siouxforce19

I don't think anyone's cocky. I think everyone's laughing because of all the talk of the Gophers being "unstoppable" after destroying Michigan State and then the very next game they lose.

Well, they do have weekly alcohol education classes...

I agree. John Hill was awesome!

Why do we care again? I'm bored with this argument.

I made a joke in the offseason that Haula peed in public to draw attention to himself because it seems Gopher fans forget that he was actually their leading scorer last year. Which was funny because Lucia said the same thing earlier this week. Focus too much on Bjugstad and Rau and this kid will kill ya.

Things must have changed in the last couple months then because I heard differently.

It's more like Lucia doesn't want to schedule us. They made scheduling agreements with BU/BC, Notre Dame and CC/DU to avoid it.

On Friday night, we will get to see what basically our team will look like next year... kind of intriguing.

Not very good, but not like Sacred Heart bad. I didn't think they were good last year either when I saw them at the Icebreaker.

Um. When was that?

Lacking physicality defensively. Looking too much for offense. Saunders looked real good.

Thanks for the update. I hadn't heard if he was still injured or not. Good to know he is back on the ice.

Scouting report on Evers calls him a "smooth skater", so I'm not sure that would be "pylon" material. And with Mantha, I've also seen him described as a "mobile, puck-moving defenseman". So I think it's important to remember that just because they're big guys, doesn't mean they can't skate. I think there's more of an emphasis in recruiting these days to find big defensemen that can skate, probably because of past issues with d-men that get skated around like it has been said.

Another tree!

Kind of a random thought... but I did not realize Adam Tambellini was 6'4". We sure do have some trees coming in the next couple years!

He played last year against the Russian Red Stars.

I'm sure that is a mistake. He's a d-man. I think we'd have heard by now that he had switched if he had.

I realize not everyone likes the kid, but no one deserves to be insulted like that!

sounds like you know his entire life story...

Luke's penalty last night was for arguing with an official, not abusing the official. Nothing wrong with that IMO. USHL officials have their little power trips. It's not like college hockey officiating. He's a good prospect. He didn't play much last year because Des Moines had a lot of older guys that are now gone, so this year I think we'll see more what he can do. The year just started so I think it's a bit early to suggest development has stalled. He's big & strong, tough, has some unreal stick handling skills, and can score. He doesn't typically have penalty issues from what I've seen. As for off-ice stuff, I wouldn't read too much into that either... he's a good kid that's really excited to come play up here. Jack was injured a lot last year, so I don't know that much about him. So this is a big year for him too. Again, the season just started so I think it's too early to suggest any issues development wise.

I go for standing room only at Mariucci. Cheaper tickets, and I'm more than willing to get to the game hours early and wait for the doors to open and get a prime location. I had a center ice view every time. Plus, strength in numbers if you get a big group of Sioux fans in your location. Hopefully that security guard telling me how awesome Kyle Rau is will be in a different location of the arena this year...

If Forbort was there, how were the freshies fending for themselves? I get what you're saying about the captains, just questioning the fending for themselves comment.

It was also in the article in the Herald...

Murphy was suspended a few games for a check from behind. Not sure on Pelnik.

... And you're delusional. Blais is not God. If this happened under his regime, you would be saying about him what you're saying about Hakstol. And to suggest this would never happen under Blais is being naive.