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 Welcome to
kuntzy's korner, the
"official" blog of Yellowjacket Ryan Kuntz, the versatile senior who
will most likely play both forward and defense in his final season
in "Suptown." It seems like only yesterday that he was a
freshman and dropping the gloves in his first college game or
screaming into the microphone after Superior's overtime win over St.
Norbert in 2006.Three years later, the Regina, Saskatchewan native and the rest of the Yellowjackets look to return to the NCAA tournament, someplace they haven't been since winning that game over St. Norbert in 2006. See what's on Ryan's mind (if you dare) as he posts about hockey, school and anything else he feels like throughout the 2008-09 season. Got a question? Feel free to fire it our way at uwsjackets@yahoo.com and Ryan will answer it here on the blog. Disclaimer: we reserve the right to edit and/or delete any questions submitted that are deemed profane, distasteful, etc. Have fun and keep it clean! March 9, 2009 For the first time all season, there will be no more second chances from here on out. We lost in the Peters Cup final to a Stout team who played a more complete 60 minutes. We came up a goal short, but all was not lost. We learned a valuable, first-hand lesson on humility and what it feels like to have someone walk into your house and take something from you. I watched as the Stout team gathered around the trophy for their team photo and got that sick feeling in my stomach. The key is to learn from the mistakes we made and move towards our ultimate goal.
Our record stands at 23-3-3, which is one of the best years this
program has ever had. We lost only one game all year at
home and that, unfortunately, came last weekend. We have
played ourselves into the position we are currently in and I
must say that if someone told me at the start of the year we
would be hosting a game to go to the Frozen Four, I would have
taken it in a heartbeat.
We have earned the right to be here and now it is all up to us
to make it happen. The off-season training, the countless
practices, the team workouts, the team meals, the video
sessions, the grueling bus trips, and even school all comes down
to one game on Saturday night. My career and the career of seven
other seniors comes down to Saturday night. Our destiny is
on the line on Saturday night. Saturday night we find out
what type of men we are and what this beautiful game means to
us.
Saturday night we will win and we will win for the guys who go
to battle with us every night. We will win, because we
just want it that much more. Saturday night we will earn
our right to go to the Frozen Four!
Kuntzy March 3, 2009 We have a question from Paul in Superior. Paul asks: Hey Kuntzy,
First of all, congrats on Saturday's shutout over St. Norbert.
I noticed a definite difference in focus from the previous
week's playoff games. Before the game you guys were more vocal
than I can remember in a long time (besides the home CSS game).
Even after the game, you guys seemed very focused after you left
the on ice celebration. Defensively, you guys stood up
tall to a very fast and precise Norbert offense. Offensively, it
seemed that it was tough to get things set up, but took
advantage of the opportunities given to you and that didn't seem
to rattle your confidence. With that being said, can you
describe how the team handled having to play more defensively
than you would have liked? To myself, I felt the team actually
had the game controlled after the 5-minute penalty kill,
especially since Chad played about the best game I've ever seen
him play, and I know the fans felt the same. Did the team at
some point of the game get that feeling too?
Work hard this
week and keep your eye on the prize at hand first: the Peter's
Cup. You guys deserve to have another batch of cookies made.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks Paul for your insightful question. Let me first start by saying that attention to detail was at the forefront when we played St. Norbert. Defensively we played flawless and I thought we stepped up huge on the penalty kill. However, much of the credit goes to the stellar goaltending we received from our senior goalie Chad Beiswenger. Offensively it was a bit of a struggle and we played a little more defensively than we normally do, because we were protecting the lead for almost the whole night.
It's always a goal of ours to take the play to the other
team and dominate in their end of the rink. However, that
was not quite the case when we played St. Norbert as there
were a few calls, like the five-minute major to start the
third that put us in a serious hole. Penalties
sometimes tend to take the wind out of your sails and I
think that's why we looked a little more defensive-minded.
As far as Chad in net, it helps with the team's confidence
to have a goalie that we believe in and who can bail you out
when you make a mistake. Although we win and lose as a
team, goaltending is inevitably the biggest part of any
playoff run and it's nice to have one that everybody can
depend on!
