yababy8

Having Duncan on a line with Kozak is STUPID! STUPID! STUPID! Did I mention it's stupid! kOZAK SHOULD BE ON A CHECKING LINE. Kozak is not a creative forward. Dunc needs creative linemates..

I hope they do the hand clap for the team before the song, otherwise it would be really backwards and stupid. I don't know, I watch all home games on tv as I live in Colorado. I do think they should wait longer for the crowd to clap before the game. But the big thing everyone seems to agree about is the production is weak through out the game. I will go up there and make it awesome. Someone tell them to let me come in there and set it up..

I agree with your assertions. It would be foolish to argue given what you have spelled out are factual statistics.. BUT you are missing my point and being to general with yours; My point aims to explain WHY these guys are not improving in the scoring department. You say they are just not that talented. I'm saying they are not achieving their tallent. As much as you point is based on facts, so is mine in so much as I have observed this flaw in our game all year. I have watched all AND rewatched most (on tape) of our games this year and I have seen the same thing happen over and over and over again. From the Wisc series to the CC series- I was there for both games. We would have scored 10-20 more goals this year had the set up feeds not been so hyper jacked up. and really that is about all there is to it. Many many many beautiful plays all the way to the point where the feed to the wide open shooter occurs. Then meltdown!!! It is a fact. You can call that lack of talent if you want but in all other ways I see this team as having alot of talent. Outside of those blown passes I have seen a lot of high level play. Of course there are exceptions to that. I could name a few of this years Sioux that have really been flops so far. But that is not either one of our points so no need.

The really funny thing about all of this is the contrast you see regarding Sioux fans when you go to away games. I have lived in Colorado for the last 8 years and have seen every game here. I can tell you if you don't already know, that the Sioux fans are considered in a league of their own when it comes to visiting team crowds hear. The Sioux serieses are always something special for both CC and DU. I think the problems with crowd energy at the ralph are these: 1. Building- soo pretty its distracting 2. Production scheme-They do tooo much distracting PA annoucing!! Especially after a stop in play when we had a good play- that's when they should do the "let's make some noise" or a fan participation song- ya know, right after a wistle when our team did something good. Also at the begining of the game, delay the announcing of the team (ya know when the Sioux first skate on the ice) and prolong the crowd hand clap. Make the fans beg for the team with their claps! This will put an energy in everyone if not at least get the blood flowing to start the night of right.. 3. Team doesn't score enough. I already said why this is happening-centering feeds are way to fast! 4. Fans (this is about genetics) Scandinavians are so flat, until they get going at least. Maybe they should put some UV lights in the Ralph- ya know seasonal affective disorder prevention?? 5. And last, Rules, North Dakotans are really into following the rules. Sometimes it's a little pathetic. BHHAaaaahahahahh... But in any case, this will all be solved by scoring 6 goals a game. So slow down those little feeds boys so your line-mate can bury it!!!!!!

