I don’t ever recall anything like a “pact” among four top players, who all could have gone pro, in the 30 plus years I’ve been watching UND hockey. This will be a special season, one that Sioux fans will remember for a long time, IMHO.

My first impression of your raw list was that I agreed Wisconsin had upside potential, as long as younger defensemen stepped up to refill the holes on the blueline. Then I read your commentary, where you suggested sufficient upside potential as long as Connelly plays well enough and someone starts scoring.

Together I think we’ve made a profound hockey point — if Wisconsin’s new recruits can score, young defensemen can step forward, and Connelly plays up to par, the Badgers will finish better than T6th this year.