Kuntzy March 2, 2009 Another game down and another one to go. The Yellowjackets ended the post-season hopes of St. Norbert this past weekend, large in part due to the strong netminding of senior goalie Chad Beisweinger! Chad collected his fifth shutout this season and is considered highly among most coaches as one of the best netminders in the country. 
You know what really gets me going before each
game...it's sitting there looking around at a group a guys from
all walks of life, willing to go to war with you at a moment's
notice. Hockey is the ultimate team sport; you have to
trust that the person beside you wants to win as bad as you do
and sacrifice everything to make it happen. We're coming
down the home stretch now in our season...a game that will
decide the Peters Cup champion and then one more to determine
who goes to the NCAA Frozen Four. The maximum number of
games left in our season is five (if we have to play in the
play-in game). The thing that scares me is to know we have come
all this way (28 games to be exact) and have the possibility
that one game could end it all!
My favorite thing about hockey is its
unpredictability. The pace, momentum, and scoreboard can
change in an instant and without warning. The key is to
stay focused on the task at hand and know that you have 25 other
guys who are out there with you, willing to pick you up when you
fall. Hockey is not easy to play, especially when you
reach the collegiate level, but the hard work is what makes it
fun. I love waking up in the morning on a game day not
knowing the fate of the day to come. However, what I love
the most, is being able to control that fate with how I play.
So my message this week is to
find something you're passionate about and run with it.
Enjoy the ride that life takes you on and never look back.
Live for the moment, because in the end your legacy is not left
up to fate...it's left up to you!
Kuntzy February 23, 2009 The first round is done and it pretty much went according to plan for all four top seeds in the NCHA. Superior, Stout, St. Norbert, and St. Scholastica all won both games in a race to 3 points. This is wh  en the battles truly
begin for the Peters Cup and we see the separation of the men
from the boys.
It's way too confusing to offer
up any type of analysis on possible playoff scenarios, due to
the ridiculous playoff structure the NCAA has set up for the
teams. The only way any team can guarantee themselves a playoff
birth to the NCAA tournament is to win their way there. We had a
great season as far as our record dictates, but just because you
finish on top does not mean you can rest on your laurels. Hockey
has become increasingly competitive over the past couple of
years, especially in our conference. A few years ago St.
Scholastica would have been an afterthought after the first
round and now they have yet to give up a goal in their first two
games of playoffs. Yes, the playoffs will be that much more
exciting this year.
Now, I've been at this for
awhile...telling you how I feel, sharing life experiences, and
putting my heart and soul into this blog. Now it's your
turn. I am urging any and all bloggers to email in
questions to
uwsjackets@yahoo.com so I can answer some of your questions.
As you may know I do not shy away from anything, so feel free to
throw some stumpers at me...rattle my cage...shake things up!
I want to see what's on other people's minds and see how I feel
about what they have to say. This is a two-way street
ladies and gentlemen, the old kitty cat wants to hear from you!
Kuntzy February 16, 2009 Playoffs are here and that means the start of a new season. We open up against Lake Forest this weekend and although we have beaten them in every contest we have ever played since I've been here, it does not mean we can take the weekend off. We must attack this series like any other, especially in light of the recent goaltending they have been receiving.
What makes a championship team?
Is it the chemistry (see photo for a group with great chemistry)? A core of good leaders? Or just a team that
works harder than
 everyone else? I won a national title in
juniors playing with the Weyburn Red Wings in Saskatchewan and
even though we got there because we hosted, nobody just handed
it to us. We played every game like it was our last. We
sacrificed everything for the good of the team. We put our own
personal opinions aside for the good of the team. This week I
will inevitably be pondering this very question. What can I do
for the good of this team, to help us succeed? Seeing as how
this is my final season, anything less than a national
championship is unacceptable.
However, this poses another
question with relevance to the task at hand. How do we measure
success? Success to me is not measured by wins and losses; it's
not measured by the amount of goals you score or the face-offs
you win. It's measured by the the work ethic which you exhibit
on the battle field. The sweat, blood, and tears you put into
making something that much better. It's being able to look
yourself in the mirror at the end of the season and know that
you did everything possible for your team to have the best shot
at winning it all.
