2022-23 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[brianvf]

52 minutes ago, jk said:

Looks like Blake is getting a well-deserved invite to the US WJC camp.

Great for him, he deserves a look for that team.

[stoneySIOUX]

2 hours ago, siouxkid12 said:

You are not wrong, the season could take a turn and become a positive. However, the last few weeks have shown that no progress has been made on the players end and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. I pray to God that I am wrong, and they do go on a nice run, but I am being really honest with myself and what I see.

I don't agree that there's been no progress. With that said, it's hasn't been enough. We're too far into the season to be playing with poor defensive effort, consistently silly turnovers, and bad goaltending. This team absolutely has the talent to turn it around. Will it? We'll find out and that's all I'm saying. We're saying absolutes like we're going to get swept in the quarters and then expanding into a potential multi-year struggle based on one half of the season. We've legitimately saved seasons with second half surges MANY times. All we have to do is get in and we have a shot with Fargo. 

The ride hasn't been enjoyable, but it's not over. I just don't understand the assumption of failure when we have plenty of reasons to carry hope. But, I guess that's just me, so be it.

2 hours ago, Oxbow6 said:

The xG argument......that's gonna save this season?

LOL again, if you don't like analytics, you don't have to believe, but all of the of the other xG, possession, etc., leaders are winning games. The ones who have poor differences in those stats aren't winning games as whole and UND is the outlier. 

2 hours ago, GoalieMask said:

Wins over Quinnipiac and OT win at Minnesota are saving us from the abyss right now.  Those are the only games keeping us within earshot of a Top 15 PW situation.  Unlike a few years back when UND couldn't beat Canisius and we all knew that was the death knell. 

On the flip side, we have plenty of chances to move up in the PWR with teams like Western 4x, Denver, and St. Cloud left on the schedule. We moved up one spot with two losses this weekend. Imagine what would have happened had we won one or both. 

Gotta have the wins. Simple as that. We rip off a good run against Western, Lindenwood, a down UMD team, and Miami in January, we're right back in the mix. 

[siouxkid12]

2 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

I don't agree that there's been no progress. With that said, it's hasn't been enough. We're too far into the season to be playing with poor defensive effort, consistently silly turnovers, and bad goaltending. This team absolutely has the talent to turn it around. Will it? We'll find out and that's all I'm saying. We're saying absolutes like we're going to get swept in the quarters and then expanding into a potential multi-year struggle based on one half of the season. We've legitimately saved seasons with second half surges MANY times. All we have to do is get in and we have a shot with Fargo. 

 

Dave Hakstol has saved many seasons with second half surges; we have not seen them with Berry in his time here. 

[stoneySIOUX]

2 hours ago, siouxkid12 said:

It's not unreasonable to ask for better play from the players and better coaching. How are we entitled as a fanbase? Because we expect the team and coaches to perform at the highest level, like they are supposed to? How are we impatient? We are talking about 5th year players that are regressing. No one is commenting on players like Blake or Gaber because they are preforming the way they should be.

I think the entitlement sentiment, for me at least, is when we talk about firing Berry. Based on one half of the season, a big chunk of the fanbase not just wants him to be fired, but think he should be. I think it's crazy and yes, totally unreasonable to think he should be fired.

I honestly don't see any regression, so to say. Underperformance, absolutely. Lack of progression that we desired, sure. But, who's regressing? Not trying to start a pissing match, but I'm just curious to hear who people think have gotten worse as a player.

[stoneySIOUX]

3 minutes ago, siouxkid12 said:

Dave Hakstol has saved many seasons with second half surges; we have not seen them with Berry in his time here. 

We're blaming him for not needing to be better in the second half because they haven't had to? Absolutely does not mean they cannot. Seeing the statistics around their struggles gives me hope, but also adds to an incredible amount of frustration. 

Other than stopping silly turnovers in the defensive and neutral zone, I have yet to be able to pinpoint why we're losing. It's certainly not a lack of talent. I won't buy that. 

[siouxkid12]

1 minute ago, stoneySIOUX said:

I think the entitlement sentiment, for me at least, is when we talk about firing Berry. Based on one half of the season, a big chunk of the fanbase not just wants him to be fired, but think he should be. I think it's crazy and yes, totally unreasonable to think he should be fired.

I honestly don't see any regression, so to say. Underperformance, absolutely. Lack of progression that we desired, sure. But, who's regressing? Not trying to start a pissing match, but I'm just curious to hear who people think have gotten worse as a player.

I don't like the "fire berry" chants just like I never liked the "fire hak" chants. 

[stoneySIOUX]

Just now, siouxkid12 said:

I don't like the "fire berry" chants just like I never liked the "fire hak" chants. 

