Fire Berry Please!

[dustnyou]

I’m not sure why I’m taking the time to reply to this. I guess it’s just to help people think a little. First off, Berry has ran many different “systems” since he has taken over the program. It mainly depends on his roster as to what they are running as well as the opponent. As far as his current style being a “bad system”, old school, unwillingness to change, games passed him, no freedom or creativity, etc. Then explain what Jaxon Blake was doing out there under Berry less than a year ago? You know, the freedom he had to pretty much do what he wanted all the way to 60 pts and a Hobey Hat Trick finalist! Did Berry hold him back? Was his “system” unfavorable to the makeup of his team and his star player? No. And as far as him not developing players for the NHL and them regressing… see points about Blake above. He came in a 4th round pick who some on here were asking for him to be benched for being selfish and turning over the puck. Some also said he needs to stay another year. Some commented he will have a nice career in the AHL or Europe. He’s currently 3rd in NHL rookie goal scoring and is on Carolina’s top line with Aho and Rantanin and 1st PP. Berry developed him into a first line NHL’er. Same goes for Tyler Klevin who some on here said he wouldn’t sniff the NHL. He’s been a mainstay. Brad Berry has done a great job ideveloping college athletes into pros. He has been a great coach and this man has forgotten more about hockey than most people know. With all that being said, I don’t disagree that he has had a bad year obviously. Us fans are frustrated with the performance of our favorite team. Berry deserves the criticism he’s getting. But let’s not stretch it here into something it’s not. 

[siouxkid12]

3 hours ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Guys, I hate to break it to you, but NHL scouts love UND. We're still very much appreciated as a program that develops players into pros. 

I have no doubt that that image will diminish if things don't improve, but as of right now, the NHL loves how UND develops players.

Never said that NHL scouts hate UND or are disappointed in the development of players here. I was just nearly saying that I wouldn’t be surprised if NHL teams pressure them to move on (could be for various reasons). 

[yzerman19]

5 hours ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Guys, I hate to break it to you, but NHL scouts love UND. We're still very much appreciated as a program that develops players into pros. 

I have no doubt that that image will diminish if things don't improve, but as of right now, the NHL loves how UND develops players.

patently untrue at this point.  A couple GMs still like us.  As a whole, they are not loving it.   Sorry to say it, but seeing it 

[Brett0909]

2 minutes ago, yzerman19 said:

patently untrue at this point.  A couple GMs still like us.  As a whole, they are not loving it.   Sorry to say it, but seeing it 

All anecdotal, but I hear a lot less from commentators and scouts about the UND development pathway than I used to. Berry’s done a good job of finding some talent who was a bit overlooked early on but had high upside (Blake, Sanderson)..but certainly not winning many/any of the truly elite prospects that some other top programs are bringing in every year. I’d be surprised if UND was in the top 20 destinations for most advisors (CHL, NCAA, etc teams). After being probably top 5-10 under Hak. Not proof, but the days of GMs LOVING sending their guys to GFK as mentioned? I just don’t see it right now. 

[Benny Baker]

3 hours ago, petey23 said:

He was 20

Well, I would think so. Junior hockey is usually 20 and under.

[Benny Baker]

6 hours ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Guys, I hate to break it to you, but NHL scouts love UND. We're still very much appreciated as a program that develops players into pros. 

I have no doubt that that image will diminish if things don't improve, but as of right now, the NHL loves how UND develops players.

This is like Schlossman-speak promoting UND women’s hockey because they have European Olympians.

Some fans might measure UND hockey success because the “NHL loves how UND develops players” for them?  (For free and on the public dime!)

Others measure UND hockey success by how UND competes against other college hockey teams and whether UND competes for a national title. 

[Godsmack]

On 2/9/2025 at 11:39 AM, fightingsioux4life said:

When your players miss the net half the time, it doesn't really matter.

They should take a page out of my beer league and aim for the goalie’s chest and perhaps half the time they’ll end up hitting the corners. 

[scpa0305]

7 hours ago, Brett0909 said:

All anecdotal, but I hear a lot less from commentators and scouts about the UND development pathway than I used to. Berry’s done a good job of finding some talent who was a bit overlooked early on but had high upside (Blake, Sanderson)..but certainly not winning many/any of the truly elite prospects that some other top programs are bringing in every year. I’d be surprised if UND was in the top 20 destinations for most advisors (CHL, NCAA, etc teams). After being probably top 5-10 under Hak. Not proof, but the days of GMs LOVING sending their guys to GFK as mentioned? I just don’t see it right now. 

