Stack
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Posts posted by Stack
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I will be there with my daughter. Section 21 row 21.
Memories to share about the old Williams arena
1. 1979, Final weekend of the WCHA series the Sioux lead the league by 3 points: Gophers win on Friday night so the lead is down to 1 point. Saturday night the game goes back and forth. Sioux are up by one goal and the Gophers pull the goalie. Then freshman Dave Christian picks up a puck and comes in all alone. Instead of driving to the net to make sure of his shot he winds up and blasts a slap shot from the blue line into the net. We partied until dawn.
2. 1980: Sioux Gophers again. Thre are about 10 of us sitting in the reserved section across the ice from the students. My buddy gets hamered before the game and during a stoppage in play with the rink completely quiet he stands up, turns to the crowd, throws his arms in the air and yells "GOPHERS SUCK!" He then sits down as we all cringe. Shortly afterwards he gets up and heads to the men's can. 5-6 Gopher fans peel out of the crowd and follow him to the can. To this day we have no idea how he got out of there alive but he was very quiet the rest of the game.
3. General memories:
- I missed half of the goals in that arena because of the sightlines and the cement posts
- The first time I walked in I saw that roof over top the one goal where the basketball seats went up from there on the other side and saw all of the black marks from the pucks hitting it and thought what the heck is that?
- sitting below the balcony when the students started stomping there feet thinking that baby is coming down on me at any moment.
- Not being able to buy any hot concessions there for a year because the building was condemned. They couldn't have anything plugged into the wiring
Al I know is like the old Winter Sports Arena at UND, Williams arena had character and made it a lot tougher on the away team than Mariucci.
Just some random thoughts.
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This is just like last years posts all over again. In such a big and important series the freshmen did everything that could be expected of them but we did not get enough from the upperclassmen, some more so than others. Hopefully, like last year, the upperclassmen will show up every game to end out the schedule and the team will pull it out. In other words I expect to be a fan in pain until the end of January.
Guys that played this weekend
Senior: Prpich
Junior: Stafford, Parise, Smaby, Porter, Fabian
Sophs: Zajac, Spirko, Kaip, Radke, Lamoureux
Frosh: Chorney, Finley, Jones, Lee, Oshie, Toews, Kozek, Duncan, Watkins
6 upperclassmen. My evaluation is that Prpich played his game and played well. The 5 juniors did not play very well. Porter and Fabian didn't throw their weight around, Parise was not at his best, Stafford disappeared at times and Smaby did not stand out over the other frosh D.
Let's be realistic here. We all knew that with this many freshmen playing we would struggle early and we all hoped we would come together as a team and be very good by the end of the season. These guys did not play as a team this weekend but as individuals and lyou lose when this happens. . We've lost 5 games in a row at home against the upper division of our league. We won five of six on the road against the bottom of the league. This is what I expected but I hoped for more.
If we can reel off 6 wins or 5 of 6 against Bemidji, Harvard, and Achorage before going into Minnestoa we'll be fine. We have the lower division teams at home the second half and play Minnesota, CC, and Denver on the road. So 20 games left to go. I'd be very happy of we went 14-6 the second half. Heck that would put us at 24-13-1. That's pretty dang good for a freshmen laden team. So I'm like the rest of you who hated to lose to Minnesota but when I look at the season so far objectively I am pleased.
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After playing Denver last weekend I told my daughter that they were our Number 2 rivalry and not Wisconsin any more. But then she reminded me that I am usually very composed at games except when we play Minnesota and Wisconsin. She remembered me yelling Vanek sucks even the year after he went pro. Then out of the blue last year while playing Wisconsin seeing me stand up and yell Wisconsin sucks.
Even though I now hate Denver I still can't stand those red bastidges.
Just remember: Badgers? Badgers? We don't need no stinking Badgers!
My 5'5" friend stood on a bar stool in Milwaukee the last time the WCHA's were there the afternoon before we played Wisconsin and yelled that cheer. The pussies didn't even react.
Better dead than red!
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Actually, there are now several hotels that are in the same parking area as the arena including a Marriott Residence Inn.
If you saw the old Broadmoor World Arena when you were out here for the 2004 Regionals I want a shot of what you were drinking because it was demolished in 1995. I know that for a fact because it also used to house our curling club when I was living there.
