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University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

This Sioux team has the potential to be a good team. They have a bit to go to get there though.
Eids and Dell should be able to provide consistent goaltending each game.
Our d-corps should have enough experience/talent to keep UND in most games.

Can they score goals though? From the way Kristo has looked early...this will be his last year in a UND uni, and it will be a great one. Knight and Nelson look strong as well. MacMillan and Parks look like very talented freshmen, as well as Mattson on defense...none of those three look out of place. Now we just need to get Grimaldi in the lineup, and maybe we can start spreading the scoring wealth around a bit.

This team will take some lumps in the early going, but hopefully they win enough games early to be able to make a run at the end.
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

I was expecting a bit more out of Forbert by now but maybe he will develop as the season unfolds.
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

willythekid said:
I was expecting a bit more out of Forbert by now but maybe he will develop as the season unfolds.
Click to expand...

I think Forbort has been solid so far this season. He still has perhaps the best setup pass by any of our defensemen (perhaps on the whole team) and was able to finally score a goal. I wonder if he is trying a bit too hard to pick up the offensive slack, and that is why he has made a few bobbles defensively? Either way, I'm not too worried about him. I think he'll be an All-WCHA pick by the end of the year.
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

Fighting Sioux 23 said:
I think Forbort has been solid so far this season. He still has perhaps the best setup pass by any of our defensemen (perhaps on the whole team) and was able to finally score a goal. I wonder if he is trying a bit too hard to pick up the offensive slack, and that is why he has made a few bobbles defensively? Either way, I'm not too worried about him. I think he'll be an All-WCHA pick by the end of the year.
Click to expand...

I hope so, he seems to be caught flat-footed a lot. The talent is there, now it just needs to start showing itself.
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

willythekid said:
I was expecting a bit more out of Forbert by now but maybe he will develop as the season unfolds.
Click to expand...

From what I've heard, he was/is injured a bit in the early going. As his injury heals, I would expect his performance to improve as well.

Sounds like both Grimaldi and O'Donnell won't be making the trip to UW (or at least playing). Grimaldi is still listed as week-to-week and O'Donnell was injured against Maine and is out 3-6 weeks. Ouch. Our forward group just got really thin with St. Clair still being held up by the NCAA. Sounds like Gleason will be playing more at forward for awhile. We need a healthy Grimaldi in our lineup...

In other news:

Frattin Game Winning Shootout Goal
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

Always a big weekend when we head to Wisconsin.

Go SIOUX!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

brianvf said:
From what I've heard, he was/is injured a bit in the early going. As his injury heals, I would expect his performance to improve as well.
Click to expand...

I certainly think he must be injured. BC and Maine were beating him on the outside and driving the net. That is never good for a defenseman. He got undressed last night on the critical 5th goal that put the game an arm reach away. Either way, he is not looking like a first-round pick.

I was actually expecting more from Simpson, but maybe he will just be that "quiet" defenseman like LaPoint. Mattson has been adjusting quite nicely, and appears to be a solid threat offensively and on the PP.

We need a split tonight...
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

Mike Rane said:
I certainly think he must be injured. BC and Maine were beating him on the outside and driving the net. That is never good for a defenseman. He got undressed last night on the critical 5th goal that put the game an arm reach away. Either way, he is not looking like a first-round pick.

I was actually expecting more from Simpson, but maybe he will just be that "quiet" defenseman like LaPoint. Mattson has been adjusting quite nicely, and appears to be a solid threat offensively and on the PP.

We need a split tonight...
Click to expand...

I hope I am wrong about Forbert but he never seemed to develop much last year, and so far no improvement this year.
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

What the $#@$# is going on with our goaltending!?!?!?!?!?
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

The goaltending may be a bit over rated. Neither guy is weak but neither guy is top notch.

The team is actually playing pretty well, we just lack scoring depth. All the freshmen have looked really good for freshmen, so that is promising. It is going to be tough to win consistently with only 1 line that can score. If they can be .500 by christmas that will set them up for a late season charge.

Lets face it UND has had about a 10 year run where we have had a team that is capable of winning the championship. I wouldn't expect too much from this team until much later in the season. I am worried that after Goopher weekend all the fire Hak threads will be going in full force.
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

lord k said:
The goaltending may be a bit over rated. Neither guy is weak but neither guy is top notch.

The team is actually playing pretty well, we just lack scoring depth. All the freshmen have looked really good for freshmen, so that is promising. It is going to be tough to win consistently with only 1 line that can score. If they can be .500 by christmas that will set them up for a late season charge.