This seems to be true from my angle.

[Irish]

12 hours ago, dustnyou said:

I’m not sure why I’m taking the time to reply to this. I guess it’s just to help people think a little. First off, Berry has ran many different “systems” since he has taken over the program. It mainly depends on his roster as to what they are running as well as the opponent. As far as his current style being a “bad system”, old school, unwillingness to change, games passed him, no freedom or creativity, etc. Then explain what Jaxon Blake was doing out there under Berry less than a year ago? You know, the freedom he had to pretty much do what he wanted all the way to 60 pts and a Hobey Hat Trick finalist! Did Berry hold him back? Was his “system” unfavorable to the makeup of his team and his star player? No. And as far as him not developing players for the NHL and them regressing… see points about Blake above. He came in a 4th round pick who some on here were asking for him to be benched for being selfish and turning over the puck. Some also said he needs to stay another year. Some commented he will have a nice career in the AHL or Europe. He’s currently 3rd in NHL rookie goal scoring and is on Carolina’s top line with Aho and Rantanin and 1st PP. Berry developed him into a first line NHL’er. Same goes for Tyler Klevin who some on here said he wouldn’t sniff the NHL. He’s been a mainstay. Brad Berry has done a great job ideveloping college athletes into pros. He has been a great coach and this man has forgotten more about hockey than most people know. With all that being said, I don’t disagree that he has had a bad year obviously. Us fans are frustrated with the performance of our favorite team. Berry deserves the criticism he’s getting. But let’s not stretch it here into something it’s not. 

Ok - if it isn't "systems" what do you think it is?  Poor recruiting overall?  Poor game management?  Coaching style?  There must be some reason for our continual underachieving.  Is it coaching style and philosophy that leads us to go into a 3rd period prevent shell with a lead - often with disastrous results or leads to our difficulty maintaining intensity for a full 60 minutes?  Is it poor recruiting that causes us to be continually in the portal for goalies - even with an experienced goalie coach on staff?  Looking at the number of times we have missed the regional altogether it must be something.  And for every Jaxon Blake there are many who didn't develop at all. And even with Jaxon we got bounced out of the tournament when we didn't show up for the first 5 minutes of the third period. Watching our team - especially when we still have the no look passes and horrible penalties is very frustrating.  Compare our organization and results to Denver and you can see the difference. Our program is losing ground rapidly.

[stoneySIOUX]

12 hours ago, yzerman19 said:

patently untrue at this point.  A couple GMs still like us.  As a whole, they are not loving it.   Sorry to say it, but seeing it 

Patently untrue? I guess you and I are hearing from different people lol. I've not heard of one single scout who it pushing kids away from UND.

[stoneySIOUX]

11 hours ago, Benny Baker said:

This is like Schlossman-speak promoting UND women’s hockey because they have European Olympians.

Some fans might measure UND hockey success because the “NHL loves how UND develops players” for them?  (For free and on the public dime!)

Others measure UND hockey success by how UND competes against other college hockey teams and whether UND competes for a national title. 

The conversation was about GMs and scouts guiding players away from UND and that players would leave at GMs and scouts behest. So, that was why I spoke about that.... you know, since it was part of the conversation. Goodness.

[siouxkid12]

1 hour ago, stoneySIOUX said:

The conversation was about GMs and scouts guiding players away from UND and that players would leave at GMs and scouts behest. So, that was why I spoke about that.... you know, since it was part of the conversation. Goodness.

I agree, I don't think this is a Okoposo situation where we will start seeing players leave during the season but I do think NHL GMs and scouts are looking at our season and suggesting that it might be time for them to leave at seasons end based on the way our year has played out. I would like to think that GMs and scouts know what is going on in every aspect of the players (that they drafted) day to day lives and the players will tell them everything. I am basing my opinion off of what rumors I have heard and I hope they are not true but the play on the ice seems to show that there is some type of locker room drama going on.

[yzerman19]

1 hour ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Patently untrue? I guess you and I are hearing from different people lol. I've not heard of one single scout who it pushing kids away from UND.

wasn't trying to be obnoxious, as i re-read how I posted it was a little aggressive.  I have heard first hand that Bubs is a great guy and everybody who knows him in hockey loves him and he is in "the club" however the trust in the process from the big clubs has eroded from "he's at UND, let's just let it play out" to "okay, how hard do we need to lean and do we need to make a change or not"

[90siouxfan]

1 hour ago, stoneySIOUX said:

Patently untrue? I guess you and I are hearing from different people lol. I've not heard of one single scout who it pushing kids away from UND.

how many scouts do you regularly communicate with? and how often.   how do you find time to cheerlead with all those important connections?