Glad we're on the same page. It's absolutely justified to be frustrated right now. We all are. But what in God's green earth will firing Berry do? Nothing. People are bummed about our pipeline (I love our pipeline. We need MORE players, but I love it) for some reason and that, I guess, could be a part of it, but it's wild to me that people legit think he deserves to be fired.

[brianvf]

2 hours ago, jk said:

Looks like Blake is getting a well-deserved invite to the US WJC camp.

Here's the article on that:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/sports/und-hockey/jackson-blake-makes-initial-u-s-world-junior-championship-roster?fbclid=IwAR1_bQaI1Y2CHVGvERKmtMViSl-Zkfvfi7YwvydRBGwWetp_kjSUzurazc0

Quote

The Americans are bringing 18 forwards to the camp, which will run from Dec. 12-17. They will likely cut five of them and take 13 to the tournament, which is scheduled for Dec. 26-Jan. 5 in Halifax, N.S., and Moncton, N.B.

If Blake makes the final roster, he will miss UND's exhibition game against the U.S. Under-18 Team on Dec. 31. His availability would be questionable for the Lindenwood series on Jan. 6-7. If the Americans play in the final, he would travel back to Grand Forks on the day of the series opener.

USA Hockey also had considered UND freshman forward Owen McLaughlin and sophomore defenseman Brent Johnson — they participated in the summer evaluation camp — but neither made the preliminary roster and won't be going to the World Juniors.

UND rookie forward Dylan James participated in Hockey Canada's summer camp as well, but he is not expected to be on Canada's squad.

 

[siouxkid12]

3 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

We're blaming him for not needing to be better in the second half because they haven't had to? Absolutely does not mean they cannot. Seeing the statistics around their struggles gives me hope, but also adds to an incredible amount of frustration. 

Other than stopping silly turnovers in the defensive and neutral zone, I have yet to be able to pinpoint why we're losing. It's certainly not a lack of talent. I won't buy that. 

In Berry's short tenure here, he has either lead his team out the gate or they just struggled the whole season, there was never an in between in my eyes. 

You are correct that the talent is there, but I just don't think this team is a team like ones from the past. When I hear stories that they don't hang out outside of hockey that seems odd to me (if it is true) and it translates out onto the ice.

[siouxkid12]

2 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Glad we're on the same page. It's absolutely justified to be frustrated right now. We all are. But what in God's green earth will firing Berry do? Nothing. People are bummed about our pipeline (I love our pipeline. We need MORE players, but I love it) for some reason and that, I guess, could be a part of it, but it's wild to me that people legit think he deserves to be fired.

You fire him midseason, what does that do? The team will still be struggling anyway and maybe some of those recruits that were on the way decommit and then what do we do.

[stoneySIOUX]

5 minutes ago, siouxkid12 said:

You fire him midseason, what does that do? The team will still be struggling anyway and maybe some of those recruits that were on the way decommit and then what do we do.

That's a bingo. It does NOTHING positive for the team or program. 

[stoneySIOUX]

8 minutes ago, siouxkid12 said:

In Berry's short tenure here, he has either lead his team out the gate or they just struggled the whole season, there was never an in between in my eyes. 

You are correct that the talent is there, but I just don't think this team is a team like ones from the past. When I hear stories that they don't hang out outside of hockey that seems odd to me (if it is true) and it translates out onto the ice.

I find that interesting, because I've heard that they are plenty close, but there a few that do their own thing. 

My whole point of what I said is that speaking in absolutes like things are already done is silly. Let the season play out!

[jdub27]

15 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Glad we're on the same page. It's absolutely justified to be frustrated right now. We all are. But what in God's green earth will firing Berry do? Nothing. People are bummed about our pipeline (I love our pipeline. We need MORE players, but I love it) for some reason and that, I guess, could be a part of it, but it's wild to me that people legit think he deserves to be fired.

I'm sure all those rubes chanting for him to be fired are ready to contribute to the $1.4million buyout that would come with it....

Agree with your other post. They should have a better record than they do. Unfortunately, that doesn't do a whole lot other than give some extra hope that they are closer than their record currently shows.

[siouxfaninseattle]

19 minutes ago, stoneySIOUX said:

I think the entitlement sentiment, for me at least, is when we talk about firing Berry. Based on one half of the season, a big chunk of the fanbase not just wants him to be fired, but think he should be. I think it's crazy and yes, totally unreasonable to think he should be fired.

I honestly don't see any regression, so to say. Underperformance, absolutely. Lack of progression that we desired, sure. But, who's regressing? Not trying to start a pissing match, but I'm just curious to hear who people think have gotten worse as a player.

