skateshattrick

Burggraf Skating Skills. Frank Burggraf has worked with many pros and many pro teams. He works on long strides and edges. It helped Mike Commodore and many others. The Blackhawks sent a number of players a few years ago and Northeastern did as well. Jason Blake still shows up at his pro camps.

Oh my God! You are SO witty! You took an actual situation and turned it into a phrase. I have never heard of such a clever play on words or such an original retort. I'm waiting for the next witty gem, such as "you are weakest link!" Really, thanks for sharing! We all appreciate your wit and all that you have to offer. You must be the smartest kid with Down's Syndrome! Thanks again. I'm anxiously awaiting your next post. I'm sure it will be just as clever AND funny.

I have not weighed in on this issue to this point because I do not disagree with you, BUT you make it sound like all Sioux fans on this board are criticizing the decision. That is simply not true. More importantly, you are talking apples and oranges. I have no problem if a 15 year old kid changes his mind. However, I am not naive enough to believe that a 15 year old made this decision. This looks and smells like it was orchestrated by his father so that the kid could get drafted by the major junior team of choice. If that is truly what happened, I have a problem with that because it reeks of manipulation, if not dishonesty, on the part of his father. I could care less if a 15 year old changes his mind. It is quite another to leverage the position of your son by resorting to less than ethical tactics. The situation with Gregoire is not unlike decisions made by Chris Chelios (who committed to UND) and Keith Ballard who purportedly verballed to UND. There are many, many examples of kids changing their minds after giving a verbal or even a written LOI. I really do not have a problem with a kid changing his mind as long as that decision was not influenced by the poaching of an opposing coach or alum.

There is also a very good article at www.mlive.com/redwings/index.ssf/2008/06/backtoback_red_wings_look_good.html. The Red Wings have been able to convince some of their stars to take less than what they might get on the open market because of the success of the franchise and the success that individual players have in Detroit's system. Ken Holland is one of the best, if not the best, GM in professional sports, and they have great scouts and Scotty Bowman helping. Steve Yzerman is also in the front office. Holland reminds anyone that asks that many people predicted the demise of the Wings with the salary cap. They continue to win and managed to not use the entire amount under the salary cap.

Keep dreaming. You are absolutely 100% wrong. Who cares if Hasek and Chelios are gone? Hasek is not very good anymore, and did not play since game 4 against Nashville in the 1st round. Osgood is only average, but the team in front of him makes him look great. However, they have a Swedish stud goalie waiting in the wings and Jimmy Howard, who has been solid in the AHL and in short stints with the Red Wings. Chelios still has a little left, but did not play in the finals and is 46. He is also coming back. Look at www.mlive.com/redwings. Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Holmstrom are all signed to long-term contracts, so nice try. I'm not sure of the status of Franzen, but I know that he's not an unrestricted free agent. The Wings are not in danger of losing anyone, and they are absolutely loaded with great young players, including a defenseman named Ericsson from Sweden who has a cannon. The Wings were 6 million under the cap this year because they were holding off to sign a big free agent pickup at the trade deadline. That person turned out to be Brad Stuart, who was not very expensive, so they remained considerably under the cap. Stuart may re-sign, but if he does not, they have tons of depth on the blue line. They have guys in the minors (Ericsson, Meech) who would be top 4 defensemen on the Wild. Plus, they are young. Datsyuk is 29, Zetterberg 26, Filpula 24, Helm 21, Kronwall is 20 something, etc. I will absolutely take that bet. Let's make it worthwhile. I'll bet a case of beer of choice. The Wings may be better next year than this year. San Jose and Anaheim will be tough, and there will be some surprise teams (Chicago?), but Detroit will be the favorite again. The Wild have problems. They are not likely to sign Pavel Dmitra, who is the best friend of Marion Gaborik, who is going to be a free agent. There are rumors that they could move him. They also may not re-sign Brian Rolston because the management of the Wild questions whether he is worth the salary based upon his age and production.

Thank you. Finally someone who is objective about the difference in talent. The Red Wings are far more skilled, and I'm tired of that whiny coach talking about obstruction and the officials swallowing whistles to allow the Pens to play with them. If the game was called evenly, it wouldn't even be close. The Wings are much, much more talented. Gill and Orpik are complete hacks, but the league lets them get away with it, just like they let Roberts and Malone get away with cheap shots to Franzen's head after he had been out with a concussion. I really do not like the East style of hockey. Go Wings! I hate the goon style hockey of the Pens.

