burd

Yeah, Schmaltz' D game really improved last year. And I'm sure he knew that had to happen to have a chance of playing in Chi.

It's not easy to determine now just how important defense was to our forwards' scoring success was last year, but you know it was a factor. I also don't think Jost can be expected to match the defensive skills Schmaltz showed last year. Still, as others have said, there's no reason to think that #9 is out of our reach. Stay away from injuries and keep getting better as the year moves along, and we should be in the discussion.

My problem is an infantile twin brother of mine sometimes logs in using my name and saying just plain stupid shyt. I hope people don't think I would say such things.

I would feel disloyal if I didn't put in here to watch for Gornall.

It's OK, MM. I'm just too stubborn to use emoticons like I should. There' hope, though.

I have little problem with gopher players. They're just kids trying to live a dream, like all college hockey players. But the program has to do something about the fans it recruits. Their work ethic is obviously very poor, judging by all the empty seats at their games, and the talent has been at the D2 level or lower or a long long time. Not saying they are stupid people, but they're clearly not getting any coaching or mentoring. Even their wannabe fans like Dave are more like BB fans giving it a whirl with a sport they really don't know anything about. I'm sure if my cousin or best friend's mother was a gopher fan I would see something good in her, but thankfully I haven't been put in that position yet. So I'm kind of hoping the gophers have some real success in the years ahead so they start to attract some fans who understand the game and can contribute to forums like this one. And speaking of challenged fans, don't ask what the quote box from sfs is doing in my post. Just don't.

Kidding, right? Wisconsin hires DiNozzo and you have them down at 8?

I'd guess his main motivation was that he thought UND would do a better and quicker job of getting him into the NHL. He wants to win at every level, so of course he wanted to win a NC, but he has been very candid in saying his main goal is to get to the NHL and to be well prepared when he gets there.

Evil is as evil does.

Gopher trolls will get a double benefit if UND fans stay away. First, it will be a decidedly Gopher crowd, unusual for UND games in any venue. Second, gopher fans will crow that Nodaks are too poor to hang with the UMTC crowd.

When were we front runners without any competition?

During the years my daughter attended college in NYC she used both LGA and EWR but ended up using LGA the most, I think because of the public transportation. She lived in upper side.

I hope I don't get crucified for getting a little academic here. Milton was heavily criticized for what many people thought was a overly flattering portrayal of Satan in Paradise Lost. They thought his depiction of Satan as a powerful and dangerous being was disloyal, and they questioned his christian faith as a result. Milton, however, felt that recognizing the immense power of Satan only underscored and glorified the power of God, who defeated him. I don't have any problem recognizing the quality of the gopher program because it helps to show just how good UND is and has been over the years. And the good vs. evil thing works for me too.

They smell in a way no one else does. I don't know what else really matters.

I disagree. An off season or two does not define a program like Minnesota. In just about any given 10-year span, past, present, or future, it will rank up there. And I"m glad they are good. My gopher hate goes back to Bill Butters a LONG time ago, and it's sweeter when they are good.

And Gornall. Don't forget Gornall. Pulling for this dark horse.

I think they did a good job with the name they had to work with, which is OK. It's a sports logo. Legacies and traditions are created through conduct and culture, neither of which will change.

I'd feel a whole lot more content if I had seen any evidence that they played a full 60 minutes in a single game last year.

MM's way of keeping gopher fans out of this raffle.

A Sioux condom?

DU is a class program. Kip Vanvoorhis was a Grand Forks guy, UND alum and a true Sioux fan, but I'm sure he is very proud his son chose that program.

Good, balanced insight.

This is true, and I wouldn't blame them for saying that. But the difference is that UND fans do not constantly use the citizenship of its players as an excuse. And that excuse is so inappropriate. This are UNIVERSITIES we are talking about, not neighborhood church leagues. The whole concept of the University would seem to support as broad and diverse a participation as possible. It's admirable that UMinn can compete so well with in-state kids, and the state supplies D1 talent all across the country. But using it as an excuse for not winning more (or as much as other programs) is just provincial excuse mongering.

Especially knowing they haven't won a banner in 37 years without a Nodak on the roster.