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Friday, September 30, 2016

Annual NCHC predictions

As I have done for the past several years, I will try and provide a bit of a preview/prediction of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). To properly get myself in the right mindset for this, let's look back at what I predicted from a year ago:
1. University of Minnesota-Duluth, who actually finished fourth
2. St. Cloud State, who tied for second
3. Tie between Denver and North Dakota, Denver finished tied for second and UND was first
5. Nebraska-Omaha, who actually finished sixth
6. Miami, who actually finished fifth
7. Western Michigan, actually was seventh
8. Colorado College, actually was eighth

As you can see, UMD was by far my worst call. Other than that, I wasn't too far off, but I can certainly do better, and should, this year. Without further fanfare, here is my prediction for this season:
1. University of North Dakota: It is hard not to pick the defending national champs here. Despite the loss of three of their top four leading scorers, and nearly all of their defense, the Fighting Hawks are one of the best at reloading. The real key for UND though is they return spectacular goaltender Cam Johnson and leading scorer Brock Boeser. Johnson will be the big key for the Hawks. If he can be as spectacular as last year (1.66 GAA, .935 save percentage), UND will certainly be near the top of the conference.
2. Denver: Denver should easily be up here after finishing with a loss to the champs in the Frozen Four a year ago. Sure, the Pioneers will be without sensational scorer Danton Heinen, but Denver does return most of the rest of their scoring, defense and goaltending. The big key for the Pioneers will be replacing Heinen's scoring, but I think Denver will find a way.
3. St. Cloud State: This might be my bias showing here, but despite losing an All-American goaltender and like every single one of their top scorers and a couple strong defender, I still believe in the Huskies. The biggest challenge will be replacing Lindgren in net, and the Huskies have three contenders in competition right now. As far as scoring, the Huskies still return six 20+ point scorers (they had 12 last year), so the offense shouldn't be a problem. Plus, the Huskies have talented Poehling brothers (two are twins, one forwent his senior year in high school and is 17) to shake things up.
4. Nebraska-Omaha: UNO is a tough team to predict, but I see good things on their horizon. Sure, the Mavs lost top scorer Jake Guentzel, but they return just about everyone else. I wouldn't be surprised if Austin Ortega and Co. could win close to a dozen conference contests and 20+ games overall. The big key will be finding scoring replacements for Guentzel.
5. Miami: Miami has one of the best freshman classes in the country this year, with 14 incoming freshman. Sure, the Redhawks lost goaltender Jay Williams and their second and fourth-best scorers, but they do return leading scorer Anthony Louis. The big key for Miami will be replacing Williams in net.
6. Minnesota-Duluth: Oh, how the tables have turned in Duluth. The Bulldogs will be without goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo, who left early for the pros, and lose their top two scorers from a year ago. UMD does have nine talented incoming freshman and the three, four and five scorers from last year, but I have a feeling that net will be tough to replace. He was the biggest reason that the Bulldogs were relevant a year ago.
7. Western Michigan: The Broncos will remain entrenched in seventh place. The return Griffen Molino and Sheldon Dries, but lose Nolan LaPorte and good goaltender Lukas Hafner. Keep an eye on Frederick Tuffels.
8. Colorado College: Perennial cellar dwellers, CC does return a number of players from a year ago, losing only top scorer Hunter Fejes, but that won't be enough to get the Tigers out of the basement.

There we have it. Denver and UND should be in a showdown come Frozen Faceoff time, and I expect that at least four teams from the conference will make the NCAA's, if not five.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Starboy

The Weeknd recently released the title track from his upcoming album, "Starboy." The song, which features French electronic duo Daft Punk, debuted at No. 40 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. It should have been much higher. The Weeknd is one of the few new artists that I've really gravitated toward.

In my fantasy football action, I improved to 3-0 in two of my four leagues. I'm in first place in both. I'm 2-1 in another (which I co-own) and 1-2 in my crazy/off the wall scoring league. 

Several photos to share.


Little Falls freshman Kali Schirmers runs toward the finish at the Lucky Lindy, Sept. 15.

Flyers senior Kendal Hendrickson was the first Little Falls runner to cross the line.

Little Falls' Nolan Zimny runs to the finish line.

Junior Hunter Zupko crosses the line.

Royalton senior Brooke Tschida goes up to try and block a Crystal Kaun (of Swanville) shot.

Bulldogs sophomore Emily Beseman sets up a teammate against Royalton, Sept. 20.

Swanville libero Cheyene Graves dives to return a serve.

Bulldogs senior Kiley Loven hustles to the line after expecting the ball to go out.

Royalton sophomore Jenna Carlson leans in to dig out a ball.

