University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

[Tiggsy]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

From what I heard and read, many people didn't think it warranted a major. But candidly, after reading about 10 posts I had no desire to wade into the MTU-MN thread, so I'll take your word for it with respect to the opinion of MN fans.

My point is not that you should go out to acquire 5 minute majors. That's just silly. But I do think part of UND's success, really going back to the Dean Blais years, has been to play a very fast, physical game in which you finish your checks, take away time and space from the opponent, and purely as an admitted by-product of that style, take some charging, elbowing, boarding, etc..., penalties. And I don't think UND has done that yet this year.

I see your point, but I don't agree. I think it is possible to play a hard hitting game without taking majors. Most majors are intent to injure or for one player making a bad mistake. It is possible to eliminate that and that should be the goal. Players play smart and they won't get caught in those situations. Thompson was a moron there and got caught. His track record this season doesn't help him either so we all knew it was only a matter of time.

I do agree about the MTU/MN thread. I am a little ashamed for my part in the whole thing. But sometimes you gotta feed the trolls.

[burd]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

they just lack talent, that's all.

So how many times have you watched them play this season?

Happy's right, the Sioux are not as talented this year as they have been in quite a while. But I think they will still be a competitive team come Feb.

But this year's gopher team is not lousy. They still have some of those haunting issues (focus, intensity?) but they will be a factor this year, unlike the recent past.

[Happy]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

So how many times have you watched them play this season?

I watched them get swept by a lousy gopher team. other than Popsicle toes, mini-tebow, and dell, I didn't see much talent on the ice. and, I liked Brock's shot. I thought mini-tebow was electrifying when he had the puck. Since he isn't an overage Canadian, it's a crying shame for him to miss so many games.

[Goon]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

they just lack talent, that's all.

So how many times have you watched them play this season?

[Goon]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

If only Prpich or Kaip were around. They would have taken the bait.

Ha! I think you're right...

[SJHovey]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

There is a big difference here. You talk like it's a mark of pride. Why? That is where the UND halo reputation comes from. Ask anyone connected to MN and they will tell you how stupid the play that lead to the major was last weekend. Thompson was not thinking to even put himself in that situation and look what happened. The tide of the game almost turned for good. The very same thing could and probably has happened to UND. Major penalties could cost you games.

From what I heard and read, many people didn't think it warranted a major. But candidly, after reading about 10 posts I had no desire to wade into the MTU-MN thread, so I'll take your word for it with respect to the opinion of MN fans.

My point is not that you should go out to acquire 5 minute majors. That's just silly. But I do think part of UND's success, really going back to the Dean Blais years, has been to play a very fast, physical game in which you finish your checks, take away time and space from the opponent, and purely as an admitted by-product of that style, take some charging, elbowing, boarding, etc..., penalties. And I don't think UND has done that yet this year.

[Tiggsy]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

Your goal is to have none. My point is that if they are playing the game the way they need to, it's going to happen inadvertently and unintentionally. That is, if your team is playing physical, finishing it's checks, taking away space from the other team, there are going to be instances where a major will be called; where you will be called for charging or boarding or similar penalties. Whether it's because the opposing player turned his back to you at the last instant, whether your own player was a little too aggressive, or maybe the official thought he saw or heard something that he really didn't. Whatever, they will still come up. Classic example is Minnesota's game this weekend.

All I'm saying is that if a team just goes on the ice, skates around and avoids contact, and chases the puck all day, you won't have many penalties and you probably won't have any majors (unless you grab someone's face mask), but you also won't be playing the type of physical hockey that I think needs to be played to be successful in this league.

There is a big difference here. You talk like it's a mark of pride. Why? That is where the UND halo reputation comes from. Ask anyone connected to MN and they will tell you how stupid the play that lead to the major was last weekend. Thompson was not thinking to even put himself in that situation and look what happened. The tide of the game almost turned for good. The very same thing could and probably has happened to UND. Major penalties could cost you games.

[SJHovey]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

So what would an appropriate number of majors be then? I thought the goal was always zero and minors could be overlooked in some cases in the bigger picture.

Your goal is to have none. My point is that if they are playing the game the way they need to, it's going to happen inadvertently and unintentionally. That is, if your team is playing physical, finishing it's checks, taking away space from the other team, there are going to be instances where a major will be called; where you will be called for charging or boarding or similar penalties. Whether it's because the opposing player turned his back to you at the last instant, whether your own player was a little too aggressive, or maybe the official thought he saw or heard something that he really didn't. Whatever, they will still come up. Classic example is Minnesota's game this weekend.

All I'm saying is that if a team just goes on the ice, skates around and avoids contact, and chases the puck all day, you won't have many penalties and you probably won't have any majors (unless you grab someone's face mask), but you also won't be playing the type of physical hockey that I think needs to be played to be successful in this league.

[Happy]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

This could be fun...

