2024-25 University of North Dakota Hockey Season

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

Littler isn't ready and can wait another year. Get a bottom 6 face off specialist in the portal.

[siouxweet]

We need to get faster.

[scpa0305]

1 hour ago, I Ranger said:

Kawaguchi was definitely not a great skater but neither is Blake. This is another reason why I don't think he is near NHL ready. You can really notice a not so great skater when they are tired and that is exactly when Blake shows he isn't a very efficient skater. 

Blake is a really good skater. Not necessarily a long power strider, but fairly quick and can play with super pace. He’s also ridiculously edgy. Kawaguchi was flat out slow.

[scpa0305]

17 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

Littler isn't ready and can wait another year. Get a bottom 6 face off specialist in the portal.

Littler is aging out 

[AlphaMikeFoxtrot]

4 minutes ago, scpa0305 said:

Littler is aging out 

He doesn't turn 20 until July.

[scpa0305]

13 minutes ago, AlphaMikeFoxtrot said:

He doesn't turn 20 until July.

Good to know. Either way, he’s playing college hockey next year I would assume. He was drafted two years ago. 

[SIOUXELEVENS]

Does ASU become a member next year?

[cberkas]

1 minute ago, SIOUXELEVENS said:

Does ASU become a member next year?

Yes

[SIOUXELEVENS]

2024-2025

find some line combos and keep them and find chemistry 

no prevent defense , skate hard for three periods. 
Berry don’t put so much emphasis on the regular season, focus on post season. 
next season thread starts in April 

[Siouxperfan7]

I hate when this thread starts in March. 

[SIOUXELEVENS]

3 minutes ago, Siouxperfan7 said:

I hate when this thread starts in March. 

Fixed my post 

[nodakvindy]

Get more padding for d men or let goalies stop the puck. Zmolek missing omaha series was huge and Pyke out for the regional was costly. Don't know if it's putting more focus on postseason but just staying healthy for postseason. 

[fightingsioux4life]

53 minutes ago, SIOUXELEVENS said:

Berry don’t put so much emphasis on the regular season, focus on post season.

This is a bit of a dilemma for me. Should we as fans hope for a fourth place finish in the NCHC to set up a national title run? It seems like a false choice to me.

[brianvf]

1 minute ago, fightingsioux4life said:

This is a bit of a dilemma for me. Should we as fans hope for a fourth place finish in the NCHC to set up a national title run? It seems like a false choice to me.

I guess best case scenario is you put yourself in a position for all three titles.  It rarely ever happens to win all three, but at least give yourself a chance.
I mean, I'd much rather be in DU's position right now...finishing 2nd in the conf, winning the conf tourney, and at the F4.

I'm glad that the team won the Penrose this year...at least they got some hardware. 
But if next season we finish 3rd in the conf, 2nd in the conf tourney, and then make it to the F4...I'd be more excited about that.  We've won enough Penrose's for awhile...let's focus on those other two for a change.   

[SIOUXELEVENS]

I’m not saying forget about the regular season but don’t lazor  focus on it, prepare the team for postseason and playing their best hockey at the end of March and beginning of April. Don’t wear the team out chasing one. 

[I Ranger]

12 hours ago, scpa0305 said:

Blake is a really good skater. Not necessarily a long power strider, but fairly quick and can play with super pace. He’s also ridiculously edgy. Kawaguchi was flat out slow.

I agree he has great edges and is extremely shifty laterally but isn't overly quick in a straight line. He isn't blowing by anyone that's for sure. We can agree to disagree on this. Like I mentioned in my previous post, you can really notice Blake's inefficient skating when he is tired. He is really leaned over battling to stay upright. 

[tnt]

6 hours ago, SIOUXELEVENS said:

I’m not saying forget about the regular season but don’t lazor  focus on it, prepare the team for postseason and playing their best hockey at the end of March and beginning of April. Don’t wear the team out chasing one. 

That’s the thing, I think UND has given guys plenty of time to come back from injuries and even got guys rest, especially after wrapping up league titles.  The problem I see, is they never regain the edge required to compete in the postseason after that.

[.357]

6 hours ago, tnt said:

That’s the thing, I think UND has given guys plenty of time to come back from injuries and even got guys rest, especially after wrapping up league titles.  The problem I see, is they never regain the edge required to compete in the postseason after that.

The question remains why UND in particular is affected by what could be late-season mental fatigue, this year & others, compared to other teams. Watching Quinnipiac's first game this weekend they were flying all over the ice from start to finish; strong on the puck & never giving up on a play. Other teams are also going strong during the tournament & keeping the pedal to the metal. This contrasted with UND collectively shutting down for most of the third period against MI, like someone slipped sleeping pills in their Gatorade during the second intermission.

