Nice post airmail. Great summation for a fun, and frankly surprising Fighting Sioux hockey season!

Aptly put JFR.

I too find myself looking for other things to do tomorrow evening.

Congrats to Fargo's Danny Irmen. Rumor has it that the contract is very similar to RyPo's, and includes a $500K signing bonus. I think we'll see a lot more of these early outs next week: under the NHL's new labor deal, signing bonuses next year will be much less money. Hope, hope, hope we don't see wholesale defections from the Sioux!

That's more than just a little harsh. Danny is a talented kid, and will play in the NHL. I don't know if he'll leave school this week or decide to come back next year. But I'm pretty confident that he'll make the show at some point.

I was hoping, in spite of his sweater color, that a North Dakotan could win the Hobey. http://www.hobeybaker.com/news/ht_032906.htm