redwing77

Early this year, the Sioux looked better on Saturdays than Fridays, but now it is the opposite really (tonight notwithstanding... I didn't watch or listen to the game). You can't expect to win it just because your previous Saturdays looked good. Be that confident if you wish, but if the Gopher players feel the same way tomorrow, they'll surely overlook DU. And then it will be ugly. I guarantee you that.

I thought they were only for Native Americans. Sorry for the tired old excuse, but it is true! I honestly didn't think it was something I'd be invited to attend. I'm not Native American. I guess spiritual rituals such as that (or so I assume that is what it is) is not something I have a right to be a part of. It's like expecting Catholics to come to Bar Mitzvahs just because it is happening in their facility. Sorry if this seems insensitive. As for the financial reasons, I have my own conspiracy, but out of respect, I'm not going to voice it.

I'm not so sure this is over recruiting. His older brother already plays at UW. That has to count for something. And UW has a ways to go before they get to UAF land.

Now THIS statement is a pipedream.

Never underestimate a team that has the capabilities DU does. Remember: A score is just a score for that day. A win is a win and a loss is a loss. It doesn't matter what the margin of victory or defeat is. Tomorrow is a new day and there's really nothing that says that DU won't get at least a point. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if UMN split.

I'm not one to point and call diving on a goaltender. Every goaltender does it in DI. It's ingrained on them simply because, for a LONG while, goaltender interference was only called if it was so absolutely obvious that not calling it would mean sanctions against the official. In other words, running the goaltender was, for all intents and purposes, legal. When that happens, players tend to take matters into their own hands. Remember, for the first half of JPar's first year as starter, he was run at least once a game and there were NO CALLS. Sorry, but goaltenders will start diving merely to show the officials that goaltender interference is not legal. ERGO: Pointing at Stalock isn't really kosher. JPar did it. JPL did it. I'm sure most goaltenders have been taught to do it at one point (whether they do or not is up to them). Heck, Hasek made an artform out of it. P.S. Anderson is bad for situational officiating. However, Adam is still the worst. Bad calls happen, but safety concerns always trump bad calls. Adam is an unsafe official. Ergo, he's the worst official.

You know... I know one night's in the books (and I don't know any scores), but I actually think DU has the ability to surprise teams. I think I'll predict that DU will at least tie Saturday's game. I also think that it is possible that UAA will escape with a point too.

You can add Wheeler to that list too (though now he's actually showing why he was a first rounder in Boston). And I didn't say Gregoire was a disappointment, but right now... I don't see Gregoire as Rookie of the Year. By the way, the Calder Trophy in the NHL was, according to the NHL Network, a fight between Turris and Stampkos preseason. Turris just scored his first goal a few days ago and Stampkos isn't even an everyday player. There's even rumors that there is pressure to send Stampkos back to Major Juniors. Not busts by a long shot, but it demonstrates just how unpredictable the game can be.

Hmm.. perhaps, but I heard Nolan's name in the same context with Demitra and Ralston (I'm pretty sure I'm mispelling his name too). Yeah, Nolan is an upgrade from Fedoruk. But just to sum it up: Mellon Arena's ice still sucks. The other night, Chicago won 6-3 over Dallas I think... Kane? got an empty netter and the commentator distinctly said that Toews passed Kane the puck before Kane buried it. However, no assists were given. Is that the rule? I have no problem with that if it is, but I would love clarification on that.

