The Point

I was composing this post while I was driving home from work (which is slowly sucking my soul out through my pores) and so I have to tell this story first. I do appreciate the irony of the title, though. I was driving along and I needed to switch lanes, so I put on my blinker, checked the car that was behind me, and got over. Little did I know, the car behind me wanted to go even faster than they were already going, and so it "appeared" that I cut this person off, intead of what actually happened, which was this person decided to zoom up and close the gap before I could get over. So they decided to flash their high beams at me, and I waved back (but due to crippling arthritis, only one finger actually made it up), so they did it a few more times. Good lord. What is wrong with people?

Anyway, I have so many points to make.

I understand not every freshmen comes in ready for the game, and not every player is destined to be a star. However, I do expect that those freshmen will learn and grow and mature, escalating their level of play, and as juniors and seniors they should be major contributors.

We have four goalies and one is drastically underused. Guess which one?

This weekend is a must-win. It is also a must-have-the-feed-tonight.

Dad should be out of the country every weekend since they just killed last weekend.

I was PMed by someone with the screen name of one of the Bulldog players. I don't know if this actually means it was him or someone pretending to be him. I erased it without reading it, because on a message board, you can't trust if people who are they say they are, but I was a little curious. It was someone I have heavily criticized (not Steve Czech), so I'm curious about what they had to say, if it really was him, but oh well.

Game is 25 min away, I'm watching the Gopher-Bucky pregame and listening to the Sioux-Tech game. Lots of hockey tonight! Better go.

Rock Yale Like a Hurricane

Though most of you might not know it, I am a Scorpions fan, and by Scorpions fan, I mean "I like a few of their songs and know nothing about them." This is totally irrelevant. What's totally relevant is the TOTALLY AWESOME HOTTNESS from last night. That's right, TWO Ts in HOTT.

Wow. Where do I start? Especially since there's more Bulldog awesomeness to come in an hour and a half, and I'm being pestered about getting food.

So the game started off a little strange, running only 3 lines because Stapes, Curry, Isaac, Jensen, and Willy decided to come over and hang out at my house instead. We listened to the game together and had a nice time, we drank some sodas, I drove them home after the game, made sure they got home in time, waited at their doors til they got inside safely.

Additionally, since Shepherd got injured, Shepherd had to replace Shepherd with Shepherd. Got that?

The only "normal" thing about the game was when the pseudo-Bulldogs scored first. I don't like typing all that out so they will just be the bulldogs, in lowercase.

Then the winds of change blew through the house of Bulldogs. It was Goals Gone Wild night! Carroll, McKnight, Gergen, McKnight, Raymond, Raymond, Gergen, McGregor, Davis, OH MY. So sorry that Dad was all the way over in Ireland for this one, because MAN WAS IT EXCITING. My cat was looking at me like "Will you please stop that, I am trying to be cute." My future dog Gorgar would be howling in agony because I was shrieking loudly. Oh, it was so, so glorious.

We had THREE POWER PLAY GOALS. THREE. HOLY CRAP.

and a SHORTHANDER by Mason Raymond. I have to write that really big because it is the first time all year I've seen one attributed to a Bulldog.

I do have to feel sorry for the bulldog goalies though. They faced 28 and 19 shots, respectively. That's like each of them playing a whole hockey game!

In a bizarre twist of fate, Adam Davis was inserted into the game as a forward. One shot, one kill, at 17:38 in the third. 13(!) seconds later, one shot, one kill, except this time, it's not a goal, but rather an ejection for a check from behind. Settle down there, cowboy.

As for "my" guys, Curry was sitting next to me on the couch, Gergy got 2 goals, McKnight got 2 goals and 2 assists, and Nisky got an assist. I have elected a new guy, Mason Raymond. I know that's such a bandwagon approach, but he is just so AWESOME I can't help it. Plus he got a shorthanded goal. Welcome to the fold, Mason!

And finally, all HSWCHA residents have been released!!!! After a 9-1 game, I'm feeling pretty generous.

THANK YOU, BULLDOGS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS GAME. THERE'S NO ONE LIKE YOU!

Thank You, Internet, For This Bounty We Are About To Receive

I'm a little bit stressed, because the feed wasn't going, and now it is, and I don't even know what's going on. Oh, it's 1-1.

We here at the site are certainly thankful for this opportunity to play Yale, a team with fewer wins than we do. Let's get a non-conference win! Or a non-conference s-s-s-sweep! We would be VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.

