Speez

farce, I can respond to your #'s 1-3. I was in GF for the UAA series a few weeks ago & was able to watch a team practice on Thursday before the series. I was expecting a stetching, get the knots out of the muscles type of practice the day before a game. I have seen more practices than I would care to recount, but the Sioux practice was unbelievable. I couldn't believe the pace that all the players were working at. I'm mean everybody. The practice pace was faster than most teams play games at. To watch the guys go thru the drills was awesome. The only time I saw anybody standing was when Dean called for a water break. They started at a slow pace, worked in stretching exercises & just kept picking up the pace faster with every drill. After watching that practice I can see why the Sioux can wear teams down for the 3rd. period & the 2nd. night of the series by the 2nd. period. I was amazed at the pace of the last 30-45 minutes. I thought that was one helluva workout. But it wasn't over. A lot of guys practiced shooting with the goalies & the rest went to the weight room. And probably the best part of the practice was that it looked like they were all having fun.

I remember Spiewak's post game interview with Tim H a couple of weeks ago. Jake just got his 2nd. shutout in a row. Tim asked Spiewak if there was or has been any concerns about the goaltenders. He said that the team was confident in the goaltending they have & it seemed to be the fans that were worried about what was happening at the position. I think the team chemistry is pretty good right now. Bringing in another goalie at the break may cause more harm than good. It may just take figuring who the hot goalie is, a good rotation, or signs during practice who the right guy to play that weekend is. Letting them keep getting their confidence like the rest of the team is may be all it takes.

PCM, Great pics as usual. Can't be Spiewak, he's a lefty shooter.

A sad day for the Englestad family and the many benefactors of Ralph's great generosity. He will be missed by many and our family's condolences go out to the Englestad's. I fondly remember hearing the story about Ralph & the Fighting Sioux's last 2 runs to the National's in 2000 & 2001. During the Regionals & Nationals of 2000 a very tense Sioux team was sitting in the locker room waiting for gametime. All the coaches pep talks etc. were over & the players were left to think about the upcoming game. Frazelled nerves kept players thoughts to themselves & noise to a minimum. In walks Ralph, doing a comedy routine with a friend, telling jokes and generally relieving the tension that was mounting. He cracked the guys up took their minds off what they were worrying about. Hockey players, being a very non-superstitious group, new that Ralph was expected to do the same in the 2001 run. Ralph being the player & fan that he was did not disappoint them. Just before gametime as in the previous year, Ralph was there to take the edge off. Although Ralph won't be here for this years run to the FF, I'm sure he will be fondly remembered by this years team at just the right time to get them ready.

HKNTSMN, That's like asking if the Sioux have 7 NC$$ titles & working on #8 for this year. See you in GF. Don't know about any of the other trips yet.

Can't wait to get to GF to see some real a## whooping this weekend. One of our few trips every year that we really look forward to. Unfortunately it will be almost our last. The team's confidence is growing every series & a lot of payback has to be dished out. Can't wait for Friday night & a sweep. Maybe I'll run into some of you at the Ralph.

Just heard the suspensions were not overturned, but both players along with Ryan are going to St. Cloud. At least the local paper finally got the story right. You would think they would check the facts before copying the east coast story that was printed on Sunday.

That's because they played the bears, who suck.

Sorry guys if I jumped the gun. It's tough trying to listen on the net & know the crowds feelings. I felt the team didn't come out in the first like they wanted to & when I heard the boo's I took it the wrong way. Hopefully the ref will be ready for the game tomorrow.

Great game by the Sioux. Offseason training is really paying off by putting teams away in the 3rd. I'm sure having The Ralph's training facilities have a lot to do with it. Couldn't believe I heard Boo's at the end of the first period. At the beginning of the season the team is still working out the kinks. You will see a team that has what it takes to come back in the 3rd. & put them away. The killer instinct that was lacking last year will be very evident as the season progresses. Looking forward to another good game tomorrow.

Dagies, Just as surprised as you were when I saw that. We all have to do what is best for the team. Can't hide anything from the POI guys. Even a newbie gets jumped on for an innocent post on another board. Mention the Fighting Sioux and they'll be around. Counting on PCM, etc. to give us the lowdown on the game.

