shep

That's a fair point. I guess I may have too lofty an expectation of what a #1 or #2 should be. However, I think Kessel proved to be better than Toews this weekend.

All that makes sense and of the ones you've listed he is the best. But that's just two teams. I guess I was spoiled somewhat by the World Juniors last year with Crosby and Ovechkin and now we're talking about someone who may soon be in that lofty category. I know those were the last two #1's but you get my point. Perhaps I don't know what a #2 pick should look like, but I still have a hard time comprehending this.

Look Redwing, I know you and I have a totally different perspective on what it means to be a Sioux fan. I think I'm realistic and I sometimes say negative things (especially after watching the 5th straight home loss and against the hated rival). You are ALWAYS positive. The team could shoot pucks at your head during pregame warmups and you'd complement them on their accuracy. That said, I was at the games and on Friday night one team came out ready to play. Now if that's coaching issue or not, I guess I don't know for sure, but Lucia's team was ready to play. That's all. As for Towes being overrated, I will just say that he wasn't the best freshman on the ice this weekend and I just can't imagine how he's the #2 pick. I could be wrong, but maybe some of the 17 or so scouts in the stands saw that too. Time will tell.

I'm really not trying to knock Toews as much as I'm just surprised that he may be the #2 pick in the draft next year. There MUST be some 19 year old in Russia who is better. Toews is a great 17 year old hockey player, but as I noted most of the 1st round picks play in the pros within a couple of years, and he would really need to make great improvement fast to be there next year.

Kermit Good points. I forgot to mention Stafford and you hit it on the head. I haven't watched Minny play this year-why would I?- but they looked to be in the same class as DU and Wisconsin with Wisconsin being the best I've seen. I think Oshie is the MVP thus far.

Oh and the sky isn't falling; just the Sioux Hockey team's place in the standings.

If it turns out that it all "comes together" (I love how everyone keeps hoping that will happen even when the evidence thus far is to the contrary) and they play in the Ralph in the Regional, I want someone to print a copy of this, and I will eat it in the organ bar between the first and second periods of their first game. I'd love to cut Toews some slack, and I will, but I just can't believe he is the 2nd best undrafted player in the world at this point.

I forgot about Weisgerber from South. He'll almost definitely make it, but I thought it interesting that the Campbell family tree provides 3 of the top players in state.

I like your hopeful nature, but it's not so much just home losses and away wins as it is losses against the top teams in the WCHA and wins against the WCHA's Junior Varsity. What will this team do in Denver, Mariucci and Madison? Maybe they feel less "pressure" on the road. I don't know. I'm sick of seeing them in person lose and really in the last 5 games, I can't remember feeling they had a real great chance to win.

That was a big error on my part. I love Oshie and think he's the best player on the team most nights. I meant Toews. My bad. Thanks for the correction.

I hope Lammy plays more. Parise wasn't up to his game against the top rival and gave up too many soft goals. Lammy played well. Enough said. We can hate the fact that a GF boy went to play for the disgusting Goofers, but whenever Potulny was on the ice he was the best player in my view and he does EVERYTHING a Captain should do. Solid two-way player. This team may be full of potential but it just isn't gelling yet in scoring opps. The D played better this weekend, though. If Toews is the #2 pick in the draft, it will mean that this is a very weak draft. Most First Round picks compete in the pros within a couple of years, and the kid seems to have a LOT of growing up to do b/4 he makes it. If he can't shake sophomore and junior defensemen in college he won't have a chance against pros. Chorney's antics after his goal is excusable b/c he's a Freshman. However, he needs to remember that we expect Badgers to sink to the level of Goofers not Fighting Sioux. Beyond that, it made the score 4-2 in the third period and the team was down two goals. Stop blaming the refs, Sioux fans. There is no grand conspiracy against us. We lost this series because the goalie was giving up too many weak ones and when we had PP's including a 5-3 advantage we couldn't capitalize. Don Lucia seems to have a passion that's absent from his Sioux counterpart. Not saying that's a big reason why the teams played as they did, but the Sioux came out on Friday night with 13,000 fans going nuts in their home arena and were absolutely flat. What's Hak doing pre-game, reading them stories about dead kittens??? If this team is playing in the Ralph after the regular season, I will be SHOCKED!!! I doubt they will even have home ice advantage in the WCHA playoffs and I don't see much likelihood of West Regional action, either. This team has gone 1-5 against the best of the WCHA, DU, Wisc and MN AT HOME!!!!!! Enough said.