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Gees I'm just trying to help out a little. I didn't see the old Broadmoor when we were there in 2004 but I thought it was because we didn't know where the hell we were going. Now I know I wasn't smoking something and it really wasn't there.
Of course I didn't know about any new hotels since I HAVEN'T BEEN THERE SINCE 2004.
I was just recapping our experience. No big deal I just thought I'd respond.
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We went to the regional in 2004. Flew into the Denver airport and rented a car. It was a nice drive to Colorado Springs that took about an hour so don't be put off if you want to save some money and fly into Denver.
Colorado Springs is a very narrow and long town and the World Arena is on the south end of town about 4-5 miles south of the downtown area. There are only two hotels near the arena but both are easy walking distance to the game. The closest is La Quinta Hotel where we stayed. It's a basic hotel but has no bar or restaurant. The second hotel is the Doubletree where the visting team usually stays. They have a bar and restaurant.
There is an Outback across the street from La Quinta and there is an Italian restaurant called Carrabba's Italian Grill. We spent all of our drinking time at Carrabba's. Real small bar but easy to fill up with Sioux fans.
Things to do:
- Take a drive to the top of Pikes Peak. It is a little scary once you get above the tree line but you need to do it at least once. When you get down stop at The Wines of Colorado which is about 1/2 mile towards town from the Pikes Peak exit. They have a lot of wines and you may need a drink after your scare on Pikes Peak. Plus they have very good food.
- Walk or drive through The Garden of the Gods. Very picturesque and interesting place.
- Go up to Seven Falls. This is a waterfall that is literally about 10 minutes from the World Arena. Very nice http://www.sevenfalls.com/
- Stop at the Broadmoor hotel and walk aroudn the grounds/golf course and take a peak at the old hockey arena.
- Go downtown and drink and eat at one of the Irish pubs.
- other things: Cripple creek for gambling, Royal Gorge for the view, Glen Eyrie castle.
One last note: When we got to the arena to pick up our will call tickets there was a young guy wearing a Gopher shirt standing in front of us. I think we said something about Gopher fans being so stupid that they didn't know Minnesota wasn't playing in this region. He was actually there to buy circus tickets. What a dumb a??
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The reality is with 12-14 freshmen coming in this year I'll be happy if we are able to win home ice advantage for the WCHA playoffs.
Minnesota didn't lose much, CC didn't lose much, Denver lost some scoring but are saying this freshmen class is better than last, Wisconsin lost a goalie and that's about it.
I'm keeping my expectaitons low for UND this year but hoping our freshman defensemen are able to step in right away like Minnesota's did last year. If they do we have a chance again. If not it could be a rough season. But hey that's college sports.
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Sorry JK but I have to diagree with your comparison/assessment. You have overlooked an important factor in your comparison. How about adding the prospect rankings for the two different groups and then compare them. The incoming talent far exceeds the old group. Go tell Sidney Crosby that age matters.
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If you look at the top forwards and defense of each class they compare about the same.
Forwards: In 2001 big things were expected out of McMahon, Massen, Bochenski, and Fournier.
Of course we saw what Bochenski could do and McMahon ended up a reliable 4 year player. Massen had a decent freshman year, a very good sophomore year and then pretty much disappeared the next two years. Fatty left.
In 2005 big things are expected out of Toews, Kozek, Watkins, and Duncan and possibly Oshie. So maybe one more player with high expectations in 2005 but younger players also. We have no idea what these guys will amount to until they are on the ice.
Defense: In 2001 big things were expected out of Fuher, Schneider, and Jones.
In 2005 big things are expected out of Lee, Jones, and Chorney. Once again younger players with less experience. Big difference here was we had 4 returning defensemen who had played a lot the year before. This year we have one if Greene jumps and Bina can't play.
Goal: 2001: Kollar was steady the year before but when he was "the man" he faltered badly.
2005: I don't see this happening with Lamourouex and Parise so this is a big plus.
The big question is defense. I think the forwards will work themselves out and will be very competitive if the freshmen can handle the grind of the WCHA. Defensively, the freshmen need to contribute immediately and pretty much be a stud right away like Peltier, Goligowski, and Hagemo did for the Gophs last year. Except I hope our guys aren't hurt as much.
