Hammy

I agree completely. One ref is enough for me. The less ref involvement, the better in my book. I also agree that college OT is a lot different than the NHL. In the college game, there still seems to be pretty good opportunities to score in a 5 on 5 OT period (at least in the games I see). I don't really see the overwhelming need to go 4 on 4 like the NHL needed to do.

If the radio guy is accurate, I would gather Joseph probably feels his stock won't get any better than it is now especially with his high scoring linemate from this past year being gone and his stats potentially taking a decent hit if he remained at Mankato next year. Not to mention, free agents like him may find a much more limited market once the next CBA is worked out in the NHL. Kind of surprising if he did leave though since Joseph is rather small. I wasn't shocked Stevenson left but I always felt Joseph would stay around four years with his size being an issue. Finger is getting rather old and I would imagine he feels some urgency to get on with a pro career. Of course, I am sure he also realizes SCSU will likely be a weaker 2nd division club next year and probably wants no part of that. I would imagine Hendricks can see the writing on the wall at SCSU as well.... especially if Finger bolts. Playing for Dahl seems to prod guys to leave early too.... they probably get sick of him. The only Gopher I think is a threat to go early is Vanek. But a lot of that will depend on who drafts him. No matter who drafts him, I am not convinced he won't stay around one more year. We'll see.

Do Sioux fans think that Blais might have hurt his goalies' confidence with how he sort of pulls them in and out of the lineup and moved them up and down the depth chart often? (I really mean that as an honest, non-flaming question) I mean, I can understand using tough tactics with forwards and defensemen but goalies always struck me as being a different story and that you'd want to handle them more carefully. Goaltending seems to be driven so much by whether a goalie has confidence/mental toughness out there on the ice. The times I watched the Sioux this year (and last year as well), it sort of seemed like the goalie was waiting for something bad to happen rather than standing tall, confident and challenging shooters. Guys like Brandt and Siembeda aren't talentless by any means so it would seem to me that their lack of consistently good play could be mental and lacking confidence. Lucia seems to really be able to instill confidence in his main goalie and it has paid off huge the last two years (heck, if he can win it all with Hauser, who was hardly mentally tough, than he can instill confidence in just about any goalie with decent/good talent). I know Lucia gave Weber a key little pep talk and it really seemed to instill confidence in him in the Frozen Four and he played very well. A team can bring in all the goalies they want but I would be concerned that it isn't necessarily a talent issue but more a mental/confidence issue where the goalies are wondering where they stand with their coach. Thoughts? Also, do the Sioux have a goalie coach like Wisconsin and the Gophers do? If they don't, I'd imagine that doesn't help matters either.

I don't know if the Gophers will 3-peat or not. I rarely make predictions on standings, wins or things like that. But one point I'd like to make is how I think it is overstated when people talk about any extra significance there will be for Gophers' opponents to beat them when they are defending champs. With the exception of the few non-conference games the Gophers play during the year, pretty much every team MN plays has a strong desire to kill them. It doesn't matter if the Gophers were average the year before or if they are coming off a season in which the Gophers were national champs..... teams want to wax the Gophers no matter what. I don't think NoDak, UMD, SCCC, Bucky, etc. want to kill the Gophers any more or any less no matter what the Gophers did the year before. The Gophers are probably the team that most WCHA teams enjoy beating the most and I think that comes across every season. I vividly recall a decent number of people (a few of whom are regular posters on this board) who talked a lot prior to this season on how the Gophers would struggle some this year because the national title from 2002 would somehow put a big target on them. My feeling was and is... when did that target ever disappear? It is always there anyway. The Sioux always want to kill the Gophers and so do other teams. That never changes. If anything, the only thing the Gophers struggled with this year was some injuries. Not the opponent's psyche/desire. My point being... you can talk about expectations and how that may work psychologically on the Gophers or their opponents but don't put TOO much stock into it.

Despite the occasional venom spewed and the fact that we vote for opposing teams, something tells me that most of us would probably get along rather well hanging out and having a beer... shooting the s**t rather than shooting each other.

streaky, I think you are taking it too seriously. As you said, some people are just blowing out double talk since the Gophers have won the last two titles. If the worst somebody can do is point out that a top non-MN player helped the U to another national title, I'll take it with a big smile. Maybe those NoDak boys Irmen and R. Potulny will do the same for us.

The BCHL is no better than the USHL. If anything, the USHL plays a more all around game and focuses more on both ends of the rink as compared to the BCHL in which defense is often secondary. Ask a number of scouts and you will hear relatively similar comments.

I wonder if you use that logic for Parise too?

Sica, While that may be true, the Mavs may have a weaker defense next year than they had this year. Considering how porous their defense was this year, that could spell trouble for them. But I'd expect them to be in the top 3 or 4 of the league next year.

Well Goon, I guess after reading your "brilliance" over on Unvarnished Truth and various boards over the years, we'll take your word for it.

By the way Sica, don't bet on Mike Howe coming to MN next year. More than likely he'll play another year of juniors because he knows he won't get a lot of ice time next year. Last I heard, he was leaning toward playing junior again. As for the defensive count, Lucia hasn't been afraid to use Joey Martin as a forward during a lot of his college career so that may be why he doesn't mind bringing in two defensemen next year. JMart has actually looked pretty solid as a grinding forward so maybe they envision him in that role more (I don't know). I wouldn't be shocked if Kennedy does redshirt or play another year of junior hockey somewhere. BTW, I enjoy Sica's speculation. Tells me he is concerned about what the Gophers are capable of next year.

