jk

I don't think he said anything wrong. What would you expect him to say at this point? p.s. Not saying he's a good guy.

dagies, thanks for saving me the time typing. You expressed my sentiments perfectly.

I'd personally rather beat them straight up, with full rosters. I think the Spirko and Irmen injuries will ultimately benefit both teams, as younger players are getting opportunities they wouldn't otherwise have. Later, plug in the recovered star and the team is that much better. This assumes the team in question wins enough along the way to make the second half matter.

gibber from uscho has posted some photos from the weekend: http://www.joshgibney.com/hockey/photos.html There's one particularly nice one from Saturday of Smaby crushing someone at the blueline.

It sounds like it was not a nice play, but before complaining about chippiness I try to remember that UND plays a pretty physical game that does get chippy and at times even slips into the "illegal" category. I'm glad UND has an edge to their game. If I were a Northeastern fan, I would want that too, just with a little more restraint than was shown this weekend.

I see no reason to rush to anoint a number one goaltender. Both guys will see plenty of rubber this year, if early indications hold true. Why not keep both guys involved throughout the year, so you have a very stable situation if one ends up injured for a while? When the time comes, ride the hot one (talking hockey here).

I pretty much don't participate in the flame wars, but I've seen enough to give you some advice: Don't ask a question like the number of games played unless you're sure you're going to be right. Just a quick check shows Craig Ludwig with 1,256 NHL games played, and James Patrick with 1,280 NHL games. I can see how you missed them, though, since they aren't in Larson's ballpark for games played. edit: gasp ... redwing beat me to it

I wish Murray all the best and I'm sure he did the right thing when faced with a good offer in an unusual situation (the Swiss league eligibility deal), but Panzer signing there brings the irritation to the surface just a bit for me. I thought Murray had a chance to be the next Panzer, which, to my eyes, is huge praise. Panzer going to play with Murray reminds me that Murray left without becoming the next Panzer. Such is life, I guess.

This excuse will be all worn out soon enough, but it's real fresh in October. (Returning players versus freshmen) Miami - Forwards 11-1 Miami - Defense 3-3 MSU - Forwards 9-3 MSU - Defense 6-0 UND - Forwards 7-5 UND - Defense 2-4

terbele, thanks for the on-site reports. Most of us said that it could be a little rough at the start, with hopes of the team coming together in the second half. It's one thing to say it, and another to actually have to suffer through the rough times. The UNH, DU, UW stretch that's approaching very quickly is looking a little more like a freight train right now. The main objective now, though, is to GET BETTER, and win enough along the way to make the second half matter. Reults like Sunday don't bother me, as long as the team is learning and getting better. Here's a comparison to the last cycle: 2000: Great team. National Champs. 2001: Subtract some stars, and a limited team loses in the title game. 2002: Add a huge freshman class, rebuild, and struggle. 2004: Great team. Shoulda been national champs. 2005: Subtract some stars, and a limited team loses in the title game. 2006: Add a huge freshman class, rebuild, and ... I think 2006 will differ from 2002 in two ways. First, the primary weakness in 2002 was goaltending. It wasn't the only problem, as the entire team needed to grow and learn to play together (as evidenced by early season poundings delivered by SCSU and Mankato), but it was the one area expected to be solid heading into the year. But Kollar slipped, and Brandt wasn't ready, then Siembida just wasn't good enough. And the team wasn't mature or good enough to overcome that. This year, between Parise and Lamoureaux, it appears that UND can at least count on solid goaltending while the team tries to come together. The other difference is that the 2006 team is probably simply more talented than the 2002 team. Both had returning role players (2002: Spiewak, Notes. 2006: Prpich, Porter, Kaip). Both had offensive stars (2002: Bayda, Skarperud. 2006: Zajac, Stafford, Spirko). Can Toews, Oshie, Duncan et al outperform Bochenski, Massen, McMahon et al? Time will tell, but early indications and NHL draft positions suggest that they can. My main early impression is that Oshie and Lee certainly have a presence, coming as they have directly from high school hockey to the WCHA. Also, Zajac, Stafford and Spirko are absolutely going to have to score for this team to succeed. I'm not sure how much the uncertain team defense affects the ability of the offense to execute, but I don't expect that trio of players to go scoreless in two games against the CCHA (Stafford's e.n.g. doesn't count).

Darcy Zajac at Salmon Arm had a nice weekend. In three wins, he scored five goals and added two assists.

I think this would be Willert's senior year of high school. Is that correct, ND high school hockey followers? I'm very interested to see how he does this year in the USHL, as he's flying in under the radar, coming from Minot. Last Fall, someone here (jloos?) thought he looked good in the Elite League, so it's possible that he could step in and have a good USHL season. I actually met Jordan and his dad a few years ago at a Sioux game at the REA, and he was a big kid even then. I'm always a fan of having a Western ND presence on the team, so it would be nice if Willert could continue to develop, reach WCHA status, and maybe hook up with UND.

Funny thing is that Porter assisted on UND's first goal of the season. Didn't he go about four months last year before he recorded an assist?

I started listening five minutes in, and it's been all specialty teams since, so I have no idea of the lines.

Tessier is listed as being from Moncton, NB. Someone said: "I would expect that they may be given a second chance, though they may not deserve it." In what world should 15 year olds not be given a second chance? What should we do with them, write them off? People make stupid mistakes, and usually eventually they have to suffer the consequences, as these guys are no doubt doing. Imagine that phone call to your parents. In terms of their hockey careers, I would guess that someone somewhere will find room for them on a team, within Hockey Canada's rules. I don't know what it ultimately means to their chances of choosing the college route, but it doesn't seem like this development helps.

