burd

Most of us don't babble and walk in circles after two, gf.

It doesn't seem odd to me. If practices are open, I would think any coach would find it interesting to attend another team's practice, including our own coaches. I know if I were a coach and was in town, I would probably take in a couple of practices.

Even though a team has to beat all comers to win this tourney, there are sometimes matchups you'd rather avoid. But with this team, I'm really don't think it matters who they play. Not that they are bound to win any game, but they really do not have a vulnerable part of their game this year. Goaltending? Not more vulnerable than any other team team, IMO. And I like that they are winless against DU in their last 3. Odds.

With Berry doing so well this year, gfhockey moved down to Omaha to start a "Fire Blais" movement, so they better get someone ready quick. And gf finally has something to go on, with UNO's complete collapse when the games counted.

I don't know how many Sioux fans even care anymore, but I'm glad to see the strides that UW is making with their program. Wisconsin fans have their hopes and expectations back, and that should be good for our rivalry. I know we are in different conferences now, but we still play each other, and the B1G/NCHC rivalry should build.

Only constituents can vote on that.

New York and Kansas City are about as different as cities can be, and LA is also unlike nearly all other urban areas in this country. There is something for everyone in NYC, I think, if you have help from someone familiar with the City. There's even a medieval cloister in Manhattan. Just stay away from the pure tourist traps like Times Square.

I don't know much about the goalie delay of game topic, but I agree on the others. No. 3 makes complete sense.

It certainly doesn't have to be. You could refuse to recruit and sign blue chippers who nobody ever expects will stay for four years. Leave guys like Parise, Toews, Oshie and Schmaltz off the board. Perhaps a better question is why is it that signing 16 and 17 year-old kids is tolerated, and why is signing kids who everyone believes will stay for only two years tolerated? It's very admirable when the best players stay for four years, but it's pretty myopic to portray the schools and their fans as victims when they don't.

I may be showing my hockey ignorance here, but he showed hints of the early versions of Poganski and Pattyn. The kind of guy our coaches have a history of developing so well, though Poganski's level may be beyond his reach.

Gornall got lost in the shuffle a little. I liked what I saw from him when he did play, but I can't say I saw a lot. Any thoughts about where he fits in for next year?

Agreed. Their fan base was like a mob calling for Eaves' firing, but they were acknowledging signs of improvement even before the announcement. Granato and his staff should recruit with the best of them, and they always have that campus draw.

That's nothing. I had a dream that Kate Upton scored the GWG in OT of the National Title game, and she didn't even dress. Biggest, happiest dog pile of Sioux players you ever saw in your life. Coaches too. And the trainer. Hey, you never know.

I'd like to express my gratitude to this team, including the coaches, for giving such pleasure as fans this year. It is a special bunch, and whether they win No. 8 or not, they have delivered on the ice all year long and have shown the kind of character we fans hope to see from UND athletes. It's a long season. These guys deal with school, the uncertainties that come with being young and, in my case at least, stupid about many things in life. Regardless of their level of skill, they each have their own expectations that are either not met or must take a back seat at times. They have never embarrassed us or made us feel anything but pride about the team and the school. So hats off to you.

Why Ladue and not Stecher?

I did not think you were ragging on him. In fact, I said he would probably have to play a little tighter in Tampa, and I did not mean that as criticism either--just that the games were likely to be more defense oriented, though Parise knows if that will be true. I don't think Michigan's goals were soft.

I will happily volunteer to talk to them about the many benefits of staying around for 5 or 6 years.

I guess I should have said 20 goals instead of just 9 to make sure people understood I was referring to DBtM.

Odd response to what I intended, which was that the games will probably be different because of the defenses we will face. But you have to understand that so many of us think any Blais team would have hung at least 9 on both those teams.

In fairness, watching the replays of Michigan's second goal, the guy was close in with time to load. I don't know how many goalies would have snatched that one.

Ours was a tough region, but neither NU nor UM had defenses like we will see in Tampa. This team can do it, but I think Cam will have to be a little better. We are certainly capable of scoring 5 or 6 against anyone, but chances are we will have to be able to win with 3 at least once.

I realize it was a different era, but I recall WCHA commentators saying before the tournament in 1987 that they just couldn't see anyone beating the circus when everything was on the line.

Do you remember the last time we had this combination of talent on the blue line and both grit and top-end skill up front?

That's a heck of a staff. They should recruit well. I don't see Wisconsin's turnaround taking very long.

That's different, and you are probably right. I think hockey fans see a lack of preparation in general, with both play-by-play and color guys. Tim H is not perfect, but we and visiting teams' fans are spoiled by his knowledge and preparation.