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High sticking


mikejm

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I'll admit I have absolutely NO way to back this up, but as one who's watched WCHA hockey for many, many, many (is that enough to be accurate PCM?) years, I can not for the life of me recall a team taking as many, and as malicious cuts at the opposition's heads as do Lucia's teams.

I'm really surprised Zach wasn't horribly injured after his composite clothesline. And I know the Gophers were called for at least two other high sticks in Saturday's game.

Can someone help me find an archive that includes penalties called during league games? I'd love to do some research.

BTW, I don't think the Sioux have anything to be sorry for or ashamed of coming out of the Final Five final. That was like watching Ken Norton and Ali stand toe-to-toe and beatin' on one another. That game has to be an instant classic.

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I think we will be seeing an absolutely viscious semi-final between the teams. The Gophers will have to play a much more sound game to win again, I'm sure the Sioux will.

As for the rough/cheap play, it happens this time of year. Vanek was lucky not to get five, Parise continues to impress.

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That's certainly an interesting stat. Especially considering I share the perception that Gopher players take more liberties with their sticks than do most teams.

I know this comes off as more blind Gopher-bashing, but I had an objective observer this weekend tell me the Gophers have a handful of players who seem to always have their stick or arms high on a routine basis.

Players who I would single out would be Ballard, Taylor and Riddle.

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At the end of the first period, Vanek hit a Sioux skater about the head and neck witht he blade of his stick that wasn't called. The Gopher fan beside me saw the play and by the way Adam and the assistant ref acted, we were both sure the Sioux would start the second period a man up. No Call.

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Players who I would single out would be Ballard, Taylor and Riddle.

After watching them every weekend, it is Vanek, Ballard and Talleckson who are most likely to stick you. Something as nominal as stealing the puck or a clean check is likely to earn a whack from these guys, though Talleckson seems to have cooled it lately.

Taylor likes to hit people, and Riddle it is almost always and eye for an eye.

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I wouldn't necessarily include Riddle in any list of "dirty" players, but I have noticed he has a fairly short fuse when someone initiates physical contact on him. It may be eye-for-an-eye, but he usually seems to be the one retaliating instead of initiating.

Objectively speaking (honestly), I have to agree with my fellow Sioux fans when it comes to Jake Taylor. I think I found myself telling someone on about 3 or 4 different occasions at the Final Five that Mr. Taylor needs his ass kicked. And soon.

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We saw both Vanek and Ballard liberally applying the stick after the whistle. In the chippy first period after Vanek smacked somebody over the noodle with his Prpich skated over and had a few words with him.

From across the rink my buddy was able to hear exactly what Prp was saying "You wanna hit somebody? You go ahead and try me....I'm going to be here ALL night." ;)

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Somebody somewhere asked why Sioux fans have a hard one for Taylor. It's because so far other than see him pushing with Stafford, we've mostly seen him trying to whale on little guys like Murray. The littler they are, the more time he seems to spend with them. Big tough guy.

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I think we will be seeing an absolutely viscious semi-final between the teams.  The Gophers will have to play a much more sound game to win again, I'm sure the Sioux will.

As for the rough/cheap play, it happens this time of year.  Vanek was lucky not to get five, Parise continues to impress.

Vanek is a no talent hack. His high stick on Zach was malicious and should have been a 5 minute major penalty...no questions.

Vanek, once again, showed me NOTHING (except his cheap shot ability) in the two games at the X.

Sagard - you comment on "it happens this time of year" - should we say Prpich go railroad Briggs and take him out of the game. Hell...it happens this time of year.

Typical Gopher Fan, it is OK when the Gophers do it...imagine what would the postings would be if Zach had chopped Vanek! ;)

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We saw both Vanek and Ballard liberally applying the stick after the whistle. In the chippy first period after Vanek smacked somebody over the noodle with his Prpich skated over and had a few words with him.

From across the rink my buddy was able to hear exactly what Prp was saying "You wanna hit somebody? You go ahead and try me....I'm going to be here ALL night." ;)

I also heard that from Prpich! Wouldn't it be just a treat to have a Peluso type a$$ kicking handed down to donut boy Vanek...

