PCM

I'm not sure how much to read into Minnesota's win against UAH Friday. I watched the first two periods of that game and UAH was absolutely horrid. They were the most pathetic excuse for a DI team I'd ever seen. If Niagara had played that way against the Sioux, I have no doubt that North Dakota would have rung up 10 or more. It will be interesting to see if UAH makes a game of it tonight.

Two missed field goals and a fumble at the goal line didn't help. I don't know what anyone else thinks, but I get frustrated when the Sioux have momentum on their side and play conservatively. That was the difference in this game. When the Sioux had the opportunity to stick the knife in and give it a twist, they didn't. When Mankato had the opportunity, they did.

I was a bit surprised on the Wednesday coaches show when Hennessy and Blais seemed to agree that few teams -- even championship ones -- have more than one good scoring line. They put the 2000 championhsip Sioux team in that category. In my opinion, what made the 2000 Sioux so potent was the fact that the team had two respectable scoring lines. The first line with Goren, Bayda and Ulmer was the best, but the second with Panzer, Lundbohm and Skarperud (usually) could easily have been the first line on most teams that season. I think it's great that Fylling, Parise and Bochenski are playing so well together. However, based on what Blais said after the game last night, I do believe that he knows the team would be much better off with another respectable scoring line. It doesn't have to be as great as the top line, but it does need to create scoring chances when on the ice and punch in one or two each game. I'd like to think that between players like Spiewak, Notermann, Lundbohm, Ryan Hale, Genoway and Massen that it shouldn't be too difficult to come up with a decent second scoring line. It seems to be a matter of consistency, however.

When Massen was interviewed between periods, it sounded as if there was a good chance he'd play against Yale. Given Blais' disappointment with how all the lines except Parise's played, I wouldn't be surprised to see Massen in the lineup Saturday.

It was disappointing to hear that a Princeton player took a run at Parise early in the game. I was glad that he got a 5-minute major for it. I wonder how much more of that we'll see this season.

He just needs more practice at taking his clothes off.

Does he play hockey or basketball?

I knew that Dave Burkholder, the Niagara coach, questioned his team's shots on goal after the game. However, I don't think the shot clock was off by more than a shot or two -- if it was off at all. After the first period, I made a conscious effort to watch Niagara's shots on goal to see if they'd be the first team to break 20 against the Sioux. There was a long stretch of time during which the Purple Eagles had no shots on goal. When they finally came, they were few and far between. I can't recall a single Niagara shot not counting that I thought should have counted.

Heh heh. Two heads are better than one.

Here are the notes I typed up while listening to the UND Coaches show tonight. Tim Hennessy and Scott Swygman interviewed Dean Blais. They play Yale and Princeton this weekend. Should have thrown Harvard in there, too. Talked about how much it costs to attend those schools and estimated $35,000 a year. Blais said Boston College is over $30,000 a year. Hennessy: Fans told him that Friday's game against Niagara was one of most entertaining games in a long time, and Saturday was good, too. Blais: They saw last year. This is a more exciting team. About Niagara, Blais said that he didn't think their roster was too much different from ours. They commented about how many good young players there are all over the WCHA. Blais said he was happy with the team's performance against Niagara. He thought ref "made some interesting calls." The two shorthanded goals by Spiewak and Notermann turned the game around. Blais said that he then screwed it up by replacing Notermann and Spiewak, after which Niagara scored on the power play. Hennessy said Notermann told him he was gassed anyway. Blais didn

SDSUFAN, contrary to what you might think, I do appreciate your reports and perspective on the DIAA situation at SDSU. We don't get much news or insight on that topic up here.

I stand corrected. I should have said "almost gone."

Common sense prevails.

Sounds like JBB hasn't left the Twilight Zone yet. A certain law school dean who's no longer at UND managed to get some of the faculty to back his pet resoultion. The law school students made it clear that they strongly disagreed with his positon. I heard that some law school alumni let their feelings on the matter be known, too.

Dave Burkholder, the Niagara coach, was lamenting the fact that Tallari got tossed out of their game with Canisius for spearing and had a one-game suspension because of it. It was nice to meet you, SockeyeSioux. Brian certainly was focused and intense -- even between periods!

I don't know that I'm right about Wanless. What I'm saying is that I wouldn't assume that he is all or part Native American because of where he graduated from high school. I also find it curious that if he has Native American background, it apparently was never mentioned by him or anyone else during the debate over the Sioux name.

It should be interesting to see if the Sioux can continue their high level of play. I hope they don't start looking ahead to SCSU and overlook these games. What I'm most interested in is how the goalie(s) play, how the power play looks and the effectiveness of the penalty kill.

I guess I wouldn't assume that Wanless was Native American just because he graduated from Todd County High School. We used to play them in football and basketball. As I recall, the percentage of white students was quite high. (Maybe 50 percent or better?) If I remember correctly, it would have been his grandmother who lived next to my mother in Highmore. He wouldn't have been born yet. Plus, I think Wanless looks a lot like Dick Cheney.

I'm curious, SDSUFAN: How do you know that Wanless is a member of the Rosebud tribe? I'm not saying that he isn't because I don't know. But I find it interesting that in all the debate I've heard about the Sioux name, this never came up.

Any time.

Ah, SDSUFAN, so much misinformation and so little time. Where to begin? First, it's interesting that you claim Wanless as an SDSU grad because he doesn't list a degree from the school among his academic credentials. However, because his family grew up next to my mother

I don't "claim to be and SDSU alum," I am one. In fact, Mike Rounds and I graduated from high school in the same class. And the only reason I brought up President Miller's quote about the hockey schools was in an attempt to understand your hostility toward UND. Just so you know, SDSUFAN, I have given money to SDSU and have never given a dime to UND because I am not a graduate of that university. I do try to follow the Jackrabbits and cheer them on when I can. Now you say you have no quarrel with UND. Could have fooled me. If that's the case, then why are you here?

Perhaps this quote by SDSU President Peggy Miller from the Argus Leader more than anything explains SDSUFAN's attitude toward UND: Apparently Miller and SDSUFAN's buddy Freddy O. believe the DI hockey schools in the NCC have thrown a monkey wrench into their plan to go DIAA. (Where have we heard this before?) Certainly they'd have nothing against the university that's the "800-pound gorilla" of hockey schools in the NCC, would they?

I never said it was a big deal. In fact, as a team, we stunk. But we played and we had fun. I only brought it up to illustrate the fact that not everyone associated with SDSU is as narrow-minded and bigoted as you when it comes to college hockey. "Dakotonics" has nothing to do with it. Daktronics, however, made millions selling video scoreboards and other equipment to Engelstad and the Alerus Center. Face it, SDSUFAN, the Norwegian Mafia has its hooks into the Brookings economy. Do you seriously expect me to believe that SDSU would turn down a $100 million gift from a donor who legally made hundreds of millions of dollars in construction, real estate and gambling? Do you realize how many ice cream cones SDSU would have to sell to make that up?

SDSUFAN, you seem to be really hung up on the fact that Ralph still owns the arena. There is a reason why this is so and it's not because Ralph intended it to be that way. I'd like to clue you in, but because you seem to believe that you already know everything, you can continue to wallow in your ignorance and look foolish. You're just so good at it.