Rick

You just insulted every lawyer in Minnesota. If I remember right, the hamster is a social worker. I believe he attended North Hennepin Community College.

Actually, the speeding violation sounds more serious considering the vehicle was a '72 Ford Pinto.

I don't think we should expect too much out of Bina. My guess is that he will probably dress for about 10 games this year but won't see much playing time in those 10 games. Radke should be a real good addition in the '04-'05 season and will most likely step right in and play. I've been told he has "Roche-like" patience with the puck. He had a lot of full-ride offers. Luke Beaverson will most likely be a work-in-progress similar to Commodore when he was a freshman. He will most likely require more time to develop than Greene did. I think the comment on the Tampa website regarding Rosehill is jumping the gun just a tad. He has a longggg way to go before he could play. I suspect the Tampa PR person asked Rosehill what he would like to do after he completes playing juniors, and Rosehill probably said something like, "I'd like to go to North Dakota like Matt Smaby."

True, the Broadmoor means very little. The Fighting Sioux decided long ago that they wouldn't even display the banner. The WCHA is the premier hockey league in the country. Saying the WCHA regular season championship means nothing is like saying the Big Ten regular season championship in football means nothing. Winning the WCHA regular season championship and losing the NCAA national championship is very frustrating and disappointing. Losing the WCHA regular season championship but winning the NCAA championship is a very good accomplishment, even though it isn't totally satisfying. But there is nothing like winning the WCHA Championship and the NCAA Championship in the same season.....THAT is the ultimate. Note: The above is not sarcasm....if you can't see that, please find a dollar and buy a clue!

There were no deals made. When Zach Parise committed to UND, Jordan wasn't even considered a remote possibility for the Sioux....he hadn't even entered into any conversations. Dean Blais isn't going to put anyone on the team that doesn't deserve a spot, not even someone named Parise. Ever since he was a coach at Internation Falls High School, there have been no favors for anyone. The reason for this is that his son was a Senior on the Falls High School team. There were several underclassmen that were trying to make the team also. During tryouts, Benny Blais told coach Blais that he was going to quit hockey. The reason he did that was because he didn't want his dad to have to make the decision to cut him, or put him on the team because he knew that the younger guys were at his talent level or better. That is why there will never be any favors for anyone trying to make a Dean Blais team. If you're not as good as someone else, even if your name is Parise, you're not going be given a spot on his team. Sedevie had a case of very bad luck. First he had the serious leg injury, then he had the serious neck injury. That is the only reason he isn't at UND. Don't make anything more out of it than is really there.

hmmm, in your past posts you indicate you have this knowledge. If I get time I'll repost them. I don't think it raises that many eyebrows. Maybe two or three in the TC Metro area. It certainly doesn't raise mine or make me wonder.

Exactly, just like with Quinn Fylling. The only difference is that Quinn came back. Blaiser stuck with him.

Yes, I guess I see your point now....if Erickson wouldn't have been such a screw-off, if he would have kept his grades up, if he would have been accountable, if he would have been willing to work for his position...then I'm sure a coach of Donnie's integrity would have kept him around.

Either you're very disconnected, or else you work for Jesse Jackson. I know very few recruits/parents who shy away when told that they have to be accountable, they have to work for their position, and that their scholarship is based on their performance (which is reviewed and agreed upon by the player and coaches). If they shy away when told this, I suspect Blaiser tells them that there is a better fit for them 300 miles down the road. It actually works the opposite of what you say. Most parents want to hear that their son has to work hard, attend class, perform, keep out of trouble, and be accountable if they are going to play for the Sioux. It's a selling point. Jan Gangelhoff doesn't work at UND.

I don't want to insult anyone's intelligence....but I have heard, first hand, what is said. I've also talked with other recruits after they commit, and they've told me what's been said. Unless you are a "Zach Parise type player"....there are no guarantee's. I have no first hand knowledge of conversations with Parise, David Hale, Matt Greene...but I suspect they were told they could have a scholarship for 4 years if they wanted it....if, they honor their classroom commitments. Other recruits are given a scholarship for their first year, and if they honor their commitments in the classroom, make agreed on progress on the ice, and stay out of trouble, then they will adjust the scholarship based on the level of improvement. There are several examples of players who will be Juniors this coming year and we haven't seen much improvement since they first stepped onto the ice. But they are still with the team and getting a scholarship. I would be surprised if there isn't some downward adjustment in scholarships for these players. There is no reason why a player should keep a half or 3/4 scholarship if they're not contributing or improving. Because of Humphrey, Mondale and Wellstone legacies, many of us who have lived in Minnesota most of our lives have a welfare mentality. Well, even though Blaiser grew up in Minnesota, there are no entitlements in his language. I suspect it stems from his up-bringing. If I remember right, his dad was a Marine, and his older brother was also a Marine. The only entitlement you get in the Marine's is if you don't work your butt off, you'll get a size 12 boot planted squarely in the center. In the Marines, you also get told, in no uncertain terms, what's expected of you. Nothing is sugarcoated. Well, there aren't many things sugarcoated in Blaisers system either. You can tell that by what you read in the papers. He is brutily honest, whether it has to do with a player, ref, league, contract negotiation, etc, etc. You know exactely where you stand (or sit) with Blaiser. If you want entitlements, or you want things sugarcoated, maybe you should be in a little girls dance class.

You could be right, but I was told by one of the four mentioned players that Rube didn't offer Neal much for a scholarship. He said that if Neal had gone to UND, then the rest of us (Paul, Aaron, Butsy) would have most likely ended up there also. It would have been fun watching Kevin Maxwell and Neal Broten together. UND would have had one more National Championship and Minnesota would have had one less.

