mikejm

Less than a week to go until many hockey fans' attention will be focused on the college game while the millionaires who run (and play in) the NHL stare at one another over the "bargaining" table. "And if they're wondering where the fans went to, have them check the other rinks: rinks where junior hockey and college hockey and minor hockey and women's hockey and even old-timers' hockey is being played." http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Art...ment/Columnists

I can't believe what I'm reading here...starting to sound like a bunch of conspiracy theorists. Here's my read on things (in no particular order): 1. Hakstol has been the primary recruiter since he's been here. At worst he scouted the prospects and set the plate, and had DB come in and close the deals. How's the recruiting classes been lately? 2. Say you open the search nationally. Who do you get that hasn't already been mentioned? Probably no one. Is Sandy really going to come here? Doubtful. He's turned around a moribund program and can probably name his price in Duluth right now. New arena on its way. Why leave that to come back to GF and try to fill Blais' shoes? Johnson would be taking a pay cut of at least $30,000 a year (and more likely $50 - $80,000 less) to come here. Sure he bleeds green, but I'll bet he likes the inside of his wallet to be the same color. Carey Eades should take the second assistant's job. John Marks is trying too hard. 3. Do you all REALLY think Hak's marriage to Erin O'Keefe entered into this? Are you nuts? Roger Thomas and Tim O'Keefe are way too smart to lay that kind of stink bomb. And Kupchella, as much as I despise him, won't stand for any kind of nepotism. 4. Hak will bring some new energy to things. He's at least as intense a coach as was DB. He certainly ain't distracted with a possible NHL move. The players respect him. Who knows? This might be an opportunity for a goalie coach to finally be added to the staff. At the very least he brings the opportunity finally, for a team nickname that will stick: Can't you see The Hak Attack all over t-shirts and signs, etc.? In sum, give Hak a chance. Put a little more faith than most of you have displayed in Roger Thomas. Then sit back and enjoy what will prove to be a wonderful college hockey season.

This topic has been just under the radar for the longest time. The Herald has reported it in its news columns, and now editorialized AGAINST the administration's plan to raise admission standards for all students. http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforkshe...ion/8479892.htm I know from several conversations with him that Blais is VERY concerned about what raising required ACT scores by 5 points will do to his recruiting. He feels a lot of potential Sioux skaters will look at what the University requires (ACT) compared to what other schools need and more often than not choose the other, easier entrance requirement. I have also talked to Kupchella's right hand man Phil Harmeson about this, and he just blows off any of Blais' concerns. There are provisions, he says, to allow student-athletes to appeal an admission denial. I was sort of ambivalent about this, and thought perhaps Blais was just whining, but when I see the Herald actually calliing the higher standards a bad thing, I figure coach is on the right side of this, and that Harmeson and his boss are pushing things too far. With the WCHA becoming such a competitive league, can we really afford to turn away potential recruits. Will we have the time to explain to them that there are "ways" around the high ACT standards? I'm not comfortable at all with this proposal. BTW, Blais says it isn't a proposal, its already a done deal.

I don't buy this. I will agree that the new arena and 5000 extra seats has brought many new people to the game. And some of these (maybe even most) people aren't "into" the game as much as the old-timers. But to say the focus has been taken off the team is a stretch. Walk around the rink. The photos of teams and players past, the banners hung from the rafters, the logos create something akin to an atmosphere of worship. This is the home of the Fighting Sioux and woe to all wearing opposing colors who enter here. I will agree that the atmosphere is a lot more commercial than in the old rink. But the focus, clearly, is on hockey, and most of all on the Fighting Sioux heritage and history.

I think Ballard will play, and play well in the NHL. Watching him late in the season, and into the Final Five, he was one of two Gopher players who I feared every time they touched the puck, the other being Riddle. Ballard is an offensive threat anytime he's on the ice; he plays hard all the time. Sometimes he doesn't play smart, but he has the skill set and the mentality to be a significant addition to Phoenix or most any other NHL team. What would the Sioux have been like with him playing the point on the power play? Pretty awesome, I think.

