burd

I initially was very surprised at Hextall's offensive upside, but I frankly don't think his early departure will cause the Sioux to drop a spot in the standings. Experience is very important, and he has that. But he also tends to make decisions you would expect from a very inexperienced/immature player. Losing Gregoire would be different story.

What happened to CC last night illustrates just how important it is that the Sioux stay out of the box. UMich only scored one PPG, but CC's rhythm was completely messed up, partly from all the specialty team involvement. With the way Renss came out with the physical play yesterday , I was afraid the Sioux would start taking stupid penalties. They did not, and that took discipline--and some smarts. Maybe even Hextall has figured this out. If they establish some flow today and roll all their lines, they will win, IMO. Good luck, boys. Put the d-dancer out on the golf course where he belongs. I'll bet he talks when others putt. And fudges his lie. And adds his score wrong. Grrrr. They're worse than gophers. Go get 'em.

If a fight breaks out, at least Hak won't have to worry about getting hit. They'll all have to take a wiz.

One thing that gives me just a little worry going into the tournament is what effect having both Genoway and Kristo back in the lineup at about the same time will have on the team rhythm that has been so good lately. They are both dynamic, creative players who add a dimension to the team. Partly because of that, their teammates sometimes get caught watching or not knowing quite how to respond to their play, I think. With Genoway, it's bringing the puck up--with Kristo it's the Kane-like play inside the blue line. The sioux have had weak opposition during their recent absence (compared to the rest of their schedule), but they have done well, and part of that has been everybody playing their roles well and minimizing mistakes. They have such solid defense and so many good forwards that sooner or later this team will score if they stay out of the box, and play otherwise solid hockey. The team is better with those guys, but in a one-and-done format where one or two mistakes can end the season, I hope the good position play continues.

I get to see Sun Praire recruit, Josie Johnson, play fairly often, since Sun Prairie is in my daughter's conference. Don't know whether she's signed or even been promised a spot. I'd be interested in whether anyone else has any thoughts on her play. It's difficult to tell how good the best players in that conference are.

Maybe somebody can help me out. I subscribe to Sioux insider, and the 4-month subscription ran out a week ago. I have not been able to renew or resubscribe. I try but get caught in a cycle--the site won't respond when I select a one-month subscription. I'm old and I'm stupid, but I'm not stoned.

The 86% chance that we come up short has me pi$$ed.

Maybe someone can help. My four-month subscription with Insider expired and I am trying to renew with absolutely no success. I keep getting into a loop where I log in, check the box for the period of subscription but cannot get it to respond. Anybody gone through this?

For Mike there's probably more worth remembering from 1970. Back then, he was thankful for more each morning than a good stool and finding his dentures.

Every now and then someone just has to go over there and yell "GARDEN HOSE" and watch the little buggers p!ss themselves.

It is almost as if the unanswered question about this team's identity next year is playing itself out this year.

They just have to figure out where the BJMs (BLack Jerseys of the Mind) are stored.

I usually watch for them to stop that little box thingie . . .

Someone on the staff must have seen character defects, and the fact that they went to the Dark Side proved that to be true. Grow up in GF and play hockey for the gophs? You can try to suppress that, but eventually you will find yourself on a couch paying some UND-educated psych to listen to your horror story. True, a couple of NCs will keep the demons at bay for a while, but sooner or later they will come for you. So, there you go.

And for us mentally challenged, it's "special."

If the Sioux do hang #8 this year, Hak better follow with #9 in '12. Gwoz and Lucia did it, and with all the talent that will still be on the team, he'd better or I say he should go. I mean, we have standards.

Agreed. And that is the difference between being a great system/program coach (which Hak definitely is) and being a great game coach. Hak is very good at that too, but he will probably have to be able to adapt to the eastern speed game enough to beat whoever is there at the FF (and BC will probably be among them) to prove the point. I like him at UND and am proud of his record.

A defenseman who plays simple, won't wow, and only defends "pretty well?" Sounds a little like a blind date with an interesting personality.

Good points. But I think York won titles in 01, 08, and 10. And there's our own Gino G, who won it all in his 2nd, 4th, and 9th years.

Thanks. I'm running a 10k to help fund research to show CC ways to eliminate floating tiger heads--wanna pledge?

In past years, I've watched the CC broadcast, but I'm not sure I can stand to watch the floating tigers between whistles. Two years ago, I went through the whole nine yards of cancer treatment--surgery, chemo, and radiation, but that was nothing compared to the floating tiger heads.

I voted no without hesitation. I wonder what it would do to recruiting to lose a head coach and the name in the same year.

OK. Here's a reach, but a fun one. Trupp is the spawn of Darcy Zajac and Rasty Spirko. As proof, he's got Sparky's size and offensive upside along with Zajac's grittiness and PK ability. Really. I read about it in the Nat Inquirer while I was in line at the grocery store . . .

IMO Trupp has been playing at an extremely high level. His forecheck will be greatly missed next year.

The gophers desperately need wins that will get them pairwise points. It would be extra satisfying to see the Sioux sweep them farther into that gutter.