Actually, it was Marvin and Billy Baker from Minnesota. Billy took quite a pounding. He was going to be a dentist so I think Crunch (Marvin) decided to help him out by loosening up a few of Bakers teeth. I'm not sure Baker even landed a punch. It was a pretty lopsided fight, even more-so than when Commodore realigned Brooks' face from Wisconsin. Crunch is living up in Warroad. Roger never played in the NHL. He spent quite a few years in Austria as a player and then as a player/coach. He's involved in a couple of businesses (landscaping and a manufacturing company) in Calgary. As you mentioned, Brad Becker has been at Moorhead for quite a while. Brad married his high school coaches (Willard Ikola) daughter from Edina, and they have a couple of sons who are good players for Moorhead. Al Hangsleben is another good friend. One time he sent me a airline ticket and brought me out to Hartford for the playoffs. He played in the WHA for the Whalers, but most of his NHL time was with the Washington Capitals. He played with Gordie and Mark Howe. When they would come to play in the Cities, we would usually end up at Eddie Websters Peanut Bar in Bloomington after the games. Gordie Howe was 50 years old at the time but was built like a 29 year old.

I really think we had some very good players back then, Rube just didn't know how to put everything together as a team. While Rube was a very nice guy, he just wasn't a very good college coach. A change should have been made a 3 or 4 years sooner. Rube messed up the Neil Broten deal also. Rube coached at Roseau before he came to UND. He thought he could get Neil for a few "table scraps" instead of offering a scholarship. I believe Minnesota got him for about a 1/2 scholarship. If Rube would have offered him anything, he would have ended up being a Sioux. If that would have happened, then Butsy Erickson and Aaron and Paul Broten would have also ended up at UND.

Since Lucia offered him a full-ride, I would say he wanted him.

There really isn't a set policy on it and I'm quite sure Blaiser has never told a kid to cut his hair. The Captains take care of most of the player issues on this type of thing. They know how the Coach wants the team to present themselves and in the case of a players hair, if it starts to get too long, I suspect the Captains would talk to the kid. I doubt Blaiser would have to even mention it to the Captains. I know other teams have dress-code rules for traveling. Many of them have to wear a coat and tie. When the Sioux travel, they typically wear their green UND Hockey jump suits/sweat pants and jacket (whatever they're called). I'm sure they're more comfortable traveling that way.

That's a poor argument, since your tuition doesn't even cover half the cost of your "own" education, much less the cost of a players scholarship or covering REA expenses. Taxpayers foot the rest of your bill, and those people who each contribute thousands of $$ to be members of the Fighting Sioux Club and purchase tickets, and those who buy $30,000 suites are the ones who pay for the scholarships. They're also the ones who make it possible for REA to turn over millions of $$ at the end of the fiscal year to fund all UND athletics. In addition to that, your $5/game ticket doesn't cover the cost of your leather chair, even if you don't sit in it. You need a better argument. Ralph was all for students, but I suspect he would tell you to take a couple of economics and/or business classes. Other than that, I'm all for making noise.

I disagree Goon, he would have looked good in a Sioux uniform. The kid would have been fine playing for Blais. He also would have been fine playing for Sauer again this year. It's not the first time a new coach and an existing player have clashed. Unfortunately for Wisconsin, Eaves and Leavitt aren't a good fit, but it's better for both sides to move on. If you remember, when Blaiser took over at UND, he and Landon Wilson weren't a good fit. Landon moved on to the NHL, and it was best for everyone. Chances are, Leavitt will most likely play juniors next year and then play for another school, and everyone will better off.

I'm sure other players are thinking about it, but it probably isn't affecting their play. Ryan, on the other hand, has to be affected. Think of what he's been through the last 5 years. His mother's long battle with cancer....his shoulder injury resulting in him sitting out his second year....David's mysterious illness just prior to last season....his mother passing away just as school started last season....David's continued illness during last season....named captain of the team this year....David has a relaps of his mysterious illness. And on top of all that, we have to remember he's a full-time student majoring in communication, in addition to being a full-time hockey player. This kid has way more on his shoulders than anyone should be expected to carry.

It will be interesting to see who skates with Bochenski and Parise this week. I wouldn't be surprised to see someone new on that line. Maybe Palmiscno will get the chance.

Eat fish burgers. Not that I would ever stop by Mettler's, but you have to walk right by the place as you come out the back door of the Holiday Inn on your way to the arena. If you're not careful you might take a left turn as you leave the hotel, thinking this could be a short cut, only to find out you've "mistakingly" entered Mettler's. By the time you've been able to flag someone down for directions, hunger sets in and you start checking out the menu. This is what I've heard.

He put on quite a display last night. He pretty much loaded the team on his back in the 3rd period. It was fun to watch. KR, you and"Mr electricity" should have made the trip.

I believe the ice temp is around 20 to 25 degrees. They would like it at about 10 degrees. For some reason, the refrigerant in the lines is not capable of getting it any cooler. I'm not sure if it's contaminated or what the deal is, but I was told it has to be replaced. But the company that is responsible has been reluctant to do it because it is very costly. They have pretty much eliminated every other potential cause, so it will most likely be replaced after the season is over.

Let's see.....there was the slick Texan (I forget his name), then the Rocky & Bullwinkle show, then Bob Babich. Somehow, Dale Lennon doesn't seem to fit into that mold.

I believe the ice in the main rink is still 10 to 15 degrees warmer than they want it. They improved it quite a bit this year, but it still isn't (old REA) good. I guess what needs to be done is that all the refrigerant needs to be purged from the lines and replaced. The company that did the installation is responsible for that. It's a very expensive undertaking, so the company has been reluctant to do it. It will most likely be done at the conclusion of the season.