First, the "Parise era"? This is a now-19-year-old kid who came to Grand Forks directly from high school. He spent two hockey seasons here (less than two years). How can there possibly be a "Parise era"? He put on a heckuva show, made the players around him better (although with all the extra defensive attention his line attracted, this point might be arguable!), and may be the most well-rounded college hockey player I have ever seen. But I will stop short of calling this the "Parise era". I can't argue with a lack of playoff success, although in the scope of things, the Sioux were one of eight teams left on the ice. Perhaps this points out the fallacy of national polls and INCH Power Rankings. If the Sioux hadn't been top-ranked almost all year, would we still say they'd lack success? I think the bright sides of the story here are numerous: 1. Zach Parise, an American-born, high school-to-college (no junior) hockey player blessed UND fans for two years with delightful play, a beaming personality, and a poise beyond his years. He's now a millionaire, and fulfilling his boyhood dreams. 2. The 2003-2004 UND Fighting Sioux fought from fifth place in the WCHA and a one-and-done in the NCAAs last year to winning the MacLaughton Cup, second place in the Final Five, and lost a regional final for a trip to the Frozen Four. And with a very, very young cast of characters, I will continue to point out. 3. Parise's success at UND brought several apparently blue-chip schoolmates from SSM to Grand Forks. 4. Parise's time at UND gave us all almost two full years to listen to the whining, carping and general discontent from all our maroon and gold friends to the south! Yeah, I'm sorry to see him go, but we all knew it was going to happen. I'm sorry they're not going to Boston, but perhaps this was a year too soon.

I was thinking more along the lines of "weelwy, weelwy" good.

Nice read on that horrible, anti-Sioux INCH http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/7Archiv...erfect_0231.htm In spite of the ending, was this a "perfect" game?

This is perhaps the most bone-headed comment I've ever read on these boards. CB did a whale of a job with a team that is very, very young. Compare this team to the '99-'00 championship team: Top five scorers: Goren, Panzer, Ulmer, Lundbohm and Bayda (2 seniors, 1 junior, 1 soph, 1 freshman). 267 total points, or 52% of the team's output. This year: Bochenski, Parise, Murray, Genoway and Stafford (ZERO seniors, 2 juniors, 1 soph and 2 freshmen). 227 points, or 48.6% of team's total. I remember Coach Blais telling me on a couple of different occasions this year that this team is not as talented as his national championship teams, and that they are still very young. How many "true" freshmen played a major role on the team this year? These are eighteen-year-olds playing against men up to 23, 24 even 25 years old out there. I think CB did a heckuva job with a very good team; not a great team. To say he didn't do well this season is simply not true.

I've given this a lot of thought, and I am now prepared to declare Vanek to be abslutely, positively, without any question of any kind, the...make that THE...finest hockey player to EVER lace up the skates. It's really too bad that the Hobey Baker award has that name engraved on it, otherwise I almost certain it would already have been renamed the Thomas Vanek award. I can't honestly understand how Dean Blais can call himself a coach after he let this one get by him. And that fifth pick? I'm surprised at all the NHL scouts and general managers. He should've been the first overall pick, without a doubt. He continues to amaze me with his constant, end-to-end effort, his amazing back-checking, and the extraordinarily positive effect he has on the rest of his team. I take back everything negative I've ever thought about him. Sheesh!

Same reason a groom isn't supposed to look at the bride before the wedding.

Man, I'm just not seeing this game as a high scoring exhibition. The Sioux have been having trouble burying the biscuit lately. And the Quesadilla guy is no slouch between the pipes, regardless of who he's been facing. The guy's save percentage is .926 this year, and over .910 for his career. If the clutch and grab, "swing yore pardner" stuff gets the okay from the stripes, I'm saying 4-2. Still Sioux, but not a runaway. Now come on guys, and prove me wrong. And a big, heartfelt thanks to Scott Geston at CableOne Fargo for makin' it all happen.

Really bothers me to tout INCH, but aside from the nasty jab at goaltending, this preview of West Region should be feel-good story of the day. http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/9NCAA/2...estpre_0230.htm Couple of nice quotes: "Barring injury, it

I've watched this whole Victory Sports thing from the very start with very mixed emotions: I love the Twins, hate baseball as Big Business. I love my cable tv, hate CableOne. So when I read Scott Geston's reply to (one of) my queries regarding this weekend's games, I can't help but laugh a little. "...help them out...lack of distribution". This maroon has a chance to do something really nice for his customers, polish up CableOne's public personna with some rube-cred, and make us all forget for a weekend the next round of rate increases, and all he can come up with is "...help them out"? Dolt. From: Geston, Scott <Scott.Geston@cableone.net> Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 5:00 PM RE: UND hockey Yes: We have agreed to help them out as they are suffering from lack of distribution. Channel 7 -----Original Message----- Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 4:46 PM To: Geston, Scott Subject: UND hockey the UND sioux hockey team plays firday night at 6:00. victory sports network is offering you free access to this game and all minnesota and duluth games over the weekend. mid-continent in grand forks is picking the game up. will cable one do so also?

