jk

With two good teams that will both want badly to win, these games could come down to bounces. All the team can do is play as hard and smart as they can and hope they get a fair share of the breaks. With evenly matched teams, home ice may be enough to swing a series, and of course this edge would go to CC. Another swing factor could be coaching, and this edge arguably would go to UND. I guess the real winners are college hockey fans. I haven't heard if Fylling is back on the Parise line, but I have a few thoughts about it. First, I love it when he's up there for what it does for the other lines. It allows Notermann to move down (over?) to the Lundbohm Massen line, which allows Spiewak to move down (over?) to the McMahon Hale line. It makes those other two lines that much stronger and gives the Sioux three very good lines. My concern about moving Fylling up there is that was the configuration that got smoked by SCSU's senior line earlier this year. I'm not suggesting that it was Fylling's fault, but a line of two sophomores and a freshman is at risk of being used by an experienced top line (like Senja/Clarke). Having Notermann up there adds an element of stability and defensive responsibility that is otherwise lacking. I guess that's Blais's call, and even he is likely to change his mind during the game. Lastly, a line of Genoway/Connelly/Prpich (if that's what the fourth line is this weekend) may not seem too imposing now, but I have a feeling that in a few years we will look back in amazement that this team was so deep that it had players that good on the fourth line. (Might be wearing green-tinted glasses, there, too; I guess we'll see.)

Lamoreaux beat Sedevie 5-2 last night. Although Porter was pointless, he's done well since he turned it around in December. Lincoln's Division 1 forward recruits have the following numbers for the ten games played to date in 2003: Irmen 7-5-12 Porter 4-6-10 Potulny 3-6-9 Backes 5-3-8

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/hockey/colu...-woodlief_x.htm Red Line's latest mentions a few names we know.

There are several stories at the Anchorage (don't spell that wrong) Daily News, but this one from last Sunday tells a lot about the state of the Seawolves. On the positive side for the Wolves, their attitude seems to be good; with the announcement and commencement of the suspensions, and the dismissal of Chytka, I think the program has seem the bottom. It will all be better from here, although the losses may continue to mount. On the negative side for the Wolves, and positive for the Sioux, UAA is down to four (4!) defensemen for the series, including one sophomore and three freshmen. Not that the Sioux shouldn't take care of business anyway, but given the state of UAA's defense, UND needs to take advantage of this opportunity to add four points in the standings. You can bet all the other contenders will. UND needs to play that high energy attacking game, rolling four lines and three defensive pairs, and absolutely wear them out. No matter that UND is on the road, or UAA may get great goaltending, or UND may get questionable goaltending, the Sioux should win, and not by just a little. I have been worried about a letdown, with this series between the MN and CC series, but hopefully the team will show up and take care of business. http://www.adn.com/sports/story/2451724p-2499242c.html

You're right, I didn't see that. With 4 GA on 35+ shots, he must have played well overall.

I listened to the Gopher broadcast of the end of the second period and start of the third, then I watched the last 8 minutes. Going into it I was hoping for a split and hoping they played well. Of course this afternoon I was hoping for more than a split, but I'm happy enough taking two points out of there and going home. I was fearful the Sioux would go up to UAA and get beat if they had swept MN; in fact, I'm still worried about it. No matter how much better a team is, you can't account for emotion and human nature. You know the Sioux were pumped for the MN series, and it will be hard to be that intense next weekend. Anyway, I chose the right night to attend, as I was able to view firsthand the Sioux's excellent adventure on Friday. Tonight I had a family commitment at, of all places, the U of M Natatorium (sp?), which is a block away from Mariucci. Some good North Dakota boys (including my nephew) from Minot were in town for a swim meet. I wasn't able to hear the postgame. What were Blais's comments? Also, was there any word on Canady? That place is a house of horrors for him, as that's where he hurt his knee last year. I hope it's not serious. I caught Zach's goal on the TV news. Nice. They also showed the Koalska to Vanek to Riddle goal, on which Brandt had no chance. Also nice, in a sick way. Then I saw Fleming's SHG to start the third. I know breakaway goals aren't just the goalie's fault, but I've seen this before and have to comment on it. Waibel passed to Fleming pretty early, and Waibel then wasn't a threat to receive a return pass - it was Fleming against Brandt, period. So why, on Fleming's move, was Brandt on his tummy? I have an idea - stand up and stay with the shooter until he runs out of space. He did the same thing against Malone when he had a breakaway. At least make it close. My model for staying with the shooter on the breakaway, believe it or not, is the Josh Siembida that arrived about 54 weeks ago. He was so confident then. I'm not lobbying for Josh to get more playing time, as he doesn't seem to be the same player now. Solid weekend for the Sioux. Get four really important points next week.

http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/section.../scout_0114.htm A nice write-up from an NHL scout on the US team.

