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Heisenberg's site lists a new commitment: Siembida (Quinnipiac/Wichita Falls-NAHL) Good luck to Josh at Quinnipiac and in the future.

Just a little rambling to do. Most of it's negative, but whaddaya expect tonight. First, I almost ended up in GF today for something else, and I would have attended the game if I had. Glad that didn't happen. For a while it has looked like there were six teams capable of winning the national title. Based on recent play, it seems like that group has been split in two. BC, UMD and Michigan seem to have played their way ahead of everyone else, while UND, MN and Maine have played their way back to the trailing pack. I didn't see this weekend, but it sounded like the Sioux played "well," but ended up on the short side of a 4-1 score. They must not have played that well for the score to be that lopsided. What disappoints me most about a game like tonight is the failure to mount any kind of a threatening comeback. To fade away down the stretch of a lopsided loss on the road is one thing, but to go quietly in the third at home is very disappointing. On the radio it sounded like the Money Line had a boatload of chances in the game but couldn't convert. I hardly heard any other forward names - was the Money Line playing every other shift? I heard Blais on the radio say that this was not going to be the same as last year, that they will not swoon, and while it was comforting, it also sounded a little like he was trying to convince himself that it was true. MN took four points from MSU, and UMD took three there. A split there would be very disappointing. Considering UND's history with Mankato, though, it's hard to be extremely optimistic about getting four points there. There have been a lot of tests lately - Saturday against Denver (follow-up a big win with another win), Saturday against Wisconsin (bounce back from a tough loss), Saturday against CC (see Denver) - and we haven't seen much for results: a tie, 2-4 loss, 1-4 loss. I am among the most optimistic of fans; I thought they were going to turn it around last year until the horn sounded to end the Ferris State game. I am starting to worry, though. Regardless of officiating, rink size, opposing and own goaltending, puck possession and shots on goal, there is no denying that the team is 2-4-1 since beating MN on Friday night. The crowd sounded just plain bad on the radio, so I understand the comments on the game thread. Bigger picture, if there is to be a change in fan behavior, as determined by higher powers (the NCAA, etc.), the process is not going to be quick or pretty. Part of that ugliness was seen with the dead crowd tonight, and it's going to take some time to get the atmosphere back. The one thing that is guaranteed to generate real enthusiasm, real passion, is an extended down time for a program. That keen lust for success that can only come from sucess's absence is what is making the DECC a madhouse this year, what make the Kohl center full and crazy last weekend, and what made the old REA so much fun in Blais' early years. We have gotten fat and lazy as fans (not "we" on this board, but more generally), and it has moved the atmosphere over from raucus to corporate (a la Mariucci). Smaller picture on the crowd tonight, we may eventually find out how costly a weak crowd can be. UND absolutely still has all the ingredients to play into April this year. But they need to come together a lot better than they have so far, and it's mid-February. On that note, special recognition has to go out to Sandy and the Bulldogs. They look a lot like UND in the mid-90's. Better every year, quick, scrappy, and built with mostly second-tier recruits (not a slam, just the truth). UND's recipe for success now is to get four points next weekend and have some confidence heading into Duluth. Split there. Get four more points the next weekend, and head into the playoffs having won five of six. That's enough to lock up a top seed in NCAA's and a top-two spot in the WCHA (maybe not the McNaughton). They have to go do it, though. Get outshot, I don't care. Get outplayed, I don't care. Just outscore them. No more lamentations about referees and headstanding goalies, and no more moral victories. Sorry for the rant. Go Sioux. And go crowd, next time you have a chance.

Just getting here now. How did CC score?

I agree. The guys need to be fresh for the stretch run. UND should have the guys to roll four lines.

This will be an interesting challenge for the coaches. Lucia has been a motivational master after games like this in the last few years. Sandelin will need to get his guys ready to play a game with another team on the ice, because there didn't seem to be one there tonight. I'm sure I'll be hating them soon enough, but I am happy for the Dogs' success. If we don't get #8, they would be just about the next team I would like to see win it all.

Sounds like CC has been generating a few chances since TH said that. Sioux need to go play some offense to run this one out.

other lines: Stafford, Genoway, Porter McMahon, Lundbohm, Fylling

TH said the fourth line is Palmo between Canady and Marvin. Hale and Prpich (nursing injury) are out. Not sure what lines two and three will be. UMD looks very tough. Super quick and they tic-tac-toe the puck around that little rink in a very nifty fashion.

It's game day, so let's talk hockey. I like UND to have one solid win this weekend, by two or three goals. I think the other game will be very close, hopefully with the good guys on the winning end. The league is tough, and CC is desperate, so I don't think they will go quietly.

Is it Schmidt or Schmitt? I always get those guys mixed up.

One thing I have never thought about Hale is that he doesn't care when he's on the ice. I think he just seems unable to finish. He could have had 10 more goals last year, and a few this year, but for seem reason the puck always bounces over his stick.

