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Maybe, this was the wrong time to bring up this topic, especially if it takes the focus off a great tournament we have coming up this weekend. Go Sioux! Beat Michigan!

This is true, but I think consistently competing to be the best team in the country has a lot to do with it too. Let's face it, NDSU will never be the best in the country at anything. I think the popularity of NDSU basketball would compete if they made the big dance but it would fade unless they could do it on a consistent basis. I can imagine the coverage of a March Madness birth would be bigger than anything we have seen in North Dakota, only because it is something that has never happened here, and that tournament is such a big thing across the country. You've seen the coverage of Wichita State, etc. I imagine the national coverage would be a big thing if NDSU made the big dance, but taking it from a novelty to a consistent happening like Sioux hockey is another thing.

Did any of you catch the Fox news last night. According to Scott Heimle, Craig Bohl said that in a year or two NDSU football will surpass the popularity of UND hockey. It would even trump a Frozen Four appearance, according to Bohl. Heime then said, "sorry hockey fans, but he is right". I don't know of a single UND football fan that will become a bison fan. On the other hand, have either of them seen the North migration of fans from Fargo to Grand Forks every Friday and Saturday during hockey season? Come to us again with this statement when Wisconsin and Minnesota consider NDSU their biggest rival. I think the timing of the statement might lead one to believe there is a bit of jealousy on Bohl's part. He used to be on the national map with Nebraska, now he is fighting for media attention.

If you don't see Brady Murray making the NHL, then why would he not take the 300-400 Grand while he can get it. If someone offered me that kind of money to do something I love, I would take it in a heartbeat, especially if I were a smaller stature like Brady.

For those of you that have a WCHA Final Five program, there is a bigger slight in my estimation. If you look at the last page, they have a woman wearing a jersey with all the WCHA logos--- all but the Sioux logo. I think you can be sure that isn't a mistake or an oversight. The WCHA taking politically correctness to an extreme-- not recognizing one of their members. It seems to me that it is popular with members of opposing hockey teams, maybe they should censor their comments about their favorite logo/uniform.

I hope you're not serious. That sounds like Minnesota fans before last weekend, saying they didn't have a weakness and taking things for granted. I just hope the Sioux players don't have that mindset, or we will be hearing the phrase "Mariucci West" a lot over the next year or so.

St. Cloud has as much right to feel slighted as UND. After the Sioux beat Wisconsin, they announced that North Dakota would be playing Minnesota for the Championship on Saturday. Talk about overlooking the obvious. I didn't hear a correction either. Anybody else hear this?

Can't we lighten up a bit. Are we going to be like the Minnesota fans that boycott Senser's? I think the University of North Dakota is big enough to live through this slight, or do the people screaming so loudly really believe that UND is now in the shadow of NDSU. I certainly don't! Also, why isn't NDSU screaming for being potrayed with an offensive nickname? Maybe they'll take any exposure they can, even if it means being hypocritical about the nickname.

At least there is something to spin. Haven't had the opportunity to listen to much spin from Amy's program lately.

Why does everyone continue to speculate and say things like this. I think the Sioux coaches know that Parise leaving is a possibility. Whether that will happen is yet to be decided, but I hardly think it would need to be a miracle contract.

And if he scores that goal early on, is it any less significant. On the contrary most teams that take the early lead, especially UND go on to win a larger percentage of the time if they take early leads. In that sense it doesn't matter when they are scored, because it got the team a much needed goal. So tell me, if the Sioux were ahead 1-0 against the gophers in a regional game, and someone scored to go up 2-0, and it eventually turned out to be the game winner, it wouldn't mean much. To me getting up 2-0 would be huge, especially if your team was a very defensive team.

Nevermind the fact that the record that T.J. broke was that of Troy Murray. I don't think it is coincidence that all those big names pop up. Game winning goals are meaningful for no other reason than it means that the player was producing when the game could go either way. Meaningless goals are goals tacked on when you are already winning by 4 goals late in the 3rd period, or an empty net goal when you are already up by 2.

Also seems a bit exclusionary to exempt a team from hosting a regional because of their nickname.

It is Aaron Bendickson that is committed to Wisconsin.

Anyone else see the end of the game when they originally put 4.8 seconds back on the clock. Did you also see who was in charge of the instant replay--Greg Sheppard. Not a big surprise to me that they got it wrong with Shep piloting the ship. When is the WCHA going to get wise and get some new blood to look at things with a fresh perspective instead of the good old boys network that Sheppard has created.