This is copied from a post on POI last fall when his name came up: "As shooter said, big D from WBL, 6'4", a bit skinny, I don't think he ever played on an 'A' team at WBL. Played in the HS Elite League this fall. The first 2-3 weeks looked out of place, a little too gangly and slow. Really picked it up the 2nd half. Many people thought he passed up WBL teammate & St. Cloud St. signee Chris Anderson. The pro scouts love his size and toughness. Hartzell really started to push him on the scouts. I was really surprised when he left for the USHL. Personally, I think some pro scouts got to him and convinced him to leave so they can see him fight. very nice kid."

http://www.gamblershockey.com/pdfs/beaverson_to_nd.pdf Luke Beaverson 6-4, 205. Credit Eric the Badger for posting this on USCHO.

Take Hale, Hale, Spiewak, McMahon and Fuher off your list to start. They've each already served a suspension, so the next would be for two games. That leaves only Schneider, Greene, Prpich and Canady in my book. DeMarchi has been bad in the past, to be sure, but it's a little closed-minded to think he's that much worse than any other team's enforcers. We celebrate Archie, Commie and Greene, and while I know there's a big difference between physical play and cross-checks in the back, most neutral observers would have a tough time distinguishing one team's crusher from another's.

It looks like the US just lost the bronze medal game to the Finns, 3-2. They tried to pull an REA comeback but fell just shy. Down 3-0 in the last five minutes, Ryan Suter scored, then Brown scored from Parise and Shannon with 2 minutes left. With the goalie pulled, apparently the US was all over the Finns but couldn't put it in. It had to be tough to be completely up emotionally after the electric Canada game. From everything I've read, Parise impressed most everyone who watched him there, and he will probably move up the draft rankings, perhaps into the top 10. Apparently the Canadian broadcasters had nice things to say about Greene, calling him the US's best PK defender. Considering he wasn't even invited to the summer evaluation camp (at least as far as I know), making this team and playing so well is a great achievement for him. Matt Jones was apparently nothing but solid, which comes as no surprise to us. I don't mean for this to take anything away from the players, who obviously are most responsible for their growth, but it sure says nice things about the Sioux program that the guys played so well there. Greene's improvement from the USHL to being one of the best 19-year old US defensemen was a big leap. Parise played with a lot of these guys in the under-18 tourney in the Spring. At that time, he was outscored by (I think, just my recollection) O'Sullivan, Eaves and Sterling. Eaves was hurt and didn't play here, but O'Sullivan and Sterling were nonfactors, at least on the scoresheet. If the players read this board, congratulations on a great tournament and thanks for representing the US so well.

Nearing the end of the Michigan game in October, with the Sioux down two and scoring chances getting rarer by the minute, I thought, well, it looks like they're going to lose this one. Then it's Bochenski to Parise and Parise to Bochenski and it's all tied up. I had the same feeling last night as time wound down, and I remembered the Michigan game. This time, I thought, too bad Zach's not around to provide the spark, or maybe we could come back with a couple of late goals like the Michigan game. This team just hates to lose. I said that quite a few times during the 2000-01 season when the team had so many ties. They just never quit. This team is not dominant, but they're mentally tough and they don't quit.

In Connelly's defense, I thought the Connelly/Fylling/Massen line had the most consistent forechecking pressure of any Sioux line. They cycled like mad down there; the Canady/Genoway/Prpich line also had some nice third-period shifts. The Sioux did not pull into a shell, IMO. For most of the three minutes between Notes' goal and Cullen's goal, the Sioux were in the CC end. In fact, I think it may have been a couple guys getting caught deep (maybe the Connelly/Fylling/Massen line) forechecking that led to the rush resulting in CC's fourth goal. So while it may not have been the smartest play, it at least wasn't pulling into a shell. I jinxed it by remarking (to myself) "way to keep up the pressure" just before CC scored. I'm not sure, but it may have been Fylling who was closest to Cullen when he knocked in the rebound. Whether Cullen was his responsibility I don't know. I liked the third and fourth lines so much that I don't know who you pull out to put Parise back in. Maybe Zach sits... (That doesn't even deserve a smiley.) As for Zach, I have been in the "two definitely, maybe three" camp. After he shone so brightly at the WJC, I'm now "very probably two, three would be a surprise."

45?! There was, let me see, if I include the bar and all the surrounding tables, about ... 1 person watching in Roseville. I guess next time I'll make the trek to the south end.

This is no help now, but I was able to watch at Sensers in Roseville, so the feed must have been at least partially working.

