elmduf

Hey, what say we make it best out of 9 games? okay? The Wild played gritty hockey last night, even though I didn't like the outcome it was fun to watch. I'm pulling for a Stars/Wild conference final. Maybe Minnesota can take out revenge on the old North Stars! I like Forsberg, he does play rough and sometimes tries to get the penalty call by exaggerating the hit he took. Not unlike a lot of players in the NHL. I've been hearing that he's just tired of playing and wants to retire and go back to Sweden. I have also heard that Roy might consider leaving, but I think he'll stay and collect the big $$$ on his contract extension.

Kizla has a whole new approach in today's column. He blames the coach. What a winner. Pierre has a short fuse with coaches, that's why I think that Granato could get the ax if they lose this series. Lacroix seems to feel that if he supplies the right players it's up to the coach to win from there. I don't know if I necessarily disagree with that. Granato did a great job after he took over, but he's sucking wind in the playoffs right now. However, I also think that the Avs players have taken the Wild too lightly. I don't think they are letting their egos get the best of them. I think they are getting out hustled to the puck. I think the Avs will win tonight, and even if they don't I don't care that much. It's not like its a Sioux hockey series!

WOW. I guess Kizla really did P you off! Like I said before, I'm not a Kizla fan either. I do like the Av's, mainly because they are a fun team to watch and they are our local team. I agree that a lot of the Avs "Fans" I could do without. Colorado has been a booming state the last decade. I believe when I moved here 15 years ago (jeez, that's a long time!) there were about 2.5 million people in the whole state. Now there are over 4 million. That's like adding 3 North Dakotas in 15 years. Like myself, there are a lot of "transplants" living here. The difference is, I came from a hockey area, the vast majority of transplants didn't. Although it's getting better, a lot of the "Fans" haven't a clue about what's going on in a game. They seem to watch for the fights and can't believe it when an opposing player checks an Avalanche player and takes the puck away that a penalty wasn't called. It's getting better, but it's not like watching hockey in Grand Forks or in the cities. I'm sure that the Wild have their clueless fans also, but I would bet that the percentage is greater here. I think it's great that the Wild made it to the playoffs in their third year. A real credit to their coach and the organization. They just don't have the talent to match the Avs. That's the way it is. Colorado is lucky to have this team and the organization that followed it from Quebec. Pierre Lacroix(sp?) is a hell of a GM, probably the best in the league. It's really his team, he made it what it is today. I like living in Colorado, it's a beautiful state and the people are nice. However, I can't tell you how many times the conversation "what are you doing this weekend" may come up at work and I'll just say "I'm going to a hockey game." I never even mention that I'm heading to CC or Denver and the reply will always be "Oh, I'd love to go to an Avalanche game." followed by "I love the fighting, but I don't know what the rules are" or some similar statement. I just laugh and say I'm going to a college hockey game. I usually just get a blank stare. Transplants don't even know that DU or CC play hockey. And it's not the "cool" place to go. With a decent regular season seat to an NHL game costing around $70.00, I"ll stick with going to the college games where they actually make an effort in the regular season. Regular season NHL is slow and boring. The playoff games are great ,but are WAY too expensive IMHO. I'll watch them on TV.

That's too bad. I always cheer UND alumni. The year that Dallas made the cup run, I went as far as dropping my allegiance to the Avs and cheered Dallas (Belfour) when they won the cup. It kind of gagged me cheering for the "new" Stars. I was a North Stars fan and I swore I would never cheer that team after their owner screwed Minnesota. Oh well. Are you talking about the "State of Hockey" flags that Kizla was calling a "flag of surrender"? Fortunately, Kizla is about the worst sports commentator in Colorado. We actually don't have anybody as bad a Sid here. Thank god. Irv Brown and Joe Williams are classics on 950 the fan. Woody Paige is a blowhard, but fun to read.

