Siouxtimestwo

I certainly can't fault ESPN for sticking with this game. Imagine how we'd feel if they cut away from a Sioux game in OT. That said, if this is an example of an "epic" lacrosse game, then I can see why nobody cares about it, save spoiled rich kids. These guys make the Sioux PP look like the Hrkac Circus with all the time they spend standing around doing nothing. This 6 OT game doesn't exactly have the same drama as UConn-Syracuse.

I still just can't believe the team I saw two weeks ago in Detroit came out and hung 12 on the Gophers in dominating fashion! I think the fact they followed last night's win with similar intensity and result was very telling about this team and shows they very well might have a patented Sioux run in them. I think next weekend will tell us a lot, as well. This team has every possible incentive they need to absolutely destroy Tech, not just go through the motions and expect a victory simply because they beat the Gophers. And yes, I'm still pissed off about the Tech sweep a couple years ago. At least I won't be in attendance next weekend, so their chance of sweeping Tech went up by about 98%.

I wish he would have played like he did this weekend at the Great Lakes Invitational. It was my only chance to see the Sioux in person all season and he played terrible. He spent the entire time and talking and getting in everyone's face while we were getting our butts kicked and did nothing to change the numbers on the scoreboard. His antics made me wonder why he didn't sign with the Gophers. He was probably my least favorite player after that weekend, to be honest with you. Just goes to show how important first impressions are and mine came a few months too late. I'm glad to hear he can actually play hockey too. Great sweep this weekend. Man, I wish I would have been there. The second half run starts now, but this time let's finish it!

I could have sworn I was eliminated. Oh well. I'll take Genoway again to start.

Great point. Ever since the NHL cleaned up their game after the work stoppage, the WCHA has actually been the least entertaining hockey league around, at least in regards to style of play. It is hockey at it's least pure. I think we all know who to thank for that.

As I stated earlier in the thread, I agree with everything you said. Our defense isn't necessarily bad, but our defensemen aren't all-around hockey players by any stretch, except maybe Finley, who has developed since he came in as a freshman. Nobody skated harder than he did in Detroit, especially considering he was coming back from a concussion. We cannot play in the neutral zone period. When we do control the puck, we are so predictable it's not even funny. Last weekend, MSU and MTU skaters knew exactly where the puck was going nearly every single time. When we did make a pass, it always seemed to be to a guy's backhand, so he was in position to do nothing. The first time all game UND was actually able to execute a one-timer, they scored. Until then, forget about it. Again, it's not that they are out drinking or quitting on the season, they simply aren't good enough to be a top team this year. AZ, you're right that there are lots of WCHA games left, so UND still has a shot to make some noise, but is it likely? I don't think so. We've had turnarounds before, but that was when we had world-class players who had the ability to raise the level of play of the entire team. Who on this team fits that description? What we've seen is what we're more than likely going to get: inconsistency. One weekend, 2-3 players will look great while the rest of the team is invisible. The next weekend, 2-3 different players will step up, but again the rest of the team will under-perform. For the upperclassmen on this team, that is the story of their Sioux careers and the biggest reason the Bills might be the leading candidate for a new nickname. Duncan is the only exception, but let's face it, he is a very good player, not a Hobey Baker player without his NHL linemates.

My wife and I were seriously thinking about it, but decided not to get tickets due to the fact we were already traveling back to ND for Xmas, then to Detroit for the GLI. Now that the game is almost here, I'm kicking myself for not doing it anyways. Hopefully next year, assuming it does continue.

In previous years, it was baffling why the Sioux didn't play better with the talent they had. Maybe it was partly due to coaching, maybe not. This year's team might also suffer from coaching, the system they play, etc., but the biggest culprit this year is simply lack of talent. We fans, myself included, really should have seen it coming, too. The upperclassman on this team have talent enough to compete in games, just not enough to compete for a league or national championship. Every single player still on this roster was made better by players like Oshie, Chorney, and Toews. That's not to say they are without talent of their own, but it's impossible to argue their own talent wasn't amplified by their world class teammates. For Duncan, that amplification was enough to turn a very good player into the best in college hockey. Guys like Kozek and VV probably had unrealistic expectations coming into this season because we thought they were better than they are. Guys like, Watkins, Miller and Zajac have never been great college hockey players, so we shouldn't have expected them to carry this team. Now that they are the upperclassmen and expected to raise the level of play of their teammates, they simply aren't talented enough to do so. There is not a single player on this Sioux team that the opponent has to account for at all times. Nobody can draw 2-3 defenders and either make the play themselves or set their teammates up to do so on a consistent basis. Nobody can skate out to center ice, nab the puck away from the opponent, and bury it on the other end. Want proof, just watch our powerplay, a situation in which you put your best skaters on the ice and punish the other team for their mistake. Our 5 guys just pass the puck around, each waiting for the other to make a play, while our opponent fearlessly sticks 4 guys in front of the net and dares UND to do so. What's our PP % this year? The good news: Our underclassmen look impressive, at least offensively. Hakstol's main concern has to be on D. If the young guys take the next step that the upperclassmen never have and Eidsness makes all the saves he has been while giving up less rebounds, it might not even matter if our defensemen are less than championship caliber.

