FIRE HELMET GUY #26

I will be bringing my "Dive Earl Dive" flag so that angle is covered. I have a Dive flag with "Dive Earl Dive" written through the white diagonal part of the flag, it turned out pretty good, it's a 3' x 5' flag so it's pretty visible. Now if you guys wanted to bring another thats cool too, the more the merrier.

Greatest post ever! Think about it, if you were 18 years old, playing in you're hometown with all you're family and friends watching and you scored the goal that sealed a victory AND a sweep for you're team after getting harassed all weekend, I think most of us would do the same thing. I think it was just a natural reaction of excitement.

I'm not much of a fan of taunting either but with the grief he took all weekend from Sconnie fans I got a chuckle out of it. I think he kind of overdid it damn near skating the whole ice surface doing it but if you are going to do something don't half-ass it I guess.

Maybe having that picture in there will help me score with the chicks......hmmm, not! I agree, if you are a Gopher fan it's pretty cool to read, what it's doing on this board I have no idea!

I gave up on a NCAA Hockey game so I just made my own team on NHL 2005 with the whole Gopher roster on it. It's nice to see college guys do so well against the pro's! Potulneys got 94 goals in 48 games. I think he may get some kind of MVP for that!

I'm glad that most of you realize that these are just STUPID students that make these signs and not actual Gopher fans. It is too bad that UND players had to take the sign away and security did not. I'm just glad that an incident did not break out when they took the sign away, otherwise the Sioux players could have gotten into some heat for it, which would have been wrong seeing they just doing the right thing by taking it away. Most of the time signs are not even allowed into Mariucci, but thats what you get when you hire security people that are older then dirt. Thats the problem with the Gophers student section nowdays, it's all preppy, Banana Republic wearing hippies. The only dedicated student section we have anymore is over in Section 2 where WPOS and his crew are, they are the only ones that really do the cheers and cheer for the team.

That pretty much sums it up. All schools have fans that we would like to not have to take accountability for....but we do. I know that I have never been so angry as I was last night, and not even about the Sioux victory but about what are fans did at the end. I have seen the occasional thing thrown on the ice but it was just a non-stop BARRAGE of junk being thrown. And being purposely thrown at the Sioux players. Some dumbass fan even had oranges....but one of those almost hit Campion which would have been o.k. in my book. I think Lammy did kind of bring some of it on though by banging on the glass with his stick.....but Irmen did some taunting at UND too so Lammy just evened things out. But to call us all bush league fans is pretty bad I think. I had fans at UND just get in my face and rip on me personally and the Gophers when I was up at the Ralph in December, and the "F-the Gophers chant, who can forget that. I think if you wear a opposing jersey into a arena you need to expect some taunting, it's all part of the experience of the "WCHA Roadtrip." I'm not trying to start a flame war here either, just giving some examples. ANYWAYS, I hope all the UND fans that came down had a good time in the cities, and had a safe trip back.

My jaw drops every time I drive up to the Ralph and it totally dislocates when I walk in the front door, it's just an amazing building. But, and please don't take this the wrong way as I am not trying to start a flame war here, it just seems like way too nice of a place for college hockey. It really has the corporate atmosphere there I think. I can't believe they put the student section at center ice, that is a prime piece of real estate for some big-time paying ticket holders. I really don't see much of a difference between Mariucci and The Ralph though as far as loudness of fans though. Like it or not most arena's seem to be turning into a corporate atmosphere. BUT ONE THING IT HAS THAT OTHER ARENA'S DON'T......CHEXX BUBBLE HOCKEY! That is awesome!

Well I think they really need to take a look at the instant replay then. I mean the 1 camera they have above the goal just doesn't cut it half the time. Talked to Wooger last night and he even said that should the Sioux goal that was called off should have been a goal. But most people that saw the Gopher goal from Friday night do say that he was pushed into the crease, WHO KNOWS! I'm just sick and tired of the inconsistency of calls by refs. Shep missed a lot of calls on BOTH sides last night. There were plenty of possible Gopher penalties that got missed but there were also quite a few Sioux penalties that got looked past as well. BUT this is something that will probably never change, ref's only have 2 eyes and a big sheet of ice to cover, not that it makes it right but thats just the way it is. STUPID REFS!!

I was at both games this weekend and I have to say that Shepard missed a lot of calls on both teams. I think we just tend to notice the ones that were missed for our own teams. I saw 2-3 penalties for each team that should have gotten called but didn't....thats just the way it goes with WCHA refs. But what I really hate is when they do the make-up calls just to even up penalties. They were fun games to watch though, good battles just like a person expects with this kind of rivalry. Lammy made a couple really spectacular saves. Once again, had a great time in Grand Forks. Can't get over how nice the Ralph is, almost too fancy for a college hockey arena.