I did listen to the games last weekend, and I can't even begin to describe the glorious feeling that comes along with an overtime win on the road in Alaska on a Friday night. But with the manic highs come the depressive lows, like DeCaro shutting us out and Reichmuth giving up 2 goals on 13 shots. How can you only make 11 saves in a game? That is just... well... he's in the Humane Society this week. Joining him is Ryan Swanson, who doesn't understand that you only screen the OPPOSING goaltender. Getting a rare week of freedom is Steve Czech, because how can you keep him kennelled up when he scored the game-tying goal on Friday? WAY TO GO, STEVE. That's right, you heard it here. GOOD JOB.

Back to the hot Bulld0g-on-Bulldog action at the DECC.

The Bulldog Road Trip

I understand that three posts in one day might be a little overwhelming to you people, but I feel this format is superior to one big long post, since the topics are so different. Now you can read them one at a time and really savor the moment.

The primary purpose of this road trip was to make a coaching visit to the DECC, but it quickly turned into a scenic tour through the hometowns of many Bulldogs. We also stopped off at the US Hockey Hall of Fame, scoping out the future corner of the Runninwiththedogs Tribute. Corner? you say, You don't belong in a corner! Well, I appreciate the sentiment, but once the initial exhibition is over with, a corner is good enough for me. I'm not conceited or anything. Anyway, from the hallowed streets of Mountain Iron, MN to the tough back-alleys of Bovey Minnesota, we visited no less than 16 hometowns of 21 once and current Bulldogs.

Hermantown, MN, home of Nick Kemp and Jon Francisco
Mountain Iron, MN, home of Matt Niskanen
Vadnais Heights, MN, home of Matt Greer
Plymouth, MN, home of Jeff McFarland
Bovey, MN, home of Marco Peluso
Pengilly, MN, home of Josh Miskovich
Proctor, MN, home of Nick Anderson
Maple Grove, MN, home of Ryan Swanson
Coleraine, MN, home of Beau Geisler
Duluth, MN, home of Matt Mathias, Mark Gunderson, Ryan Coole and Adam Coole
Minnetonka, MN, home of Drew Otten (and current RWD world headquarters!)
Twig, MN, home of Steve Rodberg
Grand Rapids, MN, home of Michael Miskovich and Craig Pierce
Hibbing, MN, home of Chad Kolar
Ramsey, MN, home of Jerrid Reinholz
Elk River, MN, home of Richie Anderson

*we were pretty close to Esko, MN, which is home for Josh Johnson, but we didn't actually go by it since we didn't travel that stretch of 53.

Still waiting on the pilgrimage to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

A Few Minutes With...

On the recent road trip, the crack reporting team here at RWD managed to get in a few interviews.

First off, in the Radisson hotel, we encountered one dapperly dressed Dave Hakstol, checking out of the hotel or something. No words passed between us, but I could tell he knew I was there. While I was thinking "Wow, it's Dave Hakstol," he was thinking "Wow, it's RunninwiththeDogs."

Then I saw Ratislav Spirko, and while I know it's considered consorting with the enemy and I feel cheap and dirty about it, I think he is just so cute I want to fold him up in my pocket and take him home with me. He was pretty excited, too, I could tell by the way he turned his back to me and pretended not to notice at all.

At the game, I had a sit-down with Todd Anderson, Zebra Extraordinaire. It was a sit-down in the sense that I was sitting, although he was standing on the ice. Here is the interview.

Anderson calls yet another penalty on the 'Dogs.

RWD: Hey Anderson, just how badly do you want the Sioux to win??

Anderson: ...

Excuse me, the phone is ringing. It's FSN, calling to offer me a reporting job.

The Humane Society of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association

We here at the Runnin' With the 'Dogs world headquarters have had, since, well, forever, an unofficial feature that we shall now refer to, forever and always, as the Humane Society of the WCHA. It is a place for those Bulldogs who have done something to anger The Powers That Be Runnin' This Website. Once in the HSWCHA, these 'Dogs are still treated well, fed, walked, petted, and so on. However, a Bulldog can only stay in the HSWCHA for so long, and there are only two ways out. 1. Making a positive contribution to the team, or 2. Euthanasia. I understand that the latter option opens up a moral can of worms, but the staff here does everything it can to prevent exercize of the policy.

There are some rules about this Humane Society, or at least some largely accepted truths. First of all, there are certain players that have immunity from the HSWCHA. These players are special favorites of RWD, coach's pets, if you will: Matt Niskanen, Matt McKnight, Mike Curry, and Michael Gergen hold Get Out Of the Humane Society Free cards. Then there are players that have their own special kennels there, because they are perpetually (or nearly perpetually) in Hot Water with us. Steve Czech is on that short list. Referees are not even discussed here because there is really no point in harping, week after week, about the referees and how much they suck.