I agree with JK that the WCHA in 2005 wil be tougher than in 2001 so this could be a .500 year. Here's hoping that we make the WCHA and the NCAAs. Anything more than that will probably be gravy.
Also keep in mind that 2001 team came out of the chute pretty hot and won some games they probably shouldn't have early on. But they also got pasted 7-2 by Minnesota in the first round of the playoffs.
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"You could have forward lines of (of course I'm just guessing on line combos):"
Zajak, Stafford, Spirko
Toews, Porter, Duncan
Watkins, Kozek, Prpich
Kozek, Fabian, Duncan
Stack, Just curious but are you intentionally double shifting Kozek and Duncan?
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Holy crap I must not have got enough sleep last night.
I'd leave the first three lines alone and change the 4th line to be:
Oshie, Fabian, ? There's been talk about Miller having a bum shoulder and I have no idea about Martens.
It also wouldn't surprise me if Fabian moves up the charts. Once he got over his injuries last year he was a force and if he continues to improve he could easily be on the third line.
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Alright now that Murray is gone what does everyone think about line combos now. Here is what I have in mind.
Stafford-Zajac-Spiko
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Let's look at a possible scenario:
Greene leaves.
Bina can't play this year.
Kaip can't play this year.
Everyone else comes back including Zajak, Stafford, and Smaby.
You could have forward lines of (of course I'm just guessing on line combos):
Zajak, Stafford, Spirko
Toews, Porter, Duncan
Watkins, Kozek, Prpich
Kozek, Fabian, Duncan
With extra forwards being Oshie, Miller, and Martens
Defense:
Smaby, Jones
Chorney, Lee
Radke, Marvin
Other defense Foyt and Alexander. I'm including Foyt here because they have no depth at D if Greene goes.
If the freshmen forwards play to their billing I think we should be OK at forward (not great but ok). The defense is scary. Essentially 4 freshmen if you include Radke and a journeyman in Marvin.
Boy do we need Greene to stay and Radke to prove the potential that was seen in him before he arrived.
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Just when you thought it was safe to go into the water this happens.
Gees! Players can't sign with the NHL because of no collective bargaining agreement so you think we're safe until that happens. But NOOOOOO.
Murray decides to go to Europe. How many stinking times is this going to happen. It's like last year with the late signing of Bochenski. Now Murray. Hey with our luck Greene and Smaby sign as son as the NHL gets their head out of their butt if they ever do.
If no one else leaps we will have:
3 seniors (Greene, Prpich and Marvin)
7 juniors (Bina, Stafford, Porter, Smaby, Parise, Fabian, and Foyt) I don't expect Bina back this year.
5 sophomores (Zajak, Spirko, Lamoureux, Radke, and Kaip). We still don't know about Kaip but Radke is expected to play full time this year and be a contributor)
12 freshmen (Toews, Kozek, Watkins, Duncan, Oshie, Chorney, Jones, Miller, Martens, Lee, Alexander, and Walski.
Talk about bottom heavy.
We will need to rely upon 3 freshman defensemen (that assumes Marvin or Foyt will play full time and I'm counting Radke as a freshman due to his lack of playing time last year). We will also need to rely on freshman to make up the majority of two forward lines. That is a lot of freshman.
In 2001-2002 we had 13 freshmen. Our record that year was 16-19-2. We missed the WCHA Final Five and the NCAAs. Here's hoping that times have changed and the incoming freshmen can step right in.
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After further review here's what is more likely to happen:
Kuppchella continues to hear complaints.
People get tired of profanity and standing.
Final solution is to move all students out of the lower bowl and put them in the upper bowl in sections 306 and 306A.
They then have an entire side of the arena in sections 306-310A
Do I like this solution? NO. Because the students add fervor and noise and take away a lot of the corporate atmosphere that came when we moved into an arena that seats 11,500.
Any other options?
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I don't sit there, but I'm thinking they are not going to want to move. If they were forced to move, what percentage of those ticket holders would renew their tickets to sit in the upper bowl? Would they be willing to "donate" to the FSC at the same level they do now? I highly doubt that either.
