yzerman19

Brad- You missed Brian Lee leaving after 2 years as well... As for the Lee Goren and Brock Nelson comparison- really not a good comparison, but I will play- THE biggest difference is that Brock Nelson is a first round draft pick. Brock will get many opportunities and will have to prove that he can't play at the NHL level...guys like Goren had to prove that they can play before even getting a shot...that is a lot harder to do.

Nelson would not have been a free agent after next year, that would only be 3 years after draft year, free agent status occurs after 4. Brock came to UND having been drafted that summer before.

Oh...and the Parise and Toews comments- well, those two are 2 in 100 million kinda players. Tough to compare anyone to those guys.

Best of luck to Brock. He definitely has NHL skill and an NHL frame; I agree with other posters that he needs to get stronger to compete as an NHL power forward. I am sure his decision was made after consulting with his coaches, advisors, and the Islanders. I would guess he got a rookie max deal, and looking at the Isles' top 6, probably is going to get good minutes if he shows his best stuff in camp. It would've been nice to get him back, and another year at REA wouldn't have hurt him, but it is hard to turn down the big bucks and your dream.

To our 3 biggest flight risks: Please stay one more year at UND! We love you guys!

I could've sworn that I drank beer at the Frozen Four last year...am I mistaken?

Bummer you can't make it down!

Thanks for coming on this board. We welcome this opportunity to play our new NCHC rival! Congrats on a great season so far! It must've felt great to knock off Michigan. This isn't a typical Sioux team. It is a lot less deep on talent, but it does have big time heart. In a "normal" year, we would be skating two more big time NHL prospects in Grimaldi and Miller, and two skilled depth guys in O'Donnell and Rodwell. That said, we've had everyone step up from the Walk-ons to the #1 draft picks. In fact, our two #1s: Nelson and Forbert played their best hockey all year last weekend. Again, I congratulate WMU on a great season and wish your program continued success...except on Saturday afternoon!

Also in 108, row 8

I thought i was buying beer at the Frozen Four last year...am I mistaken? What is hockey without beer? I'd almost rather watch from home...

They have a veteran NHL coach behind the bench, so they will be prepared to play. I doubt that they will have ever played in front of 15,000 fans, which is a bonus our boys have with the size of the Ralph (11,000) any given weekend, and the fact we just played our best hockey of the year at the X in front of a packed bi-partisan crowd. Expect more of the same with WMU getting the Gopher faithful behind them. I don't know much about them, except for their goalie has been on a nice run and has pretty good numbers. Our D is significantly bigger than theirs, and we are certain to have more skill on our top-line. Special teams are always big in the tourney, and we saw how big a hole a team can dig if they parade to the box (us on Friday, DU on Saturday). Despite stereotypes, UND is one of the least penalized times in the NCAA this year. WMU will be hungry, we need to be hungrier. We need to win 5 on 5 and we need to have quick feet...win loose puck battles = win the game.

Garth Snow has never been a "fan" of NCAA development. That is the only thing that scares me. I agree that Nelson is NHL talent and I agree that he definitely needs to spend another summer working out and putting on some muscle before he's able to go into the corners and prime scoring real estate against men like Chara and Phaneuf. Isles, despite the anti-NCAA bias have to be pleased with his development i.e. a 20 goal improvement. Only reason Frattin has been up in the NHL for most of the year is because of his physical strength...hopefully Brock is aware of that...although, Brock is a first rounder... Kristo also could use another year of strength training, although given his potential free agent status if not signed by the Habs, I have a feeling that he will cash in. I'd love to have them both back...

Awesome! Looks like 108 will be green and white!

The West and Northeast brackets are both basically up for grabs. I think any of the 8 teams in those brackets have had stretches this year where they can beat anyone on any given night...even Air Force...

WIth the uber talented teams of the past decade, they had tons of pressure and high expectations...this team without expectations can play loose and that might make all the difference.

we're in 7 and 8...hopefully we'll be doing a lot of high fiving!

