yababy8

Goon you have hit squarely on the crux of the matter. From a business perspective I completely understand Midco's position. The cable business is all about using the programming you offer to capture market share. Having said that, they have to respect the audience they adopted when they contracted to be the broadcaster of Sioux hockey. They are serving a fan base that had national access both on satellite cable and FTA satellite. The fan base lost both when Midco took over. Initially Midco was able to avoid the fury of the fans because the blame fell at the feet of the NCHA and the UND athletic dept for the asinine CBS sports TV contract which took away both Sioux hockey from every fan outside of the Midco coverage area as well as lost our conference Nortre Dame. Now with the easing of the restriction in the CBS contract Midco finds itself being exposed to the ire of a huge segment of the fan base. While trying to persuade, so to speak, Sioux fans in their area of coverage to switch to Midco they are victimizing thousands of Sioux fans who have nothing to do with this cable competition and have no choice or options in the matter (other than to write a check to the NCHC to view it online). A tough spot for Midco for sure. As a business man, my philosophy has always been customer centric but I do understand that this is not the only way to do business. I just think it is the best way to do business...

I miss Sweeney!! He was a gifted announcer who was a consummate professional. He understood Sioux hockey and being comfortable with that and further being able to speak to that were well within his wheelhouse. Such a fine perspective he had.

it worked well for Oshie.

The .6 second goal last April was horrible on every level including the fact that it was an even strength goal. The .2 sec remaining (if my memory serves me correctly) goal in the game against UNH was bad because the face-off was at like 5 seconds to go. However, last night's goal was simply a goal scored with an extra attacker at the end of the game. It happens. I'm not that concerned about it. There is effectively no difference between a win and a tie and two wins in a non conference series. Just pride I guess. Hey it's a learning experience. Next time the general will stay on his skates or be to sure win that puck battle.

Speaking of Parks... I'm thinking it might be time to start talking about on what line Parks would be the best fit I'm going to really be watching him tonight. Is he really a good fit with Mark Mac? I've been wondering if he might be better suited on a shutdown hard forchecking line where MacWillam maybe better on more of a dynamic skating line? I like the idea of MacMillan and Schmaltz but Hac is obviously wanting them both in the middle...

What station should I search on I heart. I'm giving up on wcha tv

I think putting the result of last night's game all on lack of "effort" is a little off target. Here is what I saw: 1. Defensemen were playing very poorly. "Did I say very? . I really should put the a,b,c in here an make this list an outline because they did at least three things bad. But I'm on my phone so I'll just list them. First they were playing up in the o zone way to much. Were Mattson and Smaltz forwards last night? Last year we established zone possession with the puck out at the blue line and CONTROLED puck movement engineered by the D. (Yes last year the D-men took the puck in deep but it was discriminant not perpetual.). Yesterday the D-men were simply out of position often. The D-men were not supporting each other coming out of the D-zone which led to risky cross ice passes and way to much one on one puck battles. Our D-men got beat up and then fatigued as a result and then it just got worse. What I just outlined in point one above is in my opinion the main explanation for last night's game but a couple of other things worth noting. 2. Poor play from some of our vetetans forwards. Remember when coach Blais benched, I think it was, Blake? I have read a few posts suggesting we bench guys like Murphy. While that makes sense on one level, I'm more inclined to bench Parks and maybe McMillan. They should be our guys and frankly they didn't do anything and Parks messed up more than once. I say give them a day off. 3. Bemidjii seemed to have what almost looked like a strategy of having their guys falling down as a way to neutralize our forcheck. If they had position on the puck but were being challenged by our forchecker they were falling all the time. This seemed to be effective in that it was causing our guy to layoff his persuit of the puck to avoid a penalty and the guy laying on the ice was an obstacle in the way of him getting to the puck. It just looked a little fishy to me...

Actually it really boils down to the difference between goals and methods of accomplishing goals... ..my goal was very defined and never the preservation of home playoff tennis matches, for others not so much...

depends on the goal right?

None taken, I know it's a stretch but I'm feelin it right now. You have to admit we need a sniper and if Murphy can snipe he should get a chance with Schmaltz.. O'Donnell has been inconsistent, that is true. But injuries were a part of that and he became more consistent the second half last year I think. Also, players like him often become very solid their senior year- a la Porter. One more point regarding consistency; How would you rate McMillian and Parks in the consistency category?

