That was the standard MO under Hak. Parity was just starting when Hak left. Willing to bet a couple of those teams don't make FF in today's game where the line between the haves and have nots isn't as stark.
I don't think you would have fallen to 8 or 9 if you lost. Maybe 5 or just stayed at 4 as well. I also don't think going to Bozeman for a semifinal would be any easier than a trip to Fargo or Brookings.
I remember teams that had that extra gear and would just come at you in waves. This squad looks like a first year peewee b1 team that has no clue what to do or skill to get it done.
To a certain extent maybe the game has passed Berry by. He wants to develop these kids into NHL type players but the problem is that he is trying to make them late 90s early 2000 type players not 2024 NHL players.