fightingsioux4life

Union won it all in 2014 (over the Goofs). UMass won it all in 2021. Quinnipiac has been to two NCAA title games and I believe will get over the hump eventually. And Mankato is in the Frozen Four for the second consecutive year. Maybe more isn't appropriate, but either the same or close to the same level of success is. And those are small fish in the world of collegiate athletics. Not winning Nattys and not getting to the Frozen Four has consequences when it comes to recruiting. And those problems feed unto themselves. The sooner we turn it around, the better.

That is what some people on here are making us sound like. I do not agree with it and I sure as heck don't want it to come true.

So we are a plucky mid-major now? Really? I simply do not agree with that. No one gets all the blue chip recruits, but we shouldn't lose as many recruiting battles as we have the past couple of years. We have a nice class coming in for Fall 2022, but I am more concerned about after that.

Here are my takes on your list: Ed Robson Arena...nice looking, a little more than half the size of the Old REA, nice atmosphere if you have the fans and energy. Pegula Ice Arena....nice looking, about the size of Old REA, nice atmosphere if you have the fans and energy. Kohl Center...older than the Current REA, dual basketball-hockey arena, seats about 5,500 more people. Mayo Clinic Health Systems Event Center.....the Mankato Civil Center, really? Value City Arena.....older than the Current REA, a little bigger than Kohl Center, dual basketball-hockey arena. Baxter Arena.....a little bigger than the Old REA, dual basketball-hockey arena, nice atmosphere if you have the fans and energy. Amsoil Arena.....a little bigger than the Old REA, nice atmosphere if you have the fans and energy. Arizona State University's (will be super nice once completed).....will be a little smaller than the Old REA, should have a nice atmosphere if you have the fans and energy. The newer arenas seem to be built smaller and more compact, which creates an awesome atmosphere if the fans are present and active. And I would have no problem with UND playing in such a building if we didn't have REA. But calling them superior to REA because they are newer? I just don't see it.

So we are destined to be relegated to being a plucky mid-major in the world of Division I college hockey? That is the ultimate nightmare scenario for UND and it must not be allowed to happen. If we need to make changes to how we recruit, fundraise or whatever else, we better do it before it is too late. And you still haven't explained away how Quinnipiac, UMass-Amherst, Union and MSU-Mankato can arguably have more national success than we do. Those are not high-profile schools in the world of athletics by any stretch.

Better wait until those NHL prospect camps are over.

Based on this, we should never have become a national power, must less have 8 NCAA title banners hanging in REA. Grand Forks has never been as "flashy" of a destination, but we still managed to win 2 NCAA titles in a WPA-built, unheated barn and 5 in the Old REA, which seated about half of what the current version of REA does. Also, you have schools like Quinnipiac, UMass-Amherst, Union and MSU-Mankato either winning or coming close to winning NCAA titles over the past 10 years or so. And none of those schools have the same tradition, history, facilities and reputation in the hockey world that we do. We are an underachieving blue blood program, not a plucky mid-major overachieving and doing more with less.

And their home rink is Yost Ice Arena, which is a converted basketball arena and is about 100 years old. If someone wants to argue that REA isn't a big advantage over that, please go right on ahead.

I wasn't just talking about the arena. We just spent millions to upgrade the locker rooms at REA. We also have training equipment in REA that is top-notch. And every few years, we are upgrading this or that in REA. I would imagine most schools are not upgrading their facilities that often. And our program is talked about favorably by a lot of people in the hockey world (collegiate and professional). So I think we still have all the tools to recruit high-end talent.

Which schools have anything close to REA?

Cripes, we cannot afford another bloodbath off-season like last year. This has been a bad two+ weeks for this program.

Man, this Frozen Four is shaping up to be a total nightmare unless Minnesota State wins it.

Assuming everyone sticks around. That is becoming harder every year.

A solid core of 3-4 year guys, combined with a handful of 1-2 year guys is probably the best way to have sustained success. Too many blue chippers at once means you are starting over every year. Not enough and you don't get very far in March. This team has a solid core, now it needs some elite firepower. And I think the kids coming in this fall will help provide that firepower.

Runner-Up/Second-Fiddle/Stepping Stone U. It happened to FB in the 2000's. It better not happen with MH now.

Better up front, but still lacking the overall offensive depth needed to win a Natty.

If Berry and Miller would meet with the President and discuss Miller's sincerity in changing his behavior and attitude, it may be enough. But I don't know if this is still possible.

Isn't that what UND was this season? And how far did that take us?

False choice.

But @N of GF says we need to be quiet about it.

You meant 2016, right?

So I should just accept what happens and keep my mouth shut? The opposite of love is NOT hate, it is apathy. If people are pissed about a bad playoff loss, that means they are vested in and care about the program. That is how I express my love for all things UND.