Here's proving I have way too much time on my hands. I compiled the following list from my copy of "The Complete Encyclopedia of Ice Hockey". Because several players in this the listing of NHL players do not show a birth place, by no means is this going to be totally accurate. But according to this list, there have been a couple of Minnesota born players before Fido Purpur. I went in order of the season played in the NHL or the league leading up to the modern NHL. You will see something interesting before Fido Purpur. He may not have been the first North Dakota BORN player in the NHL. Of course, I have no idea where these people learned how to play hockey: Everar Lorne (Eddie) Carpenter, Defenseman b. Hartford Mich 1919-1920 Quebec, 1920-1921 Hamilton Harrington, Leland (Hago) b. Melrose, Mass Forward 1925-26 Boston Clarence John (Taffy) Abel, b. Sault Ste. Marie, Mich May 28, 1900 Defenseman 1926-27 New York Rangers Lane, Myles J. b. Melrose, Mass Oct 2, 1905 Defenseman 1928-29 New York Rangers Goldworthy, Leroy D. b. Two Harbors, Minn, October 18, 1908 Defenseman-Forward, 1929-30 New York Rangers Taylor, Robert b. Newton, Mass Aug 12, 1904 Forward 1929-30 Boston Romnes, Elwin N. (Doc) b. White Bear, Minn, Jan 1 1909 Forward 1930-31 Chicago Jenkins, Roger b. Appleston, Wisc Nov 18, 1911 Defenseman 1930-31 Chicago Desjardins, Victor A. b. Sault Ste. Marie, Mich, July 4 1900 Forward 1930-31 Chicago Black Hawks Jeremiah, Edward b. Worcester, Mass Nov 4, 1905 Defenseman-Forward 1931-32 NY Americans -Boston Voss, Carl b. Chelsea, Mass Jan 6, 1907 Forward 1932-33 NY Rangers-Detroit F Hanson Emil, b. Centerville SD, Nov 18 1907 Defenseman 1932-33 Detroit F Williams, Burr b. Okemah, Okla Aug 30, 1909 Defenseman 1933-34 Detroit Red Wings Trudel, Louis Napoleon b. Salem, Mass July 21, 1913 Forward 1933-34 Chicago Moffat, Ronald b. West Hope, ND Forward 1932-33 Detroit F. (1 goal, 1 assist, 2 points) He also played on the 1933-34 Detroit Red Wings, but didn't score a point. Purpur, Clifford (Fido) Forward b. Grand Forks, ND sept 26, 1916 1934-35 St. Louis Eagles A couple of things I would like to point out: 1. Fido Purpur's fame at UND is that he was the real founder of the program. He brought it to prominence. At least that's the way I undestand it. He wasn't the first non-Canadian in the league and wasn't the best non-Canadian either. If it weren't for Fido, UND hockey probably wouldn't be in the spotlight it has today. 2. Minnesota did win at one time with an all-Minnesota team. Although I don't like some of the arrogance that produces out of some of their fans, that is a heck of a thing to point out. When Dapper Don took over that program I knew they would rise again. He was incredible at CC, saving a program that ran for a few years WITHOUT a hockey arena. AND, taking them to a national championship game. WOW. Of course, at the U of M, Lucia had to take some players outside of Minnesota to turn them around. There just is too much competition for Minnesota players to go back to what once was for the U of M. Unfortunately, for the other programs, that is making them better and tougher to beat. My hat is off to the the U of M program (GAG). Hopefully, our UND team watched the games and will take some inspiration from this to work hard this summer and come back with a strong desire to show off their skills in the upcoming season.

Jeez... at least Murphy could get some ice time if I'm forced to watch the Avs lose! That was a great defensive game by the Wild. Hopefully it woke the Avs up. Should be a great series, but I'll still take the Avs... probably in 6 games.

I'm glad to see Murphy get the call, but the implication here seems to be that the Wild may survive the Avs. I think not. If they get a fifth game with the Avs, that would be a moral victory! Sorry about the flame, but I gotta stick up for the Avs!

I saw the same blurb in the Rocky Mountain News. It looks interesting. A new conference would probably be the best hope for a quick and easy transition to D-IAA. I'm not against UND making the move, I just think they should wait and see what comes out of the NC$$ in a year or two as far as division classification.

They announced the three finalists, I am hoping that Sejna from CC wins it, keeping it in the WCHA. You'll notice that our buddy from Ferris State is one of the finalists. From the USCHO site: The Hobey Baker Award committee has announced its three finalists for college hockey's top honor in 2003, and they come as no surprise: Cornell goalie Dave LeNeveu, who is on track to record the lowest goals against average in college hockey history, and the nation's two top scorers, Colorado College's Peter Sejna and Ferris State's Chris Kunitz.

College newspapers are a joke for the most part. Few of these "columnists" ever make it in the real world. The only truth in there is that UND had a bad second half of the season and the goofs came together in the second half. I hardly think that the UND hockey program is falling apart. On the contrary, the Sioux had an up year and better things are on the horizon. I hope this kid enjoys his 15 minutes. When his college "career" is over, he'll be joining Siouxrock washing dishes at Perkins.

