burd

You know the Sioux are not getting it done when they continually try to rely on the long pass--and not in just the last 5 minutes. It also seemes like they haven't discovered yet how to make that last setup pass off the cycle. It's early, but this one hurt.

Couple of observations: Hextall does not need to be a Prpich or Kaip--I think he is already playing at a level that will contribute more to winning than either of them often did, particularly early in their career. Sure, he is supposed to have a natural edge, but he has proven to have scoring instincts too, and I'd rather someone else take the bonehead penalties. We are getting pushed around in the Dzone along the boards and behind our own net, not winning many battles for the puck. I like LaPointe a lot, but he needs to step it up with the body. His offensive skills are not good enough to make up for being soft in the Dzone. Z Jones may not be blessed with elite talent, but I sure wish everybody on this team played with his sense of urgency. Toews will be good, but he is not close to being where Gregoire is now. Miller has really contributed on the blueline in Finley's absence, but he sure gets a lot of shots blocked. I also appreciate Bina's ability to get a shot through to the net now that he is gone. Too many attempts to dipsy-doodle around the dman last night. That hardly ever works in this league (Oshies and Toews notwithstanding), and there were a few times when it resulted in rushes in the opposite direction. Hak is good. This team will get there, I think. Minny, though, will definitely be a force this year. Eidsness may not have JPL's glove, but his positioning is sure good. He's one of those goalies Bill Howard would have liked at UW. I usually don't know what I'm talking about.

Although there will probably not be as many jaw-dropping moves from this team as we've seen in the recent past, I really like what it has to offer, top to bottom. And let's not overlook the fact that the one obstacle standing in the way of a NC banner in the new Ralph has been removed--a dead badger has finally hit the ice. The rumor out here in Wisconsin is that the hated Mike Prpich was the thrower.

Yeah, I know, but I'll always miss Sparky.

The Sioux have been so top-heavy on offense in recent years, that I have high hopes for a more balanced offense this year. There are a lot of guys on this team who can bring some real Ozone pressure. Eidsness has been pretty good, though one goal this weekend showed he doesn't have quite the glove speed JPL had. Miller does a great job at the blue line on the PP--never thought I'd hear myself saying that. I still miss Sparky.

Polls other than pairwise mean nothing so far as ultimate result, but I think high rankings and a lot of favorable press help with recruiting. Kids are aware of that kind of thing.

Where can a person view Adams' call on Hextall?

Maybe I'm alone on this, but Miller contributed in a major way this weekend. VV was very strong. He's not JToews, but he is doing some of the same things. If I were a Tigers fan, I would be writing the video dept of whoever televises their games. I swear we did not get to see half of the face-offs, and they weren't breaking to commercials. Makes me appreciate the Ralph production that much more. Team with a very good effort tonight, all in all. The offensive balance is really showing, and Hextall seems to be very confortable with WCHA play already. When Toews starts to gain confidence, we will really have a lot of weapons out there.

Miller has played very well this year and last night contributed in a way few would have expected. I love Chay G, but in fairness to any player (including Miller) who is criticized for screwups, G. has committed his share of costly ones.

Live? That could be messy. That has to give you bragging rights, though. But Mike, I saw games at the barn, too. You could get just about anything into that place--at least anything related to alcohol. Those old air force parka sleeves had a lot of room for booze.

Roadkill that spends a summer in the freezer, though I confess I have never seen badger roadkill. I'd like to know how someone got one on the ice last night. In the old Ralph, with the student section down below and the students standing so much of the time, it was not hard to cover for the thrower. But now . . .?

A buddy of mine smuggled a badger into the old Ralph (and pitched it without getting caught). He froze it in a spread-eagle position that allowed him to tape it to his back under his coat. He told me that was the preferred method. Got him caught once, though.

Well, we've seen the Sioux begin recent seasons by winning two at Maine and a lopsided win against Mich State only to follow up with poor first halves. Maybe this signifies a change. Not taking bets, though.

Ironic, I guess, but despite not having the usual list of players the prognosticators think will be first team all WCHA, I think the Sioux will put more overall talent on the ice this year than they have in some time. Maybe I'm guilty of wishful thinking, but I see some real potential this year. No Jon Toews or Zach Parise, but a whole bunch of high-end second liners. It will be real interesting to see how Hak molds his team this year.

Maybe he's been taking those male enhancement pills . . .

Hey. We know, and we pretend to know. This time of year, we mostly pretend, but we still know. That much you should know.

Bill Howard is proof positive that having a great goalie coach can make a difference year in and year out. He's a GF native, isn't he? How did he end up at Wisconsin for all these years?

I too am very excited about this year's team. The offense has great potential, IMO, and the defense should be just as good as last year's. Marto and LaPointe both have good offensive skills to go along with Genoway, and the best pure D-man of recent years is still there (Jones). Goaltending is a question, but when is it not? Goalies are strange creatures, and having one good year does not mean another good year (or, more importantly, playoff) will follow. It is a different matter to have a goalie coach who can somehow deliver virtually every year, like Bill Howard has. But that's one of the really good things about hockey at this level. You really can't fugure the sum by just adding the parts. Leadership, off-ice issues, injuries, players accepting their roles--so many things figure into what the team looks like after the Holidays. Some past Sioux teams ('98, '99) and the recent gophs are good examples of how great talent might not get you past the first round in March. I guess what attracts me about this team is that there are so many highly talented (maybe not elite) players that they could be dangerous for 3 shifts out of 4. The locker room attitude might be overrated in pro sports, but not so much in college. If some leadership emerges on this team and all these talented guys can buy into Hak's fundamentals-and-team-defense-first approach, they could be a real treat to watch, IMO. And I'm another one who can't wait to see Trupp back on the ice.

I can't remember ever feeling so shoulder-shruggy about who is on the first, second, or third lines, the team has so many options at forward. I have been excited about offense the Sioux will be putting on the ice this year, but am I just failing to realize that this might be a steady but average offense? I really don't think so, but do any of you smarter types see that happening?

I can already hear Happy whining about overage Cubans.

Visited DC and a bunch of other east-coast cities in early April last year on a tour of college campuses, and DC was the most beautiful, with the Cherry Blossom festival in full swing. It's a whole lot more fun to see that city when it's not as hot and humid as it gets in mid summer.

Bob Iwabuchi

Yeah, I suppose, but it's a little like Tevye insisting to one of his daughters why she should marry a Jew: TRADITION!

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.