Kermit

Here's a link if anyone wants to look.. http://www.hfboards.com/showpost.php?p=3791495&postcount=34 PCM is providing us a wonderful service. His request is reasonable. Thanks, PCM!

Excellent points. I'm a huge fan of Hennessy's work on Sioux hockey (I don't mind that he's a blatant homer ), but I've long felt that he repeatedly puts the coaches in tight corners on the Coaches' Show. For years, he not only allowed questions about recruiting; he sometimes asked the questions himself. Frankly, Tim and Swyg sometimes come off as being not very smart. Again, I love TH's work overall. I just think that the Coaches' Show needs someone to function as a moderator.

Please see my post above re Leinweber. Utah is in the ECHL, not the AHL.

Dave Christian and Doug Smail for me.

I certainly agree. Leinweber was very young when he came to UND (17 until November of his freshman year). He may be a "late bloomer" and it often takes defensemen longer to develop their game. Still..very surprising. Wait..the Utah Grizzlies are actually in the ECHL, not the AHL.

That is largely true, but some people consider +/- to be a very over-rated stat. It still reflects team play, not strictly individual contributions. A players +/- will be influenced by the quality of your linemates, the situations you play in (if you are asked to play against the other team's top scoring line consistently, you'll probably be a minus player), and sometimes dumb luck.

Thanks for your thoughtful post. I agree that much of the discussion here has been over the top, but emotions are obviously still very high. College hockey is a great sport and it is better because of fans like you. Hmm..honestly, I don't think plays like the Paukovich hit on Bina happen 20-30 times per year. I do see very dangerous hits from behind on a regular basis--but not well after a whistle. Many of us truly believe that there was a deliberate attempt to injure. If the situation was reversed, I think things would have been different in at least one respect. I could be wrong, but I think that Matt Greene would have stood up like a man and publicly assumed accountability for his actions and expressed remorse. I think this on the basis of what we saw when Greene was arrested for DUI. I understand the argument about our litigious society, but I don't buy it. My own profession involves potential legal risks. In our interactions with the public, lawyers sometimes advise us about what they think is "safe", but we have to interact with the public based on our own principles and integrity. Agreed. The kid hasn't done much to help himself here as he definitely needs some PR advice. Anyway, I don't believe in vengeance--I think it does nothing but stain ourselves in the end. Agreed. Not that I was impressed by the behavior. Frankly, I was embarrassed by the way the some of the Sioux lost control at the end of the Saturday game. I think it simply shows a lack of discipline. Show the Sioux pride by doing what you need to do to win the d**n game. Well said and thanks. Good luck to you as well. We'll be looking forward to the rematch. And by the way, best wishes and a speedy recovery to Brock Trotter.

I couldn't agree more. As much as I hate to say it (because I do think it gives the Gophers some competitive advantage), this is absolutely the best thing for the league.

I agree. Kaip does well on the PK unit and he plays with an edge--occasionally too much so. He's terrible on faceoffs. He's produced nothing on offense. I recall a play in the second period of Saturday's Denver game when Prpich broke loose at the Denver blue line. Kaip had the puck at his own blue line and he did nothing. He didn't seem to see Prpich at all. Mike gave him a look at the end of the shift like "didn't you see me?"

I don't think it's that simple. There are other possible reasons why Oshie/Toews/Porter have been more productive than the Zajac line so far. Zajac and Stafford have spent a lot of time killing penalties. Zajac and Stafford often face the opposition's top D-pairing and checking line. Zajac has been snake-bitten and at times is looking to pass when he should shoot. I don't think it is valid to question the effor that Zajac and Stafford have put forth or the way they've been able to cycle and control the puck. I have a pet idea that Zajac and Stafford might thrive with a physical winger who could create some space for them--relieve them of some of the cycling, boards responsibility and free them up to find a shooting lane. I'd like to see how they would look with someone like Prpich. I think Prpich has the ability to do what Jim Archibald did--go from being primarily an agitator and defensive forward to being a big part of the offense as a senior. Both have been superb. I think they are complementary players. One thing to realize about a player like Lee is that sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Every time he makes one of those silky smooth pivots to escape a forecheck or one of his patented short outlet passes to get the puck out of the zone is one time when the opposition isn't pressuring the Sioux goal. His calmness is one of his best attributes, but I must admit that sometimes I wish he'd play with a little more jam..