I stated earlier that anything less than a
national championship would be unacceptable and that holds true,
because this team is unstoppable when we play together. We have
had our differences throughout the year, but like my
brother always used to tell me, "adversity causes some men to
break down, other men to break records." On this team, we have
men that are willing to do what it takes for each other to be
successful. That will be exemplified in our play this
post-season. Count on it!
Kuntzy February 9, 2009 The 'Jackets went about their business this weekend and locked up the divisional title; capping the weekend with an impressive 6-1 win over the ever-improving Stevens Point Pointers. The 'Jackets got some help the previous night when the Pointers knocked off St. Scholastica 4-1. Knowing the 'Jackets have home ice advantage secured throughout the playoffs is a definite confidence boost that we welcome with open arms. 
This weekend was "Parents
Weekend" and I had a chance to meet them all. Some I had
already met before and we had a chance to get reacquainted.
Others I met for the first time. I always wondered why the
guys on our team seemed to mesh so well and now I know. The
parents are spitting images of their sons and that is evident
when you meet them. Daryl Berlando has a grounded
personality, with a work ethic in his profession that some men
only dream of. Talon, his son, has the same grounded
personality and a work ethic on the ice that is never-ending.
It truly is a blessing that we have parents and siblings around
us that care that much about us and teach all of us how to be
better men. Without family I can't help but think that
somehow we would lose our way.
My father was unable to be here
this weekend because of work related reasons, but nonetheless
was with me in spirit. He even called me late at night after our
Friday night game to make sure I was going to the net with the
puck and backchecking my butt off. Parents are responsible
for guiding their kids on the right paths and even though they
may make mistakes in their lifetime, they are all human.
The best part about those mistakes, is that we can use them and
learn from them to be better people within society.
So give your parents a break every once in a
while because they love you no matter what and want nothing more
than to see you succeed and be happy. Many thanks to the
parents who came down and supported our team this weekend. God
bless and have a safe trip home!
Kuntzy February 2, 2009 Three games are left for the Yellowjackets and all of them will be played on home ice. It's essential that the 'Jackets win all three to secure home ice advantage throughout the playoffs. It's been a long, hard season, but the light at the end of the tunnel is beginning to shine a little brighter and we are in control of their own destiny.
Now how about that Super Bowl? Probably the best game
these eyes have witnessed in quite some time. There is so
much hype surrounding the Super Bowl and it seems like on Super
Bowl Sunday that no other sporting event even matters. I
noticed that in every major sports venue, any game that was
played on Sunday started and ended before the "Big Game."
Of course I am a die-hard
Steelers (and Saskatchewan Roughriders) fan and was happy as a
pig in slop when my beloved Steelers found the end zone with 35
seconds remaining to put the Cardinals in a hole they could not
climb out of. It's not just the game that excites people;
it's all the small idiosyncrasies that nobody notices, like the
bean dip Turvy made, or the Swedish meatballs Matt Wiest decided
to whip up, or the Rock Band marathon that was scheduled at half
time. It's a time when everyone can get together, watch a
little football, crush a few beers and possibly head butt a
piece of wood if that's your thing.
Super Bowl Sunday is a special
time of year where everybody is a football fan for one day; some
more than others depending on whether or not you had the
Cardinals +6.5 points! Either way this kitty cat will be
back again next year to enjoy the fruit of our labor in
America's greatest championship!
Kuntzy January 27, 2009 It saddens me to think that just two months from now I will be finishing my 17th season of hockey, and more likely than not it will be my last competitive season. Hockey has given me tools that will last for a lifetime. It has shown me how to work with others, taught me about fair play, given me guidance on hard work and dedication. Hockey is much more than just a sport and the qualities it has instilled in me as a person I can use for the rest of my life. The memories I have from the game I can truly cherish for years to come. 
In exactly four months I will be
heading out into a world unknown. I will cast off the shackles
of the college life and trade in my party shoes for a shirt and
tie. For some reason it does not seem like a fair trade off and
I would much rather be at school than a job...but the fact that
I am getting paid will help alleviate some of the pain. The
problem that I am having today is figuring out where to go and
what job to pursue. How am I supposed to know what I want to do
with the rest of my life without even trying it first?
