SIOUX vs USA U18

[AZSIOUX]

Yea i agree, Some one needs to work with watkins on not losing draws and the sioux should move brian lee to forward because he just made a fantastic screen.

On a positive note, the team got a good game from the U.S team which can only help in the future.

[Sioux-cia]

WOOOOO WHOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Sioux won and I got to watch it on webcast!!!!!!!!!! I'm not gonna go back and read any posts about this game because as far as I'm concerned the guys played great. The goals were all beautiful, the PK is working and Robbie Bina is the MAN!!!!!!!!!

See ya later.

[Lives-to-play-hockey-06]

Bina is a stud always has been.

[redwing77]

This game wasn't really physical at all, from what I understand. So let me ask you this:

We're going into a stretch where there are already some players banged up enough to be unable to play, some MIGHT be playing hurt (don't know nor have I heard any rumors, but the possibility exists), and we're going to lose 2 D and 1 F to the WJC. So, how would you coach this game? Does the score 5-4 matter knowing that BC and Michigan both got taken to OT vs U18? Does the 4 goals given up matter that much? Is it more important to win the game and risk injury or lose or tie the game and come out uninjured?

I'd love to know your comments on this. I'm not sure winning this game was all that important provided we got some good play out of players that were going to be around in the coming weekends when Lee, Chorney, and Toews are gone.

Not many comments regarding play really. I only saw the game from just before the penalty on Toews expired to the end of the game (it was 4-3 by then). I thought the goal by Shattenkirk was pretty weak. And from the replay, Watkins won the faceoff but pushed the puck the wrong way. He then won the remaining faceoffs he was in that I noticed. I don't know. No one was physical except for Finley. Saw Radke and Finley come deep into the zone a few times.

Don't know if anyone noticed but Toews prevented what could have been an odd-man rush coming out of the USA zone by stealing the puck in the third. He couldn't maintain control of it and I think USA even managed to continue pushing up ice, but it was pretty good.

And Bina's OT goal: THAT'S what happens when you rush the net! Vandevelde made a beautiful centering pass late in the third but there was NO ONE rushing the net so it just skittered harmlessly to the far boards (I mean no one even close!). Bina rushed the net following Toews, who attempted to make what would have been an unbelievable backhand shot (that I believe if Toews got it airborne, would have went in anyhow) and wiffed on the puck and it ended up on Bina's stick, who threw it at the net and in. We need to rush the net in waves!

[redwing77]

Bina is a stud always has been.

You're pretty familiar with the ND High School hockey scene. Did Bina win any awards or make any "waves" while he was in Grand Forks? (I'm embarrassed to say that I don't remember if he went to Red River or Central).

[AZSIOUX]

Bina is a stud always has been.

yeah, he must be on your ALL RESPECT team

and if he isnt you deserve a old fashion azz whoopin

[GBpakrzz]

You're pretty familiar with the ND High School hockey scene. Did Bina win any awards or make any "waves" while he was in Grand Forks? (I'm embarrassed to say that I don't remember if he went to Red River or Central).

I believe Bina is a Central grad. I've been out of GF for over 10 years and don't know if he won any awards.

[sagard]

Good for Bina! He is very easy to cheer for. Pretty hard to root too hard against the US kids though, they usually play pretty hard.

[redwing77]

Good for Bina! He is very easy to cheer for. Pretty hard to root too hard against the US kids though, they usually play pretty hard.

Yeah. Unice was very good in what little I saw. He also gave the body language as he skated off the ice that he left it all on the ice tonight.

I have a ton of respect for the NTDP program.

[brianvf]

Does the score 5-4 matter knowing that BC and Michigan both got taken to OT vs U18? Does the 4 goals given up matter that much? Is it more important to win the game and risk injury or lose or tie the game and come out uninjured?

No. No. More important to just avoid injuries.

This was an exhibition game, plain and simple. It was a good game to schedule in an off-week for WCHA play, as the U18 team is a quality opponent and this will help keep the rust out of the legs going into the UW weekend.

Now lets hope that Fabian and Chorney are back next weekend, and we can work on getting 4 points against Wisco.

And Bina was a Central grad.

[CDog]

I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed listening to Andy Schneider. A great mix of insight and humor. I had no idea. FSSN has found a diamond in the rough.

