This update is a little late, as it has been a busy week, but there was not much new news at today’s weekly Wednesday press conference.
Michael Parks is still out this weekend. As UND coach Dave Hakstol said last week, it will be a few weeks for Parks. His return date will depend on how he responds to treatment and how quickly he recovers.
Other than that, it’s a full lineup for UND. That’s very strange saying that. It’s going to be very strange looking at a line chart with a full fourth line. And it’s even stranger going into a weekend where we aren’t entirely sure who will be in the lineup.
The battle for a spot in the lineup will be the subject of my Friday story.
Also of note, this year I’m going to be doing a notes column for Friday’s paper on the Ice Time page. I hope to get some more brief news in about Grand Forks/area players who are playing elsewhere around the country. The column also will be an opportunity to hit on other topics around the WCHA and the country.
Speaking of other topics, I checked in with NCHC commissioner Jim Scherr today to see where the league is at on the subject of new trophies. The NCHC is planning to have separate trophies for the regular-season champ and the postseason champ.
After reading that story, let me ask you guys: Who should the new trophies be named after? Three historical names tied to NCHC schools that I mentioned in the story were Murray Armstrong, Gino Gasparini and Herb Brooks.
What do you guys think? Should it be named after a famed NCHC figure? Should it be named after a landmark in one of the cities? Let’s hear your ideas.
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On the women’s side, it’s rivalry weekend.
No. 1 Minnesota, a team that is certainly looking head-and-shoulders above the rest of the country right now, will be in Ralph Engelstad Arena (tickets are only $1 for Saturday’s game at 2:07 p.m.).
The Gophers rank first nationally in offense (6.88 goals per game), defense (0.38), scoring margin (6.5) and power play (39.5). Their closest game so far this season is a 4-0 win over St. Cloud State.
Minnesota has won 16 consecutive games going back to last season. Its last loss was in Ridder Arena to UND — a 2-1 overtime decision (Josefine Jakobsen GWG).
So, the task is an enormous one for UND, which has been inconsistent early this season. Coach Brian Idalski said Michelle Karvinen will be a gametime decision, but it’s sounding promising that the Olympian will be back.
There will be more on the rivalry and the return of standout defenseman Jordan Slavin in the paper this week.
Brooks, no, he was a gopher. Need I say more.
Brad, is there any way you could use some of your Ice Time page notes to update us on UND recruits?? The USHL recruits this season have been especially mysterious as most of them have been in and out of their lineups. Thanks.
I hope they don’t name one of the trophies after Herb Brooks. The man is a legend, but it would be more fitting that the Big 10 name one of their trophies after him instead. I realize he coached at St. Cloud for one year, but St. Cloud is definitely a team no one is excited about seeing in the NCHC, and for that reason I would not like to see a trophy named after Gino. Couldn’t they have tried to get a decent corporate sponsor for the one of the cups?
” I realize he coached at St. Cloud for one year, but St. Cloud is definitely a team no one is excited about seeing in the NCHC, and for that reason I would not like to see a trophy named after Gino.”
I’m confused – this sentence doesn’t make sense. What does Gino have to do with St. Cloud State and coaching?
To resolve your confusion, Gino Gasparini is the special adviser for athletics at StC since Feb, 2011.
And he was instrumental in getting St. Cloud into the NCHC.
What about naming one of the trophies after Ralph Engelstad? Now, that is one man who had one VERY big inpact on hockey. Not just UND hockey, or not just college even look at the high level that was set by building the REA? He raised the level of recruiting, changed the way college and pro areas are being built, forever changed the economic impact of grand forks (heck the state North Dakota) and so many many more reasons. I’m sure UND/REA/GF could submitt 100 million reasons why this man is worthy of this legacy….
I say a trophy named after Ralph would be fitting!
I heard Dairy Queen was looking to sponsor a trophy again. Lol.
I like it… Play for the DQ Cup…
Lets get it over with and name the regular season trophy the Ralph Engelstad Memorial Trophy…..the R.E.M. Cup.
How about “National Cup”
Ralph Engelstad Memorial Trophy sounds good!
Hey Brad, when writing on the ice time page about the area players playing around the country/elsewhere maybe you can include all North Dakota players? There are some West Region players in the junior ranks, some are team mates with East Region players and some are team mates with UND recruits. It would be pretty cool for these young men.
I’ve thought about that but wondering if I would run out of room….
Penrose Cup