I believe I have the solution. Could someone deliver it to HAk!!! lol My assesment of the Sioux answers many questions like the following: 1. The team looks good but doesn't score. 2. We dominate zone time but don't score. 3. In a season our team starts slow and finishes strong. 4. We can't finish on good opportunities. I read hear that the fans are saying what is broken. I seek to go further. This is a theory why. I figure, let us, the great Sioux Nation, get to the bottom of this. We can solve the problem, report out our findings to the Coaching staff, they can fix the problem, and we can all go to DC and party!!!!! I threw out the following argument in a post last night before the game but I got not a single reply to it: The Fans, the players and the coach keeps saying the Sioux are close and they are due a break out game where they find the back of the net more. My take on the Sioux. Oh and by the way I have been seeing this since last year Most guys on the team have played with little to no touch when touch is called for both in the passing and the shooting game. Let's look at the passing game first. I see this as the biggest issue. The Sioux make each and every pass with the same velocity- VERY FAST. They are showing very little touch when needed. Its like a golfer taking the same big swing with thier mid irons, wedges and even putter that they use when they swing thier driver. How crazy is that? The Sioux are not adjusting their pass speed and shot precision when it is called for- mainly from inside the circles from side board to side board and from behind the net on all centering set-up feeds. How many times have we seen a player wiff on a one-timer shot in the crease with a open net in front of him? Hextall missed 3 against CC alone. Wasn't his fault, the passes were all insanely fast. Before he could react to the fact that the pass was on its way and set up his stick position the pass was about all the way out of the zone. We have all seen a player who was seemingly just a bit out of position when that feed came to him and he couldn't get the shot off. I would say I have seen this 20 times already in this young season alone. Our players have immense talent, they are not failing to get a stick on those passes for no reason. Friday night we would have won the game if a couple of our feeds would have not been 800 MPH passes. The hard speed passes are great out at the points and across the zone and the Sioux are very very profecient here. In fact, I would say they are down right awesome at this. But our team does not have a short passing game.. When it comes to the little feed we are flat out pathetic. Passing Solution: We need to start rolling the puts to the hole not blasting them eight feet past it. Now for shooting: They are doing the same thing when they shoot the puck. Every shot is a blast. Even shots at the door step. Also we shoot at a squared up defender and goalie way to often!! Genoway did this Sat night. There is no damn chance that puck is going to get by the defender, HE IS SQUARE- not to mention the goalie as well!!!!! Your just turning the puck over and losing the zone Genoway. (Other than this Genoway has been outstanding!) Notice how we get scored on? When it's not a point shot it is a pass to the man with the OPEN net. You hear the same old thing from the guys at WDAZ, " (Sioux Goalie) had no chance there. It was just a nice feed. Nothing he could have done. Now how often do you hear that regarding the opposing goalie on our goals? About NEVER! The pittence of goals we get are simply a result of resolve by guys like Duncan, Miller, and VV. I'm suprised our team doesn't go through 30 sticks a game the way the they wack desperatly- like humgry dogs trying to scratch under the door that hides the food- to get the puck jammed into the net. Decisions made on the ice are really no more than probability arguements and my friends, we are getting our asses kicked at the poker table. Too many times our shots have the look and feel of 'all-in' bets when you are about to be blinded out of a long frustrating Texas Hold'em game. We are making poor low probabilty choices with our shots. Kozak and Genoway are they fish at this table. I think every time Kozak shoots the puck he ends up on a knee because he is firing so hard. Nice position to handle a second effort off of a rebound huh? ...Hey Kozak, no matter how hard you shoot that thing I don't think it will pierce through the defender right in front of you. Maybe if he wasn't wearing pads?? But he is... Hard shots are fine from the point but inside the circles you don't need speed, you need placement. The goalie has much less time to react so the speed issue is not as much a variable. I have also been noticing that because we shoot so damn hard at the goalie most of the time our rebounds have been flying off the goalie, toward the side boards and way way away from any of our sharks lurking for a rebound. Shooting Solution: Draw a line and picture a corridor with roughly the dementions of a hockey puck for example, from the tip of your stick to the open net and ask yourself, "Is there any non-gasious matter about that corridor in space?" If yes, then pass the puck to fellow player wearing that cool jersey much like your own. If no, take a shot it in such a way that you will give the puck the best chance of traveling down that corridor in space. Also, do so in such a way that your skates remain generally under your butt when you have completed your shot. I think our team is playing to hard and to fast at times in situations when they should chill out a little. Be more relaxed, confident and methodical. I think the one weakness HAk has is mental preperation. He has our guys wound-up way to much. He jacks them up with his statements like, "We need to play for 60 min". While this is true, I don't think it is yielding the desired result.. Hak is a great at many things there is no debate about that. He is a fine strategest and very stong and getting good line combos together and keeping his team moving in a positive direction through the season. But I think he pushes for offense in the wrong way. His style seems to mire players creativity. I think it has been going on since Hak has been here. It could be argued that even players like Toews and Parise offensive prowless were somewhat stymied in our system. Following going pro they seem to be more prolific at scoring don't they? I should say that for the most part like HAks grind-the-boards, keep-the-zone and tire the other team out in our zone style but as B.C. showed us, creative offense can end a game pretty darn fast. Or we could just watch the archives and see how Blake and Panzer did it. I don't know if my take is the answer but I do know we need to find one because it sure isn't a question of talent because we all see the talent that these guys have and it sure as heck isn't lacking! SO come on Sioux Nation let's give Mr. Hak a little help and get to the bottom of this...

I agree. I think he is totally inept. His voice should have way more agressiveness when he is anouncing the scorers. more masculinity.. ya know deeper show a little agressiveness. kinda like our team. Where is the toughness?? Bring back the old guy