I understand the Friday UND/CC game will be on one of the TVs at Sensers in Roseville, if anyone has interest. I may stop out and watch.

No. All four of the semifinalists play games on Sunday. The semifinal losers play for the bronze, and the winners play for the gold.

A few things: The medal-round set-up is brutal for the 3-6 teams. Play a tough quarterfinal and then move on the next day to play a rested top seed, Canada in this case. The boys could get pounded tomorrow, but with continued strong goaltending perhaps they can keep it close. I hope Blais takes the three Sioux players' skates away until Friday. Seven games is a lot, including four in the last six days. They are going to be gassed.

I was able to attend my third game of the year Saturday. Even though UND just squeaked by UAA in the first two games I saw, they could hardly have dominated them any more than they did. Completely suffocating defense. The Sioux were just a little puck-luck away from blowing UAA out that weekend. The BSU game was a different story, sadly. The Sioux played well enough to win, but they didn't dominate. I think the defenders were missed badly, as everyone has said. Also, with Ryan Hale moving to defense, the WJC have effectively cost the team two defensemen and two forwards. A few things I noticed: Ryan Hale was a riot as a defenseman. At least twice he led the rush into the offensive zone with such zeal and disregard for defense that I wondered if he forgot. Also, at least twice BSU had clean 2-on-1's, with Hale as the absent defenseman. BSU didn't convert either chance. If the Sioux are relying on him for anything significant on defense against CC, the Sioux are in big trouble. For me, this raises the question of how thin the Sioux are on defense this year, numbers-wise. If they run into any significant injury problems, things could get tight back there quickly. Fuher got completely out-muscled once racing for a puck in the defensive zone. I was surprised. I guess he's just a sophomore but he still needs to get sttronger. I think between Notermann and Bochenski, they have a regular amount of puck-luck. Bochenski's using it all up, and there's none left for Notes. I really like Notermann on the wing with Parise and Bochenski, and I hope Blais leaves him there. He adds toughness and defensive responsibility to the line; I don't see them getting abused by an experienced top line like they did against SCSU in the first game. Also, I still think his luck will turn this year, and he will score some big second-half goals. He and Spiewak both just have the look of the senior who is stepping up. When he hit the pipe in the waning seconds of the first, after a great shift by that line, my Dad suggested that they paint the twine red and the pipes white. Massen had one flash but seemed to not have much of an impact otherwise. Hopefully he's just saving it up for the league games, because I think he has the potential to be one of the best players in the league. I don't think Prpich has the skill or experience yet to be on the top line, or the top PP unit, which he was for at least a time in this game. I like him, and think he has been a pleasant surprise, but he looks a bit out of place up there, to me anyway. The guy who I was really impressed with, who I still think could be an important player, is Ryan Connelly. I can't believe he hasn't scored yet this year, as he must be second only to Spiewak for speed. I thought he hustled all game long, carried the puck well at speed, and forechecked tenaciously. Canady seems tentative right now, which takes away from his game. At least once, though, it was the right thing to do. He had a BSU player lined up behind the net and could have just splattered him, but he pulled up at the last instant, sparing the Beaver. Considering the angle of impact, which was not from behind but not exactly from the side either, I think he would have drawn a boarding or checking from behind penalty had he nailed the guy. Since this is a family board, can I write Canady's penalty, "two minutes for nailing the Beaver from behind?" Palmiscno was cruising into the offensive zone at one point and had his head down again, for too long, IMO. I thought he was lucky that no one lined him up. He really needs to watch that. It will have been almost a month since the Sioux played a good team when they take on CC. I could see a first-period Friday deficit of 2-0 before the team adjusts to the talent and speed on the ice.

This link has some nice WJC photos. There is a wonderful photo about 20th from the bottom of our pal Matt Greene leveling a Swiss boy. http://www.sportsline.com/photos/gallery/HOCKEY/OTHER

I believe Schutte scored and gave the "shhh".

I think UND has little input into the WCHA schedule, but they largely determine their own non-conference schedule.

Sounds a little personal for a message board, dagies. As for the recaps, you two (and kr?) are the absolute best. Thanks so much.

Since they've had the best recruiting class in the country for many years, I'm not worried about their depth. They'll probably have to face BC without those guys, but BC will be missing two players as well. Then they have SCSU, which doesn't have anyone on the US team. That will be a tough one for MN.

The roster at USA Today shows that Matt Greene did indeed make the team, in addition to MJ and ZP. Congrats to him and the Sioux. Now about playing an up-tempo CC squad with just four of your regular defensemen, and five total... UND is the only school to place three players on the team. http://usatoday.com/sports/hockey/juniors/...nior-team_x.htm