The Frozen Four April 6th and 8th.

The North Dakota Fighting Sioux:
Overall Record: 29-15-1
Home: 15-9-0 — Away: 11-5-1 — Neutral: 3-1-0
B.C. Eagles: (AKA the Dirty Eagles)
Overall Record: 25-12-3
Home: 13-3-1 — Away: 7-7-1 — Neutral: 5-2-1
This should be a epic battle between two teams That really like to get up and go, race horse hockey, there won't be any neutral zone trap or any of the god awful hooking and holding I say last Sunday during the Midwest Regional in Green Bay between Cornell and Wisconsin game. Talk about a boring game to watch, If last Sunday’s game was the first hockey game that I ever watched I would not have become a hockey fan. It was God awful hockey, boring, horrible, no fun to watch, no entertainment values what so ever. The funny thing is that both schools teach this type of hockey.
Jordan Parise Versus Corey Schnider
I think Jordan Parise holds the edge in this one. I have seen Corey Schnider play on the national scene as well as the international scene and I am just not sold on this kid. I thought he was an average goalie during the World Juniors tourney in Vancouver and in Grand Forks. Last year during the Bean Pot II in Worchester Mass (2005 NCAA East Regional) the Fighting Sioux lit him up for 6 goals. I have a hard time believing that he is the best the USA has to offer.
I predict the Fighting Sioux will win this game based on their bruising defense and superior goaltending.



Wisconsin BADgers
Overall Record: 28-10-3
Home: 13-6-1 — Away: 11-3-2 — Neutral: 4-1-0
Maine Black Bears
Overall Record: 28-11-2
Home: 16-4-1 — Away: 8-5-1 — Neutral: 4-2-0
I have seen the BADgers more than I have seen the Black Bears this year, both have solid goalies that are well, pretty good. However, Maine has a goalie that has to be the tallest every to put on a pair of skates in the Frozen Four. The Maine goalie is Ben Bishop that is listed on the Maine roster as being 6’5”. I have heard that he is taller than that more like 6’7”. So basically he is the same height as Super Frosh Joe Finely with all of the goalie pads. I can’t imagine that here is much net to shot at. That means the opposition is going to have to get Bishop’s feet moving with quick passes and a of one timers.

Being as tall as he is Bishop is going to be slower on his side to side motion. As my buddy would say, “that is a tall drink of water”. So if you are still confused on how big Ben Bishop Is, he is also the same size as Senators defenseman Zdeno Chara. On CSTV this year they said Ben was having trouble finding a bed that was long enough in the Maine residence halls apparently his feet stick out the end of the bed.

As for the BADgers to beat them you have to get a lead on them and you have to play tough defense. They aren’t very exciting to watch because they play a systems game. The Wisconsin program goes from the goaltender out. Everyone plays defense first. The biggest threats from Wisconsin is Joe Pavelski 23goals-30 assists for 53 points and Robbie the diving queen Earl 21 goals-25 assists for 46 points.

You have to stop these two guys because if you don’t they will bury your team. Be prepared to see Robbie Earl flopping all over the ice like a fish out of water. Don’t get me wrong Robbie Earl is a nice player with a lot of talent but is famous for diving and it wears on the fans. I am tired of watching him take a dive then watch a player skate to the penalty bench after being assessed a bush league penalty. I predict the BADgers win this game but it will be a struggle and a tough game to watch. Maine plays a deliberate game and that style of play will play into the BADgers hands. Sioux and the BADgers for the NCAA title. Yikes sounds like a historic collision course.