Actually, compared to how he was at UMN, he is definitely a good two way player. Vanek never played defense E-V-E-R while he was in Minnesota. He sat on the blue line and cherry picked. It always blew my mind why Lucia would put Vanek out on the PK at all. I guess he really had faith in Weber (grrr... I think that's what the goalie's name was...). Koivu vs. Backstrom. Um... Both are deserving, but if I had to choose one, I'd choose Backstrom. He's been dominant and one of the reasons the Wild are where they are in the division. The problem is that the entire team is defense oriented and that hurts Backstrom because of the same reasoning that had non-Sioux fans questioning why JPar and JPL were so good with the Sioux: With great D in front of you, how good do you have to be? Koivu is a great choice because, in an offensively challenged system, he brings offense... and it stands out BIG TIME. Seriously, Gaborik gets injured and the team doesn't bat an eye. Koivu goes down and then it's the Backstrom show as the Wild will have to rely on the opposition playing poorly or winning by scoring 1-2 goals per game. Neither is a likely prospect vs. good teams. Toews vs. Parise- Ok, it's not coming down to that, but seriously... I don't think Toews will make it. A Captain needs to lead in all areas. He's apparently doing pretty well in most areas on and off the ice (I don't get to watch much Blackhawk hockey as they still don't broadcast their games on Versus or even the NHL Network), but he's seriously regressed in the goal scoring department. He is the youngest captain, which parrallels who he has been compared to the most: Steve Yzerman, but I just don't think most fan voters look at faceoff percentage and captain duties as something that gets you into the all star game. I think most are just stat monkeys. Ergo, Toews won't make the All Star Game. I think locks in various categories include the Poster Boy (Crosby), Parise, Luongo, Semin, Ovechkin, maybe Versteeg* and Brassard, Price, Weber, either Sharp or Kane, MAYBE Lundqvist, and others I'm surely forgetting. Brodeur would have made it if he hadn't gotten injured. * It's kinda sad but... if my memory serves me right, I believe Versteeg was the guy Boston traded to Chicago for Brandon Bochenski. Now he's tied for the league lead in goals among rookies with Brassard.

I heard the same thing about Howe (UMN), Gregoire (UND), Skille (UW).... Heck, I heard great things about Erstad and now he's DIII bound.

Ties are terrible, but shootouts suck. Hmmm.. I guess the only alternative is unlimited OT. Heh.. How about first OT is 4 on 4, second OT is 3 on 3, and third OT is 6 on 6 (Empty nets on both ends). That would be awesome. Quick, but awesome. No... that's stupid, but it's outlandish and I posted it anyways.

As one of the loudest voices of dissent regarding the quality (aka the lack therein of) in WCHA officiating, I'd like to comment on this from a viewpoint of someone who spent most of the game away from the computer, in an airport, and on an airplane (I'm now in Chicago). Makeup calls are part of the PapaSmurf Shepherd MO. The belief is, among others, that two wrongs make a right and if the penalty totals for both sides are relatively equal (+/- number is arbitrary and somewhat situational) then the game was called fairly. Believe it or not, this is one area where there has been SOME improvement. I remember a time when UND was so dominant that this would actually become a sliding scale based, as it seemed to most observers, upon the inequity among opponents. In other words, the worse one team was compared to the other, the more the dominant team can expect to spend time on the penalty kill. It would provide the holy tenant "parity" by force rather than by quality. Nowadays, it's not so bad. Still, that's what it comes down to in my conspiratorial mindset. Oh, and in case anyone wants to disclaim it, the #1 Sioux radio homer TH seems to believe in that too with his numerous over the air "Well, you can bet who the next penalty will be against." Ok, the fact that he's a homer doesn't really lend credibility to the accusation... but I can still claim it! And yeah, right now the Gophers are better than the Sioux. Hate them if you'd like, it's not all that much of a surprise. The question is: Will they continue to dominate? Right now, Schroeder (sp?) is positively outstanding. (by the way, how come it is never the one you expect to dominate that dominates? Wasn't Turris expected to dominate and Bachman gets the award? Not really a good example as UW is where offense goes to die but...)

