College Hockey - 2011/2012

[archerystud]

Looks like fun Solbes.

I wouldn't write too much into the first couple weekends, it's still early. I just love to see the WCHA get the non-conference wins, makes the entire conference better.

The Sioux will probably right the ship by Jan.

[solbes]

All right, who in the FMGAC authorized an extension for Don? Sounds like Lucia got an extension through 2014/15. Not completely official, but all terms have been agreed to. Guess that Sacred Heart series must've really impressed the AD.

Link to Pate's Blog

[Bear55]

They went over our heads and signed him against our recommendation.

I do kind of get the feeling that this might be Don's last contract and MG is going to take over the program down the road.

[Shorelunch]

All right, who in the FMGAC authorized an extension for Don? Sounds like Lucia got an extension through 2014/15. Not completely official, but all terms have been agreed to. Guess that Sacred Heart series must've really impressed the AD.

Link to Pate's Blog

They signed tDon to show possible recruits that it's a stable program and their coach will be there for a while. If the team tanks this year, they just buy out the contract.

[Shorelunch]

Looks like fun Solbes.

I wouldn't write too much into the first couple weekends, it's still early. I just love to see the WCHA get the non-conference wins, makes the entire conference better.

The Sioux will probably right the ship by Jan.

I think you're right. They'll definitely be some peaks and valleys for the first half of the year. Fire Hak!

[Bear55]

Hak=Woog you guys should fire him.

[scsavre]

Yah, hak-wooger isn't a fan avorite right now. I heard someone flipped double hakstols t him last game. Also heard the rink wasn't even full. Must be hunting.

Yah, we all saw the contract coming. Don makes the the ncaa's and he keeps his job. if they loose, blais takes over 2 years then guentzel. If they win lucia fullfils contract, goes out on top and then guentzel is handed the ranes.

Honestly, I think this team is going to be pretty good, and next years will be awesome if the players stay. I would still like to get rid of potulny..... but at least hill is gone. We still need a coach for the pp and 4 on 4 situations. Really what does a head coach do anyway, come up with a system that the assistants implement. Then its just leadership coupled with babysitting.

[cbrooks]

Like Archerystud said, UND's track record with Hak as the coach is a 500 team until the second half of the season. I'm not even gonna get into the NCAA tourament yet . I thought UND out played BC the first period then Jerry made some adjustments, they knew Aaron Dell was shakey in that game. Alot of young guys on that team. I'm hopping this team can be like there 1997 NCAA championship team.

Watch for Brad Eidness to take over goaltending duties sometime this year.

[Shorelunch]

Like Archerystud said, UND's track record with Hak as the coach is a 500 team until the second half of the season. I'm not even gonna get into the NCAA tourament yet . I thought UND out played BC the first period then Jerry made some adjustments, they knew Aaron Dell was shakey in that game. Alot of young guys on that team. I'm hopping this team can be like there 1997 NCAA championship team.

Watch for Brad Eidness to take over goaltending duties sometime this year.

I agree. I think Dell is gonna fall back down to Earth a little and there will be a rotation. Hopefully Eids gets back into his old form.

It's amazing how Blais still walks on water for (us) Sioux fans. However, he failed to win championships with his most talented teams. Kinda like Hak . . .

[Bear55]

Like I said Hak=Wooger, he is a great coach just not a legendary coach. I just hope it takes UND another decade or two to figure it out.

[Shorelunch]

Like I said Hak=Wooger, he is a great coach just not a legendary coach. I just hope it takes UND another decade or two to figure it out.

I wish the Gophs would have won enough to keep Hill as an asst and not have re-hired Guenzal (sp.)!

You gotta wonder how the conversation went between Lucia and Hill. I heard Hill was the last to know and found out second hand.

[scsavre]

Maybe hill just wast smart enough to know what lucia meant by "this is the end of the road john" hills response "we aren't driving don" then....."john we are gonna have to let you go", hills response "but don I like holding your hand"

Maybe that is why hill didn't know, I think I even knew.

That is kinda of sad and a shady way of doing things if hill was last to know.

[cbrooks]

It's amazing how Blais still walks on water for (us) Sioux fans. However, he failed to win championships with his most talented teams. Kinda like Hak . . .