Now, let's talk about who's been left on the doorstep in a basket after this weekend:

Isaac Reichmuth: That 7th goal made me want to sprout wings and swoop down from the stands and throttle him. My travelling companion wanted to yank him after the 6th goal, but he is not a coach, and I am not a goaltending coach, and in the goal he remained, and let the puck trickle ever so slowly into the net. I mean, seriously, I could have taken the time to go to the locker room, suit up, skate onto the ice, do a little dance, and then flop into the crease and STILL stop the puck from going in. It is things like this that will give me a heart attack by the time I'm 25.

Jeff McFarland: It is my firm belief that if you are not going to contribute to the team in any sort of a positive manner, you should not be hindering the team anyway. Like if you are a center and you have three assists and that matches a CAREER HIGH then you should not be in the penalty box, virtually erasing a 5 min major power play for the 'Dogs.

Not too many people in trouble after the weekend. Now we have to start awarding the glory. Raise your glasses, ladies and gentlemen, to:

Nick Kemp, for grinding it out the whole game, and delivering some bang-on checks that were completely legal, so that Anderson could not possibly call a penalty. Shortly after I requested someone put Mike Prpich, the Spearing King, in his place, Nick levelled him directly in front of the Sioux bench. I have never been prouder of Nick, even if he didn't have any points that night.

Mason Raymond, who is going to be a thorn in North Dakota's side for the next four years.

Adam Davis, for stepping up his defensive play. I didn't expect much from him but I was pleasantly surprised this weekend. For someone who doesn't play very many games, he had a lot of poise and made some good passes. He's not the best d-man (hello, we all know it's Matty N.), but he is improving rapidly.

Justin May, for being an absolute stud of a strength and conditioning coach. I didn't see very many tired legs out there.

The Bulldog freshmen, for having the work ethic, the hustle, and the talent to play their hearts out every minute of the weekend, and for having that energy and spirit infuse the rest of the team. Thank you, thank you, from everyone who remembers the 'Dogs from last year.

And finally, Tim Stapleton, who was the only Bulldog last year who seemed to give a crap towards the end of the season, and who is leading the team by example. I know you play your heart out, too, Tim, thanks for giving the new boys someone to look up to. In my eyes, you're the captain.

Cheers!

A Teaching Moment

Well, you can't win them all. After last weekend, maybe I got a little excited, maybe a little ahead of myself. However, I knew that something like this could happen.
And yet, I am darn proud of the 'Dogs tonight. 2 Power Play goals? Coming back to within 1 with a chance to tie, when they were down 2-0 2:14 into the game? Killing off 7 of 8 penalties? This was a team that started out totally disorganized and then found themselves midway through the game. Only a few weeks ago, this team was starting out disorganized and then deteriorating as they got behind. They have matured, they're pulling it together, and playing hard. I am pleased with the effort tonight (although the defensive effort could have been better...)
I tend to believe the 'Dogs are one of the best conditioned teams around, and they will be able to skate with, or even outskate the Fighting Sioux tomorrow night. And I'll be there to see it!

LET'S GO 'DOGS!!!

Dinner With the Legends

For those of you who were previously unaware, Runnin' with the 'Dogs has correspondents from all over the country, nay, the world. You might be surprised, but it's true. We have top-of-the-line hockey analysts here, here, here, here, and even here. Anyway, RWD sat down with three other legendary Bulldog fans, our combined Bulldog fan-dom spanning over 150 years. Bulldog hockey hasn't even been around for 150 years, so that's pretty great. We discussed a myriad of topics, including:

-my new job as assistant coach (great start, 3 points against the Gophers! However, some were skeptical of the legitimacy of the "article")

-Kerry Rodd getting the axe (I was, shamefully, unaware, but apparently since he had "no idea where the puck was," it's a good thing to some of the crew)

-the recap of the game in the Star Tribune (no one gives the 'Dogs credit, either they get replaced with superhuman robots or the Gophers get injected with sedatives and can't skate, it's never just that the 'Dogs are better)

-Harrington's skate in the face of Reichmuth (horrifying, and one of the crew even thought it was intentional. However, that person sometimes makes claims even more outrageous than I do.)

-Friday night's game (I was the only one who saw it. I had to explain quite a bit, and do some reenacting)

-This website (most had never read it, one was complaining about the slowness of the updates, but for crying out loud, I'm coaching a team and working another grueling and irritating job!)

-Deer hunting (one-time contributer UMDDogz shot one)

This weekend, the RWD team is taking a road trip up to Duluth for the Saturday game of the North Dakota series. Next week's posting will probably be even later, but might be accompanied by pictures.