The pressure to go out and pursue
a career is quite overwhelming when first graduating college.
I'm not sure whether I want to start a career right away or
possibly take some time for myself to travel and see the world.
It's funny if you really sit back and think about it for a
second. People are in such a hurry all the time that they forget
to "stop and smell the roses" so to speak. What is the point of
jumping into a job right out of college and than spending the
next 30 years saving, paying off debt, and trying to scrounge
enough money together so one can hopefully retire by the time
their 60? I want to experience the world when I'm youthful and
full of life and still have the stones to take a few chances.
I'm not concerned about paying
off bills right away...there is always time to worry about
finances later on. I'm going to enjoy myself for awhile when I
am done with college and I encourage my fellow graduates to do
the same. Life is short, if you really think about it, so start
living it as soon as you have the chance or one day you'll wake
up and be 60 and be too old to start. In two months, when hockey
is done, it will be the first time in 17 years that my life has
not revolved around hockey, or training for hockey, or something
hockey-related. As much as I will miss the sport and all that it
has given me (especially my friends), I'm interested to see who
I will be, without it in my life.
Kuntzy January 19, 2009 The break is over and the 'Jackets are back in action. We had a chance for the first time in four years to be ranked  number one in the
country, but unfortunately it slipped through our hands as we
fell to a much improved St. Scholastica squad 7-2.
I already hear the critics
chiming in with their benign words of wisdom...Where's the
defense? What happened to the goaltending? Where did
our scoring go? It was one game...a huge game, but still
just one game. They outplayed us and we lost...no, we got
spanked!!! However, the game is over and we have to move
on. Now on to some business that is in need of some attention. School is gearing up for the second semester and many of my fellow teammates are stressed out to say the least. I disagree strongly with the testing methods in today's society. It is centrally focused upon studying until your eyes are bloodshot to memorize, in some cases, useless facts for an exam that will determine a large portion of your grade. Whatever happened to going to class every day, participating, sharing in heated discussions and trying to understand other's points of view? I thought school was about finding ourselves and trying to figure out who we are as people more than learning what a president in the 1860's thought of slavery. School is so geared upon testing rather than learning. I could care less what my grade is at the end of a semester as opposed to what I have learned. My view is that we should be tested, but tested by how we are learning and how we apply that knowledge. I am a firm believer that you learn more when you are challenged to apply knowledge as opposed to just memorizing it. So let's quit conforming and start our own testing system in the New Year. Kuntzy December 15, 2008 The 'Jackets laid the smack down on Finlandia 5-1 over the weekend and sealed up a solid first half of the season, finishing with a 13-1-1 record. Even with the impressive start, nobody cares about the team that started 13-1-1 and did not make it to the national championship. The 'Jackets need a good Christmas break to help rejuvenate their spirits and come back with just as strong of effort for the stretch run.
It is currently
10:40 a.m. on Monday December 15 and I am sitting at a computer
in Old Main trying to finish some final exams before I head
home. The thought of Christmas turkey and ice cold Kokanee beers
are distracting me from the task at hand. Yes, I said Christmas
turkey, because in our house, when your mother makes as good as
stuffing as mine does, than you do not waste 20 bucks on a fat
ham!
I am not exactly sure what I love
more at Christmas time, the food, the family and friends, or
just the overall spirit of the season. Christmas brings out the
best in most people and it makes one reflect on how truly
blessed we are. The ideology that Christmas is about spending
money and exchanging presents is a fallacy that I used to buy
into. I have realized over time, that the most important gift
that Christmas brings is time. Time to spend with those
you love. Time to exchange stories around the fireplace
with those who mean the most to you. Time to get away on a new
adventure with someone that knows the most about you. Yes,
Christmas brings time you can share with the people in your life
that are the most important.
So take the time this holiday season to catch up on what you
have missed. Tell the people in your life that you love, how
much they mean to you, because the sad thing about time, is that
eventually it runs out and you never know when. Merry Christmas!
