redwing77

My magic eight ball says "Most likely, yes." As for current high school players, I'd love to see Galt, Mihulka, and Weisgarber make an impact and end up somewhere in DI. Maybe the Sioux, maybe somewhere else. Those guys are something special.

I agree about everything here. LOVE the cowbell guy. Then the thought hit me: Who's going to replace him when he graduates? Will the replacement be willing to do as he did? Will he grow the Commodore hairdo? Oh, and I loved the band in the concourse. Especially the lowclass woman who tried to block the band's way. Why? Because this lithe clarinet player nearly knocked her off her feet as she ran right over her CLASSIC.

Discipline is going to be the #1 concern next weekend. More than the problems with offensive inconsistency. Why? Because of all the emotion. We have players who get REALLY emotional on the ice (Zach Jones being the leader in that category). We HAVE HAVE HAVE to play with discipline because, with emotions running high, we'll play on the PK all night long if we all emotion to run the game plan.

Ok, I'll revise the statement about goaltending. Rick DiPietro has done a LOT better than I though he'd do. He has to because he has two jokes backing him up. (I think that's more accurate) Are Blake and Cullen "average" players? Maybe. But they drive hard to the net, play hard every shift, and play meaningful games. Are they the players the team should build around? No, I don't think they are "franchise" players even by Team USA standards, but they put the kind of effort that is needed every shift. I'd give better examples but... well... every example I can think up is Canadian Canada has now lost two. My new Medal predictions: GOLD: Slovakia SILVER: Finland BRONZE: Canada I just can't count out the Canadians just yet. The wild cards are the Russians, Swiss and the Czechs. Both the Czechs and the Swiss will falter for different reasons centering around the same position: Goaltending. The Czechs falter because they don't trust Vokoun (What this year I call the Badgeritis... Hasek=Elliott. They go down, they can't win). The Swiss falter because Aebischer is a sieve and Gerber won't be able to right the ship in time. I guess you could say that the Swedes are wild cards too. It could be a really good medal round if you aren't a fan of Canada or the US. Which leaves the Russians. I don't know if the Russians can beat Canada even in their current funk.

On SMaby in front of the net: Pro: Hard to move. Con: Hard to draw a penalty on. Seriously, the Bulldogs did it to get a brief (17 second) 5 on 3. Put a small guy in front of the net, Smaby clears the front of the net which sends the guy flying, Smaby sits for 2 minutes for cross checking. If we put Smaby or Finley in front of the net, sure, they will make great screens, but they're not going anywhere and that means that the DU defenders can cross check at will. Ok, so this is my imagination running away with me right now, but anyways, what do you think? IMO, I think whatever gets the job done is fine by me. I don't care if they have JPar crashing the net. As long as we do well on the PP, I don't care.

Yikes. Thanks stars

How much? Will you seperate them? I may be interested in one of them.

I hope it comes down to a rematch of the South-GFRR game at the Ralph for the tourney championship. From the sounds of things, and what I've read, it was a VERY good game. Maybe GFRR will win. Maybe South will win the rematch. Who knows? Gosh, what a treat the last one was from what I heard. Probably would have been at that game if I hadn't had a suite at the Sioux game. As for riders06- Yeah, careful. You wouldn't want to make DaveK's point for him. Besides, nothing is worse, IMO, than a bad winner. Bad losers come close though. Of course, SHOULD South win, I'd expect you to come on here and congratulate South on a well earned win without once slighting their accomplishment. I'd enjoy seeing that. ------------------------------ Ok, on a completely unrelated note: I was listening to the Central/West Fargo contest yesterday on my way up from Fargo on the radio and a High School player's stick was broken in a play. Nothing out of the ordinary there, but it got me thinking: If a player's stick is broken during a game, does the player have to go out and buy another one or does the school have a supply of sorts of sticks and equipment? I believe high school football teams supply each team with at least jerseys and helmets if not pads as well... Kindof curious on that. I mean, those sticks can cost $200-$400 each!

