jk

Considering that Hakstol was arriving at UND around the time I was leaving, he seems far too young to be losing a parent. My condolences to him and his family.

I don't think this is the place to be pointing fingers at other players for low point totals.

I can play if we need, but I use the word "play" lightly. Before we commit to Jerred I would like to make sure the commitments to play are pretty solid regardless of whether UND is in the Final Five (newsflash: they might not make it). I live in the Metro, so I'm here anyway.

I was referring to the tournament driscol referenced above. Play begins today, and I think the U.S.'s first game is tomorrow. Chorney was added to that team, and sprig wondered whether Toews was playing for Canada. I was just letting him know that Canada is not playing in the tournament under discussion.

Looks like the U18 tournament in Sweden has as its participants: Sweden, Finland, Russia, Czechs, USA, so Toews will not be there playing for Canada. The U17 tournament field is: Slovakia, Germany, Switzerland, USA.

Since the visitor had to trot out the massive 228 points lost last year by another team, I'll just add that the 1999 Sioux team I referenced earlier lost 311 points. And won the national title the following year. Each team is different. You just never know how it will come together.

I think I am learning that each team is its own animal, and what a team lost or brings back doesn't necessarily seem to matter. It's more important how a team comes together. The most any Sioux team has "lost" in the current era has to be the Spring of 1999. That powerhouse lost a big group of senior forwards, including stars and many good players. So the next year they go and win #7. Going into this year, I thought the offseason losses were survivable. Hale was a good team guy but really contributed along the lines of the seniors we complain about this year. Lundbohm could stickhandle in a phone booth and had his moments, but with him I always felt like he had the ability to do more; the problem may have just been my expectations. There's no denying Parise's and Bochenski's star quality, but teams do lose their best players and eventually replace them. In this case, Murray and Stafford seemed like they were in the same ballpark talent-wise. In watching games last year, I often felt like there was not a whole lot of difference between Parise's and Murray's impact on the ice. Murray might have been faster and a better offensive threat, and Parise had that dynamic all-around game that you had to see to appreciate. Anyway, I personally felt Murray did well last year because he was an integral part of that line, not because he got fat playing with the Hobeys. I think Stafford has shown the talent to be Bochenski's equal, not as a goalscorer but as an all-around force. Unfortunately, his play has just not been as high in NCAA play as it was over the holidays. So I thought Murray and Stafford had a chance to at least ease the pain of losing the Hobeys. Partly because of injuries, they haven't come close. Then the key would be to have the incoming freshmen replace the impact that Murray, Stafford and Porter had last year. Generally speaking, that hasn't been a problem, as the freshmen have been among the team's best forwards. Sorry for the rambling. My point is that I thought the team could overcome those losses, and so far they haven't.

OK, You've got me on Massen. I just cannot reconcile his sophomore year with what has followed. I think more highly of Greene and Prpich than you do, but otherwise I don't disagree too much. This is just another way of saying "the senior class is the problem," but I think the basic issue is that UND has not made the transition to younger blue-chip recruits very well. The powerhouse Blais teams of the '90s were generally made of older recruits who stayed four years. UND wasn't competing with BC and Michigan for a lot of these recruits. With success and the rink came the ability to recruit more blue-chip true freshmen. Some don't develop as hoped, which can happen when you're looking at 16 and 17 year olds. Some really develop and leave early. This year, you are left with two top scoring lines that go like this: Freshman, Sophomore, Sophomore (Zajac, Stafford, Murray) Freshman, Sophomore, Senior (Spirko, Porter, Genoway) It's tough to win when you are counting on kids like that, and it's not fair to blame the kids for not producing like upperclassmen when they aren't. Last year, the top line was: Freshman, Sophomore, Junior The year before, it was: Freshman, Sophomore, Other (someone with Parise and Bochenski). If (a big one) everyone stays, next year would finally have a team with experienced forwards on the scoring lines, as all those names above save for Genoway would be back. Of course, all the defensemen will be freshmen, but what can you do? I'm honestly still looking to this year, though, and hoping for the long-awaited revival. --------------------------- Calder was one of my favorites. The line extends to Notermann, then it was supposed to go to Canady, then McMahon. Unfortunately, none have had the combination of grit and scoring that Calder had.

sprig, I'm curious if the big defenseman for SSM, Dowzak, stood out. He's supposed to be a giant, with pretty good feet. I think he's from the Fergus area, so sort of a tweener for UND and MN. (I'll bet he's never been called a tweener before).

To be fair, the following players were recruited before Hakstol arrived at UND: Schneider - 11/99 Fuher - 11/99 Connelly - 1/00 Canady - 2/00 Brandt - 3/00 The following committed after the assistants turned over (Sandelin and Bowen out, Berry and Hakstol in) Jones - 9/00 McMahon - 11/00 Faul - 11/00 Fournier - 12/00 Massen - 12/00 Genoway - 1/01 Bochenski - 3/01 There are four good to great college players in the class Hakstol recruited (and two busts and one enigma (Massen)). That's not really too bad. We also have no idea how involved Hakstol was in recruiting this class, since he had just started. As for the junior class, it was only four players deep: Parise Greene Prpich - solid role-player; great late pickup Marvin - legacy utility man, doubt there's much money involved I have no issues with the junior class. There is no disputing the lack of production from the senior forwards, though, and that has been the big problem, with only three of them becoming good college players (McMahon, Genoway, Bochenski).