Kuntzy
December 10, 2008 The 'Jackets took care of
business last weekend by sweeping their Southern Wisconsin road
trip. They beat Stevens Point 3-1 and were able to survive a late
rally by Eau Claire to win 2-1. Solid goaltending by Chad “The
Wall” Beiswenger backstopped UWS to an impressive 12-1-1 start, with
one game to go before the Christmas break. On to some other business…Finals! I can
honestly say I have never been as stressed than what I am right now.
Presentations, exams, papers, and trying to tie up loose ends before
you disappear for two weeks is not an easy task. So I propose little
activities to help one get through the day. Stress balls, chewing
gum, and counting to ten only go so far and are eventually just a
waste of time. I propose something a little different. If
you're stressed this holiday season, try doing something nice for
someone. Go out of you way to help someone in need. It does not have
to be someone you know, just someone that needs cheering up or a
push from a snow bank. You will be presently surprised how much
better and refocused you are when you help someone with a problem.
Also, if you are somewhat like me in the sense where you believe
what goes around comes around, Jolly Ol' Saint Nick might just give
you an extra present under the tree this year. So take the time to reach out to someone in need and brighten their day; you might just be surprised how much it brightens yours! The 'Jackets travel to Finlandia to play this
Saturday and this will be the last game before Christmas, so the
'Jackets would love to end on a winning note. Braden
“Stickhandle in a Phonebooth” Desmet was heard saying “there’s
nothing quite like starting the holidays on a winning note.”
Desmet leads the 'Jackets in game-winners this season with five and
also leads the team in points. Braden is from Alberta, Canada
and cannot wait to head home and ride a few bulls. Kuntzy December 3, 2008
Before anyone asks, yes, we tied MSOE.
That's right, we tied them, but in our minds it was a loss.
Victory is something that must be earned on a nightly basis and
for some reason the effort, hard work, and sacrifice it takes to
earn that victory is sometimes overlooked. This weekend we go up
against not one, but two divisional powerhouses in Eau Claire
and Stevens Point. If we want to sweep this road trip it will
take a commitment from each player to play every shift like it's
their last and not let up.
Now on to some business that has
been rubbing me the wrong way. This past Thanksgiving was a time
for reflection. And because the American Thanksgiving is about
ten hours longer than Canadian Thanksgiving and the food is that
much greater (a huge thanks again to the Bushey family), I had
an opportunity to reflect a little more this year.
I feel as if this world is
becoming more of a rat race than anything else and that we are
so busy running and driving everywhere that we forget what is
truly important - family, friends, and the close personal
relationships we have developed over the years. They take
a back seat to the television and the Internet. I never
had cable TV until I moved away from home at the age of 18 and I
never had a cell phone until I was 21. The Internet did
not hit our home until half way through high school. So
why are we now so dependent upon these appliances and gadgets
and other things? Think about it for a minute. If I
told you that for a week you were unable to use your cell phone,
you were not allowed to check the Internet and you were unable
to turn on the TV, would you honestly be able to survive?
We have become so accustomed to this technological age, that we
have become reliant on mechanical devices to get us through our
day and that's scary.
My reflection at Thanksgiving led
me to understand what is truly important in life and that's the
friends and family that we sometimes unknowingly neglect.
So today, I challenge each and everyone of you to make a phone
call to someone who you have not talked to in awhile or better
yet, go and visit someone and take the time to reacquaint
yourself with them. Find out what you have been missing.
Christmas is right around the corner, so start the holiday off
on the right foot and take back your independence from the rat
race that has become everyday life!