The Fans, the players and the coach keeps saying the Sioux are close and they are due a break out game where they find the back of the net more. I have an opinion why the Sioux are not doing that so far. I'm going to throw out my take on it so everyone on Sioux Sports can confirm it our shoot it down as they watch the game tonight and in future games So here is my take on the Sioux. Oh and by the way I have been seeing this since last year: Most guys on the team have no touch when touch is called for!!! They make each and every pass with the same velocity- FAST. Its like a golfer taking the same big swing with thier mid irons, wedges and even putter that they use when they swing thier driver. The Sioux are not adjusting their pass speed and shot precision when it is called for- mainly from inside the circles from side board to side board and from behind the net and on all centering set-up feeds. How many times have we seen a player wiff on a one time shot in the crease with a open net in front of him? Hextall miss 3 against CC alone. Last night we would have won the game if a couple of our feeds wouldn't have been sent to the shooter at 800 miles an hour. Same thing with shots.. I think every time Kozak shoots the puck he ends up on a knee because he is firing so hard. Nice position to handle a second effort off of a rebound huh? Hard shots are fine from the point but inside the circles you don't need speed, you need placement. The goalie has much less time to react so the speed issue is not as much a variable. I have also been noticing that because we shoot so damn hard at the goalie most of the time our rebounds have been flying right off the goalie toward the side boards way away from any of our sharks looking for a rebound. The hard speed passes are great out at the points and across the zone but our team does not have a short game.. So watch tonigh and see if I'm off base on this. Unfortunatly I won't be able to chat about this during the game because I am going to record the game and watch it later but I will check it out after I'm done.

ahhh ummm yes I was told I could not do that... Um that is not OK.. umm the rules say... ahh we are going to get in trouble.. um please sir. ahhh don't talk about the rules. please. we just follow them.. They told me to not do that. I'm going to just sit here cause I'm not going to be singled out. ummm please we shouldn't talk about it. They might hear us and take our tickets away. I really don't want them to see me.. I love my tickets please let me stay. ahhh I'm sorry. I will be good. I will not break the rules. I have memorized them.... ahhh don't single me out. ahhh the guy over there is not following the rules. yes him.... the third seat in from the isle. Yes, you should take him away and his friend too. I think he has a gopher in his pocket... don't worry about me I am being good.. .... DON'T be SUCH A """"sy!!! 12,000 seats and a nothing!! Maybe we need 12,000 Purpiches in the stands?

Farce, Thanks for the really detailed breakdown of last nights game. Very cool! Maybe I will take some notes when the Sioux play in the Springs in three weeks to repay the favor. Of course I cannot guarantee that it will be as well done. ...hey does anyone have an idea if there is any video of the VV goal last night that might find its way onto youtube? I know there wasn't even a web cast but is there video taken by anyone? TV news, etc.??

Ok the team isn't looking good. I have some opinions regarding the skill, or lack thereof, of some of the members of this years team. But instead of ripping players who are sucking, let's problem solve for fun. It always makes me feel better. Here is one idea I have come up with; Two seasons ago, our team was struggling offensively until January and of course, just about everyone remembers one of the big reasons for the turn around was the creation of the DOT line. But when we started to really produce offensively-remember the Gophers series and the St.Cloud series?, it was because of the gelling of another line. The Watkins-VV-Porter line. They were probably the most dominant two way line the Sioux have had since Zajac Stafford and Parise played. Why do I make such a point? Because I'm thinking we still have two of the three guys from that line on our team two years later. Now I Know that Porter was the man. But still, is there anyone on the team that has his kind of smart, fast, hard-nosed, never give up two way style? I'm thinking Hextall or Gregorie?? This is based on only what I have read about what type of players they are. We need to see them play some first to know. I'm thinking of the article about how Gregorie was called his teams "best ever" and why they said that. Or about how Hextall was a tough player before and then he really started to produce points and eventually won the leage MVP if I recall correctly. So even though they are freshmen and Porter was a senior maybe it would be a good style fit?? ...also I think that Duncan should play with Trupp and Toews. I bet that line would start to get real creative with the puck and get some goals. Just as long as they keep possesion!! So there you have it, I just solved our offensive problems. Now I just gotta figure out the Defense, special teams and Goalie problems hehehe

Anyone know if these games might be uplinked through a satellite. Sprig.. PSB help? Give me some good news I wanna test my new dish...

As I Said.. The Sioux skate fast and hard and have no idea, no plan, no clue of what to do with it. They show very little to no creativity. They didn't show much last year either, but last year they were a well practiced technically sound squad that played nice defense with the exception of Genoway and LaPoint. I said it last year and I'll say it again. LaPoint does not have the skating skill to do well in D1 hockey. Also, before anyone busts me for my Genoway comment, get a copy of last years semifinal game and see how many goals Genoway made the big error to allow a bad play that directly allowed the shot. Genoway is a superb athlete and a top of the line player, but he does not have the experience to defend against elite forwards in D1 Hockey. I really like Genoway but ya gotta accept what you see on the ice. He is raw at defensive technique and it shows against highly skilled well coached forward lines. Oh and a couple more harsh realities: Kozak doesn't do anything good with the puck except shot it. Any time he is not taking a shot he is a liability on the ice. Duncan is such a week defender that, since the end of the 06-07 season, teams have been putting thier top line against ours and maintaining possesion in their offensive zone about 75% of the time Dunk is on the ice. If we can't maintain the possession in the Zone (Hak style) then we sure as heck can't continue to play dump and run hockey. We have to get creative on rushes and I swear the Collective Sioux coaching staff has no clue at all about teaching that. Find two guys that can skate up the ice with Duncan and make a play. So far it has not been Kozak, VV, Miller, Watkins. Maybe Trupp? Hopefully Toews??? CAN SOMEONE, anyone, MAKE A NICE SET UP feed pass??? It requires touch. Who has touch on our team?? Yes Duncan does but he is getting pounded half the time so he can't do it alone..

