jodcon

And I would call that really optimistic. I'm as jaded as any other Sioux fan but even considering the strength of our defense and goaltending I couldn't rank us in the top 10 until we find out if we can consistently put the puck in the net, especially the first half of the season. Frattin, Malone, Trupp, Hextall, Genoway, Gregoire...it will take a stellar effort from the group coming in to produce half the scoring that these guys did the last couple years, and that concerns me.

Yeah that was ridiculous, and not one ref saw it. Wasn't the first time he used it as a weapon either. Not going to miss that idiot and his "stickwork".

Isn't that the scrum where Cepis choked out Mac with his stick?

Following the example of the No Fun League I understand and agree with penalties for taunting or team celebrations that last 30 seconds or more, but if they start penalizing players for pointing at the sky or bowing their head on one knee after they score then they've gone too far. And of course it's ultimately going to be the referees discretion as far as what is and isn't excessive celebration so everytime someone makes a play and scratches their ass afterwards the other coach is going to be crying to the ref that the player is taunting his team. I was going to write 'Doesn't the NCAA have anything better to do right now?', but I guess after finishing the Tressel investigation, getting the Heisman back from Bush, and pounding the final nails in the coffin on the UND nickname issue, they probably have a little extra time on their hands.

True dat.

There's been speculation that Spirit is one of the replacement nickname possibilities in play, although I personally don't care for it.

Miller? Never heard of him.

What the hell, does your Grandma ride that bike to church on Sunday? This is how a dirt bike should look...bald back tire, caked with mud, decals scratched up. They never look the same after the first day do they?

Yeah I can't pin that on you even in jest. I'll go to the box for 2 minutes and, you know, feel shame.

How ya doin lakes?

Bitter much? Like I said before, you can't take anything this guy says seriously because it's all going to be anti-NCHC from here on out, and everything that happens is going to be spun into a "it happened because they left the WCHA " story. His premise that Miller decided not to come to UND because UND is leaving the WCHA in 2 years is moronic...the NCHC will be a top conference in college hockey. As far as him thinking he's cute with his "Secondary Six" nickname, what would he label the 5 teams that will be staying in the WCHA after the NCHC/BTHC teams leave? The Futile Five? Have some respect for your conference and concentrate on what they need to do rather than constantly pointing a sour finger at everybody else, it's history.

This has been questioned multiple times about Cichy, him leaving with multiple spots open on the starting forward lines makes me think the coaching staff has given him a "vote of no confidence".

Pretty good article, less than 3 weeks to the meeting now, then 3 days after that the sanctions would begin.

Which means more NCHC games. Bonus.

I think now that the Goofs are joining the BTHC the chant we should start at the Ralph is "Penn State Rejects".

One thing to remember is that the Gophers can easily commit to these games because they will be in a 6-team league initially and will only have 20 conference games, leaving at least 14 games for non-conference foes. They can host their 'Minnesota Tourney' and play 2 games there, play 2 of the other teams either at the Mooch or on the road, and still have 8 games left to play the UNDs, Denvers, BCs, or whoever of the world...that's the upside of a 6-team league. UND and UMD on the other hand have no idea how many teams the NCHC will actually have when they drop the first puck, and because of that would not be able to commit to anything like Minnesota has proposed until the league has officially stated who the final members are. If the NCHC ends up being an 8-team league, for example, it would mean each team would play 28 conference games, which would leave only 6 regular games for non-conference foes, or 3 series. Because of that I doubt if Duluth can fully commit to the Gophers plan as of now, not because they don't like it but because they need more info before they can commit to any non-conference games. This is a smart move by the Gophers, it keeps them in touch with the other Minnesota schools and makes them look good while helping the displaced WCHA teams. So to play Devil's Advocate...Minnesota, who was the first to leave the WCHA, now will have enough non-conference games to play all the old WCHA teams and will look like the good guy for doing so...UND and Duluth, who left as a reaction to Minnesota leaving, may not have enough non-conference games to play hardly any of the old WCHA teams and will look like heels for doing so...how crazy is that? Of course if the NCHC ends up being a 6 or 7 team league they will have many more non-conference opportunities too, so time will tell how it actually shakes out.

So they're holding a spot for Moorhead?

Update on Forcier, Hawaii has said no to him because of his academics so he is now down to San Jose State as his last option, and rumblings are they are lukewarm about him at best. So todays lesson kids is: Academics + Behavior > Any Amount of Talent

Shhhhh don't tell anyone, I'm trying to get that NCHC commissioner job using my alias. Glad you caught my McLeod innuendo (for lack of a better word).

My kids actually showed me that last year, at least they couldn't sing it around the house to annoy me like they did with the Double Rainbow song, another of his classics.

"I don't want to be a member of any club that would have me as a member!" -Groucho Marx Difference is it was funny when Groucho said it.

Going to Huntsville in winter would be a vacation compared to SSM/LSS, I hope they do get a look if the AHA schools jump to the CCHA, it would stink if they got a "we'll still play you but not as a member" offer.

The influx of people into western ND has been crazy, there are literally no places to rent in any town regardless of size between Minot, Williston, Sidney, and Dickinson. I heard in the last few days they are going to set up another 'man-camp' somewhere in the oilfield area for 1200 people, most of those guys work 14 on and 14 off so they could house another 2400 people there, but that's just scratching the problem...there are people driving here from the western part of Montana 400+ miles and renting a room or apt., and then driving to work everyday another 150+ miles one way because it's the closest place they can get a real room. If this keeps going like it is the next census in western ND is going to blow peoples minds.

Makes sense for the AHA schools who want to go from 12 to 18 scholarships, this is the first time I've seen in print that Alaska may be WCHA bound so maybe the Alaska schools will be bound together after all. Poor Hunstville must feel like a red-headed stepchild, more rocks in their Halloween candy.

"The WCHA