jk

They have video clips of goals on the Salmon Arm site, in the "Clips of the Week" section. You can see a few of Murray's goals there, which is fun, but it's very interesting to watch his linemates' goals. I don't think I saw one where #24 (Murray) didn't touch the puck just before someone put it in. It made me think of Blais's comment on Parise's linemates getting rich. Murray's linemates are currently getting rich. I also got the impression during goal celebrations that Murray is bigger than Nikiforuk, which may explain why he isn't committed to a college yet.

Murray's Salmon Arm team continues to cruise, with a 9-game winning streak and a 10-1 record. His linemate Nikiforuk is the BCHL's leading scorer with 12-12-24, Murray is third in the league with 7-14-21, and the other linemate Viedeman (Denver) is 10-7-17. In his last five games, Murray is 3-12-15. Three points per game in a good league. This is obviously THE line in the BCHL this year. I wonder how BCHLers compare it to last year's line at Chilliwak, where Tambellini (Michigan, 117 points in 54 games), Vandergulik (BU, 100 in 56) and Gauthier (Denver, 99 in 50) lit it up.

I agree about Spiewak - Notermann - Lundbohm from two years ago. They were very potent in the drive to the frozen four, generating many chances. I remember thinking at the time that if Lundbohm was a little better finisher they could have scored even more, as he seemed to miss a few golden opportunities. I couldn't understand why they weren't together again last year, but I guess Blais was looking for a top line, and rotated many people through there. This doesn't seem like a "Line of Fire" situation to me. No disrespect to the rest of the team, but the Panzer line was really at the top of their game, and quite a bit more dangerous than anyone else on the team. I think this year will see very balanced scoring. I also don't see this year's top line being dominant. Exciting at times, but we're still talking about a frosh and two sophs in an upperclassmen's league.

To your last point, I am one of the grateful readers from afar, but I think it would be fair for the person summarizing the conversation to use some discretion on the Sioux board. It's a fact of life that college hockey fans visit here (why wouldn't they, as they try to get a little of that winning tradition to rub off (added for our friends in the TC)), so things are sure to be spread about. So part of me thinks discretion would be good. The other part of me that really enjoys reading the updates recommends that such discretion be used sparingly.

With the season just days away, I want to wish the team all the best. By all accounts the players have worked hard to bring the program back to the top, where it belongs. The season will be sure to have its ups and downs, but if the team can play Sioux hockey the way we know it, physical and responsible on defense, the quickest transitions around, and attack-attack-attack on offense, the results will follow. Let's go Sioux. Time for a little payback.

Fournier has, in fact, been spotted on one of the lines in the UAA practices, according to a USCHO poster. I wanted to add that he's been spotted in line at McDonalds also, but we're probably beyond that now.

I don't know if it's been posted anywhere, but Sofie won the Ironman again this year, according to the Herald.

I believe he's a frosh at little n.d. this year, Notre Dame. Played for the USNDT last year, and he's another Anchorage native who got away.

The anticipation for the season is just that much stronger when you fellows are excited for it. It's finally close enough now that it'll be here before we know it. Two work weeks and one weekend in-between and it's here, the team's first trip to Buffalo this season. Non-hockey break: I ran the Twin Cities Marathon today, in about 3:53. There are things I'm happy about and others I'm disappointed in. 2,088th place overall, out of 8,500 registrants. Not exactly up to Sioux standards, but I mostly did the best I could.

Brady Murray's Salmon Arm team has started fast, with a 6-1 record. In last night's win, Murray was 2-2-4, bringing his season totals to 6-4-10. He's playing on SA's top line with Viedeman, who just committed to Denver, and Nikiforuk, another small skill guy. Murray has points on three empty-netters this year, which you might view as diluting his stats a bit. Or you could view it as him being on the ice at the end of the game, which speaks to his important role on the team. Plus, empty-netters can be important. Just ask Lee Goren (and Mike Motteau). And I'm sure Maine wouldn't have minded one about six months ago. Anyway, good job, Brady.

