Pony1976

Goooo Gophers!

True enough. If UND can advance to the FF beating Minnesota they'd surely have as good a chance as anyone left to win it all in my view. Actually better chance than a couple other potential FF participants I think.

NU now up 1-0 after two.

One point that strikes me...is Mercyhurst being ranked higher than both UND and UW is a joke. Their schedule is weak to begin with. They lost three of four to Robert Morris. When the played better teams like Clarkson or BC I think the best they could do was split...lost to Cornell. So they have wins against start ups Lindenwood, Penn State. Then struggling teams like Yale, Providence, Quinnipiac (1 tie). Mercyhurst is a pretender IMO. Mostly I'd like to avoid a WCHA rehash of UW or UND at Ridder for an NCAA q'final...but that's most likely exactly what the committee does with their goal of assuring only one WCHA team has a chance to make the final. If the NCAA had any stones they send UW or UND east and prove their the true 8th ranked team. My guess is either one could very well take out any of the higher ranked HE and ECAC teams.

Sweep OSU and take a sizable hit in the PWR ranking in the process. The PWR is the worst, most ridiculous ranking formula anyone could possibly conceive. That's an editorial comment.

I'm biased, but think any D-I coach would do well to add top Minnesota players to their roster. Definite increase in very talented players from some less traditional hotbeds the last 10 years or so. The Chicago Mission girls U19 AAA organization has been developing studs up the wazoo the last 6 years or so.

RIT might beat SCSU on a very good day. Never happen on a consistent basis. SCSU would be north of .900 winning % over the best D-III has to offer. To say the best D-III teams would beat SCSU regularly is absurd. Sounds like you haven't watched many D-III teams, including the top teams. Me boy.

Menke was impressive in this past summer's USA / Canada U18 series. I think she's a good get for UND. Both she and Hirschy have USA U18's on their resume.

Injuries to key players will kill you in this conference. Especially long term causing lengthy absences. Not an excuse but illustrates how important team depth is. You really need a handful of players who can fill in well when key players are missing or it will cost you in the W column.

Have there been any recent updates regarding the status of Karvinen? I assume there was an off-season injury?

Maybe for UND...but not unprecedented throughout D-I women's hockey. Being ineligible that is.

http://www.mngirlshockeyhub.com/news_article/show/158331?referrer_id=115187 Article on another future D. I wasn't previously aware she will also redshirt as a freshman.

USCHO women's D-I pre-season rankings are out. North Dakota at #5.

Anyone seen the official NCAA tournament program? National Classless Athletic Association. Very petty and disgraceful move to exclude the team photo IMO. Very unfortunate for the UND programs first NCAA Tournament appearance. http://www.ncaa.com/NCWomensIceHockey

The reality seems to be a lot of teams from HE and the ECAC aren't particularly anxious to play WCHA teams for the effects it typically has on their position in national rankings formula...as flawed as that is. A look at the typical WCHA non conference records might explain their hesitance. There are a couple exceptions, who are normally willing to play WCHA teams. More non conference games would benefit the WCHA in the national rankings provided they maintain their typical winning %. Travel expense is a major issue for many women's hockey programs too where most can only swing one or two trips out of region on top of their conference travel budget.

Big weekend ahead. On the road at #2 ranked (pre season) BU. Definitely a series for all women's D-I hockey fans to keep an eye on after the impressive start by the Sioux. Good early test for both. Edit: It doesn't get any easier after that.

No...not any time soon. Not any time in the foreseeable future. Which is a real shame. I believe they both have the means as well as a significant local talent pool that could use a couple more rosters for the opportunity. I'm sure many of those players would love to play for either team. I'm curious about your hypothesizing regarding a Big 10 hockey conference for the women...which also isn't going to happen any time soon...but if you're suggesting a move to a future Big 10 women's hockey conference by Wisconsin and Minnesota why wouldn't Ohio State and Penn State also be in that Big 10 conference? I'm thinking the Big 10 would never bother if all Big 10 schools with varsity hockey programs for the women aren't included. I can't honestly think of any other Big 10 schools I'd ever really expect to start a varsity hockey program for the women.

Heard talk awhile back about Miss Marvin being red shirted...but doesn't indicate that on the roster. Wouldn't that most likely be specified on the updated roster if that were the plan?

Yes. From outside the WCHA BTW...so she can play immediately.

