THETRIOUXPER

Any way you slice it losing a player like Spirko hurts. You don't even have a clue why he left, but the fact is he left. It's none of our business why. The bottom line is losing a player like him hurts the team. I have a hard time believing that any of the incoming freshmen will have an easy time filling his role. (That is said with all due respect for the talent coming in this year.) To say that not having experience is par for the course is a totally lame argument if you ask me. It damn sure is no justification for a player leaving.

Goon, I find your comments about Spirko a little disturbing, as I think he was a major contributor for two seasons. You will notice his absence this year, especially with all the other departures. Not to mention players that may leave, ie., Toews. Spirko's departure looks huge to me. We may never know the whole story as to why he left, but he has left a void in the lineup, of that we can be sure.

Sprig makes a good point here. If I remember correctly last year some were discounting Oshie's achievements in Minn. High School Hockey. He scored 100 points his senior year and people said "he didn't play anybody", and "single A hockey isn't as competitive, so scoring all those point doesn't really mean much", "he can't skate very well", "boy, he better put on some weight before he gets here", "he's only coming cause Murray's leaving" ect., ect. Well, we all can see how that turned out, so like I've said so many times before, let them get on the ice and play before we decide if we are dissapointed or not.

Stafford Rules, first of all, HC's win was historic, and it is still fun to relive it through discussions here. Secondly, your complaining about it is reminiscent of when people were talking about drew leaving early, not trying to be a jerk, but if it bothers you, simply ignore it, cause just like discussions about early departures, this one isn't going away for awhile.

Whoa, what do you have to get me involved for ? I could care less if frazee is a sieve. By the way thanks for not likening me to that pompous ass alan comles, he's such an idiot, I wish Ann Coulter would kick his wussy little ass.

I've heard that he is very accomodating in that regard. Maybe even for us fans that still act like kids too.

Yeah, but the problem is he was born a week too early already, he's a late '86, his b-day is late in Dec., like around the 23rd or so, so just a week or so later and he would be on this year's team, no doubt.

We have no one to blame for this but his mom and dad, what were they thinking.

Yeah, and most of it was done in a drunken stooper.

It would be fun, I doubt I will go as I took too many hockey trips last year, unfortunately my checkbook will veto it this time. Lake Placid is cool and I highly recommend it if one is looking for a summertime adventure. Why do you ask Sagaard, you looking to take a roadtrip with THETRIOUXPER.

Yeah, TJ is too old by about a week. Too bad, it would have been nice for him to get another shot at a medal.

Which ones ?

How dare you try to confuse poor bucky with facts, shame on you.

Potulny and Irmen had success against the Sioux at the Ralph, no one would deny that. But, the biggest upset EVER in the history of college hockey, in your own "hometown" has to be somewhat humbling especially since it's your last collegiate game ever. Why else would they be standing outside the locker room crying ? Maybe they were tears of joy. In the end, after all the antics (jersey popping, excessive celebrations, ect.) I would say that the fans at the Ralph finally got the last laugh. But hey, tell the story however you like, I was there.

Yes he could, especially if it were full contact golf.

I haven't heard anything either way, would it suprise me if he left ? Not at all. I have felt all along that he may possibly go but have nothing other than personal opinion to base that on.

One thing you will never see on SS.com (I hope) is anyone refering to phil (not so much of a thrill), as the greatest U.S. born hockey player EVER, now that's a real stretch. As far as Kozek, he and Watkins will have break out seasons this year. I'm glad that all you brain wizards in goophyville are under-estimating these players, we all know what happened last time you under-estimated/overlooked someone. (Here's a little hint: danny boy and ry-ry ended up in tears in the bowels of the REA, and the final laugh was on them as their careers ended there.)

I'm sure that even as we speak, coaches across the country are losing sleep because they are worried about shutting down phil (not so much of a thrill) and booooostrum. . Also, I'm sure they are equally worried about how they are going to put up any goals on briggsy. It remains to be seen if any of the incoming recruits will have the impact that TJ, or Toews did as a frosh, but I wouldn't start issuing the last right's on the Fighting Sioux's season quite yet.

Nice article, congrats TJ, it's a nice honor to be nominated for. As far as him having fun up to his sophomore year, I think he truly enjoys the game and hopefully it is and always will be fun for him to play.

A few things here. Parise=gone, like it or not I believe it's going to happen. Toews=?, don't really know. Oshie=here for at least one more year, and by the grace of God, maybe three(but don't hold your breath on that). Defensive-wise, no one is ready to make the jump until after next season, maybe.

From talking to players who have gone through the combine, puking is a common occurance, no big deal. In fact it is probably uncommon if you don't puke.

Yes, agreed. I meant to put that in my post and omitted it. You do need a mix of "elite, or two year players", with a good base of the four year players in order to make it all work. That way when you have early defections, you still have some experience returning. We have some experience coming back next year, and I look for Oshie, Duncan, Lee, and God willing Toews to take it to another level even higher than last year. I apologize in advance for any of the players I left out, just trying to make a point.

What's really sad is this post. Look at any other thread about players leaving early and this issue has been hashed and re-hashed over and over again. There are some very good players that stay four years (Prphc pops right into my mind). However the reality of things is this : elite players like Parise, Toews, Oshie, Stafford, and many others I'm leaving out, are here for a LIMITED time. That is the way things are. As has already been stated, many times, would you trade a Zach, Jonathan, or TJ for another player who will definitely be here four years ? I'm quite certain that the goophs, badgers, or any other upper crust team would be glad to have any of the afformentioned players, even for two years. It is simply the way things are. Dude, I hope you are not a fan of pro sports, the whole free-agency thing might drive you right over the edge.

The irony is that you are a proud goopher fan coming onto a Sioux website trying to convince people they are obsessed with another program. As far as phil the thrill is concernd, and I've posed this question several times and have never had a response. Why has he fallen in all of the rankings from a guaranteed #1 overall pick to somewhere between #5 and #7 ? Please someone from goopherville answer that question before you come here and try to convince us all how "good" phil really is compared to our boys (Oshie and Toews that is). You are right about one thing actions do speak louder than words, and you and phil both prove that on a regular basis.

To all goophie fans that are upset about this Holy Cross jersey thing, I only have this to say: how long did you guys beat the Ferris State dead horse before it got old. Now you get a little bit of it shoved back in your face and you don't like it, too bad, deal with it cause it's not going to go away anytime soon. As far as living in GF vs. the Twin Cities, to me there is no comparison, the quality of life as well as the people are about one thousand times better.