fightingsioux4life

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.

And which team is in the Frozen Four?

Who?

The PWR is about as objective as you are going to get in terms of selecting the 16 team field. Don't fix what is not broken.

Man, those images make my mouth water! I love chocolate.

I hope Blake understands that it's entirely his decision and not a decision for the Hurricanes to make. Carolina can't do a thing about it if he tells them he is going back to school for his Junior year. What are they going to do, cut him? They can't, he hasn't signed with them yet. He has leverage over Carolina and he should use it by coming back for a third year of NCAA hockey and becoming a free agent next year.

Would the cupcakes be chocolate?

They aren't just my standards, they are the standards of the program as a whole. Berry has told his team basically the same things. But you are one of several people who weren't all that upset about Bubba getting an thoroughly undeserved contract extension, so I am not surprised at this comment at all.

Okay, fair enough. But seeing Denver go to their fourth Frozen Four since 2016 (with two titles during that time) while we haven't been back since is raising the frustration level for me and some others. Those results will sooner or later have an impact on recruiting.

Yeah, that's the guy. The guy that's been out with an injury for Denver for a few weeks now.

Don't they have a couple of guys who were committed to UND?

Whatever adjective you want to use, the month of March was not good. You can spin it however you want, but the coaching staff needs to figure out why this happens after we clinch the Penrose. The main issue is from the neck up, not a lack of physical talent.

You sure you want that kind of pressure in your life?