All I can say after reading this thread is that it is going to be a long eleven days until the next game. I personally think the over-under for the next six games is 4.5. But there's nothing to do now but wait and see what happens.

I thought there was a pretty decent chance the weekend might go this way, and of course the board as a result would look as it does. I don't blame the "down" people for being down; it seems to be a pretty reasonable way to feel right now. It may seem irrational, but I still think good things are going to happen this year. A lot of the pieces have gotten better as the year has gone on. Some have been pointed out here recently. Greene has responded well to his suspension, cutting down on the penalties and playing very solidly. Spirko and Zajac have completed the freshman adjustment and are valuable contributors. Radke seems to have finally adjusted as well and is a legitimate WCHA defenseman. The PP is as good as it has been for a long time - usually dangerous and even productive lately. Five-on-five, UND played fine defense against a very good Denver team, limiting their chances and shots. The upcoming off weekend will help heal the nicks and dings, refreshing the team for the stretch drive. One very recent development that concerns me is that penalty-killing, a season-long strength, really struggled. A bigger, and related, concern is that goaltending, also a season-long positive, has been very average lately. This team does not have enough other outstanding attributes to get by with less than great goaltending. (On that note, the shot taken at Parise here earlier (if Hak wanted to win, why start Parise?) was way off-base. I had wondered last week what kind of comments the cult of Phil might have posted if Lammy had backstopped the 3-1 win while Parise suffered the 3-3 tie with BSU. I'm certain it would have been mentioned, with the knowing addition that starting Phil both nights would have sewn up the sweep. Hate to break it to the Parise-bashers, but both goalies have slipped lately, and would like a few goals back from this weekend. I'll continue to pull for both goalies to do well.) Before the weekend, I was trying to figure out what exactly happened to UND and DU that would shift the balance of power between the two teams from one where UND absolutely owned DU last year, to one where DU looks to be the better team. Take a few important players off each team, and the power shouldn't shift that much. First of all, it seemed to me that the play was not lopsided this weekend. DU played great with the lead, and was resilient all weekend long, but it's not like they ever dominated the way UND dominated them last Spring. Second, this is how UND's forward lines changed from last Spring to this weekend: Out: Parise, Bochenski, Murray, Lundbohm, McMahon, Hale In: Zajac, Spirko, Canady, Fabian, Bina, Foyt Looking at it that way, it's a wonder UND played so evenly with DU this weekend. Take Murray and McMahon off the "out" list, and Bina and Foyt off the "in" list, and the changes aren't nearly so lopsided. I am the King of irrational exuberance, but I don't think my optimistic stance this year is as irrational as it has been in recent years. I think the team will win 4 or 5 of the next 6 games. I also think they will beat CC the next time they play them, and that they will beat Denver the next time they play them. I am a firm believer that if you continue to play hard and the right way and generate chances, eventually you will be rewarded with positive results. I'm sticking with it.

Disagree. This was going to be a tough weekend, without some key forwards and against a real good opponent. Still, they skated right with them, and must have clanked about 4 posts each game (not exactly sure). Posts don't go on the scoreboard, but I think it shows they are right there. I think there is still some goodness left to this season.

"Austria is hosting one of three Olympic qualification tournaments in Klagenfurt from February 10 to 13. Vanek will be joined at Team Austria by several more key overseas-based players: New York Ranger Thomas Poeck, currently with the AHL's Hartford Wolf Pack; Syracuse Crunch's Matthias Trattnig; Christoph Brandner of the Houston Aeros, and University of Wisconsin goalie Bernd Brueckler." If this is right Bruckler would be missing the Denver series. I would find it quite bizarre for him to miss a part of the stretch drive of what has been a very good season for them. Plus the travel fatigue may have an impact beyond that weekend.

For fun I thought I would see who scored for the Sioux against Denver last year. UND-1 David Lundbohm (unassisted) UND-2 Mike Prpich (Colby Genoway, Robbie Bina) UND-3 Brady Murray (Zach Parise) UND-4 Mike Prpich (Matt Smaby, Colby Genoway) UND-5 Chris Porter (unassisted) UND-6 Robbie Bina (Drew Stafford) UND-7 Nick Fuher (Brandon Bochenski, Brady Murray) UND-8 Mike Prpich (Nick Fuher, Drew Stafford) UND-1 Brandon Bochenski (Zach Parise) UND-2 Drew Stafford (Colby Genoway, Mike Prpich) UND-3 Brady Murray (Brandon Bochenski, Zach Parise) UND-4 Colby Genoway (Chris Porter) UND-5 Chris Porter (David Lundbohm) UND-6 Colby Genoway (Mike Prpich, Drew Stafford) UND-1 Brady Murray (David Lundbohm) UND-2 Brady Murray (Brandon Bochenski, Zach Parise) UND-3 Brandon Bochenski (Colby Genoway, Zach Parise) UND-4 David Lundbohm (Andy Schneider, Nick Fuher) UND-5 David Lundbohm (Chris Porter, James Massen) UND-6 Zach Parise (Brandon Bochenski, Andy Schneider) UND-1 Zach Parise (unassisted) There are an awful lot of names on the list that are still on the team this year. Here are the scoring leaders summarized from the above list: 2-5-7 Parise 2-4-6 Bochenski 2-4-6 Genoway 3-2-5 Lundbohm 3-2-5 Prpich 4-1-5 Murray 2-2-4 Porter (look! an assist!) 1-3-4 Stafford 1-2-3 Fuher 1-1-2 Bina 0-2-2 Schneider 0-1-1 Smaby 0-1-1 Massen These guys are plenty capable of scoring. They've just ... forgotten?

