jk

Surprised Stecher isn't making more appearances. There are bigger guys, faster guys, older guys, but if we're choosing teams I know which defenseman I'm picking first. Size is a huge NHL issue, I understand, but he seems to have "it", the hockey sense that has him in the right place ahead of time.

Nice list. I might move Thompson up (still young and a great skater) and I think Ausmus is even higher than that (best NHL body on the team).

Any guesses on who the ten Sioux players on the list are, and in what order? I pretty sure Caggiula is there, at #10 on the UND list. Zane and the first rounders for sure.

I think there'll be less room this weekend than most, with goals more likely to result from point shots through traffic and rebounds.

Maybe the immediate post-mono Olsen is not the same as the one we grew accustomed to.

Phantom calls and missed slashes happen every game and are not really worth mentioning. #4, a replay review where the puck is without question well over the line and play has not been stopped ... well, that's as bad as I've seen. It is no sin they didn't see it live. The guy was in perfect position but his view was obscured. Video review gives them the chance to correct an honest error, and I can't see the point of even having a review if this is the outcome.

I can't pile on Zane so quickly. He also stopped a lot of shots (35?) during the game. I'm sure he wants that last one back, but things happen and you hope the team picks him up.

Funny thing is ... it's entirely possible, especially with a goalie capable of getting hot.

I don't necessarily mean in Fargo. Could be Boston, if both survived regional tests.

Looks like the Sioux and Gophers might be back on that NCAA Tournament collision course.

It's great news. Regarding blue chippers and the makeup of teams, I recall the last two games last season, when all of UND's goals were scored by Pattyn and Gaarder (2), guys not heavily tracked by the legion of internet scouts. You just never know what a team is eventually going to look like. With that noted, high end talent is a welcome part of a well-rounded team.

To which school?

I don't think he/she just made it up. When I first heard of the NCHC, it had BC and Notre Dame in it, but not Western Michigan and SCSU. It was called "National" because they wanted a true national footprint. I agree that it didn't/doesn't make sense for BC, but then again, I think regional footprints like the old WCHA and CCHA make more sense than what we have now.

I've said it before, but the hurdle for becoming competitive is very low. The USHL and other junior leagues are stuffed full of good players, many of whom are seemingly interchangeable. The speed of Penn State's ascent speaks to this, as does, in a way, the recent titles by former mediocrities Yale and Union. Get a good coach with a good eye for talent and chemistry, mix a bunch of older smart grinders with a few late blooming gems and a blue chipper, and there you go. Besides the sun and pretty girls with golden tans, ASU also has the geographical advantage of being the only program anywhere near the bubbling talent factory in California and the Southwest. My main question with ASU is its decision to not get a real Division 1 coach. Gadowsky was a perfect hire by Penn State. Been around enough to know how it all works, but young enough to still be up and coming.

One man's lack of urgency is another's poise. Maybe he just looks like he's going through the motions but he's actually making the plays. Although it's just another routine hockey play, he did get the puck to the net on the 6-on-4, resulting in the tying goal. It seems routine, but those do get blocked from time to time (here having the meaning of "a lot").

Brian, Did someone hack your account? This is awfully intense for you.

Stepping back for a little perspective, it's hard to blame the refs when the Sioux were on the power play for half the third period. On the other hand, there were times on those power plays where UND players were hacked and tackled to the ice with no second call, and those were acts that interfered with play, causing lost possession.

Maine had a 6-on-3 against Denver late in the national title game, which ended with Denver skating away with Zach's and Bucks' trophy. (If I remember right.)

The other thing they could have done was killed the 5-on-3, which, actually, they did. (Officially, it came one second after the first penalty expired.) In fact, they held Omaha to no really good chances until the very end.

I know your opinion on this, but given the two handers Omaha doled out all game long, and Massa's slash to a player standing in the exact spot MacMillan's penalty was called, I can easily see how MacMillan could consider contact in the crease fair game. And that's not even considering the context, already shorthanded in overtime.

That kind of effort will win games more often than not. I still like the team.

Except on the scoreboard, the Sioux are playing well. Not perfect, and UNO is good, so mistakes get magnified, but the Sioux have a lot of jump. Plenty of chances that end up in the net fairly often, just not tonight. PP needs to be better; Poolman not having a great night on the point there.

1. CC doesn't suck. You can understand now how they split with Omaha, they will take points from other teams in the next month, and they will be a tough playoff matchup for someone. 2. If that's the patsy, the league is nasty. 3. It's often said this team is short on skilled forwards, but to say that is to forget Caggiula, who is right up there with the most skilled guys the team has had in a while. Fast, can dangle, great hands, aggressive. He might just be one of very few little guys who can make it at the next level. 4. Even though CC was really quite impressive, its poor record made this a PWR trap the Sioux managed to avoid. 5. What a nice player Poganski is, and what a beast he'll be.

Even though it resulted in a penalty and risked the game, the goalie really stood up for his teammate by taking the net off. A great team move. Then he got to save the resulting penalty shot.

Really like this post. Your 16 year old may act like he doesn't need his parents anymore, and you may not be spending much quality time together as everyone is so darn busy, but the value imprinting is still going on. If they have the talent and the drive, they will make it. Tons of examples. Stay home and be a high school senior. Grow as a person.