SiouxForever
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Posts posted by SiouxForever
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Yes, but you need the Kristo line intact to be considered with last year's team. Remember, a lot of that talent is young and unproven talent at this level compared to Frattin and Malone etc. that were men among boys at some points. Also remember that Nelson, Knight, Rowney, and to some extent Kristo were all secondary scorers on that team which is unbelievable. You can say that Nelson and Rowney have made humongous strides since then, but that is my point exactly that you aren't as polished and physically dominant when you are that age. I think it is possible to run the risk next year to depend on the fact that the talent and depth is there and not be as focused as they have been down the stretch this year. Sometimes when there isn't adversity, the work ethic might not be as strong. But that is next year, let's focus on what this team can accomplish down the stretch.
Rocco with his beliefs and McWilliam as Captain next year won't let work ethic and a little adversity get in the way next season. You could also add in the character of General Patton too.
The Knight, Nelson, Kristo will need to be intact next year, however if Kristo decides to leave for AHL bus rides, Roccos is more than willing and is one of the most dynamic players I've seen at UND in the last ten years, and I only watched ONE (1) live game of him, the game against the Gophers in Gopherland. He was playing at 65% and was skating circles around a pretty solid Gopher defensive corps. Rocco, is that good and that skilled. His speed sets him apart and his ceiling on his skill level is off the charts.
I got goose bumps watching Rocco in that game, the same way I did watching T.J. Oshie dominate his Freshman year because every college team didn't have Oshie on their radar that year when they played the Sioux because that Sioux team was so deep with guys of Toews, Duncan, Stafford, Spirko and T. Zajac.
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If Jones comes, I think Gleason stays at forward and Panzarella is the odd man out unless injury. That lineup would be pretty sick next season, but lets finish this one out strong. I still think this year is Hak and company's best. GO SIOUX!!
This year could be the cinderella year. They also have NO PRESSURE going into the Final Five and NC. Next year, the roster and lineup will be the best we have had in the last 10 years. Yes, I'm serious, I don't care how deep last years team was.
You have to realize who's coming in next year and who's really only leaving. I don't want to speculate on who's leaving. But with the addition of the Huntsville goalie coming in next year and just with Schmaltz and then with Rocco being healthy alone put's this team on the map to be ranked in the top 3 to preseason. You also through in Chyzyk an Koules and then you see the offensive lineup and it blows you away. You really wonder where St. Clair, Jimbo, Dickin' fit in - extra forwards and bodies none the less.
Let's not forget the kid, Brendan O' Donnell and Derek Rodwel, those two have some things to prove next year. One needs to remember, outside of Rocco, O'Donnell was our best incoming freshman forward this year, not taking anything away from the year that McMillian and Parks are having.
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I was at the game. A few things that really stood out with UND. They got beat to the puck and were out muscled by Minnesota. Minnesota had bigger, stronger players, not to mention one of the best goalies in women's hockey. Minnesota also had a more complete team with more depth throughout their lines and especially their defensive corps.
UND needs to find some women studs on the blue line. It doesn't matter that they have the Lamoureux girl's they can't do it all. Those two girls need help. If no help at that department next year, those girls won't reach their goal of winning at National Title at UND.
UND's goalies weren't entirely the culprit of the game. First goal with Ney in net was unacceptable, but it was also a deflection off a skate. Still she looked really shaky, that's why Idalski pulled her and put the foreign goalie in.
Enough with the criticism, the Women's program has come along way and Idalski has received some nice recruits over the last few years. Goaltending should be good next year, and more depth throughout the lines, the one question mark is again defense, in which I just don't understand. The formula for a winning a NC in women's hockey = a good goalie, a few studs on offenses and 1-2 studs on D, that's all you need. You really don't need a complete team. As women's hockey is comparable to boys high school hockey, most good high school hockey teams can get away with 2 solid lines and a mediocre 3rd line that plays regular shifts but get's less ice time and in addition the team rotates their 4 best studs on the blue line, even though 6 D dress.
Okay, post over.
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Did you see the game? Those teams could hang with some college teams if need be.
Right. Please list some teams.
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You're not understanding. Again, the Gophers can't control Notre Dame having a down year. The point is they are not a cupcake the Gophers scheduled. The Sioux had BC and Maine. The Gophers had Michigan State and Notre Dame. Not much difference IMO.
Are you kidding, Maine and BC would handle the Gophers two losses, brortha'. Gophers are soft.
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Scheduled someone good? Like Michigan State and Notre Dame? The reason why the Gophers are 7th in the pairwise isn't because they scheduled easy non conference teams. Its because they lost these games to good teams. And two years ago Vermont was a Frozen Four team. You can't predict how good a team will be when scheduling in advance. The Gopher scheduled one patsy the entire year, Sacred Heart. Northeastern is no slouch either.