You are the master of spin. The ultimate goal of any season is to win a national championship. However, making it to the NCAA tournament is a successful season, especially if you finished in the top 1/2 of the WCHA, and making it to the Frozen Four is a very successful season. You cannot compare the Gophers' season to the Sioux season, or credibly argue that this year was anything other than a disappointing season for the Gophers. Yes, they made the NCAA tournament, so it would be a successful season for many programs (St. Cloud?) but being one and done coupled with a 7th place WCHA finish is not a measure of success for programs like Minnesota or UND. I expect Minnesota to be back in the thick of things next year. All programs have ups and downs. The Sioux stumbled in 2002 after a very successful run from 1997 to 2001. They have had another nice run despite not winning a national championship since 2000, but they will have a down year as well, perhaps next year. Seriously, can we stop this petty snipping? It really is getting old.

I appreciate people who have a dry or sarcastic sense of humor, but you really are not even remotely funny. Bad ZOD. Go lay by your dish.

Agreed about ZOD--he is a troll with no credibility. If Taylor Chorney was not good, ZOD should try to explain how approximately 1/2 of the WCHA captains ranked him as the top defenseman in the WCHA. The other 1/2 voted for Chris Butler of DU. This was in the Final 5 program. I am not optimistic, but it would be huge to get Taylor Chorney back. If not, I have no doubt that he will be a good player in the NHL. He's a great skater with vision and should flourish in today's NHL.

What a model of clarity. Can you try English next time?

While you are it, tell Lucia that regional games (BC 2008, UND 2007, Holy Cross 2006) are more important than Final 5 games, jersey popping, dyeing hair and getting perms.

You seem to equate the opinions of a few Sioux fans who post on this website as the opinions of all. That is like me saying that all Gophers fans are idiots just because Happy is (which he clearly is). Those persons who rip on Lucia are entitled to their opinions, but that does not make them the opinions of every Sioux fan. I agree and disagree with their take on the issue. I agree with those who say that you play every game to win because of the front of the jersey, but I also agree with Lucia that the game is certainly not very important for seeding purposes. Having said that, I don't follow your logic. The fact that MikeJM and I don't feel that the game is meaningful compared to any elimination game does not necessarily mean that Lucia is right by saying that the game is totally meaningless. You are comparing apples and oranges.

The Sioux already did, in 1997 when they beat the Gophers in the Final 5 WCHA championship. How easily you forget Peter Armbrust's OT winner. The Sioux have also won the Final 5 tournament against other teams. My thought is "so what?" It means nothing. Denver won it this year, but lost to Wisconsin in the regional. Do you think Denver will remember this season based on winning the Final 5 tourney? Not likely. However, when they won it all in 2003, DU did not even make it to the Final 5. Do you think DU cares? The Sioux beat Wisconsin a few years ago, the same year that Wisconsin beat BC in the championship. I don't think the Sioux have any bragging rights over Wisconsin for 2006. I have been to the Final 5 on several occasions, and it is just okay. In fact, I was there this year. With the partisan and obnoxious Gophers crowd, it feels like a Gopher holiday tournament, but it does not have the intensity of a regional game where the loser is done. I really don't care about the Final 5 WCHA tournament unless it means the difference between making the NCAA tournament. The fact that the Gophers won last year really didn't bother me, especially since the Sioux beat them a week later in a regional game that counted for something. Denver's win over the Sioux this year really didn't bother me that much either because I knew the Sioux would be playing the next weekend. On the other hand, when the Sioux season was ended in regional games in Colorado Springs, Ann Arbor and Madison, it stung for awhile. That is why a regional game is WAY more significant than any game in the Final 5, win or lose. Just my 2 cents. You will never convince me that the WCHA Final 5 is meaningful unless it is for momentum for the NCAA tourney. Only SCSU would hang a banner for winning the Final 5.