I wouldn't want to see Ohio State leave the WCHA myself. They're among the more competitive teams outside the big three and I expect them to be better yet with the new head coach. I think the team underachieved regularly under the leadership of Barto...they've had their fair share of talent. I also think both Ohio State and UND are going to be much stronger contenders for the WCHA marbles every year and very soon it will no longer be just "The Big 3" as it has been to this point. A couple more NC games would be good. NC games against quality, ranked opponents are fun and potentially beneficial for any team. If you can schedule two / three NC series against strong teams outside the conference that should be sufficient from a national rankings standpoint, provided you also do well in the conference. Additional NC series vs. weaker teams don't do you any good in that respect...and there isn't always a bunch of teams outside the conference ranked highly enough to help you in that regard, so you're limited by that as well. You can also get burned by those NC series if you schedule a team expected to be strong and ranked highly initially, then they have a terrible season. Even if you win those games it ends up doing nothing for you due to the other teams poor record. NC series results...and overall results also become moot when the NCAA decides to completely ignore the stated NCAA tournament selection guidelines per their own ratings formula in their ongoing effort to facilitate a non WCHA champion. Sending UMD to Wisconsin in the first round...what a farce that was. I think the intense competition every weekend within the WCHA is / has been very beneficial come NCAA tournament time...and I think good results within the WCHA are undervalued when some top teams in the east are highly ranked while playing relatively weak schedules. Ohio State has always been a team that can give the WCHA powers fits at times. I hope to see them stay. I think they'll be better and more consistent under the new coach...which is a benefit for the conference IMO. Travel costs to / from Columbus could motivate a move by OSU, I'll admit.

I should also clarify my earlier comments. I don't have a problem with a red shirt year for new additions. Those players are going to be in the same boat as any other rookie when it comes to that adjustment to D-I I mentioned before. With a roster like the 2011-2012 Sioux roster you don't have a lot of other options. One year is no big deal...but I guess I'd still rather the new players start their career immediately...but the size of a teams roster has an obvious bearing on the use of red shirt seasons. My primary beef is with the philosophy utilizing 22 year old "freshmen" who have multiple prior Nation / Olympic Teams experience. That's what i don't want to see escalate. There's only one WCHA program that's made that a habit...so far.

Ooops...I probably should have mentioned, I'm a fan of a different WCHA team...a UND adversary. All true freshmen...right out of high school or prep hockey in the East are in the same boat when it comes to readiness for the next level...NCAA D-I. They all have a period of adjustment. The exceptions are the kids who come from Triple A teams like Shattuck...Colorado Select, Chicago Mission, NAHA etc. They almost always have a noticeable edge and are a step ahead of typical player fresh out of high school with their much longer schedules and higher level of competition. That period of adjustment is pretty universal for all freshmen so I'm for a level playing field via every team having their rookies learn on the fly, in games from day 1 with their new team. Rather than the UMD method of 22+ year old "freshman" with National and or Olympic team experience. Sorry...don't want to see that become commonplace in the women's game.

I've heard a lot of talk about plans to red shirt a few. Probably one of the better solutions to a roster that size. Just my personal feeling...but shared by quite a few who are big women's college hockey fans...not wanting to see a trend towards the "older" freshmen as is seen on the men's side. Most that voice an opinion hope the sport remains more as it has been for the most part...with true freshmen starting their college career as a 19 year old. Obviously Shannon Miller at UMD does not adhere to such a policy. That's one of the primary reasons for her unpopularity and fairly widespread contempt for the Bulldog program in general...outside of Duluth. It's purposeful strategy of hers to give herself an advantage by matching up older, more experienced players with National / Olympic team experience against the teams that bring in true freshman every season. Myself and many others would like to see the game remain largely as it is with the vast majority of teams competing true freshmen each season. I think UND is going to be a tough team to beat this season...for anyone. I'd just have some concern that players getting big cuts in ice time compared to their last couple seasons could be very unhappy and make for some turmoil. Watched the twins play on a line with UW's Decker at the National Team camp in Blaine, MN. The line was awesome...made me glad Decker is at UW and not UND.

http://www.fightingsioux.com/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=13500&SPID=6403&SPSID=58669 That is one large roster. Tough to keep everyone happy with those kinds of numbers.

Been checking the site looking for the 2011-2012 roster...nothing yet. I was checking because I heard a rumor that coach Idalski was thinking of red shirting Miss Marvin. The theory was the move was being considered due to the fact a few others who have played with Marvin will be arriving at UND in following seasons...others that have exhibited a nice chemistry when playing with the elder Marvin...referring to some of her Warroad teammates, hoping to take advantage of that chemistry for as many seasons as possible. Makes some sense...but I also recall coach Idalski stating that a lack of depth hurt his team in 2010-2011 so one might think he'd want Marvin available immediately. Curious to see what the staff does. Anyone heard anything about this possibility?