UMD Announces New Assistant Coach

From the Duluth News-Tribune

"Thanks to her amazing pep talk going into the Michigan Tech series, the University of Minnesota-Duluth has announced that Runninwiththedogs will be a new assistant coach of the Bulldogs' mens hockey team. Head coach Scott Sandelin says he is excited about the new addition to the staff. '[Runninwiththedogs] is a real motivator, she really gets the point across to the guys in a way I was not capable of last year. I really wish she had been with the team last year, because we had the talent but not the heart. This year we've got a lot of young people coming in, and we want to exorcize any of the remaining demons from last year, so we can build a strong team. Anyone who can take a team that loses its first four games and give them a strong road win in the first league series of the year really knows what they are doing.' The coach was not alone in his sentiments. Senior Captain Steve Czech, who was loudly criticized by RWD last year for some key defensive mistakes, looks forward to her guidance. 'She's really shown me what I need to work on, and she doesn't pull any punches. If I had a bad game, she tells me. If I did a good job, she grudgingly admits it. I think if we'd had someone as tough as her last year, we'd have gutted it out and made it to the NCAA tournament.' Teammate Michael Gergen was not around last year for the disappointing season, but he notes that Runninwiththedogs has changed the atmosphere since she has been on board. 'Even if we lose, she still points out the bright spots, which is great, because that means she says a lot of things good about me. But she has a great way of getting right to the crux of any problem.' The Bulldogs are going into a home stand against key rival Minnesota, and things are looking brighter than they were a few days ago. Some home points against strong teams will get this team turned around, and the staff has every confidence that with this more complete coaching staff, they will have a strong showing in the next few series. On the lighter side, former Bulldog captain Evan Schwabe was reached for comment on the new coach. 'I wish [Runninwiththedogs] had been with the team last year. Man, is she hot.' That's what we hear."

Okay, so maybe that didn't really happen. There is a slight possibility I might not have had anything to do with the ABSOLUTELY AMAZING showing the 'Dogs had this past weekend. While I was watching the Denver-North Dakota game at Joe Senser's in Bloomington (with resident Sioux guru MafiaMan and former UW correspondent The Hick), the 'Dogs were busy beating the breezers off of Michigan Tech. Scoff if you will, but if the 'Dogs had played the way they had against Vermont and Bemidji, they could have been swept in Houghton. And then things could have been reaaaaaaaally ugly for the Minnesota series, and then HIDEOUS for the UND series, and that would be a real tragedy, because I'm going to the Saturday night game.

The thing is, THEY DIDN'T PLAY THAT WAY. They played WELL. I am HAPPY.
Key reasons:
1. Tim Stapleton found the net on the power play (thanks to Matt McKnight, who also set up Mason Raymond's first goal)
2. Michael G got another goal, which always makes me happy.
3. Mike Curry, offensive STUD, got two goals in less than a minute.
4. Isaac played well. I hope he will become the go-to guy, and we will no longer start our rookies on Friday night games.
5. All important entry into the W column, and 3 conference points! I won't even nitpick about the tie, because it was a road series, and 3 points in a road series is pretty darn good!

LET'S GO DOGS!!!!

(p.s. to the UMD AD: if you DO want to make me an asst. coach, I have a crummy job I would give up in a heartbeat.)

If You Can't Say Anything Nice...

... just say you love Michael Gergen and leave it at that.

Really, what else am I going to say? Stop taking stupid penalties? Stop getting MAJOR penalties? Put the puck in the net? Don't turn the puck over? I mean, these sorts of things are what you learn in, say, mini-mites. And all of these players have been in mini-mites (or the Canadian equivalent), so they should know. It's like in kindergarten when you learn to share, and listen when the teacher is talking, and not to pinch, and then you grow up and see other adults being selfish, talking over each other, and pinching people's behinds. You think what the heck, didn't you learn anything in kindergarten? There was a whole book written on the subject. Evan Schwabe should write a book about hockey: All I Need To Know About Hockey I Learned in Kindergarten. Then he will lovingly dedicate the book to ME. Right.

I'm not going to start calling anyone out... yet. YET BEING THE OPERATIVE WORD, PEOPLE WITH NO POINTS AND MANY PENALTY MINUTES, I AM LOOKING IN YOUR DIRECTION.

I am going to the North Dakota @ UMD game on 12 November AND YOU GUYS HAD BETTER MAKE ME PROUD because I am taking time off work and driving up there and I had to get up early to buy tickets and they were not super cheap. BUT I KNOW THE HOUSE WILL BE ROCKIN' AND YOU'LL PULL IT TOGETHER AND WIN IT FOR ME AND WE WILL JOIN HANDS AND SING KUMBAYAH.

Word.

The South Side of Chicago...

...is the baddest part of town, etc. etc. etc.

The Twins are playing the White Sox and the Wild are playing the Blackhawks. The Twins and Bitch Sox are tied 1-1 and the 'Hawks are up 2-1 at, ahem, presstime. Which means, right now. Please win, Minnesota teams. Please lose, Chicago teams. That is all.

