yzerman19

So Zach's draft stock fell due to obstruction in the WCHA...big surprise as he was mugged constantly. Our league has been butchered of late in the NCAAs, and in part, I have to believe the course of the season is driving that. Look at what many WCHA skill guys are doing in the NHL, and then question why we aren't winning titles and dominating the leader board in scoring. Clearly Parise, Zajac and Toews are among the 50 best players in the world. The WCHA has to look at what is happening.

The ability to have dialogue around disparite positions is what this country is founded on. I think the fear of the slippery slope is behind some of the sentiment. Anytime where there is debate there is bound to be a majority and a minority; whether it be about the nickname, health care, speech, religion, guns, you name it. This forum is all about the ability to speak freely and express opinions whether approved by the masses or a dissenting, minority opinion. It is not a political forum, but we are in a gray area when it comes to the nickname. The greatness of our fanbase will be measured by the manner in which we dissent and voice our opinions, not whether or not we are in the majority or minority. No one is trampling on the constitution here. I am a nickname supporter. My opinion is that the nickname was a revered testament to a culture that is all but forgotten by most of the United States. I will never be able to convince certain people of that. I accept that my opinion is able to be expressed and that my opinion may or may not make a difference in the ultimate decision. I take pride in trying to express it with a degree of education, decorum, and conviction that I know some lack. The decision on the name is beyond my control. How long I dissent, and the degree to which I voice my opinion might fade with time. I trust that my freedom to do so never will. Long live liberty and long live the Fighting Sioux in name and spirit.

6'5 at 14?! If that kid can skate he has big-time prospect written all over him.

Hang in there Coach Nacko; all RR alum are pulling for you to win this one in OT

Player X's Gold medal probably feels alot better than a Selke Trophy. I do think that he is easily the best two-way center in the game right now.

"Diving is not only classless, it is unmanly," unidentified quote.

True. However, we are (at least temporarily) still the most powerful country on earth both economically and militarily. American Arrogance as the rest of the world labels it is in many ways a compliment. If we weren't as successful as we are it would be labeled as confidence.

I still like Robber Barons even though it has little to do with ND. Pony Express Buckin Broncos Wild Weasels Praire Kings Norse Men Probably not PC given the circumstances but...Gattling Guns

I happen to know a person who shall remain nameless who: 1. Is a helluva great guy 2. Was a great high school hockey player at one time 3. Who Sioux pride and support runs DEEP in his family 4. Who has become an extremely successful business man in GF Who I bet has both the wallet and brains to run a Major Junior team I won't talk about this individual beyond this post, as I have the utmost respect for him, and will not divulge his name period, BUT the gist of this post is simply that there are possibilities...

There was a great article once that talked about how the ending of the name would make people forget about the Indian and not serve as a reminder of what was done to them. Anyone remember that article or have a link?

How about the "Robber Barons"? Stanford University actually voted for it in 1975 and the University struck it down. We need two words in order to sound acceptable with North Dakota I still haven't given up on Fighting Sioux!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hrkac, Joyce, Johnson, Kidd, Baron, Nacko, mickey K, Malcolm Parks, Dub, Bobyck, paraneica, koberinski, belfour, brower, davidson

but oddly fitting with this crowd...

So, if you are going to put together the all-time Sioux team...who is on there? I left Greg johnson off my original list of players; he is the all-time points leader in Sioux history too... Taylor, Smail and Sykes Hrkac, Joyce and S. Johnson Parise, Bochenski and Murray Toews, Oshie and Duncan Blake, Panzer and Hoogsteen Murray, Archie and Goren G. Johnson, Ward and Romaniuk T. Zajac, Stafford and Eades Patrick and Ludwig Kidd and Commodore Roche and Murphy Parent and M. Chorney Genoway and T. Chorney Belfour Casey Goehring Lamoureaux Make the cuts...

