brianvf

Hopefully the team can get some quality practices in and analysis all the multiple glaring issues after the series against WMU. SCSU is in 8th place currently...let's keep them near the bottom and get some points to keep us in the top 4. Perron - Berg - Swanson OMac - Boisvert - James Croal - Wilkie - Strinden Littler - Schmaltz - Jammer Livanavage - MacDonald Strathmann - Wiebe Emery - Jubenvill Hobie

UND will have another week to stew over their horrendous weekend against WMU. SCSU is in a big slump, losing 7 of their last 8 (including being swept by UND), with their only win against St Thomas in that span. SCSU plays UNO this weekend while UND has the bye. SCSU will still be without their stud goalie for the UND series, but they got good goaltending in their series at the Ralph. Potentially still some bad blood between the programs after Berry and Larson were yelling at each other and had to be separated after the Sat game during handshakes.

That's one that I was hoping would have committed here instead of DU. Seemed like it was rumored that he wasn't going to stay in-state for quite a long time and we seemed to be on his finalist list.

Should we be starting Fire Chaves chants as well? He surprisingly made a move for FB, maybe there’s an admin spot for Berry as well?

Schloss mentioned on his weekly podcast that he expects to see Bump in the NHL at the end of the season. Certainly wouldn't be surprising with how he played last weekend. UND helped him out a bit, of course.

McKamey and Zellers on the same line could be really fun to watch. McKamey is still so young...just turned 16...but he accelerated in school so he could come to campus in 26/27.

I kept telling him over and over about how the xG showed that UND should be winning 4-2, but yet UND was losing 5-1 on the scoreboard. He went ballistic.

Oh for sure. Yes, they could. Unfortunately nothing is guaranteed. We're going back and forth on semantics here. We both agree...as I am sure many do here...that changes need to be made. The product on the ice is not working and something needs to jolt this program back to being a national contender each year. What those changes are and when they happen still remains to be seen.

Definitely not what I was saying at all. Wouldn't it make it easier for a new head coach or coaching staff if players like Boisvert, Livanavage, Swanson, etc and recruits like Zellers and Laurila all stayed the course at UND? If a new coaching staff comes in and everyone leaves, it might take a few seasons to even get back to where we are now. And that would cause the natives to get restless again and we'd see FIRE <INSERT NEW COACH> threads started promptly.

Yeah, I don't think just hiring/firing an assistant coach would change much at this point. This isn't like when Shaw was let go. That said...from the players/recruits standpoint, I wonder how they would react to a complete coaching reset? The last thing we'd want is for some of our current talented players or higher end recruits to depart due to a wholesale coaching staff swap. If UND is actually going to do something this offseason, they would need to have everything lined up for succession to avoid any uncertainty with current/incoming players.

So, essentially, if Berry is still coach, you're writing off next season already as well? Just don't want to get my hopiums up for no reason.

Updated as of 1/20 Zellers on fire...only 4pts off USHL scoring lead but has played 9-11 games less than the four players in front of him Zellers now leads the lead in goals with 26 and pts/gm USHL (Forwards) Klee (Muskegon) - '05: 34gp - 13g/15a Pilgrim (Tri-City) - '06: 33gp - 4g/14a Schultz (Chicago) - '06: 31gp - 10g/13a Zellers (Green Bay) - '06: 26gp - 26g/14a O'Neill (NTDP U18) - '07: 36gp - 4g/7a Sanderson (Muskegon) - '07: 25gp - 3g/3a Bumgarner (Fargo) - '08: 35gp - 5g/4a USHL (Defensemen) Laurila (Fargo) - '06: 31gp - 4g/22a Lindberg (NTDP U18) - '07: 31gp - 0g/5a USHL (Goalies) Heil (Madison) - '06: 16gp - .884 / 3.13 (10-5-1) Other Simpson - MN HS - '07: 19gp - 25g/18a Jundt - SF Power 16U - '08: 29gp - 18g/19a McKamey - BCHL - '09: 33gp - 5g/10a

Did gfhockey post this?

He put up 40pts as a Soph...you have to have some skill to put up those numbers. Yes, he was paired with Blake...but he was also playing a different position. Put him with some skilled players and back at center...I bet he could get some decent numbers again next season as a SR.

Agreed. Also, if they stick around, I could see nice improvements from James, Strinden, Strathmann, and even OMac. They all have the skill...we've seen it...

Or he could stay and light it up with Zellers under the new coaching staff.

I bet your spouse disagrees.

I went into Colombia Mall today for the first time in probably 15 years. Dang what a ghost town. So many empty spots. So much for our middle/high school hangout spot.

Berry wants one goalie to take over for the stretch run. https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/und-looking-to-lean-on-one-goaltender-for-stretch-run If the last four games are any indication, I think they would have to go with Hobie. TJ lost 4-1 and 5-1 in his two games. Hobie won 4-3 OT and lost 3-2 OT. Which means they'll probably go with TJ.

Kid is killing it.

Yeah you certainly don’t want to lose any current players or commits that could help right the ship if a coaching change is made. Zellers has already swapped commitments once. I suppose a lot could hinge on who is hired and how quickly the hiring process goes.

I could have 10pts playing on a line with Bump this year.

Zellers and Laurila could be instant contributors. The bones are there for a decent team next year...D will be a year older and improved with Laurila (+ maybe Zmolek?) adding to the current group. Zellers and Sacha are both pure goal scorers. Swanson and Perron should be able to pile up some assists. Who knows on goalies, if Hobie stays. Still need a couple forward recruits/CHL/portal, etc. Who knows on coaching staff too.

See you again next year...we've gone 3 years in a row now, with alternating sweeps (WMU sweeps UND, UND sweeps UNO, and WMU sweeps UND)...so next year we'll see a UND sweep again. Promise.