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But what I was thinking is they move the people from 104 and 105 to 108 and 109. That still leaves a number of seats left in 108 and 109 since those sections are bigger than 104 and 105. The problem is 103 or 106 if they move the students down. Expecially 106 since there is handicapped seating there.
I'm guessing adminsitration would be fine only giving the students 104 and 105 below and then sections 303, 306, and 306A in the upper bowl. Possibly even 302A. That probably reduces the overall total number of student seats buta it opens up the prime upper bowl sections on the sides of the arenas.
So I'm guessing you could get the two end sections of season ticket holders to move but you'd have a heck of a time trying to move a lower bowl season ticket holder to the upper bowl.
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The proposal does not address the profanity etc. but it would address the standing issue that seems to bother so many people.
From what I've seen the lower bowl student section is always full. The upper bowl sections are filled only at the Minnesota games. Most times there is an entire section that is empty.
The talk has been about how these are prime seats. At most hockey arenas the prime seats are on the sides and up about 10-12 rows. You will probably get some of the season ticket holders mad because they like watching the game from the ends of the ice, but I think you could get them to move.
I'm guessing that the student reps proposed 103,104,105, and 106 and then 306 and 306 A.
They're not going to get more seats in the lower bowl than they have now. But I bet they could get 104,105,106, and 306 and 306A and 307.
So if the season ticket holders who have those seats are willing to move, would the sections I mentioned above be that bad?
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I watched the tape of the game last week again since I was actually at the game originally. As most of you state the non-goal just made me mad again. From the many views of that play I'd say about 3/4 of Mannino's glove was in the net at some point on Fabian's shot. Heck even knowing the call, I was sort of expecting Piotrowski to call it a goal on my tape replay.
In my mind that was the turning point of the game. We go up 2-1 and play a more disciplined game. If we're leading 2-1 going into the third I believe we win.
Still Cannady's stupid penalty that gave DU their first power play goal to go ahead 2-1 was a killer too. I bet he doesn't take that penalty if we're ahead at that point.
You know. I now have grown to hate Denver more than Wisconsin. Not necessarily because of this game but for other numerous reasons. Here's hoping Carle goes pro and their goalies suck this next year.
End result in my mind that was a goal.
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Vanek to be Defensive Specialist for Amerks
AP Rochester, NY
4/1/05
Head Coach Randy Cunneyworth of the Rochester Americans stated that rookie Thomas Vanek will be designated their defensive specialist in the first round of the playoffs. Cunneyworth stated that even though Vanek is the second leading rookie goal scorer, " Where Thomas has really stuck out this year is in his physical and defensive presence. He has contantly been the main forward who is willing to get into the corners and dig the puck out for his teammates. This has allowed other forwards to constantly circle around the net or at the blue line, waiting for Vanek to pass them the puck." In addition to Vanek's grittiness he is the teams's leading face-off man and is now paired up agaisnt the opposing team's best forward. Even with Vanek's tenacity he is seldom in the penalty box and has not been called for a single slashing penalty all season.
Coach Cunneyworth states "Thomas is invaluable as a defensive forward for us and we're ok without his scoring in the playoffs. We need him to shutdown the other team's best players. If he can continue to do this we will win."
Vanek was unavailable for comment.
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Have four tickets for sale. Will sell in groups of 2 if necessary. Would like to go to Sioux fans if at all possible.
They are in section 321, Row M. Section 321 is on the side between the blue line and the face off spot. Just looking for face value ($288/pair).
I'm in Fargo and will figure out a way to drop them off in Grand Forks if needed.
Email me at stack58042@hotmail.com if you're interested.
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I think the 28 on the back of the helmet is fine as a tribute to Bina. If nothing else it is a reminder to every DU player when they put their helmet on to not be reckless.
But I don't feel Paukovich has any right wearing the 28: Here's his quote:
"You never want to hurt somebody when you're playing," Paukovich said. "(Bina) was going for the puck and I was just going on the forecheck and I hit him. I hope he's all right. I never mean to intentionally hurt anybody.
"I didn't think it was a big deal until he was laying on the ice."