DEAR GOD I LOVE HOCKEY. PLEASE BULLDOGS WIN LOTS THIS YEAR WITH YOUR TOTALLY AWESOME FRESHMEN!

C is for Czech?

Um, yeah, so remember how Steve Czech gives a lot of turnovers in the defensive zone and that the entire d-corps sort of sucked it up last year?

WELL WHY WOULD YOU REWARD THAT WITH A CAPTAINSHIP?????????

Especially when you've got a great leader in Tim Stapleton, who is also better looking.

I guess it's not for me to say. BUT IT SHOULD BE.

Gather Ye Rosehills While Ye May

I remember talking to some of my friends at SiouxSports about the upcoming season, and how our teams will both be young at D. However, I told them, I think Jay Rosehill will be totally killer this season, now that he's had a year of experience under his belt, and learned not to be such a thug (I hoped.) But he can take that year of experience and stick it where the sun don't shine, because he's signed with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Just kidding, I'm totally happy for ya, buddy!

But why you gotta play me like that?

Really, ED is not something the Bulldogs have had to worry about in the past, and when I say ED, I don't mean something that can be cured by anything Rafael Palmeiro has ever endorsed. (I say it like that because if I said actual drug names, I bet I'd get spammed like mad.) However, with the new class of recruits, I think we might have more folks at risk for ED (Matt Niskanen, I'm looking in your direction...) At least this means we are recruiting good players, which is key to the success of the program. Thought that was a no-brainer? Well... Anyway, Matt is going to help fill the big gaping chasm in defense left by... um... oh yeah our defense kinda sucked a little last year. So he'll help close off the black hole of suckitude from last season. Let's not have our goals per game be the same as our opponents' goals per game! Because when I saw that stat, it did not make me happy.

By the way, when I saw who we were returning at D, I shuddered: Travis Gawryletz (whom I like very much), Ryan Swanson (who is not good), and Steve Czech (who I have threatened to maim on several occasions, usually following turnovers in our defensive zone, which are bad. Very bad. TAKE NOTE, STEVE.)

So, in a very roundabout way, I'm saying

I can't wait for hockey!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and don't suck at defense this year.

In other news... I'm moving to Las Vegas.

Is the West really the best? Or are you just stoned on weed?

An All-WCHA Frozen Four.

Sick, ain't it? Who would have thought?

Well, a lot of people. It would be much better, if the Bulldogs were there, but ending up 6th in a conference where all 4 teams are in the NCAA semifinals... well, it's not like we ended 5th in the CHA. It's not like we're in the CHA at all. So we can be proud of that.

I don't usually make picks for tournaments (although UCONN won me some money last year in the basketball tourney), so I didn't have any picks on who would make it to Columbus. However, I guess I can take a shot at the champion now.

My pick is not North Dakota, because they have been playing strong of late, but the 2-week break will kill their momentum. 2 week break = 0 velocity. Momentum = mass x velocity. 0 x mass = 0 g*m/s.
My pick is not Denver, because they do not play great hockey. They play decently enough to get this far, but they bored me in the Final Five Championship game. ZZZZZZ. Good thing for beer and wings.
My pick is not Minnesota, because Briggs is weak and Barry Tallackson has netted his last goal as a college hockey player. They managed to catch Maine on their only mistake of the day. They did not deserve a #1 seed.
My pick is not Colorado, because they play an amazing game of hockey one day, and go out and suck the next day. Who knows who will show up?

So, basically, no one can win. Riiiiiiight.

p.s. if CC can get past Denver they will win it all. And they should be able to do that!

Lucien, Jr.

Oh yeah. That's pretty great. Junior Lessard, before the Bulldogs, before Hobey Baker, before that ugly picture of him drunk that was on SiouxSports.com.
Thanks to the Penalty Box for the link!

That's All, Folks

Well.

I'm at a loss. I'm stunned. I'm totally in disbelief. The season went out, not with a bang, but a whimper. Evidently the only person really playing this weekend was Tim Stapleton.

I didn't give up. But it seemed like some of the 'Dogs did.

Here's to next season. I'll be waiting.

The All-WCHA Hottie Teams!

What you've been waiting for!!

This year's hotties cover 9 of the WCHA teams (CC did not have any candidates! They didn't even bother to look nice or even comb their hair in their photos!)

