burd

I just don't know if I've seen a Sioux team with this much talent at every position. And on top of that, elite scorers who were just as good in the neutral zone when they didn't have the puck. It was interesting to hear Berry say at the postgame that they stressed that this year, and it showed. When you have first round picks at forward backchecking and stealing pucks for odd man rushes the other way, you have something special, and not just in goals scored. It makes every player on the team want to take their defensive roles seriously and play an unselfish game. Bochinski was fun to watch and one of the best pure scorers UND has had, but he didn't match the total team contribution Boeser made this year, IMO.

We need pics, Oxbow.

Be sure he has barfbags.

Maybe "chip" could better be described as collective pride. The NCHC is a tough place to play, and I have a feeling that conference schedule will be helping a lot of NCHC teams prepare for the NCAAs in the years ahead. And we can have our little hate relationships to keep things entertaining in the meantime.

Very cool that the boys win a Banner in Brad's first year on the same day the resurgent Flyers clinch a playoff spot in Hak's first year. Both could be COY.

Thanks, Biddco. I like that the NCHC teams have a bit of a chip on their collective shoulders. We are definitely something for B1G and others to reckon with.

It was just a dream, Cratter. They play tonight.

This.

This.

I was proud to see how the players and the coach were quick to deflect praise and give credit to others, including previous players and coaches. And you could tell it was not just a recited sports cliche' to them. That bunch truly understands what it means to be humble in victory, which is a separate kind of victory, in my mind. And in the final analysis, it may be the more important one.

All that tells us is that your hygiene doesn't change for hockey.

I thought it was interesting Berry mentioned that he stressed backchecking in the neutral zone and that his most talented players bought into it, which helped create the culture. We often talked here how well Schmaltz, Boeser, Caggiula and others backchecked all season long.

I wonder how many guys like Parise, Oshie, Porter, Toews, Stafford, etc are watching this.

I kind of like the pushback the ledgies (not calling you a ledgie, Noise) are giving here. It's true we are all UND fans, and there's nothing wrong with standing up to criticism, even if it is mild.

I've been a Sioux hockey fan (a hockey fan in general) for a long, long time, and perhaps because of my age I don't get too bent out of shape by these games. But I had a short, strange dream that woke me up this morning. It wasn't about hockey or UND or about anything, really--just a thing. An eightball. A black eightball.

I want to see Boeser drill one of his wristers tomorrow.

Fools, all of you. Gornall doesn't exist.

I think it's very fitting that our boys will play Q for this title. Q is a most worthy adversary, and it's kind of nice to see a smaller program prove to so many doubters that they belong in the final game. Most Nodaks appreciate that storyline, I think, and they have earned it. Too bad they have to play us, cause that's where the carriage turns into a pumpkin for them.

I agree on all this. One part of the great back checking is how the elite scorers (CBS line) are leading the way on that. Great ethic that creates a culture of responsibility. And they still deliver on the scorecard, often with steals and turnaround rushes. That has been a treat to watch this season, and nobody has done it better than Schmaltz. His development from last year has been huge, IMO, which will probably mean we will not be watching him in green and white next year. Our D men might not be bonecrushers, but they are so mobile and have such good stick skills that they don't need to be knocking people around as much.

Where can a guy see highlights from last night.

I love my fellow Sioux fans, but it was flat out embarrassing how so many gave up and basically turned on the team when things got dicey. Where's that North Dakota resilience?

I hope they all go back and read their posts and how they gave up on this team when things weren't going well.

I understand frustration, but it shocks me how quickly fans turn on the team.

I hope they do. These fans have sure deserted them.