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Western Michigan at North Dakota - Sat March 8th

Re: Western Michigan at North Dakota - Sat March 8th

Horse*** effort with the conference title on the line. Much like a lot of the season has gone.
 
Re: Western Michigan at North Dakota - Sat March 8th

Siouxfaninseattle said:
Horse*** effort with the conference title on the line. Much like a lot of the season has gone.
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Overall, I've been happy with the season. If you would have told me on October 1st, that this team would finish 2nd in the NCHC, I would have been thrilled. If you would have told me on November 29th, that this team would finish 2nd in the NCHC, I would have been beyond thrilled. St. Cloud State is a more complete team than North Dakota, and that's why they won the NCHC.

That being said, to lose this game tonight shows a lot about the team's character. To lose a game, against a team you've beaten 3 times, at home, for a conference title, where the other team has literally nothing but pride to play for...and you come out and lay an egg like that? Extremely disappointing.
 
Re: Western Michigan at North Dakota - Sat March 8th

Fighting Sioux 23 said:
Overall, I've been happy with the season. If you would have told me on October 1st, that this team would finish 2nd in the NCHC, I would have been thrilled. If you would have told me on November 29th, that this team would finish 2nd in the NCHC, I would have been beyond thrilled. St. Cloud State is a more complete team than North Dakota, and that's why they won the NCHC.

That being said, to lose this game tonight shows a lot about the team's character. To lose a game, against a team you've beaten 3 times, at home, for a conference title, where the other team has literally nothing but pride to play for...and you come out and lay an egg like that? Extremely disappointing.
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Yeah, that says it all. I was "lucky" enough to watch the St. Lawrence series and the games in Vancouver. Never occurred to me that they would have a shot at the conference title. Still they're in good shape to do some good stuff!
 
Re: Western Michigan at North Dakota - Sat March 8th

Siouxfaninseattle said:
Yeah, that says it all. I was "lucky" enough to watch the St. Lawrence series and the games in Vancouver. Never occurred to me that they would have a shot at the conference title. Still they're in good shape to do some good stuff!
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I don't see them being a threat (of course, I didn't see Yale being a threat last year either). They could very well win the NCHC Tournament, but this particular North Dakota team lacks that one guy who can take over the game when need be (tonight being a perfect example). There are several guys that could develop into that guy (Rocco, Parks, Mark MacMillan, Caggiula), but right now, they don't. North Dakota also relies a bit too much on their blue line for offense. That being said, this squad is very, very deep. They can get scoring from just about every line, and with the lead, they are almost impossible to beat (although, see second half of Saturday UNO game in Grand Forks). They remind me A LOT of the 2004-2005 squad. Work hard, get greasy goals, have a few people step up...never know who...get the lead, and game over. That '05 team nearly won a title. I hope this team will have the chance...but I'm not terribly optimistic.

That being said, Gothberg is the real deal, and this team could be dominant next season when the group of very good guys get another year (assuming no early departures) and we have a solid incoming class. I wouldn't be surprised if next season's team is similar in dominance to the 2010-2011 team.
 
Re: Western Michigan at North Dakota - Sat March 8th

Fighting Sioux 23 said:
I don't see them being a threat (of course, I didn't see Yale being a threat last year either). They could very well win the NCHC Tournament, but this particular North Dakota team lacks that one guy who can take over the game when need be (tonight being a perfect example). There are several guys that could develop into that guy (Rocco, Parks, Mark MacMillan, Caggiula), but right now, they don't. North Dakota also relies a bit too much on their blue line for offense. That being said, this squad is very, very deep. They can get scoring from just about every line, and with the lead, they are almost impossible to beat (although, see second half of Saturday UNO game in Grand Forks). They remind me A LOT of the 2004-2005 squad. Work hard, get greasy goals, have a few people step up...never know who...get the lead, and game over. That '05 team nearly won a title. I hope this team will have the chance...but I'm not terribly optimistic.

That being said, Gothberg is the real deal, and this team could be dominant next season when the group of very good guys get another year (assuming no early departures) and we have a solid incoming class. I wouldn't be surprised if next season's team is similar in dominance to the 2010-2011 team.
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Pretty much how I feel, but look at last year. Yale? I really see this Sioux team doing really well next year and the year after, but who knows? I never thought they would get this far (9 in Pairwise) this year so what the heck, let's win it all just for grins!! :D
 
Re: Western Michigan at North Dakota - Sat March 8th

Siouxfaninseattle said:
Pretty much how I feel, but look at last year. Yale? I really see this Sioux team doing really well next year and the year after, but who knows? I never thought they would get this far (9 in Pairwise) this year so what the heck, let's win it all just for grins!! :D
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Agreed. Yale was a stunner. When the team plays like they did tonight, I always try to think back to what my expectations were at the beginning of the season. As I said before, that was home ice (check), make the NCHC Tournament (we'll find out next weekend), and make the NCAA Tournament (accomplish the previous, and this will be almost a certainty). Based on that, I can't complain about a 2nd place finish. I don't expect them to win it all this year...I don't expect them to make the Frozen Four this year. I wouldn't even be surprised if they were one and done this year. That being said, Gothberg hasn't allowed more than 2 goals in what seems like forever (November). In the end, it will come down to what it ALWAYS comes down to in the NCAA Tournament...playing hot at the right time, getting good goalie play, getting the right matchups for your team, and getting the bounces to fall your way.

As for the next couple seasons...this team is built to win the national title. I hope they accomplish that soon. 2000 keeps getting further and further away. The longest North Dakota has EVER gone without winning a title is 17 years ('63-'80). Hopefully that will always remain the longest drought in our program's proud history.
 
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