mikejm

I hate to bad-mouth Matt Smaby 'cause I think he's a nice young man, but he had a lousy weekend: indecisive, slow to get to the puck, etc. His poor passing resulted in several turnovers in the Sioux zone. I remember a couple years ago when Nick Fuhrer had a "coming of age" series; it was plain to everyone in the arena that Nick had arrived. That's what Matt needs: a solid, preferably stellar performance. And with the defense about to be gutted through graduation and early departure, the Sioux need Matt to play up to his potential.

Friday's game at The Ralph featured...cowbells and those big long plastic horns, all courtesy the LandCow fans in the upper deck. Thought they were illegal.

I think the cowbell is as much a part of hockey as is the 50-50 drawing. I loved hearing the clanging during the Juniors. Also the "U-S-A U-S-A" chant. Couldn't it be "U-N-D U-N-D"?

wtf?

I don't know folks...just got home from the game and was shocked after reading the stats on uscho. The stats simply don't tell the story of this game. I sit behind Sioux goalie two periods each game and felt the Gophers dominated the first (yet only outshot the Sioux 14-11). After the Sioux killed off Todd Anderson's whistle-happy 5-on-3s, I really thought the momentum shifted noticably. And yet, the Sioux were outshot 26-12 for the final two periods. Some horrible defensive turnovers inside the zone, by guys who are normally bulletproof: Greene and Smaby put pucks right on Gopher sticks countless times. Had not Jordie come up big, or the forwards played well defensively, things could've gotten out of hand. After Colby's goal, I think the Gophers were scared to come into the Sioux zone with any speed after getting their hats handed to them several times during the night. There were some vicious hits. Yes Anderson called a lot of penalties; but the Sioux had most of them coming. Some very dangerous cross-checks, both behind and in front of the goal. I don't know why they don't name three stars of the game at the Ralph, but mine would be 1. Jordan; 2. Zajac; and 3. Colby. Poltulny and Irmen could argue for mention as well, but I'm a homer. I don't like a penalty-filled game, but if the calls are even its bearable. The Sioux may have been called for an extra here and there, but they deserved a couple of those 5-on-3 for their nasty stickwork. To sum it up: This was a huge gut-check, from the heart game for the Sioux. They could've folded, especially after taking the third 5-on-3. But they dug deep and took two points from the dirty Gophers, when another team might not have. Saturday's going to be interesting to see how both teams react.

56>10 Too funny. I can hardly wait to see how this sits with our friends in Gopherville.

Just back home after watching the boys in action. A few observations: Stafford and Zajack were (obviously) really clicking tonight. But Spirko might make some people feel a little better about ZPar leaving. This young man can skate, and has a pretty good nose for the puck. He had several "almosts" and was mixing things up both on offense and on the backcheck. Porter skated well; Rory was everywhere early. Brady went to the bench at one point in the second, I think, with what looked like a gimpy hand or wrist. I think he missed a shift. But he came back to finish the game well. Brandt didn't look as bad as his stats will show; he was hung out to dry by really sloppy play in front of him on the shorthanders. The kid that scored all three Manitoba goals is the real deal. Nice to see both Andy and Nick get goals. Schneiders you could almost feel building as he skated the entire length of the rink and simply muscled through the whole Manitoba team. He was reaching soooo far, and looked like he was either going to lose the puck, or lose his skates, I was surprised he got so much on the shot when he went top shelf. Play at the end got very chippy along the boards. I thought both Matts were going to go postal on Manitoba guys. The crowd was getting ready for another Thrilla in Manilla before Greene got 4 minutes with a little under 3 left. I've never seen Lamoureaux play before tonight; he's impressive for a youngster. I actually told my wife I was feeling less nervous when the puck was in front of him than I am when Jake's in the net. He is very comfortable between the pipes. I'm impressed. Kaip and Radke both showed some glimpses of what I'm expecting of them. Radke looks a little small compared to Jones and Greene, but he's fearless. This didn't really look like a first game; most passes were crisp. They played, largely, good positionally. Toward the end of the game the talent differential between the teams got quite evident. While this game is really meaningless, and is probably not a good indication of where this team really is against world-class competition, I'm feeling pretty good tonight. I think their going to be just fine, on both ends of the ice. We knew the defensemen are superb; after watching tonight, I'm betting the over every night.

