DAR
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Posts posted by DAR
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The Sioux need 3-4 pts out of this weekend. I know we need to take it one game at a time but I am hoping for a 6 game win streak going into the DECC where I hope to witness another strong Sioux performance as I witnessed last year at the DECC. Hopefully Murray will be back for the Duluth series but we shall see.
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Wow! There are certainly two extremes on this message board. The first extreme are those who are calling for Hakstol's head. The second extreme are those with green-colored glasses who view it as blasphemy to even utter a disparaging word about Sioux hockey and Dave Hakstol. An objective view will tell you that you are both right and both wrong. In other words, there is cause for concern, but it is early.
Obvious concerns:
1. The powerplay. The Sioux dump the puck in, send 3 forwards into the corner, and about 1/2 of the time, gain possession. Additionally, no one moves, meaning that if the opponent pressures the puck, there is a good chance that the Sioux will have no success.
On the other hand, this is a problem that has plagued the Sioux for several years, including last year when they had the 2 best forwards in the country. Is this Hakstol's issue (he ran the PP last year) or is it Dean Blais?
2. Passion and hustle. The game against the Gophers that the Sioux lost 6-0 was one of the most uninspired and worst performances that I have ever seen by a Sioux team, and I have watched Sioux hockey for many, many years. It is one thing to come out flat, but against the Gophers?? at home?? This has been a problem to a lesser extent all year.
On the other hand, the Sioux played hard on Saturday against Wisconsin, so they are showing signs of life. Consistency is still a problem.
3. The Sioux seem too big and slow. When is the last time that you saw a Wisconsin team that was quicker?? CC and Minnesota are also quicker. We need to get back to the teams of the last 90's that were smaller and quicker. We look like Denver and Wisconsin of past years. Along with that, we are becoming a dump and chase team, which is not the style used by Dean Blais, who learned from Herb Brooks. Recall that Herb Brooks said that dump and chase hockey went out with short pants.
On the other hand, this is not all Dave Hakstol's fault. Yes, he recruited these players, but Dean Blais was the head coach, so presumably that is the direction that Coach Blais wanted to go.
4. Discipline. The Sioux take too many penalties, most of which are untimely and wear them out. This is a major issue. It is simply an excuse to blame the new rules, because everyone knew that they were coming and you have to adjust. Plus, we can't have it both ways. We clamored for tighter officiating when Parise was getting mugged every night, so we should theoretically be happy that the game is being called tighter. Besides, excuses are unbecoming and make us look like Woog, Mazzoco, Sid Hartman and the numerous Gopher posters on USCHO, most notably Happy.
This has to get better and will get better. The Sioux have too many senior leaders. When it does, the Sioux will have more success.
5. Recruiting. I also have concerns about the style of players that Hakstol and Berry recruit as opposed to Sandelin. They generally recruit bigger stay-at-home defenseman who play an NHL style. However, the college game is different, thank God. In college, there is room for Larry Olimb, Mike Crowley, Curtis Murphy, Russ Parent, Keith Ballard, and other "smaller" defenseman with great offensive skills. In fact, those players typically thrive in college hockey because of the bigger ice sheets, speed of the game and less obstruction. The forwards are also getting bigger and slower. I am also concerned that we will ignore Minnesota and ND as recruiting grounds. We need balance---western Canada, Minnesota, ND, etc.
On the other hand, it is way too early to tell. We need to at least finish this year and see where this team is at. This was supposed to be a team that competes THIS YEAR (every team has a tough schedule at some point). Next year was supposed to be the struggle.
BOTTOM LINE: It is way too early to panic. We have played a tough schedule and there is a lot of hockey to be played. However, I agree that we need to have a very short leash. If this team does not have success this year, this program simply cannot have patience for several years. The new rink is dependent upon being full, which is directly tied to winning. I was a season ticket holder in the early 90's when the Sioux were at the bottom, and it was not fun. You could have thrown a rock in any direction without fear of hitting anyone. This is one of the top 3 coaching jobs in the country, and there will be no shortage of applicants should Dave Hakstol not succeed. We can't simply spew the company line and get mad at posters because they see problems with the coaching decision. I thought that is why we have a message board where persons can express opinions and dissent. Personally, I'm very concerned as well and I don't like what I see. However, I am not going to panic---I am going to see what happens the rest of the year.
