dagies

Geez, Diggler. Andy's not even "cold" yet.....

Reminds me of school. I always have a lot of people to look up to!

And how would this change anything? You think gopher players don't talk smack to other teams? Oh, yeah. That's right, I remember now. I remember Lucia's quote "It seems whenever anyone is smack talking on the ice, North Dakota's involved."

A big thanks to Jim Dahl and GDM and any others responsible for this site. I cannot say (may not even know) how much depth this site adds to my fan experience. Thank you.

I've moved up to 57th on bracket scoring. That's second round material. If I get the right offer, I might have to bolt early for the pros....

I don't think that was an intentional act, therefore I wouldn't have called it a spear, but certainly warranted a high sticking call. I think a high stick call went against the Sioux in the gopher game (goligoski). We could have used the PP there. O well.

Amen.

I don't have a problem with what INCH wrote. I think they're saying that he played very well as a defenseman, and usually a defenseman that plays well doesn't get mentioned. However, it was just plain bad luck that pucks went in off his skate. Not his fault, but he's going to get press because of it.

That's a great quote by Eades.

I'm a little more disappointed this morning in not winning the game than I was last night. Still just as proud of this team, however. I didn't realize they put 23 shots on Mannino in the 3rd period. Unreal. But Denver did a great job of clearing out second chances, and most of the second chances the Sioux had were in tight. Still comes back to bounces. Denver got them this time, and the Sioux didn't. Mannino was just a slight bit more lucky than Parise.

I would go to do this but it's 5+ hours from the cities. Ain't going to happen. But they deserve it. Please give them my regards.

DU is the defending champion, and was probably playing the best hockey at the end of the year. IMO they beat the Sioux at the game the Sioux have been beating other teams at the last month+. They were just as physical and won many small puck battles, especially in the offensive zone. Mannino was outstanding. Talking with SODAK SIOUX FAN, we both agreed that DU matches up very well for the type of game the Sioux were playing at the end of the year. Still, the Sioux gave them a game for 60 minutes tonite. Instead of a 4-1 game I see it as a 3-2 win for Denver. The Sioux would like to have the no-goal called their way, and we'll remove the empty netter just so it looks better. I think the Sioux wrung as much out of their team as they could here at the end of the season, and left nothing on the ice. They got beat by a better team (IMO) and played about as well as they could have played tonite. They didn't get the bounces. What if DU's first goal bounces a different direction off Smaby's skate? What if the puck doesn't bounce over McMahon's stick on the 2-1? What if the ref is standing where Fabian was on the no-goal? I have no issue with the no-goal. Sure, I believed it PROBABLY did cross the line based on the replays I saw, but I can understand why it wasn't called in real time, and I can understand why it wasn't overruled. Ahhhh. Thanks, Sioux, for the memories.

I'm strangely ambivalent about the loss. I felt like I wanted to die in 2001, but this isn't really bothering me even though going into the game today my gut told me the Sioux would cap this season with a storybook ending. It didn't happen. This game was very very close. It's always disappointing to lose, but here's my silver lining: 1. They won the most important game this weekend. 2. Back-to-back is apparently no big deal. The Sioux were an overtime bounce away from it in 2001 (I know, that doesn't count). MN takes 2002-03, and Denver comes right back and does it 2004-05. This is so "cliche" that I almost puke saying it, but it still fits so well in this situation. This team is a championship team to me. The run at the end of the year was just as satisfying. Even without taking the title, I'm still as proud as if they had won. Great job, Sioux. Great job.

In today's INCH notebook Zajac says that revenge is always in the back of the mind, but winning this big game "would be so much better". I think that says it all.

Sorry. It's not like you can't defend yourself!

Hated to lose that but it was a barn burner of a game. One of the best games I've been to as far as action, changes in fortune, etc.

I think the point is he DID know, and he used it to his advantage. Keeping his TO in his pocket in case of emergency. Mikejm, my buddy and I asked ourselves the same question last night. Why didn't he use his TO and slow the MO. Then I read that this morning and I had the same thought as you. I guess that's why he's behind the bench and not me. Well, that and he can skate.

Hak didn't hurt his chances last night...

In INCH's Notebook on the Denver/CC game they mention how Gwoz was so ticked and ranted after that shot by Dingle that Matt Laatsch said he left the bench area to get away. Too bad Gwoz wasn't that upset by the Bina hit. I know, I've defended Gwoz by saying it is possible he didn't actually see the hit himself. Could be true. But was surprised to see that he was that upset about some showing-off compared to the dangerous hit to Bina.

jojordan23, thanks for your service. Keep your head down.

That's a question I like!

BTW, was that Jake Brandt you could here on the telecast last night? At times you could clearly hear someone ridiculing gopher players over the air. Pretty humorous.

Smaby has been playing very well as of late, and he's been physical as well as effective. He hasn't made too many trips to the box either. I think the whole "big defensemen are at a disadvantage due to the new rules" is bogus. I think it's just assumed that big defensemen have a problem. I don't buy it.

I don't agree. I listened to 'CCO last night on the way home from watching the game. Lucia said that usually at this time of the year the best team wins the game, and the best team won the game last night. I thought he was very deferential in his comments after the game.

jk, good to hear from you. I sent you an email. On the telecast the announcers were saying it was a pretty short list of Gopher players willing to go in front of the net tonite. What a great game to be a Sioux fan. I was nervous as heck, and frankly that middle part of the 3rd period warranted my nerves. Just when I began to think this game was in hand, the gophs get 2 quick ones and suddenly I could envision bad things happening. But once again, the Sioux weathered the storm and worked their way out of it. Very impressive performance. I think Parise's save on Smaagaard might have made the difference in the game. (someone else mentioned that before me on here somewhere). How dominant was the Stafford/Zajac/Spirko line tonite? And Stafford was fantastic! Again. Eric BoFabian. Parise. What a great night. The 2 weeks did nothing to hurt him. Hopefully he's not wracked up after that big collision. How about the solid, physical play of our defense, all around? Harrington....you said our guys don't like to get hit. Funny Irmen ended up charging Greene. Looks like your teammates had the worse trouble controlling themselves after being hit. Parise dodged a bullet when he came out of the net in the 3rd period, and the puck ended up out in front of the net. A bit more luck on the shot and this game would have been way different. Right after Canady takes the extra penalty and I was having flashbacks of mistakes the Sioux haven't made for a month and a half. Fortunately they didn't have to pay the big price. Canady did come back and play very very well after that. Way to go Brian. This win against a tournament tested/successful Lucia will bring a large measure of credibility to Hakstol. Win or lose on Saturday night, opposing coaches won't be able to go into recruit's houses and talk about how the program is faltering now that the legendary Dean Blais is no longer at the helm. Hakstol brought in a very good class for next year, and in his first year as coach has worked out the early season kinks, and has some players making contributions that they didn't give under Blais. I think this late season run has been even more far reaching in it's importance than just it's impact this season. Way to go guys. One more game to go.