fightingsioux4life

I'll bet Hennessy will have fun trying to pronounce that name!

What are we talking about? Losing that mental edge after clinching the Penrose Cup. The letdown that happens after an emotional weekend sweeping Western Michigan and celebrating with the hometown fans. It's like the team was emotionally and mentally wiped after that. They went 2-4 after clinching the NCHC regular season title, with both wins against one of worst teams in the short history of the NCHC. An old adage is that "80% of sports is from the neck up". Some people would say "that's just not true", but I think it is. Talent alone isn't enough. Or we can just tell Jordan Schmaltz that he doesn't know what he is talking about and pretend that everything is fine.

Green banners are what people remember in the long run. Whether or not that is healthy or positive is debatable. What is not debatable is that a program's national reputation and profile is closely linked to winning NCAA titles. When Denver wins 3 titles and we cannot even make the national semifinals during the same time period, that is detrimental to our program. Bemidji State was thrilled winning the McNaughton Cup. Michigan Tech was thrilled winning the CCHA autobid. UND's ambitions and expectations are and should be much higher.

I am looking forward to hearing what other people think.

Hey junior, when you talk about me, address the comment to me. And I am a proud cat owner. What's it to you, anyway? Now let's get back on topic.

Nothing simple about it. But that's the challenge for the coaching staff.

Yep. The problem is from the neck up. They'll have another talented roster next year, but can they develop the mindset needed to win at the end of the year?

You would think so......but it may make too much sense.

I think the point is that it would be difficult if we lose guys early, but other teams don't. But I agree with you; we have to have the mentality that we can beat anybody if we show up and play a full 60 minutes.

The forum on May 7th is a must-attend for those who can make it.

If you want to turn around an airport that is underperforming, you have to have a positive, confident attitude. You probably think GFK should just shut down.

I have said my piece on the topic of NCAA titles and playoff flameouts. I am done. But I don't see how stating facts (albeit uncomfortable and negative facts) qualifies as a "12 y/o drama queen approach". I think we'll have a good team next year and I think the coaching staff will do fine with portal additions like they did in 2023-2024. But we have to get back to old fashioned UND playoff hockey. The continued success of our program depends (in part) on it.

I will renew both my football and hockey tickets as usual. But I think pre-paying for playoff tickets is not a good idea.

Wow, what is going on in Madison?

I don't understand players moving around like this. Kind of like throwing darts at a board.

Disagree with my takes if you want, but I am not petty or bitter. I'll be there next season and every season after that; win, lose or shootout.

I don't block people. And I was referring to a comment you made once that you didn't care how many NCAA banners we win (I forget what thread it was). I can agree to disagree with you on that. I'm just not feeling good about UND athletics right now. I meant no disrespect.

Are you trying to be funny? Sorry, but I am just not in the mood. You may not care about NCAA titles, but they help define the greatness of a program. And Denver and Duluth have a combined 5 since we won #8 in 2016. Those are hard facts, facts that cannot be explained away by bad luck and/or the single elimination format. This postseason was an unmitigated disaster. This team had the table set to have a huge turnout by the Fighting Sioux/Hawks faithful for the regional (Sioux Falls) and the Frozen Four (St. Paul). And they flushed it down the toilet. After winning all those games and the Penrose. I honestly hope the coaching staff can figure out why this team loses its mental edge after clinching the Penrose. Because it will be more of the same next season unless they can. I will be in my seat in REA as always next season. But this trend of early playoff exits is concerning.

I agree with you, but I also think @Kab made a valid point. Postseason flameouts are becoming the norm and it is starting to grate on people.

Screw that. I am so sick of Denver. Third title in four Frozen Four trips since we last got to the Frozen Four in 2016. We are playing second fiddle to another program.....again. They must be the luckiest team in the history of collegiate sports. (sarcasm) But we beat them three out of four times in the regular season and won the Penrose Cup, so everything is good. Right? (sarcasm) I guarantee you nobody outside our fanbase thinks we had a better season. Including potential recruits that have UND and Denver on their short lists. But UND athletics is all about the "student-athlete experience" and wins and losses don't matter. I don't know how we got here, but I hope we find an escape hatch and quickly. Because we are capable of so much more than this.

Makes you wonder?

Wow, some people talk like all we have ever had are role players. Cripes, we've put over 100 players in the NHL. Those two things don't go together. Grand Forks has never been as attractive as a big metro area. Ever. But that didn't stop Gino, Blaiser and Hak from recruiting top talent here. A good recruiter can get someone from the Caribbean to move to Alaska if they are persuasive enough with their recruiting pitch. And after a few lean recruiting years, Berry and company have put together some great classes. No, the problem is from the neck up. And that is what has to be fixed. Not being hard to play against is a matter of attitude and mentality and not talent. Let's hope they can figure it out and start maximizing their potential. Because these early exits are getting old.

No wife right now.