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Very well said, my thoughts pretty much exactly without having to do all the typing!!
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Random thoughts from a fan that is sick of people belittling the program:
(1) Some of you idiots remove your head from your @#$ and realize that there have been alot of changes from last year and it will take time for the transition.
(2) It ain't how you are playing in early November that matters - look at Denver.
(3) Yes this team has issues but this ship can be righted - we as Sioux fans need to have some confidence in the program. Didn't we win a few titles before Blais, before Gasparini etc...
(4) That DAR and NEOFLIXX or NEONUTS or whatever the he!! his name is, get a fliipin clue or if I am really lucky never post again on this site.
(5) Funny how once a coach like Blais is gone, all you remember are the glory years and that he could do no wrong.
(6) Blais empowered Hak with the recruiting function that brought in players like Paraise - the well will continue to run deep.
(7) Look at some of the positives - Lammy is the real deal, Zajac looks like a natural goal scorer, our schedule in the next month is a hell of alot better than the last month.
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I have a right to my opinion and if you do not like it too damn bad!! I agree that the jury is still out on Hak. Of course there are a few positives this season, but this team has earned the right to be criticized especially with the constant undisciplined play. And don't worry I have been posting on this site for some time and because you think i "need to get a flippin clue does not mean s&!t to me"!! This team has more veterans than most of the teams in the league with a large senior class, they are playing like I thought next year's team would play with a ton of new players. Therefore, I do not feel that people who have valid criticisms of the team should be called out. After all this is a discussion forum, if you do not like differing opinions from your own then don't read it.
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No one is calling for Hak's head we are simply voicing our concerns as fans. If the team continues to struggle under Hak it will be the REA calling for his head and not the fans because the Ralph will be half empty. A full Ralph cannot even generate much enthusiasm, can you imagine a half-filled Ralph?
I say we should go back to the old Ralph for a few series and get some fire in these guys....sometimes I think the plush locker rooms and world class facilities leads to a lackadasical attitude and does not bring out the killer instinct. -
These guys don't seem to have a problem playing for an "unproven coach that is losing games":
Andrew Kozek-LC (10/1/04) Surrey (BCHL) 5'11 175 6-8-86 58-19-22-41-67
Matt Watkins-LC (9/26/04) Vernon (BCHL) 5'10 175 11-22-86 2004 SMHL
Zach Jones-RD (7/26/04) USNDPT U-18 Team 5'11 175 1-14-87
Chris Vandevelde-LW (6/8/04) Moorhead 6'2 180 3-15-87 (for 2006)
Brad Miller-LW (3/12/04) Green Bay (USHL) 5'10 170 1-31-86
T.J. Oshie-LC (2/5/04) Warroad 5'10 165 12-23-86
Brian Lee-RD (2/3/04) Moorhead 6'2 180 3-27-87 2004 USA U-18 team;
Ryan Duncan-RW (12/18/03) Salmon Arm (BCHL) 5'6 155 7-14-85
Taylor Chorney-LD (10/23/03) Shattuck St.Marys 5'10 170 4-27-87 2004
Keep in mind that alot of them commited with Hakstol as the head coach of the Sioux.
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All of thse players with the exception of Jones, Kozek, and Watkins were Blais recruits. My main concern is with the style of hockey that I am seeing. Hak said not much would change and that it would be the same high tempo Sioux teams that we have seen under Blais. While what I have seen is a team that cannot complete an outlet pass to save their lives. I have seen the team 3 times in person and I have never seen such a poor passing Sioux team since I have been following the team upon enrolling in school at UND in 1993.
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For the second time, Hakstol did most of the recruiting even when Blais was head coach.
And about Kessel, he has pretty much always had the same teams on his list:
BC, BU, Minnie, Mich, and Wisco.
UND was never listed as a possible school in any of the articles that I saw.
