dagies

I found that comment interesting as well. I guess you have to know what Blais goals were last year and exactly how he meant that comment, as PCM says. I do think after getting beat up the previous year Blais wanted the team to have some success last year to build confidence. He still had a young team. So handling the non-conf teams may have filled that bill very well. As he said in another interview, the team lacked offensive depth last year, and when WCHA teams focused on shutting down the big line we didn't have much to rely on. Many Sioux fans commented on a lack of offense as being a very large contributor to the late season lack of success, rather than goaltending or defense (Hale)... Parise said he was worn down late last year and worked to be better conditioned this year. Put all that together and Blais might feel that the team did about what they could do last year. I don't remember Blais talking up his team as the #1 team in the nation after the first half of last year. So my guess is his outlook was pretty realistic. Regardless, I think that with good teams you want to play a more challenging non-conf schedule in order to prepare the team for the league play. If you play all patsies in non-conf games, you may not know what to expect when you run into the tough league opponents. I would guess Blais would agree with that.

This is the link on the front page of this site. http://www.uscho.com/m/?team=UND&data=seas...season=20032004 A couple things I like were Blais comments about the depth of this team, and acknowledging the lack of a threat on the 4th line, and Smaby's ability to make an outlet pass. Especially the Smaby thing. Seems like a small thing but this has a chance to really help jumpstart the offensive flow which has struggled so much the last couple of years.

After reading the rosters for both teams it is easier to understand how one dominated the other by a 4-0 score. Wow. I would expect to see Massen on one of the top lines, but if you read much into these lines it almost looks like the Green team was the top forwards lines and D pairings and the White team was the lower of both. Anyone else read it that way? Would be fun to see Saturday's game with the retro jerseys. Cool.

Let's stay in the 5-10 range for the year and fly below the radar. Personally at 5th or higher I think we're getting a few too many "reputation" votes until we prove more on the ice.

I'd like to see a team like Ohio State that we never see any other time. Oh, and yes, I'd like to kick Ferris' a** around the rink.

I agree with a lot of what you say, specifically goaltending and defense being relatively even. Ballard is, IMO, a "devastating" offensive defenseman ala Roche, etc. Schneider more quietly gets his points. Overall both teams are very good defensively. I think MN has more offensive depth through lines 1-4. I think at times in the past our 4th line was basically just spelling the other lines. That wasn't the case in the years when the Sioux had dominant teams and not the case with MN the last couple of years. Hopefully the Sioux will have that depth this year that shows we can score anytime at least on lines 1-3 and our last line can be one counted on to play a good checking game. MN can score 1-4 lines, and their 4th line is also a very good checking line. That is the ultimate if it can be achieved.

I disagree in part. UM has more highly skilled senior players, and most of the team has won 2 national championships. This team knows how to play in the post season and has excellent leadership. I believe we have excellent leadership too, but most of these guys haven't experienced more than one sub-par NCAA tournament effort, and we don't possess the same number of senior skill players. UM is still heavier weighted to win, IMO. But I don't count the Sioux out.

"top forward in practice so far" That's not too shabby!

Thanks PCM!

I have to concur with jk. I don't get too excited about this stuff because we don't get to see those guys play. You can't evaluate a defenseman's contribution to a team by stats alone. We know that well here.

Facts are facts. There's no need to apologize for your hand. You just have to play it.

So UMDDogz comes on here and woofs a little bit. Big deal. As long as he comes back after we beat Duluth, fine by me.

One concern about "resurrecting" the Farce is the inability to ever spontaneously resurrect history. Case in point Woodstock 25 or whatever it was. From my observations over TV it appeared very much to me like they tried to recreate the ambience of the original and failed miserably. Some things were so great the spirit can never be rebuilt. However, doesn't mean someone couldn't take the "model" and make a new effort work just fine.

That is SO cool.

As always those efforts are greatly appreciated by the rest of us.

I see on USCHO they have a post advertising for game reporters. The more important question is, will there be generous souls who will again this year post recaps of the coache's shows for the rest of us hearing impaired?

For sure about Sauer...

The funny thing was my mother, who is EXTREMELY conservative, thought it was kind of cute. Of course, she was reading it in the most wholesome way....

walshhall Where All Ladies Seek Happiness (wish I still had that shirt)

You're hot already.

Anybody know the results of the Ironman competition? Just interested in what is going on. Can't wait for games to start........

DeMarchi sounds scared.

I corrected my post. Geez, I can't even count. I find it interesting that most guys are listed as "forward" but McMahon is listed as "center". I think Marvin will be mainly playing D with those numbers.

6 Defense 15 Forwards 1 Listed as Forward/Defense (Marvin) 3 goalies Not as large a roster as some we've seen in past years.

The thing that is so telling about pro sports these days is the comment ScottM makes about franchises in Canada. The exodus of Canadian franchises to the states, considering the rabid hockey population in Canada is a downer, IMO. I think the NHL needs to figure out a way to keep the Canadian teams viable, and add more in Canada than in Mexico.