Coach: Jamie Russell (MTU)

1st Team
F- Evan Schwabe (UMD)
F- Chris Porter (UND)
F- Gabe Gauthier (UD)
D- Zach Blom (UD)
D- Kyle Peto (MSUM)
G- Kyle Nixon (MSUM)

2nd Team
F- AJ Degenhardt (UW)
F- Colin Murphy (MTU)
F- Charlie Kronschnabel (UAA)
D- Aaron Brocklehurst** (SCSU)
D- Ryan McMullan (UAA)
G- Cam Ellsworth (MTU)

3rd Team
F- Brad Thompson (MSUM)
F- Chris Connor (MTU)
F- Justin Bourne (UAA)
D- no one hot enough
D- Alex Goligoski (UMN)
G- Jake Brandt (UND)

Freshmen
F- Merit Waldrop (UAA)
F- Ryan Dingle (UD)
F- Malcom Gwilliam (MTU)
D- Zach Blom (UD)
D- Aaron Brocklehurst** (SCSU)
G- no freshmen goalies were good looking

*not enough hott defensemen
**only made it for his resemblance to Jim Morrison

Applause! Applause!

The hotness that is Marco Peluso is the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week. AND the 'Dogs are on the radar in the PWR.

That is all.

The Look of Triumph

And here it is, folks:

The beauty my eyes beheld last night.

What you don't see is Evan Schwabe's absolutely amazing goal. He worked for that one. You don't see Tim Hambly's superhuman effort, including 8 shots on goal, and one big fat goal in the first period that gave us the lead. We never trailed. Tim Stapleton had 9 shots. Jay Rosehill nearly doubled his season point total (and spend a long time in the penalty box.) Isaac made some amazing saves (and let out some big fat rebounds, but the Gophers couldn't cash in.)

What you don't see is the policewoman that stood behind me for over half the game. Or my acrobatics as I nearly fell over the rail each time there was an exciting play. Or the people sitting in front of me who thought I was insane. Or Doug Woog's bald head not 20 feet away, who could hear every word I screamed. I'm sure the whole stadium could.

But Christmas Present 2 of 2 is just as lucky as 1 of 2.
[no more picture!]
WHERE HAS THIS TEAM BEEN????????
I'm glad they're back, though. Broadmoor Trophy, here we come!

Reading Between The Lines

Here's the scoring summary from College Hockey Stats, but you won't really understand the game without my expert analysis. This game was special and magical.
1st Period (20:00)
CC-1 Brett Sterling (2-Interference) MND 1x1 1:26
MND 1-0 6x5 PP Evan Schwabe (14) (Tim Hambly, Tim Stapleton) 2:08
*Yes, that's right folks, Evan Schwabe scores ANOTHER goal within 2 minutes of the game's start. AND the 'Dogs get ANOTHER power play tally.
MND-1 Evan Schwabe (2-Boarding) CC 1x1 12:08
*Evan Schwabe gets called for boarding? He's like 160 lbs, soaking wet!
CC 1-1 6x5 PP Jack Hillen (2) (Curtis McElhinney) 14:02
*Note, the goaltender gets an assist.
CC-2 Jimmy Kilpatrick (2-Obstruction Hooking) MND 1x2 15:51
MND-2 Bryan McGregor (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 16:13
CC-3 Weston Tardy (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 16:13

2nd Period (20:00)
MND-3 Justin Williams (2-Slashing) CC 1x2 0:14
MND-4 Brett Hammond (2-Obstruction Hooking) 5:50
CC-4 James Brannigan (2-Diving) 5:50
CC 2-1 6x6 Brett Sterling (20) (Jimmy Kilpatrick, Marty Sertich) 8:45
MND-5 Todd Smith (2-Elbowing) CC 2x3 9:27
CC 3-1 6x5 PP Joey Crabb (10) (Marty Sertich, Aaron Slattengren) 10:19
*Here's where most folks left the 'Dogs for dead. But not me!
MND 2-3 6x6 Josh Miskovich (4) (Justin Williams, Tim Stapleton) 11:54
MND-6 Luke Stauffacher (2-Holding) CC 2x4 12:33
MND 3-3 6x6 GT Travis Gawryletz (2) (Brett Hammond, Josh Johnson) 14:58
*This, ladies and gentlemen, I will call one of my top ten moments of the season. After being on the ice for the entire penalty kill, plus 0:25 after Stauffacher got back on the ice, Hammond gets the puck to Gawryletz, who came out of nowhere, and Gawryletz buries it. You try killing a penalty when you can't clear the puck out of your zone, then skate your ass off down to the other end and put the biscuit in the basket. He should get a freaking medal. And so should Hammond. Also, since McElhinney got an assist, Johnson thought he'd better get one too.
3rd Period (20:00)
MND-7 Justin Williams (2-Boarding) CC 2x5 10:56
CC-5 Jimmy Kilpatrick (5-Spearing) MND 1x3 12:45
CC-6 Jimmy Kilpatrick (10-Game Disqualification) (Served by Braydon Cox) 12:45
*The 'Dogs could have capitalized on this chance and taken this game from the #1 team in the nation. The 'Dogs, too, were a #1 team at one point. But try as they might (and they did get some shots on net), the 3rd period was the period of the goalies.
Overtime (5:00)
*Both goalies made game-saving grabs in this back and forth overtime. Everyone got their money's worth.
End of Game
*Let's Go 'Dogs!

