burd

True, but you have the question of whether to pronounce it "jonson" or "yonson." Those who say "jonson" are newcomers.

As an out-of-stater who does not get to the Ralph to see many games in person (but who watches them every weekend online), I'm not in a very good positon to say too much about Joe's performance last year. But I remember thinking many times how good he was at gaining control of the puck along the boards and making that first pass. He may not have Chorney's mobility, but he is so big that he appears to move slower than he does, I think. A player like Gerbe can make the best defenseman look lost. Joe had a very good year last year, and he will be even better this year. The Sioux are very lucky to have him back.

I think you're right that Kozek will not get many assists. But VV can be a very good setup man, I think. There are certainly plenty of options on this team, particularly if Gregoire and Toews prove to be as good as we hope.

Duncan - VV - Kozek Gregoire - Trupp - Frattin Watkins - Toews - Miller Malone - Zajac - Martens If Gregoire meets expectations early, I can see him playing up on 1. There will not be much of a fall-off this year from line 1 to line 2. I still miss Spirko.

Will, Ava, Kara, and you will be in our thoughts, Bob.

I might be completely off, but I think this could be a bunch of gangbusters this year. No Oshie or Toews, but a bunch of guys who can cause trouble. If they take a collective attitude of a guy like Trupp, we might really have something. Hak's challenge will be to stress those defensive responsibilities he values so much and, at the same time, develope the offensive explosiveness they are capable of.

Can't argue with what you say, Goon. It's unfair to those two kids.

There's a difference between charges being dropped and charges being dismissed (not in legal terms but in the way the terms are commonly used). Dismissals usually come as a result of settlement, while charges are usually dropped strictly at the discretion of the DA. Still, Oshie's charge was for Disorderly, I believe, and there is not much, if anything, beneath that which would provide the basis for a compromise. The article uses the word "compromise," but gives no details. In any case, it appears the DA did not have much appetite for his case. The Herald should have given it more attention, but they are not much different from other papers that publish what sells. Questioning the DA's decision to bring the charge if it was too weak to effectively prosecute in the first place might make a story, but they apparently have no appetite to go there.

My D's sessions were coached primarily by Sioux players. She liked all of them but said some were much better coaches and teachers than others. Not giving names.

Rube, My D has only been playing for two years and is nowhere near the top of the food chain skill-wise, but she had a good time at the Sioux camp last week. I am interested to hear how your D compares the two, especially since she went back-to-back.

I know the Sioux have lost some big-time scorers from previous years, but I really like the forwards we have coming this year. If Gregoire and Toews master the learing curve by the second half, it could be an exciting team to watch. It will be nice to have Trupp back.

I agree. It's easier to like a boy with a few teeth missing.

Yeah, I'd like that. Some kids from this area go to the Shattuck camp, and it would be interesting to how they're different.

It will be interesting for you to hear what she says about the two camps. Definitely a busy two weeks for her.

If his coach cites his work ethic on and off the ice as reasons why he should get a shot, he must be the kind of person who is good for a program.

Absolute truth. I have one in college in Atlanta, and my middle D will go to NYC for college this fall. They leave a quiet space behind I'm not ready for. I'm glad I always chose to go to things they were involved in and tried to spend as much time at home with them as I could. Made less money, I'm sure, but the trade-off is worth it.

I had a great treat Sunday. Drove from the Madison area to take my 15-year-old daughter to hockey camp at Engelstad. My 18-year-old daughter came along to help with the driving, and we had some real good time on the way back. So I got to spend hours with my growing up kids and some great time at the rink too. Those old pics scattered around the Ralph are great, and I found myself enjoying them more than I did when I drove up for a game. Having seen games at both the old barn and the old Ralph as a student, it was like memory lane. Although we live in Wisconsin, my youngest has become quite a Sioux hockey fan. When she saw Hak with his little toddler in the concourse, she had her sister take a pic of the herself with the coach. Fortunately, I didn't have to witness her around Sioux players helping with the camp. Girls.

Off topic, Chuck, how is LaPointe spending the summer. Is he in GF?

Great news. I also thought Joe had a good year last year, particularly in his decision-making in the transition game. His first pass was usually the right pass, it seemed to me. I think it was smart for Joe to stay. While we're talking about other defensemen, I just have to show some love for Z Jones. He rarely gets much attention (absent a F'up), but he has been a rock. No Sioux defenseman hustled to the puck better than he did last year. Getting a little excited. I'm really anxious to see Gregoire and Toews and how much of a jump Marto and LaPointe make. Having an inexperienced goalie and needing to count on some younger players offensively is making the year a little more interesting than the last two, at least from a summer perspective.

I count myself among Ryan Duncan's biggest fans. UND is very lucky to have someone with his character and skill play there at all, much less stay for 4 years. That said, I think he will have a tough time establishing a good NHL career. Someone his size has to have enough speed and quickness to make him a standout at the NHL level. As good as he is, I don't think he has that. He has enough to be a star at the D1 college level, but he will be too vulnerable to the body in the big time. I hope I'm wrong, and given my past history, I probably am. Main thing, for now, is that the Sioux don't have to move his things out of his office over there by the dot.

I hope we left just a little bit in there. Just in case.

I think UM has a fantastic hockey tradition, and I think Lucia deserves much more credit than he is getting here. More than that, though, I absolutely love seeing the gophs end their season with things like HC and Porter's OT coup de grace. They can't lose often enough, and if Lucia is ineffective in a way that causes them to lose more, he has my love.

He won two. A lot of people would be justified in saying that "anyone could have won a national title" with some of the teams Hak has had. I like Hakstol--that isn't a slam on him. But when you win two NCs back-to-back you've done something special. That said, his teams have certainly underperformed the last several years, even though they have been pretty young.

Duncan's importance on the power play cannot be overstated. If they play to prevent him from scoring from his "office" (which most will), it opens up other spaces on the ice. Even if he doesn't score, he is a force on the PP.

Thanks, TJ, for giving us everything you had and for doing it with that smile of yours. We're all behind you still.