Frontroguy

Oh, I do not feel hopeless. I am not as bad as a Packer fan regarding optimisim, but it is never over til it's over. I am more shocked at the lack of boisturous optimism from the Sioux Camp. When the rivalry heats up, I tend to see a lot of 7>5. Well this weekend 3>18. And I would guess our 18 is due to reputation, not this years squad. Our goalie situation is a mess, and our best goalie is a freshman. Although he was having a poor year, Okposo was a scoring force for us last year. Stoa went out earl, and Bariball has not had the same success as last year. Our D is OK, our offense is less than OK, and our poweplay is nearly nonexistant. If I had Hak's job, I would make sure that the Sioux live up to their reputaion for physicality. (I am not even going the cheap route here.... ) But the reality is even if you spend twice as much time in the penalty box as the Maroon and Gold, you are not going to have to pay for it in goals. If ever there was a weekend where your fanbase should be talking trash, this is it. And that is coming from an optimist, dangit!

As a Gopher fan, I have to admit I am a bit shocked at what I have read. Words like concerned, worried etc. I admit to not seeing a whole lot of Sioux games this year, but I have been at the 4 out of towners, and a bunch at home. This is a team that lost to RPI, and tied Air Force!!! I hope it is false modesty on your part, but if my squad picks up 2 points this weekend, it would be the highlight of the season!

Hard to judge upside. I loved the way Okposo would dig the puck out of the boards, and he was a grinder type player. For whatever reason, it was not happening. I am told he was a bit of a lockeroom cancer, and that his teammates won't miss him, but that sounds like a lot of baloney to me. Although he was not producing, they will miss his presence. We get Carmen back, but we will still be basically short 2 guys we were counting on. Maybe they will play better as a team, but they have been pretty unselfish so far, so I do not think that is an issue. In fact, one of our biggest downsides has been one too many passes and too few shots, so maybe a little more selfishness would be a good thing....

We lost Wheeler? Okposo has not been our best player this year. Should have been, but for whatever reason, it has not been working for him. We lose a body, so that leaves your team short. Stoa went out in the 1st series, and Carmen effed it up, and was ineligible for the 1st half. So even though he was not our best, it will shorten up the bench which is never good. It's too bad, for the kid that he did not go pro before the season started. Then none of this discussion would be happening....

Yes, tDon left nothing to the imagination about how he felt about Bickel's actions. By the look on Bickel's, I am not sure it registered.

I have always thought that the PA announcer was speaking for the entire University, and therefore should communicate on the same level the U does. So, personally I thought the Holy Cross thing was dumb. The chick in the box, was humorous. On the other hand, in Sconny, when the opposing team scores, they do not even announce the goal, so I will go with you on the entertainment bit. Gotta play to your audience. The Bina reference was stupid. Not related in any shape or form. I move to have it stricken from the record....

As a Gopher fan, I had to vote for the Sconny's. As much as I hate to say it, I think they are better fans the the regulars in GF, and Minny. Best student section by far..

I am surprised that no one here has a groupl big enough to get the group tickets. A few years ago, I split some 4 paks with a couple of Sioux Groups. Worked out pretty well. Now you have to buy 5 tickets, and nobody else travels to Sconny like the Gopher fans and your squad. Good luck!

Hmm, I guess I will take that for a "no" Got mine for the Badger series with the Gophers, and am looking forward to it as it is always a good trip. Just thought I would compare seats etc..

Just wondering if anyone got group seating for the Sioux Sconny game in Madison? I am curious as to where they put you, and if you got a discount.

So, the Sioux games are on FSSN? If that is the case then, I do not get your point.

Aren't the Sioux games broadcast in Nodak? The fan base is pretty fervent, and they travel well. I would think that they would be televised too??

It will be a major upset if any team not wearing Green wins the WCHA this year. 1 UND Too much talent 2 SCSU Another year of not raising a banner 3 U of MN Will stuggle early, but play well late in season 4 DU - lost some key players but George never stays down for to long 5 Sconny Its the SYSTEM dangit! (boring, too) 6 MT Hooray for relavancy! 7 CC Sliding down the slope 8 UAA Will play like they did in 1st half of 2006/2007 longer this season 9 MSU too bad this does not mean they will get a better draft choice.... 10 UMD Sany looks for new job.

I have heard some talk about Canadian colleges applying to the NCAA. University of Brittish Columbia comes to mind. I can't remember the other. It would be kind of nice to add someone that has a big fan base...

Similar to our experience as well. We have been going to Sconny for a few years now, and have had a great time. Sad to say that is much better than I have been treated in your neck of the woods, and even sadder to say, much better treated than when their squad comes to Mariucci.

Singles go on sale Sept 24 for the 2007 games. (2008 games are on sale in mid nov) Group sales start on September 4. What kind of reception do Sioux fans get in Sconny? I take a group of Gopher fans every year and we get treated pretty well.

Kinda funny. Saw a bunch of North Dakota Fighting Sioux WCHA Champions shirts at the X, too. Course, my squad did not get far enough to worry about printing National champ shirts.......

Wooger is someone you hate unless you are a fan of the team. Kinda like Sagasor for Sconny. I do prefer Mariucci to the Ralph, if only for the open bowl viewing. 1st time I went to the Ralph, I bough SRO with the idea that I could actually see the rink. NOT! The bar is nice, but if I wanted to watch the game on tv and drink beer, I would have gone to the bar instead. Pretty hard to compare ammenities between the two though. Right down to the sound system the Ralph is outstanding. As for the Hakstol show, why isn't there one?

I was a little confused when I saw Ohio State, and Bemidji State as a part of the WCHA. It may show how much I follow women's hockey I guess, but I figured that the mens and womens teams would be the same. Learn something new every day. Much nicer though.

Just thinking out loud, but does cheerleading fall into the realm of Title IX? Is that considered a sport? I would think you can letter in it so maybe you actually need it for reasons of balance..

You are very passionate on the topic, but you do have an inaccuracy in your post. The Gopher cheerleaders do actually perform "cheers". Not sure if they do them at the final 5 (I can't recall them being done there, but could be..) but they do perform them at Mariucci. No matter how good or bad, skimpy costume or not, involved or passive the cheerleaders are, I believe that they are a part of the college experience, and an integral part of the atmosphere. Just my $0.02

Wow, that looks like it was pretty cool! Any idea how many folks showed up? Did it end right at 7:30? Kind of a nice way for the seniors to say goodbye....

I don't think he milked it. I think he was running out of gas from chasing the Sioux all over the rink....

Ah, life's lessons. They recovered, but not til the next day . ( I am sure they get that from there mother!) The cool thing about College Hockey is when it ends, Baseball season is about to start. You do not need to mess around with football or basketball. Hockey to baseball, baseball to hockey. It's a good life, really. Good luck in St. Louis!

When did the Gophers begin to play in the NHL?