If you look at plus/minus, there were four players that were minus last season (full season stats/not including players no longer on the team) and this year there are eight (not including freshmen/transfers). Gaber -6, Frisch -7 and Kleven -8. Gaber is at least scoring but I don't think there's much question Frisch and Kleven are not playing at the same level they did last season.

[The Sicatoka]

1 minute ago, siouxfaninseattle said:

... but I don't think there's much question Frisch and Kleven are not playing at the same level they did last season.

The minutes accumulated on those two this far is scary. The each are close to 30 minutes per game (when available). 

I worried going into last weekend that "no Frisch" would exposed the defense even more than it has been. Sadly, it happened. 

[stoneySIOUX]

2 minutes ago, siouxfaninseattle said:

If you look at plus/minus, there were four players that were minus last season (full season stats/not including players no longer on the team) and this year there are eight (not including freshmen/transfers). Gaber -6, Frisch -7 and Kleven -8. Gaber is at least scoring but I don't think there's much question Frisch and Kleven are not playing at the same level they did last season.

Plus/minus is a team stat in that it's hard to lay it on the individual player. Again, I just don't see a player on this team that has genuinely gotten worse. Some are certainly not playing up to a previous level, but that doesn't mean that will finish the season that way. Laying it back on the coaching staff, are we (not necessarily you) suggesting Berry is the reason for this? Could it, heaven forbid, that we play a really good schedule and we're not getting a bounce or two a game? (UNACCEPTABLE, I know lol) I just don't see anything to indicate a guy like Frisch or Kleven have gotten worse as players. 

[The Sicatoka]

What I saw that really disturbed me last weekend was the little stuff:

"Shorting" passes
"Shorting" clears
It's like sticks were made of soft pasta or the puck weighed 500 pounds. 

And then the other mistakes, like not taking the easy clear or trying to make one more pass instead of firing. 

[stoneySIOUX]

1 minute ago, The Sicatoka said:

The minutes accumulated on those two this far is scary. The each are close to 30 minutes per game (when available). 

I worried going into last weekend that "no Frisch" would exposed the defense even more than it has been. Sadly, it happened. 

THIS is smart. This comes from a lack of confidence in the bottom pairs of d-men. Guys like Cooper Moore, Johnson, and Bast need to get back to their best games ASAP for UND to turn it around.

[stoneySIOUX]

Just now, The Sicatoka said:

What I saw that really disturbed me last weekend was the little stuff:

"Shorting" passes
"Shorting" clears
It's like sticks were made of soft pasta or the puck weighed 500 pounds. 

And then the other mistakes, like not taking the easy clear or trying to make one more pass instead of firing. 

Been happening ALL year. This team is in its own head, IMO. Mental mistakes and panic. 

[SIOUXELEVENS]

Most of us don’t want Berry fired but make some changes that bring about positive results.. he hasn’t been one to do this just run status quo. When your an assistant you can be the players buddy not as head coach. 

[Shawn-O]

17 minutes ago, jdub27 said:

I'm sure all those rubes chanting for him to be fired are ready to contribute to the $1.4million buyout that would come with it....

Agree with your other post. They should have a better record than they do. Unfortunately, that doesn't do a whole lot other than give some extra hope that they are closer than their record currently shows.

Spot on. He’s not going anywhere for another two seasons beyond this one unless it’s of his own volition.  

[The Sicatoka]

1 minute ago, SIOUXELEVENS said:

Most of us don’t want Berry fired but make some changes that bring about positive results.. he hasn’t been one to do this just run status quo. When your an assistant you can be the players buddy not as head coach. 

It took Hak a while to figure that out. I believe "Judy's" was the fulcrum point.

You'd think a more chronologically senior person (with kids older than his players) would have that figured out by now. 

[stoneySIOUX]

6 minutes ago, SIOUXELEVENS said:

Most of us don’t want Berry fired but make some changes that bring about positive results.. he hasn’t been one to do this just run status quo. When your an assistant you can be the players buddy not as head coach. 

Such as?

[SIOUXELEVENS]

How about sitting players who take undisciplined penalties, bench players who don’t hustle back on icings or just to retrieve the pucks on the power play. How about changing the way they train so they are not gassed at the end of games. 

[stoneySIOUX]

8 minutes ago, SIOUXELEVENS said:

How about sitting players who take undisciplined penalties, bench players who don’t hustle back on icings or just to retrieve the pucks on the power play. How about changing the way they train so they are not gassed at the end of games. 

He's definitely sat players for playing poorly this year. Tough to do it much on the blue line with injuries and inconsistent play.

Is this training issue you see a new thing? I've never heard of a UND being out of shape. I think they're gassed because we've been playing from behind and expending all energy to try and even a game. Not a training thing, IMO, but a circumstance of our performance.