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First of all, Vanek is a big guy, bigger than prpich. There will always be slashing and high sticking in hockey. All I hear is whining when I read through these things. The Sioux lost, so what. And yes, Ballard and Vanek are really talented players, just because we have a defensemen better than all of yours doesn't give you the right to rip into him. Vanek is highly skilled, I don't know about you, but you don't get drafted number 5 overall in the NHL if you are a "no talent hack"

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Vanek is a no talent hack.  His high stick on Zach was malicious and should have been a 5 minute major penalty...no questions.

Vanek, once again, showed me NOTHING (except his cheap shot ability) in the two games at the X.

Sagard - you comment on "it happens this time of year" - should we say Prpich go railroad Briggs and take him out of the game.  Hell...it happens this time of year.

Typical Gopher Fan, it is OK when the Gophers do it...imagine what would the postings would be if Zach had chopped Vanek! ;)

I completely agree that Vanek was out of line...the hit on Parise is embarassing! I also agree the Gophers sticks were definitely up on Saturday.

Vanek a no talent hack though? 4 fewer points than Parise over 2 years, no one is going to argue Parise has no talent. Vanek just plays a different game.

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Vanek has talent. He's just a lazy a-hole who's going to get his ass kicked at the pro level. His work ethic sucks. Have you ever heard anyone say what a hard worker Vanek is or saw a great hussle play by him?

Prpich v. Vanek. I bet the house, the kids and the dog on Mike.

Here's hoping for a rematch in Beantown.

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The difference between Vanek and Parise is that Parise makes players around him better and Vanek is better because of the players around him.

Put them both on the Tech roster and Parise is still a Hobey candidate and Vanek is a middle of the road hack with a bad perm.

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We saw both Vanek and Ballard liberally applying the stick after the whistle. In the chippy first period after Vanek smacked somebody over the noodle with his Prpich skated over and had a few words with him.

From across the rink my buddy was able to hear exactly what Prp was saying "You wanna hit somebody? You go ahead and try me....I'm going to be here ALL night." ;)

I wonder if Vanek understood any of what Prpich was telling him.

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just because we have a defensemen better than all of yours doesn't give you the right to rip into him.

? you mean the best offensive defencemen ? Please correct me if I'm wrong but is that same the defensive specialist who was walked on for a short handed goal ? Seriously, I was sure that he was the one Bo schooled -- but I'm probably mistaken.

Random thought: I have to go back and watch the tape, but to me it seemed like in the 1st period one of the Sioux players seemed "too" concerned with Ballard -- seemed like he was going out of his way to harass Ballard, and that sort of took away from his offensive play.......... but then again I'm probably mistaken.

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First of all, Vanek is a big guy, bigger than prpich. There will always be slashing and high sticking in hockey. All I hear is whining when I read through these things. The Sioux lost, so what. And yes, Ballard and Vanek are really talented players, just because we have a defensemen better than all of yours doesn't give you the right to rip into him. Vanek is highly skilled, I don't know about you, but you don't get drafted number 5 overall in the NHL if you are a "no talent hack"

Perhaps you missed the Prpich Peluso match earlier this year? Sorry but I'll take Prpich in that any day. I haven't seen Vanek drop back behind the blue line...let alone his gloves.

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From across the rink my buddy was able to hear exactly what Prp was saying "You wanna hit somebody? You go ahead and try me....I'm going to be here ALL night." ;)

You know, I didn't see Vanek stick Prpich at all. Maybe he knew he'd get dropped like Marco Peluso.

Riddle is eye for eye. That's how he got a matching minor with (Stafford? Jones?) when they knocked his helmet off. He started pushing back. But, cheap player he is not.

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And yes, Ballard and Vanek are really talented players, just because we have a defensemen better than all of yours doesn't give you the right to rip into him. 

You couldn't mean Keith Ballard, the all-tournament defenseman who was -1 for the Final Five?

The Sioux can only count on guys like Nick Fuher who was +4 for the tournament.

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Yeah Fuher and Smaby were great. If Jones and Greene had played their normal game, it would have been a different story. Bina did not cover the front of the net on Potulny's goal and Schneider could not dig the puck out. That pairing was average at best as well. Taylor is the biggest goon of all the Goofers, I cannot stand him. Vanek is just plain lazy, even the Goofer fans sitting by me were constantly yellin at Vankek to move his feet. Parise is the better player and you won't find many arguments even from Goofer fans after this weekend.

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