I'm guessing either him or Campion. But with our luck (I'm saying both Gophers and Sioux) it will probably be Don "I just call this shiznit as I go" Adam!

HEY, Chris Harrington is a great hockey player.......for whoever is playing against the GOphers. I've had about all I can of his stupid penalties and boneheaded mistakes.

Thank you for the info, it is much appreciated. Especially the part about the buses going to and from some of the bars, that is great.

Getting swept by the Badgers at home definetly stings quite a bit, man they are the real deal this year, that Elliot kid is PHENOMINAL! I don't think the Gophers goaltending is that bad right now, it's just their defense is horrible. Each goal that Briggs let in on Friday he was totally hung out to dry by the defense. Anything less then a split for the Gophers this weekend and the downward spiral may really kick into effect. A buddy and I are making the trek up so either way it will be a good time, look forward to one heck of a series. Off topic question for some Sioux faithful though, what is the cab situation in Grand Forks, is their a fair amount of different companies in the area, we lost our sober cab this year so we need to find a cab service. Any help would be appreciated. For sure a cab driver that can find the place that has the Grinders, the Red Pepper I think it was.

Congrats to the Sioux on a dominating game! I could tell from the first minute of the game that the Gophers were going to be in trouble. I kind of hoped the two weeks off would slow the Sioux down but I was WRONG! I really think they are looking at #8 this year, they are really playing well right now....the most important time of the year to be playing well too! Good luck on Saturday vs. Denver, I will be rooting for the Sioux (just so Denver does not get the back to back).

My best wishes to Robbie Bina, I hope he makes a full recovery from his injury. I saw that hit and it was in poor taste. It is always disspointing to see such young talent taken away at such a young age, I hope all turns out well for him. How that was not called at LEAST a major penalty with Adam standing right there is beyond me, but whats done is done I guess. Get well soon Robbie.

The Holiday Inn does have a skyway that connects to the DECC, otherwise if you are just looking for a cheap motel the Canal Park Inn is usually pretty inexpensive, under $100 a night I would guess, but it is not a very nice place.

Our group will consist of 4 Gopher fans coming from the Twin Cities! We are all very excited about this trip, been exchanging e-mails all day discussing plans for the upcoming weekend! 1st trip for the "POI RTC" ("Pride On Ice"- Road Trip Crew)

I am pumped about the trip to NoDak this weekend but am honestly a little worried about the games. The loss vs. AA this weekend PISSED THE HELL OUT OF ME (so much so that I now have to buy a new walkman after the one I was using the other night got smashed against the door). Stupid late penalties cost the Gophers a victory I believe, that and it seems like Lucia treated this game as an exhibition in some ways. If Briggs has a good weekend I really believe the Gophers can pull out a split. I think Chucko is going to have a stellar weekend, just a gut feeling I guess. 4 days from now we'll be on the road to Grand Forks!

I have not stayed there personally but I have been to a few of the rooms and they are VERY nice! Kitchenettes in every room with dishwashers and full-size fridges that can store TONS of beer! Most of the rooms have two seperate bedrooms as well. I would definetly stay there if I were you, well worth the price! The Comfort Suites are also very nice too, just a quick drunken crawl from the Sports Garden.

We got 4 in my group that are heading up.....can't wait, the start of the roadtrip season! Not sure where our seats are....dont' really care, I'm just glad to be able to get in!

The HoJo is probaly the nicest place to stay and right near the Kohl Center. If you are looking for some spots by some fun bars the University Inn is not a bad option either, usually REALLY cheap too becuase it is an older place, QUITE old. But if you are just looking for a place to crash and not much else the University is not a bad place.

Well it looks like I won't have to worry about being sober for this roadtrip! Thanks for all the great tips people, now if only that weekend was any closer. Are there any spots for pre-game that are considered the official "pre-game" bar? I'm sure us Gopher fans will get severly savaged being there but that is half the experience of roadtrips I guess. I do think I'll have to leave the fire helmet home for this series though, I don't think it would make it back in one piece! Honestly I just like bs'ing with opposing fans on roadtrips, thats why I'm curious, where the real "die hards" hang before the games.

Got it, I checked out the Red Pepper website and got filled in, the look pretty good! Can't wait to try one....or ten that weekend!

WOW, thanks for all the helpful responses. Of all the roadtrips I am going on this year (which is ALL of them but one!) I think this is the one I am looking forward to the most! Just because it is the first roadtrip of the year and because I really want to see the Ralph. Keep the ideas coming if you have them!