redwing77

Maybe, but the head PC Zealot is 6 feet deep in this case. As long as there are no overt references to Native Americans in the logo, mascot (if we have one), or nickname, there's nothing the NCAA can do. Of course, Goon is right. Fighting Cavalry is the best alternative nickname I've heard, but it would undoubtedly be seen as a stance against the NA population as the Cavalry were some of the main forces behind the relocation and oppression of NA people back in the 19th Century. Since the NA leadership lives in the past, it would certainly spell disaster on a PR front. RHHiT should lay some stinky brown bricks. And, I admit, I love that nickname idea.

No they're not. Campbell signed with the OHL.

No one is going to "have at you" unless you are truly insecure. It's alright I guess. My father likes the UND Frontier... I told him why not make us the UND Fly Overs. The only certainty in the nickname world is that, whatever the nickname is, many won't like it. My biggest fear is that those who fought to change the nickname will try to take the lead in replacing the nickname. A win like this will inflate their sense of self-importance.

That's bogus and you know it! Shepherd told everyone that clutch and grab doesn't exist anymore! (ok, brian speaks the truth, but I cite the party line. )

I've rendered you speechless, I take it?

Probably the latter. Kristo is one of the few Sioux players I've really noticed standing out since Genoway has been out.

We don't have a picture of you wearing a Chicita Banana fruit hat like the one above to compare. And it does look surprisingly like you. And what does a dog know?

I'm not that worried. Canada did alright with Fleury as goaltender (except one year) and he wasn't all that impressive until recently anyways.

Thanks choyt. The game was good (what I saw). Slovaks played better than the score indicates (well, ok, I only watched the last 9 minutes). They did get the lions share of penalties though. The best scoring chance I saw was a Slovak chance on the PK. The live chat on justintv was rather harsh.

Ok, I give up. Anywhere I can pick up the remainder of the game on the internet? My folks don't have NHL Network.

Ok, I know this would make Fox look biased but.... COuldn't they just televise tourneys (like the MN High School State Tourney) and several High School games that occur in and around the Twin Cities? That way there is no travel expenses, just the transportation expenses and the cost to air the game? Also, could they just NOT have professional commentators and ask the people who do radio or something (I know that Moorhead has its own radio commentators for home games) to do it instead? I don't know. I know it would lower the quality of the sportscasting, but if there was some way to put amateurs or somehow find volunteers to be in front of the mic's, that could decrease cost too.

Yes

The Fruit lady (aka you) doesn't have a beard.

Don't play the slippery eel with us. It's you and you know it.

I wouldn't discount Rowney. I didn't see him as a goal scorer, regardless of what he did in juniors. I see him as a defensive forward, a grinder, who can score on occasion. I think he'll develop into an Erik Fabian type player. Corbin Knight... well, of those you list (Cichy was unlisted but he's in the same boat as Knight), looks like a true freshman on the ice to me. We've seen freshmen, Sioux or otherwise, come onto the ice and seem to be electric right away, but Knight fits the mold of gradual improvement over a period of time. I think he's shown flashes of brilliance, but when another freshman (Kristo) is out performing you by leaps and bounds... it's hard. Cichy's speed was a concern before he came to UND. Even scouting reports talked about that. Cichy and Knight both play right now like they're trying to get used to the game and find their role on the team simultaneously. In my armchair coaching position, that's an extremely difficult task. Who would I sit? I would probably rotate Bruno, Cichy, and Knight and leave Rowney in the game. I think the true odd man out is Davidson. I don't think he has much of a role on this team any longer.

Merry Christmas everyone! A little humor.

Uh... Genoway did bounce back and forth between wing and D his freshman year IIRC. Towards the end of the year, Hakstol put him solely at D and that's where he played ever since. But yeah, anywhere you put him, he'll succeed. I was hoping for similar things from Marto. He's solid, but I thought he had the same ability Genoway have to be able to play forward if need be.

Now THAT is an accurate photograph!

This is called Karma folks. All those choirs, radio stations, and people in general dreaming of a White Christmas! Well, you got it! Just goes to show... BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU DREAM OF!

Ok, and you're not a brunette either. Sue me.

I think LaPoint isn't as fast as he was (not that he was a speedster to begin with) before the injury but that injury was very serious. It's going to take time to regain that form and he's not fully back to normal yet. I still think LaPoint is one of our better PK defensemen. I also can't tell you what I'd do about the D Corps without Genoway. I don't see this D Corps as being the same makeup at all. Genoway is very offensive in his play. Fienhage isn't a good replacement because he's NOT that kind of player. He's a solid (or will be anyways) defensive defenseman. Whenever you take offense out of the lineup and you can't replace it with an offensive player, offense will suffer. I think LaPoint's role has changed since juniors and I think he's done well in it. I also think that Marto's role was different than I envisioned. I thought he'd be another Genoway. He's not. I'm most surprised about Blood in the offensive zone. I thought he'd be another Greene! I guess he, too, has offensive talents. I only saw him once while he was with SSM, but I didn't see him factor in at all offensively. WOW. The D Corps will struggle offensively until Chay returns. So, I look to the FORWARDS to step up.

Goon in Drag? Think of a blond version of this:

Is Della Rovere going to be playing again? If so, will he clean up his act or will he be yet another Steve Downie? Last year's Canada team was good but he REALLY put cramp in the style of Canada. I get that North American hockey is physical and rough. I like that over the pure namby pamby finesse stylings ala European hockey (in truth, the best hockey is a combination of both). However, players like Steve Downie and others (See Top 10 goon moments thread) should really be downplayed. Della Rovere isn't as cheap as Downie, but he's made a few borderline plays.

That's what I took from the game as well. Look, Team USA's game plan was different than ours. They had some reason to actually play hard in this game because they are still jockeying for a roster spot/playing time/line makeup/getting a feel for each other's tendencies/etc. If UND had any sort of goal in this game, it would be finding the right makeup 5 on 5 and special teams to accommodate for Zajac's prolonged absence and Kristo's short term absence. There was no implication PWR wise, ranking wise, and so on. If anything, I think exhibitions should just be a time to try new stuff out. Take risks you wouldn't normally take against a team where the outcome actually matters... got a line you'd like to try out? Go for it. Want to try Ben Blood as a forward on the Powerplay? Why the heck not! The game doesn't matter so try things out. That's my take. Who won was unimportant.

In one word: No. The WJC tended to not have a lot of hard hitting and, since this is an exhibition game, there is no call to be as physical. No team wants to endanger the health of their nation's team before a major tourney. Likewise, no team wants to risk injury in overly physical games that do not count. Think of this game like this: UND is providing the U20 team with a practice in a game environment... tourney like atmosphere without the brackets so that if they lose, nothing is gained. Like test driving a car. THere's not going to be very many (if at all) big hits by either side. I do predict that Kristo will lead Team USA in SOG. And I do believe he'll pot either one. The question for us is: If we lose this game, what will be the reaction? Seriously! I won't know what to think! I'm not one to get all bent out of shape because we're missing our best underclassman forward. I dislike that attitude in sports (See Crosby, Sidney and the Penguins or Red Wings this year). I want both teams to win. UND because it is important that we find a working combination (with/without Kristo) for the tourney ahead. Team USA because I want them to once again amount to something (and not have a fluke like Fleury's gaff to give it to us).