dagies

Mankato has struggled the last couple of Friday nights, and played pretty well on Saturday Friday Duluth 8-1 L Denver 7-1 L Saturday Duluth 2-2 T Denver 9-7 L Put that up against what the Sioux have done Friday vs. Saturday as jk pointed out on another post the boys are going to have to work down in Mankato and take nothing for granted. I believe a sweep is necessary not only for points but for confidence.

It doesn't yet appear that this would be called for. Reaching out to those who have "the power" is the right first step toward resolutions. I know it has been rocky in the past but I'm an eternal optimist.

Yep, cudos to Aaron, and all others participating in a similar manner. The old cliche "it's not a problem, it's an opportunity" applies in this situation. IF the fans and the admin and powers in control work together we could have greatly accelerated the positive improvements in the atmosphere at the Ralph. Good job all!

We have been awfully spoiled with defensemen like Schneider, Jones, Fuher, Greene coming in the last few years if we think Smaby is a "big disappointment". He's a freshman, again who did not play juniors like most, who is big, skates well and plays physically. It's no surprise that he makes some rookie mistakes. Smaby has made some mistakes there's no doubt. But he hasn't taken the number of dumb penalties that Greene took last year that hurt the team at crucial times and cost some games. If Greene wasn't a disappointment last year, Smaby isn't this year. Greene might have been a little better last year when he was on the ice, but I bet he cost the same number of goals. I have no doubt as Smaby gains experience we're going to be very happy with him. And I think he handles the puck a bit better than some of our defenseman. When he's comfortable, I think that's going to pay dividends.

Dude, have a little patience. He started out very strong, and set our expectations high. But give him time. He's only a freshman, and young at that. He didn't play juniors before he came, so he came in with less seasoning than most. I agree he's faded a bit late in the year from how he started but that's not uncommon with freshman, nor with freshman who go to play a grueling world junior tournament. He's had a decent freshman year. Hopefully we can see a few more points on the board here late.

I'm sorry Superman, and this probably doesn't need to be rehashed, but if you really can't have fun because someone says you can't swear that's pretty pathetic. It seems to me that generally speaking most of the student cheers I've heard have been acceptable. Therefore, I don't think anyone is quashing "many" cheers. Secondly, a slight adjustment in those cheers would probably be just as interesting. Thirdly, I yelled Who's He He Sucks way back in the '80's and before you think I'm a prude I'd still live with that one today. However, I've been mystified as to why the students in the meantime added the extra S word at the end of that cheer. It's harder to yell out, and it makes the whole thing less easy to understand out in the crowd. I've felt this for several years when hearing it. So you're complaining because you can't swear, and I'm always shaking my head because your demand to swear has frankly ruined a good cheer.

DIGGIT!

I think this is a great effort. You have my support from mpls for what that is worth! I think there has to be a good way, as YaneA and others have suggested, to use the big board to communicate to the fans, to help get things moving. And that would be an avenue I would pursue if I was involved with this group. You know what I think would be cool? At critical times during the games (times when they might play welcome to the jungle or something like that) throw up a little spot where Blais says "Come one everybody, the team wants to hear you!" or something like that. Anyway, use that technology even more (seems like they are getting more adept with it) to get the crowd involved. It might be a good way to get the crowd involved. In future years it probably wouldn't even be needed. The cheerleaders would be good embassadors to do a little cheer clinic on before the game. I.e. if there is a new coordinated cheer they'd probably be very cooperative to get on a mike and walk the crowd through it. (Kind of like when they teach you a new song before the church service begins. Hey, Sioux hockey IS a religious experience!) Anyway, you guys rock for trying.

Here's my take. I was at the last regular season game against Denver in the old Ralph. Hadn't been to a game there since graduation in 1987 and was really looking forward to it. I sat across the arena from the students. I was disappointed in the lack of "atmosphere" at that game. No one around me got up to cheer, and there was only sporadic "energy" from the students during that game. I think what we have in the Ralph is a larger building that swallows up the student cheering, and has allowed a higher percentage of the fan base to be those that are less than rowdy. I think that is to be expected. In addition, some of the recent events have had an effect on the students but that should be only temporary until the students quit sulking and the admin actually does something to help get the crowd involved. Time to move on. I DO love the atmosphere at some of the smaller rinks but guess what? I'm damn glad I can actually GET a ticket to get into the Ralph. That wasn't the case in the late 1990's. It's time the Ralph, the UND powers, and the students got together to do what they can to help the situation. Notice I didn't mention the regular joe fan because I believe the whole idea will be for everyone else to sweep them up in the moment. They're not looking to change the atmosphere. We're looking to get them involved. Stream of consciousness stoppered.