If MTU can tie UW, I think MSUM could take at least 1 point from UW, if not 2 points.

But they refused to comment on it, which, to the pro nickname change crowd AND the NCAA, qualifies as a No vote. In any case, the court case, which only fools would not be preparing for, must be run and planned very carefully by the UND side. We can't screw it up.

What's the point PCM? Reasoning with a guy who calls himself a "former UND supporter" because he thinks that will get us to listen to him? All he does is badmouth UND and NOTHING you or anyone here can say will change his mind. Ignore him. Everyone should ignore him. A man with an audience can garner an opinion. A man without an audience is just talking to himself.

First off, I believe Jordan should play both games in Denver, but I don't see why Phil can't get some playing time (and IMO, he should to give Jordan some rest before the playoffs) against MTU. Secondly, how do you know JPar won't make the NHL? To be honest, Tim Thomas of the Boston Bruins was a career minor leaguer... but fancy now he's an NHL goaltender. No one knows what Jordan's lot in hockey is after UND. Will he sign early? I doubt it, but it is possible. I don't think any NHL team is going to try to "beat the rush" on an already undrafted free agent.

We shouldn't worry about the tie. Really, the US isn't an international team. It was set up all wrong. All the players that should be featured aren't and those that are shouldn't even be on the team. It's more a pat on the back type of arrangement. Chelios? I like him and all, but really, he's not the kind of defenseman the US needs. Players like, to be honest, Jason Blake, Matt Cullen, and that ilk are what the US needs. Guys who excel on the big sheet/play an open style of game. Our goaltending is a joke. Our defense is marginal at best, and our forwards can't keep up enough pressure to threaten anyone. We have a better chance at beating Sweden than we did beating Slovakia. Will we beat them? I dunno. I wouldn't be surprised if we didn't. However, if we DO lose, then there's a very good chance that we WON'T advance to the next round and then Team USA can take their time heading back and get ready to resume the NHL season. No, thanks to NBC's homer's, Team USA will not be losers, nor will they be chokers. They will have "faced adversity and found it to be too insurmountable." Not to worry, the biggest choker on Team USA will thankfully not be the men's hockey. It will be Bode Miller.

Myriad of thoughts and ponderances from tonight's game. Just got back at 1 am! Went out with a buddy after the game and the hour drive home... anyways... Tonight I got the game from a suite (THANK YOU LB#11!!!) and boy I'll tell you: 1. Suites are NIIIIIICE 2. Student sections are more fun though. I don't think the people appreciated that I yelled a lot. At least I kept it clean and yelled at appropriate times (except the time when I watched half the lower bowl section in front of me leave with 5 minutes left in the 3rd. I got evil looks for yelling "Beat the traffic") UND: 1. WOW. It's it amazing what a little good passing can do? Toews was the MAN tonight. Duncan and Spirko weren't bad either . Porter and Kaip had really solid games. Kaip's faceoff win/pass to Watkins was huge. No, not in the context of the game itself, but in the context of Kaip's confidence. However, Both of Toews' goals, Duncan's goal, and Watkins' goal happened right in front of my suites and I can tell you they were brilliant. 2. Jordan Parise saved our bacon 3 or 4 times. I think he has a pretty solid chance at WCHA Defensive POTW. However, it may go to a Maverick... 3. Faceoffs: Early in the game, it did not appear as though we were winning many. Good thing our forecheck was really good. Stafford's picking of the UMD player's pocket was beautiful. Too bad Porter couldn't get back onsides in time (I thought he made it, but I didn't have the angle). 4. Penalties: We HAVE to be more disciplined. I don't know if UMD would have scored if we hadn't given them as many penalties as we did. And Kozek's unsportsmanlike was simply foolish. That can't happen, even if it is only UMD. I'm tired now so I'm going to abbreviate this a little: UMD 1. NO team D. Wow. You guys played sloppy 2 of the three periods. Isaac isn't the kind of goaltender that can control a game. No Team D and he becomes a sieve. 2. Final thoughts on Isaac. Wow. I have given up thinking that this guy has a future in pro hockey. At one point I thought he could play in the NHL. Then I thought he could still salvage a minor pro career. Now... maybe the UHL, CHL, SPHL, or Europe at best. He really looked shakey out there at times. And even during warm ups, if anyone went high on him, it went in the net. I hate to say it, but I think UMD would have been better off with Ziggy in net. At least he only gave up 4. On the flip side, at least Isaac didn't give up two horrific garbage goals either. What a mess. 3. Carroll looks REALLY good. He reminds me of Erik Fabian in a way. Very hard working. Not sure how much offensive talent he's going to bring to you guys but I think Carroll could quickly become a fan favorite. 4. UMD got basically 90 percent of the odd man rushes tonight and they couldn't convert on any of them including two breakaways. I'm not sure if it was simply Jordy's play or the inability to score that got you guys. 5. I really like Scott Sandelin, but I wonder how much longer he's gonna get at the helm and if someone will give him another shot. He's a really good guy. 6. Czech shouldn't be your Captain. McKnight should be. Czech is like Stauffacher without talent. Something tells me that if he didn't wear the 'C' he probably wouldn't play all that much. Tired. Not sure if any of this made sense. Going to bed now.

