brianvf

Did you stop watching him after around Xmas time? I thought he progressed very well (along with Marto) right around the same time that the Sioux picked up their play as a team. Coincidence?

Then it must have been Kevin Costner that yelled "there's no crying in baseball!".

Yes, I do it all the time (my taping skills haven't reached HS level yet). If I were to have a pro tape my stick, I can only imagine the outcome.

His taping skills are NHL-caliber already?

Mattson and Team USA advance to the Gold medal game after beating Canada, 2-1. They will play Russia, who beat Finland 4-0, and apparently weren't very sportsmanlike in their win. Surprise, surprise. According to Brad, they were skating past the Finn bench after each goal and taunting them. The refs had to try to block them after the first couple times... Go USA, beat those Russians!

What does a woman skating like a monkey have to do with LaPoint? I think a lot of the complaints about LaPoint's play was early on in the season. I think that by the time Xmas rolled around, he had really started to play better, and Hakstol mentioned that quite a bit about his improved play as the season progressed. By the time his injury occurred, he was one of our better defensive dmen and better PK'ers, which definitely hurt us after the Mankato series IMO.

And it has begun...Chuck is reporting that Tom Bardis, a junior forward that only played in three games last season, has been released from the UW team. Now we just have to wonder who the next player is...

The USA goalie was Adam Murray, a DU recruit.

There's just no talent there.

Exactly. The Duluth East coach sounds like a whiner. No where in the article does he congratulate Derek or wish him well...he just sounds bitter in every one of his quotes.

I think you just named the other teams that will finish top four in the league next year (along with UND). I don't agree with the DU writer, I think their last NT team with Stastny, Carle, Mannino, Gauthier, etc was better than what they will see next year. They will have another deep offense, depending on what Ruegsegger and Rahkshani do. Colborne and Wiercioch will be very good next year. I would be surprised if UW doesn't lose a couple of their dmen studs this offseason (in addition to McBain). McDonough could certainly sign. And we could see some more de-commitments from UW with them having 7 extra forwards come next fall... There's all sorts of rumors about UMN players leaving early. Schroeder, depending on who drafts him, Hoeffel, Flynn, etc. It should be an interesting offseason!

BU loses a TON this offseason: Wilson (he's leaving), Higgins, Yip, Lawrence, Gilroy, plus two more seniors. That's 5 of their top 6 scorers gone. Plus they could also lose 1-2 more in early departures. If VandeVelde stays, I really think the Sioux will be contending once again for the MacNaughton and will definitely be in the mix again for the NCAA's. VV could be a legitimate Hobey contender.

From the Sioux blog:

He is from Finland: http://gopherpuck.blogspot.com/2009/03/hau...to-gophers.html

Thanks!

I wouldn't mind Stepan on the Sioux. One, he's a great player. Two, it would prevent him from scoring SHG on us.

What website was the article on?

Not really early departures...but it could certainly lead to some... A UW poster on USCHO posted their returning lineup plus their recruits that they have coming in for next year. Their roster next season will have 19 forwards, 9 defense, and 2 goalies. A 30 player roster with 7 forwards and 3 dmen sitting EVERY NIGHT. Wow! Eaves has been burned with the over-recruiting before, but that's just crazy.

Yes, two Mattson's are coming in: Danny Mattson (F) 09/10 Nick Mattson (D) 10

I didn't realize that post count had a direct correlation to knowledge dealing with the Unsung Hero Award.

I like UND hockey because of the tradition, the players (past and present), the coaching staff, the fans, the style of hockey that they play, etc. The location of the school and the nickname have nothing to do with it for me. Sure, the main reason that I became a UND hockey fan is because I was born and raised in GF, ND...but now it's in my blood. Now, if the team happened to move to Walhalla and change their name to the Flickertails...guess, what...I would still be a die-hard fan. Because this team is more than just a nickname, and all the things that I love about the team would still be there. Of course, according to you, I still wouldn't be a "true fan", because I won't be able to watch the title game tonight.

Can't say I'm surprised about that one. UMD just lost a couple positions in the WCHA for next season...

Well said, sagard. I will be a fan of UND hockey regardless of the nickname that is used.

From the Sioux blog: Congrats to Genoway and Martens!

Wow, chalk me up as another "not true fan of college hockey". I have good friends in town that we haven't seen for quite awhile, so we will more than likely be out on the town. Sure, I could make them sit there in my living room while I watch the game, but I'm not rude like that, especially being that I don't have a rooting interest in the game. If they weren't coming, would I watch the game? Sure I would. I've been to the last four F4, and I've attended the title game each year regardless of if the Sioux were playing or not. But I guess I'm not a "true fan" of college hockey. I never knew...