tnt

Don't think it could have been layed out any better. The publicity and cultural awareness derived from the nickname will slowly fade away, and after a while many Native Americans might wonder how and why their leadership led them down that path. I can only hope that UND leadership would use this approach and realize what a priviledge it is to be aligned with the University of North Dakota.

I have no problem with NDSU fans being excited and giddy about playing and beating high-profile teams, because I would be happy to see the Sioux play and beat the same teams in sports other than hockey. My problem is with the media, trying to turn what is good for North Dakota in general into a popularity contest. Their agenda should be giving us great sports coverage, and letting fans discuss stuff like that on their own.

The best thing to say is that the media in Fargo are trying to make Bison football the fan favorite around the area. It seems like they have led in their sportscasts with Bison football against the gophers since right after the win against Mississippi Valley State. I realize that part of it is they are located in Fargo, but it shows how starved they are to take on big names. After the Sioux football team beat Northern Iowa, who are far better than the gophers as well, WDAZ in Grand Forks led with the story for 2 days at most, and it disappeared after that. I'm sure we can expect to see the Fargo stations begin the hype for the basketball game against Florida any day now. It is nice to be playing those teams, but act like you've been there before and it would add a whole lot more creditability to NDSU's status as big-timer's.

When was the last time you heard Gopher fans in hockey say they were embarrassed to lose to the Sioux. That's all I heard last weekend when the Bison beat an incredibly bad Gopher team, that really could be winless and the worst BCS team. When a team that poor is embarrassed to lose to someone, that is saying something.

Seems to me that there is a lot of talk about Bohl leaving for greener pastures, if you pardon the pun. Seems to me like Sioux Hockey is a destination for coaches across the country, not a stopping off point.

U.S. International in San Diego ring a bell. That's right, one of the most dominating teams in College Hockey history, the 1987 Sioux, lost to them along with a Colorado College team that was consistently bad back then. I would hope the Sioux remember getting swept in Grand Forks last year, but I think it gives Tech confidence it can beat us. I wouldn't be surprised at all if Tech wins one.

I know he is commissioner and is going to interact with the head of officials, but when I saw Sheppard, McLeod and Brad Sheppard at the Green Mill after the Michigan St. game last week, I had to wonder if McLeod is blinded by his relationship with Sheppard to the point that he can't actually see the state of officiating in the WCHA. I heard OKeefe and Hennessey say how refreshing it was how fast the game went in Northeastern because the refs had a no nonsense approach to dropping the puck and such. Some of Sheppard's cronies seem to want to be the star of the show, rather than the players. It would be nice if they let guys like Toews be the star of the show by officiating the game correctly.

If you had been paying attention over that 10-15 years, you probably would have noticed that the teams annointed haven't won national championships, including Michigan in 1997 the Sioux in 1998 and Minnesota going for the 3-peat in 2004. Certainly the experience will help, but when you get to a one and done situation, you better not have an off night during tourney time.

Unfortunately they can't get the feed on this one, otherwise they said they would. The reason I asked is because they have done it in the past many times.

I just sent an email to fans@theralph.com to ask if they will have the feed at the women's hockey game this Friday. I suggest anyone who would like them to do that, send them an email.

You really hate to see an injury like this happen to anyone, but especially to those that have stayed in college to develop rather than take the quick bucks which would be easy to do. I get concerned about the possibility of injury to the four guys who stayed with the Sioux. We all know how Oshie plays like a bull in a China closet, and it is that kind of reckless abandon that worries me. Hopefully Stoa's injury doesn't make other college players with pro potential think twice about staying in college in the future. Then again, you can't live your life in fear. Hopefully Stoa will have the same pro career that he would have prior to the injury.

Is it a rule that you can only travel 21 players? If so, who do you think will make the trip, an extra defenseman, or an extra forward? If Marto is that close to cracking the lineup, I would say defense, but it might depend on practice throughout the week.

Stay away from the rest of the team. Make a visit to Omaha and shake hands with them to show good sportsmanship.

Dave Christian set a Winnipeg Jets record scoring something like 13 seconds into his first shift.

Sorry, I thought you meant the other two guys on his line.

That's your standard for a freshman? Make as many plays as Oshie and Duncan. Don't you think your expectations need to be tempered a bit. Hak and Hennessey both thought he played really well, I'll go with that.

Were you watching the same game as me. Hennessey had Frattin as one of the stars of the game because of how he fit in on that line, and I would have to agree.

Interesting to see in Brad's blog that Hakstol thinks both Marto and Lapoint are ready to step into the lineup. If that's the case, then there are going to be some hard, but nice decisions to make from game to game. Competition can only make them better. Looking forward to seeing Lapoint, Frattin, Malone, etc. for the first time.

I'm only saying that given the outrage over these rankings by some who have seen Lapoint play, it would lead some people, including myself to have high expectations of Lapoint coming in. I can understand if he doesn't perform to those expectations, but as we all know, there will be those that think if he doesn't reach 20-30 points based on the hype, it may be considered a disappointing rookie season. Personally, I prefer to save my indignation until the end of the year for not giving recognition when it is due. If Lapoint lives up to expectations, and is not given the recognition by the league, etc. then I will have a gripe. I know this is a message board and it is fun to be disgusted by polls/rankings that aren't kind to the Sioux, but like so many of us say, the only poll that really matters is at the end of the year.

You're free to post yours here. How many points do you put Lapoint on this year? Seems to me you wouldn't want the high expectations for Lapoint after how some Sioux fans treated Lee with his high expectations.

I don't always agree with their selections either, but I hardly put much stock in them, especially considering last year's hobey winner didn't show up on a list when he was a freshman. Of course we would lean toward Sioux players, knowing how they will be brought along by the coaches. I think Trupp will be an omission that might not look good at the end of the year, but I challenge anyone complaining to post a list on here and then see how they did at the end of the year. Like I said, it is fun to open up debate, but I hardly put much stock in it, just like they wouldn't put much stock in a list I would create, because outside of many of the WCHA players, I wouldn't be able to make informative picks.

Don't know if this has been brought up or not, but Tech recruit Pierro-Zabotel is playing in the BCHL. I thought he was going to play the second half with Tech. Is that still possible?

Yes, it probably should have, but when they were discussing elite league stats, I thought I would slip it in.

I see that Ladouceur and Meland are more than holding their own in the Elite league. Nice to see the local boys do well.

So you don't believe in Hakstol's ability to judge talent? Or do you think he is just bringing him in for a year to fill a void, and then will dispose of him? Either way, doesn't sound like you give Hakstol much credit. I don't want to put words in your mouth, but when you make a statement like that, there are only so many conclusions to draw. The same things were said of Scott Foyt from people on this board for a couple of years, and that didn't turn out to be the case at all. If you work hard and pull your weight in practice you will be around if you wish to, unless there are off-ice situations.