farce poobah

Sioux looked really tired late ... I think only 6 players got time. Sad that Maffin had to watch. I was surprised we pressed with such a short bench... and I wonder if it cost us late. Yes #3 got a lot of points, but Hausauer did a great job on #24 (pazzini sp?). Lot of missed FT, lot of rebounds that we were slow to, and my best guess is fatigue. Even with it all, we got 3 great looks in the last :30 and none of them dropped. If 1 goes in, its OT. If 2 go in, we win. Congrats to the team on a great season.

Cornell on a regular ice sheet is an opponent to be respected. Cornell on the big ice gets dismantled by any of the WCHA teams that get into the Dance. I actually hope Minnesota gets the #1 seed, because I think it is fairer (competitive equity) but also b/c it increases the odds of 3 WCHA teams at the Frrrrozen Ffffour.

Friday attendance: 9400 UND 5400 BU and BC (combined) 9300 Michigan State and Ohio State (combined) 11200 ECAC, the whole da#@ conference (Cornell, Harvard, Vermont AND Colgate) Not too shabby.

After last night, it becomes increasingly likely that the Sioux make it in. A win in the UMD series would seem to make us a virtual lock. We got some help last night, again, when Maine beat Lowell. And everybody int he WCHA got helped when Michigan State beat Miami ... (Gophers are back to a #1 seed and that puts CC and DU somewhere else ...)

The Jones goal reminded me a bit of the gold-medal winning goal for Team USA at the 2004 World Juniors, goalie clears it off an attacker and bounces in..... IMO, last night was a case of UMD playing poorly even more so than the Sioux playing well. I'd like to wish I was wrong in that regard. Also, I enjoyed seeing Fabian and Massen getting double-shifted on the last Sioux powerplay. Bina and Smaby got some time on it too ... (Who'da thunk it?) Sportsmanlike gesture by Hak. I've seen the Dogs play nearly unbeatable hockey at times this year, and then like they did last night. Question is who shows up tonight.

Two seed today, Grand Rapids would be fine, but if we lose to Duluth I think it becomes golf season. Its that close. Our record vs TUC's is right around .500 along with a lot of teams around us. Lose to UMD and we drop below 500 vs TUC's and a bunch of comparisons go against us ... WIN BABY WIN.

I think Thursday will be an exciting game - Mankato vs. Anchorage. Sioux dominate CC in the Friday afternoon semi. It all gets fuzzy after that ...

30 years ago, women's basketball was forgotten while the Sioux men played every game to a packed house at what was then the Fieldhouse. Today ... the women draw as well as the men. Sometime in the future, I can picture the Sioux women's hockey outdrawing the men. As skills and coaching improve, and as the team becomes competitive, the Big House will fill. As for today, I'm happy to see the women improving and getting more competitive ...

I think we'll win it. Sioux!!! are the hottest team in the league coming in, with a 4-game unbeaten streak, the longest of ANY WCHA team. (except Minnesota and UMD)

vandevelde with a strong effort. I did not realize until tonight that Greg Shepherd is also in charge of MN HS referees too.

Congrats to Roebuck and the Sioux women on winning their 5th consecutive NCC playoff title. THAT is excellence.

NICE! Lowell loses. Dartmouth loses to Yale... Help from the teams around us losing ...

Reportedly, Yale is leading Dartmouth 4-2 !!! would be BIG for our PWR if it holds.

Interesting comments in the Grand Forks Herald from St Cloud's coach about how loud and intimidating it was in the Betty. If 1500 people, last nights attendance, can be intimidating, imagine what 4000 would be like.

Thru 2 periods ... I don't recall EVER seeing a team play airtight team defense as well as Mhd. DE has had 1 scoring chance so far (maybe 2). I can't recall an odd man rush for DE. This is not just having a couple great players, but everyone playing outstanding terrific position hockey.

end of 2 in St Paul, Moorhead 2, Duluth East 0 2nd goal was Vandevelde from Lee SOG are like 39 to 10

Vandevelde of Moorhead High with 4 SOG in one shorthanded shift. Lou Nanne says "he reminds me of Thomas Vanek ..."

Sioux lead St Cloud by 4 ... !!! ... in women's basketball (halftime)

10 of the last 12, now, to CC and UND - 5 each.

As long as we don't have to kill a bunch of 5x3 penalties, JPar is the better choice, IMHO. Lammy is the more acrobatic goalie, and you need to be acrobatic to 'tend 3x5. OTOH, I believe JPar plays the angles better - which is why the puck hits him a lot. And, as someone who remembers a tired Goehring going into the playoffs a couple years, leg weary shouldn't be a problem for our goaltenders. This too is good. After all, there's still 11 games to play.

Wisco announcers bitching about Earl getting called for diving. HA! I laugh at you... HA!

A win by the Sioux tomorrow brings the Pairwise comparison with Wisconsin into shouting distance, AND every win vs a TUC this time of year puts the Sioux in good shape for making the Final 16. Will see what kind of legacy these guys want to leave ....