Less than a week to go until many hockey fans' attention will be focused on the college game while the millionaires who run (and play in) the NHL stare at one another over the "bargaining" table. "And if they're wondering where the fans went to, have them check the other rinks: rinks where junior hockey and college hockey and minor hockey and women's hockey and even old-timers' hockey is being played." http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/Art...ment/Columnists

I can't believe what I'm reading here...starting to sound like a bunch of conspiracy theorists. Here's my read on things (in no particular order): 1. Hakstol has been the primary recruiter since he's been here. At worst he scouted the prospects and set the plate, and had DB come in and close the deals. How's the recruiting classes been lately? 2. Say you open the search nationally. Who do you get that hasn't already been mentioned? Probably no one. Is Sandy really going to come here? Doubtful. He's turned around a moribund program and can probably name his price in Duluth right now. New arena on its way. Why leave that to come back to GF and try to fill Blais' shoes? Johnson would be taking a pay cut of at least $30,000 a year (and more likely $50 - $80,000 less) to come here. Sure he bleeds green, but I'll bet he likes the inside of his wallet to be the same color. Carey Eades should take the second assistant's job. John Marks is trying too hard. 3. Do you all REALLY think Hak's marriage to Erin O'Keefe entered into this? Are you nuts? Roger Thomas and Tim O'Keefe are way too smart to lay that kind of stink bomb. And Kupchella, as much as I despise him, won't stand for any kind of nepotism. 4. Hak will bring some new energy to things. He's at least as intense a coach as was DB. He certainly ain't distracted with a possible NHL move. The players respect him. Who knows? This might be an opportunity for a goalie coach to finally be added to the staff. At the very least he brings the opportunity finally, for a team nickname that will stick: Can't you see The Hak Attack all over t-shirts and signs, etc.? In sum, give Hak a chance. Put a little more faith than most of you have displayed in Roger Thomas. Then sit back and enjoy what will prove to be a wonderful college hockey season.

This topic has been just under the radar for the longest time. The Herald has reported it in its news columns, and now editorialized AGAINST the administration's plan to raise admission standards for all students. http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforkshe...ion/8479892.htm I know from several conversations with him that Blais is VERY concerned about what raising required ACT scores by 5 points will do to his recruiting. He feels a lot of potential Sioux skaters will look at what the University requires (ACT) compared to what other schools need and more often than not choose the other, easier entrance requirement. I have also talked to Kupchella's right hand man Phil Harmeson about this, and he just blows off any of Blais' concerns. There are provisions, he says, to allow student-athletes to appeal an admission denial. I was sort of ambivalent about this, and thought perhaps Blais was just whining, but when I see the Herald actually calliing the higher standards a bad thing, I figure coach is on the right side of this, and that Harmeson and his boss are pushing things too far. With the WCHA becoming such a competitive league, can we really afford to turn away potential recruits. Will we have the time to explain to them that there are "ways" around the high ACT standards? I'm not comfortable at all with this proposal. BTW, Blais says it isn't a proposal, its already a done deal.

I don't buy this. I will agree that the new arena and 5000 extra seats has brought many new people to the game. And some of these (maybe even most) people aren't "into" the game as much as the old-timers. But to say the focus has been taken off the team is a stretch. Walk around the rink. The photos of teams and players past, the banners hung from the rafters, the logos create something akin to an atmosphere of worship. This is the home of the Fighting Sioux and woe to all wearing opposing colors who enter here. I will agree that the atmosphere is a lot more commercial than in the old rink. But the focus, clearly, is on hockey, and most of all on the Fighting Sioux heritage and history.