Guess Who's Back?

The 'Dogs are back!

Oh, I'm so excited! I mean, yeah, we're going to play Colorado College next weekend, but they really struggled against North Dakota, only winning by one goal, only scoring 3 on the weekend. And yeah we don't score many goals and our goalies aren't as good as Philippe Lamoreaux. But after the 5-1 win on Saturday (I'll forget about the 5-2 loss Friday night), I think the 'Dogs remembered who they were. Maybe a giant cloud that looks like Junior Lessard came to them in a vision in the sky and told them, "Remember who you are." Like in the Lion King. But how long will they remember? That's the key.

The Saturday night game was sort of bizarre, with C.J. Beaurline getting injured after Smitty knocked Reeder right into him, and a UW-Superior style brawl at the end (although our Rosehill did not get kicked out!) However, I would like to point out, that in the box score, not a single Bulldog had a -, they were all E or +1. And did you know that we went 3 for 8 on the POWER PLAY???????? And we had a shorthander???????? And Evan Schwabe scored twice???????? And even Bryan McGregor kicked some major ass? And Evan Schwabe took someone to the ice? Little Evan Schwabe! Who would have thought? And Hooton thought he was tough, but wouldn't go toe-to-toe with Jay Rosehill, who is ready to fight, no matter what.

Oh yeah, that brawl? Here's the penalty list:

STC-8 Konrad Reeder (2-Roughing)
STC-9 Konrad Reeder (2-Roughing)
STC-10 Aaron Brocklehurst (2-Roughing)
STC-11 Aaron Brocklehurst (2-Roughing)
STC-12 Josh Singer (2-Roughing)
STC-13 Josh Singer (2-Roughing)
STC-14 Casey Borer (2-Roughing)
STC-15 Casey Borer (2-Roughing)
STC-16 Aaron Brocklehurst (10-Misconduct)
MND-13 Tim Hambly (2-Roughing)
MND-14 Tim Hambly (2-Roughing)
MND-15 Marco Peluso (2-Roughing)
MND-16 Marco Peluso (2-Roughing)
MND-17 Bryan McGregor (2-Roughing)
MND-18 Bryan McGregor (2-Roughing)
MND-19 Evan Schwabe (2-Roughing)
MND-20 Evan Schwabe (2-Roughing)
MND-21 Marco Peluso (10-Misconduct)

All of those came at 18:51. Oh Marco, you are a hot head. But you're hot.

Anyway, my good friend dagies from Sioux Sports posted this:

Question about scoring goals:

Can a team get too focused on putting the puck on net and not focused enough about where the puck is going?

Sioux teams historically have outshot opponents but what I'm wondering about is whether players lose the edge to try and make each shot count.

For example, from what I read about games this weekend it appears we had a player with a breakaway who put the biscuit in the goalies bread basket, not the net. Last week I saw Fleming for the gophers with a bit of space and he aimed his shot in the upper corner stick side and guess what, it went in. I realize sometimes you miss the net on a deal like that but I wonder if we're too focused on just getting the puck at the net. Maybe that's accounts for the puck not getting by the goaltender. The shooter's job must be to not only get off a shot, but try and direct that puck where it has a chance to be successful.

Maybe that already happens. I'm just grasping at straws. There has to be a reason why we can put a lot of shots on goalies consistently without scoring the requisite number of goals.

So he got me thinking, and I responded:

I think you may have something here (not just with North Dakota, but with the 'Dogs as well. I'm going to have to quote you on my site.)

I don't listen to many of your games, but I am constantly hearing things about how "the puck won't lie down" or "he fanned on it" or "he just got his stick on it" or any number of things about the 'Dogs' offensive, um, struggles.

It's quality, not quantity. You can shoot the puck at the net all you want and run up the totals, but if you shoot it right at the logo each time, quantum physics says there's only an infinitesmally small chance that the puck will, rather than reflect, go through the goalie. I hope they aren't waiting for that.

I've been frustrated for awhile about the 'Dogs' flurry of shots with little results, but now you've got me thinking...

I don't know. I guess maybe those shot totals aren't telling the whole story. When they take their time and make a good shot, it goes in. You can't just shut your eyes and shoot. The Force isn't with us.

I guess I should make long posts more often, as when I was more committed to this site, we were doing better. And then I stopped posting so much, and we sucked. Then I post the mid-season review, and we rocked (for one game)!