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Yes at the beginning UND was one of the schools he was considering. The point that Hak did most of the recruiting under Blais means nothing. Blais was the final authority on recruiting and the vast majority of the currect UND palyers are here in most part because of coach Blais. Hak can do as many recruiting visits as he wants but no big time recruit is going to make his decision based on an associate head coach. So believe me Blais was the driving force in recruiting while he was coach.
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I agree with Diggler. Relax a little. I'll still be here when things turn around, knowing I was on board the whole time.
And you're wrong on Kessel; there was no shot there, Blais or not.
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Oh OK and you have some insider information on this? Blais was a hell of a recruiter. I do not think that coach Hak would have lured Parise to UND! If Blais was still coach, NDwould have had a good shot at Kessel. Not that he is a Parise but he will be a good player.
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That is the story of the season so far "UND LOOKS SLUGGISH"!!
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Just got home from a long Sioux rollercoaster day. Fun but exhausting.
High point
The football game at Husky field was amazing! Our fans are very classy and it was a very tense game towards the end. Good we could finally capitalize after the many chances we had to win it. Too bad the Michigan Tech hockey series is in 2 weekends because that would be one heck of a road trip to see football and hockey in the same weekend away.
Low point
Our struggling hockey team on television at Sensers. I was very excited driving back home thinking that our hockey team would win as well. Of course my hopes were crushed with the loss.
But, I finally figured out why our team is losing (hence the post).
We don't have a BROTHER COMBINATION on the ice for the first time in a long while.
This struck me when I got to talking to Ryan Hale and David Hoogsteen, who happened to be at the restaraunt. We don't have that special chemistry we have had in the past few years with the Hales, Hoogsteens, Lundbohms, Ulmers, Panzers, Parises and others. This has to be our problem. I can't think of what else it could be.
On a side note, Ryan Hale and Katie O'Keefe are engaged. Since her job loss at Victory Sports, she is pursuing a Discovery channel opportunity. A special congratulations goes out to them and David Hoogsteen for having his first little Hoogie!
P.S. Hale thinks the penalty changes are horrible as the rest of us do. He said that every season they would always have some sort of officiating change and what they are doing now is absurd. They should just let the players play. I totally agree. But we still should be able to bury the puck. At least we put some more shots on goal and Lammy played well until he was screened. We will be fine.
It isn't Hakstol. Blais left him the perfect team until we had our big scorers leave. We will find combinations and ways to put the puck in the net in time. Hopefully sooner than later. It's a tough league and we may just not be the top dog right now as we all have grown accustomed to in the past. We have a young team.
Let's pull it together soon Sioux!!! The puck will eventually find it's way to the back of the net!!!
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Ther is no doubt that Hakstol is going to have a problem bringing in the top recruits. If Blais was still here I believe UND would have had a real shot at Kessel. Hakstol is a Western Canadian and that is mainly where I believe he will try and get the majority of his recruits. I am not at all against having the best players no matter where they are from but I think that Hak is going to rely too heavily on western Canada and the best Minnesota/US recruits will no longer choose UND.
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This is just a bunch of s&!t. This is a veteran team and they are playing like a bunch of babies. At this rate the Ralph will have 5,000 people a game by the end of the season. Yes, I am pushing the panic button. Coach Hak is in over his head. There is no way he is going to be able to draw the top recruits the way Blaiser did. I can see in about a year or two UND will be 80% Canadian and we will no longer be competitive for the top recruits in the US. If we are going to average two goals a game we can kiss home ice and a shot at the NCAA's goodbye!!!
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One game does not make a career. He has a promising future but I would not wear out your arm patting yourself on the back. The player I have been most disappointed in is Radke. The games I have seen so far he does not look ready for the WCHA. INCH had him ranked as the #2 incoming freshman D and I have not been very impressed so far. The good news is he can go nowhere but up from here. I have not been impressed with Kaip either but he was not considered a big time recruit.
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The continuous lack of discipline with this team has really gone over the edge. The team continually shoots themselves in the foot with stupid penalties that often create a 5 on 3 for the other team. I am not totally giving up on Hakstol, he just seems to be in over his head. I can guarantee that if Blais was coaching this team, the team would have made a much better adjustment to the new reules and the offense would be much better. This type of hockey cannot be good for recruiting either. I would hate to see the Sioux turn away from the high tempo teams of the past but that is what I am seeing so far under coach Hak. Undisciplined penalties, no speed through the neutral zone, piss poor passing, and a horrible power play. Very frusturating!!
