2022-23 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[Goon]

1 hour ago, siouxweet said:

Are we still a Top 5 destination for recruits, that I think has become debatable?

One thing to remember, while UND has the best facilities in all of college hockey, destination is still a concern for some recruits. Not everyone is going want to live in Grand Forks or in this climate. Not dissing Grand Forks, but the weather is absolutely horrendous. 

[Wilbur]

3 minutes ago, Goon said:

One thing to remember, while UND has the best facilities in all of college hockey, destination is still a concern for some recruits. Not everyone is going want to live in Grand Forks or in this climate. Not dissing Grand Forks, but the weather is absolutely horrendous. 

My in laws live 15 minutes away from the Arizona State campus.  Wearing your shorts into a hockey rink every day isn't over-rated.  

[Oxbow6]

Just now, Wilbur said:

My in laws live 15 minutes away from the Arizona State campus.  Wearing your shorts into a hockey rink every day isn't over-rated.  

Throw in the co-ed talent to boot.

[The Sicatoka]

10 minutes ago, Goon said:

I was wondering if you could get on that, see if you can persuade him to stay.  

I see more of his brothers and parents than E lately. 

[The Sicatoka]

9 minutes ago, Goon said:

I wouldn't be surprised if one of the two remaining goalies leave. 

I see Cheese here. He bought into that role from the start.
I'd tell 32 it's his choice but two are coming in either way (be they portal or recruit). 

That's why I say 3 or 4 G roster in the fall (based on 32's decision). 

[brianvf]

3 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

My in laws live 15 minutes away from the Arizona State campus.  Wearing your shorts into a hockey rink every day isn't over-rated.  

I live 20 minutes away from the ASU campus. 
The weather in summer here is equally as horrendous as the weather in winter in GF.  Just on the complete opposite end of the spectrum.

[Godsmack]

Highly speculative and no basis for this comment but since we’re all thinking out loud here, I’ll post my comments…

I could see senior Matt Vernon of CC entering the transfer portal at the conclusion of this season. It’s been very clear from early on that freshman Kaiden Mbereko was going to be Mayotte’s guy from the get-go (and with good reason as Mbereko has demonstrated). Vernon, while smaller and sometimes erratic in his playing style, is a capable collegiate level goaltender. I just don’t see him staying at CC for a fifth year, mostly riding the pine. Just a name to keep in the back of your heads if/when he decides to enter the portal. 

[Wilbur]

12 minutes ago, brianvf said:

I live 20 minutes away from the ASU campus. 
The weather in summer here is equally as horrendous as the weather in winter in GF.  Just on the complete opposite end of the spectrum.

Been there when it's been 115 and I'm not gonna lie, never sweat more in my life on a golf course.

I'd still take it over GF winter honestly.  60 below wind chill just never grows on a person. 

[brianvf]

5 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

Been there when it's been 115 and I'm not gonna lie, never sweat more in my life on a golf course.

I'd still take it over GF winter honestly.  60 below wind chill just never grows on a person. 

The first few years I lived here, I thought the same.  Now the summers seem to drag on for so long and the triple digit temps every day just drain you.
I've already told my wife that we're gonna retire somewhere with actual seasons again.

[Dave Berger]

Down The Home Stretch: Who Will Win The 2023 Penrose Cup?

This article also dives into my predicted order of finish in the NCHC. DIscuss. 

Dave

[Goon]

8 minutes ago, brianvf said:

The first few years I lived here, I thought the same.  Now the summers seem to drag on for so long and the triple digit temps every day just drain you.
I've already told my wife that we're gonna retire somewhere with actual seasons again.

I ask my wife once a month if can move to Texas. She’s says no every time. 

[The Sicatoka]

32 minutes ago, Wilbur said:

Been there when it's been 115 and I'm not gonna lie, never sweat more in my life on a golf course.

I'd still take it over GF winter honestly.  60 below wind chill just never grows on a person. 

If I'm cold I can add a layer (or even light my back hair on fire) to stay warm.
There are only so many layers one can take off to cool off. 

And there are fewer adventurous creatures looking to kill you around here, no scorpions or rattlesnakes. I would've said coyotes also, but that's a toss-up lately. 

[ToDaClub]

1 hour ago, Oxbow6 said:

Sandy at UMD isn't lost on those of us in the FM area.

God only knows we could've used a goalie to accidently knock the goal off the net pegs more than once this year!!

[fightingsioux4life]

3 hours ago, AJS said:

I think so, but I do think it's debatable. Minnesota, Michigan, Boston U, Boston College. Those schools are clearly at a higher level. I would put UND with Denver (Wisconsin?) on the next level.

Denver (and Duluth) have won two NCAA titles since we last won it all. Pretty good "next level down", don't you think?

