yzerman19

If I were in charge of Canadian customs, I wouldn't issue Paukovich an entry visa. Zach Jones can't hold his own in the WCHA, he will not be a top NHL prospect. Sorry, kid. WJC is the best talent in the world. I hope our guys really shine. Toews especially, he is the only undrafted SIoux in th tourney.

What's going on...overloaded server?

Alright! Hang on...good positional hockey, no gambling with that big empty stat padder out there...........

How's the action? Do we sound pretty fresh yet? Who's out there? I'm dying without the internet radio feed.

Unfortunately Toews from Lee will probably only be a two year gig

Rodents win 5-2. Game was closer than the score. Very physical too. Go Sioux!!

How did Toews' goal sound? He has to pleased to hit the twine with all the scouts there.

First things first, the year that Neal won the hobey, Aaron deserved it. Neal will even tell you that; although Aaron will not. Second thing, the deal that was worked out with the Brotens was unique. It was one of the first scholarship offers that included a clause to be able to leave to go pro early and be able to come back and finish school for free. The ability to have lifelong linemates Butsy and Aaron come play with you too, also weighed in. There has always been a strong Roseau connection with UND, Rube and Deaner having coached there just solidified that pipeline. The failure to land three future NHLers from there is perhaps UND's greatest recruiting failure. Grand Forks is the town that Roseau kids go to for school clothes and WDAZ Sioux games are televised there. Piece two. How can Dubay make the comparison of Kessel and Wheeler and crew to Tkachuk, Roenick, Amonte and crew. I hope the best for those kids (except when they play UND), but to compare them to 3 guys with 1000+ NHL goals among them is ridiculous.

Denver fans might object to not being labelled elite. They have won more titles than the Gophers including b2b. MN will always be unique, due to being a huge metropolitan market. It results in different media exposure and bias. The underdog piece goes back to the 70's when MN and Mass owned US hockey.

UND hockey (up until recently) was the great (albeit very small) state of North Dakota's only high caliber (D1 or pro) team. UND is a small school in a small state that plays big time hockey. The entire state of North Dakota is smaller than Hennepin County. UND hockey is not an underdog anymore, but the state of North Dakota is, and UND hockey is our only representation on a national stage. The hatred of the Gophs (and they are my favorite team to hate) is mostly due to the fact that the rivalry is so rich. We share a border, we fight for the same talent, and we both have winning traditions. UND is the only team in the WCHA with a winning home record (all-time) against the Gophers. UND is not an underdog in hockey, but the team still represents the little guy as far as school enrollment and state population.

I like the intelligent speculation. I especially appreciate someone who understands the nuances of a play maker, a corner man and a finisher. There are a couple intangibles left out of course, such as chemistry. I believe that you keep guys together who play well together. So Zajac and Stafford must be on the same line. I haven't seen the rookies play at all, but another important factor is speed. You don't want a really fast guy on a line of slower guys. Also when factoring centermen, you need to know who is a good faceoff man. Also, I have never known a center who couldn't play wing, but i have known a lot of wingers who are terrible playing center ice. As for Oshie, I'm sure he will be a fine player, but he definitely isn't a Brady Murray. Brady was special because he has world class speed. He was a threat everytime he was on the ice, and his speed opened up lanes for his mates. WIth Brady's size, he may never suit up in the nHL for any more than a cup of coffee, but his size and speed really suit the European game. He could have a very nice career over there. Oshie will get very limited time this year as the coaches work to develop him. I think you have to put another scorer out with Toews in either Spirko or Porter.

I agree, although I will always doubt the quality of NTDP players. I keep saying that Wheeler reminds me of Tallackson. Kessel will have a very good year.

Now I have no affiliation to Michigan, but comparing UND to Michigan is kind of a stretch. Yes, UND's hockey program has been every bit as if not more successful than MI lately, but Michigan is basically an ivy-league caliber academic institution and is a national player in DI in all sports. As much as I like UND and could care less about Michigan, Michigan is all in all a superior academic institution and collegiate experience. If someone I cared about was debating between attending UND or Michigan, I would say go to Michigan in a second. Sorry, but I have to be pragmatic about this one. Only exception would be if this person was a hockey player with an interest in aviation.

I'm starting to think that the gold colored glasses in the MN corner have finally corrupted their reality. I was cruising around their forum and they are talking about the U18 championships going on right now, and some guy actually made the comment that it's time for Phil Kessel to show the Canadians who the real "next one" is. Now I will always route for the USA, and I hope we win, but have some perspective folks. Phil Kessel is a talented kid, but to compare him to Sidney Crosby is going a bit far. Sidney's dominating a talent pool that is the greatest in junior hockey at 17. There is a big difference between playing for NTDP and playing in the Q.

I could see thirty plus with a healthy Brady Murray on his wing. He and Brady really played well together on the playoff run until Brady got hurt. Zajac's reaction to the injury indicated to me just how much he likes playing with Brady.

