cbass2811

If you look at the Central and West Fargo game you would see that it wasn't the refs fault for the game. The shots i believe were 28 to 13 in favor of Central. Even with the two 5 on 3's in the game and a few other powerplays West Fargo probably only managed to put a handful of shots on net during those. Central just gives up to many good quality scoring chances. And when i say good quality scoring chances i mean from the top of the crease out to the top of circles. West Fargo worked there butts off and Central controlled play for the most of the game, but it doesn't matter what team you are, you can dominate play for a whole game but when your giving up probably 10 out of 13 shots to any team in the slot area your not going to win. If Central doesn't figure out a way to keep teams out of the slot and limit scoring chances its going to be a long season for them. But your doing something right when you only give up 13 shots. So i guess we'll see if they can right the ship Sat. or it's going to be a long night against Fargo South.

Top shelf is right. Central did look good tonight, but what kind of team did they really play. Giving up only 13 shots against any team is a good sign, but the real test comes next week when they face off against West Fargo, and Fargo South. Then we will all see what kind of team they really are.

Crosby, very good question, i apologize for not allaborating. I based my opinions through what i heard from people in Bismarck, and some of the comments coming out of the people in Grand Forks. I overstated when i said that makes him a great coach. I should have just said a quality one from what i have heard. No basis or fact on that just opinions from others. Junior as far as their two DI players who are coaches they would be Nick Fuher who we all know starred here at UND, and Chad Dahlen who played for Lake Superior State. The final score of the game tonight was 5 - 0 for East Grand. Very well played game for EGF. and a very poorly played one for GFC.

1. Fargo South/Red River 3. Grafton 4. West Fargo/Central 6. Minot 7. Shanley I feel its a pretty even tie between South and Red River. I was at the game and both teams looked great. They played a run and gun style, similiar to the wide open WCHA. But with Red Rivers tie against Crookston it throws a little doubt into the mix. As far as Grafton, i am solely basing this on the fact they have only played North (and thumped them badly) so until they play Red River and South and Central and show what they can do against those teams, i'll keep them at three. West Fargo has been the surpise team of the state so far this season. I feel with the way they have played up to this point in the season, they garner the honors as the darkhorse in state. Central i believe is right up in the mix. I know everyone points to the fact they lost to Shanley (and shanley is a very hard working team) you have to realize that they are starting with a whole new coaching staff, and new systems to learn and that learning curve takes time. Now for those of you who jump all over my case about this Central in fourth and losing to shanley proves they are down, look what happened to Red River with Crookston. Hey Central outplayed Shanley plain and simple, so did Red River against Crookston, but neither team came away with a win that night. I was fortunate enough to watch the last two Cental games and they play a different style then what we are all use to. They physically dominated and controlled their last two games and it looks like the learning curve for the new systems is finally taking affect. They have a great head coach along with two former Division I players on their coaching staff. But until Central plays South, Red River, and Grafton and we see what they do with them, they deserve to be in fourth. Minot has played well with their losses to the eastern teams and hung in there, and i don't see much a challenge out in the west for them. Shanley has pulled off two major upsets in beating Central and Jamestown, and played right with Red River until the third period so i do believe they belong in the 7th spot. But even with all these predictions as fun as it is, its to early in the season to really know what is going to happen, all that counts is which team is at their best come Feb.