InHeavenThereIsNoBeer

Demko just about let in a weak wrister... he may in fact not be the shut down goalie we'd like

Pretty sure that was a weird deflection off Auston Matthews

Nice article on NHL.com on Rocco... http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=745642

Yup, they have high end talent on their team. Apples and Oranges comparison to Yale and Union.

I think focusing too much on the previous 2 national champions is a little shortsighted. BC did just fine having top end talent on their team. As long as we're going with the Yale and Union argument, should we also stop giving out scholarships?

I don't think having Auston Matthews on our team would make it less likely that we win a national championship...

and yet UND doesn't have a prominent football program that being a college hockey powerhouse requires per some previous comments... huh

It's amazing 2 teams that don't have prominent football teams can draw 146k in viewers

Providence doesn't belong in that list of teams, they're much better at #17 in Pairwise right now.

I agree with what you say about casual fans flipping on games but don't think that is the end all be all for a college hockey team's health. I think you'd be hard pressed arguing that either Notre Dame or Penn State is in a "better" position in college hockey than North Dakota. That's why I think, in general, we will still be getting recruits over both of these schools. We have better facilities, fans, coaches(some may disagree ), tradition, and NHL alumni than any of schools you mentioned. That's not something that can bet trumped by a TV network showing 1/2 or even 1/4 full arenas. If I'm a blue chip recruit and have the choice of playing in front of 12k at one of the best facilities in the world where hockey is the biggest show in town and has developed players like Toews, Oshie, Parise, Stafford etc. or going to Penn State or Notre Dame because they have cool HD cameras but no one shows up for games, I'll pick UND every time. You say that Arizona St, Penn St, and Notre Dame mean more than North Dakota and you're right in the general sense, but not when it comes to hockey. Again, this is my opinion and you're not required to agree with it so just my 2 cents.

So you use Notre Dame as an example but in your theory, shouldn't that they will be getting better recruits, fielding better teams, having some success at the national level since they have the NBC network showing their games? I think you may be relying too heavily on football and basketball and projecting it onto hockey when it's an apples and oranges comparison. I guess it would help if you could clarify the statement 'UND can only go so far without being in a power football conference'. So we are somehow hindered by being in a conference where all of the schools put a majority of resources towards their college hockey recruiting, facilities, equipment etc. as opposed to being in a conference (Big 10) that lists hockey 3rd in importance of sports?

They haven't called anything all night. We better show up or we won't score any goals.

Well played sir... well played

Is it just me or is that story insanely hard to follow? It was a nice story but I just couldn't follow Don's writing at all.

I don't recall WMU diving from what I remember. I thought Denver was especially bad this weekend though, nearly approaching Gopher territory.

Also, the fact that it was blindsided makes me think he had no idea it was coming.

What if you take out the games where Nick Schmaltz wasn't in the lineup?

Agreed, I really like our powerplay once we get into the zone. It suffered when N. Schmaltz was gone but when he's in, I think we are scary good. His abililty to shoot or no-look dish the puck to his brother for a one-timer is so fun to watch.

Hey, I'm fine with going top shelf all day if he keeps sniping the corners like against LSSU

Great start, lets get healthy and run over some teams in the 2nd half.

4-2 Sioux. Mark Mac hat trick and Caggiula

Just saw the replay of Caggiula penalty, definitely not a cross check so TH missed that call. Guy instead wrapped his stick around Drakes neck and then did 'I'm not holding' hands up move everyone does when they definitely held the guy. Then the reaction of the Pioneer player was hilarious after Caggiulas jab. Grabs his helmet so the ref knows where it hurts. In my opinion, I like to see a UND team that plays on the edge of physicality and penalties and doesn't let teams clutch and grab them all over the ice. When the refs move that edge to where they see fit, it makes it tough for our team to adjust because that's where we get our advantage from. As far as the coach goes, I'd prefer he stand up for our guys on the ice because they'll be much more willing to go to battle for him and buy in. Just my 2 cents though.

Well that's the same response verbatim people love to use. I made no indication that you can't be critical of the coach. Just saying we lost 1 game and are still 12-4-3, let's maybe wait to condemn Hakstol's "control" of his players until we get swept Maybe they did play "listless" but it's one game, when it becomes a trend I'll take notice.

Haha the classic 'no cricism of hak allowed on here' victim card. I love it! It's like we're dancing! Seriously though, I'm critical of Hak plenty but it's not my default response to one loss on the road to a good team. Why not focus on the pucks in prime scoring areas that we couldnt bury? And with all due respect, if you were the coach I'd be scared for our programs future.