Kuntzy November 28, 2008 The 'Jackets finally proved their worth with a huge win Saturday night over #1 ranked St. Norbert, who had been on a 
37-game unbeaten streak. The game-winner was by who else but Chris
"top cheddar" Wilson. That aside, I've got to say the rankings don't
mean all that much to me. Who's to say who's better a top-notch team
out east or a perennial powerhouse from out west. I say you let the
playoffs determine the ultimate champion.Speaking of playoffs, what's with this ridiculous format that we have right now? Best-of-two series with a mini-game if necessary to decide the ultimate winner? Whatever happened to a good old-fashioned best-of-seven or five for that matter? It would be a lot better for the teams and the fans if they would let the true cream rise to the top instead of playing bingo. The NCAA needs to adopt the NHL format for deciding games in playoffs and they need to get rid of this ranking business. How can anyone, coach or otherwise, from one region make an educated decision as to who he deems more impressive if he has not even seen the other team? It's impossible! More on that later. The 'Jackets faced off against Bethel on Wednesday night and scored the victory 5-2. They do battle with a hard-headed Milwaukee School of Engineering team that comes to Wessman for a Saturday night collision. Captain Seth Reda has personally guaranteed his best game of the year, so it should be exciting to see what happens! Kuntzy November 19, 2008 The 'Jackets proved their worth over the weekend as they took both conference match-ups vs. UW-Stout and UW-River Falls. On Friday they went to war with a scrappy Stout squadron and found themselves on the winning end 3-1. Chad "The Wall" Beisweinger was cool as a cucumber with several key saves to start the third period. The 'Jackets got one of their best defensive efforts from the boys on the blue line and the offense outworked the Blue Devils in every facet of the game. Saturday night the 'Jackets traveled to River Falls to do battle with the Falcons. The 'Jackets had not won in River Falls in five years. However, that trend changed as the 'Jackets had their lunch pails in hand and their work boots on, as they gunned down the Falcons 3-0. Another solid defensive effort and some timely goals by the likes of Eric "Buzz" Bausano was all the 'Jackets needed to seal the deal. The 'Jackets have climbed the rankings to fifth and get quite a test this weekend as Lake Forest and the number one ranked, national champions from last year, the St. Norbert Green Knights travel to Wessman Arena to do battle with their biggest rival. The 'Jackets will be relying on the work ethic that has gotten them this far, as well as another strong goaltending performance by senior Chad Beisweinger. It's also "Teddy Bear Toss" night this Saturday so make sure you bring your teddys and help support Superior's local charities, as they will be thrown on the ice after the 'Jackets score their first goal. Coach Dan "The Man" Stauber was quoted as saying, "we finally get to see where we stand after the test we get this weekend." As Christmas draws closer and the days get shorter the tendency to relax and let down grows that much stronger, but assistant coach Rodney "Hot Rod" Graham has another idea. "We didn't get this far by resting on our laurels and Ill be damned if we are going to start this weekend." The gloves are off as the Foresters and Knights travel to town. Only time will tell the tale! I'm Special K...stay tuned for more! November 10, 2008 The 'Jackets proved their worth this past weekend with a clean sweep over Hamline and Augsburg. The 'Jackets were handed a 3-1 deficit with 7:48 to go in the third period Friday against Hamline but they managed to put the game into overtime with timely goals by blueliners Art "Barbed Wire" Clark and Kent Detefsen. Chris "Top Cheddar" Wilson found a way to pull off the heroics in overtime and cap a come-from-behind win with a breakaway goal. The 'Jackets won 4-3, but again were plagued with costly penalties that just about sealed their fate.
Saturday night
Augsburg strolled into town looking for a backstreet brawl with
the 'Jackets. Funny thing is, that's exactly what they got. The
game was showered with penalties and it was Tyler "Fearsome"
Fletcher, who does his talking with his shoulder, who led the
way. The 'Jackets beat up on Augsburg 5-2 and swept the home set
for the first time in a long time. Assistant Coach Rodney "Hot
Rod" Graham was quoted as saying, "Good teams win games, great
teams find ways to win games, were getting closer to where we
want to be." The 'Jackets overcame a deficit against Hamline and
a tie late in the second against Augsburg.
Conference starts this weekend as
the 'Jackets travel to Stout and River Falls. Both teams have
not been getting the results they had hoped for, but Lord only
knows it will be a battle from start to finish when the 'Jackets
roll into town. Some people say this is when the real season
starts and if the 'Jackets are going to be successful, they will
have to learn to stay out of the box. Captain Rob "Boot Scootin'
Boogie" Turville will try to get the boys prepared with a tough
week of practice ahead. One thing is for sure - you don't mess
with kids in cowboy boots!
