INCH Chat.

Here is the latest from the INCH Chat: Not much to report.

Victor Crowell, Green Bridge, NJ: Denver split last weekend against the lower division opponent Alaska/Anchorage team. How do you see the Pioneers finishing this season and in the playoffs ? Do you think Patrick Mullen can follow in the footprints of the great Joe and Bryan Mullen ? Way to go for the Seawolf walk-ons !

Jess Myers: Following a legendary relative is always tough, so let's not put undue pressure on the latest in the Mullen hockey line. As for the Pioneers, their coach says that they're about where he expected them to be, meaning they may have overachieved early in the year and the recent near-.500 play is about what should be expected. With that said, Denver and Wisconsin are the only two teams in the league that can win the MacNaughton Cup without help, which is not a bad place to be on the first weekend of February.
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Ryan (Grand Forks, ND): What do you think about the Schack incident last weekend? I felt it was right up there with the Michigan/Michigan State incident and deserved more consequences. Thanks!

Jess Myers: It was ugly all around, and we need to see a stop not only to what Schack did, but to what led up to it as well. Minnesota State's Channing Boe is lost for the season as a result, prompting many to call for further disciplinary action, but at this point I don't see any forthcoming.
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INCH CHAT...

In case you haven't seen it yet here is the latest from the INCH/ESPN chat.

UND in SLP, St. Louis Park, MN: How important is it for Joe Finley to get back into the Sioux lineup? Barring any assumptions about a second half revival, what will it take for UND to begin pressing the upstart gophers for the top spot in the WCHA?

Jess Myers: Since the biggest question mark for the Sioux in the preseason was goaltending, and because goaltending has proven to be a real problem in some of the games where they've struggled thus far, I see the return of a shut-down defenseman like Finley as vitally important for the Sioux defense. For them to press the Gophers for the top spot, or to even press for a top-five spot, North Dakota is going to need a more consistent every-game effort, unlike their recent play, when they look like completely different teams (some good, some bad) from night to night.

You kind of wonder if Jess Meyers is just saying these silly ridiculous things to get a rise out of Sioux fans? You almost have to wonder if Jess is lonely and wants Sioux fans to send him nasty emails? Please don't send objectionable emails so Jess thinks Sioux fans are a bunch of blood thirsty, knuckle dragging, rabid fans. We can respectfully disagree with him. (I am rolling my eyes)

Just for the record the talent on this years Sioux team compared to 2001-2002 isn't even close. This guy clown is supposed to be the WCHA expert for INCH? The 2000-2001 team was decimated by graduation and lost many key members of its team (Karl Geohring, Wes Dorey, Bryan Lundbohm, Trevor Hammer, Jeff Panzer). The 2001-2002 team was a shell of the team that finished second over all in the NCAA Frozen Four. My question to Jess is; how many games has Jess watched of the Sioux this season? Nothing like flying under the radar folks.

William (Atlanta, GA): The Sioux always seem to start slow (.500 in the winter the last few seasons), then seem to turn on the jets to finnish strong enough for four straight frozen fours. Do you guys forsee the same second half turn around and if not what do they need to do to turn it around this season?

Jess Myers: Interesting that the sioux and Alaska Anchorage split last weekend, as those two teams seem to always be around .500 at the holidays, and then go in polar opposite directions. I don't foresee as big a second-half push by North Dakota this season for some reason. Something just doesn't feel right. I'm reminded of the 2001-02 NoDak team that had no good reason to struggle, but did anyway. These Sioux have some talent, are struggling for some reason.

Check out this question. LOL, Air Force as a frozen four participant. Please! The Air Force Falcons have a nice record by they haven't played ANYONE that is good. Not one team has a winning record. Talk about choking on cup cakes and a couple of the these guys have them penciled as a possible participant in the Frozen Four. They will be lucky to get through their first game in the regional. Same with Princeton.

Yeah, I would love to make some bets with these guys. I do think that B.C., BU and Minnesota are the top teams right now.

Shad (Alexandria, MN): I know it's early but just for fun who do you have in the frozen four this year?

Joe Gladziszewski: Oh good ... this question already. Let's throw it around the horn ...

Jess Myers: Making predictions like these before Thanksgiving are guaranteed to make you look and feel foolish somewhere down the line. But if the Frozen Four were being held this weekend, I think the four teams vying to get an audience with President Obama would be Boston University, Denver, Notre Dame and New Hampshire, with Air Force as my favorite dark horse.

Jeff Howe: I'll go with BU, BC, Air Force and Colorado College.

Mike Eidelbes: Put me down for Boston College, Boston University, Minnesota, and Notre Dame ... for now.

Joe Gladziszewski: ... and I'll start with Minnesota and Denver, gimme Notre Dame, and sure -- Princeton.