This was said fully knowing that there was a delayed penalty and as soon as Bina touched the puck the whistle would blow. So Bina touches the puck, whistle blows, and Paukovich drills him. After what Paukovish said and his seeming lack of remorse, if he was in the NHL there would be a bounty on his head. To be honest I hope CC wins so we don't have to worry about playing this punk any more this year.
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Kind of makes you wonder if the NCAA will make sure this doesn't happen again. Wasn't this the first time in several years that the WCHA had a team in each regional?
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The last two years they have gone pretty much strictly by the PWR (if you don't include the switch of Denver and CC this year). So it worked last year where Number 1 North Dakota played in the same region as Number 8 Denver. Similarly Number 2 seed Duluth played in the same region as Number 7 Minnesota.
The only team that had a chance in a different region was Wisconsin and they went into overtime if I remember right in their loss.
So having three Number 1 seeds is really what made it happen this year and then of course having North Dakota smoke the Boston schools in Worcester made it work.
But let's be realistic. DU beats Bemidji State in OT, CC has to come from 3 back to beat Michigan 4-3, and Minnesota has to win 2 OT games in their home arena to make it happen. We could have easily had a couple of different teams there.
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UND Alumni Association web page has their two charters staying at Holiday Inn-West and the Crown Plaza -Downtown. According to the site the Crowne Plaza is the official Fighting Sioux Hockey Team Hotel. The Crowne Plaza is right across the street from the Hyatt Regency. One thing nice about the Crowne Plaza too is they have a Thrifty Rental Car right in the hotel. If you need to rent a car their number is 614-237-5800. Mid-size cars go for $19.99 a day.
Besides hotels the places I see to gather downtown look like:
The Frog, Bear, and Wild Boar Bar? (I just like the name)
O'Shaugnessey's Public House (Assuming this is an Irish Pub)
I've heard about a Brewery District but haven't had a chance to figure out what's there.
Anyone have any ideas pn where to go between games on Thursday? I've heard the closest bar/restaurant to the arena is a 15 minute walk.
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We're staying downtownn at the Hyatt Regency. They have a shuttle to and from the arena on game days. Starts Thursday at 10:30AM and goes until midnight and then Starts on Saturday at 4:30 PM and goes until midnight. If you decide to try the Hyatt check online first. We got a big discount by booking online and prepaying.
If you end up downtown, check with your hotel about shuttles to the Schottenstein since I heard other downtown hotels are also running shuttles.
I've also heard that you can take the Airport shuttle (Arts) to just about anyplace for around $15.
The only "tourist" place I've heard of is the German Village for the off day on Friday. If you want to head to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, its about 145 miles to Cleveland. If you decide to drive to Cincinnati it's about 100 miles. Pittsburgh is about 185 miles away. That's it for the bigger towns around Columbus.
I guess we'll just have to find a bar, some Sioux fans and party. No dirty Gophers allowed thought
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Just booked our flights, hotel and car! We are set...2 coming from Arkansas, one from MSP and one from Fargo. We are staying at the Holiday Inn downtown...looks like a close place to the arena. The research begins for the hotspots! My sister got her flight out of MSP for $373.00 on ATA....not bad. Mine on the otherhand -- had to burn 50,000 miles, but couldn't think of a better way to use those miles!!!!!!!!
Sioux, yeah yeah!
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Siouxbear,
If you're staying downtown you're not that close to the arena. The games are on the Ohio State campus at the Schottenstein arena. I'm guessing you were like me and thought the games were at the Nationwide Arena.
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The critics were saying it was over in February. I believe my post was:
Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?
At that point Federov went HUH?
All us old folks had a laugh at the lack of knowledge of that classic movie Animal House but it was true then and its true now.
I think this team goes as far as the upperclassmen are willing to take it.
I think we'll beat the Badgers on Thursday and then give Denver all it can handle. If Parise is still in a zone we could steal that Friday afternoon game even though we're exhausted. Then after CC beats Minnesota on Friday night we'd get the Tigers. Who knows what could happen? No matter what we're heading to the NCAAs and there it's one and done so anything can happen.
My wife and I will be there on Thursday cheering them on.
What a joke
in Men's Hockey
Posted
Holy Angels won 3-2. Their first line had all 3 goals with Minnesota Gopher bound Barribal getting 2.
Still that's not too bad for Moorhead since they lost most of the team from last year.