 

[stoneySIOUX]

2 minutes ago, 90siouxfan said:

how many scouts do you regularly communicate with? and how often.   how do you find time to cheerlead with all those important connections?

 

Lol cute.

[stoneySIOUX]

5 minutes ago, yzerman19 said:

wasn't trying to be obnoxious, as i re-read how I posted it was a little aggressive.  I have heard first hand that Bubs is a great guy and everybody who knows him in hockey loves him and he is in "the club" however the trust in the process from the big clubs has eroded from "he's at UND, let's just let it play out" to "okay, how hard do we need to lean and do we need to make a change or not"

Fair enough, man. I'm not doubting who or what you know!

[UND1983]

15 hours ago, dustnyou said:

I’m not sure why I’m taking the time to reply to this. I guess it’s just to help people think a little. First off, Berry has ran many different “systems” since he has taken over the program. It mainly depends on his roster as to what they are running as well as the opponent. As far as his current style being a “bad system”, old school, unwillingness to change, games passed him, no freedom or creativity, etc. Then explain what Jaxon Blake was doing out there under Berry less than a year ago? You know, the freedom he had to pretty much do what he wanted all the way to 60 pts and a Hobey Hat Trick finalist! Did Berry hold him back? Was his “system” unfavorable to the makeup of his team and his star player? No. And as far as him not developing players for the NHL and them regressing… see points about Blake above. He came in a 4th round pick who some on here were asking for him to be benched for being selfish and turning over the puck. Some also said he needs to stay another year. Some commented he will have a nice career in the AHL or Europe. He’s currently 3rd in NHL rookie goal scoring and is on Carolina’s top line with Aho and Rantanin and 1st PP. Berry developed him into a first line NHL’er. Same goes for Tyler Klevin who some on here said he wouldn’t sniff the NHL. He’s been a mainstay. Brad Berry has done a great job ideveloping college athletes into pros. He has been a great coach and this man has forgotten more about hockey than most people know. With all that being said, I don’t disagree that he has had a bad year obviously. Us fans are frustrated with the performance of our favorite team. Berry deserves the criticism he’s getting. But let’s not stretch it here into something it’s not. 

Then what's the problem?  Sounds like we have Scott Bowman 2.0 running the show but the team sucks.  Augustana is better than UND.  

He has won ONE NCAA game since 2017.  

[gfhockey]

Some teams have down years 

 

this team is having out down year

 

its how we respond next year

[SIOUXELEVENS]

The one common denominator in all this is Brad Berry. 

[UND1983]

It's almost embarrassing, well no it is embarrassing, how low of expectations UND fans have.  The hockey program is supposed to be the D1 blueblood power of the NCAA and it doesn't win sh*t.  Berry would've been fired five years ago if this was a program that demands winning.  

Our weak-minded fanbase is more than happy to just show up at the Ralph to look cool & take selfies.  

[siouxkid12]

1 minute ago, UND1983 said:

It's almost embarrassing, well no it is embarrassing, how low of expectations UND fans have.  The hockey program is supposed to be the D1 blueblood power of the NCAA and it doesn't win sh*t.  Berry would've been fired five years ago if this was a program that demands winning.  

Our weak-minded fanbase is more than happy to just show up at the Ralph to look cool & take selfies.  

This is a problem from the top down and they get away with it because our fanbase is too "Midwest nice". UND's athletic leadership has never been the same since it went to D1, they have put (and kept) coaches that are mediocre for far too long. 

[fightingsioux4life]

andrew.armacost@und.edu

william.chaves@und.edu

Tell President Armacost and AD Chaves that you expect better from the Flagship University of this state.

[UND1983]

1 minute ago, fightingsioux4life said:

andrew.armacost@und.edu

william.chaves@und.edu

Tell President Armacost and AD Chaves that you expect better from the Flagship University of this state.

All we can do.  

[SIOUXELEVENS]

I have said before Berry is probably an awesome guy and a great assistant coach just. Not a good head coach nothing personal just want this team to be successful. 

[fightingsioux4life]

6 minutes ago, SIOUXELEVENS said:

I have said before Berry is probably an awesome guy and a great assistant coach just. Not a good head coach nothing personal just want this team to be successful. 

That is my take as well.