While I agree it is fun at the WCHA Final Five, I still like the old system of the playoffs being on home ice of the higher seed. I really believe it makes the WCHA standings mean something. I think now teams are focused on getting down to Minneapolis and having a top three seed. I think #3 would fight a little harder for #2 if they thought it might be the difference between home ice and a road series in the next round. Let's face it momentum is huge heading into the NCAA tourney, and the gophers right now have an edge every year in gaining that momentum. I believe they should do the same with the NCAA tournament like they used to until the Final Four, especially now since the Sioux will basically never have a chance to host regionals again-- advantage gophers. I think we see now how important that is with gopher fans worried that they will have to play at the Ralph. I personally think it is only a matter of time before the gophers pass the Sioux in national championships with the present format. I realize it won't happen, but I think it is a better reward for regular season excellence. I believe winning the league title has lost some of its sheen. To recap, the gophers will have Final Five home crowd advantage every year, regional advantage every 4 or 5 years and Final Four advantage every 7 or 8 years. It worries me a bit, so let's hope we can take care of getting to our regional this year and take advantage of it.

Bottom line for me is that I don't think you can find a UND fan or fan from another team that can say anything bad about Oshie. Early in the year you heard plenty about Kessel from gopher fans, and all of it not good. Oshie has been the most consistent performer for the Sioux, I don't think you can often say that about a freshman, and I doubt the same would be said of Kessel. That said, Kessel will probably win it because of the year the gophers have had. To the victor belong the spoils, and I really don't have a big problem with that as long as a case can be made, and a case can be made either way.

Hakstol was clear that the officials did not cost the Sioux the game on Saturday. He wasn't happy about a few of the calls down the stretch, but he said it is a rare occasion when an official costs a team a game. I'm not so sure I totally agree with that assessment.

Bottom line is that the Sioux defensive core hasn't given up more than 3 goals a game in quite a while now, and most of the time it has been two goals or under. What more can you expect of freshmen defensemen? Oh, yeah -- perfection!

Last I heard Minnesota had a North Dakota clique and they seemed to be doing quite well. Seriously, you can't tell people who they should hang around. In some circumstances it might lead to chemistry problems, but not all.

Favorite player is Troy Murray. Played two years and had 70+ points each year, besides being a great checker, face-off man and basically all-around player. Favorite defenseman is James Patrick. Favorite moment is 1997 national title from a group of hard working, not highly recruited players that weren't expected to do a lot before the year began.

Let's not forget, that the Sioux will likely have another shot at St. Cloud, either here or there. If not St. Cloud, it could likely be Colorado College. Either way, there is likely to be some nice pairwise points in either circumstance. Bottom line is the Sioux need to take care of business.

Exactly, you need to drive to the other end of town to the Bronze Boot. Not many on the south end of town specialize in steak. All I know is when I get done golfing with a vendor at Kingswalk, I end up going to Grizzly's every time or stay at Eagles Crest. It would be nice to have some other choices on the South end. If you know of others on the South end, please share.

How about an Olive Garden or Macaroni Grill and a nice higher end steakhouse than Ponderosa, like Outback, Timberlodge, Stuart Anderson etc.

[ First of all, it pains me to read commentary from those of you who did not actually watch this last series & are just relying on T.H.'s radio broadcast--it's easy to ASSUME, judging from the end scores, that the defense was great & the offense sucked. However, what I saw was NOT a lack of effort on the offense's part, but so many turnovers from our inexperienced defense. Also, If you've got your forwards constantly digging out the puck in our own zone, trying to make plays with 2 SCSU guys wrapped all over you, it's going to be extremely difficult to score! St. Cloud's defense was really unbelievably sound & knew just who to cover this weekend (top scorers). That's when the other players need to step in. Second--many of you need to check the stats section--(check link below) we lead in most of all areas compared to opponents, except Powerplays. This is where we need to make changes most of all, i.m.o. Hakstol changed it up a few times this weekend--had all top forwards with no defensemen at least one time, maybe twice. Though I don't believe it resulted in goals, it did appear to have some life & promise(crowd loved it). Another time he had Stafford out for the whole 2 min.'s. Speaking of him, since when does the top power play unit not have the leading scorer?? What's up with that?? UND hockey stats