yzerman19

I agree with Frozen4Sioux, it was a night where we had no puck luck - bounces and timing just off. That happens in hockey, just have to gut those games out. Add that to this being the 3rd time we played the same team in 8 days, and 2-0-1 isn't too bad. Rocco hit two pipes, and Kristo hit the crossbar in OT with a rocket. AA really played up tempo and looked to disrupt and pressure. We have to be prepared for that- making 30 foot passes under pressure is not a recipe for success!

Those are short shifts...although, I agree that a 4th line that can pick up big time minutes is key- top players on the top line should be skating 20-22 minutes including special teams, second line should be getting 18-20 minutes, checking 12 or so, and 4th line 8 or so

I actually agree with Mariucci here- way too early to talk about goaltending. I agree that on paper, Gothberg should be an excellent goaltender for us, but the WCHA is not the USHL. He still has a lot to prove. It could be that he is the starting goalie on a team that wins the NCAA or the backup on a team that doesn't even qualify for the tourney- it is October.

Kozek could let it fly, but his release was not quick. That is why he didn't score a ton of goals in his career. Bochenski was the best pure shooter I've seen play with UND in recent memory. Heavy, accurate shot with an NHL release. He also put himself into position to take good shots. Frattin had a rocket too, and was just a complete beast the last 60 or so games of his career. Duncan was very, very accurate; especially from the top of the circle down to the dot. He rarely missed, and could just tuck it right in that near side upper.

They haven't tallied the stats from the AA win on USCHO yet...kind of strange. As per Knight- I've said it before- there is so much more to being a hockey player than lightening speed, sick stickhandling, and rocket release- positional play, anticipation, how you play all three zones AWAY from the puck. It is the sum of all these things that make a great hockey player. There are plenty of guys with elite offensive skill toiling in the minor leagues or Europe, because a more rounded, less flashy player took their job in the NHL.

I see Knighter as a less skilled Toewser- similar to as15 Toews might be the best two-way center in the NHL, so the gap is pretty dramatic, but that is the best comp I can make

What I didn't say is that Bjugstad is certainly in the conversation as the best player in the country- I don't think UND has a proven commodity in that conversation...I do stand by Knight being the best two-way and the best on the draw center iceman. Kristo is very skilled, but is a much different player than Bjugstad. Rocco might also fit into that description- his unknown commodity status might help him produce beaucoup points. I'd can think of no better swan song to the WCHA than a Gopher- Sioux NCAA final!

Budish is a rock solid 6'3 220 who can skate- that is hockey for "tank". On top of that, he actually has pretty decent puck skills to go along with it. He isn't a second round pick because he is a talent risk. He is also coming off a 35 point year, and it isn't just because of the guys he skated with last year. I think he is among the best power players in the league and would also love him if he were on our team

Budish is very solid and strong- hockey is not all about style or points. IMO he actually has NHL checker written all over him. I'd love to have Budish skate wing with Knight and Kristo- talk about puck possession if you had Knight on the draw and Knight and Budish working down low, while Danny got into shooting position...WOW! I think Knight is the best two-way center in the league. I think Kristo is definitely a first line winger on any team in the league. I think Rocco is a magician who would skate scoring line on any team in the league. Haula, Bjugstad, Budish vs Knight, Kristo, and Rocco is pretty much epic- Gophs are bigger in that scenario. Our dmen will need to be able to physically match Budish and Bjugstad. I think that MacWilliam can stack up...I don't know about the other boys. I actually think the Gopher and UND top 2 lines this year will be very nicely matched...both are very talented.

Hak was quoted as saying he is still being evaluated and he doesn't have any different info than he had on monday. He said Parks will not play this weekend.

We are a lucky fanbase in that we compete for a national title every year- the parity in college hockey has made it harder to win than it was in the 80's. That said, I go into every season with the expectation that we will be competitive. SOme years more than others. I agree with you that there are some apologist fans, but I think it is more about taking the good when we don't get great...I might want fillet, but I won't complain if I get a ribeye

If I canned a guy who was doing a good job and had strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and replaced him with someone else, that someone else had better wow quickly or it would reflect poorly on me and my decision making. I would then need to either back the new guy all the way to make sure he is successful, or quickly reverse my decision. The biggest difference from that analogy is that this is a different company, so in essence, the analogy is that we changed suppliers and we need to make sure our customers are satisfied. However, the product is SIoux hockey, not the play by play and color guys. It is more analogous to the steering wheel on a car- you don't change your opinion of the car or car company because they have a pedestrian steering wheel or you preferred the steering wheel of your old car. I liked Sweeney better, but I will always watch SIoux hockey edit- North Dakota hockey

I hit up the facebook- it needs more likes- People who feel disappointed in the production need to speak up.

let's hope so, eh? I've loved this Fox College Sports deal. Living in Mpls, I watch probably 75% of UND hockey games now- all home games for sure, the occasional road game on TV, and I travel occasionally to SCSU or MSUM or UMD if not on

Hey, I always supported Sweeney- his hokiness was endearing They will care what we think if enough of us comment- social media impacts marketing departments fast As to big time- don't national Sioux hockey games do really well? I thought I heard that...I'm not talking Michigan vs Notre Dame football or Duke vs UNC hoops, but I thought we did pretty well

Look- this made the FSN production with Woog and The Rug look like the pinnacle of broadcasting Hammer and Kober are fired. The production team is fired. I was embarrassed for them to look so minor league

Facebook petition to bring Sweeney back has to happen ASAP- otherwise it will just "whither on the vine" The network needs to know how bad we all thought it was.

This is big time college sports, not high school- the broadcast was garbage and they produced a less than pedestrian performance. If I were running the channel as a business, they would all be fired and we'd do a re-boot. You can't honestly believe that they deserve "practice" and some time? This isn't a "do your best" kinda world...

He said Derek Forbert was a fourth round pick of New Jersey My wife even thought these guys sucked

What I saw was Gothberg look like Eddie Belfour- aggressive- which made him make some incredible saves, but also contribute to a goal the other way. he was excellent moving out to challenge shooters and cut angles. I saw Saunders look very quick laterally- less challenging to shooters, but used his athleticism instead to cover laterally. I think Saunders looked like the more mature goalie

It looked pretty bad...let's hope he's ok

Agree 100%- that broadcast was bush league all the way...bring back Sweeney and "Oh Baby" Howard It was actually embarrassing. The hoakiness of the old crew was endearing. This new crew acts like they are first class, and really they are just minor league. Note to UND and NCHC- DO NOT GO WITH THIS "B-SQUAD" TV CREW. I am just embarrassed and really disappointed in them

Super impressed with: Danny, Knight, Rocco, MacMillan, Rowney, Forbert, Saunders impressed with: St Clair, Parks (please be minor injury), Pattyn, Caggiula (was quietly where he needed to be all night)

My man Wilbur mentioned pressure box, diamond, and box...all solid pp set-ups. I always like the overload myself...I love the idea of forcing the defensive strong side winger down to help, which frees up the point to creep, which if they rotate to cover leaves that weakside winger with a nice bottom of the circle look at an out of position goalie... It will be fun to see what Bubba brings to the table

My first pp unit would have Danny as the weakside shooter, not on the point. I'd put Knight at center to win the draw and wreak havoc in front of the net. Danny as weakside shooter and playmaker. Rowney as the third forward, Mattson and Simpson up top My 2nd pp unit would be Grimaldi at center put then roll to the weakside shooter and playmaker. Parks to wreak havoc around the net, and O'Donnell on the stronside. Schmaltz and Gleason up top.