I'm just glad Zajac played well enough to earn this silly debate. Good work to the coaching staff.

Gophs have a lot of talent up front, but so does UND. Chucko<Porter (NHL disagrees, but Chucko didn't show me much last year) Hirsch<Murray (although he does drive the net well) Kessel <>Toews (noone knows yet) Irmen<Stafford (the NHL thinks so too) Wheeler<Zajac (Wheeler might have potential, but Zajac has shown his-both 1st rounders) Potulny<>Spirko(depends on which Potulny, pre or post X-mas last year) The rest of the NTDP guys against our BCHL guys is a toss up I think CC is the favorite and Denver, MN and UND are all close behind

I defintely agree that one player a team doesn't make. I almost wrote that in my original post here. A lot of extremely gifted players play their entire careers from Bantams through the NHL and never win a title. I value everyone's opinion, but as a player I would rather play with ZP on offense and I would rather play against Zajac on defense. ZP is a playmaker who makes everyone on the ice dangerous. Zajac is a strong finisher with good size. Both players add value to any team. Parise's numbers and accolades do dwarf Zajac's, and having watched both play. Parise is a vastly more dangerous player.

I can't believe there is any debate regarding Zajac vs. Parise. Parise is a special player, Zajac is a very very good player. ZP was the best playmaker in college hockey for two years. He was the best player in the world while leading USA to the WJC gold. That is way more of an accomplishment than getting UND to the frozen four. UND only got as far as they did because of ZP in 03 and 04. ZP's credentials are incredible and he had a very good year at Albany despite playing on a pretty weak team. Parise was a Hobey Finalist as a rookie, Zajac didn't even make the all rookie WCHA first team. I think Travis is great, and I'm glad he is on our team, btu I'd trade two Zajac's for one ZP.

People need to learn to read more closely. I never called players with half-shields Sally's. In fact I reference the fact that I wore a half-shield at the last level when I played. I said in my prior post that you are thought of as a Sally if you wear a mask. I never said that i personally thought a player with a mask on was a Sally. I talk about not putting on the facemask, because you don't think about getting hurt. You think about scoring goals and winning games. If you were worried about getting hurt enough even to think about it, then your mind isn't in the right place. This is the arrogance and swagger I am talking about. Getting hurt is the furthest thing from your mind and should be. Just a side note for any interested, i have a scar on my chin and lower cheek that is about three inches long that is left over from the plastic surgery I had that reconstructed the 12 stitch scar I received when I was opened up by a goalie stick in Selkirk MB. I was 18 years old. I wore a half shield before it happened and I kept the shield for the rest of the season. The thought of going to a full mask never even crossed my mind. The peer pressure was of more concern to me than an injury.

I don't appreciate being called dumb. Especially when it is opinions regarding hockey. Where quite frankly, I feel my opinion holds value, as I experienced a hockey career that goes a lot further than most. Getting hurt is a risk you take, if the possiblity of getting hurt is too great for you, join the friggin' band. It's like the parents who make their kids where helmets on their bikes. Control is an illusion. People have accidents and can get hurt. Mafia man, you went after me with references to a boarding call, a sucker punch, and a stick swinger...what do any of these things have to do with the topic at hand? What do those things have to do with face masks or playing without fear? Are you going to blame the Danny Heatley accident on not wearing a half shield too?

ZP isn't scared, the half shield isn't a bad way to go; however, it won't protect the eyes from a stick that comes up underneath it. My argument is mostly against the full shield.

No visits to the doc involved (knock on wood) I always felt invincible out on the ice, and I'm sure guys at the AHL and NHL level feel that even more. Facing vulnerability is not good in an athlete. Arrogance and remorseless swagger make a better athlete. You can't play scared.

You would be thought of as a Sally if you wear a full mask. I

1. CC - Ton of talent, senior team, close but no cigar this year and want to smoke. 2. Denver - Talent, system, three in a row is unprecedented 3. UND - Great young players, pro prospects matched only by UMN 4. UMN - Equally talented young players as UND, 4th due to goaltending 5. WI - Can't get over the hurdle; good, but not good enough 6-10. Who Cares? SCSU, UMD, AA, MSU and Tech all are pretty bad. MSU actually has a couple talented players, so I give them the nod. UMD needed to ride the frozen four last year to a big recruiting class. Sandy failed. Most interesting matchup: UND and UMN. The best rivalry in college hockey just keeps growing. Stafford, Zajac, Toews, Murray, Lee, Greene, Porter and Smaby vs. Wheeler, Kessel, Chucko, Potulny, Irmen, Stoa, Goligoski and Hagemo. That's a lot of drafted talent. Throw in guys like Spirko versus Howe. The teams match up well. Tons of firepower, UNDs defensive core will be young, but if the backbone returns they will be solid, UMN had a couple great freshmen D this last year. UND has better goaltending. Even matchup. Fun