burd

Sic Swami

Gold

Right after winning the 2016 natty in the first year of the new staff, we all thought the glory days had returned. Then the next 9 years happened. Last year was amazing, but watching chippahs go to other programs while we pick up so-so portal people, the all too familiar gloom is returning. Thinking of going up to ledge to see about reserving a spot before the rush comes after the first loss or PP goal against. There might even be a nice corner spot available, since most of the Ledgie regulars are at the lake catching bullheads and poison ivy. If we’re doomed, might as well make the most of it.

We are. And good looking, compassionate, funny . . .

What is “public consensus,” exactly? Not saying that, whatever the answer is, it isn’t as credible as anything else.

It’s one thing to say he would benefit from another year of college hockey—quite another to say he “not even close” and that his skating needs “massive improvement.” Prospects falling that far short are not predicted by pro scouts to go in the first round, much less in the top 6-10.

The quintessential Sioux hockey player—even grew up in rinks in southern Manitoba.

The off season can be fun, but all these unanswered recruit questions have created a level of tension. I think we’d all benefit from the words of Walter in The Big Lebowski: “F ck it, Dude, let’s go bowling.”

Brandon Bobcats. McGill surely has a team.

Not a difficult trick. It was sitting there all alone . . .

Yeah, it’s easy to forget we have some high end talent who we want to return and who can be expected to negotiate more NIL. Getting new chippahs is not the only challenge in getting elite talent to campus this fall. Jax and Co have proven they understand how to put a roster together.

Don’t beat yourself up; just don’t watch. Given your assessment, why would you? You seem old enough to control your fate—do it. Unless you just like playing victim.

One would think there are NIL negotiations taking place with some of these guys, possibly explaining some of the portal acquisitions as NIL savers? Carels won’t be free. Verhoff and Reschney ask for increases?

Osborne-Switzer era fan?

Yeah. A kid from Kindersley, Sask would get a charge out of gameday FB on the campuses you mention. Wisconsin or MSU too, for that matter.

The adjacent capital/downtown located on an isthmus between two large lakes adds as well. All major campuses have their attractive assets, but UW Mad is a nice place to be a 20-something student.

Well, I hear it has an Olive Garden now. And it probably has a Lowe’s with a garden section.

If NDSU was on St. Charles in the Garden District, it would be a cool campus too.

The Ithaca campus is pretty cool, but it’s hard to beat UW Madison.

Would Kollar/Goehring be considered a killer goalie tandem at UND? If so, the last?

A lot of people ignored or underestimated Wisconsin’s ability to play extremely well at times, even though inconsistently. I also think Jax got outcoached a bit by Hastings’ early forecheck strategy, which threw our rhythm completely off early on. Hopefully, the team will return to the FF next year and benefit from that playoff experience.

James leaves a unique hole, including leadership, forecheck, PK, speed, and scoring ability. D and leadership may be the most significant.

Might get into Madison next weekend to see Heil play when the Caps get back in town. That would be a first for me.

If goalies are the heart and soul, does that mean the whole damn team has to be quirky weird? Cause you know . . . .

The appreciation we all feel for what Chyzyk has done for this program was earned. He has enabled a comeback. But there will be a tendency for us to think recruitment is the end-all. Great recruitment is necessary, and you can’t win a banner without elite scorers, but player development and high-end game coaching are just as necessary. That’s where decisions about “bottom six” players becomes so important. It’s really the “heart and soul” part of the equation. And if you doubt that, just ask burd; he’s just as clueless as the next guy.