burd

Watching these old games you really notice how actively involved the fans are.

Yeah, good for him. Hope he blossoms there.

Probably, but you have us as company.

Time and space. So much goes into creating that in addition to the physical gifts.

Siembida played great, but that was one sloppy hockey game.

The wonderful thing about Kawaguchi's near miss on the Hobey is the contrast to his first two years and the improvement he's made. He's always had talent, but things just didn't click for him until this year or the latter part of last. The decisions he makes on the ice have improved dramatically. Next year should be a treat.

This thread is predictably a model of good sportsmanship.

If the forwards play their role, which I think they will. Watching those games (all winning, which makes them easy to watch anxiety free), when the team was strongest, our forecheck and backcheck game was amazingly good. Other teams just could not get comfortable. It made our D game easier, and I think it led to more scoring from D, who skated up into the play a lot.

After what Blackheart has done for us these past weeks, this thread should have an audio caption of Harry Nilson singing "Come on baby let the good times roll."

I was at one game at the KC when he made a diving, half breakaway shot for a goal to win the game. Crushing but a fantastic play. Someone on the Badger staff should have guided him more on the diving stuff, though. It did him no good in the end.

Some health issues that were pretty serious, from what I recall, though it didn't all come out til later.

Too bad he was a diver. Great talent.

I didn't see Roche in person much, and your really need to be in the rink to get a full idea of someone's play in all areas of the ice. That said, I did not think Roche was at Patrick's level defensively. But he had those wonderfully soft hands to go along with his on-ice intelligence, which would serve him even better in today's college game.

I agree that any tendency the rules changes have had to make the game more speed and finesse oriented is a good thing. Embellishment is a tough call to make, but it would be nice to see it used more to deal with those players who try to abuse the obstruction rules to their advantage.

Watching these old games, some have noted the difference in the way the obstruction penalties are called in today's game. Two questions: First, we Sioux fans were very vocal about our belief that the obstruction was out of hand with Parise and that something had to be done. I recall fans claiming that obstruction in the college game was part of the reason he left to NJ when he did. Anyone have reliable information that that claim was true? For all I know, Zach may have said it himself in an interview. Second, was the change in the way obstruction is called good for the college game? I'm not talking about the way cfb is called--that's a safety measure. Just hooking, interference, holding--that kind of stuff.

I wonder who will emerge as the leader(s) on this team. Poolman was a difference maker in that regard, IMO.

And Poolman's leadership

I have yet to see video of a badger being thrown on the ice . . . Until then, Blackheart is just dam good, not great. Yeah, I'm lowlife.

He's right, though, MM. burd, at least, is pathetic, for a host of reasons. I've never thought that of you, but he may have evidence he has yet to disclose.

Agreed. Thanks, Blackheart.

Not before he was seen coughing on young mothers in the maternity ward. I wouldn't put it all on Sandy, though. Some people are just evil, and maroon and gold seems to be the shared characteristic.

Thanks, Blackheart, for posting 2000. A couple of things that stand out after watching those old games, especially the '97 and 2000 NCs. First, how much obstruction was going on in the way of holding, hooking, and interference. Everybody was doing it. I know we all became particularly aware of it after Parise arrived, but it was rampant in the "00 NC. Also, I remember watching the '00 game, but I didn't recall how dead tired the players were in the third. It was a very intense game, with a lot of hitting and up and down action. By the time they got a ways into the third, both teams looked exhausted.

I'm sure our conditioning program will strengthen him, but if he is fast and solid on his feet, I wouldn't worry. And today's game is friendlier to the little guy than it was when Panzer, Hoogsteen, and Duncan played. Hooking, holding, and interference are called much more now than they were then. That's one thing that sticks out watching all the old "great memories" games posted on that thread in recent weeks.

Blais prototype? How much did Jeff Panzer weigh at graduation?

Excellent