A Gopher fan, a Wisconsin fan, and a North Dakota fan all head into the restroom at the Final Five (just assume that the Gophers and Wisconsin are actually playing at the Final Five for the purposes of this joke). The Gopher fan finishes, and just starts using a tremendous amount of water and soap, saying "I went to the University of Minnesota where they taught us to make sure to scrub our hands thoroughly after going to the bathroom." The Badger fan finishes, and uses just a tiny bit of water and a half of a paper towel, saying "I went to the University of Wisconsin where they taught us to be conscious of using our natural resources." The Sioux fan finishes, and just walks out of the bathroom. Astonished, the Badger and Gopher fan question the Sioux fan when they meet up with him in the concourse. The Sioux fan says "I went to the University of North Dakota. They taught us not to pee on our hands."

Never shake the hand of a sue fan, never eat at a restaurant that sue fans work at, and above all else, do not use an elevator after a sue fan.

[Happy]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

I think UND has played very physical, however, its been more controlled and disciplined. Brock Nelson who was thrown all over the ice last season is pounding guys up and down the ice. Mac and Blood have been take the body hard and during the second period of the Friday game Mac blew up a guy at the blue-line. I also, would like the to acknowledge while I am not against fighting in hockey, I think it has a place, the Sioux showed maturity this past weekend when Tony Turgeon and Alex Simonson tried goading the Sioux players into a fight and none of them took the bait. In fact skating up the ice on Saturday night, Simonson asked one of the Sioux players if he wanted to go, the Sioux player said no and Alex patted him on back side and took a seat on the bench. I was told by someone that the UNO players had the green light if they wanted to go this past weekend...

they just lack talent, that's all.

[goldy_331]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

So what would an appropriate number of majors be then? I thought the goal was always zero and minors could be overlooked in some cases in the bigger picture.

Isn't the UND number usually based more on the number opponents injured than actual majors handed out?

[Tiggsy]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

I'm not advocating that we go out and take a 5 minute major every game. But I think it's telling that we've had only one this year, and it was for grasping the face mask.

So what would an appropriate number of majors be then? I thought the goal was always zero and minors could be overlooked in some cases in the bigger picture.

[SJHovey]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

I think UND has played very physical, however, its been more controlled and disciplined. Brock Nelson who was thrown all over the ice last season is pounding guys up and down the ice. Mac and Blood have been take the body hard and during the second period of the Friday game Mac blew up a guy at the blue-line. I also, would like the to acknowledge while I am not against fighting in hockey, I think it has a place, the Sioux showed maturity this past weekend when Tony Turgeon and Alex Simonson tried goading the Sioux players into a fight and none of them took the bait. In fact skating up the ice on Saturday night, Simonson asked one of the Sioux players if he wanted to go, the Sioux player said no and Alex patted him on back side and took a seat on the bench. I was told by someone that the UNO players had the green light if they wanted to go this past weekend...

I'm not talking about fighting. Taking stupid penalties just hurts the team.

I'm talking about playing with a bit of an edge. Taking that one extra stride to knock a guy on his butt, or hit him hard up against the boards, once he has passed the puck. The kinds of plays that occasionally are going to end up with a boarding call, a charging call, high sticking, etc... I bet if you check the stats those penalties are down this year and what we are seeing is a bunch of stickwork penalties: hooking, tripping, slashing, etc...

I'm not advocating that we go out and take a 5 minute major every game. But I think it's telling that we've had only one this year, and it was for grasping the face mask.

A couple of the guys are not shying away from contact. MacWilliam's hit was a beauty. Mario still plays physical. I like both Rodwell's and Gleason's willingness to initiate contact.

I think part of the problem is size and strength. When you see us occasionally initiate the contact, a lot of times we're just bouncing right off.

I thought we played a more physical game this past weekend, and did so while staying within the rules, but as I posted earlier I felt it was due in part as a response to UNO's play. I really believe our success these past few years has been due at least in part to our willingness to play the physical game right up to the line, and occasionally cross over it.

[darker98]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

Tony Turgeon and Alex Simonson tried goading the Sioux players into a fight and none of them took the bait. In fact skating up the ice on Saturday night, Simonson asked one of the Sioux players if he wanted to go, the Sioux player said no and Alex patted him on back side and took a seat on the bench. I was told by someone that the UNO players had the green light if they wanted to go this past weekend...

If only Prpich or Kaip were around. They would have taken the bait.

[Goon]

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

SNIP --- 4. I would really like to see the team play more physical. I don't want to say that we play "soft", but at times it seems we do. There is a fine line between playing the way you need to be successful and just taking needless penalties.

I think UND has played very physical, however, its been more controlled and disciplined. Brock Nelson who was thrown all over the ice last season is pounding guys up and down the ice. Mac and Blood have been take the body hard and during the second period of the Friday game Mac blew up a guy at the blue-line. I also, would like the to acknowledge while I am not against fighting in hockey, I think it has a place, the Sioux showed maturity this past weekend when Tony Turgeon and Alex Simonson tried goading the Sioux players into a fight and none of them took the bait. In fact skating up the ice on Saturday night, Simonson asked one of the Sioux players if he wanted to go, the Sioux player said no and Alex patted him on back side and took a seat on the bench. I was told by someone that the UNO players had the green light if they wanted to go this past weekend...