mikejm

What a nice tune-up before the NCAAs: beat three of the top 6 teams in the country! And what a testament to the power of the WCHA!

Big time gut-check win! The regional? Miami - bring 'em on! Denver - stick a fork in 'em. BC - we owe them. I still think this team is a year early, but if they want to win it all this year, that's okay with me.

If Miami wins the CCHA 3rd place game and Sacred Heart wins the Atlantic, the Sioux are #5

Looks like I'm a Maine and RIT fan tonight!

So, am I reading USCHO's Pairwise predictor correctly? A Denver win and a Sioux win and the good guys get a #1 seed? Is that right?

That's great news for Hunter. Think of what that release said: Bishop, who couldn't get ice time with the Sioux, goes to OSU and ranks third and fourth on his team in scoring, and ends up signing a pro contract! That speaks volumes for both Hunter, and for the Sioux's continual depth of quality players.

Boy, that's a blistering indictment of the Gopher program! One of the comments is interesting: should Ness transfer? When's the last time a Gopher player transferred?

That was a really disciplined game by the Sioux. Lines goofed up and powerplay units totally scrambled, and they played great positional hockey. Didn't give the Dogs any room to move between the dots. I kinda hope that doesn't knock UMD out of the running for a NCAA bid.

This is amazing to me. Not that Kristo won ROY; that seemed to be a cinch for the last month or so. But for Chay to be named to the Third-team is quite a testament to his talent. Nine games. Wow! Good for Chay. edit: rather surprising that UMTC put no one on the year-end lists.

Strib Gopher hockey writer is Tweeting that Tony Lucia has signed with San Jose!

This gesture is being misconstrued: Don Lucia is widely known to be a bit of a germophobe. The words Lucia exchanged with Brett were something to the effect of, "Great game, Brett. You guys really man-handled our squad. Good luck in St. Paul, and in the NCAAs. Oh, you've not been exposed to that nasty RSV that's going around, have you?" To which Brett replied, "Thanks a lot coach. It is always an honor to lace up the skates against your squads. We love your program, and the intensity your guys always bring to the ice. And yes, my room mate had the flu for a couple days this week." So Lucia's actions were not those of a miffed hockey coach, but rather a mildly-OCD Howie Mandel kind of neat freak. I just couldn't sit here and allow tDon's name to be besmirched.

Fantastic!

1. The Sioux, while obviously not having to win a game in St. Paul to advance to the NCAA playoffs, do have something to play for: they stunk up the X last year. Time for some payback. 2. The quote from the Kfan board regarding Edina winning with no DI prospects: the Gophers really might want to take a look at that theory. We all get caught up in landing the "can't miss" prospect. But in spite of losing some of the blue-chippers lately, UND continues to put a great team on the ice, and they are always there in games that count. And I agree the quoted poster needs some long-term therapy. 3. If the Final Five doesn't sell well, I'd say that is more of a reflection of the fair-weather nature of Gopher fans than anything else. That tournament has become the true Mecca for college hockey fans. I hate it that I won't be there this week, but the orthodontist is more important right now. If these Gopher fans are really hockey fans they should be at the X to support the sport regardless if their beloved team isn't there. And finally, 4. What is the freakin' deal with all the hate wafting northward from the Twin Cities? It is becoming quite pathetic.

Several years ago I caught a Sunday Game 3 of 1st round WCHA playoffs while traveling on family business. I had to pick up a kid in St. Cloud, and I listened to the game almost all the way from Fargo to the granite city. I'm 99.27984376539067% sure it was KFGO all the way. There's always a chance I am wrong, though.

This is exactly what I've been thinking! edit: I also agree with siouxweet: Frattin went public with his desire to make a big hit. Lammy went public with his desire to throw down with Marvin. I'd suggest the players keep their mouths shut from now on.

It's not like Duluth is on a goal-scoring tear of late. They hung 4 on CC last night, 6 on Anchorage to close the regular season, but then you have to go back to the end of January to see the Dogs score more than 3 goals. Frattin's *cough cough* energy on the ice will be missed, but the Sioux have a few other guys who can score.

I agree.

I hope the Islanders agree with Hockey Futures. He has looked very, very good of late. The Sioux team has turned into something I didn't expect with the skills and determination of Gregoire, Frattin, Malone rising to the top. I expected none of these three to be superstars, but they are showing me something the last month or so that is a pleasant surprise.

^Nah. One of my kids needed braces. Priorities, you know?

Once again, you've captured the key to the game. I look for the Gophers to come out flying and pressure the Sioux in their own zone. We've had trouble with that all year.

Yes, that is the trade. Sutton is getting some big ice time.

Oh my gosh people! Please tell me all this conspiracy talk is just something to get you through to game day. I have a lot of respect for 90% of the posters here; but I gotta tell you, I'm starting to get scared reading some of these posts.

Good for Brian. I am surprised, frankly, that they re-signed him. The Sens added a d-man at the trade deadline iirc; I expected that to signal Lee's release.

"Regular season" not playoff. And I think he's gone after this year. He is looking more and more "ready" every shift.