siouxfan512

Meh, its ok to still like the guy on a higher level. I loved watching Gwoz out there too and he was a rival. Between the dasher dance and walking across the ice at the Ralph, he took and already solid rivalry and somehow made it even more fun and entertaining.

I'll be contemplating a lot of things if my kid is outearning my with that kind of income at 16. Obviously I'm thrilled he is coming to UND, but all of this paying of players has gotten so out of control in the past few years. I still think it is just wrecking college sports.

Ok Bryn .... let's see the bat signal!

bump ... I still think these are 🔥

Could he not put the weight on, or was this lack of priority from the staff?

I'm not ready to throw us in the Frozen Four yet, haha. I simply can't based on the last several years. Obviously I hope the FF is the case, and you would have to think there would be a ton of green in that crowd! Jackson and Chyz seem to be doing all of the right things in the offseason. I just hope they can get it going once the season starts. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems like there have been more rumors about locker room issues and player disputes over the past several years than there used to be. Whether that is a lack of coaches building team chemistry, or the wrong mix of guys, or something else, hopefully we don't see any more of that crap. Hopefully the coaches can really build a team, on and off the ice.

Definitely makes you think there is more than meets the eye. Do we see another bat signal on Friday?

Winning a game in the regionals would be a sign of progression. Heck, making the tournament would be a sign of progression ... given what we have seen ... but I totally get your point. I would love to see UND get out of the regionals, but what I would really like to see is a team that passes the eye test. UND just hasn't has much flow the past few seasons. Players don't seem to connect. Passes are off. I know it's an exceptional example with an exceptional group of players, but remember the tic-tac-toe-tic-tac-toe goal back in '16? I know the CBS line was elite, but when that team played, everyone knew where everyone else was going to be all the time. To me the team chemistry was there. I just don't feel like we have seen any teams or lines play to that level of cohesiveness in a long time; it often feels very disjointed. Again, I would love to see them splash and make it out of the regional, but I won't be crushed if they don't, so long as there are other indicators of progression in the first year.

Would love to see Zellers come in and just keep playing as hot as he has everywhere else. All we have heard for years is how dominant this kid is. Would also love to see Swanson take a big step this year!

I think he was just on the higher end of what was in the portal at the time. I don't think he was coming in to be a superstar but would have added nice experience and some points to the roster. I'm sure Brynn will find a solid replacement; it sounds like there are still plenty of high end CHL guys out there, so maybe it ends out working out for the best. Not saying we need to go into the MN HS ranks and pluck a Connor Gaarder out of nowhere, but it would be fun to be at the end of the year and have a guy making big contributions, who only ended up at UND because of this kind of fluky situation. Always makes for a great story. Gordon aside, this is the most excited I have been for UND hockey in quite a few years. I didn't even realize how apathetic I had become about UND hockey until the coaching and recruiting shakeups this year. My 11 year old son absolutely loves UND hockey, and all he has really gotten to see is mediocrity and either missing or losing in the tourney (he was like 2 when we won the Natty) so he does even understand how it used to be a forgone conclusion that UND was going to make the tourney, and disappointment was not getting into the Frozen Four, or losing in the Frozen Four in some epic fashion. That used to be the standard! Hope Jackson can get us back to some of that.

Definitely a bummer about Gordon, but can we land someone better to replace him? The perk with Gordon was already having some NCAA experience, but if you can get the right guy/age/skill level, it won't make this sting as much. Hopefully we hear something soon.

Link from Schloss Potential top-five NHL pick Keaton Verhoeff commits to UND - Grand Forks Herald | Grand Forks, East Grand Forks news, weather & sports

Today's news was a great answer to this!

My understanding is that was the same conversation. If there is a goalie issue or emergency, Huson will still be on campus and going to school. Sounds like he is still getting the full Fighting Sioux treatment like any other Alumni, including access to the Ralph and workout facilities. Nice to hear they are taking care of some of these guys and treating them well with all the changes.

Cruel tease there. Isn't done for the day?

haha, right! Was just curious because there was talk about Smaby bringing him with.

Whatever happened with the McMorrow rumor?

I was excited about the potential Chyz had. Everything you read about the guy was great, but I would have never anticipated he would be able to do all of this in such a short amount of time. Most excited I have been about UND hockey in a while, and really excited about what this staff will be able to do going forward, with more time and hopefully some proven success. No doubt Chyz is doing his job and doing it well. Now I just want to see Jackson get these going playing the style he wants and playing as a team. I don't want to wish summer away, but can't wait for hockey to start (and UND football for that matter)! Say what you want about Chaves, but between the Jackson and Schmidt hires, he is looking pretty good at the moment. Plenty of things for people to complain about, but those two decisions, in the same year, are looking pretty good. Certainly gives fans something to be excited about over the complacency we saw in both programs over the past several years.

Are we sure Mckenna doesn't want to join this group?

Again, I didn't look that closely at the list and I don't care what teams were on it. I'm just saying, UND was not good, what have we done to earn it apart from the offseason changes? Which I personally think will pay off big time for us! I think we will be good enough, my point was just that from the outside looking in, we have done nothing to be considered for that .

Would he be coming in next year?

Can't even say I looked that closely at the list. I'm just not prepared to say we do belong on it because I am a fan or because I see a ton of potential in this team. To deserve something, you better earn it, and this team hasn't earned anything yet. Let's looks at last year: - Played tough against Iowa State, but lost -Nice win against Montana -Ended the season with 5 straight losses including Youngstown and Indiana State. 5-7 never deserves to be in the discussion for top 25 (unless maybe you are UNI). They dug a big hole, now they have to get out of it. I for one absolutely think they can get it done and that it doesn't all need to happen in the first season. There are some exciting things happening with recruiting, facilities, etc. But nobody is putting a poll together based on the potential of a 5-7 team with a new coach (unless maybe its coach prime 😂) In general, I would say, polls don't matter anyway ... except that where you start makes it tough to move up, but if you win some key games ... nothing is off the table. I'm just excited for camp to get going so we can hear how some of these guys are looking, especially at QB.

I'm hopeful and cautiously optimistic. I think the offense will get going and can hopefully gel quickly. I'm a little concerned about D unless we can add a few more pieces, but maybe Schmidt can do a better job with what he has than Bubba could.

In no way, shape or form do we deserve to be on that list. Though I think we have the potential to be on that list. Our schedule won't do us any favors in terms of climbing that list quickly, but to be the best, you have to beat the best, and UND will certainly have ample opportunity to make headway in that area, but it won't be easy. Hopefully Schmidt get them going and gets them going quick! I can say with confidence that if UND can keep some of those big games close, I have far more confidence in someone like Schmidt than I do Bubba. I just think he will bring more energy and preparation to the team than Bubba ever did. I guess we will see.