[fightingsioux4life]

1 hour ago, Goon said:

One thing to remember, while UND has the best facilities in all of college hockey, destination is still a concern for some recruits. Not everyone is going want to live in Grand Forks or in this climate. Not dissing Grand Forks, but the weather is absolutely horrendous. 

Are we really going to use the climate excuse for hockey?

Schools like UM-Twin Cities and UM-Duluth are not in "tropical climates" either, but that doesn't stop them from recruiting and winning.

I hate the whole "our climate is bad" in the MBB threads and it makes even less sense for hockey.

[scpa0305]

5 hours ago, AJS said:

Tough times. Here's the good news. Fortunately, UND has advantages that most teams do not. They are still a Top 5 destination for recruits. The overall recruiting pipeline is solid and although I do not like the transfer portal, it's an advantage for UND. A bounce back is likely. Here's the bad news. The coaching staff. UND has an extremely average coaching staff. When you have average coaching abilities, but you can get talent, you're still going to win for the most part. We're looking based on a pretty good sample size, that they'll make the playoffs slightly over half the time. 

The other down Berry years have never felt like this. This is just not a fun team to follow. It really is unfair and unfortunate, but a lot of the frustration for me is falling on the 5th year guys. I would rather see 29 or 18 than 10. 11 for 19. 6 for 3. I've never felt like the development of players is really being hindered like I do this year.

Very important offseason is ahead. With the advantages they have, a turnaround is likely if they nail it. 

 

I have actually heard the coaches are good, and this is from “hockey guys”. From an X’s and O’s Standpoint. I think the reliance on portal skaters is getting a bit out of control and I know for a fact recruits can get a bit skittish with Und given the short leash. Tough to develop if you don’t play. I heard this from an interesting source last summer (a kid who ended up picking UM) and I’m starting to see it the past two years with guys decommitting or not playing at all. 
 

I know why they’re doing this…because they are in a must win environment. This forum basically lays it out . I just think it’s backfiring a bit. Take your lumps with underclassmen but get them ready to be upperclassman. Sprinkle that in with blue chips. Get the most skill you can with your recruits and go to the portal if you absolutely have to.

[Irish]

5 hours ago, tnt said:

For real, they would bring in two portal goalies?  How does Duluth get Gajan, and we are sitting here possibly needing to be bringing in two portals?  Doing that would be admitting total whiff on recruiting.  Would think Karl would be having a lot of input on goaltending recruiting and developing them, so how did we get to this place?

That is the Million Dollar Question.  I would have bet all I had that we would never have the worst goaltending in the country.

[SIOUXELEVENS]

You can’t convince me that #6 would do worse then #3 or #4 , like you said let them take their lumps and learn from it. 

[SIOUXELEVENS]

2 minutes ago, Irish said:

That is the Million Dollar Question.  I would have bet all I had that we would never have the worst goaltending in the country.

We don’t play quick or fast enough, how many times did a Denver player break up a play by skating us down , Gaber was caught a few times , maybe it’s Berry style holding them back ? Berry may need to evolve if he wants to keep employed. 

[brianvf]

14 minutes ago, SIOUXELEVENS said:

We don’t play quick or fast enough, how many times did a Denver player break up a play by skating us down , Gaber was caught a few times , maybe it’s Berry style holding them back ? Berry may need to evolve if he wants to keep employed. 

Berry instructs the players to skate at 85-90% speed as part of his style?   

[The Sicatoka]

2 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Berry instructs the players to skate at 85-90% speed as part of his style?   

Probably not, but they all seem to have to receive a puck, dust it a couple times, then look up and decide where to go with it. Teams like DU and WMU are making three touch passes in the same time because they know where they are going with the puck before it ever gets to them. 

[Irish]

3 hours ago, Goon said:

One thing to remember, while UND has the best facilities in all of college hockey, destination is still a concern for some recruits. Not everyone is going want to live in Grand Forks or in this climate. Not dissing Grand Forks, but the weather is absolutely horrendous. 

It's not the climate as much as Berry's playing style - Denver let's them play, we seem to stifle scorers.

[MafiaMan]

4 hours ago, AJS said:

I think so, but I do think it's debatable. Minnesota, Michigan, Boston U, Boston College. Those schools are clearly at a higher level. I would put UND with Denver (Wisconsin?) on the next level. 

I’m sorry, but Boston College?  

[SIOUXELEVENS]

23 minutes ago, brianvf said:

Berry instructs the players to skate at 85-90% speed as part of his style?   

I would guess he does so I have something else to bitch about, did you watch the games? What did you think. 

[AJS]

4 minutes ago, MafiaMan said:

I’m sorry, but Boston College?  

Definitely. Don't they have arguably the Top 3 recruits in next years class?