[AZSIOUX]

I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed listening to Andy Schneider. A great mix of insight and humor. I had no idea. FSSN has found a diamond in the rough.

yeah, he is good. they should use him for the next year and a half until he heals up and is able to play again.

[Lives-to-play-hockey-06]

You're pretty familiar with the ND High School hockey scene. Did Bina win any awards or make any "waves" while he was in Grand Forks? (I'm embarrassed to say that I don't remember if he went to Red River or Central).

Not anymore but, he played for Central. He wasn't even their banner player believe it or not. He was just a solid and steady player.

[Wilbur]

UND needs to offer the goaltender from the USDT (Josh Unice) a scholarship. No strings attached. A full ride, come to UND, we'll take care of you, and you can make great saves against other teams....

[AZSIOUX]

UND needs to offer the goaltender from the USDT (Josh Unice) a scholarship. No strings attached. A full ride, come to UND, we'll take care of you, and you can make great saves against other teams....

he is solid but he is going to bowling green......

[HeidiSioux62]

yeah, he is good. they should use him for the next year and a half until he heals up and is able to play again.

Everybody send e-mails to DAZ and tell them. Maybe they'll ask him back.

[Diggler]

So why is my hero doing commentary? Is he hurt? Sorry if this question has already been answered.

[luapsided]

was away for the night. glad to see we squeek't it out! And so it sounds we played good as did usa. So they have pretty good height on their team? like plenty over 6'? GO SIOUX!

[AZSIOUX]

So why is my hero doing commentary? Is he hurt? Sorry if this question has already been answered.

he said he was checked from behind or something like that and shattered his wrist i believe..really screwed it up and it is a 12-18 month healing.....he ws very very good at color

[AZSIOUX]

was away for the night. glad to see we squeek't it out! And so it sounds we played good as did usa. So they have pretty good height on their team? like plenty over 6'? GO SIOUX!

we were good in spurts, WAY to many penalties...i think we gave them 9 PP's, very bad....oshie and toews were great, phil was just OK....lets get ready for the stinkin BADgers

[HeidiSioux62]

Here's my two cents from the game tonight. I sat above where the zamboni comes out so I have a real good view of one end of the ice, but not so good of the other end.

First - USA has deceptive speed and they have a really nice transition game. When they got control of the puck in their own end they were able to get it out and up the ice quickly (UND could use quite a bit of work on that). They seem to be well coached and that's great cause this coach is coaching the USA World Juniors in Sweden. Hopefully he can get the same kind of performance from that team that he seems to be getting out of this team. Unice (the goalie) is good, but I saw a lot more of UND not being able to finish than him making great saves. Don't get me wrong the kid is good and I wish he were coming to UND, but from my vantage point it seemed to be UND not being able to capitalize - especially on the rebounds. Also these kids were BIG. There was a forward (don't remember his name) that Finley was shadowing that was as big as Finley - he moved well also. Not much hitting from either side, but tempers did flare from time to time and they kind of didn't know what to do with TJ and JT so they ended up doing the standard clutch, grab, piggyback stuff. (Man it must get frustrating for those two - I get frustrated just watching it)

Now to UND - Before I go there, I just want to make one correction to the board tonight. UND's 2nd goal (I think it was the 2nd goal) was by Miller on an absolutely gorgeous, beautiful, incredible, amazing pass from Toews.

My overall impression tonight was sloppy. Like my friend said "I wish they would pass to EACH OTHER." Lots of lazy passes from everyone - even the top guns - and then on the flip side, it was like they were thinking too much. The USA team was good, but the Sioux should have been able to control that entire game and it felt like they were scrambling most of the night. They would have brief moments of "Sioux Hockey" and they looked unbelievable. There wasn't any consistency though. They seemed tight and seemed to be fighting the puck and fighting each other for the puck. There were at least 6 times that two Sioux were on the puck at the same time and then seemed to "fight" each other for it. Miller had a great night. HUSTLED and then HUSTLED some more. He was rewarded by being moved up to the 1st line with Toews and Duncan. I didn't notice Genoway not having a good night, I think Miller was just having a better night.