Shepherd did NOT lose this series for the Sioux as much as weak goals against Parise did. You are correct that ANY fan would buy the ref a drink to get PP's at the end of games and this team simply does not have the PP to get it done. Not anyone's fault in stripes, though I think Shepherd and the rest of the WCHA refs collectively suck.

Smartert thing I've read on this board in awhile. I'm too peed to keep typing, except to say that the goalie cost us four points this weekend. Last night there were two weak goals including the fourth that he essentially slid in himself. Lammy all the way!!!!!!!!

I believe Marc Mihulka is former Grafton star, Rob Mihulka's son. If so, it means that Mr. Hockey could have three cousins up for the award with the Campbell cousins and Mihulka as Rob's wife is a sister to the Campbell's dads. Interesting eh?

I'd give up any Sioux player winning the Hobey EVER for a few more NCAA Titles.

I think the main reason to keep Miller on the second line is balance. Grafton had the highest scoring line in state history with Brodeur, French and Pederson, but got killed in the state title game to a VERY GOOD Central team, and I can't recall the second line or any of the others. Mohagen is a special player, but it will take time.

I think it's nuts how often Sioux fans just HAVE to attempt to condemn Kessel even when a Goofer fan brings him up. I said it b/4 and I say it now, if he were here, he'd be talked about like Parise. Let's see what he does this weekend. It will be a good test for us and him. Can't wait for the weekend!!!

You're NOT? making a relative statement??? Then why make the relative statement?? Look, what happened to Bina was awful, but this eye-for-an-eye logic escapes me. Beat them on the scoreboard where it counts. Not much flaw in that logic as far as I can tell.

This whole western, vigilante justice things, though expected from some, just doesn't get to the heart of the matter. After Pauk did what he did last year, his TEAM won the National Championship. Putting him through the boards doesn't change that, and what little happiness some may get by seeing him get pounded is nothing compared to the revenge that will come if this UND team WINS a National Championship. I understand the blood lust for him on some level; he got one of ours, now we have to get him, but honestly what good will it do. Last night's game was the first step in getting him/them back. Let's do the same tonight, and as I watched Paukovich, it's clear that he's not the #1 guy on the ice for them on ANY shift, so I can only hope our players, as compared to our fans, understand that. Btw, their D-man, Matt Carle is a stud. Watch him, he makes plays.

Of course, we'd have to assume that no other college loses any of their players early either. Anyone know what Brady Murray is doing?

I agree. One of my pet peeves is misspelled words of all kinds, but especially in a situation where the person who works in this area should have paid more attention to the details of the situation and got the spelling right. How hard is that??? I hope she didn't mind seeing her name misspelled as the crowd generously cheered her.

I was at the game and I heard Hak's comments, and I was surprised he singled out Jones as having a good game even saying that the loan Manitoba goal came on a bad bounce. I thought Jones just wasn't up to the speed of the game so that's why I was surprised that Hak said that. But he knows more than I do. I think Lee is the Roche reincarnate they've needed for a few years. Poised, solid D with a fine shot and great vision of the ice. I was impressed with Smaby, but as much as I whined about the Greene silly penalties last year, his and Jones and Schnieder's presence was missed. Smaby had some real nice hip checks near the end of the 2nd period. Solid Spirko, Zajac and Stafford were virtually unstoppable.

This may be the funniest thread I've read on this board. I'm dying here. Or to spell it right, I'm deying her.

I wish him the best of luck, too. Stupid penalties in the college level are one thing; stupid penalties at the pro level get you bench time. And it won't be about size or college refs to blame, as stupid penalties are just stupid. Best wishes to him in his pro career.