fightingsioux4life

Or UNO is ordered to drop their hockey program because it costs too much?

Those people are unhinged.

Fair enough. Class of 1998 and 2000. Love UND and always will. Long live the Fighting Sioux/Hawks.

Okay, now listen to this: It is totally fair to point out our postseason meltdowns. If the coaching staff is offended, then they need to get into a different line of work. My position is it isn't a lack of talent, it's from the neck up. Berry and his staff need to figure out why this team loses its edge after clinching the Penrose. And if that makes me "entitled", then so be it.

They use back channels. I don't know the identity of this person either. Unless something is official (from the player himself or Schloss), I wouldn't put 100% stock in it anyway. Blake was supposed to have signed with Carolina on Monday and we are still waiting for it to happen.

Kentucky has high expectations of their MBB program, just like UND has high expectations of their hockey program. Calipari's one-year freshmen NBA Lottery Picks weren't yielding the results they had hoped, which is probably one reason he is no longer there.

An anonymous source has told me that Berg isn't signing, he is 100% coming back. On the subject of Whitelaw, he has some ability, but is not well-liked by teammates.

There may be some big portal additions in the coming weeks and months. Even if there aren't, this team may be better if everyone chipped in on the offensive end and not just one or two guys.

Too early to give up on next year's team. Let's wait and see how the team looks when classes start in August.

Maybe they are still negotiating? If they low-ball him, I'd tell them to go pound sand.

Grand Forks has never been a "large market" compared to other places. And yet, we have 8 NCAA title banners hanging in REA, along with 21 conference title banners. I think these private schools can sell their excellent academics to potential recruits. That is especially attractive to kids that know they are unlikely to make hockey a career.

The most successful programs in terms of NCAA titles recently are UM-Duluth (not a B1G school), Denver (not a B1G school) and Quinnipiac (not a B1G school). This year's Frozen Four features one B1G school (Michigan), one NCHC school (Denver) and two Hockey East schools (BU and BC). Four of the schools I mentioned are small, private schools, one is a four-year public university who plays Division II for all their non-hockey sports and one was from the B1G. Recent success at the national level has primarily been focused on small, private schools. What are they doing to achieve this success? We should look into it.

This IS the standard with programs like UND. We are not a mid-major program that only hopes to win our conference's auto bid.

@Walsh Hall is also okay with Bubba's totally unearned and undeserved extention over on the FB forum, so you shouldn't be surprised.

Anyone want to try to spin this as not a big deal?

Thanks for the summary.

Nope, it's all luck and the single elimination format. (sarcasm)

Blah, blah, blah.

Sorry, but that's not coming back. And posting that does not refute any of my points.

I agree with you except for the NHL part. I imagine a lot of coaches have lost their jobs because a few millionaire players complained loudly enough.

I agree with you. No point in hanging onto someone who doesn't want to be here.

The "reality of the game" hasn't stopped Denver from going to 4 Frozen Fours since 2016 and winning two titles with the chance to win a third next week. Meanwhile, our favorite team has one NCAA tournament win during that entire time (vs. an Alphabet Soup school from the AHA). Those are clear trends over 7 seasons (not counting the 2020 Pandemic shortened season). That is "just the way things are" and it cannot be explained away by the usual alibis posted here constantly. The problem with this team isn't lack of physical talent (you don't win 26 games without talent). The problem is from the neck up, the lack of mental focus after clinching the Penrose at home. That is the biggest task facing this coaching staff for next year. And whether it's fair or not, lack of national success will negatively affect recruiting if it continues.

Like the 1997 team that was picked to finish 5th in the WCHA. Or the 2000 team that didn't get on a roll until late in the season.

Looks like a solid addition for 2024-2025. If our portal additions are as good as they were in 2023-2024, we'll be in good shape.