JMissile

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Looking for two public northeastern tickets. email jackmm@email.com Thanks

Well, A friend of mine pointed out the article that was in the Grand Forks Herald today dealing with the NCAA ruling on "hostile and abusive" team names throughout the NCAA. As a quick post, I'll make this brief in an effort to vent a little bit... I think many people would agree with me here that the Fighting Sioux name and logo is one soley based on honor and tradition. I truly find it sad that the NCAA is taking action to break that...and in many ways I feel that by making these rulings ironically is one of the most DISRESPECTFUL things they could do.

Just wanted to say a few words on the end of the season...first of all, I dont think anyone can say that Sioux played bad. They played their game and they played well, sometimes you just have to get a few lucky bounces and it didnt happen tonight. Mannino played like a star and deserves his credit. I had a blast watching Sioux hockey this season and I will miss it. One last thought...I think it was pretty obvious that Barry Melrose, Bill Clement, Gary Pang, and Gary Thorne were all about UND... If they could, they would have been wearing green...Great season Sioux..

I recently emailed the USA Hockey Central district referee-in-cheif on this issue and his response was pretty interesting. He said that the differerence between youth and high levels of hockey such as the WCHA and NHL is that the "business" aspect of the sport comes into play. He said that officials are regulated by the league to control certain game situations. I find this pretty said to say the least. I think it takes away from the purity of the game....

I know fans like to criticize Sheperd and the other WCHA officials, or all officials for that matter but the fact is...within reason no fans should be criticizing officials because what is going on on the ice and what the fans see from their seats are two completely different things. Of course we hate to see penalties called and not called but whats goin on on the ice is a different story. Fans forget that...

Ok this dates back a few weeks ago to the WCHA Final Five, however, I have been thinking about this a bit and wanted to hear some other thoughts on this...so here goes... I sat in my seat at the WCHA Final Five tourney and I watch and pay attention to the officiating pretty closely (Mainly because I am an official and I learn things from the more experienced officials.). I found myself seeing a lot of hitting from behind in the corners, not just the agressive play along the boards that the WCHA is notorious for, but rather the hits where a player is off the boards 1-2 feet and gets hit face first into them. Under USA hockey, checking from behind is among the most serious penalties and for the games that I officiate (this applys mainly through bantams and high school to an extent) it is not taken lightly. A check from behind is called and the "10 and 2" penalties assesed, if not more. It just seemed like there were a lot of these hits going on in the games and they only thing that is called is the boarding or cross checking minor penalties. My question is...what is there to prevent hits from behind from happening? It seems as if there is nothing to enforce it. If a player sees the numbers on the back of another players jersey, he hits him from behind, and whats the worst that could happen to him, his team goes on the PK for 2 min??? Should the officiating in the WCHA be more agressive on hits like this to prevent injuries? Also, in high levels of hockey like the WCHA there is obviously that level of respect between the players that, to an extent governs dangerous hits, but there is a fine line there. Regardless, Im not attacking the WCHA officiating by any means, just curious...

I agree...its crunch time...but like I have mentioned before, crazy things happen in the WCHA...

Brandt driving the bus to Columbus??? Simmer down a bit....I think were jumpin the gun here...this is the WCHA, no one just fires up the bus and takes off, and I'm sorry but Jake Brandt isnt getting my votes for one of the Fighting Sioux's star players, if the Sioux travel the road to Columbus, Lamoreaux and Parise will be the ones to carry them....no discredit to the rest of the Sioux, but so many people rely soley on goaltenders...when in reality...its much more then that, I said it once, and I'll say it again...finesse players, passing, sound defense, and solid offensive systems will win hockey games for the Fighting Sioux.

I agree...play their game...open up the ice...bring out the brooms! SWEEP

I just wanted to get some thoughts on the games this weekend as if there werent enough flying around out there already... I definetly think UND has to bring their "A" game as always, however, I think this weekend plays a huge role in how the post season plays out, this series will set the attitude. The sioux need to come out strong from the beginning and at all costs score the first goal...on top of that, play a very physical game as WI has its big hitters that like to rough up opponents. Other than that, I think UNDs "finesse" players need to shine and put the biscut in the basket....

I dont think anyone can predict what is going to happen in the coming games for UND. Of course, the Sioux have had their ups and downs this season, cold streaks and hot. HOWEVER, the beauty of the WCHA is how unpredictable it is in post season...I expect to see teams rise to the occasion that no one would ever expect. Maybe one of those teams is the Fighting Sioux.......no guarantees in WCHA hockey, thats what makes it the most dynamic conference in NCAA hockey.

The way it is in the WCHA with fans giving officials a hard time, I can see why they wouldn't want to play the replays, however, an official has the final say on plays in the game, so whats the difference with showing or not showing a replay, there have been some goals where i would have loved to see it from a closer angle.