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God, for those of us who have been gone for a long time, places like Whitey's, Frenchy's, Red Pepper, and the Westward Ho sure bring back great hockey memories. Alcohol impaired hockey memories.

I'm sure UND regretted the UW/UM move, but describing it as jealousy of UM's move is delusional. It was UW and others who brought about that move and, judging by the recent past, the quality of hockey will be better in the NCHC. The BTHC will most likely be the third best hockey conference, though they will, no doubt, have the largest media pie to cut.

Alaska is Alaska, and CC is sloppy defensively, but I really like this team. There is a Blaisness about them (especially the freshmen) with their ability to disrupt with speed and quickness. I didn't watch the game last night, but Hennessey made it sound like they are back-checking and covering better in front of the net. When did the Sioux last have a defenseman who is as good as Blood has been in all areas of the game? Keep the maturation process going and get Rocco healthy and these guys could be dangerous in late Feb. They don't have the depth to be as predictably tough as last year's team, but they will be fun to watch.

I imagine ZPar did like the Gophers, just as you like that nice but plain-looking girl with a locker next to yours. But he chose to go to the prom with Sue.

$99 for an even more biased report with Gopher insults and rumors included

Kristo is on a mission, and these freshmen are great. If they can win enough to be in the hunt when Rocco comes back they could be dangerous. Still too loose on D to win a tournament, but coming. These guys play like a Blais team at times.

It's time to make this change and move on.

Frattin 3rd star against Caps

Tough luck the team has been having. But I don't think I'm just trying to be the eternal optimist when I think this will strengthen the team in the long run. With Grimaldi out, other players know they will have to up their game even more. If they develop a mindset that they have to outhustle to win, then, with the load of talent the Sioux have in the freshman class and others, including St. Claire, coming in next year, the future could look very good. This year isn't over yet either. If they can stay in the hunt and get Grimaldi well, they could be dangerous come Feb. Not much margin for error now, though.

Yes. Good you bring up O'Donnell. Part of what they seem to be missing is that guy with the long reach who can maintain control and get pucks on the net. Usaully those are bigger guys like Malone and Lee Goren, but Oshie was a big-reach guy, despite not being tall. But you know, we fans have been talking a lot in recent years about having more speed and quickness like BC. Well, this team has a little more of that--at least in the younger guys. It also looks a little like a Blais team in the making. Making the tournament this year is no lock, but things look good for the future IMO. As well as Blood is playing this year, it would be nice to get him some reward this year.

Not sure I agree. This freshman class had as much high end talent (not Toews or Paris level, but high) as most classes the Sioux have brought in. Grimaldi, Parks, MacM, and Mattson all look very good--and that doesn't count St. Claire. I wish they had a Malone replacement--big guy with skills in the slot area, but I like this team. They have to be careful not let the hole get any deeper, but with the speed and quickness they have in the young guys, they have a big upside.

What Kristo has shown, and what is so good to see, is intensity and the desire to win.

Odd that Rocco is in and out like this with a lower body. Anyone know exactly what he's dealing with?

NATO v. Sioux? Da Sioux.

It has been a pleasant surprise how good our young forwards have been at retaining possession on the boards in the o zone. Toews, Malone, and Parise were extremely good at this, and this current group certainly isn't at that level, but they've been pretty good. If they can develop chemistry that will lead to goals off those possessions and get Rocco in the mix, there's a pretty good upside ahead. Getting the forwards to contribute more on defense is another matter.

In fairness, it's a slightly different situation. Nearly all kids go the junior route because their primary dream is to play pro hockey some day. That's true of an increasing number of kids who go the NCAA route also, but many still go to college primarily to get a degree and enjoy the life. A fairer question would be to ask how many ex-junior players would say they're glad they went that route rather than college hockey.

Just back from the game. Disappointing to lose a game when you outshoot the bad guys so badly, but a lot of those shots were long range or perimeter. A bunch of loose rebounds we couldn't put in. Most of their goals were right in front of me, and the several of them were like shooting fish in a barrel--not Dell's fault, though he'll have to be able to steal a few with the glove, which neither he nor Eidsness did this weekend. People keep criticizing the defense, but the forwards aren't playing defense like they should yet. Actually, I like the potential in this team. They hustled tonight and controlled the puck in the ozone very well. They also transitioned pretty well. They aren't afraid of the boards. Kristo is really intense this year, and it shows. After the horn he slammed his stick on the ice in disgust, and you have to like that kind of desire. Mattson, Parks and MacM have a lot of promise. The first goal was a great effort by Gleason. Get a few forwards healthy, gain some experience, and they have a pretty good upside. They need to learn to cover bodies in the slot--that much is obvious. Forbort was better tonight, but gave one up. Knight took a stupid penalty with time expired at the end of the second that cost them 2 min of powerplay to start the third. They need someone to take Trupp's place on the forecheck, although Kristo was working it pretty hard. Sioux fan kicked arse in the intermission shootout.

With the inexperience on both sides of the ice, this is going to be an uncharacteristic but very interesting Sioux/Badger matchup.

I agree. There is a difference between good hard-hitting hockey and playing instigator or just being too undisciplined to resist a slash or high stick.

A couple of comments after 4 games. Parks, MacMillen, and Mattson have really shown they can play. With Grimaldi (and St Claire), this class could prove to be a real bumper crop. I know Hextall and Prpich were fan favorites, but it's nice to see there isn't anyone on this roster (yet) who can be counted on to make repeated and unnecessary trips to the box. With the shortage of experience at forward, this team can't afford to be on the PK all the time, making it even harder to roll enough good lines to have some rhythm and stay fresh. Impressed with Blood that way. Maybe seeing Diamond's idiocy was a good illustration of how you can hurt your team sitting in the box.

Nope. I think you're right. It's too dam bad, but UND needs to move on. Besides, we can beat the gophers with any nickname.

Hak is an extremely good coach. He develops players well, inspires their loyalty, and gets them to buy into his system His teams don't collapse like UMinn does, despite its talent. But it is pretty evident that he is not the game coach that Jerry York is. Not many are. He's been around a while and learned a few things.

I remember thinking we would surely win a NC in 98 and 99 with the talent we had.

You can't overlook how important forwards are to good defense. It's no coincidence that our defense is suffering with all the new forwards on the ice.

Frattin playing well-getting time on the pp.