Snake

I believe they will honor their commitment to USA Hockey and play for the WJC team. Also, they'll need as many games as they can get to develop some team chemistry.

Have any of you seen how they do the Canadian National Anthem at GM Place in Vancouver? It's strong and the crowd is completely involved because the singer allows them to sing the middle verse alone. It's pretty awesome.

David Tanabe? Chuck Kobasew?

There should be plenty of activity at Tom Reid's or McGovern's. They're a block or two down from the X.

I find it funny that Dippin-Dots has been the "Ice Cream of the Future" for about 10 years now!

I think the great atmosphere we all know and love at the old Ralph (at least in it's last 5 years or so) can be attributed to the "re-birth" of the program under Dean Blais. I think this is what most fans choose to remember about the old Ralph. It wasn't always that way, as I remember attending lots of games in Gino's last few years that didn't have much but a bunch of green and white seats staring at me from across the rink.

I agree completely, Riverman. I sent an e-mail to the Ralph asking them to please put out-of-town scores on the fascia ring instead of "advertising" for the next game, which by the way, season ticket holders know is going to happen. The response from the Ralph was "thank you, we're working toward a solution." Obviously the solution is to have Hennen talk more. Maybe more people would look at the scoreboard if they actually had a reason to a la out-of-town scores.

Thanks for the info, Lawkota. I was at the UND Bookstore last weekend and saw that they have dazzle cloth home jerseys, I think made by Koronis Sports Apparel. The only downer is that the lettering is green as well.

I wish I could find an authentic, too, but I'd buy a replica if they would make them right. I haven't yet seen a home "replica" jersey that has the correct color of lettering for the word SIOUX spelled on the front. The "replica" jerseys made by Nike have it in green, when the authentics are in Black. Has anyone seen a newer replica jersey with black lettering on the front?

A split would be fine with me, but... The Sioux need to take care of business themselves, so that's who I'm rooting for this weekend!

Is the NHL using the two referee system full-time? I ask this because I am reading a lot from people that say the NHL has improved it's officiating in the past couple of years and I wonder if this could be part of the reason. I know Hockey East experimented with two referees a year or two back, but I haven't heard what their results were (maybe it's still in progress). Using the two referee system in the WCHA would help to alleviate any problems refs would have in keeping up with the play, but could you imagine having Mason and Adam doing the same game!?! Yikes!!!

I'm not sure the trap is going to limit shots specifically, but it will definitely limit the number of quality shots and second opportunities off rebounds. I would think scoring chances would be a better indicator of dominance when looking at teams that play a defensive style. In my opinion, better goaltending and a focus on defense overall has allowed "inferior" teams to keep scores close.

I'm glad to hear the Sioux will be using the umbrella a bit more. It may lead to more posession time in the zone for them. From my observations, the Sioux have been using an overload system, making them too vulnerable to the weak-side clear when they lose puck support along the end boards. I think the umbrella will keep teams a bit more honest when they get the chance to clear the zone. I posted Friday night about the D-men playing the opposite points, and I'll be interested to see if this is the strategy the coaching staff uses when running the umbrella.

I blame the Herald. They sponsor the powerplay... A more appropriate sponsor would be Bridgeman's Ice Cream because it's Ice Cold! The puck movement isn't very crisp, and guys aren't moving a heck of a lot when they don't have the biscuit. I also noticed that the point men are playing their respective sides (righty on right point, etc.), which tends to lead to blocked shots because they have to pivot to shoot and can't one-time the puck. It also doesn't make for very crisp passing at the point. Just my two cents...

"Help control the pet population; Have your pet spayed or neutered" or Now I know what Bob Barker was talking about!

Since David Hale is going to dress but only play 10-15 minutes, Blais probably needs all of the flexibility he can get out of Ryan Hale and Lee Marvin. I bet we'll see Marvin and R. Hale both spend time on D and at Forward. Bochenski, Parise, Massen Speiwak, Lundbohm, Notermann (Hale/Fylling), McMahon, Prpich (Marvin/Fylling), Palmo, Canady D. Hale (R. Hale/Marvin) Schneider Jones Fuher Greene I would think this to be the case if Blais planned to play R. Hale at defense and still dress Marvin.

This year's team doesn't generate offense with the transition game like past Blais teams. They seem to get too cute when bringing the puck across the blue line and turn it over, and when they dump the puck in it's usually right to the defense (or not all the way deep) and on it's way out before they can get get in there and start cycling. Also, when was the last time we had a good, clean breakaway?

If Mankato plays team defense like they did this past weekend they'll be one and done faster than you can say SCSU!

Our seats are in section 116, second row behind the HOME bench. This was the case in 2001 and last year. This is the opposite of the Wild. Their bench is in front of section 117. Ticketmaster may assume the Home team uses the same bench as the Wild. Of course, it may have changed since last year, but don't be surprised if the Home team is shooting at section 123 twice.

If there is a policy, it must only involve mullets, because I can still picture Commie's hair sticking out the ear hole of his helmet a couple of years back!! That was a sweet 'doo.

I will be in Grand Forks this weekend for the playoff games if anyone in GF is interested in buying them this weekend.

I have 4 tickets to the Frozen 4 that I will not be using. Section 307 Row 11 Seats 19-22. $500. Anyone interested, please e-mail me at: stanman34@hotmail.com

FYI - Club seating sections are designated by a "C" in front of the number (i.e. C6, C7). Section 217 would be in the upper level.

I'm not sure about everyone, but I get the feeling (from Siouxrock in particular) that some people would rather see Moreland brought in instead of Lamoureux. Would Philipe have been a senior at GFC this year if he hadn't jumped ship to the USHL? If not, my next few sentences are moot, but if so, who do you think is farther along in their development at this point? Unless you're prepared to have a guy come straight out of NDHS to play for the Sioux, it doesn't make sense to talk about bringing in both Moreland and Lamoureux! Obviously, the real issue is how does UND solve their goaltending situation for NEXT year, not '04-'05 when the aforementioned players will be ready. Maybe Ziggy is a step in that direction. I really don't think it can hurt at this point.

At home, the #1 scoring line rarely starts because Blais has the last change and he likes to match his top defensive line with the opponent's top scoring line. I think the top scoring line will have more of a tendency to start for the Sioux on the road when it's not as easy for the coach to match-up the lines.