Time to turn up the heat on Scott Geston at CableOne in Fargo. Here is my correspondence to him and his reply: From: Geston, Scott <Scott.Geston@cableone.net> Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 9:34 AM Subject: RE: Fighting Sioux Hockey Mike: Have not heard that yet. I was told it was not broadcast material but guess the GF station thought it was worthy of going after. Doubt the Fargo outlet will do the same. -----Original Message----- From: Mike [mailto:mikejm102@hotmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 9:18 AM To: sgeston@cableone.net Subject: Fighting Sioux Hockey Mr Geston: I have learned that WDAZ (and the Fighting Sioux Sports Netowrk) will air Friday's NCAA first round game, North Dakota vs. Holy Cross, beginning at 6:00 p.m. I presume CableOne will air the same on channel 7. If my presumption is accurate, thank you. If not, please reconsider. Thanks Mike

Well, I emailed CableOne in Fargo Monday to whine, plead, beg, threaten (I'm not particularly proud about any of it). I included the story about VSN's "free" offer to cable systems. Here is the reply I got just now: Mike, We are checking in to this and waiting to hear back from Victory Sports. Cable ONE I'll continue to search out abandoned farmhouses with 7' dishes out back, and check my mail for CableOne's outcome.

I'll admit I have absolutely NO way to back this up, but as one who's watched WCHA hockey for many, many, many (is that enough to be accurate PCM?) years, I can not for the life of me recall a team taking as many, and as malicious cuts at the opposition's heads as do Lucia's teams. I'm really surprised Zach wasn't horribly injured after his composite clothesline. And I know the Gophers were called for at least two other high sticks in Saturday's game. Can someone help me find an archive that includes penalties called during league games? I'd love to do some research. BTW, I don't think the Sioux have anything to be sorry for or ashamed of coming out of the Final Five final. That was like watching Ken Norton and Ali stand toe-to-toe and beatin' on one another. That game has to be an instant classic.

After closely scrutinizing speech patterns and spelling, I'm thinking this poster is... are you ready for this? All hold your breath now... Could it be? SIOUXROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Golly I feel almost dirty typing this!)

Matt Becker is a hard nosed kid who plays tough all the time. Yes, his dad, Brad, played @ UND '73-'77, then spent time with Rangers and Caps systems. He was on a yo-yo with the Rangers between Madison Square Garden and their top farm club. He told me a story one time about the first time he came into Manhattan on the train. He got off and asked a porter how to get to Madison Square Garden. (No, the guy didn't say, "practice, practice, practice." That's Carnegie Hall.) The guy told Brad to take the escalator up two levels...the train station is (or was) right underneath the Garden. Matt's older brother Bryan is playing with Billings in NAHL. 27 points in 50 games, and is committed to Air Force. Their grandfather is Willard Ikola...Edina coach extraordinaire.

Regular season stats from WCHA (conference games only) Goals Against Average: Minutes GA GAA 1 Bernd Br

yes, indeed, that is the MacNaughton Cup. But the nursing home visit will do you little good. The WCHA won't let me near it anymore. Seems my drooling was tarnishing the finish.

I think Ballard is the Randy Moss of the Goofies: he is dangerous as h*ll when he's on; but he can stink the place up pretty righteously when he's off. He seems to have a real split personality in that he makes some of the most boneheaded mistakes I've ever seen at this level. But just when I start wondering what he's doing out there, he rifles that shot. He needs to do something to keep himself focused.

don't forget his assistant: Rick Wilson

Coach told me a funny story during lunch: Seems they had four cases of champagne on ice waiting for the team to clinch the Cup: two alcolholic (stored in the equipment room for coaches, wives, etc.) and two alcohol-free in the locker room for the guys. Dean said they're just going to spray it all over the place, and a lot of them are under age, so why give them the good stuff? So the boys evidently did as expected, spraying their bottles of (unbeknownst to them) alcohol-free champagne all over, but saving a little in the bottom of each bottle to pour into the Cup to then drink. It wasn't until almost all the team had poured their "leftovers" into the Cup that one of them finally noticed the "Non-Alcoholic" verbage on the label. The coaches evidently had a good laugh over that. Coach said it's just what he needs to be going all over town, that his boys were getting trashed in the locker room, with another game to play the next day, underage, etc. Dean certainly was in a good mood today.

I guess I had that coming...as in, "from one geriatric to another".