Awesome! Go Sioux! See you in St Paul!

Missed the Five this year with my wife out of town. Missed seeing the "gang" and seeing you. I just bought my regional tix though- Section 108, row 8. Hope to see you there!

Just bought my tix- section 108 row 8! Go Sioux!

I agree that the bandings are often very, very tight, however I believe you have to maintain the integrity of 1 seed, 2 seed, 3 seed, 4 seed due, if to nothing else, the final line change impact. The regular season has to have some consequence.

The question marks are only there because of Minnesota being a host. They should be the be in Worcester playing BU, but instead they get moved to St Paul. The committee could swap the whole bracket and move Minnesota and BU to St. Paul as some have suggested, but I don't know why they would move BU from Worcester...this is the NC$$ and Beanpot lite is very appealing. Or, as a conspiracy theorist, you might intentionally move BU west to set up the potential for two Boston schools in the Frozen Four. So, I think they will slide the 2 seeds rather than moving an entire bracket.

True- and I agreed with his brackets every one of the prior years. This years was harder though and you really have to think through it. #1 seeds are supposed to go to the REgional closest to home. That puts the Sioux in St Paul again. I don't know why people think that UND will go to Green Bay...Michigan is closer to Green Bay than GF is.

11am on ESPNU

I don't agree with this bracket...they will preserve the top seeds route in before they preserve the true 2 and 3 seed matchups...why would they ever pull BU out of Worcester...a potential BU vs BC matchup in Worcester to go to the Frozen Four is gold. Same thing in St Paul...you love a UND vs Minn matchup to go to the Frozen Four.

Natural Seeding placing #1 seeds closest to home: Worcester 1 BC vs 16 Air Force 8 Minn vs 9 BU Green Bay 2 Mich vs 15 MSU 7 UMD vs 10 Maine Bridgeport 3 Union vs 14 WMU 6 Ferris vs 11 DU St Paul 4 UND vs 13 Cornell 5 Miami vs 12 Lowell Minnesota, as a host institution must be placed in St Paul, so: Worcester 1 BC vs 16 AF open vs 9 BU Green Bay 2 MI vs 15 MSU open vs 10 Maine Bridgeport 3 Union vs 14 WMU open vs 11 DU St Paul 4 UND vs 13 Cornell 8 MN vs 12 Lowell 7 UMD, 6 FSU and 5 Miami remain as the 2 seeds that need to be placed. Attempting to preserve bracket integrity, 7 should replace 8, 6 should replace 7, and 5 should replace 6...so: Worcester 1 BC vs 16 AF 7 UMD vs 9 BU Green Bay 2 MI vs 15 MSU 6 FSU vs 10 Maine Bridgeport 3 Union vs 14 WMU 5 Miami vs 11 DU St Paul 4 UND vs 13 Cornell 8 Minn vs 12 Lowell Now adjust to avoid first round intra-conference Michigan can not play MSU or WMU in the first round Union can not play Cornell in the first round So you swap 13 Cornell with 15 MSU You arrive at: Worcester 1 BC vs 16 AF 7 UMD vs 9 BU Green Bay 2 MI vs 13 Cornell 6 FSU vs 10 Maine Bridgeport 3 Union vs 14 WMU 5 Miami vs 11 DU St Paul 4 UND vs 15 MSU 8 Minn vs 12 Lowell The Worcester and St Paul brackets will have AWESOME attendance. The other two are ok...so, they might stick with this or, they might swap DU and Maine in order to reduce the travel burden for fans resulting in: Worcester 1 BC vs 16 AF 7 UMD vs 9 BU Green Bay 2 MI vs 13 Cornell 6 FSU vs 11 DU Bridgeport 3 Union vs 14 WMU 5 Miami vs 10 Maine St Paul 4 UND vs 15 MSU 8 Minn vs 12 Lowell That's my bracketology