My prediction is we will see some very different forward lines two months from now. As stated by others we have not even seen Olson yet. Also, I think Poganski is going to get settled and over time show how physical he is and it sounds like when than happens he has a scoring niche too. If that transpires it could really effect the shape of the lines. Here is a line combo that has me a little jazzed after the Manitoba game: O'Donnell - Schmaltz - Murphy

I just watched the goal starting at the faceoff right before it. Watched it three or four times. I think Murphy played a bigger part in that goal than you're giving him crrdit. He made a couple of really nice passes and then skated around the the zone with great timing to put himself into a sweet passing lane to recieve that pass in perfect position for the good look.

As soon as Rocco found space he would invariably turn on his fast forward speed at least 10x, He did amazing things every time but the majority of the time it ended with a spinout. Nick, at least tonight, when he found space he slowed down his pace to fit his opening and successfully accomplished the task he was aiming for. Very fun to watch. Another player that has a little of that "to-fast" gear when you don't need it is Johnson, he can learn from schmaltz a little. As far as the McMillan-Parks chemistry I'm wondering if we've run that horse to long? ..Keep an eye on that one... Remember when the big "past chemistry" line combo was the McMillan brothers? That was a costly fruitless investment. Sometimes you have to move forward and let go. (Anyone who has played golf for 20-30 years has learned that lesson well). I would put anyone who can take a sweet pass and make a good move to get an open look and shoot accuratly on the line with Nick. If it's Calligula then great but honestly he seems to best at driving low skating hard on his own. Hey if Murphy is the guy who can finish then put him on the line. I know we don't have Duncan or Bochenski anymore so whoever wants to be the finisher of nice feeds step up. With regard to Poolman he looked a bit green. Definitely had the most struggles on the D side tonight. I think he might be the guy to sit for a bit. No harm in that. It worked very well for Thompson last year(I'm excited about his development. He looked very good tonight). Mattson looked really good tonight to. I said last year that our defensive unit was the best it has been since Green and Jones were linemates. I think it continues this year. If Poolson(haha get it?) has to sit for a bit I think he will be fine.

Facebook or Twitter- had to sign into my facebook for the first time in over a year to vote. # I hate facebook!

2 hours to go! VOTE now! https://www.facebook.com/ncaamenshockey

It was a legit theft for sure. The crime was that Johnson doesn't have a Hobey. I miss watching that guy in the old Ralph. I came to UND after the 87 team (missed it by two years). But I heard the stories that's for sure.

here is the link to vote https://www.facebook.com/ncaamenshockey

Hey!!!! We are losing to Maine. Remember that team that stole Johnson's Hobey? We need to vote. Where are you Sioux fans??!

I just voted and it didn't change the percentage for the '87 Sioux?

Irony- Seems I am the only person left on this website that thinks we should tell the NCAA to Piss off, fire every administrator who is unwilling to tacitly support and represent in all of their duties and actions the will of the citizens of North Dakota and the Sioux people, accept the consequences like men and keep our damn name. And it also seems as if I am the only one on this site able to come up with a new name that is at least not repulsive. That is irony for ya! And what is even more ironic is that the name I suggest is a name we aren't really worthy of given the lack of gumption and resolve we have all shown as we have rolled over as the best name in all of sports was mugged from us. If we could just be a little more self respecting, prideful, resolved, determined and tough we could call ourselves: The University of North Dakota BREAVEHEARTS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEOOZDbMrgE ...but the English are to many!

Do the UND fans declare the home of the "Sioux" at away football games? It would be cool to christen the new stadium with that declaration. If they do I can razz my good friend who is the park-n-rec director for the city and his daughter is a freshmen there. He has made fun of our name issues and razzed me about it for years.

Not sure how smart I am but unlike you, I am smart enough to know what you said,

Hey Mariucci, question for you; Would you be even more proud if "the U" decided to not play the Irish? Please enlighten us hicks from North Dakota. Teach us how this illogical double standard makes sense. And then when you're all done with that, you can go on to explain how we are wrong in our believe that using the Sioux name is a good thing. Then you could even show us how we all have it wrong thinking that the value of the name is made evident by the Sioux people themselves voting overwhelmingly in support of its use and further the Sioux people, as a community, suing the NCAA for taking it away from them and us all. Please please enlighten us so that we may have stars on our bellies like all of you at the U. Bunch of PUSSEY cats!

This^^^

We will always be the Sioux. All the rules in the world will not change that. In case anyone hasn't been keeping up with current events, if you take the media out of it, that is what we call ourselves, it is what others call us, it is what we are. Its our name, Plain and Simple- don't believe me- go to a hockey game. Sioux yeah yeah!, and the home of the Sioux, you're in Sioux country!! if anyone thinks a new nickname is going to change that for Sioux fans they are just plain stupid. -oh the media will tell you differently just like 82Siouxguy and fightingsioux4life but don't listen to them talk to the people sitting next to you at the game...