Kermit

Yup, Mertens could play at SU, but I hope he plays for UND. I have to disagree with coach daddy about the weakness of the Bison bench. I think the Bison developed some depth as the season progressed. Tveidt, Coleman, and Pennick have outstanding athletic ability (Coleman and Pennick were slowed by injuries this year) and Carlson will contribute next year. I think that group, plus Sussenguth, stacks up well against the bench of other teams in the Summit League. The Sioux have a lot of catching up to do.

I've watched a lot of NDSU games the last couple years. I think Mertens is certainly good enough to play for NDSU, but he plays the same position as Eric Carlson and Carlson has 4 years of eligibility. Carlson averaged over 25 ppg his last two seasons at Shakopee and made the all-state tournament team in MN as a sophomore. Carlson looked very good going head-to-head with Winkelman in scrimmages and he's adding substantial muscle. Carlson probably would have been a big contributor this year, but he made a decision to redshirt--the coaching staff left it to him. It seems that Mertens just comes at the wrong time and wrong position to be a good fit for NDSU. Again, I don't think it is a question about his ability. I think Mertens could be a huge get if the Sioux can land him. Absolutely true. None of NDSU's upper classmen were heavily recruited by D-1 teams. NDSU/Tim Miles hit the jackpot with the current junior class. Unfortunately, NDSU's success will likely make it just that much harder for UND to succeed quickly in D-1 men's basketball.

This is not a complicated issue. Sioux fans, Gopher fans, almost all fans, tend to be hypocritical when comparing their team's accomplishments to others. Big surprise. Now, can we get this thread back on track? Penticton lost their playoff game last night, 3-2 in OT, but Hextall had a goal and was the 2nd star. http://www.bchl.bc.ca/leagues/hockey_boxSc...p;gameID=537880

That's easy, Maine was 4th.

Hmm.. http://www.mineweb.com/mineweb/view/minewe...6&sn=Detail http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dave_Fennell http://www.miramarmining.com/s/BoardofDirectors.asp

Words of wisdom. I think we should all take this message to heart.

This doesn't sound like a kid who lacks the ability to play in the WCHA: Parents Pleased with AJHL Experience

The Manitoba game was on 44.

Did Ryan Duncan lead Shattuck in scoring? A Hobey Baker winner would look more impressive on that list than Ruegsegger..

There is a great story on the UMD board that provides some insight into Blood's decision, and what happens during a visit to UND: http://umdpenaltybox.com/MessBoard/viewtop...th+dakota#27766

Derrick LaPoint is the USHL Defensive Player of the Week.

I don't expect to see Michael Forney on one of the top two lines right away. He has potential, but he is very inexperienced and coming off of multiple injuries. Oshie, Toews, and Duncan are no-brainers. Porter and Kozek should have the inside track at spots on the top lines. After that, it may be up for grabs.

I'm a UND alum/fan, but I live in the FM area and see most of the Bison games. I think that NDSU's talent is definitely on the upswing relative to 5-10 years ago. The Bison have always had good top-end talent, but their depth is significantly improved. I think this will be even more evident in another 2 years. It is hard to compare current Bison teams with their national championship teams of earlier years, but that may be irrelevant as the D-II landscape has changed so much. The biggest difference in NDSU football is the caliber of the competition. The current D-IAA schedule provides opponents that consistently match up well with NDSU and the games are extremely competitive and entertaining. I think UND would do well in D-IAA football within a short period of time. I also think the fans would enjoy the schedule and the competition. There is no question in my mind that D-IAA is the "right" fit for UND football. The harder questions have to do with other sports.

Lots of guys could qualify for this. I'll vote for Jonathan Toews.

http://denverpioneers.proboards76.com/inde...i?board=general

Exactly. Finishing 4th gives the Sioux a better shot at winning the Final Five (although it would almost certainly require that one of the top three seeds be upset in the first round of the playoffs).

The Western College Hockey blog is a very good site. Highly recommended.

Thanks!

Can anyone provide a link for this website?

Yep, that's what I saw. You nailed it. The Sioux are having a hard time getting out of their own end cleanly and getting through the neutral zone with speed. I had high hopes for the PP earlier in the year. Lee looks like he has zero confidence at the point right now--he needed to be taken off that top unit.

Mario Lamoureaux had a powerplay goal and an assist last night in a 4-0 Tri-City win over Sioux City.

Winnett will probably be one of the top recruits for '07. If the Sioux are in the hunt for him, Aaron Marvin, etc., that explains why they may not have made an early offer to a kid like Jordy Christian.

When thinking about plus/minus stats, it is important to consider the player's linemates and their role on the team. Prpich/Fabian/Kaip-Watkins are probably expected to forecheck hard, cycle, score an occasional goal, and defend. They have often played against the opponent's better offensive players. Kozek (for example) has spent much of his time on the "fourth" line, and they are often playing against the opponent's fourth line. That's not the whole story, obviously, but you can't really determine a player's value/performance just by looking at +/-.

I think the Sioux did have the inside track, but Motzko took it away when the Sioux decided to wait before making an offer. I like Jordy very much as a player and I believe he has progressed greatly as a player over the past year and he is still a little guy who has not proven himself against elite competition (USHL, international, etc.), I don't think that Hakstol made a mistake by choosing to wait when he has only a few openings, there are other fine players on the board.

Motzko has a track record as an outstanding recruiter. His players have always spoken very highly of him. Furthermore, everyone wants to be wanted. I don't know why Jordy Christian decided to make a commitment to St. Cloud this early--but I bet no one would be questioning it if he had committed to the Sioux! Yet, we fans don't know if he ever would have received a concrete offer from UND. Why should we be critical of a young man who has just accepted a scholarship offer to play hockey in the best D-I conference in the country! Bottom line is congratulations to Jordy Christian and the Huskies. The Sioux will find some players and we'll be just fine.