SIOUX vs USA U18

[The Sicatoka]

USA Under-18 v. NCAA DI this year:

9/29/06 Univ. of Alaska-Fairbanks Anchorage, Alaska W, 5-3

9/30/06 Univ. of Alaska-Anchorage Anchorage, Alaska L, 9-2

10/8/06 Univ. of Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. L, 2-3 (OT)

10/13/06 Boston College Chestnut Hill, Mass. L, 4-5 (OT)

10/14/06 Univ. of New Hampshire Durham, N.H. L, 1-7

10/19/06 Michigan State Univ. E. Lansing, Mich. W, 5-4

10/28/06 Clarkson Univ. Potsdam, N.Y. W, 6-2

11/19/06 Robert Morris Univ. Moon Township, Pa. T, 2-2

11/22/06 Canisius College Ann Arbor, Mich. T, 2-2

12/1/06 Univ. of North Dakota Grand Forks, N.D. L, 4-5 (ot).

12/9/06 Univ. of Vermont Burlington, Vt. 7:05 p.m.

12/15/06 Northern Michigan Univ. Marquette, Mich. 7:35 p.m.

12/16/06 Lake Superior State Univ. Slt Ste. Marie, Mich. 7:05 p.m.

1/5/07 Princeton Univ. Princeton, N.J. 7:00 p.m.

1/20/07 Colorado College Colo. Spgs., Colo. 2:00 p.m.

2/2/07 Wayne State Univ. Detroit, Mich. 7:05 p.m.

3/2/07 Bemidji State Univ. Bemidji, Minn. 7:35 p.m.

3/3/07 Bemidji State Univ. Bemidji, Minn. 7:05 p.m.

They are 3-5-2 against NCAA DI schools so far this year (with three of the five losses coming in OT, and against Michigan, Boston College, and North Dakota no less!). That's not a bad team.

[sufan]

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)

Great analysis of the game. It is refreshing to read a post that breaks down the game with intelligence while remaining respectful of the players.

[redwing77]

I think we found out how much of the physical game we depend upon defensively. We weren't physical much last night that I saw and, though there was more skating involved and less hitting, it didn't seem as intense.

I don't know. I think one of the major goals last night was to have no one get injured. We're headed into a stretch of games where injuries could be devastating to the Sioux.

[HeidiSioux62]

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.

I was mistaken, it was the third UND goal that I was talking about and both the Herald and FightingSioux.com both credit Miller with the goal with an assist from Toews.

http://www.fightingsioux.com/sports/mhocke...RELEASE_ID=5399

http://www.grandforksherald.com/articles/i...ection=homepage

[dagies]

Thanks for the recap HS62

[HeidiSioux62]

Thanks for the recap HS62

You are very welcome.

[LeftyZL]

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

Fairly sure that it bounced off of him or got redirected off of him. It was kind of a circus in front of the net at that point and all of a sudden the puck was in.

[luapsided]

Fairly sure that it bounced off of him or got redirected off of him. It was kind of a circus in front of the net at that point and all of a sudden the puck was in.

somone should put a couple clips up of the game (JT's passing for example)~! I feel left out and didn't get to see anything of the game