I hold out hope for his turnaround. I may be too much of an optimist, but I'm hoping. The problem is that if he's not scoring, then his spot is better taken by a grittier player who may also be scoring-challenged. He's now gone about a full calendar year without scoring much, so I'm sure he's more frustrated than any of us. You are correct that Massen scoring would be huge for the team.

One last comment on UND's level of play Saturday, this time from the father of a Sioux player, from INCH. The father is of course biased, but he does know his hockey:

When you're facing a goalie who is stopping everything he can see, throw stuff at him that he can't see. Briggs was in the zone on Friday at Mariucci, and two screened shots later the Sioux had the lead. The Sioux have the ability to make the pretty play, but sometimes ugly is the only was to go.

I'm sorry if it violates a sportsmanship warning, but I believe a hockey crowd has a duty to be negative to the opposition. I know the opponents are just basically good kids who are pursuing their dreams at another institution, but let them consider it a life lesson in attempting to overcome adversity. Just keep the abuse witty and non-profane, and I consider it completely appropriate. In addition, as someone mentioned, they should turn off the music during warm-ups (at least some of them) and from time-to-time during the game to allow the taunting of the foes.

I am really impressed by the thoughtful nature of both RT's letter and the discussion of it on this forum. If RT wrote that himself, he is an awfully good writer for a person in his position. I think our (Sioux fans and advocates) goal should be to influence the outcome of the game by irritating and demoralizing opponents and by encouraging the home team. In addition to obviously winning more games, this would help recruiting (as who wouldn't want to play in front of such a crowd) and make the evening more enjoyable for fans. I don't think you can change the crowd's behavior just by telling them what to "not" do. Instead, perhaps they can be led away from the profanity by offering and promoting alternative cheers, as has been proposed by others here. It would be great if the accomplishment of RT's goal could also further "our" cause of making the Sioux crowd more of a factor in the contest. Perhaps we need a liaison in the Athletic Department and at the REA to help make some of these things happen. I extend my thanks to YaneA as well for her efforts this year. Maybe she could be retained by RT as the Assistant Athletic Director for Hockey Crowd Improvement.

sagard, great post. I say that because I have been meaning to list those six teams somewhere for the last few weeks. I could see a few of them being tripped up by someone else along the way, but like you I would be shocked to see any other team in the field go all the way. Maine may be the weakest of that group. MN and Michigan have proven in the recent past, with the same players, that they have what it takes to be there. BC may be the best team in the field (SOG 46-12 ?? or so against BU). UMD needs to prove in the next few weeks that they belong in that group, but I will not be surprised if they do. UND now needs to prove that this is a little slip in a long season and not the beginning of weaker play. It should be fantastic down the stretch. If UND can get the swagger back, I like their chances.

Ryan Duncan just hit the century mark for the year. In 52 games, he is 49-52-101. Congrats.

Dishman is a POI regular, not a Badger fan. His claim to fame is being the biggest UND hater.

If another of those players decided to come to UND, it would be great news. However, I think it's worth noting that even though message board participants (at POI, here and the HS board) may really like a certain player, it doesn't mean the coaches are necessarily as high on him. It should be fun to see it develop.

Scott, I know you are right, but di**man needs to be welcomed here. He is just about the worst at POI for spewing anti-Sioux nonsense, but it's not my place there to call him on it ... because I respect their website. Go away, di**man, unless you'd like to discuss hockey.

I tend to agree with the concept that this isn't necessarily the end of the world (season), but I have a few comments on the excerpts of your post. As for the fire being re-lit, it could be viewed as a little discouraging that the team played well and got beat 5-2. CC may be just coming out of their own swoon right now, so it could be that they are not struggling so badly. They are 4-1 in their last 5 (better than UND), they split with Wisconsin (better than UND) and they swept UAA (better than UND and most everyone else this year). "nor is it the start of a slide" -- I think it's not the start, but maybe the middle, and hopefully near the end. As for UND's youth, I was recently considering the same. There are a lot of experienced guys on the team, so it's tough to call the team "young." However, with three freshmen forwards on the top two lines, there is at least an argument.

With his 1-5-6 game last night, Zajac moved into the scoring lead in the BCHL. Congrats.

Agree with the general concept here. I'm not happy with the weekend either, but I think people have gone overboard a little. I'm keeping the faith. Without checking, I think most of UND's national title teams have had something like 8-10 losses on the year. This means those teams had their trying times as well. Struggling early in February does not preclude peaking in late March and April.

It's not gonna be that way this year. They probably needed this. This slump may not be over, but they'll come out of it this year. Also in 2000, they went to SCSU and scored their only goal after 119 minutes of hockey. One goal in two games. Two months later they beat SC 7-3 (I think) in the Final Five. I would love another shot at WI.