I think Ballard will play, and play well in the NHL. Watching him late in the season, and into the Final Five, he was one of two Gopher players who I feared every time they touched the puck, the other being Riddle. Ballard is an offensive threat anytime he's on the ice; he plays hard all the time. Sometimes he doesn't play smart, but he has the skill set and the mentality to be a significant addition to Phoenix or most any other NHL team. What would the Sioux have been like with him playing the point on the power play? Pretty awesome, I think.

First, the "Parise era"? This is a now-19-year-old kid who came to Grand Forks directly from high school. He spent two hockey seasons here (less than two years). How can there possibly be a "Parise era"? He put on a heckuva show, made the players around him better (although with all the extra defensive attention his line attracted, this point might be arguable!), and may be the most well-rounded college hockey player I have ever seen. But I will stop short of calling this the "Parise era". I can't argue with a lack of playoff success, although in the scope of things, the Sioux were one of eight teams left on the ice. Perhaps this points out the fallacy of national polls and INCH Power Rankings. If the Sioux hadn't been top-ranked almost all year, would we still say they'd lack success? I think the bright sides of the story here are numerous: 1. Zach Parise, an American-born, high school-to-college (no junior) hockey player blessed UND fans for two years with delightful play, a beaming personality, and a poise beyond his years. He's now a millionaire, and fulfilling his boyhood dreams. 2. The 2003-2004 UND Fighting Sioux fought from fifth place in the WCHA and a one-and-done in the NCAAs last year to winning the MacLaughton Cup, second place in the Final Five, and lost a regional final for a trip to the Frozen Four. And with a very, very young cast of characters, I will continue to point out. 3. Parise's success at UND brought several apparently blue-chip schoolmates from SSM to Grand Forks. 4. Parise's time at UND gave us all almost two full years to listen to the whining, carping and general discontent from all our maroon and gold friends to the south! Yeah, I'm sorry to see him go, but we all knew it was going to happen. I'm sorry they're not going to Boston, but perhaps this was a year too soon.

I was thinking more along the lines of "weelwy, weelwy" good.

Nice read on that horrible, anti-Sioux INCH http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/7Archiv...erfect_0231.htm In spite of the ending, was this a "perfect" game?

This is perhaps the most bone-headed comment I've ever read on these boards. CB did a whale of a job with a team that is very, very young. Compare this team to the '99-'00 championship team: Top five scorers: Goren, Panzer, Ulmer, Lundbohm and Bayda (2 seniors, 1 junior, 1 soph, 1 freshman). 267 total points, or 52% of the team's output. This year: Bochenski, Parise, Murray, Genoway and Stafford (ZERO seniors, 2 juniors, 1 soph and 2 freshmen). 227 points, or 48.6% of team's total. I remember Coach Blais telling me on a couple of different occasions this year that this team is not as talented as his national championship teams, and that they are still very young. How many "true" freshmen played a major role on the team this year? These are eighteen-year-olds playing against men up to 23, 24 even 25 years old out there. I think CB did a heckuva job with a very good team; not a great team. To say he didn't do well this season is simply not true.

I've given this a lot of thought, and I am now prepared to declare Vanek to be abslutely, positively, without any question of any kind, the...make that THE...finest hockey player to EVER lace up the skates. It's really too bad that the Hobey Baker award has that name engraved on it, otherwise I almost certain it would already have been renamed the Thomas Vanek award. I can't honestly understand how Dean Blais can call himself a coach after he let this one get by him. And that fifth pick? I'm surprised at all the NHL scouts and general managers. He should've been the first overall pick, without a doubt. He continues to amaze me with his constant, end-to-end effort, his amazing back-checking, and the extraordinarily positive effect he has on the rest of his team. I take back everything negative I've ever thought about him. Sheesh!

