College Hockey - Off Season and Pre Season

[Bear55]

I'd say the gopher goalie position is up for grabs, I just kind of have a gut feeling Wilcox will get the job by the end of the year but who knows.

It has been pretty slow around here, things should pick up soon, hockey season is closing in. It should be an exciting year.

[Bear55]

There is the world jr summer camp going on right now, lots of college players in attendance. Mario Lucia scored a trick against Finland in a scrimage, good news for us Wild fans.

It also sounds like gopher D Skjei and Reilly are looking really good, that poses a problem because we return all 6 D and will have possibly 8 high end D to fill 6 spots. I honestly don't know who will sit? Alt, Schmidt, and Helgeson seem like locks. Holl will be a Jr with experience, Partenuea plays great D, Marshall has a ton of skill and played great toards the end of the year. Skjei is a big first rounder and little Mike Reilly might be the most talented of the group, still young but extremely talented.

Alos keep an eye out for the name Sean Kuraly, sounds like he is tearing up camp. Heading to Miami this fall after a great season in the USHL.

Other WCHA guys at camp.

Jake McCabe WI

Andrew Welinski UMD

Travis Boyd UM

Lot of USA U18 team guys that I don't know where they are commited to but I would guess a few more have WCHA ties. Man not up on the recruiting like I use to be.

[fishing tech]

I am not a big fan of Helgason, He takes to many stupid penalties and is not a great skater. Holl stuggled last year I thought more so then he played good. Alt, some games didn't even know if he was playing. If Alt had some of Helgy's nasty and Helgy had some of Alt's calmness they would be the perfect D men, size, skill, and edgy players.

[solbes]

Brooks, where R U? Up on LOTW I suppose.

Dell signed a pro deal with an ECHL team according to Schlossman. Guess it was not a surprise.

Dell signing pro contract article

"Alabama-Huntsville transfer Clarke Saunders, freshman Zane Gothberg and senior walk-on Tate Maris will be UND’s goalies this season"

[Bear55]

I am not a big fan of Helgason, He takes to many stupid penalties and is not a great skater. Holl stuggled last year I thought more so then he played good. Alt, some games didn't even know if he was playing. If Alt had some of Helgy's nasty and Helgy had some of Alt's calmness they would be the perfect D men, size, skill, and edgy players.

Helgeson was pretty good down the stretch last year, plus I think he has an A on his jersey and it is pretty hard to replace a guy with his size and experince. I don't think he will miss a game.

Holl might be in trouble, some talk of moving Marshall to forward.

[fishing tech]

Marshall is smooth, but he got man handle alot. Hopefully he grows and puts some weight on.

[Bear55]

So Dell offically left UND and sign with the ECHL, kind of a puzzling move but I think we all knew something was up there. Gophs and Sioux with big holes in net, whoever finds the best plug for that hole could have the advantage.

[solbes]

About a month to go for the college season openers. No lockout here folks!

Right on time, four UND hockey players have been suspended for a team party. Just a one game suspension. Thought it was funny that the team will receive "weekly team alcohol education programming". Mmm hmm.

Mariucci gets a new scoreboard. I will have to see that in person I think.

Almost time for the final edition of WCHA pre-season rankings (at least the WCHA as we know it). I'll try to put some thought into how I would rank the teams top to bottom.

[OnAFly]

I'll be at the Gopher game on Oct 6th vs Lethbridge. I honestly don't know who that is, but I haven't been to a Gopher game in a couple years, plus I'll get to see the new scoreboard, so I'm excited for it!

[archerystud]

Anyone see the syllabus on that "weekly alcohol education training"? If they have some good stuff I might want to sign up?

SCSU starts on the road at UNH. They were under .500 last year but are typically pretty tough. Hopefully they can start things out right for the West from the get go.

[Bear55]

Right on time, four UND hockey players have been suspended for a team party. Just a one game suspension. Thought it was funny that the team will receive "weekly team alcohol education programming". Mmm hmm.

The coaches want to camp down before frost bite season is here, probably a smart move.

[solbes]

It does get cold in Grand Forks doesn't it? Losing a shoe in a snowbank, ouch my toes hurt just thinking about it.