The baffling thing is, this lack of edge (if that's what it is) is affecting most of the team, not just a few players who may be burned out at the end of a long season. Going by recent years, maybe the team could start investing in a sports psychologist if they haven't already. UND has all the bells & whistles in REA to train & rest the body; maybe it would be wise to invest equally in the players' mental health to make sure they're locked & loaded between the ears come late March.

[Brett0909]

17 hours ago, siouxweet said:

Throughout his career he gave up a number of softies.

All goalies will give up a few…felt his bad game was just at the worst time. He won the Richter and was UND’s all-time leader in career goals against and save percentage after all…I guess in my book that makes him pretty good. 

[Irish]

36 minutes ago, .357 said:

The question remains why UND in particular is affected by what could be be late-season mental fatigue, this year & others, compared to other teams. Watching Quinnipiac's first game this weekend they were flying all over the ice from start to finish; strong on the puck & never giving up on a play. Other teams are also going strong during the tournament & keeping the pedal to the metal. This contrasted with UND collectively shutting down for most of the third period against MI, like someone slipped sleeping pills in their Gatorade during the second intermission.

The baffling thing is, this lack of edge (if that's what it is) is affecting most of the team, not just a few players who may be burned out at the end of a long season. Going by recent years, maybe the team could start investing in a sports psychologist if they haven't already. UND has all the bells & whistles in REA to train & rest the body; maybe it would be wise to invest equally in the players' mental health to make sure they're locked & loaded between the ears come late March.

Exactly this

 

[siouxweet]

44 minutes ago, .357 said:

The question remains why UND in particular is affected by what could be be late-season mental fatigue, this year & others, compared to other teams. Watching Quinnipiac's first game this weekend they were flying all over the ice from start to finish; strong on the puck & never giving up on a play. Other teams are also going strong during the tournament & keeping the pedal to the metal. This contrasted with UND collectively shutting down for most of the third period against MI, like someone slipped sleeping pills in their Gatorade during the second intermission.

The baffling thing is, this lack of edge (if that's what it is) is affecting most of the team, not just a few players who may be burned out at the end of a long season. Going by recent years, maybe the team could start investing in a sports psychologist if they haven't already. UND has all the bells & whistles in REA to train & rest the body; maybe it would be wise to invest equally in the players' mental health to make sure they're locked & loaded between the ears come late March.

To be fair a lot of Hakstol's teams were like this to where they shut down in the third.  Blais' kept coming with their foot on the gas.

[BusinessSiouxt]

57 minutes ago, .357 said:

The question remains why UND in particular is affected by what could be be late-season mental fatigue, this year & others, compared to other teams. Watching Quinnipiac's first game this weekend they were flying all over the ice from start to finish; strong on the puck & never giving up on a play. Other teams are also going strong during the tournament & keeping the pedal to the metal. This contrasted with UND collectively shutting down for most of the third period against MI, like someone slipped sleeping pills in their Gatorade during the second intermission.

The baffling thing is, this lack of edge (if that's what it is) is affecting most of the team, not just a few players who may be burned out at the end of a long season. Going by recent years, maybe the team could start investing in a sports psychologist if they haven't already. UND has all the bells & whistles in REA to train & rest the body; maybe it would be wise to invest equally in the players' mental health to make sure they're locked & loaded between the ears come late March.

Could it be that the stress of expectations on North Dakota is too much for some? It would honestly be understandable. Think about how those kids feel before every game and after every loss.

[petey23]

20 hours ago, The Sicatoka said:

Factoid of the day: Jason Blake played four seasons of college hockey. 

And practiced for 5

[Oxbow6]

BB needs to lean into developing a goalie. IMO it is Hobie from here on out. He's a recruit. Has shown upside. Roll with him. This plug and play portal nonsense needs to end. Where has this gotten them??

[brianvf]

5 minutes ago, Oxbow6 said:

BB needs to lean into developing a goalie. IMO it is Hobie from here on out. He's a recruit. Has shown upside. Roll with him. This plug and play portal nonsense needs to end. Where has this gotten them??

I’d be fine with that too. 
Hobie looked good in his limited action. Aside from a couple ones he might want back in his last game against UNO, I think he showed he’d be a more than capable starting goalie. 
Would still need a capable backup to join Johnson (if Persson departs as has been hinted at)…so either another recruit or portal grab for one season until Heil can come in.