redwing77

You are one odd cookie, sagard. Take out the fact that Michael-Lee Teslak is the reigning WCHA Defensive POTW, it's not going to matter. Irman is a big part of the Gophers but will that matter vs. MTU? I can see which perspective you are talking about, I mean, why would UW swoon after losing only one player to injury? In any case, no freaking way will MTU even TIE this weekend. They dont' have the team D nor do they have the ability to finish like the Gophers do. Dude, the Gopher passing game alone will beat MTU. The only bold prediction I'm inclined to make involves special teams. I think there's a possibility that UMN leaves on Saturday having a weekend PP success rate of over 80% with 100% success on 5x3 PPs should they get them. The only other one I could imagine is that MTU will not land a shot on goal in any of their PP opportunities this weekend, but that may be stretching it. I mean, Briggs might get a few scuffs on the logo a few times so that's no deal.

Smaby hasn't taken that many penalties lately. If you want ill timed penalties, you'd have to be talking about Zach Jones. As for what you say, DAR, actually Hockeysfuture would disagree with you. He's projected to be a 3rd/4th defenseman not a 6/7 defenseman like you say. shep- I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. I think you're wrong though. I don't expect offense out of Smaby at all. The fact that he's trying and often leading the team at times in SOG in a period is darn impressive and speaks VOLUMES about his leadership. I mean, why would a DEFENSIVE DEFENSEMAN try so hard to get shots on net if he has other players who are better at it? He knows he is supposed to lead by example and I believe he's trying as hard as he can to lead the team on the offensive side of the rink. You're the first person I've read that thought Smaby's play this year and last year was suspect. Clement and Thorne of ESPN disagreed. There were some on this board (not including me) who actually thought Smaby outplayed Greene late last season. Whatever. Go pine for Dave Tippett. Unlike you, I have faith in Matt Smaby. I did since the first day he donned a Sioux jersey. I will not change my outlook at all. Stubborn? Maybe, but I guess I'm just looking at a player who is playing well instead of watching a player waiting for him to screw up. Would I agree with Greene's ability to stick in the NHL because he's a better defenseman than Smaby? Nope. I believe that Greene and Smaby will both stick in the NHL because they are BOTH good defensemen and defensemen who can open ice check players in the days where speed is becoming a factor are going to be VERY MUCH in demand. Good thing that's Smaby's strength... oh wait. YOu probably didn't notice that because you wait for him to take a penalty before making a judgement.

Wow. So informant is bitter? There is no point for a DII football team to play a DI team. None. Just like, apparently, there is no point in a DIAA football team to play a DIA team... or maybe NDSU didn't want to get destroyed by Minnesota in football again? As for "quality of recruits" so what? So some "blue chippers" are going to NDSU. Really, if they were real DI quality blue chippers, they would PROBABLY be going DIA, no? I mean, Greg Eslinger of Bismarck, ND was a ND blue chipper. If what you say is true, why did he go to Minnesota and not NDSU? Of course it is UND's fault that we "cancelled" the rivalry. Spoken like an NDSU fan. And if most don't care about where we stand divisionally, then I suggest you follow in their path and leave us alone. So I get your point: NDSU is better because they are DIAA and didn't want to cancel the rivalry despite not fairing well at all in DII before leaving for DIAA (what was NDSU's Nickel trophy record the last 5 years of the rivalry?). Whatever. Please don't claim to be objective if all you say about NDSU is positive and all you say about UND is negative. Troll. There is one thing I do to all trolls, so please know I don't care if you take this personally or not: IGNORED.

Hmmmm What would you look for in leadership from a defensive defenseman? More offense? Is it Smaby's fault if Stafford or Zajac doesn't score? I'd really like to know what makes a good captain and, specifically, why Smaby isn't a good leader on the team. So far, I don't know what more Smaby could do on the ice or in the locker room? As for the NHL and Smaby fit wise.... Since Matt Greene, Zdeno Chara, Derek Boogaard, and a host of other 6'3+ players are in the NHL, I'd like to say that the placement of Smaby as a future NHL player is actually quite the opposite of what was mentioned. He will play in the NHL. Here's a Hockeysfuture report on him. When the new prospect list comes out (which they are starting to update now), we'll see where he ends up. I'd be very surprised if he is at or below his current 7th best (4th best D) position in the TB organization.