On a semi-related note, do they still loan out those mopeds at the U?

[Bryce]

Sounds like rodent recruits need to be taking that class. Frostbit toes recover better than knees.

[solbes]

He does still have 2 brothers playing for the Gophs this year. Sandy, please keep the team on the ice and away from any social gatherings, especially team parties.

Get ready for some awesome news: Don Adam is heading up the NCHC reffing. Silver lining - at least it wasn't Shep.

[CaptainMusky]

About a month to go for the college season openers. No lockout here folks!

Right on time, four UND hockey players have been suspended for a team party. Just a one game suspension. Thought it was funny that the team will receive "weekly team alcohol education programming". Mmm hmm.

Mariucci gets a new scoreboard. I will have to see that in person I think.

Almost time for the final edition of WCHA pre-season rankings (at least the WCHA as we know it). I'll try to put some thought into how I would rank the teams top to bottom.

Word on the street is this may be a bigger deal than just hosting a party. Apparently there was hazing involved from what I was told. If so, we'll see if this gets swept under the rug.

I mean how stupid can these kids be?

[PierBridge]

Quote:

On a semi-related note, do they still loan out those mopeds at the U?

We prefer giving "straight cash homey" to our athletes over here in bow-tie land.

[Bryce]

Sweep it under the rug? Why take the chance of someone lifting a corner up and peeking? Cover it with marble and granite

[PierBridge]

You gotta admit Wooger is a good guy .... I'm mean how many coaches give $500 cash to a graduated player....DOH!

Oh and Bryce, if my math is correct has it really been a Bakers Dozen "13 years" since the once famed and often overrated Sioux have won a National title!

Also, try to shoot a little better this weekend if you make it out, Teal are small, fast and you have to lead em a little....

[Bear55]

On a semi-related note, do they still loan out those mopeds at the U?

Probably not, way to ruin it for everyone Budish!

[Bryce]

Right back at ya Pierre. A photographic explanation of my shooting technique.

[Bear55]

Poor shot, you missed the eye by a mile!

[Bear55]

The hockey forums has been all too quiet lately, I think it's time to troll the Sioux fans and rile things up a little, lets face it, your team is in trouble.

To start, the Sioux are not better than their 4th place WCHA finish last year. Let me explain why...

Your best player signed early to attempt to play for the worst frachise in the NHL, oh and its a lock out year so he still signed knowing his odds of the bright AHL lights were extremely high.

Then their senior goalie and best returning defensive player by a large margin leaves the team to sign a ECHL... Seriously who does that? Its the fricken ECHL!!!!!

Now you have to ask yourself where is the offense going to come from, sure Knight and Rowney are hard workers with some O but they aren't All Americans with NHL skills. Their best hope is a senior with bad toes who's NHL team didn't care enough to sign him and a redshirt freshman midget with bad knees. Sure that 1 goal Grimaldi scored last year was cool and he might be the savior down the road but there are tons of ??? this year.

To add salt to the wound there is all kinds of CHL/recruiting drama, the party/suspension just before the season can't be good and they don't have anyone to sucker punch Rau/replace Ben Blood in the handshake line. Sure they could send Forbort after him but I think Rau could take him and Forbors NHL team wouldn't be too happy about him getting whooped by a kid giving up 8 inches and 60lbs. The kings probably send him straight to the ECHL, oh ya with Dell...

Then to top things off you have the big coaching change, sure maybe it was needed but did you change the right guy???? Again lets face it, Hack has had plenty of time and great players/teams but hasnt gotten the job done, its been a long long time since your last NC. The pressure is getting to him

Everyone take a long hard look at this photo and tell me you dont see a deer in the headlights. I had to crop it so he wouldn't flip us the "double Hakstols".

[Bear55]

More pre-season party fun.

http://www.gophersports.com/sports/m-hockey/spec-rel/092012aaa.html

Not a major loss but he was probably our best freshman forward.

[yakfisher]

No one took the flame bait! Ha ha Chokers suck, always!

[Bear55]

Either that or the Sioux faithful don't know how to respond and they know they are in trouble.