brianvf

So far no huge surprises and no losses that would make me think that our team will be worse next season. With Bast departing, if Frisch returns, we can go to the portal for one dman to help while the young new dmen learn the NCAA ropes.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/the-daily-skate-more-than-50-players-enter-the-transfer-portal-in-a-day

Geez forgot all about Budy last year. Looked him up...didn't realize he was playing for RPI this season. 30gp - 0g - 5a.

Yes, of course there could be. But, you would think if you were already set on going portal route, that you'd want to get your name on the portal list as soon as possible to help your chances of getting picked up. As Sicatoka mentioned earlier, a good chunk of the portal entrants don't find a new school as it is anyway.

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/unds-brent-johnson-and-jakob-hellsten-enter-the-transfer-portal

So far no "unexpected" portal entrants from UND, which would be a huge plus if it ends up that way. If we're able to retain 18, 4, 24, etc...that'd be welcome for next season. And I wonder how long until we hear future plans for Frisch, Gaber, etc.

A few interesting players in the portal already, and it's only day 1 of the non-grads available to enter. Hopefully Brad and Co are on the phone with a few of them already, since they don't have any games to prepare for this weekend.

Agreed. That seems the logical path here. Hedquist gets groomed by a portal goalie with NCAA experience and then takes over the reigns in a year or two. If we find a shutdown goalie out of the portal, that will cover a lot of sins by the young d-corps. That'd be a huge plus.

Man, did he have a hell of a one-timer.

Ha! Nice blast from the past and analysis. It'd be fun to go back and find all the old quotes and notes in this thread from when players first committed once they are set to finish their UND careers.

Agreed on Kleven, for sure. I have a feeling both Frisch and Gaber will come back. No inside info on either, just a hopeful hunch. Hedquist had a better 2nd half, so potential for him to come in next season I suppose rather than 2 portal goalies.

I'd have to rewatch that incident to see if your recollection is closer to what actually transpired or if petey is closer. That said, if most of the posters on here are biased to the boys in green, usually your bias (when it comes to officiating) is biased to the opposing team. I don't think the refs are "out to get Kleven" by any stretch, but I've certainly seen many instances where he takes some punishment with nothing called and then he gets called for something very similar shortly after. He's a big boy and is very strong on his skates. Was it this year or last year when the refs reviewed for a major when an opposing player ran into the back of Kleven and they called Kleven for a penalty? It was checking from behind...from behind. That was comical to say the least.

Agreed. If they would have played DeRidder in that Sat WMU home game, I feel that's easily turned into a W. I get him starting Johnson just to try to give a jump to the team, but even if he put DeRidder in to start the 3rd in that game, it's a W IMO.

#culture

You don't see Canisius winning two? Geez, that state of MN would burn if that happened.

I'd say the "easiest" regional is Allentown. Even though it is close to PSU, I think Michigan comes out of that pretty easily if they play like they did in the B10 tourney. I think Minnesota comes out of Fargo. I'd love to see SCSU take them down, but SCSU looked plenty beatable against UND on Friday...UND just didn't bury their chances. UMN with their better offensive players will take advantage of SCSU much easier than we did. I could see any one of three teams coming out of both Manchester and Bridgeport.

Fargo (Thu/Sat) 1. Minnesota vs. 4. Canisius 2. St. Cloud State vs. 3. Minnesota State Bridgeport (Fri/Sun) 1. Quinnipiac vs. 4. Merrimack 2. Harvard vs. 3. Ohio State Allentown (Fri/Sun) 1. Michigan vs. 4. Colgate 2. Penn State vs. 3. Michigan Tech Manchester (Thu/Sat) 1. Denver vs. 4. Cornell 2. Boston University vs. 3. Western Michigan

And the bracket is set: https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/icehockey-men/d1/2023?fbclid=IwAR1b_-Q2q3qWCiirQ6WRAm7O6EmcnsmJ7VxIDZgwFH_s8OQA7jeLTVVLvZo

I'll say... If 15 comes back, we're top 10 in PWR. If 15 doesn't come back, we're a bubble team but I still bet we'd make the NCAAs.

It’s no question that there have been some recent recruiting misses on some big time recruits. Morrow, Halliday, and Rizzo should all have been at UND and the skill level would be noticeably higher (last year and this year) with the three of them wearing green and white. And then the near miss on Cooley as well. If even two of those four make it to campus, we’re looking much better the last couple seasons.

Agreed. On-campus sites is the future IMO.

I prefer to not think about that weekend.

Maybe all the FB buds can buy Canisius jerseys after next week. Do you believe in miracles, yes!

Fargo 1. Minnesota vs. 16. Canisius 6. St. Cloud State vs. 11. Minnesota State Bridgeport 2. Quinnipiac vs. 14. Merrimack 7. Harvard vs. 9. Ohio State Allentown 3. Michigan vs. 15. Colgate 8. Penn State vs. 10. Michigan Tech Manchester 4. Denver vs. 13. Cornell 5. Boston University vs. 12. Western Michigan

I'd take him back in a heartbeat. He has skill. Just wasn't his year, I guess. Or something was up. Who knows.