I'll agree to that.

Speaking of the 05-06 season, when will we find out who the Captains will be?

No offense to Stafford last night, but how did he earn his first goal? That goal was great for Stafford and the fact it was a goal doesn't diminish Stafford as a player or a goal scorer, but that was simply the most horrific garbage goal I've seen since Siembida wore a Sioux jersey! That should not have gone in! It would NOT have gone in against 99% of the goaltenders in DI! Can't call that an "earned" goal when the goaltender basically gave the point to Stafford.

SPOILER ALERT! Possibly anyways. The Swiss just shut out the Canadians 2-0 behind Martin "Baby Food" Gerber's spectacular play. So the Swiss are a force to be reckoned with for now. David "SIEVE" Aebischer has been on a streak lately (it will crash because he sucks). Here's the lineup: Slovakia is tearing things up. They should beat an overrated USA team today. Finland hasn't lost yet... Oh yeah. THEY HAVEN'T EVEN GIVEN UP A SINGLE GOAL YET. Swiss could be the surprise team of the Olympics. Updated Goal prediction: GOLD: Slovakia SILVER: Canada BRONZE: Finland Swiss make a great run, then make the mistake of putting Aebischer in and they lose to fall out of the medal round. Team USA faces Slovakia today and Sweden tommorrow. I hope it's close but I'm predicting an 0-2 record. Dubay thinks the Latvia tie isn't something to worry about. God that's good dope Dubay is smoking. That tie is going to make us 1-2-1 instead of 2-2-0 like they will more than likely be after tommorrow's action. What do I know? They could beat Sweden! I DOUBT DOUBT DOUBT DOUBT they'll beat Slovakia.

Upon my review, I'm going! YAY!!!! Thanks for the tix, LB!

Unfortunately no. I'm going to be sitting comfortably in a suite at the Ralph Englestad Arena watching the Sioux smoke the Bullpuppies.

Thanks Chris. Love your site and blog, by the way.

We're a better road team this year. Maybe we want to be on the road for the WCHA playoffs? Either way, though, I'd rather make the NCAAs and be a road team in the WCHA playoffs than be a home team in the WCHA playoffs and not make the NCAAs. If we can have both... great!

PCM, what are the chances that Matt Greene goes pro at the end of the season?

Sioux-cia shoots and scores! Sioux-cia 1 Diggler 0

Thanks. So, basically, all South is playing for is EDC Championship rights today. In the scheme of the tourney coming up, all that's at stake is the #1 or #2 seeding. Thanks. GO SOUTH!