Blais could be sending the message to his players that Duluth is very good and that we cannot assume we'll win. This team was ranked #1 in the country most of the year. A short while ago Blais commented that some of the younger players were thinking all they had to do was show up and they would win. So he's reinforcing that Duluth is a team to be reckoned with. Maybe then the kids will get the message that they need to be ready to face the challenge. Sometimes underdog teams do better than the favored.

I was at the Denver series. There were a couple of times I would have liked to have been cheering or yelling at the players or whatever, but the music got in the way. I think they do a pretty good job at making a fun atmosphere at the Ralph, but a little too much canned music, not enough band, not enough cheers.

Who else would you suggest is getting screwed by Shattuck recruits?

That is incredible. What is up with that?

Airmail, he asked if the Sioux games are on the radio, not the coaches show. FYI

Everybody seems to forget that shortly after Christmas Blais said he was looking for someone to be the #1 guy, and gave the first shot to Brandt. Who was average at Tech. Then Parise shuts them out the next night I believe. After that both goalies played pretty well. Parise definitely saved a point in the Denver series. In my mind, Parise was taking over the top spot. Jake had his chance, only did ok. Parise got a chance and was rising to the challenge. Wisconsin comes and both struggled. Parise got one more chance against CC and was inconsistent. I'm with jk, I would guess they'll both play this next weekend. I don't buy any of this baloney about Jake not getting a chance. Jake could do a couple of things to clearly be the top goalie. #1 might be to stay out of offseason trouble and #2 might be to play consistently solid. We can argue whether Jake is a better goalie than Jordan, but I don't think either goalie can make a winnable argument.

A strong women's hockey team only adds to the aura that is FIGHTING SIOUX HOCKEY!

Where is he from and where does he play?

Don't get your panties in a bunch. What Blais is saying is that the Sioux control their own destiny. They don't have to depend on anyone else to win games for them to win the cup. They can do it themselves. That doesn't deny that UMD is in the same situation. If the Sioux play like they should against Mankato and Tech, it will mean the league should come down to the series in Duluth. It will be a dog fight no pun intended.

Listening to the radio on and off, it sounded like Blais called a timeout at one point early in the game. It sounded like Blais was really ticked off about defensive play. Can anyone expand on what all was going on there?

I would expect to see MN looking completely differently tonite. They seem to have put the first half of the season behind them. If true, it should be a tight game tonite. That said, I'm really impressed with Duluth right now. They look to be one excellent team that is playing well. If MN gets handled tonite, maybe they had a nice peak mid-season but the first half form is who they are. Doubtful that's the case though. Would be a great game to watch tonite. Wish I could.

Dogs spanking MN 6-1. Wow. Woog is at a loss to talk about who played well. SIOUX SCORES MATT JONES 5-2 SIOUX!!!!! Anyway...Back to UMD/UM. I like the big scrum in the first period. Everybody's going and big tough Taylor comes in and hits anyone he can find from behind. Little TJ Caig wrestles him and literally undresses him before the refs finally seperate them. Then in the 3rd Taylor and Caig end up in the boards and Taylor starts swinging. I guess he likes picking on guys his own size (think his scrum with Murray a few weeks ago).

LUNDBOHM SCORES JUST SECONDS INTO THE PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!

I thought I heard Tim on the radio say that the Tigers only had 3 shots on goal in the 2nd until the final PP. So far my "hope for's" are holding: We've scored 3 goals by other than the top lines and only given up 2. Let's win the 3rd again and get back to early season form.

Even if the goalies struggle this weekend I will see a silver lining if we can get some scoring across ALL or most of the lines this weekend. Balanced scoring throughout the lineup will make us very difficult to beat. Let's get that back. Then let's see the goaltending return to solid form, as stated above. Just solid is necessary. That's all I need to see this weekend. The 4 points will come with.