farce poobah

Low Tech Counter: 170 days to Hockey.

ARGH! Say it ain't so! We can replace Stafford, Parise, Smaby, Oshie, but this would be a disaster! Think of the humanity! Think of the carnage! Think of all those UND fans sitting in the dark wondering what's really going on in the press box and in the locker room. [/depression on]

Mike, I've been thinking about the right compliment and what I can say is that the way you play the game is timeless. You would have fit right in on the teams I saw in the 1970's with guys like Craig Ludwig, Marc Chorney, Cary Eades, and Doug Smail every bit as well as you did on the 21st century Sioux. Hard work, get-hit-and-get-right-back-up, get the other guy to lose focus, get the other coach kicked out are all qualities that people inside the game and those of us on the outside enjoy thoroughly. And thanks for giving us fans a look inside your character. Wherever the road leads you, I wish you well. Come back and see us sometime, or drop us a line and let us know how its going. Aloha.

Speaking of having a great season, PCM, I want to say thanks for your insights and what you shared throughout the entire year. Very much appreciated. Just don't turn pro on us.

Potulny with an assist tonight. http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/boxscore?gameId=260411015

I remember it happening at the WCHA Final Five ... http://siouxsports.com/hockey/galleries/56.htm Sorry, don't have a video clip, just a link to photo.

Wisconsin has a program in DIVE bombing. Seriously, best wishes for Jacques. His dad is a class act.

Vaht?! Deez eez awll mayd op? PeeCeeEmm should go to Ehn Aych Ell. Mayk beeg moneez.

Thanks for posting, indeed it must be nice to be Matt Carle. He dominated at the college level, and that usually precedes a solid pro career.

I think I'm numerically challenged.

At even strength, looks like the matchups favor Stafford/Oshie/Duncan. With the Zajac line probably drawing the Collins line, and we have last change so DH can make it happen if he wants to, that frees up 18/7/9 to draw first blood. I think its Duncan, and I think it comes on the powerplay.

Agree that too much depends on which team picks them, and what they feel is best for the development of that individual player. Not to mention what the player wants... J Johnson grew up a Wolverine and playing one year was not a surprise. If he plays two it will be. More often than not, 18-yo defensemen play a year somewhere non-pro; my money is that E Johnson wears the M for one year. WCHA is a big step up from where he's been.

Agree and thanks for raising the point. North Dakotans associate with being an underdog, perhaps more than any other state. And we admire the underdog for going into battle when the odds are against you. That's what life is like on the tundra. Ya gotta have some courage just to live up here. I think the reaction to Holy Cross would be nearly as strong even if they had knocked off someone other than the #1 rival. For example, if they had beat Michigan State or BU (two other #1 seeds), it would be just as great a story. For nearly a decade now, the UND hockey team has been the favorite in nearly every game they play. For one weekend, we got to cheer for an underdog. It was fun.

Sagard, thanks for being a Voice of Reason in the midst of all the flaming.

I would definitely go for #7 and #21 ...

Brett Motherwell on D instead of Lee? Chorney? Looks like bulletin board fodder for me.

I'm good for about 4 jerseys. If the HC guys are out there, you DEFINITELY have doubled (tripled? quadrupled?) your fan base overnight.

My cousin's sisters brother's girlfriend knows this guy and they said there's a good likelihood that Lucia will exercise the buyout clause giving him the right to change the arena name to Mariucci West.

Got tickets. Have to go THursday, come back to Rodentland Friday and Saturday AM, then drive/Fly to Bradley Center to watch Sioux win #8.

I thought it was a good question. We are all interested in fairness.

My daughter is wearing a homemade Holy Cross T-shirt to school tomorrow, here in the Twin Cities. Pray for her survival.

Yup not only was every seat sold, it was great television because of the atmosphere. Unless they go away totally from campus sites, this is as good a campus venue as there is.

With UND now playing the afternoon semifinal for sure, at least some kind of ticket availability is assured for that first game. (Evening will be a madhouse) I agree with the guys above, settle for singles or doubles, get in, and then find seats together. If its Sioux-Badgers for the title, and I hope it is, your best bet is right after the games Thursday for fans of losing teams.

I had the same reaction you did. We weren't alone, however. I've been to at least 200 Sioux games in GF and have never before heard more applause, or ever so few boos for an opponent. I definitely have to go back thru the class on being hostile and abusive ... I'm losing my touch.