I don't agree on UND versus MN departures. Leopold is MN's great example of a player who stayed an extra year, and it paid off handsomely. There are plenty of good examples both ways. Jason Blake returned for his senior year. Hale, Greene and Smaby have all stayed for an extra year. For MN, Martin, Ballard, Taffe and Vanek all left early, similar to Commie, Parise, Bochesnki, etc. This last offseason, Greene was SO ready for the next level. Based on his play near the end of the year, Potulny seemed clearly not ready physically for a higher level of hockey. Fans of both teams would puke to even consider it, but the programs are more similar than different in this and other ways.

I love that line. I've talked about the phenomenon before, but never with such a great line. Of the two choices, I prefer the current strategy (which was made possible in large part by the building), but it's plenty tricky. As long as you keep bringing in the top talent, I think the window pretty much stays open. But if you have a down recruiting year, and all the top talent from the previous few years happens to leave early, you could have a pretty empty cupboard. I feel like UND is in a great position to compete for about the next three years, but after that probably all the early-round NHL picks currently on the team will be gone, and the years following will be dependent on continuing great classes.

Message board chatter has Genoway as a very smooth skater. Sorry, can't help much beyond that. 2007-08 is after graduation of the Stafford class (or whatever's left of it). It's interesting because this is the second 2007 offer we've learned of (Genoway and Mario). There will probably also be some early departures that Summer, so I wouldn't mind getting a few names on the sheet. Hmm ... Zajac says his brother is chippy, while sitting next to Prpich, who is a senior. Your Fighting Sioux agitator replacement?

I've now read the stories. The story detailing TJ's career and personal development is really terrific. PCM, I don't know what your day job is, but you could do this for a living. This story was very, very well written. Thanks. Oh yeah, and is anyone else getting pumped for hockey??

I'll read the article in a moment, but I have to comment on the photo accompanying the "Controversy" article: Now THAT is hockey hair. Way to go TJ.

I send them e-mails from time-to-time praising them for their entertaining work. Seriously. I'm pleased to have another place to go for college hockey reading, and some of their stuff is very funny. They showed their much-noted (here) anti-UND bias by predicted them to finish second in the WCHA this year. I can't believe they picked UND lower than first.

It's an old rule, but a good one: Don't post in anger or frustration after a loss. I still think it's perfectly appropriate for Grand Forks to deny a casino in town, but closing down all the Native American programs at UND out of spite is probably a little too much. Still, UND would need to examine its mission, and where Native American programs fit into it. If the name is gone, is there still a special relationship that suggests having such a focus on Native American higher education? Maybe the answer is yes, but perhaps to a more limited degree. UND should focus on excelling on issues that are important to the state, where UND can make a difference in the state's future. To me, the biggest issue facing the state in the previous and next decade is the death of the "farming way of life," with all the economic and cultural after-effects. Basically, for a number of generations, families farmed and the state's economy and culture were built around this fact. All across the state, farmers are aging, retiring and dying, leaving empty farmsteads; the towns that used to support them are withering away. NDSU has the "farming" aspect of the issue well-covered. The land will still be farmed, ever more efficiently thanks to NDSU. It's the after-effects that seem more important to me. What does the state look like when the century-long foundation of its structure is gone? UND should help the state move to whatever it will be for the next century. It seems to me that business acumen will be key in this post-farming century, so UND should focus on its business school and entrepreneurship. What industries can flourish in a place that is, frankly, pretty difficult to live in for a third of the year? Wired businesses, where information and communication travel, while the people are warm and cozy inside. UND should focus on information technology. Energy is ever more important to the country, and North Dakota has abundant capabilities below the earth's surface and above it (the lovely wind). Unfortunately, it's hard to store and transport energy efficiently to other parts of the country. UND should focus on energy technology, to help the state become an energy powerhouse (because the wind's not going to stop blowing till Minnesota stops sucking). UND has well-established medical, legal and aviation programs, and should continue to play to these strengths. In addition, it could focus on business, information and energy to help the state move to the post-agriculture era. I don't see Native American studies on my list. Absent a special relationship, UND should focus its resources elsewhere. Other people may have a different list of priorities for the state, but I'm not sure Native American studies are going to wind up being crucial to the state's future on most lists.

I don't think I've ever posted in the name forum, and I probably shouldn't now, but ... I think I agree that, if the name ultimately is changed, economic retaliation would be appropriate. For those that think it's childish, I would say that nearly all decisions are about money in the real world, and it's childish to think otherwise. There would certainly not be a Native American casino in Grand Forks, and I would have the state sanction some limited gambling of a similar nature to compete directly with the existing casinos. All those Native American programs at UND - gone, with the savings used to fund the logo change. The medical school program - gone, along with the controversy. With no University connection to Native American culture, I don't see any reason for special programs. Harsh, but that's what I think.

It's pretty clear they were trying to spread it around to all the leagues and recognize some niche players. Considering their approach, I think the Sioux players who had a shot of making the team were Prpich, to fill the role of agitator and penalty killer, and Smaby, to add a bone-crushing defensive defenseman. By the way, anyone remember Smaby tossing guys around like rag dolls during the playoff run last year? I think he was just as effective physically as Greene (near heresy I know) but spent less time in the box. I hope he's ready to play 30 minutes a game this year.