Mine are similar, but I would put an NCAA tournament berth above the Broadmoor, and probably above the McNaughton Cup. The first 2 are easy. A Frozen 4 berth is way ahead of a WCHA title or a Final 5 tournament championship. The years that the Sioux lost in regionals in Ann Arbor, Madison and Colorado Springs (I was at all 3) made the season seem wasted even if they won the league title or the Broadmoor. I don't like losing in the Frozen 4, but getting there is way better than league titles. The Broadmoor Cup is meaningless unless you are fighting for a spot in the NCAA tournament. It is primarily for money and means very little unless you are a bubble team. The goal of the entire year is to make the tournament, and then make it to the Frozen 4 and win it. I would rank them in this order: 1. NCAA Title 2. Frozen 4 berth 3. NCAA tournament berth 4. McNaugton Cup 5. Winning the season series with the Gophers 6. Winning the season series with Wisconsin, etc. 10? Broadmoor Cup.

Slapshot and Cardinal, Can we PLEASE stop debating whether Lucia is a good coach? Several UND fans on this board, including me, have agreed completely that he's a great coach. There are several who disagree. So what? Do you really need to convince every Sioux fan? In other words, can we talk about something other than Lucia and the Gophers? I know that you want this to be a Gophers/Lucia lovefest, but that is really not a reasonable expectation considering where you are posting.

I have to agree with Bucksieve. I'm not a huge Lucia fan, but to diminish his accomplishments by saying anyone could have won when he did is not fair. He's at least a great recruiter, if not a great coach. He proved it at CC before he came to UM. He won with a perennial loser at CC and took over a UM program that was reeling a bit in Woog's last years and turned it around quickly. I happen to believe Hak is a good coach also, but he did have great talent in 2006 and 2007. It is not easy to win NCAA titles, even with great talent.

The coaching staff does not think that Eidsness is overhyped at all. In fact, Mike Lee from Roseau wanted to go to UND, but instead will be attending St. Cloud after spending a year of juniors this year, his senior year. Mike Lee is very good, but the Sioux coaching staff did not recruit Mike Lee because they feel that they have their goalie for the next 4 years in Brad Eidsness. My source is a former Roseau goalie who coaches goaltenders in Grand Forks.

I agree completely with the GENERAL STATEMENT. He's still a young man, and I'm sure that he and his family are going through tough times right now. I am friends with his dad, who is a very good guy, and I know that this is very difficult. If you would not add your true name to a comment about Bobby Stroup, please don't do so anonymously.

Go to www.pointstreak.com and go to NAHL. Then, click on USNTDP on the side. He did not do much against NAHL competition. I understand that he's a very skilled player, and I'm not saying he won't be ready after another year, but he's not ready for the WCHA if he's not an impact player against NAHL competition. He's also very young. I know that Jon Toews, Joe Finley and now Aaron Ness accelerated their education to enroll in college early, but it takes a special player like Jon Toews to play at the level as a 17 year old. I frankly think Aaron Ness will struggle his 1st year.

He's not ready. He had 4 goals and 4 assists in 14 games while playing for the US Under 18 team that competes in the NAHL. He's skilled, but if he did not dominate on that team or that league, he is not going to make a significant impact yet in the WCHA. Give him another year.

Unlike some on this board who keep throwing Joe Finley under the bus, I view that as very encouraging. Joe did not play his best the last few weeks of the year, but he was solid throughout the year. He would be a great leader next year and would be one of the better returning defensemen in the league.

It was called a goal by Todd Anderson. Sheppard was the replay official that reversed Anderson's call and disallowed the goal.

Dean is a Gopher troll. Probably a Bison fan with penis envy, so he roots agains the Sioux and for the Gophers.

Roper, Can kids go to Hooligan's? I also intend to bring a couple.

You're right, that is just you. I couldn't give a damn whether the Sioux win a Final 5--if they need to win that tournament to play on, they don't deserve to make the NCAA tournament. Regardless of how they do in the Final 5, the Sioux generaly live to play on in the NCAA tournament which is the ultimate goal for EVERY program. While it is humorous that SCSU hangs up participation banners, SCSU making the NCAA tournament is a lot bigger deal than winning the WCHA Final 5 tournament. To me, the Final 5 is like winning a holiday tournament--it's nice, but means absolutely nothing. It's a revenue producer. Only Rodent fans like you can make the incredulous argument that it actually means something. If you want to make a case for winning the Broadmoor for winning the regular season title, I'll listen, but no rational person believes that winning the Final 5 is that big of a deal. I don't care how Michigan did in the CCHA tournament, how BC did in the HE tournament, etc. If they eliminated it tomorrow I wouldn't miss it at all.