Air Force, Harvard, and Clarkson aren't exactly national powers either. The only three tough NC games the Sioux had were 2 vs. Maine and one against BC. Pretty comparable to the Gophers' road series at Michigan State and one against Notre Dame.
Hold on there, kid. Nortre Dame has sunk it's ship this year, losing a lot of big games this year. Standing at 19-16-3 the fact they're still somewhat rated in the pairwise just screams what is wrong with that metric and hockey East media BS. Calling them a decent team, is almost somewhat irrelevant now. Calling Northeastern a decent team, are you kidding me?
Year and year out, the Sioux look to schedule the best teams out East if both teams can aligned with their pre-planned schedules for the year. The Gophers always and will continue to play a soft schedule. Have fun beating up on Penn State in the future, what a great "potential powerhouse team" ,right?
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15 fellow bloggers and I did our own little Blogger All-WCHA Poll. A link to the results is below:
http://atraditionofe...cha-awards.html
I like the final outcome with this list much better. Seems more accurate and no, I'm not being UND bias.
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Anyone know anything about Red River Jr d-man Jon Lizotte, I know he has played in the fall elite league and thought he looked like a pretty good player watching him against Grafton.
He's a work in progress. There's no question about the kids size and talent, he's skating and hockey ability is a little raw at the moment. Think of him as a football player on ice. He needs to polish up on his game over the summer and possibly at Red River next year, during his Senior year.
There's potential there, but the kid needs a big development over the summer. Skating and other fundamentals and intangibles needs improvement.
Good player though!
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Ever heard of Eddie Belfour?
Yes. However, I never got to experience his era and time at UND. Eddie is great!
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By the end of the year, this Sioux team could have 4 (four) 20 goal scorers in Brock Nelson, D. Kristo, C. Rowney, and possibly C. Knight.
Too bad Rocco and O'Donnel weren't on the team. Damn...
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Well, he will forever be know as the best Freshman goalie ever, because he got it done, that is the National Championship. I remember watching him so much that year ('97) smaller goalie, but was just a battler and won big games at times.
I was a fan!
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What happened to aron schweitzer after winning the National Championship his Freshman year in '97?
What was the reason on his departure? I can't remember. Anyone?
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With all due respect to Minot, I'm pretty sure RR JV's team could beat Minot's varsity team. Red River is that deep!
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Oh good. Another fact that is actually an opinion.
You're right. But I don't fabricate my opinions or statements on a message board, why would I? I vividly remember that era, those teams, and those games, either going to the game or watching the games on WDAZ while playing roller hockey in my basement. I remember!
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Then you dont remember. The Ralph was literally half empty during those years the Sioux were irrelevent.
No offense Buckysieve, but I know I'm younger and have a better vivid memory than you. That's a fact. To say I don't remember is completely wrong. Were they sold out every game, no. Against rivalry opponents, you'd have a tough time finding a spot, maybe other than the seats in the last few rows in the ralph here and there and that'd be very spotty. Nothing like what you see now at Marucci or AMSoil arena in Duluth, horrible spotting of unused seats all the time.
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You're wrong on two accounts. First, yes those are down years. Not sure how a Sioux fan could argue otherwise. 2001 was another down year. And second, if the fan base loved those years while the team was down then why was the the Ralph maybe half full?
The old Ralph was sold out still or near capacity in that stretch my friend. I remember going to the games against the Gophers, Badges, Tigers etc. The UND teams with Tedder Wyne, Curtis Murphy, Nick Namenko, Darcy Matini, era with Greg and Ryan Johnson and Landon Wilson and even Russ Romanick sp...they had a fan base and following. I don't know what the hell you're talking about. Sorry.
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I'm sorry but that's just not true. You're telling me UND wasn't having "down years" in the early to mid 90's? I would have to assume missing the NCAA tournament six years in a row in the 90's translates to some "down" years. Especially considering they only made it past the WCHA first round once out of those 6 years. I specifically remember going to games almost every weekend in the old REA with it being no more than half full every night. 2002 wasn't a "down" year for UND? Every program will have down years and that's a fact. UND is currently in an upswing but you can bet money that they will have some down years in the future, it's inevitable.
I was alive and at those games in the early 90's. Those weren't down years, per se. UND had some great players from that era, not the best recruiting classes and a lot of players who played one year and left out of nowhere the next. Down years, maybe, but the fan base loved those years at the old Ralph during that stretch. I, for one of them.
