burd

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.

I think we can better understand how fans from other WCHA teams felt about Panzer when he graduated. Gerbe was special, and his departure is college hockey's loss. For the sake of players who depend upon speed, skill and smarts, I hope he hits it big at the next level.

I believe it happened at the game immediately following Ralph's death. They had complimentary copies of "Fight on Sioux" on each seat.

I think they should take the glass and netting out at the ends and restore the old chicken wire. Bring back some of the edginess of the old barn and enhance communications with the opponent. Regulations? Use good chicken wire.

Her brother . . . I always get that mixed up. Would that be Tybalt?

I think this is great. This is a very dangerous Badger team in their own barn. But, you know, if we can't beat UW there, we don't deserve Mich or whoever else awaits.

I've never had trouble parking right next to the Herb. Across the tracks, there is a lot of parking for a reasonable fee. It's off Regent just before West Washington, and that may be the area you are referring to. If you come off University (or Johnson, the one-way going West), take Park street south, then left on Regent. It will be on the left about a half-block before West Washington. There are no street signs saying "parking," but there will be people near the entrances taking money. There are always a lot of people using the lot, so after you park you just follow the crowd around the chain link fence and walk the hundred or so feet to the Herb. You may have to walk around the building to get to your ticket gate or to will-call, but there is also a gate right there when you reach the building. Even with sold-out regular season games with the Sioux, I have never not been able to get parking there.

A lot of truth in what you say, and the sioux have always like to play aggressive. But it is not often you win against tourney level teams when you give up 4 situations where the skater goes in on the goalie alone. I love up and down hockey and miss some of the Blais style games. Hak's certainly hasn't molded team like Wisconsin, thank God, but he is pretty focused on keeping shots to the perimeter. The Sioux were something like 19-1-3 this year when the opponent scored 1 goal or less. They were 7-9-1 when allowing the opponent to 2 or more goals. It's true they had some high-scoring games (4-6) when they help other teams to 0-1, but the goals scored came down later in the season, which is pretty typical of teams ramping up for the tourney. I'd rather win with 5 goals or lose 6-5 than lose 2-1, that's for sure. Not scoring, especially with guys like Oshie, Duncan, and Genoway on the ice, is depressing. Let's hope they hang about 5 on everybody for the next 4 games and get another banner.

Greaat win and nice to see some scoring. But am I the only one who is nervous about all the defensive lapses that accompanied the emphasis on forecheck. There were a ton of breakdowns today, and CC was a JPL glovesave or two from being in it. I have to think Hak will look for a more controlled game next week.

I love Ryan Duncan, but I think he will eventually regret it if he leaves next year.

I hope the Sioux do come out blazing and bury Tech, but I guess I'd be surprised. For Hak, this whole thing comes down to playoff style hockey, which is defense. I think he will have them playing hard, hopefully more physical, but still defense first. This is not a Blais team (and I'm OK with that). On the other hand, if the skilled players can finish on the good chances they have, which they did not do last night, Sioux could win by 3 or 4.

Not that Lou experienced any success doing that himself . . . .

If it had been a green jockstrap in Ebay, what pictures would you guys have come up with?