the Sioux skated fast and hard and had no idea, no plan, no clue of what to do with it. They had no creativity. They have no creativilty. They didn't last year either but last year they were a well practiced technically sound squad that played nice defence with the exception of Genoway and LaPoint. I said it last year and I'll say it again. LaPoint does not have the skating skill to do well in D1 hockey. Also, before anyone busts me for my Genoway comment, get a copy of last years semifinal game and see how many goals Genoway made the big error to allow a bad play that directly allowed the shot. Genoway is a superb athlete and a top of the line player, but he does not have the experience to defend against elite forwards in D1 Hockey. I really like Genoway but ya gotta accept what you see on the ice. He is raw at defensive technique and it shows against highly skilled well coached forward lines. Oh and a couple more harsh realities: Kozak doesn't do anything good with the puck except shot it. Any time he is not taking a shot he is a liability on the ice. Duncan is such a week defender that since the end of the 06-07 season teams have been putting thier top line against ours and maintaining possesion in their offensive zone about 75% of the time Dunk is on the ice. If we can't maintain the Zone (Hak style) then we sure as heck can't continue to play dump and run hockey. We have to get creative on rushes and I swear the Collective Sioux coaching staff has no clue at all about teaching that.

trupp friday Genoway sat

That is a fact! ..but the speculat'n is what will get us through...

If the Sioux are to truely shine this year someone better have move assists than VV. Not to slight his skill but knowing the type of player he is, as well as all of the upper classmen are, I can say that we need someone from Trupp down to Hextall or Toews to shine as a team leader in assists. VV had 17 assists last year! Compare that to 50 for Toews and Hextall. I know they are to be freshmen but it's not like freshmen haven't had that type of impact for other WCHA teams in the recent past-look at Denver as an example... Anyway I just know that is what we will need to be great this year. We can talk all we want about "breakout years" but I think the realty is we know our Juniors and Seniors well enough to know that while there is much skill there we don't have a 'take over the game' offensemen like we need in either of those two classes so I for one will have a big eye one the youngsters.

So as I wait to get delivery of my new Satellite (toy), since it will be my first experience, can someone tell me what kind of quality of picture I can expect from my brand new shinny Fighting Sioux Hockey delivery system??

Well today I pulled the trigger!@!@! Ordered a motorized traxis system from VisionPlus! No more little window or grainy PC views of FSSN Yeeeeeeeeeahhh baby!!! I have no idea how to set it up though

Correct me if I am wrong but won't this be the first year since Parise that UND will not have a recruit playing at Shattucks?

hey Sioux Fan in Denver, did you get your system up and running yet. I live in denver and I have tasked myself to pick a motorized system and buy it this weekend so I'm wondering if it all worked out for you with the system you have?

ahh com'on don't be so sensitive. I knew someone would call fowl about the "old" thing. To answer your question, it is not a line, it is a curve and we all start going up it pretty fast after college through our 20s and all the way up to 120 Im old. hehe I'm 40. I do not get loud at games the same way I did when I was 22. What do you think makes the 'atmosphere' at a collegiate sporting event appealing? It aint old quiet people like me. your 'BTW' point is exactly my point regarding the deleterious effect of significant price increases. The kids that are Sioux fans today will for the most part stay Sioux fans as they get older and a good number of them will take the RAPE and pay the cash for the tickets. This will justify the ticket stewards poor decision as they see no short term effect other than the nice juicy positive one- more profit. But we stand the risk of the next generation not being 'fertilized' with Sioux passion' in the same way if you reduce the number of them experiencing it at its greatest- live against a good team. This is a long term deleterious effect. And it is therefore harder to imagine and in turn less considered than the rapid return cause/effect stuff which most people can see pretty well. Especially when the long term effects are clouded by short term gains. People are much better at seeing things in the short term than the long term and I'm sure my post will reflect that. Most people reading this will see what I'm saying as nothing more than pointless theoretical babble. Just about the same as most thought of the economist they heard express concerns over the long term deleterious effects of the sub-prime market 5 years ago. Just a bunch of Bla Bla Bla! right? bottom line- they should not be charging $40 for a Sioux game in Grand Forks! It is risky business!! And as a fan I aint so hip on them risking the integrity of one of my favorite life experiences.

