farce poobah

The math is simple - 18 full rides, coaches can allocate to 18 players and give zero to the other 7-8 roster players or more likely 8-10 are full rides and the rest vary from 0 to 75%, depending on production, potential and how valuable to the team ... It does seem that 18 is too low a limit. Seems like 22-25 would be a better number, more fairly reflecting the effort expended. But in a world where Title IX considerations dominate it seems unlikely that NC$$ will increase the limit.

If Duluth shows up, they can beat anybody. The question is whether their case of senioritis outweighs their desire for revenge. Great news that it will be on TV ...

Me think am in bizzarro WCHA. Good teams am losing. Bad teams am winning. UMD and UND not at top. UND has best goalie, no scoring. DU has best scoring..... Probably Michigan Tech or Alaska Anchorage am going to win NCAA Frozen Four this year.

I think we all know getting swept by Michigan Tech - at The John - caused an enormous wave of embarrassment that killed off POI.

Spirko on a rebound.

Thank goodness Canady is damn near done. Good riddance, and go get a brain after you pull off the jersey.

[sigh] At least Maine is winning ... which helps the Sioux PWR. How about a little puck luck ...

I hope the PA announcer introduces "the Denver Pioneers, your defending national champions" ... On the strength of REVENGE, and this dish is served cold, I think we'll come out firing on all cylinders. If we can get an early first goal, that's a Key to the Game. Besides the elevation always bothers DU ...

What's he doing next weekend? hint hint

still UMD 3, MN 2, nearing the halfway mark of the 3rd. Dogs look great 5x5.

Also, hard to picture the CZHA getting just one.

A long time ago, someone crafted a great phrase, to counter the stupidity of comments like yours: "Don't Shoot the Messenger".

Last Sioux sweep in Mpls was January 1980. It was fun.

For one night only, I'm Happy.

How Maine does will definitely help the RPI, but equally important, the rest of the way, we need all the help we can get from teams we play four times: Wisconsin, CC, St Cloud (ugh), and Mankato.

Anchorage ties it up 2-2, 9 minutes left

How to beat CC: 1) Hit them early, hard and often. 2) Be patient, don't get caught deep forechecking because of CC's great speed, and on the big ice let them shuffle along the boards but don't give up good positioning. 3) Goaltender needs to play well. Especially b/c CC will get in his face. CC is especially dangerous going across the goalmouth, and many of their goals come on rebounds. Lammy is faster laterally than JPar, so he should get the start. Generally, the games with CC are great to watch. Playmaking and creativity, long stretches, fewer whistles, big hits, just wish I could be there as its becoming my favorite series because the play is high quality and the games are competitive....

Tough weekend to be a home team in the WCHA.

Sandy has had a tough go of it lately ...

bout halfway thru the third

St Cloud should DEFINITELY wear the YALE uniforms tomorrow night.

The Mankato announcer is obviously very very knowledgeable about hockey, and he just mentioned that the Sioux lost 12/19 to the "US Junior team", and that Mankato would be playing them later in the year. Good grief Charlie Brown.

Post game thoughts 12/27 Canada looked awesome. Well actually, their forwards did. Puck wasn't in their own zone enough to tell if Canada's D is any good, and Glass wasn't tested much at all. Worth the price of admission to watch Crosby, Bergeron, Perry, Richards, Stewart, Dawes, Carter, .... WOW. USA played without intensity, were half-step slow most of the night, and out of synch to boot. Only real effort came for about 8 minutes in the third, and only after the undermanned and hard-working Swiss tied it. Montoya really fighting the puck, not just the soft goals but a couple saves that should have been easy and still other shots that missed the net. USA will not medal unless the goaltending improves. Tip of the chapeau to Switzerland, mounting a 3rd comeback despite playing back-to-back nights and playing a pretty short bench besides. Brian Lee got some ice time tonight, and looked respectable. Didn't look ready for the speed of Russia Czech or Canada, but held his own vs. Swiss attackers. Phil Kessel with a strong game, and I thought should have been the USA POTG, since he gave the most consistent effort on the USA squad. (IIHF gave it to Callahan.) Stafford with another nice goal.

I'm guessing the count for the BLR-SUI game was tix sold. Still, I was guessing about 6000 butts actually there. Attendance will pick up as the tourney goes on. Wish Russia-Czech was in GF, would like to see that one.