For those of us who won't be in St. Paul, is there TV for the Final Five? I was hoping to watch the Sioux on Thursday, but at least if they win catch the Friday game? Fox North perhaps?

Good job PCM! I saw Ryan Bakken did the Denver Post article. In spite of that, I'll keep my sub to the Denver Post...until the next college hockey season!

I don't think I'd call Colorado a high school football hotbed, but I did spent 5 weeks stuck in Oklahoma City working for my company last fall. I think those yokels are insane. I heard about how seriously they took high school football in that area, but until I saw some of the stadiums and the support that was almost beyond lunacy, it really sunk in. I can understand why so many college coaches go there, and many more go to Texas. Although I think that NDSU could benefit from Nodak players, they will have to head out of state to get the quality players necessary to make the jump.

Just back from Mexico...heard some of the game over 950 out of Denver. According to their announcers, the head of officiating of the WCHA had warned the officials to call it tight due to some "rough play" of the Sioux on Friday night. This warning was supposedly given to the coaches of both sides. What gives? Also...he apparantly doesn't like Matt Greene...constantly reminding the audience that he is the most penalized player in the WCHA and is a primary reason for the action of the WCHA officiating crew on Saturday night. Just thought I'd fuel the fire a bit!

I watched the friday night game on Fox sports and saw Blake get two assists and an empty netter in the Isles win over our Avs. The Avs had an interview with him between the first and second period. He said that he was challenged to get better defensively and they would throw more ice time at him, so he spent the last summer working on his defensive skills. He has went from about 7 minutes of ice time a game last year to about 20 minutes this year. That ice time has made a big difference with his scoring chances.

Just wanted to say thanks to PCM for the coaches show updates throughout the season!

I was sitting at the angle the game winning shot was taken. Ranfranz seemed to be heavily screened, and the puck took a wierd bounce. Not his fault. The Sioux defense kind of broke down in the last 10 seconds of the game. They seemed pretty tired in the Third, but we're gutting it out until that last Denver rush. Great effort, but we need wins and not moral victories.

I saw the Ranfranz family before the game. Tom Ranfranz told me they were hoping he was given a chance in net. Apparantly, he didn't get the nod til they got to the Arena. He played an awesome game, got the #3 star. Dubie from DU also played a spectacular game. Seemed to come down to the (un)lucky bounce of the puck. It was a great game, unfortunately the Sioux couldn't slip a couple more by the Denver goalie. Ranfranz should hold his head high. It was so much fun watching him wave his arms in the air trying encouraging the DU and UND fans to make more noise. Even when the puck was in the attack zone, Rafranz seemed poised for a save! Mr. Ranfranz told me that his son loves to play hockey at UND and tells everyone on the team to enjoy EVERY moment of being a Fighting Sioux! Even with the loss, I hope his enthusiasm encourages the team into the playoffs.

I watched the game on Rocky Mountain Fox, seemed like the Sioux controlled the third period and the overtime pretty well. If we could just erase the second period! It was such a pleasure to watch a game on fox that didn't have the Wooger and his buddy saying "Gophers, gophers, gophers, gophers...etc.". The Denver announcers, especially Sandy Clough, talked evenly about the Sioux and the Pioneers and were especially impressed with Spiewak's intensity. Hopefully that third period and overtime will carry over the tonights game. I have tix and am heading down to Magnuss Arena tonight.

Denver is a D-I school. I would think that they carry enought sports to qualify. When did Michigan Tech become a D-I school in all sports???

Wasn't it posted earlier that a Wellness Center was a requirement of the NCAA before jumping to D-IAA, D-I???

Just in case things don't go well for you Sioux fans, you can throw this in those goofer faces.... North Dakota found to be harboring Nuclear Missiles

Here are the results from the totally unscientific daily poll done by the Fargo Forum. Do you support a bill that would bar using state money or increasing student fees to pay for Division 1 athletics? Yes - 64% No - 30% I'm not sure - 6% Let the debate continue!!!

Luckily, there's a lot of fun things to do in the Springs. As disappointed as I was with this weekends results, I know the Sioux can play better and can be a #1 seed in the big show. Just because we lost this weekend doesn't mean that we couldn't beat CC in the playoffs. I'm sure Blais will have them ready to go for the rest of the season. I think Minnesota is going to run into a buzzsaw next weekend in the World Arena. That'll probably lock the WCHA regular season up for CC and send the Gophers to 3rd place.

I"ll let Northern Colorado know they shouldn't dominate in football. After all, with Colorado State 30 miles away and the CU Buffs about 50 miles down the road, they should maybe pack it in. Thanks!