UMDDogz

augh! what's happening?? No video. At least I didn't pay!

Just says "ready"...

Let me know as soon as you get something. I'm getting the same black screen you guys are at the moment.

The Dogs only recruited two freshmen, and one is a goaltender. That would be the reason.

Half hour till game time... Is it me, or is time slowing down??

Preview didn't work for me either. I have MWP 9, but it tries to load, then says ready and doesn't play anything. Anyone else have this problem? Maybe the site link is not working properly, because the free preview on the main page did work, just not the preview of the game from last year.

It is treated a non-conference game. Counts towards overall records, but not towards conference standings.

Very impressive!! What do you suppose they do with the empty space behind each goal? Is it sold as SRO, or just kept off limits to fans?

Since this is such a hot topic, I thought I'd create a poll. Happy voting!!

Here's my prediction: UND will come out flying, but Reichmuth will stifle them during the first 10minutes of the first period. The Sioux will have at least 13 shots in the 1st but fail to score. 0-0 after 1 period. Second period Sioux will start to feel the pressure from fans at the Ralph and start pressing. Dogs will score on a quick counterattack early in the period. 1-0 Dogs. Sioux will REALLY start pressing causing the Dogs to take a penalty. Sioux will score on the PP to tie the game 1-1. Period 2 ends. After that it will come down to will power and defensive end play. Whoever takes care of the puck in their own end will come out ahead. I don't expect it to be an offensive game, as both teams will spend some time getting a feel for eachother. If the Sioux do happen to score early in the game, I don't like the chances for UMD. It will be difficult tocome back from that. But if we can weather the initial flurry, we should have a great chance to come out on top. If I had to give a score, I'd say UMD 3, UND 2.

Looks like it is only free to the first 300... Better sign up quick!!

Darn, I thought I was on to something there... Oh well...

Well this is it! Time to get down to business! The Dogs signed some good looking recriuts this off-season out of the BCHL and USHL. It will be interesting to see how they respond. T.J. Caig came from the same BCHL team as this years new recruit Bryon McGregor. Dogs are returning 21 or 25 letterman from last year, so they have experience on their side. Hopefully the D can weather the storm in the first period because I'm sure the Sioux will come out flying!! Good luck to both teams! Let's get this season rolling!!

When I said they would expand to 24 teams, I was thinking long term, when there are more D1 programs. That may be 20 years or more away...around the time AH teams begin to contend.

All right guys...The nets are there to protect you from injury, and it's as simple as that. No matter how intently you watch the game, there may come a time when somebody lets go a wicked slapper that takes a deflection right at you. That's what the nets are there for. The deal with the girl was that she had some kind of problem where her blood would not clot or something. She did get up and walk under her own power after the shot hit her. But the risk of injury (not necessarily death) is still too prevalent not to take some kind of preventative action. Personally I don't see why nobody has come up with some sort of clear Kevlar wire to make the nets out of. Then we'd be in a win-win situation. Hmmm. I wonder if the patent office is open this late! Hope you're all ready for saturday!! I've been waiting for this all summer! Go 'Dogs!!

I don't suppose the game will be televised in the twin cities area...

P.S.--Duluth has enough trouble recuiting with the 'U', UND, and SCSU right next door.

I can see where NCAA hockey is trying to be: They want to have teams from all over the country compete at a high level and eventually expand the tournament even further (24-32 teams). The MAAC deal is just the first step. I guess when you look at it from their perspective it starts to make a little more sense. But until more schools can lure talent away from Major-Juniors, there will not be enough to make the Atlantic Hockey (AH?) competitive. My question is this: Is an automatic bid enough to give teams in the AH the recruiting power they need to be successful on a national scale, or are we just diluting the NCAA field with sub-par competition at this point?

The nets are coming whether you like it or not. It's just a simple safety concern, and it makes as much sense as the plexiglass. It's impossible to watch out for pucks during warmups when there are 25 players firing shots at the same time! I agree that people should pay better attention to the puck in play (that's what you're there for, isn't it?), but once someone DIES, I think not putting up nets would be a horrific mistake. I don't think the girls family is worried too much about the sight lines! To prevent something like that from happening again (no matter how small the odds may be) I am willing to deal with the nets, and I think anyone with a conscience would agree with me. Here's a simple exercise: What's the BEST thing that could happen if nets are not put up: We can see the game slightly better. What's the WORST thing that could happen if nets are NOT put up: Someone is KILLED by a flying puck. Weigh those for a moment and then tell me you'd rather leave things the way they are. It makes no sense.

Goon, Gabby is only hurting himself by holding out. He needs a new agent.

I think you're right, RedWing. The MAAC receives an auto-bid. I think they send their tourney winner to the NCAA's. Even though they expanded, there's always going to be those bubble teams that end up on the outside looking in. Unless they invite a ridiculuos number 64 like for basketball. Then the MAAC might have TWO teams get in. I'm not saying that the MAAC should not be considered, I'm just saying that when a team that is not even in the top 50 in the nation is invited to the NCAA's in place of a team in the top 15 or 20, I'm not sure what kind of a tournament you have. What purpose did serving Mercyhurst up for lunch in the first round serve? How does that help the MAAC feel any better about themselves as a conference, seeing their best team drubbed 9-2 in the first round (allbeit to the eventual National Champion and high powered Gophers)? I guess that College football is having the same problem with some of their conferences not being BCS eligible. I think they should have the same opportunity as the other teams, but I don't think that giving them a free pass is the way to go. If they deserve a bid, give them one. If not, give it to a team that does.

I'd like to see Duluth play in a holiday tourney. They're off from Dec 15-Jan 2. I think the Ralph would be a great atmosphere and provide a nice tough mid-term for the Dogs. Maybe grab two (or three) teams from another conference and let the good times roll!!

Good to see the Dogs checking in at #15. I don't know who voted for Bemidji State, but it seems to me the credibility of a poll that gives top 15 votes to schools like Wisconsin, Brown and Mercyhurst should be called into question. Dogs ended last year at 14 but got no NCAA bid due to teams like that (especially from the MAAC) who were not even ranked in the top 50 in the Pairwise. But that was last year. Enough about that. This year I'll be looking for the Dogs to climb a few spots!! Saturday feels so close...and yet so far away...

Could it be? Another 'Dogs fan on this site? Awesome!

Sorry to post again right away, but i really can't believe Ferris State hasn't gotten a single vote yet... Don't you people hold grudges?