Nice doctor-patient confidentiality. As to the program's durability, the examples used so far were Gino's Sioux days and the Gophers' recent slide. You could add Sauer's Badger teams to that list. In all three cases, the slide was marked by a long-time coach who wasn't getting the job done any longer. The Gophers and Badgers stopped getting some recruits they typically would have gotten, but I wasn't really following the recruiting angle ten years ago (no internet) so I can't speak to whether the same was true for Gino near the end. So in asking whether this is a little slump brought on by a confluence of negative factors (unexpected goaltending problems, big freshmen class, unfamiliar new arena) or the beginning of a cyclical downturn, a la Gino, Woog and Sauer, you need to ask whether the game is starting to pass by Blais the way it did the others. I think that he is not yet entering that uncomfortable twilight, and I look to recruiting as the clearest evidence. Not only is Blais not starting to miss key guys, he's getting guys he didn't when he started. The biggest names around were mentioned for Bochenski and Massen, Jones was apparently ticketed for Madison, and the Shattuck boys had many, many options. But they're coming to Grand Forks. The only key misses lately seem to have been Ballard and Guyer, but anytime you're going up against Minnesota for a Minnesota boy, you are the underdog. I think those results say more about Lucia's arrival than Blais slipping. Arguments for Blais slipping would be last year's results and the fact that he's now been here a while (I think only Dahl has more tenure). Even long-tenured coaches don't necessarily have to slip, though, as Berenson and Mason continued to compete nationally many, many years into their careers. To conclude, I don't think it's simply arrogant to think that last year was just a hiccup. If anything, it's just plain reasonable to expect the team to do well, based on the recent success of the program. The proof will be in this year's play, but I don't think the program is starting to slide.

Not to be usurping someone else's authority here, but so far for UND it's 4,3,4,2,6,3,3,4,5. I think it's safe to say there aren't a lot of homer fans on this board (just Sprig). I hope the boys prove the doubters wrong by having a very good year. I haven't posted my list yet, because I'm still trying to reconcile my heart with my head. For all the line combos we've drawn up (hey, at least we only use guys on the roster), everything's up in the air until a goalie steps up. If I recall correctly, the Sioux had some pretty good talent in the late 80s and early 90s that was undone by inadequate goaltending. If someone steps up, though, it can really change not just the results but the way the team plays - with less fear and a more freewheeling attack. We will have to just wait and see. Edit to note this to Sprig: I'm just having fun, but I hate to use those darn smilies, so I don't.

kr, Thanks for taking the time to pass along that info. It's nice to hear something other than the idle speculation that I and others throw out here in the offseason.

I have a first-grader, and I was thinking the same thing. 25 second-graders... now we know where Brian gets his toughness. Thanks for the note, Sockeye; no worries at all. Practice has started, let's look for a great season.

Sockeye Sioux, I meant it to be taken with a laugh, and I apologize if it came off as disrespectful. Heck, if anything I meant it to be complimentary. I fully recognize that teams need players to do the tough work in front of the net, and I also know that many goals are "ugly," and they count just as much as the pretty ones on the scoreboard. p.s. I know he scored five goals in a playoff game with Waterloo so I know he can score goals.

BTW, I also would have included a fourth player, Fournier, on this list, as he seemed to have quite a lot of untapped potential. His absence means the margin for error is even slimmer.