I love that "if people will pay that much" philosophy that always gets thrown around in situations like these. People that spout that crap think they have some superior understanding of free market economics and justification for this type of opportunistic business practice. This is not unlike the thought processes and decision making approaches that where inherent in the minds of the morons that created the banking sub-prime mortgage mess our society is faced with today. That whole, "things can take care of themselves" stupidity that so many of us seem to possess. Just to entertain the ignorance of this philosophy consider two things: 1. What is the eventual apex to the price vs demand curve? Wouldn't it have to be when people stop buying tickets? Employing this catalyst to stimulate price reduction is brilliant. What would the deleterious change be to our fan base that would have to occur in order to get fans to the point where they said "piss off" to UND, the Sioux and REA. I'll tell you what it wouldn't be. It would not be something where the arena would go from half full back to full at the flip of a price reduction switch. Group behavior does not work that way. Not even close. By the time attendance would be a noticeable issue you would have lost many many more fans than the direct reduction in attendance per game. Once you lose a fan it is pretty difficult to get them back. Kind of like when you break up with someone you just don't go back. It is human nature to not return to something you have left, especially when you ended it due to unhappiness. So the argument that they should charge as much as people will pay to fill the place is just plan fricking retarded. But most people are retards so what ya gonna do? 2. The REA is already filled with a bunch of old stiffs and our home ice advantage, or lack there of, reflects this. If you raise prices you will have a change in the median income level of attendee and likewise increasing the average age of attendee. So raising prices will likely put more old people in the arena. Let's hear some noise!! "zzzzzzzz!!!" Wake up!!! fun.. if you don't think this would occur, imagine mankato or St.Cloud charging $40 for a game. How would that change those crowds. 3. As was mentioned in earlier posts. Families going to games-ie kids! would be curtailed. Kids are future ticket buyers are they not. I will say no more about this point... So, while I would bet that the ralph will nearly sell out all games this year, what will also be occurring is not something they care to consider, that the Sioux economy, to some degree, will be compromised by their greed and short-sightedness . How much is the question; maybe just ever-so-slightly, maybe more. It's always hard to detect in the beginning, especially when things are going good. And things are definitely going very good for the Sioux fan base. But make no mistake about it, if they keep with the "what can we ask for them and still sell out approach?", sooner or later we will all find out that it is not a foregone conclusion that things stay good no matter what you choose to leach out of them. SO the moral of this story is-there is much more to economics than a simple two dimensional graph will ever show.

Ahhww! I was finding that spat generally interesting to follow.... but on the other hand I have a question to bring it back to what is important-Getting Sioux games on tv. I know very little about FTA stuff so i will ask PSP and sprig and anyone else to help me here. I want to buy a system with a movable dish and DVR. so I can surf the FTA sprectrum and get my Sioux games!! further, I was thinking about trying to get one on ebay. Any suggestions for someone looking to get that setup?

Having two shooters (Dunc and Kozak) on the same line works if they are both skilled at the feed as well. Now Dunc is excellent in that area but Kozak couldn't make a touch pass to save his life and putting him on a line with Dunc would be horrible. Could you emagine seeing Dunc parked in his favorite spot wide open waiting for a little touch feed pass from Kozak-I see Kozak firing the puck at lightning speed right at the goalie hoping to nail that little opening. Now if the goalie makes the save but gives up the rebound, can you emagine Dunc winning the battle for the puck to get a shot off? Wouldn't work often... Many of those Dunc scoring opportunities would be wasted. If Dunc is on a line with Kozak I bet he doesnt get many more than 10 goals next year while on the ice with Kozak. Now I haven't seen Gregoire (26A in 38 games) or Toews (51A in 44 games) play, but their stats suggest they have set up skills, heck maybe even Hextall (48A in 53 games) will show some talent in that area (I think Hextall is going to be a suprise)?? All that I know is outside of Trupp I can't think of anyone returning from last year that would complement Dunc well. Given the make-up of the returning players the Sioux are in a situation where a returning Hobbie winning senior might just be best servered playing on a line with freshmen. That would be unusual wouldn't it. So i stick with the "Natural" line 16-17-18 even though it is actually quite unnatural.

I like the "natural line" 16, 17, 18... Dunk Gregoire toews It's only natural!