Did you even read the informant's post or did you skim down until you found my post, took it out of context and then jumped all over me? Maybe you weren't around when NDSU made the jump to DI because, on this board, there were TONS of NDSU fans coming on here to point fingers on us for ruining the rivalry, saying DII sucks so either jump or take a hike, and so on and so forth. No, I don't see many UND fans worrying about the DII status of our school at all. Sure, there are people who think that moving up would be a good idea and that's great, but just because some of us do think that DIAA is a possibility doesn't mean that where we are at isn't great! And what would I say if we moved up this year? I'd once again start calling for Kupchella's head! We don't have the money and the conferences at least to make the move as it stands right now! That's without doing the research into the other requirements for getting in! If you have moved on, that's great. But it's plainly obvious that many of your brethren have not.

There's always a chance, but it isn't likely. Tampa Bay was trying to sign Smaby last off season. Many of the NHL teams were trying to sign their NCAA players. Potulny and Smaby were offerred contracts for sure. There were more than likely other offers to other NCAA players as well. If Matt returns for his senior season, I'll be elated. if he does sign early, I won't be surprised though. Marto isn't a Smaby type player, that much is true so I see your point. He's got good height, but his weight is freakishly low. I don't know what the deal is with his weight. Maybe he's like my brother and can't gain weight even though he may eat enough food and supplements? Speculation to say the least. I think Finley will eventually play more of the body and become a force. Unfortunately, it's taking time for that to develop, whereas that wasn't the case for Matt and Zach Jones, Matt Smaby, Matt Greene, David Hale, or Mike Commodore. One other thing to consider, Brian Lee and Taylor Chorney can be very physical at times even though they are touted more for their positioning and offensive play. Oh and one last thing: If we needed coaching that could teach a physical game, I don't think we could have a better trio of coaches, do you?

I thought you were the one with all the inside knowledge!

I never said ONLY in my post. I said some bad attitudes at UND may exist. I'll be the first one to tell you that the only reason why I've ceased calling for Kupchella's dismissal from UND's presidency is his fight against the NCAA for the nickname issue. UND isn't the only school to move in on the Fargo area. The University of Mary I believe has a campus there. Also, the Pharmacy project is something I don't know about so no comment there. UND does have a strong relationship between its med school and the VA hospital. Also to a certain extent with Meritcare hospital. But in relation to what the "informant" has stated, my point is still valid. I still maintain that the only fans in this state that are uncomfortable with UND's divisional status are NDSU fans. We're happy being DII in every sport save hockey. Sure, we're investigating the move and some argue that's the main reason our new AD was hired, but right now, NDSU has had troubles (no where near SDSU's troubles though) finding a conference and UND, IMO to their credit, doesn't want to go through with the uncertainty that NDSU has found itself in.

I think the C has been on two great jerseys two straight years. I have no doubt that the Sioux captain is a great one this year and, if he should stay his senior year (doubtful), I think he could very well wear it again next season.

What else, Mr. Hoyt, could make parents of players wish for a coach to be fired? Her record wasn't bad. She wasn't doing badly otherwise, no? Is it that impossible to believe that attitude played a role in it?

It's an odd addendum, and not one many have as a favorite moment, but my favorite moment was: 2000 Frozen Four, UND vs. Maine. Kevin Spiewak comes in from the point and shoots a puck on goal, I assumed at the time just to clear the puck into the offensive zone to make a change. It goes right past the Maine goaltender's left skate and just inside the crossbar to score on Maine. After enduring countless ESPN pregame interviews from Maine players, it was really neat. Especially since the last interview was the goaltender. He was asked why he did not have his mask painted. He replied something to the effect, "I want to be like a ghost on the ice." I watched the shot in the residence hall where I was living at the time, stood up and yelled "WHERE'S THE GOALIE?" at the top of my lungs. Scared the crap out of some of the people down the hall EDIT: Least favorite moment: 2001 NC game. It was Passover (I'm Jewish) so I had to miss nearly all of the game because of the seder I was at. I escaped away from the seder to tune in just in time to see BC score in OT. One last bad moment: last year's NC game, the showed the closing moments of the game, Robbie Bina resting his head against the glass, saddened by the loss.

And that's what I like the best about HOW PCM does the write up. If he did it verbatim we would have had to endure some stuff like Swygman's comments on how to properly state MSUM and when you can and cannot call them "Mankato." PCM cuts out the wasted airtime and I appreciate it. ------- And I love the comments on Smaby. I do think there aren't that many players in the NCAA as a whole who can open-ice check nearly as well as Smaby can. He's a lot of fun to watch at our own blue line. As for Zach Jones, I agree he's been really solid defensively but I'm not so sure I like all the emotion. I'm not saying emotional playing is bad, per se, but it can end up costing the Sioux. If emotional play, for any player, results in penalty minutes, then it's not a positive. I don't know whether he'll be better or worse than his older brother nor do I know what his future is (if he is to make the NHL he will either have to be an undrafted free agent signing or get drafted this year as an overager in the draft like Brian Salcido of CC was last year). We just need to win right now. That's all it comes down to now. I like the fact that Hakstol wasn't concerned about how other teams were playing as much as TH was. Business is at the New REA, not in St. Cloud or Minneapolis. Not yet anyways.