The second period was a nightmare again. Against a better team we would have PAID and PAID BIG TIME. At least 4 penalties in a row - which included two 5 on 3. Here's my obligatory "THE REFS SUCK". Albers was the ref (don't know which Albers) and most of the night, he couldn't decide whether to blow the whistle or not. Most of the time yes for the Sioux and not for USA. It actually was funny a few times where he would put the whistle to his mouth, take it down, put it up, take it down, put it up take it down.......just couldn't make a decision. Lord help you if you looked at him after you committed a penalty though cause then he WOULD call it. I do have to say that the Too Many Men On The Ice penalty that the Sioux got was well deserved though. They were sloppy with that all night and actually should have been called for it more often.

One last negative before I gush. From my vantage point (at the other end of the ice) the last two goals looked very weak. Like I mentioned, I'm at the other end of the ice, but from what I saw on the replay, I think Phil could have had those.

Now to gush time.

Jonathan Toews is amazing. He is something to watch. He is so smooth and sees everything. As much as I hate to think of him leaving UND, it will be amazing to watch him in the NHL where refs actually call clutching and grabbing. His passes to Miller and then to Bina in OT were things of beauty. He also must have had at least 6 or 7 straight out that puck is mine steals.

TJ Oshie is just a "whirling dervish" out there. He has so much energy. His feet NEVER stop moving and he never quits on a play. He just keeps shooting and passing and skating and shooting and passing and skating and then all of sudden there a HIT - it's so beautiful - takes the other guy so off guard, the look on their face is priceless.

Duncan and Porter were a little quieter (or at least not as noticeable - even with Porter's goal) than usual, but steady as usual.

Like I said earlier, Miller had a great night. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time, and was hustling constantly.

Foyt had a steady night. It was good to see him get an opportunity to play and he got the "hit of the game" on the jumbo tron. It was a nice open ice hit.

I thought Finley had a pretty good night - he played as well as any of the D did. Couple of passes I would like to have back, but he seemed to be skating with more confidence than I've seen him this year.

Phil played OK - had one very good save in the third I think it was that really should have been a goal.

Although the D did not have a spectacular night, it was not an awful night (just sloppy like everybody else). I would still like to see A LOT more hitting and blocked shots (USA had 29 or better shots on goal - too many), but then that' the style of hockey I like. I want the other team punished for even crossing our blue line.

This was an exhibition game and there wasn't the emotion of a WCHA or even non-conference game and they played an OK game. They are going to have to start stepping it up and developing some consistency though if they want to go anywhere in the WCHA or into the nationals. It's just not going to cut it to be playing just OK.

That said, I'm going to trust they will have themselves psyched up for the BADgers next weekend.

Thanks for listening to my rambling (there's a reason I don't often do recaps - I don't know when to shut-up)

[Stack]

After watching this game I thought Hakstol should pull a Brooks and after everyone leaves bring the team out to skate. This team obviously doesn't yet know the meaning of intensity.

The goal was to improve on the Saturday night CC game and this team went backwards. The USA team may be talented but this is a game an elite college hockey program like UND is expected to dominate. They didn't. The defense didn't clear the puck, the forwards seldom helped on the defensive end, Lammy was screened twice by his own players, in general a poor performance that proved nothing except that they need to improve.

Right now you have elite players like Toews and Oshie that don't seem to be able to score while looking great in spurts, you have a goalie that looks susceptible to high shots because he goes down too early, and you have a defense that hasn't really matured from last year. I don't have a clue if this team will struggle to hit .500 or will find their way and be a title contender. Right now it's looking like the former.

[sprig]

Now to UND - Before I go there, I just want to make one correction to the board tonight. UND's 2nd goal (I think it was the 2nd goal) was by Miller on an absolutely gorgeous, beautiful, incredible, amazing pass from Toews.

Looked like that live on TV also, but the replay clearly showed Toews' pass was poked in by the US dman's stick, Miller never touched it.

[Goon]

The goal was to improve on the Saturday night CC game and this team went backwards. The USA team may be talented but this is a game an elite college hockey program like UND is expected to dominate. They didn't. The defense didn't clear the puck, the forwards seldom helped on the defensive end, Lammy was screened twice by his own players, in general a poor performance that proved nothing except that they need to improve.

If I am not mistaken Finley also shot one of the USA goals in?

[Fetch]

I thought it looked like good 17 yr olds against good 18 yr olds