dagies

I agree, and I would be happy with just the goalie. I think the defensemen can make that first pass and we can get by with that. Look at how much better our transition game is this year with experienced forwards than it was last year?

I like Ryan, and hope he finds his groove. In the games I have seen him play this year I think he can be a factor. IMO he has generated some chances, and made some good plays, but just hasn't been able to finish. I like that he is fast and quick and works very hard. I'm hopeful he could step in to Spiewak or Notermann's role next year.

walk-on. I don't count them as "cuts".

That is the exact same thing he said last year right before or during the playoff series with MN. I think it is more a motivator than a threat. The 2 people who didn't come back this year from last were Faul and Fournier. We know Fournier left on his own accord, and Faul did too. He didn't play much at all last year and someone who knows him posted her this fall he just couldn't take the bench again all this year. So Blais didn't cut anybody, and I doubt he will this year.

My suggestion is to find a place down on Columbia. Short drive from the arena and close to a lot of the BW3/Applebee's type bars for after-game action. Otherwise all the other mentioned locations are good for the traveler.

Great stuff, again. Hey, Duluth fans. Better make sure to get this quote straight to Sandelin. That'll make Blais sorry he said it:

I agree with a lot of what you say. I will say I have learned this year to appreciate the big Sioux defensemen, even if they don't have the offensive skills of some of MN's defensemen. In general they have played a better defensive game, offsetting the lack of offense they might generate. If they can make the first pass to talented forwards, that is good enough for me. I agree with you on Greene only to the extent you consider his stupid penalties. If he cleans up that aspect of his game he's as good as any defensemen that came into the WCHA this year, in my uneducated opinion. I like speed as well, as I think that can cause and create an awful lot of opportunities. You can't hit what you can't catch. If the REA was an Olympic size rink maybe those faster smaller teams would be the way to go. But on the smaller rink, maybe a nice mix of speed and size is a good way to blend the team. I thought coming into the year we were concentrating on size to the detriment of speed. If there is sufficient skill with the size, I'm happy with the way things are. I will be happy to see Murray come on board next year as I think he's pretty quick. From what I have read on these boards about Stafford, it sounds like he has pretty good skill to go with his size.

Yes, I did. I was just responding a bit to a small disagreement I had with a UMD fan on USCHO who was going to make sure that Sandy saw Blais comment that Blais thought they could run the table. They thought this was damning locker room material.

Maybe someone ought to make sure this gets to Coach Blais. That'll show 'em

Speaking of local GF boys, here is an article on one. Anyone know if he might be on the radar screen? http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/s...rts/5263797.htm

Here'e what I like about them too. It's not like they were gloating with a lead or anything. End of the period one, 0-0 game. Here's what I get, right in my face in seperate incidents: "YOU'RE F-ING UGLY!" (I'm glad that came from him and not my wife ) "YOUR DEFENSE SUCKS" (Good one. You haven't SCORED yet) I agree, Hrkac, this is a must-win game. Haven't felt that way yet this year but I think we have a team whose confidence is fading and they need some positive reinforcement. We'll see how it goes. As for Canady, I will reiterate. From my less than perfect vantage point, from what I could see, Canady's story as relayed by Sockeye is plausible. More so than if he actually speared someone. However, at the time it happened, Mankato was hitting and pushing after every whistle. I WAS hoping that Brian would just drop the gloves and pummel someone. It was getting out of hand after the whistle.