I think there are a few key players who could have a big impact on how the Sioux do this year, based on their potential and past inconsistency. I look at it this way: I know what players like Spiewak and Notermann bring to the team, and I fully expect to receive it. Ryan Hale really seemed to be on the edge of being an impact player in the second half last year, and I expect him to have his best year. I saw enough of Bochenski and McMahon to expect very solid play from them this year. I know what we'll get from Canady (a few goals bouncing in off his butt and shinpads) and Connelly. I have decent expectations for Fylling and am excited to see Parise. But, for the forwards, the key players (not the "best" or most important, but the ones who could show up and make a big difference) are Lundbohm, Massen and Genoway. Lundbohm has shown hints of being one of the top forwards in the league, and can really handle the puck in tight places. But, at times, he seemed to disappear. Only some of those times were injury-related (as far as I knew). Massen had some highlights - first collegiate goal against some stiff named Miller, beautiful breakaway goal in Mariucci, lighting up MTU - but seemed to be not strong enough on his skates at times and just plain uninvolved at others. If he could consistently use his size to get into position to use his above-average hands, he could be a force in the league. He reminded me last year of Grant Paranica, another big, plus-hands player who seemed to get knocked around a bit. Of course, he was only a freshman, so improvement wouldn't be a shock. Genoway is an enigma to me because his resume and Blais's willingness to bring him in and let him sit through the eligibility clock suggest that he may eventually have an impact. But since I haven't seen him, I don't know whether to expect a fourth-liner or someone who works his way onto the special teams. I do know that having bookend impact (by late in the year) freshmen forwards would be a big boost to the team. So that's my opinion: Lundbohm, Massen and Genoway need to assert themselves for the team to do well this year.

I forgot Palmiscno again. Twelve it is. With Genoway and Canady back, there are going to be some tough decisions on who sits in the stands. At least I hope the players make the decisions tough for the coaches.

Thanks for the info again. Too bad about Brian. I hope he's able to keep his legs in hockey shape while he recovers. With Brian out at the start, and Genoway not yet eligible, the Sioux will actually be short a forward for the first weekend. Perhaps that's where a walk-on will see some ice. As for the walk-on candidates, I guess it's just the pursuit of a dream. Better to try now than to wonder later.

Nice article. That Karl continues to prosper is no surprise to those of us on this board. All he does is stop the puck.

Since the Sioux season is still four weeks away, I though I would look in on the progress of some future Sioux players. Of course, their seasons are just starting as well, so there's not too much going on yet. Feel free to post updates throughout the year, especially if someone happens to actually *see* someone play. Thanks. Brady Murray's Salmon Arm team is 1-1, playing only two games in the first 14 days of BCHL play. They follow that by playing six games in nine days. Murray had one goal (an e.n.g.) in SA's win, and I haven't seen stats on its loss. Topeka played in the preseason Buc Bowl, where Erik Fabian (has he ever been confirmed as a recruit?) put two assists up in one game. Layne Sedevie also won his only outing there, stopping 25 of 26 shots in a 2-1 win. I know that Shattuck has played Bozeman in the AWHL, but I'm not sure of results or stats. Even so, I would think that it won't be much of a year for stat-watching for Matt Smaby, as his strengths lie elsewhere.

But has he been working on making that glove hand quicker, when he's tending the goal? Seriously, I hope he turns out to be a great player, but he's just a freshman (and small and young) and I think I'll keep my expectations in that neighborhood and hope for an upside surprise. If he's that good, then it should be an historic year for newcomers into the WCHA, as Brett Sterling outscored Parise in the World U-18 tourney, and Guyer, Vanek, Gauthier and Skinner all have outstanding resumes as well. OK, so my expectations are a little higher than for a small, young freshman, but you get the general impression.

Thanks, Sockeye. Just looking for little tidbits since the opener is still a month away. Sicatoka, so it's eighth on this board and sixth at USCHO?

The thoughts of both Blais and Berenson in deciding to compete in the season-opening tournament, I'm sure. Anyone have any insight from watching captain's practices? Or from talking to their children, who may be watching (or otherwise involved in) those practices? Doc Nodak, are you still around?

HKNTSMN, If by your post you mean it's time to move on, past Chris Fournier, and think about the players who are here and their upcoming season, I agree. As unlikely as it may seem throughout the league, let's see if the boys can earn some hardware this year. The Sioux have an abundance of good, quick forwards anyway, so let's get 'em the puck and turn 'em loose.