PCM

If the intention is to select the top offensive-defensemen, I have no problem with the INCH list. What I do have a problem with is the idea that a defenseman's offensive output is his more important than his ability to play defense.

You too, huh?

There's no question that the Sioux have played great team defense throughout the season, due in no small part to the forwards helping out. But to imply that they have a greater role in the team's success than those responsible for playing defense (i.e. goalies and defensemen) is sillly. Jones, Greene, Schneider and Smaby are all NHL draft picks. Apparently someone with hockey smarts thinks they are pretty good defensemen. Huh? Have you been paying attention this season? Greene's number of penalties -- especially the undisciplined variety -- have dropped dropped dramatically.

I do agree. Consider these stats for UND, a team tied for first with Maine and BC in the PairWise Rankings: Average goals scored per game = 4.6 (1st nationally) Average goals allowed per game = 2.2 (6th nationally) Top 20 Average Scoring Margin 1. North Dakota 2.4 2. Maine 1.83 3. Boston College 1.61 4. Minnesota-Duluth 1.46 5. Michigan 1.11 6. Bemidji State 1.00 7. Minnesota 0.97 8. Rensselaer 0.89 9. Colgate 0.88 10. Michigan State 0.87 11. Cornell 0.83 12. Brown 0.79 13. Wisconsin 0.79; Denver 0.79 15. New Hampshire 0.75 16. Colorado College 0.69 17. Mercyhurst 0.68 18. Miami 0.67 19. Holy Cross 0.59 20. Ohio State 0.58

mikejm, in your avatar, is that a picture of you with the MacNaughton Cup? If so, perhaps I can make arrangements to have the bus drop me off to visit you at your nursing home.

I agree, dagies. There's a reason the position is called defenseman. The player's primary responsibility is defense, not offense. As a group, I wouldn't trade UND's defensive corps for any in the nation. And I wouldn't trade Jones and Greene for any pair in the country. David Hale never put up great offensive numbers and maybe never will. But that didn't mean that he wasn't one of the top defensemen in college hockey. Try telling that to the New Jersey Devils. Is it good to have an outstanding offensive defenseman or two on a team? You bet it is. Is it a necessity? As of right now, the Sioux are proving that it's not.

A 180-pound Canadian canary told me he would play.

Gee, look what I found.

Prpich can and will play.

He will play.

Chris Conner said after the game on Saturday that even if MTU had won and had to play Wisconsin, they weren't going to return to Houghton. They would have driven to Madison and spent the week there. Also, Blais said on the coaches show last week that the Huskies wouldn't be able to use the rink at the Ralph if they stayed in Grand Forks for the week. I'm sure they were well aware of that before they got here.

I doubt that it's the same article. USCHO Magazine has yet to put any of its content online.

Thanks for the recaps, Sioux fans in Fargo! Good stuff!

Which means nothing.

Sure, that's what you say here...

I know they have a vending machine for USCHO Magazine at the Ralph's Pro Shop, but the last time I was there, it was empty. I'll probably be over that way in the next day or two. If they have the new issue, I'll pick up a copy for you.

There are 23 states that receive a combined total of 5 percent of the NIH budget. North Dakota is one of those states. Until recently, the UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences focused on educating doctors, not on research. That is rapidly changing. However, it takes time to build up biomedical research infrastructure and to attract researchers capable of pulling in NIH funding. Having a medical school doesn't automatically make a university a magnet for federal research dollars.

I can't speak for Scott, but I'm guessing that he was putting Chapman and Kupchella in the same boat.

It beats playing in Michigan or out east. Blais thinks the Sioux are as good as anyone on the big ice. If he's not worried about it, I'm not worried about it. I know. I was kidding. That's why I put the after my comment.

The vast majority of sports fans are casual observers. Like it or not, this is the part of hockey that the general public is exposed to. As long as fighting remains "part of the game," hockey's image is cheapened by incidents like this and it will never have the following of other sports. While I agree that Bertuzzi's attack wasn't fighting, it was carried out under the guise of sticking up for a teammate. And isn't that what most hockey fans who approve of fighting say they want?

Virg, I thought that you'd have already figured this out by now.

Well, the idea was to have people actually use the images. Therefore, the answer to your question is YES!.

Especially if they get to use their hockey sticks.

Jeez, try to help out the Gophers and they get all defensive about it.

Shouldn't it be Danny Irmen? Based on his USHL stats, his position in the NHL draft and the fact that he'll be a better player than Murray and Porter in three years, he's the obvious choice.