Johnny Five

Here's the kicker, or the stupidity of it. Kid goes to Northstar/Shattuck for a year, hates it and comes back for his/her JR season. Wants to play for the same school - let's just say BHS - in the district he/she has always lived. NOPE, gotta play JV this season you're not varsity eligible. Well piss on that....family sells the house on the South end and moves to CHS or LHS district, eligible for Varsity due to the move and different district (fargo, grand forks, whatever). Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure that's a loophole.

Heard that happened in hoops a year or 2 ago as well. Kid essentially went and played for some sort of AAU program and home schooled. Family member got sick, moved home and wasn't allowed to play HS hoops.

Nobody is leaving Honeybaked to come back to ND, especially the WDA.

Just because you don't like them doesn't mean it doesn't exist. If you really think Polacek wouldn't have loved to go to Kansas State and Montana....lol.

Eckart from CHS apparently decided to stick with the Bismarck Bobcats instead of return to CHS. That is a pretty big blow for Ole.

That is a game that was supposed to be played when Trey Lance was here and got moved due to COVID. There are definitely challenges for NDSU scheduling wise, it's just the fact of the matter.

The Alerus is a hell of a homefield advantage for UND. That'll be a real playoff doozy in the future. I don't think Mr. Schmidt will be in Grand Forks very long. And by that I mean....that is a good problem to have. I don't see UND having a problem with SDSU with or without their starting QB and I'm thinking a semifinal appearance come playoff time. The defense is nasty and any rankings coming out that have them outside the Top 10 is flat out dumb. Yeah there's 4 losses....but good grief, only one real "turd" if you can even call it that. I'm not gonna be surprised if there's another meeting in Fargo this year.

I always love the pot shots at the media guys. They're no different than Schlossman or Miller (who Izzo has on all the time). The best media coverage in the FCS and probably better than most G5s as well. That's like saying Schlossman is no good because he's in Grand Forks. Yeah...actually he should be an NHL writer I agree with that.

No clue what's going to happen here. Both teams are much better coached than the last beatdown at the Alerus. Payton seems to be the real deal and he's got a loaded group of WR and TE to throw to as well. Haven't seen enough of UND to comment specifically, but I think if Jerry is on NDSU can be had with some of the shorter passing game type stuff. NDSU has been super opportunistic this year, if UND rolls with zero turnovers it's a ballgame to the final 00s. Seems to be at times NDSU has had some horse shoe luck on some big plays...but sometimes in sports that is earned as well. Perhaps a big special teams play either way will swing this game. Should be a crazy environment.

When they got hammered by Tech in the second game of the year I knew it wasn't going to be good. Simply put, one of the worst performances I've seen in my years as a Gopher Hockey fan. It is just not a good team. Were they short last weekend? Sure. Who cares? Next man up. No clue what Bob's philosophy was after last season. Moore and Kurth should've stayed (yes, every program can say that so that's no excuse). He seemed fine with grabbing Luedtke and then Pritchard followed shortly after and then fills out the roster with some MIAC kid if I remember right. WTF. When Schlossman was on the GPL podcast they talked about the 2 programs and their philosophy after last season ended. Brad mentioned that Jackson had a nice advantage with a sh*tload of empty roster spots, meanwhile they made a reference to Bob not wanting to step on any of his recruits necks (maybe a bad way to put it but you get the point). Anyway...this season is dust, and that's OK. In the new era of college hockey, it can be in the blink of an eye and any program can rebound. Anyone thinking Bob has lost it or isn't a good coach is just delusional. The pipeline is looking mighty fine. Personally, I can deal with it for a year. If it ends up rolling into a second year...then...see ya Robert.

As a Gopher fan the problem is not only the losses...but gol' damn they're just down right getting bludgeoned. It's basically a one line team with zero ability to sustain pressure. Bob's got himself a great pipeline, no question, but this is teetering on an epic disaster at this point.

Pathetic move by the entire organization. Stevie Wonder could see that Carson was injured. Disgusting.

When the product is good, the crowds are good. This year's product deserves what they get in the stands.

Yo..... I didn't make Friday's tilt. Saturday....honestly I walked in the rink and didn't feel a "buzz." Maybe I'm off on that. Sorta felt like everyone thought UND was gonna take Friday's 3rd period and continue it into Saturday (at least I did). Looked at my buddy after 2 periods and said..."this is not a great hockey game" and he agreed. But that's what Bob's crew needed to do, and honestly, probably going to have too all season. I didn't feel like Di Pasquo had to make any real difficult saves. I was wearing maroon and gold, hardly got any sh*t talked to me all day either downtown or at the game. Dammit, we are getting soft I guess lol. I 100% assumed UND was going to sweep. Another valuable lesson in college hockey, when all else fails, trust Mr. Schlossman. Despite the Saturday result for UND, that's a damn good team and will be reckon with all season long. Cheers.

