ScottM

I haven't heard anything about UNH, I think that may have been a short-term deal. I'd love it if the conferences could figure out some sort of interlocking schedule. Personally, I'm embarrassed that we're going to play Canisus next season instead of somebody else like ... the Edina Bantam team.

I don't really mind Minnesota fans, except the "unhappy" ones, on the Board, but we should really make a concerted effort to keep Jan Fans off.

Yeah, this board just officially went to s&!t with the addition of "happy".

Handy's tossed around the "grow up" schtick all over the place, followed by the "apologies." I suggested if he had any problems regarding this board or its members he deal with them here.

I like what we have on board for forward, although I think the wild card is Bayda.

I thought Andy played his best game of the season, and then some. Too bad we didn't have the offensive horses to pull out a win. Let the Minnesota "fans" have their fun. Most of the clowns on the different boards weren't even born when they raised a "real" banner at Mariucci, not some participant banner. Besides, they lose a lot in firepower and those intangibles provided by Leopold, Pohl and even Hauser after this season, and if Taffe leaves which is a very strong possibility from what I've heard, they will know what if feels like to lose everything after making it into the playoffs, and perhaps beyond. Lucia's under a great deal of pressure to show the boys in St. Paul in April, and if he can't get there with this crew, he has some serious explaining to do to the Mariucci ticket holders who were nowhere to be seen 2-3 seasons ago. Let them get their hits in now, because we have a very, very bright future and paybacks are always a bitch.

Handy, I would echo jk and Dagies' comments as far as hanging around with us on this board. You're more than welcome here , but be prepared to get hit at some times, especially when we've already beaten up our team and each other. I do, however, think we should have a rule banning Jan fans. I said it before, I'll say it again, Blais should sit any player who won't be around next season, except maybe Kollar, and let the younger guys have the shifts. Let them earn their hard knocks now and develop more experience. Because they will be back, unlike some lazy, useless upper-classmen with extra letters on their sweaters.

Personally, I think Siembida has a lot of potential as a solid goalie. However, even the best goalies are going to get smoked when you have two or three opposing players behind your stand around d-men. If he had more consistent help up front, I think Josh would have a few more wins. That said, I thinkthe goalie situation is in a state of flux driven primarily by the better play of Kollar of late, the absence of Brandt and Siembida's own "green" play at times. I think Blais will probably bring in another goalie or two for next season, including Sedevie. I do expect to see 3-5 roster cuts before it's over.

I'd have to agree with Bayda, although I like Skarp's efforts in the second half of this disaster of a season. If Bayda had linemates who could keep up with him mentally and emotionally, I think he and the team would have put up more points. I hope he stays, as I think the team will (and needs to) mature, plus a pairing with Parise would probably be powerful. He also has my nod for "C" even though he should have had it this season IMO.

I had the opportunity to attend the game at the last minute, and then the "opportunity" to watch a good part of it at my favorite tavern with some Minnesota fans on the delay. My original analysis still stands, these guys lacked the balls and heart to win. McMahon and Kollar were really the players that seemed to have anything going. Bochenski, Hale(s), Mazurak, Massen, etc. took the night off. It's tough to play a team like Minnesota when most of your players are sitting on their butts in the sin bin or looking at the clock, again. Grrr The gophers played very good hockey, and well ... I've seen HS consolation bracket teams play with more drive than we showed. Pathetic effort, and something had better happen today or it's going to get real ugly for the finale.

Blais will most probably review each player's performance when this season mercifully ends, finally. I would expect him to trim the roster to free up some scholarship $$$ for players he plans to keep or players who haven't signed yet, but who he may bring on, such as goalies and defensemen who can actually cover the f'ing net and their own zone. On the bright side, if there is one, Kollar had a pretty decent night, even though Lucia generally played the 3 and 4 lines for much of his time in.

Disgusting, absof**kinglutely disgusting. No desire to win, no heart, no sense of this is quite possibly the last chance you have to win and move forward. Blais should just concede the next game and series and move on to next season. I have never been so disgusted by such a pathetic, third rate performance in my life. Stupid penalties, defense?, power play, offense ... hello? I am so pissed, I can't really stay on this board without throwing my computer through the wall ...