I watched the Pittsburgh game and came to the following conclusions: 1. Where Owen Nolan is a step up from Ralston or Demitra is anyone's guess. 2. Mellon Arena has simply the worst ice in the NHL. Dear Parise... I couldn't believe how bad it was. 3. As boring as the Wild are, they can stick handle. They embarrassed Pittsburgh at times in the passing on crappy ice category many times. 4. Uh, when Minny is on the ice for a shootout, bet on Minny. Sure, Minny's shooters aren't as good as many other teams', but Backstrom is one of the best goalies in the NHL. It seems to me that if you have great goaltending, it doesn't matter who is shooting. 4a. This is why I laughed at Pittsburgh in OT. I said to no one in particular, "If this goes to a shootout, Minny wins." Saborin did a great job, but he's no Backstrom. 5. This team is almost exactly like the 1995 NJ Devils team (didn't lemaire coach them too?). They play a boring style of hockey and are filled with one great goaltender and a bunch of relative nobodies. Sure, Koivu is great (IMO he's the best player on the team after Backstrom... sorry Burns and Gabby), but they don't have much of an offense really. They COULD go far, but probably won't. Playoff quality teams are hard to put to sleep.

A la the Kristo Article: We tend to get those every now and then... like Genoway this year. Maybe even a little of that exists in Kozek and Trupp. All are great players who'd be even greater if they just fell back into doing what they did best. Heck, Oshie his sophomore year started the year trying to do too much and he was possibly the most snakebitten winger in the WCHA for the first half of the season. My opinion anyways. Bear this in mind: in no way am I saying that Kristo, Genoway, or anyone else is a bad player. I just think that, when times are tough, some players try to solve it themselves rather than simply playing the game and working on what you can work on. It's not a bad thing really... not a good thing either.

I looked over their website and I noticed a few things: If he is a 1988 birthdate, he's in his final year of eligibility. Unless I'm wrong, isn't the USHL's age cutoff at 21? NPHL's age cutoff is 20. Another thing is that they have the Bozeman IceDogs in it. Werent they in the NAHL? I think it's along the lines of the AtJHL or the Great Lakes or COJHL. I think there are players to be found in the league... if you are a DIII or club organization. Like SCSU's Lasch or MSU's Daulton Levielle, there will always be a diamond in the rough. Where did Oshie play before he moved to Warroad?

I predict a split and hope to be wrong... on a positive note.

not as harsh as it would be if you were a parent of a player who will undoubtedly be run in front of him. No call.

just a day off. He'll be back in action next weekend.... in the umd series.

On a relatively unrelated note: I watched UAA/UND on Friday and MSU vs Miami today. I barely got through both games, but for very different reasons. I didn't realize just how fast the WCHA game really is. There is a TON of speed in the league. In the CCHA, they play a more fundamentally sound game (based on the game I watched) but it is slower and far less aggressive. I think that's why I go WCHA first in non-conference matchups over anyone else when UND isn't playing. HEA might be similar, but I can't believe how fast our teams are compared to non-conference.

Heh... I remember when we'd look better offensively when we were down a player! As for my comment about Hextall: Look, Hextall or not, we need an agitator. I thought that would be Hextall. Sure, he plays with an edge. So does Jones. However, I don't see either of them getting under the skins of the opposition. We need at least one player that has opposing players, coaches, and fans, complaining about how irritating he is, and not in an offensive output manner. I love balance. Right now, we're too much on the skill side and too little on the grit. That's my take anyways.

I am not wondering about him offensively at all. I was under the impression that he was a lot like Prpich or Kaip. Sure, he's got an edge to him, but he's not getting under the skin of the opposition. However, he did take an incredibly stupid penalty tonight.

I'm glad Frattin didn't sit tonight.

I don't know... I think Hak would love to have a goaltender rotation until Eidsness gets fully acclimated to the DI game. However, I don't think Walski is up to it either. He's just not fast enough. Right now, though, Eidsness is inconsistent. One game he looks downright amazing. The following night... brutal. Case in point: CC series. That being said, he WILL end up being the #1 if not now, soon. He is definitely going to be the real deal. He'll grow into a Bachman or Kangas, imo. It's just too bad that so few goalies can jump into a new league and system and dominate as quickly as Bachman has. Kangas started out slow, but eventually became dominant...so maybe Eidsness will follow that path.

Who's Mussman? There's no one on the hockey team named Mussman...or is he the water boy?