Same reason a groom isn't supposed to look at the bride before the wedding.

Man, I'm just not seeing this game as a high scoring exhibition. The Sioux have been having trouble burying the biscuit lately. And the Quesadilla guy is no slouch between the pipes, regardless of who he's been facing. The guy's save percentage is .926 this year, and over .910 for his career. If the clutch and grab, "swing yore pardner" stuff gets the okay from the stripes, I'm saying 4-2. Still Sioux, but not a runaway. Now come on guys, and prove me wrong. And a big, heartfelt thanks to Scott Geston at CableOne Fargo for makin' it all happen.

Really bothers me to tout INCH, but aside from the nasty jab at goaltending, this preview of West Region should be feel-good story of the day. http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/9NCAA/2...estpre_0230.htm Couple of nice quotes: "Barring injury, it

I've watched this whole Victory Sports thing from the very start with very mixed emotions: I love the Twins, hate baseball as Big Business. I love my cable tv, hate CableOne. So when I read Scott Geston's reply to (one of) my queries regarding this weekend's games, I can't help but laugh a little. "...help them out...lack of distribution". This maroon has a chance to do something really nice for his customers, polish up CableOne's public personna with some rube-cred, and make us all forget for a weekend the next round of rate increases, and all he can come up with is "...help them out"? Dolt. From: Geston, Scott <Scott.Geston@cableone.net> Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 5:00 PM RE: UND hockey Yes: We have agreed to help them out as they are suffering from lack of distribution. Channel 7 -----Original Message----- Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 4:46 PM To: Geston, Scott Subject: UND hockey the UND sioux hockey team plays firday night at 6:00. victory sports network is offering you free access to this game and all minnesota and duluth games over the weekend. mid-continent in grand forks is picking the game up. will cable one do so also?

Time to turn up the heat on Scott Geston at CableOne in Fargo. Here is my correspondence to him and his reply: From: Geston, Scott <Scott.Geston@cableone.net> Date: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 9:34 AM Subject: RE: Fighting Sioux Hockey Mike: Have not heard that yet. I was told it was not broadcast material but guess the GF station thought it was worthy of going after. Doubt the Fargo outlet will do the same. -----Original Message----- From: Mike [mailto:mikejm102@hotmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, March 24, 2004 9:18 AM To: sgeston@cableone.net Subject: Fighting Sioux Hockey Mr Geston: I have learned that WDAZ (and the Fighting Sioux Sports Netowrk) will air Friday's NCAA first round game, North Dakota vs. Holy Cross, beginning at 6:00 p.m. I presume CableOne will air the same on channel 7. If my presumption is accurate, thank you. If not, please reconsider. Thanks Mike

Well, I emailed CableOne in Fargo Monday to whine, plead, beg, threaten (I'm not particularly proud about any of it). I included the story about VSN's "free" offer to cable systems. Here is the reply I got just now: Mike, We are checking in to this and waiting to hear back from Victory Sports. Cable ONE I'll continue to search out abandoned farmhouses with 7' dishes out back, and check my mail for CableOne's outcome.

I'll admit I have absolutely NO way to back this up, but as one who's watched WCHA hockey for many, many, many (is that enough to be accurate PCM?) years, I can not for the life of me recall a team taking as many, and as malicious cuts at the opposition's heads as do Lucia's teams. I'm really surprised Zach wasn't horribly injured after his composite clothesline. And I know the Gophers were called for at least two other high sticks in Saturday's game. Can someone help me find an archive that includes penalties called during league games? I'd love to do some research. BTW, I don't think the Sioux have anything to be sorry for or ashamed of coming out of the Final Five final. That was like watching Ken Norton and Ali stand toe-to-toe and beatin' on one another. That game has to be an instant classic.

After closely scrutinizing speech patterns and spelling, I'm thinking this poster is... are you ready for this? All hold your breath now... Could it be? SIOUXROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Golly I feel almost dirty typing this!)