Wilbur

The year was 2002, good for you. It was GFC against Grafton (I believe you also know this). A big reason that it was such a well attended game was it was an Olympics year and a lot of people came because they couldn't see the game live (I think it was tape delayed until like 11 pm or something like that).

I think Cichy staying in the lineup depends on how long Kristo is out for. I would assume Kristo may be done for the year if he isn't back by the start of the postseason.

I would love to see this, but don't think they will break the record of 9,000 people set back when the tournament was first started at the new Ralph. I think if they are lucky you will see about 4,000 people at the game. A three quarter full lower bowl would be nice.

We need splits and a Sioux sweep. Thats all there is to it. Would love to see the Sioux in a position to go out to Houghton, win one hockey game, and win the league.

I hope this is just a rumor about these Red River players, but unfortunately drinking and drug use is becoming more and more popular amongst high school athletes. I don't think there is a high school hockey team in the state that hasn't lost a player to "training violations" within the last five years. Best of luck to all teams at the state hockey tournament this weekend. Here are my predictions: (this is if red river has their full team) Central over Century Grafton over BHS RR over Jamestown WF over Minot Grafton over Central RR over WF Red River over Grafton

Its tradition that you must start the weekly thread. Just not the same when it isn't you. Thoughts on the weekend: Sioux need to stop the Read line and they win the series.

This doesn't make sense to me. How does UND, whom the NC$$ supposedly hates, get to host this tournament. Memo to the NCAA, we will still be the Sioux at this time.

Was waiting all week for this thread to get going! Bout time AZSIOUX!

GREAT NEWS! Lets hope the senate has the same amount of backbone as the house! One of the 28 no votes is a rep from my district. Congrats on never getting my vote ever again....

Can you buy tickets now for just the championship game if you want to? Or do those go on sale after the regionals?

Thanks for the heads up everyone, greatly appreciated! I don't think Minnesota will be playing in the F4, but would obviously love to see the XCEL energy center in a green out situation with the Sioux playing against someone like Yale (revenge). Or, if the Sioux don't make it I'll show up and just watch some hockey.

Yeah, no bounces at all on this one. Looked to me like he had a rough time picking up the puck. Funny how this play leads to Denver getting the two goal lead and winning the hockey game, instead of Tech possibly tying the game on the power play. This play basically decided the game.

Might be a stupid question....but...to those who have been to the F4 before is it possible to scalp tickets before the championship game, or I should say are there a good number of scalpers selling tickets? I'm a teacher and I'm using up all of my personal days for the final five (do every year). No chance for me to be there for the Thursday hockey games, but at the same time it'd be nice to go the championship regardless of who is playing in the game as I only live about 2 and a half hours away from St. Paul. Thanks for any info!

Agreed 100%. It is very likely that the Tech Huskies will be coming to Grand Forks unless we see a major meltdown. I think its nice that they could be playing them four times in a row in different locations. The last time they had them four times in a row at the Ralph you could tell that the Saturday letdown was coming. Luckily they were able to get over that in the third period and win the hockey game in OT.

State Tournament Pairings: (#1 West) Bismarck Century vs. (#4 East) Grand Forks Central (#2 East) Grafton Park River vs. (#3 West) Bismarck High School (#1 East) Grand Forks Red River vs. (#4 West) Jamestown (#2 West) Minot vs. (#3 East) West Fargo

Huge three points for the sioux! Half way through the final 8 game stretch of the year with a 3-0-1 record. The ball is 100% in their court to win the WCHA league championship. Get a sweep against the Beavs next weekend, and then close it out in Houghton.

Now 3-0 Grafton in the third period. Tomorrow's matchups in the EDC: Davies vs. Devils Lake North vs. South (what a great loser out game this will be) Red River vs. Central (what a great win and in game) West Fargo vs. Grafton (another great hockey game) Tomorrow's matchups in the WDA: Dickinson vs. Jamestown Bottineau vs. Hazen Bismarck High vs. Bismarck Century Mandan vs. Minot

Last I heard Grafton was up 1-0 on North in the third.

Another EDC Score: West Fargo 6 Fargo South/Shanley 3 Another WDA Score: Minot 10 Hazen 1

West Region: Century 12 Dickinson 2 Bismarck High 9 Jamestown 2

I was more pissed about being called "North Dakota State", and having other hockey fans at the WCHA Final Five tell me that it wasn't that big of a deal..... I don't care what the tickets look like, as long as I have them. PS: If Minnesota and Wisconsin leave that means that it would probably go back to being the old final five system with a third place game. I like the new system. Lose and you go home!

Prayers definitely go out to his wife and children. As a fellow high school coach in the state of North Dakota he was always kind and very easy to talk to. I knew that his health wasn't the best, and its extremely unfortunate that he went so young.

At least he's gotten away from blatant cheap shots to the heads of players........Marvin is a thug. But the WCHA will only give him a game suspension or warning, and move on from there.

I'm really not sure if Eidsness will get in the net again this season, unless (knock on wood) Dell gets hurt. Six league games remaining with every one of them extremely important for the Sioux if they want to win the league. Hakstol rolled Eids from January through the end of the year last season, I don't see him taking Dell out any time soon.

Something a bit overlooked was the fact that Aaron Dell won his 20th hockey game with the victory over Anchorage on Saturday. Dell has just been a reliable consistently good goaltender this eason, and has been amazing on the road. I expect the same from him this weekend, and another solid couple of starts.