USA Hockey

Don't know what your "reliable sources" are, but I sure hope they are right. This game could give UND fans a good feel of what DI-AA football is like. If UND can make it somewhat of a game it will hopefully convince people at this University that DI is the right move.

In my opinion, it will be tough for NDSU to build their baseball program to a competitive DI level. Have you seen NDSU's home schedule this year? They play 9 home games, two against NAIA teams and four against SDSU. The only two DI teams they have coming to Fargo are Creighton and Minnesota. This is speaking that they play in one of the best DI facilities in the country. NDSU's coach has to tell his kids that they only get 9 home games a year and the rest of the time they're out of town. Not to add on to the fact that they are getting killed in that process. SDSU has 12 home games this year, and 6 of them are against DI teams. Two of those games aren't even being played in Brookings, they're playing those two in Sioux Falls. The other four games are against NDSU. One other thing that NDSU and SDSU don't have to fund is hockey, so it might make it easier to fund a sport like baseball. Chances are, Zig would have to tell his players that their schedule is compromised of away games, and that makes it very hard to recruit, which makes it even harder to compete. Flying a team all over the country to make no profit and frankly not be very competitive (because I don't see how you would get quality DI recruits) just isn't good for the program.

If we stay D2 it's fine to keep the program, but with a DI move it just isn't realistic to me.

Well sorry for my brief statement, but I strongly feel with a move to DI it would be smart to cut the baseball program. First off, as you can see the statement says ANOTHER. A loss to Duluth isn't the only reason I think it should go with a D1 move.

Another reason to cut the program if we move DI.

What was the attendance like today?

Big Ten baseball, what a glorious conference indeed. The top 3 teams out of the Missouri Valley could beat the Big Ten champ.

Give Frazee another year and we'll see what happens. He played so well in the NTDP that it would be odd to see him become a huge bust with the Gophs. But who knows, maybe he had a few good defensemen in front of him these last two years and he shouldn't have been as hyped up as he was.

How bout them Wings tonight? HELL YEA, it's good to know there is another Detroit fan in this town.

Kangas was a great pickup for the Gophs, he's from my hometown and graduated the same year I did. I watched him play for years, he has a lot of heart and is a great competitor.

They should just get rid of baseball at the U of M. They've never been a national contender and the scholarship money isn't there. Exspecially if the Metrodome goes, it would be smart just not to have it.

You sure they would have that series against Tech the weekend of Dec.15-16, don't remember to many years where they have had conference play that weekend.

Ok, I'll stop here, here's a good page for you, http://www.wisconsinprephockey.net/index.p...=1242&Itemid=43. These are all the kids in 2004-2005(sorry couldn't get 05-06) that are from Wisconsin and playing college hockey, only two of them come directly from Wisconsin high schools. Luke Kohtala is one of the two and he didn't play for the Badgers this last year.

Well you obviously interpreted my initial statement wrong. You took my comment about playing "offseason" hockey literally. What I mean by that is the Elite League and USA Hockey festivals are SHOWCASE leagues/tourneys, which is fine if he plays well in those. All I am saying is I would rather have seen Hak do similar to what he did with VandeVelde, play in a DEVELOPMENT league for a year, than come and play college hockey. Oh and by the way, Oshie played Minnesota high school hockey, not to add on the fact that he also played in those Elite Leagues and Select Hockey. Playing Minnesota high school hockey and eleven games in the USHL is much different than Wisconsin high school hockey.

Here's a good article for you, http://www.edmontonoilers.com/features/prospects/060227/. Read VandeVelde's quote in the third paragraph, that's what I'm trying to point out. That difference level in competition is what I would like to see LaPoint play.

Oshie played in the USHL before the high school season and after the high school season, something that LaPoint hasn't done. I'm not judging his talent, I'm judging his level of competition. Going back to playing in an MHL and the Select Festivals, it's different to light up a two week Select Tourney than play a 60 game Midget Major schedule or Junior schedule. VandeVelde was going to play here last year and decided to play a year in Lincoln instead, this is something I wish LaPoint would do.

May I see yours? Didn't know you had to give credentials to give your opinion on this site.

Also you bias towards Wisconsin is old thinking and you need to change your ways. The University of Wisconsin just won a National Title with 12 Wisconsin born players on the team. Wisconsin also has had a player drafted in the top 10 of the draft in I believe 3 of the last 4 drafts. Suter to Nashville, Skille to Chicago, and this coming year Kessel will go between 1-3. The kid is going to be a player. Anyone that has watched him knows the potential that he has. Do you have any more questions pal?

Being the Wisconsin High School Player of the Year doesn't say to much. The competition for Wisconsin high school hockey sucks. It would be different if he played in the USHL or at least Midget Majors for a year. We'll just have to see how he does.

I don't know about this LaPoint kid, I'm not to high up on recruiting Wisconsin high school players if they've never played at a higher level.

In case anyone didn't know, there is a club/intramural lacrosse team now on campus. They just started this year and they play other schools. They play in the Upper Midwest Lacrosse League. This year I don't think they're an official member, but here is the league link if anyone wants to check it out, http://www.umll.org/

Your right, that was my intent. After reading this on the message board I went on fightingsioux.com to see if we had made an official announcement.

I just wanted to know where everyone was hearing the info on the exploratory year.

Going back to athletics though, many people feel that NDSU and UND are tied to the hip. In my opinion, a D1 conference could care less about the rivalry. If the two teams are in the same division, it doesn't matter what conference they're in, because they can still play each other. NDSU shouldn't worry about UND and try to get into the conference they want to, and UND should finally make the move and get into a conference that fits them the best.

I spose it just kind of depends what area your in. Between the two, UND is the school to go to for aviation, law, medicine, and business. NDSU is the school to go to for engineering, pharmacy, and research.