stickboy1956

IMO ... What we are seeing is the result of the cream of the crop of the outstanding 05 class leaving early. The rest of that class is a notch (or 2, 3) below the NHL'ers. Finley being hurt is obviously a factor as well. Add to that disappointing results from the 06 and 07 classes (Vandy and Genoway are excluded - Forney not working out is huge). If not for the 08 class (especially Gregoire/Eidsness/Hextall) things would be much worse. As I said in a previous post, this may be as good as it gets this year. If Eidness continues his development, he could steal some games for us. I think you could see the Freshies make more of an impact in the 2nd half, once Toews gets his legs back and Blood/Fienhage get more playing time.

Blake recalls fond days at North Dakota http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=393297 "You'll never get those years back, that time when it's just you, your teammates and the game. It's all business when you leave."

From UMD's pre-series press release - http://www.umdbulldogs.com/uploads/UMDHockeyRelease7.pdf Both Bulldog-Fighting Sioux clashes this weekend will also be televised live by Charter Communications (cable Channel 15). Mark Fleischer and former UMD standout Judd Medak are serving as the on-air talent for Charter Communications, which is slated to televise 11 regular season games in 2008-09. The games will be carried on Charter Communication

JON CASEY !!

There was a time they would play 2 exhib. games with UMTC. I saw one game in Eveleth in '78 and Hibbing in '77. I believe they also played in Minot both years as well.

All things being equal, it doesn't make sense to play a senior, journeyman forward at D versus a 3rd round draftee/Minn Mr. Hockey finalist. From the games I watched, I thought Fienhage's strong suit was his puckhandling and passing - rarely has he had to resort to banking the puck off the glass. He was almost always tape-to-tape with his passes. He had some turnovers but so have all the D (especially our Sophs). I could see him rotating in/out of the lineup with someone (LaPoint and Marto did last year) but he would have been 0-4 if not for the injuries in CC. It doesn't make sense - off ice issues??? Miller has had good moments on the power play (rebound goal on Sat), but he has also looked unsure at times (hesitating with the puck at the point, leading to blocked shots on 2 consecutive power plays Sat). Generating offense/points from the blueline comes from forwards converting on the power play, cashing in on rebounds, and finishing off rushes that the D start with a good breakout pass. The bottom line is the forwards need to score to get points for the D. Currently, this team only has one player that will scare the other team when they have the puck (Genoway). The past few years we had multiple players that could turn the game around with one play. I don't see that yet with this group. Gregoire is dangerous below the dots but I haven't seen him breakdown a WCHA D-man on a rush yet. Toews will get better as he recovers from his injury. I think a Gregoire/Toews/Hextall would be a good combination - maybe next year. This may be as good as it gets this year - .500. One positive - Eidsness is probably the most talented goalie we've had here since Belfour. If he can play consistently like he did Sat. he could keep us in a lot of games, even games we don't deserve to win. It will be interesting to see if Hak can coach

I know you don't like the Wild/Lemaire but get your facts straight. 1. The Canadiens were an offensive machine during their run in the 70's, not "snoozer city" hockey. They were always at/near the top of the league for goals scored. (Check hockeydb.com if you want to look at the numbers) The also won 4 cups in a row. 2. Gaborik has averaged more than a point a game the past two years. There is no way he would score 160+ points in the East (Ovechkin led the league last year with 112). I know you like to rant about the Wild/Lemaire (it's a free country) but keep it real.

Agreed - the "Freshies" have held their own on D. They do give us the size we may have been lacking the past couple years. Obviously they weren't expected to replace Chorney's and Bina's offense. The players that need to start playing like veterans are Lapoint and Marto - too many minuses on the scoresheet for them.

It's too bad our horses we've had here the past few years could have played with the current rule enforcement. The goal judge would have been very busy at the Ralph. It's obvious we haven't been finishing like we should (see our power play numbers). It will be interesting to see if a team with few offensive stars can succeed this year now that more penalties are being called.

Don't forget that assistant coaches do a lot of recruiting. Hak and Brad Berry did a lot of recruiting under Blais, as does Eades and Jackson now.

You can watch the archive of the final game at tsn.ca

Just remember Michigan, Michigan State and Notre Dame used to be part of the WCHA. There has always been teams moving in/out of the league. The only thing that would "kill" the conference would be the defection of UMTC and Wisco to a Big Ten hockey conf.

It was very strange to have Finley go on this trip and not play. We had 5 healthy D + Miller on the trip. If Finley was iffy to play why not bring Finhage along just in case - instead of the hassle of flying him in on Sat. Very strange.

Fienhage is either hurt or in the major doghouse for Miller to be taking his place this weekend.

http://board.uscho.com/showpost.php?p=3964...p;postcount=321 From USCHO forum thread - "... Hennessy was just on the morning show from the Springs and said that Joe (Finley) was on the trip..."

http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/st...C4?OpenDocument Oshie to be out awhile "... Oshie will not make the team's three-game trip to the West Coast, which begins in Anaheim on Wednesday."

Here are numbers that need to change to become a contender this year Special Teams Power Play 5/46 10.9 Penalty Kill 26/33 78.8 http://www.uscho.com/stats/team-details.ph...m/sort,PTS.html We can't blame our young D for these numbers. Our best players are on both special team units, obviously playing against the other team's best. Maybe our "best" aren't as good as our opponents? During our Final 5 run (and before) we have been spoiled with "NHL almost-ready talent" - the 06 and 07 classes did not have that type of player and it is showing now with the early departures gone. We could still be a contender but we will need to rely on winning ugly this year along with great goaltending.

Lower body injury

Re: Defense I believe most of the goals scored on us have been special teams (pp/sh!) Goals for has got to go up. It was good to see more scoring chances in P3. If we play the rest of the season like we did in the 3rd period we will have a good season.

I think Sioux fans look bad when we go out of our way to whine about the Gophers (Final 5 at the X, MN Hockey Showcase, FSNorth, etc). We don't need to complain about all their "advantages." It doesn't matter/we can't change it. I don't think our coaches/players care. Only one thing matters. 7>5

Oklahoma plays Texas every year at the Cotton Bowl, essentially a home game for UT - no outrage. Calm down.

What about the other Gophers who were on the ice just watching White take one for the team. All of them should have jumped on the pile - do you think Shep would have been able to figure out who to penalize? The video also shows that WCHA refs don't handle fights like NHL refs do. Once a real scrum starts in the NHL, the rest of the players are ordered to the bench - ejections and fines come if they don't.

No game for SCSU and UMD Friday - they will play a single game in Duluth on 11/29 UMD plays at SCSU later in the season (1/9-10) http://www.uscho.com/schedules/team.php/st...u/gender,m.html

Comcast St. Paul Ch 13 WCHA Hockey Fri/Sat night at 7 pm I believe Fri it is UMTC at SCSU - Sat UND at MSM

Osh keeps 74 http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/st...BD?OpenDocument