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Both conferences will be good. It is impossible to predict who benefits. To stick a fork in any of these schools at this point is laughable and ignorant.
You sound like a Gopher fan. I stuck a fork in them the last 3-4 years. What a falling of a program. Better this year, but still not great. That "ego" factor they have needs to be checked at the door amongst their players, fans, and state that is in a deficit.
I live and work in the state, so I'm fully aware and not trying to bite the hand that feeds me.
Comparing the truth to a sense of ignorance, is truly the laughable thing here, pal.
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As much as I love the great rivalry between the MInnesota Gophers and UND in hockey, if they do in fact go on a hiatus for a few years, I'll be okay with that. I would love the Sioux to schedule a few more games against BC or maybe even Boston University or Hockey East Schools.
Minnesota fans, need to truly understand that their program is not god's gift to college hockey and in the hiatus stretch, maybe their fans will be able to be non fair-weather fans and actually fill Marucci to capacity at one point, let alone show up on time...Been to many games there, don't tell me it doesn't happen, or that other events, (Gopher Basktetball) games are going on, or that Minnesota hockey is now the third tier sport at Minnesota, it always has been!
The reason why, is solely on the fact, that those teams year in and year out will not compete or be competing for the National Tournament. Minnesota, Michigan State, Penn State, Wisconsin (on down years, happens to everyone, but the Sioux) and in the foreseeable future Nebraska (I know, still needs to come to fruition), will not be top elite talents winning the National Tournament. Not going to happen.
Other than the generating revenue between the series with the Gophers and Badgers, I strongly feel that UND will be ok. Don't get me wrong, those series/rivalries/ and atmosphere is second to none.
However, playing other non-conference games in their replacement for a few years is not a bad thing, it will help generate more awareness for UND across the college hockey spectrum, as if we needed anymore, but it won't hurt.
Keep in mind, the rivalry between Denver, CC, and UNO - which is heating up, produces great weekend series. Not to mention in Miami University now, their program is not laughable as to Notre Dames, They're aren't' too many people not taking notice to what Miami has done in the last 5-8 yrs. with their program. Those games will be great battles with UND in the new league.
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Anyone else find it ironic that the StarTribune article written by Rachel Blount was posted today, along with the UMD article regarding the racist/hostile chants. Weird, right?
I mean, let' see UND played Duluth two weeks ago and that article couldn't have come out any earlier?Who's controlling the media people? Who's buying into it?
Putting too much thought into it? Probably, but I live to question things.
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Bottom line, for the Sioux to win/sweep they must play a full 60 minutes of "discipline" hockey.
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Who here would walk from that kind of money to stand on your convictions? Just as I thought. None.
If he didn't have kids, I'd do it if I were him. It's not like he couldn't find another job sooner than later.
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Is your name Barry or Joel?
If not, how can you "know for a fact"?
Joel still in charge?
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You're running under your hypothesis of what they'd do.
We have Minnesota and Wisconsin on record stating they'll follow their policy with regard to North Dakota. That's the reality we have to live in and with.
And frankly for the record, we also have Minnesota Gopher coach's and administrators regarding their hockey program shying away from playing North Dakota because they are flat out getting embarrassed over the last few years and don't admire the style of play that our team (North Dakota) plays with and shenanigans that take place year in and year out.
The Big Ten conference, besides Wisconsin, (they still play with an edge here and there, but they also rely on a trap system type of game, when they have "down years" on the offense ) could create a European style of play. Up and down hockey, fun for attracting newer fans that are in the majority of the niche college hockey fan base.
However, seeing text book checking and big hits is always fun too. I think that Coach Lucia needs to realize, that for the pure development of his upcoming recruits, that if they want to play in the NHL, the style of play that will be instilled in the Big Ten conference will hinder them, just my own thoughts there.
I know that's a whole can of warms, but it is the truth. And I know, the Gophers, Badgers, Wolverines, will still develop players to play in the big show one day, despite the different style of play that will be implemented in their conference, but if I'm recruiting a top tier player, I say come play in the National Hockey Conference instead - You'll face tighter competition from top to bottom and also will have non-cupcake games in non-confernce scheduling games.
Rant over.
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Seth Jones Watch
in Men's Hockey
Posted
I agree. This level of theatrics is very embarrassing! I couldn't imagine being out of high school, let alone being a college team and doing this for team bonding, superstition, or whatever. I guess this is the sole reason Grant Potulny receives a paycheck, his biggest contribution to the program. "Hey, let's bring a G.F. Red River tradition to the Minnesota Gopher squad." What a bunch of knuckleheads!
They look like a bunch of idiots too! There's no sugar coating it. It's stupid. Plain and simple.