siouxfan512

#Grindaz

Not sure Ghadaksaz was much of a loss as a starter either. I was never overly impressed, but I'm also not an O-Line guru. As I am every year .... I'm really looking forward to some UND football, and I am optimistic. Seems to me there is a little more justification for it this year. If (and that's a big IF) UND can take a step forward from last season, they could be a very good football team. It can't be overstated just how close UND was to have a very different record, with so many one score games that came down to the last drive. Part of this will be better execution, part of this will be better coaching, and certainly we needed to add some talent in some key areas. I know the 360 guys graded RB as a downgrade, which is fine because Otis could be a dynamic player, but the rest of the room absolutely stepped in when he was out. I'm just not that concerned unless injuries build up. WR is a little more of a question mark to me. There is plenty of talent with the possession guys, but as we have needed for so long, will we have a speed, and even if we have a speed guy will Schuster be able to get him the ball? OR if Schuster can't get the deep ball going can QV improve his accuracy? It would be a cool wrinkle to have your short yardage QB turn into your deep threat QB too. I'd rather have one strong QB who can do it all, but I'll take what we have. I could go on at each and every position group, and I certainly don't want to wish summer away, but can't wait for some Fall football.

What if Sendo and Hain go win a banner?

Just curious who you would have wanted to leave out this year if we had brought Spicer in? I don't follow the recruiting close enough to know. All of the incoming guys sound like they will be impactful. For me, I do kind of question bringing back both Hain and Senden over a kid like Spicer. Both have experience with is huge. Hain is a nice player, and Senden fills his role well, but Hain also has had the injury issues. If he comes back and can't perform or gets injured again, it won't look like a good gamble for not losing out on Spicer. Thoughts?

Could we please have it all come together this year. I so desperately want to see this team have some serious success. Spring '21 was so much fun. Fall '21 had so many close moments and what ifs and what could have been moments. I guess I'm just ready for some football.

Say what you want about trolling, but who is going to disagree with this? The athletic department has needed to up their game for years. that being said the most significant thing Wentz has done in the NFL was getting drafted. Started well until that first injury. Now all the stuff that comes out about him is that he is an arrogant punk who thinks he know it all and is not coachable. Bit of a tarnished reputation at this point. He will always be huge for Fargo, but to any other nfl fan or city, he is just a guy.

I'd still like to know what the kid is doing? You'd think he would have at least picked up a D2 offer or something, but I haven't heard anything. Did I miss something, or has it been that quiet? Would think someone here would have some inside info.

So you're sayin there's a chance.

So Strand and Bump are going to Vermont? What is happening? And I maintain Bump should have won Mr. Hockey.

Didn’t realize that

Its easy to look at incoming players and think, "we are going to have some serious skill". It's kind of like signing day for college football or the NFL draft .... We're all excited for the shiny new toys that are going to bring home the hardware. Of course, there are never any guarantees .... Cichy, Hoff, Wilkie; but if you look at the whole of that list and think we have 4 guys that could potentially come in the same year, all putting up that kind of production (and there is some great company on that list) it is tough not to be excited. Especially given what UND is returning. No guarantees in college hockey, as has previously been discussed with SCSU's let down season, but I'll admit I am pretty hopeful and pretty positive on our chances next year. We had a rough stretch for a few year in missing the tourney and the Covid year where we had a team that had almost no NCAA tourney experience, which seems almost impossible with this program. Hopefully this team is rebuilding to being that contender that is not only in tourney every year, but a legitimate Frozen Four contender ever year (even as a lower seed). NCAA tourney experience definitely helps, and I think you could see that as a factor in the DU/Mankato game. Looking forward to seeing a final roster and hoping that some of these new kids can really hit the ground running at UND. Winning another title would be fun, but winning a couple would be great!

Absolutely! There were a lot of dumb penalties at dumb times. Those were just a few that stood out to me.

Bummer. The kid had some potential. If I recall we were excited to get him when he was recruited, and if think back I want to say he had an offer from a little school called Cornell (maybe you've heard of it) which certainly would have been a nice route to go from and education standpoint. It will be interesting to see where he lands.

Go Mavs! Would love to see them get a title. Especially over DU.

The player I want to see play smarter next year is Jandric. Maybe I'm being petty, but I go back to two points on the season with him. The spearing call against SCSU, which was obvious and deliberate. That is the kind of crap I hate seeing in hockey, especially from UND. When I saw it I was actually hoping he would get 5 and the game because I hate that kind of stuff. Glad it was called the right way. Then there was the penalty in OT against Notre Dame. Have to use your head a bit and consider the timing of the game. I'm not going to put it all on him and say that cost us the game, but it certainly didn't help us.

I think it was also pointed out that some of his limited offense was due to him having to cover a lot for a younger more offensive minded defenseman. Depending who you pair him with, may he will have a little more opportunity to contribute on the stat sheet.

Absolutely! The portal shouldn't be our primary source of getting players, but it is there, and there will always be some talent out there. Fortunately, UND is a perennial power with top notch facilities and is a nice landing spot for top transfers who are looking for a new home. When we need to fill some spots, it will be a good tool. Is it October yet? The team we have, the players we are returning, the new players that are coming and the other teams that are turning over; UND could be poised for a pretty strong season. Definite contenders to win the NCHC again. Hopefully a team that can win another championship; but I'd really like to see us back at the Frozen Four on a fairly regular basis. That was definitely the fun part with the Hak years, was you always had a great chance to at least get to the FF. Berry has had some unfortunate losses (The BU BS, The UMD Game, and of course Covid ending one of our best teams in recent years). Time to get it done next season! Really hoping to see some freshman contribute with nice numbers.

What a baller!

Agree and disagree with some of the different points you make. It's always nice to see conference rivals go through some of the same pain points as you. Even when it was the Gophers; you didn't want to see them dominate, but you didn't want to see them as bottom feeders either. Not as fun to beat a terrible rival team. B1G will certainly have its share of success, but to say they will dominate hockey ... I'm not buying it yet. They may have a strong team or two, maybe even 3 on a good year, but I don't see them getting 5 teams in the tourney on a regular basis. Here is the problem with loading up with Blue Chippahs ... it isn't sustainable for anyone. Michigan brought in a absolutely ridiculous freshman class, who will likely all be gone next season. Nobody can restock that many 1st rounders every single year. College teams need to be balanced. Blue chip guys are great, but they need to be surrounded by playmakers and grinders as well. Always good to have a shut down line. It isn't always getting the best high end guys, but the right combination. That being said, only time will tell.

Is it hockey season yet? No, the rest of this season doesn't count if UND is playing .... Is it real hockey season yet? .... seriously, I was talking with my wife about all of the crazy good teams UND has had since like 2003, and only 1 championship is so frustrating. Would be great to see this program go get a couple within a handful of years ... it has certainly been done. That being said, I'll be happy just to see us get back to the Frozen Four on a regular basis. Go back to the Hak days and it seemed like we were there every year. I know we weren't, but wow, that was a great stretch of tournament hockey for this program. Can't wait for next season!

Only after they sneak Pionk onto the ice and send him barreling into Driscoll.

ok Fanti is playing ridiculous.

always!

Yep, if we score more goals than whoever we play, I think we will have a good chance to win.

Shocker, Mottau just picked Notre Dame to beat us. Now of course this could happen, and UND team isn't as dominant as some years, but there is plenty of talent. Pretty sure Mottau would pick a Jamaican HS hockey team to beat UND; the guy is just that predictable. UND is 8-2 in the last 10, and if they show up, they can beat anyone. Hopefully the boys are ready to got from the puck drop tonight!