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This year's team is going to be more defensive oriented than last year. I think the low shot totals for this series are the result of the overall lackluster play. The passes were not crist and the forwards were not entering the Mankato zone with any speed. In order for this team to contend for a NC we need to find a way to generate more shots and score goals because I think defesively and in goal we will be fine.
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I attended the game Sat. night. I was not impressed with the play of the team at all. Lammy was by far the best player for the Sioux. It sounds like the goalie was the best player on the ice for the Sioux both nights. They have got to cut down on the unnecessary penalties. Prpich (as usual) and Greene in particular. Radke did not get much ice time, and looks like he is pretty raw. He does not look very comfortable out there. There just was not the offense generated or the crisp passing and speed through the neutral zone that I am used to seeing from Sioux teams. The end result however was 3/4 points and the Sioux should consider themselves quite fortunate as they were outplayed most of the weekend. Time to sweep the rodents!
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Not to often you hear guys leaving their college teams before they have even signed a professional contract. To me this makes no sense. There has to be more to this than has come out. Ottawa is in the driver's seat know they can say take it or leave it. The negotiation has pretty much been taken out of it.
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This whole situation has taken on a life of it's own. The sooner this situation is resolved the better for the team. Losing Parise and Bochenski, by far the two best forwards on last year's team to early departures is a tough pill to swallow. Hakstol would not dare pull Bo's scholarship money and allocate it to another player without being 100% sure he was going to sign. I seem to remember a quote from him some weeks back that said he would not be surprised if he signed but also would not be surprised to see him back.
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The Sioux will not dominate the WCHA this year without Bochenski. It would be a big assumption to expect Massen, Canady etc. to pick up the scoring slack when they did nothing last year.The team will have to use defense as its strength because there will be few proven scorers. Bochenski adds a proven scoring element to the team that no other player can duplicate. Without Bochenski I highly doubt the Sioux will be picked to win the WCHA.
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I do not see any way on earth that Ottawa gives him a million dollar signing bonus. That is about what Parise got. If he expects a million dollar bonus he will be back in school.
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Since school is soon starting at least at UND, I think the U starts later. Both players are really leaving their coaches and teammates hanging IMO. If you are going to go, then go but don't put your teammates and coaches in a bad position. If Bochenski does leave it will be too late to replace him and the team will be short a forward. Same for Vanek.
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I highly doubt Ballard will ever drop the gloves in the NHL. He will not be able to be a cheap shot artist in the NHL like he was in college or he will get his face smashed in. He is the type of player who will take shots behind the play but will not stand up like a man.
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I guess this is the attitude I thought Bochenski would have coming into this season. Here is a quote from Michigan's Al Montoya who decided to stay in school even though he was like the 6th pick. "It comes down to it, I've got some unfinished business at school I want to take care of," Montoya told the Journal News. "For development purposes I'm on the right track at Michigan to get to Madison Square Garden some day." That is very refreshing, props to Montoya. Yeah unfinished business like a good shot at a NC and working toward a college degree. To each their own but I think he is making a big mistake. Maybe he should call up Bryan Lundbohm another high scoring forward who left early or maybe Travis Roche.
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Give me a break Bina is not going to play over Smaby!!
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This is really going to hurt the depth of the team. This year's team is not going to be as explosive as we would have hoped. It just puts a sour taste in my mouth as a fan especially when a guy is going to leave college to play in the minors with a very minimal signing bonus. I think there is something deeper here, maybe he did not want to go to class anymore. I am just speculating though as I do not have any idea what kind of student he is. Parise I can understand leaving this makes ZERO sense to me! Why would you not want to get your degree and play another year of college hockey and a shot at the hobey and a NC. I think some of these guys underestimate how hard it really is to make it to the NHL
Scary stuff
in Men's Hockey
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Hmmm... funny the Goofers recruited him heavily. Funny how all the punks come out when the Goofs have a good weekend.