Lets face it UND has had about a 10 year run where we have had a team that is capable of winning the championship. I wouldn't expect too much from this team until much later in the season. I am worried that after Goopher weekend all the fire Hak threads will be going in full force.
Click to expand...
I don't disagree that the team is young and growing pains are to be expected. I understand fully well that scoring was expected to be an issue especially early in the season, and no reasonable fan expected this team to contend for the WCHA title. But scoring wasn't an issue last weekend, the guys scored enough goals. Five goals on 15 shots on Saturday!!???!?!?!?!? Forget not being top notch, that isn't even close to adequate!

I understand your concern about the "Fire Hak" threads. You won't see me calling for his head this season. But I'd be questioning 5 goals on 15 shots even if we'd won. That's a 66.7 save %!!!! :eek:
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

ecbrevik said:
I don't disagree that the team is young and growing pains are to be expected. I understand fully well that scoring was expected to be an issue especially early in the season, and no reasonable fan expected this team to contend for the WCHA title. But scoring wasn't an issue last weekend, the guys scored enough goals. Five goals on 15 shots on Saturday!!???!?!?!?!? Forget not being top notch, that isn't even close to adequate!

I understand your concern about the "Fire Hak" threads. You won't see me calling for his head this season. But I'd be questioning 5 goals on 15 shots even if we'd won. That's a 66.7 save %!!!! :eek:
Click to expand...
You have to consider though where those goals were scored, the bulk of them were located in the prime real estate area(the slot) where the goalie had very little chance of saving because a Sioux forward or defenseman wasn't covering a Badger player who was trailing behind. While our defense has been pretty suspect you've gotta look at the other players as well. Dell did keep us in the game on Saturday and he made a couple of great saves for instance he stopped UW's LaBate's penalty shot.
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

SiouxFanatic said:
You have to consider though where those goals were scored, the bulk of them were located in the prime real estate area(the slot) where the goalie had very little chance of saving because a Sioux forward or defenseman wasn't covering a Badger player who was trailing behind. While our defense has been pretty suspect you've gotta look at the other players as well. Dell did keep us in the game on Saturday and he made a couple of great saves for instance he stopped UW's LaBate's penalty shot.
Click to expand...
It's a team game, to be sure. My biggest frustrations are that defense and goal were supposed to be our strong points, and they were supposed to keep a sputtering offense in the game this season. It's been the exact opposite. The offense has scored adequate goals most nights, our biggest problem has been keeping the puck out of the net.
goldy_331 said:
So, aren't we talking about UND fans? Then did they all expect the team to contend for the WCHA title? :p
Click to expand...
:p
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

ecbrevik said:
It's a team game, to be sure. My biggest frustrations are that defense and goal were supposed to be our strong points, and they were supposed to keep a sputtering offense in the game this season. It's been the exact opposite. The offense has scored adequate goals most nights, our biggest problem has been keeping the puck out of the net.

:p
Click to expand...
Defense is a team effort as well, and I think some of our young forwards haven't yet figured that out. They'll get it.

I don't think our goaltending has been outstanding, but it hasn't been entirely their fault either. I don't believe our penalty kill is clicking right now. We look a little tentative and we've given up some goals, and some important goals, while short-handed.

Hak is still experimenting with line combinations, and that always has a learning curve. And we've been a little nicked up.

I don't believe this team will seriously contend for the league title, but I do believe they will contend for home ice and a place in the NCAA's. I expect them to be a pretty tough "out" when March rolls around, and I think it will be fun to watch.

In the meantime you have to just sit back and enjoy the positives we've witnessed so far. We're really going to like having Nick Mattson around for the next few years. Ben Blood is the best pure defensive defenseman in the WCHA, and probably in the country. He is an absolute beast in our own zone, and he's even shown some inclination to step up his offensive performance. Enjoy what will probably be our last year of Danny Kristo and his talent.

We're not going to win every game. Let's just watch them develop.
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

SJHovey said:
...We're not going to win every game. Let's just watch them develop.
Click to expand...
Didn't anyone tell you this is an internet message board? Rational clear-headed thinking isn't allowed! :D
 
Re: University of North Dakota Hockey: 2011-2012

Nice to see the team come back Saturday night for the split. Minnesota should be an interesting series. And what on Earth has happened to Michigan Tech!?!?!?
 
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