Second question? yes. It's going to be a loooooong year. Last question. I don't think so. Pipeline is really strong. Stevie Wonder could see this was coming. That being said, UND is really...really....really.....good. Regarding penalties: I always feel the better skating team will draw more penalties, and UND is the better skating team.

That is a factual statement. Regardless of the outcome...sweep, swept, split...lotta season left for them both with conference play.

I'm not going to try to argue that point based on results so far. I will say the Saturday Michigan Tech game was flat out embarrassing. The BC series was much better. Jimmy Clarke had 3 grade A in the second period that would've titled the game 1-1...didn't happen and that's hockey...and this years squad needs all of those. The post season will definitely be a challenge for this years version of Gopher Hockey but then again last year went one and done so really...it is what it is.

Perhaps 17 and 18 for UND pound sand up Bob's rear this weekend and it opens his eyes a bit more.

Here's why. Fans follow these kids from youth to HS hockey to the state tournament to the USHL, etc. Has been that way forever. Then all we hear about St. Thomas is how they're the program to watch out for because of their geography....well it's the same as UMN... This is a fictional point, but any program who could win National Titles with a majority of their players from right in their back yard would do it if they had to resources to do so. I used Grubb as an example a few weeks ago....imagine if Marto keeps trending high and doesn't end up at UND. Most schools just don't have a plethora of studs available. MN schools do. UND can get the best of both worlds. Protecting back yards first and foremost in recruiting is important to every single college sport. Also I imagine a sasky farm boy doesn't necessarily have dinkytown on their radar. It's year one of the new college hockey landscape. I don't think anyone is saying he won't adjust, he just didn't this year, and seemed content with what he had for whatever reason. It's not like he doesn't have a nice NHL pipeline going either, which is every Canadians dream. Time will tell.

The Gopher hockey program was not in a good situation when Bob took over. He's done a great job...the pipeline is strong...alumni engagement has drastically improved...won loss record is fantastic.....making the NCCAAs Frozen Fours (let one get away for sure)....but yeah, he needs to hoist one soon. Won't be this year however. Looking forward to the Ralph Saturday night...well maybe not...but you never know lol.

There's not a single Gopher fan that believes UND isn't a blue blood. Any comments regarding so are just to poke the bear....seems to work.

MN fan here - calm down I'm not a moron all the way through, I have a kid going to UND right now. The "minnesota only" players is a thing of the past. Much like the UND is "25 year old canadian" BS that gets throw around (that's Quinnipiac, Mankato and Wisconsin now....this is sarcasm) Back when Bemidji, Mankato, SCSU were basically irrelevent and St. Thomas didn't exist, it Wooger could pull it off - ahhhhh the good old days. I don't think there's pressure to keep it local, so to speak, but when you have the best HS hockey in the country and all the skill possible obviously that's what you want to focus on that first. No different than Jackson pickup up Grubb from his own backyard, for example. Everyone knew this team was gonna take a step back, but I like where the pipeline is headed and UND has built a hell of a pipeline as well. Bob not touching the Canadians drives me a bit bonkers for this year, and he hasn't been quite as active in the portal as a lot of programs....seemed like he was OK having a "down" year this year and ramping it back up. Seems asinine for any blue blood program to do that, or any program for that matter, but everyone could see it. I have no clue why UMN was pre-season rated so high. Last night was about what I expected....not going to comment on Saturday against Tech that was one of the worst Gopher performances I've ever seen lol. They're just sloppy as sh*t right now. Look like a PeeWee team who cannot go tape to tape, and when they had scoring chances - Jimmy Clark could've had 3 in the second last night he was snake bit - they missed em. Didn't mind Airey in the pipes though. Regardless.....I'll be at the Ralph next Saturday I'm not afraid of boozing with good hockey fans.

I guess you could ask every recruit and current player on Illinois, Indiana (typically), Iowa, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Purdue, Rutgers, UCLA, Washington and Wisconsin about that. FCS teams beating out any B1G school has to be rare. Anyway...maybe Schmidt will be coaching him his SR year at Minnesota.

Menz at MN and Pietrzak at Nebraska both walked out of NDSU's fenced back yard for middle of the road Big 10 programs that they'd beat half the time on the field. It is what it is, some kids want bigger. Anyone can laugh at MN or any other B1G school all they want....it's a pretty easy decision. I mean there was 45K+ at the Bank for the Rutgers game (allegedly). Besides getting on the field faster....can't see anything wrong with it. If he hates his decision and hits the portal in 2 years will UND take him?

It truly is an easy decision.