Realistically the ice seems to be tilted towards Denver heading into this one. DU is healthy, playing well, generating a lot of chances and shots, and scoring a lot of goals. They have a goalie who lately is more likely to post a shutout than allow a goal. The Sioux are the opposite of most of the characteristics listed above. Capping it off, they will be undermanned against a deeper team this weekend. In fact, the main thing in favor of the Sioux is that everything seems stacked against them right now, and it's never that simple in the WCHA. In addition, DU, while formidable, isn't a perfect team. If MTU can scratch out a win over Denver and UAA can take them to overtime, a Sioux win this weekend doesn't seem too outlandish. But it will take a terrific effort by UND, and a few good bounces. Even with those things, it is hard to picture this very solid and dynamic Denver team getting swept. So I'm expecting and (sadly) even hoping for a split this weekend. A Sioux sweep would be an unexpected bonus, and a Denver sweep would be a crushing disappointment. I think that sitting Murray, unless he's 100%, is the right answer (and it doesn't sound like there is a question about it any more anyway). With next week off, it makes complete sense to bring him back in two weeks against UAA, and try to get the team geared up for the playoffs. This weekend may be tough, but if you add Murray and McMahon back in, you have a faster, grittier, more potent team on the ice. With or without those guys, I expect close games the rest of the way. Heck, the Sioux have hardly been in a "not close" game all year (just a few each way). My advice for the Sioux this weekend: win Friday, then you have a chance for the surprise weekend result on Saturday.

Has UND even had a decent scoring chance? This sounds terrible.

I am hopeful that UND will come out and get results, but we'll have to see them do it. The one out-there prediction I have for this weekend is that Canady and Fabian will combine for two goals this weekend. Sounds like they have been the team's best line at times and I think it's time for some pay-off.

sagard, I appreciate your posts on all the boards, as you are the utmost in even and unbiased analysis of college hockey, but please stop predicting Sioux sweeps. Everytime I see that, UND ends up dropping a game or even getting swept (Wisconsin a few years in a row). Maybe tempering the prediction by calling one of the games to be close will help the Sioux. Just kidding around. Thanks for the reminder about last year's MN/BSU series.

This doesn't exactly set him too far apart from a college culture that celebrates drinking and a hockey culture that celebrates drinking. Matt, just don't be so stupid about it next time. As for being a distraction, what's it gonna do, Scott, slow down that torrid goal-scoring pace? I say let Mr. Greene pay his debt to society, let him be punished according to team and athletic department rules, and get on with winning games. Edit: To clarify, getting legally drunk is arguably not stupid, but driving that way is.

This is sort of off-topic, but instead of looking back for a better thread I'll put it here. Many people have commented on the lack of net-crashing by the Sioux as a key factor in the scoring drought. I found it interesting, then, to come across this comment by CC goalie CuMac after his win Friday against UND (from the CS paper): "The one thing about North Dakota is they throw a lot pucks on the net, and they try to go to the net hard and look for rebounds," McElhinney said. "They tried that again tonight, but fortunately my defensemen did a good job in front of me."

jloos, The best of those guys (Goren, G. Potulny) are like gold. If you can find the right ones, you should definitely bring them along. The question for me is which of the guys are the right one or ones. For instance, it could be tough to take Loos if you could get a guy like Boll, who is scoring well in the USHL. Then again, maybe with a year in the USHL Loos could prove to be as good or better. I've never seen Boll and barely seen Loos, so I have no idea.

You can't toss out the ties. If you did, a 30-0-1 record would show a 100% winning percentage, when it isn't. Calculate it as though you were computing league points, 2 for a win, 1 for a tie, 0 for a loss. So 49-19-7 is 98 points for the wins and 7 for the ties, totaling 105. In 75 games, that's 1.4 points per game, or a .7000 winning percentage. Likewise, my example 30-0-1 record would be a .9839 winning percentage.

I think that's obvious at this point. Actually I sit in front of a computer at work all day and there are occasionally lulls. Sagard, not wishing bad karma on UAA; strictly a defensive measure. The Sicatoka, thanks for a terrific discussion and for providing a potential solution.

(I typically don