farce poobah

Mannino was good AND lucky. He was beat cleanly on several pucks that went high or wide, and just barely got to about 5 more. If we finish on just one of the multiple chances in the first 40 minutes, the 3rd period looks totally different. DU's skill players made a couple great plays on their 2nd and 3rd goals, and they got a bounce on that first goal. We didn't get any bounces, and that as they say was that. Most of our lineup had good games again ... DU was a bounce better. Nice momentum for next year. I hope none of our coaches turns pro.

Congratulations on a terrific season. Character, class, passion, and outstanding effort. You made us proud to be fans of UND Fighting Sioux hockey.

Wisdom from Gordon Bombay: "If we stoop to their level, we become them. We are better than that. Let's go play OUR hockey."

The sentiment in the original post bears repeating. Again. Very, very impressive display of character, poise and passion in the national semifinal.

Toews. Lee. Smaby. Parise. What if we change our name to the University of North Boston ....

DOH! [/premature senior moment]

Truly great story. Congrats to the first CC player to win one.

He can be more physical after college ... what the NCAA "new rules" are doing is force the big guys to work on agility, anticipating plays, and using smarts and patience to win rather than just sticking out a big stick and slowing someone down. In other words, there's some significant advantages to staying at UND.

Potulny and Irmen were just not effective the last 20 games. They looked leg-weary ... whether from conditioning or being overplayed the first 20 games, i can't say. I was worried the 11 day layoff would give them the rest needed to get their legs back, but it sure didn't happen. Irmen's "revenge charge" against Greene was plain funny.

Eddie is just cool. Also nice to see his 'mate on the 1987 title team, Jeff Bowen, sitting next to him. Betcha a billion dollars they wore their rings.

I groaned when I saw the Canady penalties live because it seemed obvious he took two. Most of our penalties we deserved ... Updated PK stats in NCAA play: 27 powerplays in 3 games, 2 goals for, 2 goals against. Net 0 for 27.

Yet ANOTHER proud moment for a Roseau grad wearing the Sioux green. How many dozens of great performances have come from Roseau (or Ross-o if you're not from around here) players ...

I was bummed ESPN2 left the broadcast before we could see Hirsch crash the net.

Grand Forks is east of Denver. We should get some homerisms. I love how Barry Melrose gave the game to the Sioux before it was even played.

"UND has the worlds greatest fans. I think they would go block a shot with their heads if they could." - Doug Smail, 1980.

To the original situation, I suggest feigning illness and then "checking into a hospital" (wink wink) that doesn't have visitation but that does have an airport shuttle.

Hartford, CT ESPN reports that its changing its name to Eastern Sports Programming Network. "Its what we've been all along, and most of us have a hard time understanding anyone west of Syracuse". In a related note, the network decide to just leave their airwaves blank during college hockey's Frozen Four, "since all those states are just blank rectanges anyway".

Every Sioux Player Needs a Ring or 2

I do agree with the earlier observation that it should be possible to call the major penalty without mandating a game misconduct or DQ. Major penalties used to be fairly common, now they aren't. Let's give the ref some standards but also flexibility.

Most years, the defending champion gets a big bullseye target painted on their jerseys. Next year, the entire league gets a bullseye. Every game becomes Goliath vs. David.

Gotta agree with that. While those are pretty decent teams, their style of play was poorly suited to beat Minnesota. Maine and Cornell rarely attack or go heavy on the forecheck. They counterattack, dump and chase, let the goalie stop the first shot and clean up the rebounds. This let Minnesota get the puck to center with minimal pressure and then dump it in ... The teams that have beaten Minnesota have done it by pressuring Minnesota's D, by hitting (especially the D and a few forwards who don't like getting hit) and none of these 3 teams had the horses to trouble Minnesota. The remaining 3 WCHA teams all have the speed size and personality to go after the Gophers. ======================== As to the Sioux, I liked our regional and matchups also. And I like the semifinal too. I like our chances against Minnesota better than DU or CC. Nice.

Minnesota is probably a better TV draw than DU or CC ... I bet the Gophers play their opponent in the evening game.

I think Cornell is more dangerous than Minnesota, just because of the hot goalie factor ... Hard to believe the ONLY time the Sioux and Gophers have EVER met in NCAA tournament play was 1979. (Cary Eades was on that team.) Its time for revenge.