redwing77

Precisely.

I'm a pessimist but I think that Kristo goes. They say Aaron Dell is likely to sign too, but that seems to have stalled. I think Kristo goes and Dell does too. After that, no one bolts.

I forgot to fill out my bracket (I would have lost bigtime anyways) but... Anyone else surprised at how poorly Miami played in the NCAAs? I maintain Miami peaked last year and now starts the decline as both Knapp and Reichard graduated. Or how well Ferris State played? I gave Union absolutely no respect but they proved me wrong this year. We'll see about next year. It's still hard for me to respect the EZAC due to their soft schedules, late start times, and a few organizations (Dartmoth's handling of the UND series and everything about Shafer, his attitude, and how Cornell plays the game).

I heard rumblings at the time but there was nothing that was solid. But yeah, the fans were vicious to Brian.

I'm not sure I am interpretting your question correctly so I will guess at the two possibilities I dreamed up: Interpretation #1: The NCAA does not care what the facilities of its member institutions physically look like. The answer to this would be yes, they do. To go with their mandate regarding hostile and abusive logos, mascots, and nicknames this would also include the venues in which those member institutions play. Interpretation #2: This is a sarcastic rhetorical question to which the response is: As a liberal and status conscious organization held hostage by the PC crowd that is hell bent on social change, it isn't the facility itself but the person who funded it that the NCAA has issues against. Had another private organization built the identical arena even with the identical visages of the Native American symbols but it was built through money other than Englestad's, I'm not sure that the NCAA would be so conscious of it, especially if the arrangement between the arena and UND remains the same as it is today.

This is pretty much it. I'll add this too: He's over 6'1 and a Dman. He should deliver crushing hits like MacWilliam, Greene, Blood, Commodore, etc. To many Sioux fans, what Lee's game was (a puck moving offensive styled defenseman) was irrelevent. Couple that with the fact that he was a top 10 draft pick and it was basically assumed that he'd be superhuman. He was railed upon CONSTANTLY and far more, in my opinion, viciously than any defenseman I can remember including Finley. It's funny to see that he was 2nd on the team in offense (at least among defensemen) and yet he was viewed upon as basically a garbage player for UND. Always brings a chuckle to my lips. He certainly wasn't the best defenseman UND has had, but he certainly represents the worst UND fans can be towards one of their own. I'm kindof curious about his brother. Had UND been a good experience for Brian, would John have come to UND? Mere hypotheticals now but it's worth thinking about

Good question. I have no idea.

A coaching change is ALWAYS a big deal. It could hurt the team (for example, in the NFL, Weis leaves for Florida and the KC Chiefs tank the following year), it could greatly benefit the team (example: This year's Minnesota Gopher hockey team. Essentally the same team as last year just with Guentzel's system and they go to the Frozen Four), or it could basically stay close to the same (Hakstol). If Eades does go, though, it will be very interesting to see what happens. Eades gets head coach at Mankato... it would not surprise me to see Steve Johnson named Associate under him. Or Steve get the Associate Head Coach at UND. Other coaches whose names will come up: For UND: John Marks, Tony Hrkac, Karl Goehring (for assistant with Dane Jackson moving up to Associate), James Patrick (not likely but hey, worth noting), Tom Ward, Jason Herter, Scott Koberinski, and perhaps a few others I'm forgetting. For MSUM (all assuming Eades is named head coach): Tom Ward, Chad Johnson, Derek Lalonde (who MIGHT end up a head coaching candidate at MSUM), Mike Aikens (Omaha - USHL), or somewhere out of the blue. As for Eades leaving, it would hurt us and help Mankato. I think Guentzel or Eades would be great choices for Mankato.

SIouxForever - To answer your question: Saunders will be the tallest goaltender in Fighting Sioux history. the next tallest was Grieco and I beleive Kvalevog who were both 6'1. At one time UND was recruiting Northeastern goaltender and former BCHL goaltending stud Chris Rawlings. He is 6'5. Imagine that!