So are you saying that the issues between NDSU and UND come mostly from the folks at UND/Grand Forks? If so, then yeah, I suggest going to bisonville.com. They're more prone to agreeing with you. They see us in that light while we see us as sayiing "NDSU is DI in football. Why should a DII program play a DI program?" Same as in basketball. Oh, and by the way, talk to an NDSU fan or two and see what they say about UND Hockey. If they care at all, they'll disagree and say that hockey may be the "flagship" of UND but NDSU basketball is the "flagship" of North Dakota. There's no doubt I take pride in UND and the folks of Grand Forks, ND. But as a resident of Fargo, ND (have been since 1979 for the most part) I can tell you wholeheartedly that the "unhealthy relationship" is very much NOT UND/Grand Forks. Maybe there is some at UND but there is a LOT at NDSU/Fargo. As for "accept the DII status or make the move" That's your opinion, but it appears the only people who haven't accepted UND's status are NDSU fans. We're very comfortable in our position. Financially it makes sense. Besides, there is NO WHERE for our teams to go conference wise in DIAA. NDSU fans know that about their team after getting snubbed twice now. I'm happy for NDSU at their new level, sure. But if they can't accept UND's status then they need to get a life.

I made an assumption that there were parents on the team that wanted Bina fired. I made this assumption by reading other posts on this thread. So, I think I'm wrong and so are many others? I'll repeat myself. I've yet to meet anyone in a professional capacity that was deemed competant, a nice person, and responsible by the bosses that had parents or clients that wanted them fired.

The None of the Above comment is for this year. I think for the future, it will be VERY difficult for a UND player to win it, but not impossible.

Many times, lacrosse is held in converted hockey arenas. The Minnesota Swarm hold their games in, I believe, the XCel Energy Center. That's a pro lacrosse team, btw. So, maybe they could hold their games either in the New Ralph or maybe even the Old Ralph?

I remember the Old Ralph where a student caught a deflected shot into the crowd and half the arena started the "GOALIE -- SIEVE" chant where they pointed to the student and yelled "GOALIE" and the opposing goaltender and yelled "SIEVE" I found that incredibly amusing.

Classic

From what I hear, PCM remembers the 1959 team as a senior at SoDak

Do you mean the 2000 NC game? In 2001, we lost to BC in OT.

favorite goal scorer...Jeff Panzer favorite tough guy...Mike Commodore. Matt Greene was a cut in Commie's mold, but I once saw Commodore skate halfway across the ice to pummel a guy after he took a shot at Goehring. There were other players closer, but he still beat them all to the joker. I wish I remember who it was that got destroyed. favorite set up guy...Zach Parise favorite goalie...Lots of good ones, but I'll stick with Karl Goehring. Classy guy, great goaltender. favorite team...99/00 sioux. This team and the 2003/2004 team were the most complete teams I've ever witnessed. favorite sioux game ever attended I'd have to say the game vs. BC at the new REA when we went from down 4-2 to winning 6-4. It was the first and only time I've EVER heard the New REA so loud. I should say one thing: Everyone listed here are players I've viewed in person. Since I never saw Hrkac, Archibald, Belfour, and all play for the Sioux, I left them off the list.

This is a bad attitude I have, but look: If Jeff Panzer couldn't win the Hobey, then the only way we'll have another Sioux hobey winner is if someone puts up as good or better numbers than Tony Hrkac. So, as much as I love Oshie and crew, the answer is: None of the above that are listed will win the Hobey.

From what I heard, A Wahpeton player shot the puck at the goal and the puck somehow ended up crossing the goalline in some manner. No, I didn't go nor see the game, but that's usually how goals are scored.

I guess I thought that attitude would lead those parents to want her to be fired? I mean, I've yet to meet anyone pleasant to be around that I wanted fired. Before you jump on me again, Clayton, I know she resigned. But the PARENTS of those players wanted her to be fired. And I didn't make up the "Defensive liability" talk either. I just went with what a scout (meaning someone that evaluates talent for a living) said.

If Bina has this "attitude problem," would UND try to go after her anyways? She appears to be a decent coach otherwise....