jk

Here's the deal. When they play like crap, he says so. Like at the GLI. When they play well, he says so. You may think the reasons for the loss or tie are "excuses," but usually they are "explanations."

In a way playing MN last week was bad preparation for this week against Tech. Tech is used to being overmatched so they play hard through it. MN was so shocked at being outplayed that they pretty much gave up. Even so, the Sioux played well enough to win tonight, but just didn't. People who praise them for their fine play last week then rip them for the result tonight, even though they played hard and well ... it seems like misplaced criticism.

Tech is like Kryptonite to BE.

Brings back a couple events. In the Hrkac Circus year, MN visited GF in the second half of the year, and in the first shift of the first game, Steve Johnson (pretty much built like Chris Porter, rock of muscle on skates) plastered a Gopher defenseman against the glass. He ran him big-time, and got two minutes. The Sioux killed the penalty, scored shortly thereafter, and the sweep was on. Also, at the start of the national title game, Porter did the same thing to a DU defenseman, dislocating his shoulder. The kid toughed it out and played the whole game, which probably meant a ton to his team. You're not going to run roughshod over a DU team, but Porter did try, and the Sioux did play a terrific game, but just missed the bounces that game.

I've finally learned, after a long time, that there's no way for us to know how someone's ultimately going to develop as a college player. The younger they are, the bigger the mystery. The only people with a decent feel for how a 15 or 16 year old is going to look as a 20 year old is someone who sees that growth in a sample of many players over many years, like, for instance, the coaches who recruit. The "blue-chippers" that get your class ranked as one of the top in the country don't include some excellent college players. Chay Genoway was an afterthought to the cyber-experts, not even worth a mention, and he's one of the country's most dynamic players. More recently, Mr. Hextall wasn't considered a top recruit in the blog-world. It's a little early, but he looks like an impact player already, one I wouldn't trade straight-up for just about any other freshman. So who knows about Knight, White or Parks. We'll see in one or two or three years.

Rory McMahon got ahold of one a couple years ago.

After Friday's game, TH asked Hak what he said to the team after the first period, when they played so well but had nothing to show for it. Hak said "Nothing. We didn't even go into the locker room." I love that. Putting the responsibility on the team leaders. Reminds me that Blais did the same thing in the break before OT in the national title game. (Of course that one didn't end well, but it was a terrific effort.) The point is that it shows tremendous trust in the team's leaders.

I just don't have much of a problem with Stoa here. He said he was completely embarassed by their effort (and looked it). He's the captain, he was embarassed and POd, and here's a chance to give some back to Hextall and fire up his team for tomorrow. If a Sioux leader had done that in that circumstance, I would have been fine with it. Woog adds so much good that you have to overlook the bad comes with it.

Sioux playing terrific, but 0-0 is not a good sign.

Watkins flying tonight.

Frontier justice on that one. Moore kicked Kidd's skates out as they headed at high speed to the end boards. Kidd was incensed. From the second he got back on his skates you could see that he was single-minded in his pursuit. He tried twice to slash Moore but couldn't quite get a good shot. Finally he got close enough for that nasty cross-check.

I think Mattson and Holy Angels will be on FSN again tonight (January 1) in the championship game of the Schwan Cup Gold Division, against Edina, at 8:30. Not 100% sure, but they've had the Bronze and Silver games on, so hopefully that will be the case. Should be good to watch Mattson against some of the best in the state. Edit: Brad has it on his blog, so I guess it will be on.

Only been to the Joe for one weekend of hockey myself. April 1987. Drove through 500 miles of UP fog to get there, and a snowstorm to get home. Skated circles around the smart kids on Thursday (just like two weeks ago), then polished off the homestanding defending champs on Saturday. It was 3-0 before they put their first shot on net. The concourse was filled with 10,000 deaf-mutes in the first intermission.

That was hilarious.

Morin walked Sioux defenders all night long. Kozek didn't shoot it over the net.

Can't believe how good the kids are. Just think how many Sioux freshmen struggle, especially the true freshmen. That Fowler kid can skate. No wonder the pros love him. Finley's way out of synch, which is totally understandable. Check back in a few weeks. The US goalie's getting some work tonight.

Hextall said, I didn't even know we did that thing after a sweep where we salute the fans at center ice.

Not only letting stuff in but shaky otherwise too. Oh well.

Most of his goals have been just cleaning up the garbage, so that's not what I'm talking about, but that Hextall is one heck of a hockey player. Some of his shifts that period were clinics on how to play tough, skilled hockey. (Nothing wrong with cleaning up the garbage either.)

A shame to be up only 4-3 in a game they've pretty well dominated.

yes same story here

Sioux had such jump early, but since the multiple penalties in the last half of the first, SCSU has really come on. Tough to get the puck away from them once they get possession in the Sioux zone. The Sioux looked so good on their only PP of the night (not counting the 16 second stub later) so I'd like to see them get another shot at it.

People hate to hear about bounces and hot goalies, but that's the case so far tonight. The Sioux are playing a good offensive game tonight. The puck has been bouncing around in front of the scsu net a lot.

It took him until the end of his junior year? He was a true freshman last year. That's what they do, get used to the speed and strength of the next level. He's learning and developing.

What a game. I'd still be wearing the jersey too.