farce poobah

Interesting observation from Kevin Pates' column. The last two Fridays, UMD has gotten 4 and 3 goals, followed by not much the rest of the way. http://rinkandrun.areavoices.com/2012/02/05/updated-final-anchorage-3-umd-2/ Reinforces the old adage about "the first ten minutes". We better come out of the gate ready, and weather the storm early.

Granted the scenario is rather extreme, but an 8-way tie for first is still possible. http://siouxsports.com/hockey/whatif/index.php?view&username=farce poobah UND 32 UM 32 UMD 32 CC 32 DU 32 Tech 32 Bemidji 32 Omaha 32 SCSU 29 WI 21 Mankato 21 UAA 9 Usually by this point in the season, a lot has shaken out ... in more realistic scenarios, Minnesota and UMD are odds-on into the top two spots, and UAA and Mankato are unlikely to get home ice, but the chaos in the middle of the pack is simply astounding. St Cloud could still win it. Bemidji could still win it. And, of course, teams higher in the standings now could still win it - CC, DU, UND, Tech. Kudos to the designers of the what-if tool here at ss.com.

UND women leap up to 4th in Pairwise after sweeping Bemidji. http://www.uscho.com...ings/d-i-women/

Yeah baby at 10:38 pm, UND is up to #14 in the pairwise. Woot.

So .... ... on a combined score basis, its UND 11, SCSU 2.

Here's hoping the NCHC sets up a formal review process to consider suspensions on hits - like the NHL has - as the only way to move toward fairness in the process. Here's hoping the future head of officials in the NCHC declines to interview Don Adam.

Time to Own Omaha. Will go if I can. On the "overdone" note, I see Michigan and Ohio State played outside in front of 25000 in Cleveland. Considering Ohio State is averaging more like 4000 a game, that's a decent step forward. If they ever put their mind to it, they will be formidable. Hiring Osiecki was a good first step.

If they want Canadian viewers, who are fiercely proud of their successes, show DU, UND and Wisconsin from the west ... the combined list of native Canadians who became top-flight NHL players from those three schools borders on the unbelievable.

I'm enjoying the comments from Toronto fans who are defending Frattin ...

The other thing that hurt UND in the pairwise is that Wisconsin became a TUC after last night's win.

The Ralph still has a few available ... ticketmaster.com or the Ralph.

For me, the first game of the Gino Gasparini era was memorable. You have to recall this was when UND had not been to the frozen four in over a decade, had missed the WCHA playoffs a couple years, and it was a rather quiet and not-full Winter Sports Building in the years leading up to that era. Game 1, Sioux beat Michigan Tech 5-3, and this was the Michigan Tech that was only 1 year removed from 3 straight NCAA Championship game appearances. Beating them was something special indeed. Some of the new guys that picked up points that night included Kevin Maxwell and Cary Eades. More important, the SIoux played with heart and skill. We left the building that night totally stoked, because the dream of UND winning a championship had a chance of coming true.

Time to call Idalski and see if he would lend Monique and Jocelyne to the men's team for a couple games.

As to the new conference, the Colorado Springs Gazette has a nice overview of Jim Scherr: http://www.gazette.com/sports/brian-131092-gomez-scherr.html

UND 3 Kansas 2 I had to post that quickly before it changes.

Simpson and Mattson

Would be nice if the NCHC membership could step forward with a scheduling agreement with UAH to "tide" them over for a few years. For example, one series every other year from each member ... 8 games from the NCHC, 8 from the WCHA membership, 6 from the Big Ten (as if), plus the remainder from eastern conferences, and you've got a pretty good schedule.

Brad Malone with an assist tonight for the Avs. First NHL point.

Thanks for posting. The power of the fighting Sioux indeed. Considering how many of Alberta's finest hockey players have chosen to play at the University of North Dakota, its a good time to say thank you to Alberta as well.

Taking a look at the Pairwise http://siouxsports.com/hockey/rankings/pwr/ and its looking ugly for the WCHA this year. If the season ended today: * 3 WCHA teams in, one barely at #15 CC. Otherwise, just UMD and MN. * 7 CCHA teams. * 4 Hockey East. * 1 ECAC * 1 autobid AHA. If the Sioux are going to move up in the second half, we will need a reaallly good winning percentage. That's because we won't get the boost from the strength of schedule component that we usually do. Things are not looking good for the West. Too many bad losses (Omaha losing to UAH among the worst). Not enough wins.

Matt Frattin has made the opening credits of the HNIC Broadcast. He's in Beast Mode, flattening an opponent. One of the perks of playing for Toronto is a lot of HNIC coverage.

Oh good grief. By telling us what you think happened, you just show us what your personal biases are. Nothing more.

I think you just got your answer.

Every bit as quiet here as it is at the arena.

Game 2 of Four Nations - Canada 3, USA 1. Jocelyne L. with the USA goal: http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/75138/la_id/1/game_id/174190/season_id/172879/ss_id/170713/