farce poobah

The Ralph still has a few available ... ticketmaster.com or the Ralph.

For me, the first game of the Gino Gasparini era was memorable. You have to recall this was when UND had not been to the frozen four in over a decade, had missed the WCHA playoffs a couple years, and it was a rather quiet and not-full Winter Sports Building in the years leading up to that era. Game 1, Sioux beat Michigan Tech 5-3, and this was the Michigan Tech that was only 1 year removed from 3 straight NCAA Championship game appearances. Beating them was something special indeed. Some of the new guys that picked up points that night included Kevin Maxwell and Cary Eades. More important, the SIoux played with heart and skill. We left the building that night totally stoked, because the dream of UND winning a championship had a chance of coming true.

Time to call Idalski and see if he would lend Monique and Jocelyne to the men's team for a couple games.

As to the new conference, the Colorado Springs Gazette has a nice overview of Jim Scherr: http://www.gazette.com/sports/brian-131092-gomez-scherr.html

UND 3 Kansas 2 I had to post that quickly before it changes.

Simpson and Mattson

Would be nice if the NCHC membership could step forward with a scheduling agreement with UAH to "tide" them over for a few years. For example, one series every other year from each member ... 8 games from the NCHC, 8 from the WCHA membership, 6 from the Big Ten (as if), plus the remainder from eastern conferences, and you've got a pretty good schedule.

Brad Malone with an assist tonight for the Avs. First NHL point.

Thanks for posting. The power of the fighting Sioux indeed. Considering how many of Alberta's finest hockey players have chosen to play at the University of North Dakota, its a good time to say thank you to Alberta as well.

Taking a look at the Pairwise http://siouxsports.com/hockey/rankings/pwr/ and its looking ugly for the WCHA this year. If the season ended today: * 3 WCHA teams in, one barely at #15 CC. Otherwise, just UMD and MN. * 7 CCHA teams. * 4 Hockey East. * 1 ECAC * 1 autobid AHA. If the Sioux are going to move up in the second half, we will need a reaallly good winning percentage. That's because we won't get the boost from the strength of schedule component that we usually do. Things are not looking good for the West. Too many bad losses (Omaha losing to UAH among the worst). Not enough wins.

Matt Frattin has made the opening credits of the HNIC Broadcast. He's in Beast Mode, flattening an opponent. One of the perks of playing for Toronto is a lot of HNIC coverage.

Oh good grief. By telling us what you think happened, you just show us what your personal biases are. Nothing more.

I think you just got your answer.

Every bit as quiet here as it is at the arena.

Game 2 of Four Nations - Canada 3, USA 1. Jocelyne L. with the USA goal: http://www.hockeycanada.ca/index.php/ci_id/75138/la_id/1/game_id/174190/season_id/172879/ss_id/170713/

Dean Blais was a UND coach when Dad played.

SCSU at Mankato has a penalty clock too. Purple Barney 4 Jan Brady Jr College 2 ... midway through the third.

LOL I'll give you three guesses and the first two don't count.

Nice first period. "Old fashioned" Sioux hockey with good coverage, good poise with the puck, physical but only at the right times. This is a step forward for this team. I am liking the split of Nelson off the line with Kristo and Knight. Macmillan is a better fit. Plus it strengthens the 3rd line ...

Its an omen: Stafford with a goal, Oshie with a goal, Toews with an assist. Next - the current Sioux ring one up.

To the substance of the quality of play, it continues to make quantum leaps. The one timers this weekend were a thing to behold.

I should have said I don't think the women will fill the Ralph this year, but relatively soon. Sioux fans will support a competitive team, and this is a hockey town. Put the two together. The ongoing high attendance bodes well for future recruiting ... combine facilities and coaching with the chance to play before some bona fide crowds, and UND will win even more recruiting battles.

I continue to believe that, sometime in the relatively near future, the women will fill the Ralph ... The trajectory is continuing to move in the right direction - and the schedule hasn't gotten to the rivalry games at home yet.

As someone who was born into the capable hands of Dr. Delano, I can say unequivocally that Beth Delano is exactly the kind of person that we can all aspire to become. UND could do a lot worse in terms of role models.

The Denver Post articles are a good read. Not very much homerism, not overly romantic, lot of fact based writing.