farce poobah

Carle also got a 5 minute timeout for his guys, who were getting worked over by UND at that part of the game. (Side note: not sure we've yet struck a good balance between "getting the call right" and "stopping the game too long".)

League can add discipline after the fact. It’s been done before, so yeah it is how college hockey works.

Savior should be suspended for a few games. He led with the elbow and targeted the head. NHL that’s 5 games.

We are playing better all the time. Right now, we’re playing like the middle of next month. very good third period. So far.

Hope Ford can go tomorrow. He’s already gotten to be top pick for face offs, and we really missed him. for one night at least, I will enjoy UND in first place and UMD and Denver in last.

Exceptional game by Driscoll so far. If not for some acrobatic saves, we are down 1 or 2.

Great question. If memory serves, once upon a time 25% of NHL games were ending tied. (and that percentage was increasing as overall scoring fell from the elevated levels of the 1980's and 1990's). Fans disliked ties, and so the NHL changed its overtime procedures to what's landed on 3x3 followed by shootout. At about the same time, the IIHF adopted their current standard of 3x3 OT. Within college hockey, the NCHC is perhaps the most tuned into giving players the best shot at success in the next level, so its not surprising that NCHC was an early adopter of 3x3 followed by shootout in the college ranks. That met with resistance from elsewhere, notably eastern schools (I recall a while back where a Committee, chaired by someone from out East) wanted to prohibit 3x3 and prohibit shootouts, which didn't get adopted after NCHC (and Big Ten I think) objected to that proposal. Lingering discomfort among coaches about missing NCAA's because of 3x3 losses has led to the (feeble) 55-45 value assigned to an overtime win. Long story short ... I'm not a fan either of "playing a different game". However, it seems to be the current fad in ice hockey, globally.

I think assessing the head coach has to consider that all the upperclassmen joined a team in the Big Sky or an independent. That's tough to join, and had to hurt recruiting. (and with only 11 seniors and 8 fifth-years on the roster, it would seem so) The underclassmen were recruited into an unproven program, but one that had announced they would join MVFC. Plus MVFC road trips are much closer for friends and family than our prior conference. All this has to have helped recruiting, and it seems like it has - given we have a lot of underclassmen playing key roles. Next fall is the first recruiting class where we could pitch UND football as MVFC champs last spring. That has to help our credibility and recruiting, for fall 2022 and beyond. Point being, I think our coaching staff has had an uphill battle for a while now. If the underclass develop (or don't) that's a big indicator of need to change, as would be ongoing failings to get talent in (with the wind now at their back). In game management, the last month, has been enormously frustrating. But switching out a head coach (and much of the staff) sets the timeline back for being competitive too. Recruits decommit, the transfer portal opens and some of our best talent heads out. I'm not convinced that's a better path.

UND is not that far away from gelling into a really good team. But for now it’s frustrating to watch. I expect the flashes of great play to come more often and for longer stretches in the coming weeks. Reminds me a lot of 1980-1981, Which had 13 new players and some hard-to-watch losses.

And … it’s only October but he’s got 3 already this season. Including both finalists in last years NCAA title game.

Now final in Mankato 4-2. Mavs roll.

Mankato 3-2 Northern Michigan. Mid 3rd. Scott Sandelin sighting. Rare chance to see Ryan play.

Ronnie Attard gets the hat trick and a GWG at 18:47. Final SOG 53-25. Somewhere along the line, Western woke up.

Wisconsin gets an ENG 4-2 at Michigan. not yet final

Tomorrow's game is also on NCHC.TV Keep hoping NHL network picks it up ...

Niagara 4-1 over Sacred Heart is good for UND SOS.

Good news for Wisconsin is they have 19 recruits coming in next season (well, according to the Rosters page at CHN). https://www.collegehockeynews.com/reports/roster/Wisconsin/58

Good time to revisit this post. going to OT in Kalamazoo.

Textbook example of a "good penalty".

Ever since they stole our Kermit the Frog mascot! But especially for that 1998 NCAA regional final win at Yost over one of the best Sioux teams ever.

Of the 50 teams that have played games so far, only one is unbeaten and untied. Here's hoping WMU can extend it one more game.

The St Cloud guy was between the puck and the Wisconsin player. Instead of playing the puck and taking the hit, the St Cloud guy stopped and took a step into the Wisconsin player. Its always been interference "by the book", but its rarely if ever called.

Penn State 6-2 over Niagara. again, a copy of the UND vs Niagara score …

Upset tonight, if a mild one: RIT 3 Notre Dame 2, OT count me happy anytime Atlantic beats Big Ten hockey. and in comparative scores, Penn State 4-0 over Niagara. Coincidentally the same score of UND Saturday game over Niagara. Hmmm…

No kidding. 13 Seniors and 4 Juniors. The defense must be good; they've got a Chorney - Marcus.