Big A HG

Gregoire baby!

I understand that, but you gotta crush 'em when you can. It won't be this way the whole game.....now it's a 5 on 3 for Tech. I bet they'll score.

Let's put one in already...I hate leaving a team like this in it.

Blake, Stafford, and Oshie combined for 4 goals, and 6 assists on the night. Nice work guys.

You have to keep 'em separated because a lot of smaller teams who would have to travel to Alaska twice might not be able to afford it. To have to travel there twice is spendy. Being that it's college, it's hard to take a full week off if you did a back-to-back weekend thing. The only way it would work where they are in the same conference is if you can guarantee only one visit to Alaska per year, which might be doable if they were added as a 12th team. However, do we want another Alaska team in our conference?

Like I was saying....

We aren't solving much then. BSU is in, but now UAA is left looking for a home. I know you were likely kidding, but for those that take you seriously, it's not a good option.

Roger that....thanks Jim. I like the idea of another sweep. I wouldn't rule out a split in Houghton though. It's a tough place to come away with two wins.

Jim, so your chart is saying, if we sweep, we can finish anywhere from 11th to 20th in the PWR, with the most likely finishing spot being about 16th? If I'm way off, please elaborate. Thanks for all your help on the subject.

Well, in the case of Notre Dame, they already have their program in place, it's just a matter of switching conferences...which would be a much shorter process than if a current team without a hockey program tried implementing one. I think PSU or Purdue would be the front runners to join D1 hockey, if it were to happen. This wouldn't be a short process, it's still years off, but if the WCHA gets too crowded, and attendance starts to suffer slightly at programs that could sell out more games against bigger, more well-known rivals, I don't see how that process couldn't go through.

What I said was half a joke. However, I think if they can get to 6 or 7 teams, I think it's doable. If PSU, Illinois, or Purdue were to start hockey, and then the Big Ten as a whole could convince Notre Dame to join for all sports, then there would be some serious potential. Right now there are 5 Big10 teams that play D1 hockey, but like I said, if they can get to 6 or 7, that'd be pretty convincing.

If that's the case, then I want to be the first to contrulage and welcome the soon to be formed Big Ten Hockey Conference!

If we sweep everyone that is currently behind is in the rankings, and split with everyone that's currently ahead of us, we'll end up with 39 conference points. I find it hard to believe that a second half performance like that would keep us out of the playoffs. With 39 points, I think that would be good enough for 2nd place in conference...then throw in a couple losses for Denver, and heck, we can still win the regular season conference. We haven't shot ourselves in the foot too much when it comes to regular season play, just OOC. Let's do it!

That bag is taking us to the promised land 'mama!

What's so bad about it? Do you actually think the Sioux should be in yet?

Anyone know what kind of stats Gregoire put up at VMC when he was there...just for comparison sake?

Also, Waterloo and Fink will be heading up on the 16th and 17th I believe. That's this weekend, so for those that won't be at the games in Houghton, or watching 'em on the internet, this might be a good option. I would like to make it down...maybe Friday.

Being that Tech is going to clog things up, we have to take advantage of our power play oppurtunities. MTU averages the least amount of penalty minutes per game in the WCHA, so converting on our chances is going to be important.

Looks like the Gophers should recruit that guy....at least he's willing to drop 'em.

Team of the week is nice for now, but I want to see a Team of the Year before I graduate (meaning this year). The guys deserve this one though...

Good high school and junior play doesn't always translate into good WCHA/NCAA play. I'm not going to consider him anything other than a very good goaltender in a league different than that of UND. I'll give him props when he performs well at the next level.

Well then there goes that nickname idea....

That's Jonesy's lesson of the day.

Martens, although improved, is still only an average player for a big D1 perennial contender....and Duncs is only a year older than a typical senior. Plus, a comment like that implies that we got these huge bearded Canadian backwoods boys that are out there just to rough it up. Neither Duncan nor Martens fit that billing. However they want to look at it is fine with me. I'll take two butt whoopin's instead of having to come up with excuses the entire week before the next games.

On a side note for next years Gopher series at The Ralph, Who would agree with me that it would be awesome to get Michael Buffer to do intros next year at the Friday game. For those that don't know who Michael Buffer is, he is the voice that does "Let's get ready to rumble!" A high school from near where I'm from did this for a big rivalry basketball game. Granted, they didn't have Looker as their main guy, but how could you not want to do something like this as a one time deal. The high schools paid for nearly the whole ordeal just by selling t-shirts to people who attended the event. I think UND could pull something like this off with ease. Heck, I think they could even make money on the deal. How great would it be to have the intensity (that always results in a boxing match or three) with a boxing legend attending? Just a thought...