And I'm going to the 'Dogs-Gophers game on the 29th! Yeah!

As promised...

Christmas Gift 1 of 2.

[no more picture]

Gift 2 of 2 is coming, as it did not fit.

Let's Go 'Dogs!

I'll be wearing this 29 January, it better be good luck!

I CAN'T STAND IT!!!!!!!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAFGEHDjfgr.

This crap has to stop. What's the problem?
Is it coaching? Is it leadership? Is it talent? Did Lucien Jr., and Beau carry this team that much last year?

Let's look at some stats.

Last year our overall record was 28-13-4. This year, we are 8-11-4, so to repeat that, we'd have to win out the season. We won't. Duh. That's not pessimism, that's just a fact.

Right now, we're at 69 goals, 116 assists, for 185 points. Our opponents have 69 goals, 114 assists, for 183 points. But for shots on goal, our goalies have 675 to the opponents' 803. We are absolutely killing our opponents in SOG, but we can't get the puck in the net. Opponents have a save percentage of .914 to our .898.
Last year, we ended up with 185 goals, 311 assists, for 496 points, to our opponents' 123/199/322. Instead of being tied in the goals category, we were 62 goals ahead of our opponents. BUT, Isaac/Josh faced only 1311 shots for a save percentage of .906, while our opponents faced 1474 with a save % .874. Because we put the puck in the freaking net. All right?

Penalties. We're at 209 penalties with 451 PIM, the average penalty being 2.15 minutes. Last year we were at 382/808, with the average penalty being 2.11 minutes. Since we're at the halfway mark, that makes us headed for 418 penalties and 902 PIM. I know that we've got this new officiating mandate, and it is often actually followed, so I'm going to let that go for now. Our opponents have had 212 penalties for 467 minutes and a 2.2 min avg. (projected numbers 424 penalties, 934 PIM), vs. last year's totals of 383/828 (2.16 min avg.). So we should have 6 more power plays than our opponents. Hm. But I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to see stats on how long our power plays LAST.

Special Teams. I don't even want to go there, but I have to. We're 23/150 on the power play this year (.153), and 126/152 (.829) on the PK. LY we were 59/228 on the PP (.259) and 198/233 on the PK (.850). We are TEN PERCENT WORSE on the power play, and about 2% worse on the PK. TEN PERCENT is UNACCEPTABLE. Although, as I alluded to before, a lot of our PPs were short-lived.
*********Here's what I don't get AT ALL. In the conference, Ev and Marco are #1 and #2 on PP points. WHAT THE F$%&? How can we be #1 and #2 in points but 5th in the league in PP????????????***********

League Stats. Just going to run the table here on the team stats. This Year/Last Year. Then I am going to puke.
Scoring Offense 6/2
Scoring Defense 6/3
Penalty Minutes 3/5
Power Play 5/1
Penalty Kill 5/3
Combined Special Teams 5/1
Special Teams Net 6/1
Scoring 6/2
Goals Allowed T7/3

Goaltending. I love Isaac (despite the horse face) and Josh is really coming through for us this year (and is much more attractive than last year), but I'm going to do some comparison anyway. Conf. Rank
Save % GAA Win% %Time GAA S% W%
Isaac (TY) .893 3.05 .393 61.8 12 14 11
Josh (TY) .912 2.62 .500 37.6 10 8 10
Isaac (LY) .909 2.64 .694 83.1 5 2 2
Josh (LY) .915 2.39 .556 16.5 - - - (Min. 33.3% time not met)

Yeah they were better last year, but not by that much. When their GAA is 3.05/2.62 and we're only scoring 3 GPG vs. last year's 4.1 GPG (with opponents at 3 GPG vs. 2.73 GPG last year) what can they do? I also think that there isn't a real leader on the defense (Sorry, Petey, you just won't cut it for me) and so Isaac and Josh are being hung out to dry. When you lose an All-American, you've got a big hole to fill. And Jay might be a giant, but he isn't Beau. I think the goaltending has been solid, absolutely solid. Josh is really impressing me. Isaac maybe has had a few games where he's had some difficulty, but I still have faith in him.

Recap:
There's no leadership. There's no goals being scored. There's no specialty teams. That means no trophies. No flowers. No flashbulbs. No wine. They're haunted by something I have just defined.

Let's salvage the season by making it to the Final Five! Yeaahehaehahafasjk!

About that last post...

I meant the SCORE would be 1 googol to 0, not the freaking SHOTS ON GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a fat lady warming up her vocal chords... let's get the Broadmoor, boys!

Hockey's Back

All I have to say is, it better be 1 googol UMD, 0 Alaska Anchorage tonight.

FINALLY I get the feed.

2 'Dogs jerseys for Christmas. Pictures to follow.