burd

Former Sioux defenseman as head coach? Gee, let me see . . . .

Six of the seven games tonight will end in 3-2 scores.

Off topic. Wondering if any of you in Nodak are seeing any northern lights tonight. Supposed to be a good weekend for it, possibly even here in south central WI, though nothing is happening so far.

burd whiffed again, eh?

God yes, 1969. If you weren't in Nam.

38 Banners sitting it out.

So UMinn, UMich, UW, BC, BU, and UND all out of the tourney. When, if ever?

I'm OK with that. I'll pull for them this year.

Watching SU play Duke is like watching UND play Canisius. Mismatch

I hope you're right. But if recruits see the offensive drop off of the past several years under a particular coaching staff and system, I have to wonder. Again, I hope you are right. Btw: I know you weren't attacking me, but I wouldn't mind a bit if you did. It's the idea you are attacking, and I've had some bad ones.

Yeah, it's not me who draws these conclusions, stoney, but I'd be shocked if it isn't happening. No proof whatsoever, which is standard for things I post.

Problem now is that even if Berry's reputation as an offense killer is unwarranted (this post assumes neither), if you are a young, high scoring forward playing in the USHL, high school, NAHL or Canada, do you come to UND for development? Perception becomes reality.

Me too. I've always liked CC anyway. They had some high octane offenses not all that many years ago.

When Swami speaks, people listen. He earned a stellar rep on college hockey.

We are the Alabama of college hockey, having won one title in the last 18 years? If anybody has a claim to being the Alabama of college hockey in the modern era, it's BC, like it or not. And I don't.

Top scorer in the history of the program was a senior who stayed for the education, even though he NHL wanted him. Our last Hobey winner was a senior. Jeff and Jay Panzer pitched in a little. You could just decide to play only first rounders, and the senioritis would be pretty much cured.

I’m still holding out for Rasty Spirko to find a way to return for a year. Keep hope alive.

What reasons for a bad season or two are you willing to accept? Good talent but poor work ethic? Good talent but bad coaching?

Agree. And I think all of us improved our grammar game this year. Put it this way: Having learned from MM, fewer grammatical errors were made this year.

We don't have a single player who would make me nervous each time he touches the puck if he were on the other side. A dynamic player. A lot of decent-to-good talent, but nobody with that combination of speed, strength and skill. That makes a difference, not just on the PP. I happen to think this team is well coached. Whether the recruitment planning is lacking--I don't know. They can play with the best, though, and they aren't out of it yet.

I just know that if we lose, they are bums.

The boys will play very hard, but they will need puck luck or an off night in DU's goal in order to win 2 this weekend. Along with stellar play by Thome. He doesn't need to be in a zone, just don't let in any he would ordinarily stop. Gardner fell asleep last night thinking, "Stay out of the box, Rhett. Stay out of the box Rhett . . . ."

It is. And there is enough talent out there playing on teams that are not "elite" that you have to respect them or you will lose to them.

Look at where traditional powers Michigan, BC, BU, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota are in the PW.

We have seen some dam good defensive and goalie play in the last two years. Too bad. I think back on the Greg Johnson, Dixon Ward years when they had a lot of offensive talent but not enough good grinders or defensive play to turn the corner.