Tsiouxnami

Ok, I am going to get long winded here. I don't have a specific quote, but do want to thank all the players and coaches for being so approachable and humble. We went to the team practices on Wednesday in Denver and as the Sioux practice ended, one of the players handed our youngest daughter a puck as he was exiting the ice and TJ gave her a high five (she would not let anyone touch that hand the rest of the day and swore she would not wash it ever again). We stuck around to watch some of Notre Dame's practice, and the Sioux players had come out of the locker room and were watching as well. Of course, our youngest daughter was itching to get autographs. I was MORE than impressed, to say the least, as all were more than willing to sign anything for her, and almost seemed to approach her as she was nervous about going up to them on her own. She was more than thrilled when a few of them commented on her shoes (she had black/white checked Vans. . . .like Spicoli from "Fast Times at Ridgemont High"). She even got an autograph and photo with Ryan Duncan, which made her year. (She has sworn she will never wash the sweatshirt she was wearing because he touched it.) Coach Eades even went so far as to try to find Oshie, Chorney and Lammy for her since they had not come out yet. Turned out they were in a press conference (which he came back and told her), but it was the thought that counted. Last, but not least, we ran into Coach Eades several times out and about in Denver. At ESPN Zone, he approached us and thanked us several times for coming to Denver and almost apologized for the effort (or lack thereof). Then, each time we saw him, he made sure to say hello. Anyway, enough rambling, but just wanted to share that we really do have the greatest team in the world!! Man, it is great to be a Fighting Sioux fan!!

I believe that our same group of about 15-20, that has traveled to St. Louis and Denver, are all on board to go to D.C. no matter what! I am already excited and it is a whole year away!

Not an early departure, but TSN is reporting that the Coyotes signed Hobey winner, Kevin Porter yesterday.

Porter is no longer competing. . . it says he has been replaced on the College Hockey News website.

Hey, we are in Section 364 Row 14. . . .so we are right there with you! It is not too bad being in the last row, as you can actually stand with no one to complain!!

Wednesday, April 9th Team practices (Open to the public) Boston College

This is par for the course for Fighting Sioux hockey and it is why I will ALWAYS be proud to be a Fighting Sioux fan!!!! Way to go, JPL!! Nice to see that some athletes still understand how to be a role model! You are truly a class act!

DITTO!!!!

High five!! We are in Section 364 Row 14 (first row from the top) here. . . but having sat in a similar seat in St. Louis last year, it really isn't as bad as it may sound!

We are in the nosebleed section - have convinced our kids that we will need to hire sherpas to get to our seats in the Mile High City! Altitude sickness here we come!!

She's a keeper!

Our daughters will be decorating our car windows with green and white paint. Pretty sure we will not be hard to miss.

Just one?

From what I heard at the rink at the time, the thought was it may have been an ACL injury. Not sure on the severity. The plan was to have it re-evaluated when they got back to Fairbault. I know he left the rink on crutches the night he injured it, but was at the rink the next night with a large brace on. He did appear to be in a fair amount of pain when having to move it, even with the brace on. Again, none of this is gospel, just what I heard and observed at the SSM/Bobcats game in Bismarck.

Some of us are driving, while others in our group are flying commercial. As of right now, I think we are planning on attending the pre-game party.

Driving people nuts by e-mailing them with a daily "Destination Denver" countdown!!! (Especially those that don't get to go!)

Thanks to everyone that answered. We are just finishing our planning and wanted to make sure kids could attend the pre-game gathering. Thanks again!

Man, that sucks!!! JPL got hosed!

FYI: Just something to keep in mind: Coors Brewery Tour hours (4/8-4/11) Tuesday, April 8th: Open for tours/sampling from 1:00pm - 4:00pm. Wednesday, April 9th: Closed for tours/sampling/gift shop. Thursday, April 10th: Closed for tours/sampling/gift shop. Friday, April 11th: Open for tours/sampling/gift shop from 10:00am - 4:00pm. Did someone alert them that a thirsty bunch of Sioux fans are on the way or what??

I take it that means he is back from his knee injury?

If The Hockey News Newsletter is to be believed. . . .Turris will be playing the Coyotes' final three games and then will be heading back to Wisco to finish up his first year of school. Sounds like this is something that the Coyotes agreed to rather than to send him to San Antonio?

Wasn't quite sure where to put this, but sounds like the Blackhawks will, for the first time ever, televise their entire 82-game regular schedule on both cable and free television. Watching Toews just got a whole lot easier!! (They held a press conference, you don't suppose it was an April Fools' joke do you? )

I am hoping that a tremendous weight was lifted from their shoulders last weekend. . . can't even imagine how much pressure those guys have been under, having returned to try to win #8. Now that they are in the FF, here's hoping that they play their best hockey. . . .we have all seen it, just in spurts, not whole games. We know the heart/desire is there, that was proven in the 3rd and OT of the Wisco game! Let's go SIOUX!!! I for one can hardly wait to get to Denver!

Not sure about how many teams making 4 trips in a row. . . but I thought I heard them say that Hakstol was just the 3rd coach to make it 4 in a row in just his first 4 years of coaching.