Ballard was on Joe Schmit's Sports Wrap last night with Coach Lucia and was asked if he was coming back. His response was that he wasn't ready and needed to get another year. Coach Lucia then went on to say that he is biased but he feels none of the guys are ready for the NHL and didn't feel there would be any early departures. He said maybe the year after though. Vanek was on Rosen's Sports Sunday and was asked about his status and he said he was going to come back and try to repeat. He was pretty sure about that but you could tell he didn't want to paint himself into a corner 100% when Rosen pressed him a little.... but he was sincere in that he seemed to be pretty sure he'd be back. Of course, Riddle, Potulny and Koalska all piped up as if they were gonna hold him to that comment. I guess Vanek's dad was telling people in Buffalo that his son would be back at the U next year. I think Paul Martin will be back. I think what clinched it for me was the signing of Hale by NJ. I don't see them throwing out big money on two defensive prospects when neither may be ready for a regular shift in the NHL. Besides, I hear Martin is saying to people he'll be coming back for his final year. Of course, big money can change people's minds but I think it looks like everybody is pretty sincere in their desire to return. I am sure a lot of teams will be reluctant to sign a lot of prospects too with the bargaining agreement needing to be renewed. Its more fun to have the best players stay in college but it is understandable in a number of cases when they go early (like Taffe).

Out of all the teams MN played this year, I still consider CC the best opponent overall. Michigan played us well and UNH is a pretty good team but I don't feel either of them is as scary as CC was at their peak as far as an overall team. The only problem that CC seemed to run into was that they weren't playing their best hockey as a collective team when it counted the most and they seemed to tighten up and not play as well when the stakes got higher. I have respect for UNH. They have a darn good team. But I feel good about MN's chances to win on Saturday night. I really hope Gopher fans won't come on this board (or any other team's board) and rub it in anybody's face if they do repeat as champs.

Yeah, this coming from a guy who constantly cries because I rag on the Sioux at times on POI. Yeah, you really don't seem to care what is written over there, right? After all, why lurk and read a board if you aren't a little interested in what is written on it...... Good job Handy. You hit the mark with this guy.

C'mon... I have under 60 posts here in about 6 months. I average almost 3 posts a day in about 3 years time on POI for a total of a little under 3000...... do ya think you may be stretching it just a tad with your comment above??

I wasn't fishing at all. Just saying that I think Sejna should win. I am not Coach Lucia. Just because he happens to coach the team I follow doesn't mean I have to agree with everything he does. I have a ton of respect for the guy. He is a class act and a top coach. But whatever he decides to vote on is his choice. If he felt Miller was the better candidate, that is his decision.... not mine. I mean, do you guys always agree with Blais and what he does? I would bet you don't always agree. You probably do in most respects but probably not in everything. Well, I am no different.

Is that why you post on the Gopher board Sica? I'd say there is plenty of traffic on other boards. I don't think this site as even being close to having a monopoly on various fans posting.

It would be a shame if Sejna didn't win it. I realize the Cornell goalie has some amazing stats but based on how his team plays (conservative/defensive minded), I think a lot of goalies could throw up some darn good numbers in that type of a system. Sejna would have my vote.

Same crybaby stuff from you sprig. Ban me. You think I am gonna complain about it? I'd kind of think it was funny actually. Somebody can't debate an opposing view I guess. Dear Admin, if you feel I am worthy of it, feel free to ban me. See you at the Frozen Four.

jk.... where on here did I mention anything about the Sioux losing or rub it in over their loss yesterday? It would be one thing if I was sitting here ripping on the Sioux for their performance on the ice of late but I wasn't. I responded to one guy's rather ill timed comments in regards to MN recruiting. I never said the Sioux don't have a lot to be proud of and aren't a storied program in their own right. They deserve all the accolades they get. I won't get any further involved in any debate about recruiting here in MN. The results speak for themselves for Lucia and I will leave it at that.

Mankato isn't playing great but at least they are staying in it. Cornell doesn't seem THAT impressive. Especially when they had the 5x3 PP. Although I am not fond of most Mavs fans, I hope they can pull this one out.

Nah, I was only at the 2nd game. I watched most of the Sioux game on TV.

Keep dreaming. Parise is a definite exception to the rule. Any Sioux fan with half a brain knows that Blais isn't going to win too many head to head recruiting battles with Lucia over top MN kids. It'll happen but not very often. If anything, Blais seems to be the one dropping the ball on losing top in-state talent. Gopher fans are very thankful that Blais made arguably the biggest recruiting blunder of his career in letting Grant Potulny slip through his fingers. People always used to be critical of Woog for missing on a few top MN kids but there are too many MN kids that go D-1 so it is impossible to get every good one. Blais doesn't have that excuse in NoDak because the state doesn't produce nearly as many kids for D-1. One could only imagine if the roles of the two teams would be reversed if a great leader, goalscorer and clutch playoff player like Potulny had been on the Sioux. Who knows..... but I am damn glad MN has him. Then add top talent like Dan Irmen and Ryan Potulny to the mix next year.... we appreciate the contributions from the state of North Dakota. Thanks.

NorthDakotaHockey, Every team has their fair share of questionable fans. The Gophers aren't immune to it and neither are the Sioux. Glad to see Gopher fans can rely on your support today. P.S. - Some of you guys need a support group for all the complaining (whining?) you do about the Gophers and their fans. Get over it!

Ugh.... I hate NASCAR.