Junior Rebecca Taylor receives a serve.

Pierz senior Kacy Broschofsky (18) celebrates after earning a kill.

Pioneers senior Cassie Smieja blocks a shot against Big Lake, Sept. 19. Junior Kylie Porter is to her left.

Smeija prepares to go up for a block.

Smieja can't quite get her hands on a shot by Big Lakes' Hailey Atwood.

Smieja goes up for another block.

Rebecca Athman runs to do a jump serve.

Kelsi Stuckmayer serves.

Pierz senior Hannah Kahl returns a serve.

Jade Porter yells to teammates that the ball is out.

Grace Gottwalt storms down the course for Pierz a the Pioneers Stampede, Sept. 19.

Brenna Andres is a freshman runner for Pierz.


Sam Winscher finished first for the Pioneers girls in 51st place.

Royalton's Armondo Wallen races to the finish line.

Christopher Borash runs in Pierz.

Jake Andres took eighth place for Pierz on the day.

Royals senior Jordan Malikowski was sixth.

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

You Always Bring Me Down

One of my favorite local bands, All The Right Moves, from Minneapolis, recently added a 2010 EP "The Monster I've Become" onto its Spotify profile. Thus giving me some more ammo of a band that I listen too with frequency. I really enjoyed the album on the first listen, and in multiple plays it has only gotten betters, especially "You Always Bring Me Down."

In fantasy football news, I won in all three of my leagues! I am currently in first in two leagues and fourth in another, with a chance to move into the top of my division with a win this week. This is super exciting considering it's been a couple years since some success. Of course, it is only week two, I still have plenty of time to crap the bed.

I have a few photos to share from area action from Sept. 8-13. Enjoy.

Royalton's Cole Wentland tries to get around the edge in a game against Belgrade-Brooten-Elrosa, Sept. 9.

Wentland stretches over the goal line for a score with teammates Ty Held (71) and Caleb Smieja (72) looking on.

Little Falls' Sadie Sue Houdek plays in singles against Pierz, Sept. 8.

Houdek runs forward to return a ball against Kalyn Gratzmacher of Pierz.

Houdek watches as one of her shots goes over the net.

Royalton's Jason Kasella (No. 89) hangs on as teammate Randale Fernelius chases down BBE's QB as well.

Little Falls' Mackenzie Jendro goes up for a block in a game, Sept. 13.

Senior Kacy Steinmetz serves against Foley.

Steinmetz prepares to serve.

Flyers senior Christy Masog swims in the 100 butterfly, Sept. 13.

Emma Gustafson enters the water on a dive in the meet vs. Sauk Centre.

Senior Julia Noyes does a back dive.

Noyes spots the water as she does a pike.

Annie Corbett races in the 200 meter free.

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

So Far

Fantasy week one just ended, and much like the latest We The Kings album "So Far," it has been so good. I won in three of four contests, including my most important league. The album by my favorite pop-punk band is essentially a greatest hits album, with a few new songs. It was a great trip back into my college days with some of their original hits from past albums. Not too many bands are releasing greatest hits-type albums these days, so I'm glad they did here.

I have really a lot of photos to share from events ranging from Aug. 25 to Sept. 6. Hope you enjoy.

Lastrup's Brad Meyer.

Scott Janson.

Jason Sadlovsky.

Chad Weiss.

Little Falls' Rachel Boros.

Boros.

Erica Bassett.

Pierz' Kacy Broschofsky.

BreAnna Hopkins (No. 13).

Kelsi Stuckmayer.

Jade Porter.

Royalton's Brooke Tschida.

Tschida.

Tschida.

Little Falls' Annika Bjorge.

Rachel Gold.

Chelsea Moran and Melissa Geisenhof.

Moran.

Gold.

Moran.

Lauren Thielman.

Grace Stockard.

Lastrup's Reggie Litke.

Sobieski Skis before state championship.

Tyler Jendro.

Collin Eckman.

Jendro.

Eckman.

Jendro to Scott Litchy.

Litchy.

Riley Hirsch.

Kyle Boser.

Joey Hanowski.

Eckman.

Dan Marod.

Josh Wenzel.

Eckman.

Matt Swanson.

Swanson.

USA's Alex Thieschafer.


Dylan Graves.

Parker Barth.

Bennett Westrich.

Graves.

Little Falls' Jacob Biermaier.

Joshua Jennings.

Abdulrahman Abdulrahman.

Abdulrahman Abdulrahman.

Sam Beam.

Beam.

Michael Hanowski.

Beam.

Beam.

Sobieski's Joey Hanowski.

Joey.

Beau Hanowski.