Quite frankly, if 'SU is hoping to improve its academics I fail to see how that would happen by shifting money and resources to the AD's office. If they want to really improve their academics, they should stop taking UND's rejects.

Handy, for about the first time this season I am not able to access tickets for Mariucci for this series. I have a round of drinking scheduled for later tonight, we'll probably watch the tape-delay provided Fox doesn't screw it up. Are you going to be around for the Frozen Four? BTW: Welcome to the board.

Wow, I've seen the newest SI at Target and Barnes & Noble in Mpls. Do you guys have mail service?

Perhaps, Dagies, you should ask what the protesters intend to do about the poverty, alcoholism, unemployment and health problems that are endemic among many Indians. But then again bringing realism into their "rose colored" world probably won't have any impact.

Well, the Sioux really have nothing to lose this weekend and seem to be playing a bit better. I think the gophers are playing some of their best hockey this season, and are going to be tough, naturally, in their own barn. I think the key for the Sioux will be effective defense and protecting the puck in their own zone. Mazurak et al. have to learn clearing passes go to your own players, not the other guys. I really don't care who starts in goal, but I suspect that recent absence of Brandt will mean Kollar starts at least one game. A strong forecheck and pressuring Hauser will help too. The team has "solved" Hauser in the past, and that key usually means an early flurry to rattle him and get him out of his "zone." I would submit if they had done that when he replaced Johnson at REA, we would have won that game. As it was, we pretty much left him alone. When Hauser gets pressured, he can be cracked and usually in a big way. Frankly, I'm tired of the "bad officiating" prepackaged, one-size-fits-all excuse, God knows the Jan Fans use it enough. I don't recall too much whining last season or in 2000, except from those teams' fans we beat. A good team can play through "bad" officiating, and now is the time just to see how good we are. If you put more points on the board than the other guys, the officiating isn't an issue. That said, the guys have to avoid the dumb, chippy play that was indicative of the last Minnesota game at REA. I would like to see the Sioux take at least one game, just to spoil this "Miracle in Minneapolis" bilge I've been hearing from the fair weather fans around here e.g., those who were nowhere to be found at Mariucci the past few seasons.

Frankly, these 1 pt losses are frustrating, but they do beat 4-5 point blowouts.

So, what's the story on goaltending, again? Where's Brandt? I thought he would be splitting time with Siembida. Are we getting another goalie, Seviede(?) in the offseason? Once again, victory slips through the f'ing cracks in the third.

The article is in the most current edition, with Sarah Hughes on the cover.

No, Dagies, it wasn't in the swimsuit edition, unfortunately. I don't think there is an online version of the entire article, although it is mentioned on SI's online cover. I was channel surfing before bed last night, and came across CNN-SI covering the article on some sports show. The author pretty much stood by what he wrote and the poll results, even though the clueless talking-head was pressing on how/when these names would eventually change. The author indicated he didn't see a groundswell of support to change most team names, except perhaps for Redskins, amongst Indians or non-Indians.

I perused the current issue of SI, rather than buying that rag, and it was actually pretty decent. UND got a couple of positive mentions. Essentially, what it boiled down to was that there is a great diversity of opinion amongst Indians regarding the use of Indian names/logos, with most favoring positive use of names/logos. There is a Sisseton Sioux member in SD petitioning for the removal of Indian names/logos in SD schools, but she indicated she had no problem with UND's use of the Fighting Sioux name. Naturally, people did indicate offense with "Redskins," "Chief Wahoo," "the Chop" and some other things that were could trivialize or demean Indians. They also touched on names like "Fighting Irish," "Dutchmen" etc. in the same vein. All in all, a pretty balanced article. Too bad the same couldn't be said of the smear SI printed in October.

I like McMahon.

Nothing wrong this week, forecheck. I just didn't see a "skull & crossbones" in the available avatars.