burd

For me it helped that they had such a strong hockey tradition, even though they had not won a big number of natties. It didn't hurt that they had an A-1 hockey fan (and expert, really) in Puck Swami in the early years of USCHO. I recall being very happy for Swami when DU won their first title in many years. He is pure class and a good ambassador not only for Denver's fan base but for college hockey in general.

John Wayne voice: Well, Pilgrim, ya gonna get on that horse of yours and ride on over here, or are ya gonna just sit there? Boooo?

Thanks for that reply, Wilbur.

Was the transition from more stand-up goaltending to butterfly style a prolonged one, or did the change happen fairly quickly. Were some coaches and/or goalies at the front edge of that change? Yeah, I know; nobody here will admit to being old enough to have a say. Big change, though, and it had a big impact on shooting strategies. Other than equipment, other big goaltending changes in more modern times? Have goalies always been weird? “Special” is what Wilbur would probably call it.

A lot of people here were initially very critical of Blake's lack of "situational awareness" in the neutral and O zones. He made big improvements in that regard and was much less of a defensive liability. Development.

Sure, they might be right. But unattributed hearsay has such potential for harmful conclusions based on what amounts to rumor. If the sources are leaking anyway, then they can step into the light.

Jordan Kawaguchi was a very good player for UND. He always had the skill, but there were times as late as his second year when it just looked like the game moved a little too fast for him to make plays he had the skill to make. That changed.

He did, but sources around here appear to be like excuses and assholes.

Yeah, even more mature kids of college age just don't have the depth of life experience to deal well with discouraging or disheartening experiences. Hope he gives it another shot and that he's got some good support people close to him.

First hand source would be a player he tried to get to leave or BB. If there's one step of hearsay, it's just more gossip. If it's a player, surely he'd be OK with you identifying him, since he leaked the information to you.

Not saying he's not one of the least slow players college hockey.

True, but no team has ever been made up primarily of first rounders. Even those that are loaded are made up primarily of non-chippahs. How's that for blue chippah hockey wisdom?

One way or another, you need a threshold amount of speed and skill to win big. Blais' mantra.

We finally wanted someone!

If so, he'll forget about it anyway.

Some old men never ceased being middle school kids.

That’s the m’fuker we need, right there.

True. This isn’t Team Engelstad. And it shouldn’t be. Nothing new in this thought, but the soul that thrived in the old barn, with its chicken wire, fog, and cold, is being buried by money. But NIL is not of our making. Gotta compete.

I don't know. We've never let lack of knowledge slow us down before.

Keep in mind that if you get the job, every time they lose, you'll be blamed (by us) for not having them ready to play a full 60. No exceptions.

Thanks for that, Sic. But he didn't teach what you'd call a "hang loose" playing style.

Jockeys, boxers or, god help us, bikinis?

It was just the inevitable idle talk/rumor. Not like anything that goes on here.

Was he recruited to play for Sid Ciche? Or is that a generation off?

The rumor I heard was that he was going to join a monastery.