I sure wasn't impressed with my first GLI, and I'm not just talking about how terrible the Sioux played. Joe Louis Arena is a great arena for the Red Wings due to its history and all, but for college hockey it leaves a lot to be desired. Part of it is probably due to the fact I've gotten spoiled by the new Ralph and the Final Five at the X, but regardless, the PA guy didn't announce all the penalties (I'm still wondering why Kozek got pulled off the bench to serve a 5 minute period Saturday night), the place isn't noisy, and there were way too many empty seats. If Tech's band hadn't been there this afternoon, you would have been able to hear a pin drop for most of the game. My wife wasn't feeling well, so we left early in the title game, but even during the UM-MSU game, with more fans and two rivals playing for the title, it wasn't nearly what I expected or have experienced in the past. And don't even get me started on their selection of beverages or the red curtain dance when you are carrying drinks. Again, great arena for the tradition of the Red Wings and the NHL, not so great when you're watching a Sioux game.

Just got back from Detroit. I didn't even feel like sticking around for the title game after the stinkers the Sioux put up this weekend. I will say that the boys play hard and give it all they've got. Unfortunately, this group of players just aren't as talented as those we've seen in the past. That's not to say all the players are terrible, some are very good, but there just aren't any great players wearing Sioux jerseys this year and they don't play well as a team period. That could change for some guys next year, but I'm not interested in potential for 2009-10 in the middle of this current season. A few other points: *Eidsness gives us the best chance to win, so retract the fangs those of you with golden Brad shrines, but man does he need to work on giving up rebounds if he ever wants to be a great goalie. Several MSU fans commented to me after the game about this. He's a good goalie who can make every save, but no goalie can make 2-3 great saves per possession and expect to win consistently. That said, 2 goals per game should get you at least 1 victory. *UND is going to miss Finley next year more than most want to admit. He logged a lot of ice time this weekend, and quite frankly, LaPointe is terrible. If the identity of our hockey team is going to be defensive minded, the young guys on the blue line had better step up. *Whether you're an all-timer like Toews or a gritty, scrapper like Porter, if you're playing Division 1 hockey at a program like North Dakota, I would expect you can put a pass on your teammate's tape at least once a freakin game. UND just might be the worst passing team in the history of hockey. This team is never going to score unless it can make a play at least occasionally in the neutral zone. UND can't score because we're either dumping and chasing or carrying the puck into the zone with 5 opponents surrounding the net.

First, What kind of comments does he make? If you live in Indiana and he's an Indiana grad, why does he even care about UND? I live in Michigan and the only people here who have heard of UND are hockey fans. 90% of the people I meet think the interlocking ND logo on my Sioux sweatshirt is a Notre Dame logo and are asking why I have such funny colored Irish clothing. Do you wear UND clothing to school and is that why he makes fun of the Sioux? As a teacher, I would give my students grief if they wore clothing for a particular sports team, but they always knew it was in jest and gave it right back to me. Since he's an Indiana grad, ask him if he got high before Hoosier basketball games like the players did. If you're sure the teacher isn't doing this in a joking manner, then my next question would be is your teacher Native American or are you discussing Native American history at all in your class? If you're talking about history in your SS class, it is possible his comments might not be meant as insults, but rather to provide an alternative perspective for you and your classmates. It is also possible he resents the nickname, even if he's not Native American. If that's the case, there is nothing you can do to convince him otherwise and he probably will continue to comment on it any chance he gets unless stopped. I would definitely talk to your parents about it if it continues, because a 6th grade classroom is no place for this teacher to be preaching about his personal beliefs.

I just double checked the times on my tickets, and they confirm that the UM-Tech game is at 3 eastern and the UND-MSU game is at 6:30 eastern. UND has always been the late game on any site I've visited, including Ticketmaster, the GLI's website and Joe Louis Arena's website. If you want to watch or follow the game in ND, I'd plan on being near a computer or tv at 5:30.

Since you're a 6th grader, I don't think moving or going to a sports bar is an option for you. Are your parents Sioux hockey fans as well? If so, sprig's satellite systems might be something they would be interested in, so talk to them about it. If not, and the internet at your house is too slow, why not try the local library? They may be closed that late or have firewalls or other filters in place to block high bandwidth video feeds, but if you're desperate, it doesn't hurt to try. Of course, you would still have to pay the money for the video subscriptions, so I don't know if that's a viable option either. I'm not sure where you live, but if you live in the Upper Midwest, it is possible there might be other children whose parents do have satellites that allow them to watch Sioux games from time to time. If you live in an area where one of your teachers hates the Sioux so vehemently, I'm sure there are others who love the Sioux just as strongly. If none of this is any help to you, log on here during the games and let the members here keep you up to date on the games. It's not the same as watching the games live, but you still get a feel for how the team is playing and what's going on. Best of luck to you.