Is that a promise ?

Finally the games have begun. Great weekend series for the Sioux. A real confidence boost for the guys to come back from a 2 goal deficit. An OT win was a real bonus. It's early in the season, but it's hard not to get excited about what happenned this past weekend. Parise put on a show to quiet his doubters. The D put the clamps on a highly rated UM team. The scoring came from other players including the D. I'm excited, but it's a long season. Plenty of ups & downs to go through. As long as the Sioux are on the upswing at the end when it counts, we'll all be happy.

PCM & kr, We're waiting for you're usual great report on the Green & White game last night. Hope you were there. Saw the comments on the other board, they're missing that certain twist you guys add.

As I said above guys, keep it coming. I wouldn't worry too much about what others think. Just makes things more interesting. Maybe when the season starts they'll be too busy tooting their own horns to each other & forget about the Sioux board.

Thanks again kr & PCM, really do appreciate the info from the radio shows.

When one of the our regulars post the website address on POI you get a lot of riff-raff stopping in to take a look.

jk, Just finishing a marathon is an accomplishment in it self. Never could understand why you guys do it. Congratulations.

I'll give it a shot & do Sprig one better: 1- UND ( Going for #8) / DU 3- Goofs (same spot as last year) 4- CC 5- SCSU 6- UMD ( Go Sandy ) 7- UW 8- UAA (DTP is dreaming) 9- Mankato 10- MTU May be extremely biased, but have been hearing great things about this years team. The New Ralph was a bigger distraction last year than most people think. Hopefully some of the noise (music) & commercialism will be tuned down this year so the players & fans can concentrate on the game. I agree with HKNTSMN that this team is going to make a run for it. I'm reminded of the sign @ the 2000 FF, E- Every S- Sioux P- Player N- Needs 2- Rings The guys just missed out in 2001, this is the last chance for a few of them & I know they're going to give it their best shot. Being on the road a lot after the break will tune the guys up for the play-off run. The Sioux won't have home ice advantage like the Goofs did last year, so use the road games to get ready. I sure appreciate the reports from the local GF fans on the radio shows. Please keep it up for those of us that can't get them anymore. Season is almost here. Can't wait.

If you can put up with 25 second graders, you should be able to put up with anything that is dished out around here by these 1st. graders.

HKNTSMN, Never any glee when a player leaves the program, especially one of Fournier's ability. The Fighting Sioux is an Elite Hockey Program. If a player who feels a part of that program doesn't respect his teammates by coming into camp in at least marginally descent shape, he desrves to hear it from them. A player can't expect their past awards to help them keep up with their teammates when it's time to lace them up. Captain's practices are for getting into game shape, not wasting time trying to get to the other end of the ice. I believe the consensus opinion was the PP last year was not very effective. That included quite a few players on the team that were on it. I think the whole concept of team is what you're missing in your post. Last years team did not live up to the standards of the previous teams. All the reasons for last year have been hashed & rehashed many times on these boards. This is a new year & a new opportunity for the Sioux to get back on track. Shortchanging your teammates by not being ready to give every thing you have is showing them you don't care about them. It's tough to make plays when your whole team is in the offensive zone & you haven't crossed the red line yet. Scoring burgers & sausage on the 4th. of July isn't going to help make plays in April when the team wants to be playing.

New sheriffs in town. Things are changing, hopefully for the better.

Not to disagree with Sockeye Sioux, but I hear Fournier couldn't take the pressure from his teammates for coming in so badly out of shape. I don't believe he was cut from the team but left on his own. This is not the first time he came to camp like this. Could account for all his injuries last year.

How about 19.4% body fat content.

Sica is right on all counts. Lot of running competitions. Sophie is a big runner & jumps way out in front during these events. Never could understand running training for hockey players. Probably the worst thing for their knees & ankles. I would think they would use rollerblade training for skaters. Isn't that part of the reason they were invented over 15 yrs. ago? Hockey coaches just don't seem to use them, where I think it would be a natural. Other competitions are agility, plyo & swimminng along with the strength testing. It is quite a work-out & test to see who trained during the off-season. Now that most of the guys stick around & train during the summer the competition is quite fierce. Can't wait for the games to begin