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Anyone noticed replay times for last weekend's Final 5 games? Didn't set DVR before I left for Cities. Saw it all in person but would be sweet to relive highlights before going back to X this weekend. Don't know why I post as if Jim charges by the letter.

Jim-- Help a dummy out: In Tampa, does West champ play NE in the semis and East champ plays Midwest? I'm verbal, not visual. Use your words.

This is all my fault. On Pearson's bus Thursday, I heard someone being asked where the wife was. He replied that she went to a quilting bee or words to that effect, instead of coming on the trip. I then noticed that you were not there, Siouxmama, but your husband and daughter were. I must have put two and two together and gotten 5, not that odd an outcome for a math phobe like me. Sorry for screwing the facts up. I'm a dope. FYI, for anyone interested, Al's bus will leave GFK at the unholy hour of 6 a.m. on Saturday and leave MSP right after the west championship game Sunday night. $200 for tickets and transportation

Al has said Sioux fans in his group will be going only to Sioux games. I know that isn't true for me but not sure how many others have asked for a ticket package. I will talk to him on the bus about getting down to the X in time for the 2 o'clock game and to pick up the extra ticket package from the UND allotment.

Al's bus leaves at 9 a.m. on Thursday. I assume we return Sunday morning, 8 or 9-ish. I don't know where we are staying but Inver Grove Heights is a good bet.

By all means, call Al. He needs bus passengers (originates in Grand Forks at the Ralph with a stop in Fargo and maybe elsewhere) and has the tickets waiting for him in the Cities.

Al Pearson's road trip regulars will be going to Madison, Bemidji, Winnipeg, St. Cloud and Duluth. Also, maybe to the Cities for Gophers in November, if he lines up tickets. Final 5, too, and a regional (knock wood).

Went to the fire sale at the Betty looking for just one particular jersey: black authentic size 50. The line outside the building was like Black Friday outside a WalMart. Once doors opened, six lunchroom sized tables full of jerseys were empty in 15 minutes. Did not find the one I was looking for. When I left empty-handed, there were still plenty of caps and tees and other stuff. People wondering around with arms full of merchandise. I can't imagine there will be much left for tomorrow's opening.

Yes, they do. Almost all the enclosures have Fighting Sioux references; noticeable exception is the NCAA Compliance brochure.* * Oh, I see I am in error. Even the compliance brochure mentions "Fighting Sioux" as part of the URL for the UND compliance office webpage.

Season hockey tickets were in the morning mail.

The tentative schedule I have has Sioux at Wisconsin on Oct. 21-22 and at Minnesota Nov. 4-5.

Per Brad Schlossman's blog: He talked to someone with Phoenix who said they have NOT signed Brett Hextall. Doesn't mean they won't, just that they haven't yet.

I put my name into the lottery for tickets. I have lots of family in Florida. I may actually make a real vacation out of the trip.

Schlossman's last tweet indicates it's Genoway who's being courted to sign by the Wild but no confirmation yet

Sorry. I meant that he was chasing 2 signing confirmations TODAY. I wasn't including Frattin in that count.

Schlossman tweeted that he was running down confirmation of TWO signings of Sioux seniors. Today, Malone's the first skate to drop. Who's next?

A new version of the Pony Express will ride again. Best of luck in the playoffs! We'll miss you.

It's a horrible idea! It's the only thing I can think of that would make me question my undying allegiance to the Sioux! Not that Runninwiththedogs wasn't a platinum vision. But she's the exception.

Congratulations to Sandy & the Bulldogs. You did the WCHA proud.

I was at the Hobey ceremony and it was a great night! When the Sioux team filed in together to take their seats, the Sioux fans in the audience--yes, we predominated--gave them a huge round of applause. When Miele won as we knew he might, Sioux fans led the standing O--there wasn't a single boo. After the ceremony, when the Sioux filed out and walked the length of the concourse, Sioux fans stopped and applauded them the whole way. It was very emotional in that building. Yes, Matt Frattin was our first choice for that honor but Andy Miele is a deserving winner and I don't think even the most partisan among us would dispute that. Congratulations to him, his family, teammates, coaches and the Miami family.

I know your post is tongue-in-cheek but no one who bleeds green could ever be the cause of bad luck for this team. Next October, the ice will be clean, the blades will be sharp and the team will be rearin' to go. Watch them whenever and wherever you can! I know I will. I was fortunate to see them win in person in '97 and '00 but I also witnessed them fall short in '05-'08 and '11. And at this moment I think what I always think at the end of a season: next year is OUR year.

I have a sale in the works.

Sent you a PM.

Are you in the Cities or will be soon? Do you want to watch your team vie for the chance to hoist the hardware? Thanks to a Sioux fan, I have one ticket to the championship game. My team isn't in it. If yours is and you'd like to watch Saturday's game from section 110, row 17, aisle seat, please PM me. I am donating the proceeds to a charitable cause and I hope my buddy NDH will approve.

JFR--Thanks, as always, for being with your fellow Sioux fans, in good times and bad. Looks like #8 will have to wait at least one more year. But I have no doubt that it will come.