I believe Schmaltz will report to Grand Forks. I do have my doubts about Lemieux despite the tweets. A lot can change in the next 2 years. For example, maybe his experience in Green Bay won't be positive. Perhaps his priorities change. Perhaps he gets drafted a year from now and the NHL team wants him to go to the MJ route. I'm 85% sold on Nick reporting to Grand Forks. It goes to 95% if Jordan shows up to Grand Forks in the fall. 5% remains in case Jordan is treated poorly at UND (see Lee, Brian). This is unlikely, but anything is possible. As for Lemieux, I believe there is a 60% chance he comes to Grand Forks. Had he been drafted in the 8th round or later, I'd make it 80% with Nick but... top 5 rounds isn't good. 1st round is a goner for sure (Michigan State lost a recruit). 2nd round is almost positively gone (UNO may very well lose one) and it gets slightly less likely as the rounds go by but you are never sure until the 8th or 9th round.

I think we are building up a nice team but the question mark no longer is in offense... it switches back to goaltender. I believe in Gothberg being the real deal but... you NEVER know what you're going to get as a freshman goaltender. You could get a goaltender like Manino who is good for his entire career... or you can a Siembida, who comes in on fire and falls flat on his face. The players returning from injury (Rodwell, O'Donnell, Grimaldi) and other circumstances (St. Clair) will garner most of my attention but... the one freshman last year that got my attention in a positive way was Stephane Pattyn. I REALLY like how he plays. In fact... I wouldn't be surprised AT ALL if Pattyn ends up the Captain his senior year if he continues to improve on the ice and lead. Our defense looks scary good, but not as physical as we usually see, in my opinion. MacWilliam is still a bruiser, but Forbort, Schmaltz, Mattson, and Gleason aren't big hitters. Panzarella is a bruiser too, but who'd you sit? If everyone plays as advertised, we're going to have a very good puck moving D Corps and a marked increase in defensive scoring.

I truly believe that Seth Jones is headed to the WHL. I have no inside information but I just won't believe he'll go to the NCAA until he suits up.

A few things: 1. Lucia is not COTY material unless he wins it all. All those reasons given up about previous years are bunk. Uearly departures happen all the time in elite programs. it's to be expected. Losing a player midseason is tough but how difficult it is depends upon the context. If the player is a disruptive influence, it's not bad. If he just up and leaves, it can be a distraction sure. Losing those guys unexpectedly wasn't that big of a deal, imo, to Minnesota. Especially in the case of Burkholz and Dorr. Dorr was a flake. If Lucia was somewhat competent, which I believe he is more than just "somewhat," Dorr probably wouldn't have played much anyways due to character issues alone. Burkholz was a moron and Minny was lucky to lose him. As for the coaching changes, PLEASE! I maintain that it was Lucia trying to save his job that led to Hill's departure. And you CANNOT look me straight in the eye (even with the 10-10-2 record IIRC) and say that Minnesota has done poorly thus far with Guentzel as compared to how Hill would have coached them. Sorry. I don't buy that for one second. 2. I believe Hakstol is in the same boat as Lucia. He's truly a great head coach and has faced plenty of adversity this year, but his team isn't without talent. There is no certainty that UND will make the NCAAs this year. I'd say that if Hakstol makes the Frozen Four suiting up the 18 skaters he has and no fluke team like Union or Yale or whatever pulls off a miracle, I'd say Hakstol has a decent shot. If the season ended today, though, I'd probably be considering the head coaches of either Ferris State or UMass Lowell. Freakin' Ferris State. Going from the rumormill deathbed to #1 (even if it may be only temporary and not with a lot of teeth behind it ala Union) is remarkable.

We haven't had very good luck with sons of former NHLers lately. HIstorically, sure (Chorney et. al.) but as I learned with Matteau, I'll believe this is a good thing when he reports to Grand Forks. Until then, he's OHL bound in my book.

All the more reason to root for the Patriots. I guess that's another reason why I dislike the Giants with a passion. 1. Eli Manning. He calls himself Elite and expects everyone to start calling him that. BTW some say that a second ring makes him a hall of famer. I don't know about that, but until they got into the Super Bowl, I was STILL hearing ESPN blowhards saying they'd rather take Tony "Fail at everything and loved for it" Romo over Eli "Can't Spell ELITE without ELI" Manning. 2. The Giants swagger going into this game. Maybe its the Patriots' being rather silent but the Giants are making a LOT of noise saying this and that and another thing. Makes them appear arrogant as a team. 3. This ad.