Kuntzy November 3, 2008 The 'Jackets split the weekend set down in the Twin Cities, losing on Friday to an opportunistic St.Thomas squad 3-1 and pounding a bewildered St. Mary's team 10-3. The 'Jackets outshot St.thomas 27-19 but found themselves up against it in the end due to some costly penalties. Logan Isley scored a nice goal in the Jackets loss being set up on a brilliant play by junior Chris Wilson. The power play was cooking like Thanksgiving turkey in the 'Jackets win over St. Mary's, as they scored an astounding five "PP" goals in a wild-west style shoot-out. The 'Jackets got a strong effort from senior goalie Chad Beiswenger as he continued his strong play between the pipes over the weekend. The Jackets took some bad penalties late that cost Beiswenger the shutout and hope to rebound this upcoming weekend against an ever-improving Hamline team and a young-bodied Augsburg club. Hamline took both games in their weekend home stand against two feisty competitors in Stout and River Falls. The 'Jackets have many positives to build on from the weekend, but one thing is for sure...if they want to win, we have to stay out of the box! Kuntzy October 30, 2008 The Finlandia Lions struck first but the Yellowjackets struck back and in a big way, led by Talon "Berlin Down White Waters" Berlando who notched four "genos" and celebrated with a Gatorade on the rocks after the game. Talon has six goals this year and head coach Dan "The Man" Stauber is pleased with the strides that have been made by the upstart sophomore. "We're really happy with Talon and its easy to see that he has made significant strides from last year. He shoots the puck with confidence and it shows," Stauber was quoted after the win Tuesday night. Berlando has been somewhat of a surprise this year even to himself, but said, "the success comes at a price and that price is hard work." The Jackets expect to be handed a strong test this weekend as they travel to #5 ranked St.Thomas on Friday in an attempt to get the respect back that was taken from them last year in the 3-0 beating handed down by the Tommies. We will need to have all cylinders firing in order for the Jackets to get the sweep this weekend, as they travel to St. Mary's the following night to do battle with the Cardinals. We have outscored our opponents 20-1 overall and 17-0 in the finals two periods, but things will start getting interesting this weekend. Stay tuned for more from your old pal Kuntzy! October 24, 2008 Braden Desmet put the critics to rest with a five point night, including two goals that were magnificently set up by linemates Kevin Huck and Chris Berry. The 'Jackets had a strong defensive effort from all six blueliners. All of them also factored in the scoring. Chad "The Wall" Beiswenger got the shutout, as it was business as usual for the senior goaltender. The 'Jackets showed signs of true offensive promise as they racked up 11 tallies in the win over Northland. Dane Bushey lead the way with eight PIMs. Coach Dan "The Man" Stauber was quoted after the game as saying, "This is the first stepping stone on the path to redemption." Assistant Coach Rodney "Hot Rod" Graham was even caught cracking a smile which is saying a lot considering his usual intense demeanor. The 'Jackets are looking like a team with the most depth there has been in years and are comfortable putting anybody in the lineup and getting a win. The 'Jackets next game is Tuesday night at home against the Finlandia Lions, who are expected to give the 'Jackets more of a run than did Northland. I wanna see some butts in the seats so the boys have someone to cheer them on and get 'em going if need be. Until next time I'm K-Kat Kuntzy! October 22, 2008 The season for the 'Jackets gets under way tomorrow night and we couldn't be happier to open up at home against Northland College. Grab the kiddies and some meat and swing by a little early for the first-annual Yellowjacket Tailgate Party. There will be sign making and face painting for the kids and some old-time hockey inside the Wessman barn for everybody else. Come check Chris "Backhand Shelf" Wilson out or see Chris "Toe Drag" Berry pull a little magic out of his hat! Either way, there is plenty of scoring potential on the front line for the 'Jackets and a stay-at-home defense corps that demands respect. The 'Jackets have their largest senior class in years, a class that needs to lead by example for us to have a chance at success. Time will tell the tale. As senior forward Kevin Huck stated earlier today, "in order for the 'Jackets to be successful, we have to take it one game at a time." OOOOOOOOH baby can you feel that in the air... do you smell that... smells like... HOCKEY! Kuntzy October 6, 2008 Question for Kuntzy Paul from Superior asks: How many new players are the 'Jackets looking at this year? I had read that Jake Nelson was crossing the bridge. Paul - Thanks for your question. As far as how many new players the 'Jackets are looking at this season, it is still to be determined. We were aggressive in pursuit of Chris Wilson from Nebraska-Omaha who will be transferring in as a junior. We also recruited Tom Budziakowski from Toronto, Ontario, Brayden Kolisniak from Edmonton, Alberta, and John "Dad" Dvorak from Grand Forks, North Dakota. Another recruit that the fans are going to love is Kent Detlefsen from Lakeville, Minnesota. Kent is a first-year defenseman who has a bomb for a shot and will do a great job running our power play. There are also some walk-ons again this year, too. Depending on what the coaches do, we could see as many as seven new faces. The coaches have a new mentality this year, that no matter your past standing, jobs will be earned and not handed out like free samples at Sam's Club.
