Speez

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

Finally something to talk about as the season gets closer. The captains were announced on Wednesday. Was waiting for an article in the Herald, but nothing. Maybe tomorrow. Congrats to the new leaders for the upcoming season. Definately great picks to keep this young team on track to help build the dynasty for the next few years. Congrats to Ryan Hale for getting the "C". David Hale & Kevin Spiewak will be wearing the "A". Great picks by the coaches. A combination of size, speed, leadership & smarts. 3 guys that will give what it takes to get the Sioux back on track. These 3 know what its like to be winners & want that feeling back. Captains practices are starting & the Ironman is underway. The season is almost here. Can't Wait.

Spiewak came in at 200# and was going to play at that weight. He felt that it was better for the team to be faster than last year, so he dropped 5# and plans on playing at 195. Most of the vets have spent the summer in GF. I think you are seeing the results of the excellent facilities available to them at the Ralph. Season is getting closer. Can't wait.

Sprig, You are correct in what you remember.

LSSU sucked last year & they sucked the year before that. Anzalone was brought back to LSSU to try to get things rolling again, the way it was 10 years ago. He was let go from there previously, before my time don't know why. Follow the LSSU thread with great interest for my daily laughs.There faithful think the world of Anzalone & expect him to be the saviour of there program. Only problem is his coaching methods & the way he treats the players is 20 years behind the times. They don't understand that 9-10 players just up & leave a program for no reason whatsoever. Must be the players & not the coach. I'm glad that Borek, their previous coach, had no clue when it came to recruiting.

Goon, LSSU had a mass exodus of players from their team during & after the season. Something like 8-9 guys left & transferred. Possibly the way their new coach treats his players, but the LSSU faithful would never admit it. Glad I'm a Sioux fan & not a Laker fan. Curious to see the Laker response to your post on their site. Probably will say something to the effect " If he didn't want to play Anzolone's style of hockey then we don't need him here." Just a guess after seeing that reason after a number of their other players left. Unfotunately don't know anything about him.

It's only July, but we're getting closer to the season. Can't wait. Very interesting thread. 95% of the players are in town, working @ the Sioux hockey camps & working out on there own for the season. Occasional informal scrimmages will take place, if your fortunate to stop in @ the Ralph at the right time. Many good points brought up, but a consensus opinion is the underachievement of last season as compared to the usual Sioux season. A major distraction that was brought up was the opening of the new REA. The players definately realized what was happening & the commercialism(sp) was a distraction. Too many flashy,noisy things going on constantly. They will get used to it & the Ralph will again be where the Sioux dominate the 3rd. period. The recruits last year were expected to step right in & carry on as if half the team didn't change. Most of these guys came from winning programs & losing didn't sit well with them.The players learned some valuable lessons last year & I think the fans will have a great time this year watching some sweet revenge. We all saw the worst & best of the team in the Play-offs vs the Goofs. Expect to see the better side of the Sioux this year. I agree with Goon on one point, everybody will take the Sioux lightly this year & be gunning for the Goofs. I predict the Sioux battling for one of the top spots in the WCHA, but looking to peak for the FF(Frozen Four)

Goon, You make some valid points. Hockey is the longest season of any of the major sports, & half the games are on the road. The Sioux usually leave for road games on Thursday, so the players

ScottM, I applaud your analysis of the NC$$. Looks to me as if you had to go through a bunch of crap with them also.

Probably a great view @ the Ralph, unless you're a player.

Don't know who they are, but they sure make it tough on "AMATEUR" athletes.

CAUNDfan, I wouldn't write off the 2002-03 season just yet. I think the team has a lot of payback to make up for from last year. With a year of experience for the frosh & getting to know what it takes to play & win in the WCHA, next year should be exciting. I can't wait.

I may be overly optomistic for next year, but I feel the Sioux are going to have a very balanced offense. No Line of Fire that dominates & scores all the goals, But at least 1 guy from every year to stand out. I'd rather be optomistic looking to the future and feeling good about what we have for next year, then wondering if our team will be out a the cellar for the first time in x number of years.

The guys had about 2 weeks off after the season to heal a lot of nagging injuries that don't go away during the season. An intense workout schedule then started for the players &

What happened Kuhn, lousy vacation? I think everyone on this board is expecting good things from the Sioux next year. The last game should be a preview of what is to come next year,not the final score though. With a year of experience under their belts, they should be in the hunt for all the marbles.

You guys are really making me feel old. When I was your age I was .... Well I spent way too much time in hockey rinks with the youngsters for practise & games. Seems like about 7 days a week. God do I miss those times. Didn't think I would ever say that. Homework got to be a real hassle, intereferred with the above activities. You should be at the rinks working on the future Fighting Sioux stars.

Kuhninca, Glad to see you back. Thought you changed your name. A lot of things come into play every year & maybe we didn't have the team chemistry that we had in past years. Trying to get 10-12 new players into the line-up has to be tough, even for Dean. We should be all right for next year with some game experience & tough loses that we all had to put up with.

Sioux_Hockey, you're going to have to change you're signature too.

Dagies, Now you're going to have to do the same thing the coaches are doing. Reshuffle your great line-up. You can't blame a player for leaving. That is their dream & what they have been working for all these years. When the NHL dangles money like they do , it's tough to pass up. You're next shift could be your last. It's not like going to an office job. Careers are short lived & you have to grab it when it's there. Dean would never try to persuade a player to pass up a contract because he knows why they are at this level. Good luck to Ryan. The team will be OK next year, other people will have to step up to fill his shoes.

Matt Henderson gets called up by the Blackhawks. Great article about him in the Chicagotribune.com/Blackhawks,3/12 edition,haven't had the time to figure out links. As I was reading the article it reminded me of Lee Goren, NCAA FF MVP stuck in the minors. I'm sure you fans that have been around alot longer than I have will enjoy it. JD, move this if you need to.

Dagies, no real reason to anymore. Have the dish & can watch it at home. Hoping for a different outcome next year.