Going to the counselor will certainly help and give you someone else in the school to talk to about the problem, but don't expect the behavior to change by simply going to the counselor. A counselor doesn't have any authority over the teacher, so there's not much they can do, especially if the teacher is a real jerk in the first place. I agree with redwing, that talking to your parents probably is the best route to take if the teacher is making these comments in a hurtful way. I will just say, be prepared for the possibility that both the administrator and teacher completely ignore any concerns. If you're in 6th grade and have a separate SS teacher, I'm assuming you're in a larger middle school. Administrators have less direct contact with their teachers in these situations, so the administrator might not talk to the teacher or not take it as seriously as in a smaller elementary school. In fact, if the teacher really does despise UND, you could possibly be singled out even more.

Well, if you're a 6th grader and you live in ND, your teacher is probably an NAIA all-star. Just ask him (going to assume it's a guy for now) why he paid for a high-school education when he already got one for free. That should shut him up. Of course, I don't actually recommend doing this, as you'll probably get in more trouble than it's worth. He might just be intending to do it in a joking manner and doesn't realize it's not coming off that way. If he's a laid back teacher, it's possible you could joke with him about his favorite college in a friendly way. If he really is making these comments in a harsh, condescending manner, simply try to ignore it as best you can.

UND is for sure the late game. MSU has injury problems, but they still have talent in net and are treating this tournament like the NCAA tourney. There are many Spartan fans that marked this date on their calendars early. They are looking forward to get revenge for that 6-0 game last year. Add to it the fact that I will be attending, and the Sioux have about a .150 winning percentage on games I make it to. I'll definitely be cheering for Michigan in the first game. I know they're a bunch of goons and we're supposed to support WCHA teams, but a UND-Michigan title game will be infinitely more exciting than UND-Tech. That is, of course, assuming we win our first game. Also looking forward to seeing a game at the Joe for the first time. Should be fun and hopefully 2008 continues to end on a good note.

Gregoire - Friday VV - Saturday

Genoway

Anyone other than BC. Speaking of shots on goal, last night Michigan State got outshot 50-11 by the Badgers! Only putting 11 on net is bad enough, but how in the world does Sconnie put up 50? Do they even shoot it 50 times in practice? Back to the Sioux. Watching last night was a blast. I wish I got to watch tonight, but it sounds like if they get some more shots on net this 3rd period, they should win this game. Is Cornell stepping it up on D compared to last night, or are the Sioux just going back to cycle mode?

Once the NFL season is done, maybe Hak can hire Mike Singletary as an assistant. He won't hesitate to show some emotion or drop his pants if he feels the players aren't playing well.

Hats off to you for posting that in your blog. All I'll say in response is your blog post is very similar to many of the posts here you have been ripping on this season.

I agree. Who cares what recruits do before they show up at UND. What matters is how they perform once they put on the Sioux jersey. Lately, we just haven't been getting enough production from the whole roster. If the past 4 years have taught us anything, it's that you have to go deeper than 1 stud line. The players with incredible natural talent, ala Toews, Parise, etc., have been thriving at UND. It is the other players who simply aren't developing, for whatever reason. It has gotten to the point that we as fans have simply come to accept the fact that the bottom 2 lines will give us nothing on the ice and are simply out there to give our scorers a breather. That's why I am so surprised at our offensive ineptitude this year. We don't have the dominant players, but we seemed to have more depth up and down the roster. So far, it hasn't played out that way. It's not time to fire Hakstol by any means, but I think it is time to question why players don't seem to be developing.

The Sioux haven't even played yet and you're guaranteeing victory? Past history means nothing. You've been saying all over the board about how much parity there is nationwide in college hockey. I have never seen Cornell play in my life, but if their D is as strong as others have stated, I don't think it is irrational to make a prediction that the offensively and defensively challenged 4-7-1 Sioux are going to drop a game. Goon, I respect your knowledge about college hockey. I learn many things about other teams in the WCHA, as well as teams in other conferences, from reading your blog and your posts here. As far as the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux are concerned, you are turning into The Rug of North Dakota when it comes to homerism. If anyone posts anything stating UND is struggling, you have a bag full of excuses. This team simply isn't playing well right now. They could turn it around and be playing spectacularly in March, but right now it's November, and that's what most Sioux fans are worried about. We'll make predictions and comments about how the team is playing in March when the time comes. Today is November 23rd, and the Sioux just went winless against one of the worst teams in the WCHA, in disappointing fashion, nonetheless. I would like to think playing at home should would ensure we come away with at least 1 win, but that is certainly no guarantee. I think Eidsness gives us a shutout and a split.

I believe that C-2 shows exactly why the goal should have counted. As far as D is concerned, I interpret the said goalkeeper to be the opposing goalie, not your own. In the Sioux-UMD game, if Watkins had struck the puck with a high stick directly to UMD's goalie, it would have been an immediate whistle, even if the goalie doesn't cover up the puck. If a player is dumb enough to high stick the puck directly at his own goal, why would they blow the play dead?

Split at home, split on the road! We lost the battle of the backups last night, but I can't imagine we're going to get swept at home by Anchorage. We came close to connecting on some nice goals last night, so I think they'll be able to find the sticks tonight and bury a few. And by a few, I mean 7. Hextall gets his first hat trick.