farce poobah

I'm just a little surprised there's been no mention of using the old Engelstad Arena "even a little"... It's a pretty decent backup, as long as it doesnt rain in December.

I agree not all NSIC or local non-NCC teams are weak, however, UMC had lost all their other games. This one is embarrassing, agreed. But what concerns me most is that it happens far too often. Like the old saying "fool me once, shame on me; fool me twice, shame on you", If the players don't show up one night, that's their fault. If it happens again (or as a pattern over several seasons,) its the coaches fault. In my opinion.

I think the NCC postseason tournament winner gets an auto-qualifier. I think. Good thing we didn't forfeit any NCC games. Yet. Yeeesh.

Taz - stop it you're scaring me. Oh - and if you can't bear to watch, can I have your tickets?

Sicatoka - brilliant inductive reasoning, dude. Or as Garth Brooks would say "I got friends in I-AA places". The sticking point, I believe, will be a couple: 1) A conference ... but if Omaha goes, I bet then UND and USD go too. 2) There's the question of a decent (modern) basketball arena ... I'm just fine with the wood bleachers at Hyslop but UND would need to get more $$ for the hoops, and REA is too busy for it to work full time. [i am assuming REA / hockey profits will cover women's hockey scholarships while their fan base builds AND generate enough $$ to cover a bunch of other costs.] Can you solve this basketball thing?

So that means they are Division 1 in football... since the Sioux were 2-1 vs future D-1 programs this year, maybe we should schedule them in football too.

Just because he was a good coach doesn't change the fact that HERBIE SUCKS! Just because Dean Blais got his coaching start as an assistant under Herbie doesn't change the fact that HERBIE SUCKS! Just because Herbie is driving the train as conductor of the Underground Railroad from Faribault to Grand Forks doesn't change the fact that HERBIE SUCKS! Just because he sand bagged the CCCP'ers into thinking they really were 10 goals better than the USA in 1980 and thereby creating the complacency needed for the USA to win, doesn't change the fact that HERBIE SUCKS! Just because he moved Dave Christian to defense, which added a great puck handler and positional player to the D, enabling the other big but slow-footed D to not have skate with the swift Swedes, fast Finns and rushing Russians, doesn't change that fact that HERBIE SUCKS! Come to think of it, maybe I'm being too harsh. Naaaaahhhhhh.

And I can't f'in believe people applauded when they introduced Herbie on Friday night. What is the world coming to?

Agree with the comment about the coaches intervention, which might have just saved us all from the black eye of a bona-fide brawl.

Food for thought, as we get closer to the face off face off rip his face off: SCSU win Friday was keyed by [uND personnel moves which led to] 5 even strength goals. But 2 of those goals came against UND forwards who might play, but aren't likely to see nearly as much ice time this weekend (Genoway, Connelly, Canady) ... and the other 3 came from the line matchup that last-change (plus a full complement of D-men) can cover. 5x5, I don't think SCSU can score consistently. (Sioux have allowed just 6 even strength goals in the 7 games since that Friday...) Which leaves as concerns, PK and goaltending - joined at the hip - stay away from SH situations and the shot totals and quality of shots go way down. PK we need to prevent those killer diagonal cross-ice passes ... Barney I mean Mankato scored at least 4 PPG that way last weekend. Drop the puck already. GO SIOUX.

I think the hostile factor went down quite a bit when they moved 1500 student seats to the upper bowl, and frankly I think that's a stupid thing to do. The big arena does need noise, and that's students ... works for Duke, works for Michigan State, ... (sigh) Yes there's a lot of new season ticket holders ... and at least where I am, there's a lot of ticket-sharing / splitting / donating going on ... which fills the seats at least. But does leave a lot of newbie fans who aren't as "enthusiastic" ... The rink'll get louder. Just like new underwear, it takes a while before you get comfortable.

