ScottM

Explain to me where "Almost" shows up in the points total. /Hates "bandwagoneers"

I think it sucks we won't play Minnie for two series next season. Good grief, if the WCHA wants to split money equally with every program, would it not make sense for Minnie-UND-Wisco to each play two series against each other since we have the biggest barns in the league? Moreover, given the rivalries we have with Minnie and Wisco, it's plain stupid for the WCHA to not highlight them at some level. Bunch of pathetic dumbasses running this league ... /end rant

John Gilbert? WTF. He's Duhloot's answer to "Shi ... er, Shooter" and Virg Foss. Hasn't had a clue about the WCHA since Herbie left SCCC. Sounds like he's got his knee pads polished, and his ChapStick at the ready for the next time he sees Lucia.

Good for him. I think he'll be great addition to the team. Is there anyway he can get to Prpich-level PIM? Maybe kick a dog or step on ants?

I'd say that's a pretty fair assessment. UND and Minnie both have bagged a number of "marquee" recruits the past few years, and I'd guess their coaching staffs run into each other pretty frequently. Looking over the recruits coming into the WCHA the next couple of years, combined with existing talent, I'd bet UND, Minnie, Wisco and probably UMD will enjoy some pretty strong teams down the road. "The rich just keep getting richer."

I think Spirko's delay in committing probably contributed to some of the "yawns" from certain Minnesota fans, especially as they did pick up some other quality players in the interim. That said, I'm quite pleased we got him. I think he'll do pretty well over time.

How's this? You can find some others on the game-worn jerseys websites. Here's another to piss off the bandwagoneers.

Spriko will probably be here in the fall, as he'll be 20 in June. Everything I've heard about him is very positive, ala comparisons to Murray and the Panzers. He has trailed off a bit the second half of the season, but he's still a great catch. I *believe* he may be our first Euro(?).

Well for a bit of good news, Heisenberg is reporting that we landed Spirko.

Bahhahahahahaha!. You probably piss in the wind too ... oh, god I love good comedy. <wipes tears from eyes>

I believe Lee and Oshie are 2005 right now. I was very impressed with Lee. He plays quite well for a HS junior. Moves his feet, great hands and a very nice shot. If he does next year in the USHL, he could probably crack the Sioux lineup as a frosh. Oshie needs to develop his skating and footwork, as he has most of the other tools/talent already. He *might* need another year in the USHL after he graduates. Developing footwork takes practice, and not always in *hockey* skates.

Feel free to leave this board at anytime. It's pretty silly to think that you should be able to moderate this board, when you can barely control your own partisans.

"With the development of facilities, staff and finances, we feel the University will be well-positioned to change levels of competition, if such a move would be in the best interests of Fighting Sioux athletics." - Roger Thomas Where did he get that idea? Oh yeah, the Carr Report, Chaps & Co. so graciously paid for, and then ignored.

I agree that Oshie's biggest weakness is his skating. A stint in the USHL or a Canadian league would not hurt, as well as some serious work with a skating coach while in HS. He got turned around so many times, especially along the boards, I think he got dizzy. Anyway, he's got great hands and a very nice shot. If he works hard, he should be a fine addition to the team.

The Orono team spent more time in Warroad's goal than anywhere else. They played well, but should have been whistled at least twice for running the goalie. That whistle in OT on Hardwick was pure sh*t.

Warroad loses 2-1 in OT. Their goalie had more balls than the rest of the team. Orono was pretty solid across the board. Nice game.

Oshie's got great hands, but man ... his skating really, really needs work. Reminds me of money, but his skating isn't as refined. Orono has been taking it to Warroad going into OT. If they had a more disciplined game, Orono would have Warroad by 3-4 goals.

The biggest bone of contention is the fact that resident Minnesotans who own their own land in NoDak are prohibited from using it in the same fashion as Nodak residents. States generally have the right to limit access to resources in their own borders, but they can't discriminate with regard to use of private property. Factor in the lost $$$ for NoDak business people and you have another example of why morons should not govern. On a larger scale, this "restriction" is one more reason why businesspeople pause when they consider NoDak for expansion or relocation. I dealt with a few businesses who opted for SoDak, Iowa or Wisco, because there is a strong perception that NoDak is hostile to out-of-state businesses. This is not because hunters or fishermen run the businesses, but because the provincial isolationism can seep into other facets of the state and impressions matter. NoDak can't say, "Business is Welcome", while shutting the doors on those who might actually control "business", especially when some of them are from there originally.

When Ballard's "on", there are few better offensive d-men in the game right now. When he's "off" he's generally a non-factor. I thought he had more impact his first couple of years than he has had this season, injuries notwithstanding. Very good player overall, IMHO.

FWIW: The guys who "make book" on college hockey don't pay as much attention to it as they do bouncyball, football, etc. A few years ago, a few buddies and I actually considered setting up an "online book" in Antigua for college hockey and other "neglected" sports. Good excuse to get out of the country, golf and never wear a collared shirt, but the uptight yahoos at the FBI and Treasury tend to "frown upon" these ventures.

Radke plays in the AJHL. I'm presuming there was a "typo", but I want to make sure I have my incoming d-men set.

Who's the d-man from the BCHL?

Cool. Maybe these guys will have the balls to form a D1 hockey team.

Chaps & Co. are less "benchmarks" than object-lessons in piss poor management. They should be thankful they're not in the private sector.

"Child psychologists and school administrators say coaches and parents must stress the value of participating, rather than winning or losing." What a bunch of horsesh*t. If you join any competitive activity, including a job that pays more than $6/hour, with anything less than the goal of winning, you should not be there in the first place. So, quit wasting your time, your team's time and everybody else's time with your lame-ass, pathetic and "mediocrity is acceptable" presence. I have no problem with multiple tiers, classes or divisions in anything, provided the participants are expected to do their best, even if they fail. However, if some "parent" is going to teach their progeny that anything less than a drive to excel is acceptable, they should put their kid up for adoption and have themselves "fixed".