INCH Chat...

Here is the transcripts of the INCH chat from ESPN. Joe Gladiziszewski picks the Fighting Sioux to win the NCAA tourney.

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Eric J (Grand Forks, ND )


Gladdy, do you think the Fighting Sioux can make a run to the Frozen Four and win with their goaltending?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:33 PM)


Yes and yes. Eidsness was good enough last weekend at the WCHA Final Five is as tough a tournament as the NCAAs. I think North Dakota is a good pick to come out of that region, despite it being closer to home for Boston College. Both teams are playing so well right now that it's tough to make a call.
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Scott (California)

Two questions: Is Michigan the team you would least like to face if you were a #1 seed and are you going to do a podcast on the Wish List Draft to elaborate on the picks you made?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:36 PM)


I think Cornell, St. Cloud State and North Dakota are the most dangerous teams of the non-number ones, but Michigan just beat Miami last weekend, so that has to be fresh. It's the team that No. 1-seed Miami would probably least like to face.There is a podcast for the Wish List draft. Link is on the Wish List Draft page, INCH front, and in our iTunes feed. Thanks for listening.
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scott (minot north dakota)


North Dakota plays a extremely physical game. Will the teams in that region be able to handle that kind of play, will speed neutralize North Dakota's style, or will tighter officiating from non WCHA refs force North Dakota to change its style of play.

Joe Gladziszewski (2:45 PM)


If you change your style of play at this time of the year, you've got bigger problems than killing off a few extra penalties (if necessary). I don't think Yale will be intimidated by a physical presence. That's the scouting report they play against all season in ECAC Hockey. Teams try to play them tough, and they still led the nation in scoring average. Same goes with Boston College or Alaska (potentially) in the second round, should North Dakota advance
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Mark (St. Paul)

You're Hakstol and Genoway tells you he's healthy enough to go. Do you put him out there and hope he adds offense at the blue line, or do you tell him to sit out since the team is playing so well without him and he may be rusty

Jess Myers (2:47 PM)


I usually shy away from hypotheticals, but this is an outstanding question. There is not a team in the nation that would not be helped by having a healthy Chay Genoway in uniform, but I guess if I were Coach Hakostol I'd have to keep him out at this point in the season for two reasons. First, as you said, he'd be rusty and the Sioux are doing fine as-is right now, but secondly, to insert him into the lineup now would mean he cannot apply for a hardship and come back next year, so I think the promise of a full 2010-11 season makes more sense than up to four more games this year.
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Fred (Boston)

Which program do you believe has the top line in the nation?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:53 PM)

Fantastic question because it's so difficult to answer. Denver's group of Colborne, Rakhshani and Ruegsegger is the best in my opinion. There are a lot to choose from. North Dakota's group with VandeVelde, Gregoire and Hextall is playing great right now, as are BC's bunch with Gibbons-Whitney-Atkinson and Nash-Greening-Kennedy at Cornell.
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Mark (Fargo, ND)

Are you guys going to rock-out the East Coast Bias.... Who wins between UND and BC if they meet in the Regional Finals?

Joe Gladziszewski (3:11 PM)

Well, as an upstate NY lifer who primarily covers ECAC Hockey, I lean toward North Dakota to win that game. But Mike Eidelbes, a WCHA/CCHA guy from Northern Minnesota leans toward Boston College. You can decide on which way we're biased.
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Joe Gladziszewski (3:31 PM)

I'll take North Dakota over Miami in one semifinal, Cornell over Wisconsin in the other semi, and North Dakota beats Cornell for the title -- potential third game of the year between those teams after they split a series in the regular season.
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