Speez, thanks for the update. I saw a handful of practices during the Panzer-Panzer years and it sounds very familiar. There is no substitute for chemistry ... that 1997 team had how many NHL draftees? like 1? but the rest is history, as they say. You didn't say anything about the goalies ... any observations there?

Not being "inside the locker room", I am just speculating, OK? But ... the reasons Blais would do something - and reasons that are consistent with his philosophy - are basic things like: 1) Low effort ... if Blais isn't satisfied with the effort, even first-round draft choices get benched, or booted down to the NHL. Having played a lot of team sports, nothing ruins team chemistry worse than working your butt of when someone else isn't putting out 100%. 2) Failure to accept coaching ... 3) Conditioning ... 4) Grades ... Again, I don't know the facts of this situation. As a fan, I'm willing to give the current players time to develop, and there's nothing I'd like more. I think Eddie B. has a couple years of eligibility left.

Dude, Thanks! Good stuff.

Thanks for the updates on Tyler. I hope he gets back in there soon. As to my predictions, 3-1, 4-3, home side.

Well, we don't have Pateman to kick around anymore. Or Jackman. Which probably explains the huge number of passionate posts about the upcoming series. I saw the mavs vs. gophers ... and was not "that" impressed. Their D (young) got turned a lot by the gopher forwards, and if Jason Jensen hadn't been solid in goal, they lose both games. Up front, a couple scorers but young there also. As to the Sioux, is there any recent word on Tyler? Otherwise, the roster seems pretty intact. (knock on wood) Predictions?

In one of the games from that era at the Dane, Jon Casey gave up a 200 footer (from Chris Chelios, I think it was ... maybe Bruce Driver) ... I think it was a clearing attempt shorthanded or an intentional icing ... and of course the whole joint was getting on him with the "Casey Casey Casey" thing.

Yup. It was like UAA was late for a party or something. Dump the puck in, don't chase it, wait for the Sioux to bring it back, and once we were up a few goals, we stopped going in with the heavy forecheck, so it was like an NHL game. I remember the games went really fast, like 2:05 or so. THAT team had a bunch of shutouts after Christmas, when Schweitzer came in... although I think Toby Kv s/get a lot of credit, for supporting the rookie goaltender.

Yup, glory years for me were 1977 to 1981; saw the end of the Bjorkman years, and the first of the Gasparini years. Spooky to think that before November 1978, that the "new building" was seen as a fairly neutral, not quiet but not intimidating place to play. And yes,if you stood on the front row bleachers that you could rest your elbows comfortably on top of the glass. Talk to the refs, tell Mark Johnson he was only on the team cause his dad was coach, tell Aaron Broten that he was only on the team because they wanted to recruit Neal, etc etc. With the glass that low, "safety first" was a serious thing. I had Deano for "skating class", it was my most memorable 1-credit class.

That sweep on Feb 21-22, 1997 vs. Alaska Anchorage was the most airtight hockey I've ever seen the Sioux play. (The 2001 national semifinal vs. Michigan State was the best vs a top team.) Clinched the Cup, after 10 long years away from its rightful home. Of course, there's lots more chances for this year's team. Spike Schultz has 4 consecutive shutouts in 53?or54 ... but I don't think any other Sioux goalie has ever gotten 3. Which makes Brandt's 177 minutes possibly the second longest streak in school history. Anybody have more info on the topic?

OK, OK, as long as we're doing gambling references.... Any word on line combo's? will he "shuffle the deck" again? * seems like lines 2-3-4 will get mixed again. * although the list of "regulars" has gotten a little more settled. With Fuher back, defense seems like a "pat hand". * should help the power play. The "wild card" in all this, is goaltending. While I don't expect us to spin a "double zero" as we did vs. UAA in Feb 1997 (back to back shutouts with barely a scoring chance against), I think "snake eyes" is a possibility. But don't bet the farm on it.

Very interesting indeed. Are you suggesting they will "test the waters" or will they just swim?