I don't have anyone in particular in mind and I certainly don't have any information. I'm not even saying that it is likely or that it is a good idea, only that it is possible. Wisconsin and Michigan State have each had a forward leave in the past couple of weeks because of playing time issues. It doesn't have to be someone who is often scratched from the lineup. Sometimes it may be a kid on the fourth line who thinks he should be on the first line and all of the special teams. It's hard to know what goes on in a kid's mind. My whole point is that I don't know for sure who will or won't be back next year.

I didn't see the TV thing, but I saw Oshie put on an exhibition like this first-hand last year in Moorhead. It was shortly after the team got off the bus before a game with the Spuds. He was by himself and just playing. Amazing to watch. Oshie has been awesome. In my opinion, he's been one of the top three Sioux forwards overall. I didn't expect to see this level of play before his second year.

Here's my own wild speculation: the Sioux will lose Prpich, Marvin, and probably Smaby, Stafford, and Zajac. I think we'll need 5 players next year. Other early defections are possible to the pros (Toews, Lee, Oshie, Finley, etc.), but I think all of those guys are at least one year away from being ready. It's also possible someone could leave because of dissatisfaction over playing time or other reasons. VandeVelde will be in the lineup next year. I'm still worried about his inconsistency. He started out blazing for a mediocre at best Lincoln team, but he's done nothing the last six games or so. I wonder if Marto may be a potential candidate for a second year in the USHL? Remember that both Andy Schneider and Nick Fuher played two years at Lincoln post-high school. Forney is a maybe for next year. I think he'll be at UND, but he's a kid who could potentially defer for a year. In the end, it would be very surpising to see a kid go the USHL after being drafted in the first-round (by no means a sure thing). I'd guess that Eric Gryba is the #1 target on D (after Tyson Dowzak went to the WHL). I think Darcy Zajac would be a good fit at forward. The Sioux brought in a lot of smaller, skilled forwards this year and I'm sure are looking to add some size and grit for next year. VandeVelde and Forney have size and skill, but from what I've heard, Zajac may be grittier. Goaltender Marc Cheverie has already been in on a visit. He may be targetted for '07 to replace Parise, but he is getting a lot of interest from other top schools. Could the Sioux find space for him next year? I'm not sold on Chay Genoway based on my limited viewings when he was at Shattuck. He's fairly skilled, but small. He can play forward or D and that's a big plus. I doubt that he'd get a big scholarship (but what do I know?).

Here's a few quotes from McKeen's Hockey Prospects after this summer's World U18 tournament: McKeen's currently has Forney ranked in the mid first-round for the 2006 NHL draft. Forney is a great all-around athlete who hasn't completely focused on hockey. He may or may not need a year in the USHL, but if/when the Sioux lose Stafford and/or Zajac to the pros, he would look awfully good.

Looks like College Hockey News has added Virg Foss as a staff writer. Denver and North Dakota Renew Acquaintances

From today's USHR.com

Fredheim plays for Notre Dame in the SJHL. I don't know if the Sioux recruited him, but UND was not one of the schools on his short list. http://hockeyrecruits.blogspot.com/2005/10...aying-west.html

For Waterloo, he was 21-10-2, 2.55 GAA, 0.915 save pct. I'd say that's pretty good! http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdispla...pid%5B%5D=67597

I was thinking the same thing. OTOH, we saw Miller against Northeastern and he may not be physically ready to contribute. He really needs to get stronger. Perhaps by playing Foyt, Hakstol gave us an indication of the importance he attached to these early-season non-conference games. They might be very important in the PWR later and the Sioux definitely want to be in the Ralph for the regional. According to Hennessy, Kaip was -8 on faceoffs Friday while the rest of the team was even. I'm not sure about Saturday. I like Kaip's overall play, but if that trend continues, he might be better off on a wing while someone else plays center.

Traditions vary. Last week, some Maine fans were upset because the Denver team didn't shake hands after the first game of a two game series (Maine swept). Denver fans explained that it is the WCHA tradition for teams to shake hands only after the completion of a series.

Michael Forney apparently played 2 games with the Des Moines Bucs in the USHL this weekend. No points, no shots, no PIM, but a +3. http://www.pointstreak.com/framed/prostats...60&seasonid=883

I agree--but I really like Oshie and Toews together and that gives the Sioux a second legitimate scoring line. When Spirko comes back they might even have 3. The Prpich/Kaip/Fabian line is an ideal grind line. I hope Martens gets a shot tomorrow.

Oshie found a loose puck in heavy traffic at the corner of the net and tapped it in. The Toews goal was set up by a great play by Lee. Toews showed his major league hands (I bet the scouts noticed). The game winner was 4 on 4 with four freshmen skating for the Sioux. Oshie, Toews, Lee, and Chorney were each +2 for the game.