I recently heard the same news in regard to Jake Nelson,
but have since been informed by Jake himself that he
will not be trying out this year. He is possibly
considering a walk-on attempt next season, but it is yet
to be decided. As for right now, Jake will be attending
UWS and taking classes, but not suiting up in black and
gold.
The 'Jackets have finished dryland and are beginning
regular scheduled practices. It looks for the most
part like the 'Jackets have an abundance of scoring
potential up front and a pretty solid d-core manning the
defensive zone. It will be interesting to see what
happens in the goalie department, but early indicators
have Chad Beiswenger as the front runner.
Kuntzy September 19, 2008
Well, captain's practice is underway and
there have been a few boys that have been turning some heads out
there. The crisp passes and shiftiness of Chris Wilson, the
Division I transfer that hails from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
are catching a few defensemen flat-footed. Chris comes from a
well-respected program at Nebraska-Omaha and will be counted
upon in the scoring department this year.
Incoming freshman
Tom Budziakowski has displayed a work ethic on and off the ice
that's got people noticing. This
rugged, two-way forward comes from the big city lights of
Toronto, Ontario, but don't let his calm demeanor fool you. He
can put your big city lights out with open ice hits.
Superior got an early Christmas present this year in the likes
of big John "Dad" Dvorak who rides into town from Grand Forks,
North Dakota. The 6-1 230-pound defensemen who got the name
"Dad" because of his ability to tell people to go to bed on
time, steps into a defensive defensemen role this year. If North
Dakota provides Superior with another Brian Bina, opposing teams
will be running for the hills.
The Alberta oil patch must still be a gusher because the
'Jackets picked up another Edmonton, Alberta native who can bury
biscuits top cheddar seemingly on demand. Brayden Kolisniak
stands 6-0, 206 pounds, and with his sharp play early on gives
the 'Jackets reason to consider him an offensive threat. Friend
and fellow teammate Logan Isley has welcomed Kolisniak in with
open arms and the two have already showed flashes of stardom.
I don't know about you but the blood is starting to boil and the
ice is starting to freeze so lets play some hockey already!
Stay tuned for more! Kuntzy August 31, 2008
Too many times, the season
starts off with a little something called expectations. The problem
with expectations is that they are lose/lose situation. If
expectations are high and you achieve your goal, than people
generally are not The
leaders this year range from the rugged roots of Olds, The
Alaskan pipeline fails to stop in
Finally the point of the 'Jackets is anchored by a steadily
improving Brian Bina. Brian is a junior this year and has displayed
continued improvement throughout his two years with the program.
Don’t let this 5-10, 180 pound body fool you. He has a great first
pass out of the d-zone and can crumple bodies with a hip check that
can only be compared to the likes of Rob Blake. Brian also grabs an
“A” this year. The smell of hockey is in the air and with the season just around the corner the boys are back and are ready to rock. The new look, new attitude 'Jackets have only one thing on their minds and that’s WINNING! Kuntzy |
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surprised when you fulfill expectations. However,
if you fail to meet the expectations it causes blame to be handed
out like candy on Halloween. This year there are no expectations,
just the promise from our team that we will “expect nothing and earn
everything.”