Smail is who I forgot...I had ludwig originally, then when I restructured my post, I forgot him...ehhhh There are the fighting legends too...dean dechsyn, dan brennan... I was born in 76, so going much deeper than that is hearsay for me

Clearly my statements were about individual performance, however it would be hard to believe those individuals' team successes weren't at least partially attributable to their personal success...they all won something while here...MacNaughton or Broadmoor...I realize all we care about are NCAA banners, but hey, we're the Sioux. Impact players based on legacy? Let's talk about that. Who is still revered in Sioux lore? Hrkac Then the circus: Joyce and Johnson (even though he only skated hrkac's wing part of the season) Belfour Blake, Panzer, Hoogsteen, Roche, Commodore, Goren, Murphy Archie!!!! Sykes, Patrick, Murray, Casey,there's another guy from my childhood...forward who played with Sykes...big time scorer Parise Oshie, Toews and Duncan

I think another issue is that we did have some first rounders around that time who not only lived up to, but exceeded the hype at UND: Parise, Toews, Oshie, Zajac, Stafford All #1s that made it happen at UND. It is important to note that wile good as a freshman, it took Stafford three years to play like a first rounder...the others I mention made big time impacts as rookies.

A general point in expectation management: Derek Forbert and Simpson are pegged as a big time prospect in the NHL. That means there is upside. It in no way means that they are immediately ready to make an impact at the WCHA level. Cases in point: Lee and Finley were first round draft picks who weren't exactly fan favorites. Dmen tend to be bigger projects than forwards, and have steeper learning curves. Let's all remember that.

We want the best product on the ice in perpetuity. That means getting the best talent in and playing and developing. We want to keep getting the Parises, Toews, Oshies of the world first and foremost.

"A man makes his own luck" - Billy Zane, Titanic.

Scholarships aren't lolipops at the bank. It is the job of the coaching staff to build the best product for the ice while adhering to the ideals and traditions of the program including developing college hockey players for the next level and developing young men of character. Fienhage was given an opportunity, and he did not make the most of it. I think talent and ability reflects a lot on the logjam. If there is a log jam, and you are good enough to play, you will. It is my personal opinion that Lapoint is the next odd man out. For some reason Hak loves him. I do not. I prefer Gleason. Again, sorry that I invited you to the dance, it turns out that there is someone better out there, and I am going home with them.

The major junior deal is due to an agreement between the CHL and NHL. Fienhage is a drafted player, a project, and not ready for an investment by Buffalo. He also is fortunate to be able to still be young enough to play junior hockey. Therefore, he will play for the CHL club that has his rights. Fienhage does not deserve this? Please, he didn't earn it. I would've never believed that Gleason and of all people Davidson would skate in front of him when he came in. He simply is not good enough and didn't work hard enough to get good enough. What were blood and marto's upper body injuries? I like Knight at center, always have. I like him centering Kristo and Gregoire. That keeps Malone Trupp and Frattin together. That's a pretty solid top two lines.

My guess on Toews is pretty simple in that by years end he was a top 12 skill wise, but not a top 9. Hak seems to like to roll one checking line, which i think is a good thing. Burke put the USA olympic team together thinking top 6 scorers and bottom six grinders/energy. On the 3 scoring lines, Zajac, Malone and VV were just too physically strong for Toews to compete with at center. Toews produced fairly well, but not as well as Gregoire, Hexy, Trupp, Kristo, Frattin, and Knight at wing. Prior to Frattin's return, Toews was getting more ice time. Much like Cichy, you are not going to put Toews out on the checking/energy line. Neither is wired that way. My guess is that coming in they will both be slotted as regulars and will have to earn that place in practice vs the new guys. I think we see letters on Marto and Gregoire for sure. I put lines on another thread, but it is all speculation at this point, as we don't know who is coming in. I think: Malone with Frattin and Trupp (easy) Knight with Kristo and Gregoire Lammy with Bruno and Hexy (I've always liked Hexy as a scoring threat on a checking line) Nelson with Cichy and Toews D. Mattson with Rodwell and Rowney (practice and earn it) Chay (or Blood) with Forbert Marto with Simpson Blood (or Gleason) with Mac Gleason and N. Mattson

Sorry, meant Hill

Is the WCHA season too long and brutal? I love the western style, but it was clear in this tourney that the Eastern style prevailed. They play a shorter season and IMHO a less physically draining one. Wisconsin beat a fellow WCHA team to go to the 4...RIT, BC, and Miami...at least tjhe NCAA got a mix of established programs, the recent power (miami) and the upstart underdog. That along with 4 conferences represented...they are probably thrilled.