You can blame tonite's loss on me. Just like 2 years ago my friend and I are there only for the Friday game and we get pasted. Tonite we don't get pasted but we do lose. My thoughts: Sioux were a little ragged but they were on fire in the first period. Anyone criticizing the Palmo on the first line move, IMO, didn't watch the game. The first line was DOMINANT in the first period. They had a myriad of opportunities and just couldn't get the handle on the puck when they needed to. Palmo made some nice passes that helped create opportunities. Ranfranz makes you suck in your breath once in a while but he's getting the job done. And he left very few rebounds out front. He also got very lucky a few times. He was good AND lucky tonite, to keep Mankato to 2 goals. IMO he earned the start tomorrow night too. The Sioux made some bonehead plays in the first period that nearly cost them. I think it was Bochenski who passed out in front of his own net right to a Mankato player. He didn't score but the resulting scrambling ended up in Greene getting his first penalty of the night. Bonehead one too. Second period Mankato scores but I didn't feel too badly. It seems like the Sioux were playing a pretty good game, had a very strong forecheck going, and aggressive offensively. Prpich had a great game, creating several opportunities and scoring once. Blais' comments might have lit a fire under him. But as the second period went on, we thought we noticed the jump leaving our boys skates. They just didn't have the zip they did in the first period. Maybe it had something to do with all the special teams play in the second period, I don't know. But they lost their edge. 3rd period was more of the same. The Sioux were in the game. They just needed to convert. But as time went on, Mankato began to smell blood, and the Sioux began to look a bit overworked. Last minute + was just embarrassing. One Mankato forechecker is able to beat 3 Sioux players and maintain the puck behind our net for a LONG time, blowing any realistic last rush opportunities. That was THE most disappointing part of the game, IMO. No, as the game wore on the Sioux looked less and less confident. Parise and Bochenski played well together, I thought. So did Palmo with them. I was surprised to see Notermann back on that line, to be honest. That's no shot at Jason, just Palmo DID look to me like he was effective with that tandem. We were on the opposite side of the rink from the Canady situation, but didn't see he did anything blatant. He really argued vociferously with the ref so he was either desperate or really upset that he got a bogus call. I don't know. Parise and Bochenski had to fight a lot of body contact tonite. They have to fight through it. My concern is that this team is now losing confidence. They look like they have a goalie to count on. Let's hope they can keep working hard. Sooner or later the goals will come again. This game could have been 6-4 either way with all the very close missed chances for both teams. Oh, I know it is just individuals, but Mankato has the most classless fans I have encountered ever. This goes back beyond tonite, but from yelling through the SSB, to yelling at my body and I in the concourse between periods they have the largest percentage of punks in their fan base.

Yes, with the extra emotion that the mankato fans are bringing little would be sweeter than spoiling that party. I'll be there tonite and I want to see it happen. Plenty of Mankato fans had a good time at my expense a couple years ago during our 6-2 loss. Hopefully, this won't be Part II of that party. I'm confident the team will be ready to play tonite. But so will Mankato. If Ranfranz can keep them off the board early I think the Sioux will have a good chance to pull out a win. What do I know. Anything can happen. I do believe it will be a good game all around. Should be fun to watch.

YES!

A buddy emailed me the following after watching that game:

From reading these articles I believe Eaves did in fact do what Leavitt said he did. Eaves doesn't even come close to denying it. BUT, from reading what Leavitt said about his own behavior, I don't buy it for a second. I've been around the block enough times and heard people tell enough stories about their "clean" behavior and frankly Leavitt's comments fit the MO of someone who is working a bit too hard to fit his halo. No, I believe Leavitt brought some of this upon himself (I don't mean to infer he deserved anything physical. But I believe he brought the situation on himself, and probably helped provoke it). Does that mean I wouldn't want him on the team? Not necessarily. I'm going to trust Blais judgement IF that situation ever even presents itself. But certainly I doubt Leavitt would make us forget Spiewak or Notermann.

Actually, I disagree on Genoway. Genoway doesn't strike me as a player that is out there to spell the first liners. We need him to pot the occasional puck. But it is time for Massen to be heard from again as well.

Wow. While I shake my head at Eaves' actions, I wonder why Leavitt's lawyer needed to be involved. I also wonder at the "demand" to fire Eaves. Eaves was way out of line to be sure, but it kind of seems to me Leavitt and family are trying to throw their own weight around. If he should leave the WI program it would be interesting to see if he would consider playing for the Sioux in the future. We don't need prima donnas on the team. If he does come I hope we have strong leadership like this year to make sure he minds his P's and Q's, ala Fournier.

PCM, forecheck, kr et al. THANK YOU!!!!

I'm guessing he's goofing around here.

2 extra seats, ya say.....................hmmmmmmmmmmm

Only there Friday

The one thing I would say is I don't think anyone is blaming the admin of the POI site for what happened. You can't be blamed for a server getting hosed up and you can't be blamed if someone hacks you.

Would a newbie Sioux player be a "Siouxbie"? Here's an article with some comments on a couple of Sioux recruits at Lincoln: http://www.hockeysfuture.com/article.php?s...hreaded&order=0