Interesting point. I was never on "the fire Hak" wagon. I think he's a good coach but I'm one of those fans that thinks Blais walks on water. Another college coach I think is really good is Jerry York of BC. His teams always seem to make the adjustments down the stretch of a game whether a defensemen is cheating this way or that or how tight the refs are calling the game and what they aren't calling. I could go on bout other coaches but I would have to start another thread. It would be interesting to hear other opinions.

[Bear55]

Heck I even thing Blais can walk on water, dude just strait up wins wherever he goes. 2 NC's as a head coach, 2 as an assistant, World Jr's gold medal (not an easy task) not to mention a state tournament championship with Roseau and I think he led an expansion USHL team to the finals in a short stint there.

Had he not tried his hand at the NHL there might be another banner or two in Sioux land.

[solbes]

Gopher Bulldog weekend, I'm pumped. I wonder if they broadcast more games in HD now? I know Wild games are, but I suppose the college will not. Either way it'll be better than watching Duluth on B2.

Expected Duluth Lines:

MIKE SEIDEL-JACK CONNOLLY-J.T. BROWN

JAKE HENDRICKSON-TRAVIS OLEKSUK-JOE BASARABA

JUSTIN CRANDALL-CALEB HERBERT-DAVID GRUN

KEEGAN FLAHERTY-MAX TARDY-ADAM KRAUSE

WADE BERGMAN-BRADY LAMB

SCOTT KISHEL-CHRIS CASTO

DREW OLSON-LUKE MCMANUS

KENNY REITER, AARON CRANDALL

Those top 2 lines just aren't quite up to snuff from years past. It'll have to do. I like Seidel in line 1. Line 2 has some glaring holes. Basaraba might be a solid #2 guy, but we're pretty weak on the other side. I'm hoping Herbert plays well enough to jump a line halfway through the season.

Gophers on the other hand roll with 3 solid lines. Rau gonna start with Line 1 again?

I'm really hoping for 3 from UMD. A lot of ties between these clubs that last few years.

[Bear55]

Calling it now, Gopher sweep!

I know I should pick a split but those are just too boring. Come on gophers it's time to show everyone we are back, or at least better then last year.

[cbrooks]

Looking forward to watching the Minnesota/UMD series. The Gpphers could be on the rise with all the new freshman they have. Everything I read says they have the best class amoung the colleges.

[solbes]

Looks like tonights game is in HD from FSN. For Saturday Dish Network shows the Wild game on the normal FSN channel. I had heard they were going to broadcast the UMD/UM game on an alternate channel, but it doesn't show up on the channel guide. They BETTER!!!

[cbrooks]

I guess I won't be able to watch any of the UMD/Minnessota game

[OnAFly]

Wow, what a game between UM-UMD. Gophers give up 2 2-goal leads, UMD scores to lead under 2 minutes left, Gophers score to tie at 44s left. To cap it all off, the Gophers score with under a minute left in OT. Great game!

[solbes]

Oh you missed a good one. Looked like 2 for Duluth with 2 to go and Gophers come away with the OT win. Oh well.

On the plus side it looks like Duluth has found the guy to plug the whole on line #2. Fantastic game by Herbert. And very solid play by Reiter too, most of the goals were with man advantages.

[schmitty3]

Hell of a hockey game. Very physical, and lots of shots. I thought the gophers were out when UMD got that last one with 2 min left. Then to put one in under a min left in overtime too was just awesome.

[Bear55]

Great game, didn't expact that kind of game this early in the season. I was thinking the dogs might experience a significant drop from last year but they have looked pretty good against MN and ND.

I was expecting Haula to get a little better this year but he kid is on a tear. He won't be able to keep up this kind of pace but it is sure nice to see him and Hanson stepping it up big time early in the season. The last couple seasons you could see some flashes coming from Hanson but he never put it all together, this just might be the year.

[cbrooks]

Ahh, just back from duck hunting. Congrats to the Gophers. I did catch pieces of the game while watching UND and Maine. It looks like Denver, UMD , CC and Minnesota will be the top four teams in the WCHA.

As for the UND game. Eids got the nod and was the star of the game. Maine outshot UND 31 to 21. Maine outplayed UND the first half of the game. They have some work to do even with this win. This is not one of Maine's better teams. the passing was way off. Guys reaching for pucks. I saw where guys were colliding into each other when they were trying to break out of there zone. I'm confident they will get better. I'll say Minnesota is the better team now but UND will only improve as the season moves along and key players get healthy.

[jwhjr]

Nice to see the Gophers pull out a sweep!