dagies

get your tickets early. I'm a believer.

ScottM said it and I agree with it. If the Sioux offense could manage to keep the puck in the other end a bit longer, our D and goalies would look better. This year the offense really struggled to maintain a forecheck I thought. They worked hard, and that created opportunities and odd-man situations, but struggled to maintain control of the puck in the offensive zone. That would have helped out on the D end quite a bit.

HKNTSMN, I agree with you on Kollar. I am so happy for him he ended the year strong. I think the team is going in the right direction. Every time this team has got me frustrated they turn it around and make me a believer. Between the 2nd and 3rd periods in Duluth, and then this past weekend, etc. I really like where the team is going. I think we have good solid defensemen. I don't know about great, but solid. And maybe great, with experience. I like our forwards, for the most part. Good hard working types. Lacking a bit of the flash, maybe. We need a couple of playmakers. Hopefully Parise can play that role. I love how Fournier came on. I really thought it was cool when he jumped the gopher player laying on the ice to get at the puck and center it during OT sat. Play didn't result in a goal but you could see his focus and during the game his playmaking abilities. He lost his composure on Friday and hopefully he can keep that under control. There's one playmaker... My biggest concern is with skilled playmakers, and with defensemen that are really good with the puck. We are making strides in the playmakers area. What about D? There seems to be a couple of camps. MN seems to be almost overloading with offensive defensemen. That may give you a real offensive overload but leave you hanging a bit. The Sioux seem to be loading up with good solid D corp, and hope to keep the opposition from scoring, and hoping to have enough skill up front to score enough to win. After Saturday's game Blais said once again he thinks this team can win a Championship in 2-3 years.

Sicatoka, fair questions. However, with a full compliment of D men, he shouldn't have been in any worse shape than anyone else out there, from either team. OR, was Blais playing primarily a couple of the D pairings? In that case I could understand if he was running out of juice.

He's the only other guy on the team with much for offensive statistics. Good size kid. I only saw him once and am not much for judging talent but I remember thinking #7 looked pretty good out there. http://www.s-sm.org./hockey/prepstat.html http://www.s-sm.org./hockey/prepros.html

Speez, still heading to the Final Five?

Sicatoka, I will say that I like Matt Jones. That said, I did notice him when I watched the reply of some of the action this weekend. I thought Matt got burned around the corner, was caught trying to poke check the puck instead of take the man, and on a 2 on 1 on Friday, was indecisive as to whether to take the shooter or the other guy and ended up somewhere in between, leading to Riddle's goal. Pretty dangerous for me to make these statements as I did not play hockey nor am I knowledgeable enough to know if I am absolutely right. But in watching his play I did not think he had a strong weekend. Now, if you or Sprig or others with more knowledge disagree with me, I am always happy to learn more about the game. I repeat, I do think he has had a good year for a rookie and am glad he is on the team.

Whatever you do don't change your name. If you post in a manner that gains you more respect, more power to you if you have your current name. I agree with what some others say, just take a breath once in a while before pushing the button.

I made this post on another thread here but decided to start a new one. First off, please stay here a while. Feel free to post if you wish. Like any fans in our own "house" we like to bitch and moan about stuff. Just like you do in yours. I'm reading other boards and I see lots of comments about this board. You all seem to come away "appalled" or some other such adjective. Why is that? Yeah, a few negative emotions on this board. Nothing different that what happened on your board after the gopher loss to the Sioux in January. And we here have no different to Hauser than you guys were at the time, and have been to him most of the last 2 years. And I'm reading several posts elsewhere about the Hauser incident. First off, I didn't see it so I am asking any gopher fan who did what their impression of it was. If it was as stated, it was classless, yet most of you gopher fans excuse it because of his "new" attitude, or because everybody from "other" teams was down on him. But I ask you how you would have reacted had Kollar done that to your bench if he won the game last night. All I am saying is, I think the reactions from Sioux fans in the loss are not much different than gopher fans in losing situations. Yet you carry your righteous indignation to the masses. Welcome.

Gopher fans who are reading this site. You all seem to come away "appalled" or some other such adjective. Why is that? Yeah, a few negative emotions on this board.

Look, Handy, you don't have to agree with what is said on this board, but you still have to remember you are in someone else's "house" and so you tone things down a bit. No reason you can't disagree, however. That said, Handy, after the gopher loss to the Sioux on Jan no one sent the whole Sioux contingent over to the POI board to read the emotional responses, and then take it to USCHO to talk about how bad the UM fans were.

Goofer fans want to complain about Bochenski, what about Taffe? He's as cheap as they come. And why can't you call a penalty on either Taffe or Leopold. Both were pulling antics you have seen from Bochenski and yet no call. And this weekend Bochenski really didn't do that stuff other than at the end of the game last night. And the Hauser thing. I hope we could hear from some Sioux players on what that was all about. Man, I'm proud of our team tonite.

I'll believe in guys getting cut when I see it. Bochenski would be the most likely if you look at hockey sense and effort and attitude, yet he scores, so I doubt it is he. Fournier has been looking great, in my opinion. Anyone who watched tonites game saw a glimps of the future, I believe. Blais needs to play Fournier and Bochenski together. Masson? Maybe. McMahon? Are you kidding me? Connelly? Doubt it. That kid played his heart out on the ice I think. He just isn't a scoring type, I think. But he's fast and plays hard. Could be the next Spiewak, and that's not all bad. Canady? Doubt it. Either of the goalies? Doubt it. Too hard to find.

I'll have more to say later. Andy Kollar. I will have nothing but good memories of Andy after tonights game. Too bad he couldn't have got the win but he gave this game everything anyone could ask of him and it was a great game to close out the season. Congratulations, Andy. Way to go.

Geez, once again jk comes in with what I wanted to say. Handy, don't feel you are not welcome, but I was going to say what jk said. You can't go into someone else's home and try to defend every slight that comes your way. I remember very clearly how the POI tribe destroyed Kuhninca after the Sioux win at Mariucci this year because he was a little bit "in their face". After a nasty loss people are sensitive and you have to lay a bit low. I, like jk, see lots of stuff I would like to argue with ppl on POI about but most of the time lay off on that stuff, and stick to regular discussion type issues. I still don't get what all the gopher fans are riled up about Bochenski last night. So he pushed Hauser last night. Criminy you would think he beheaded him the way they talk about him. I really thought he kept the stick work to a minimum even if he didn't play the smartest game. But anyway, tonite I expect to see one of 2 Sioux teams. 1. Same as last night and basically mailing it in. 2. Play a real physical game. Lots of body, lots of checking. Whether that will be enough to carry them through to a victory I don't know. As Woog said, the danger is that you know that the Sioux didn't play well almost to a man last night. If every one of the boys have a better game, they will be much more competitive. And Woog also said the Gophers played almost as good as they possibly could, to a man. So how many WON'T play as well tonite?? We'll see in a couple hours. My pride requires a win.

I'm sure if I saw anything but attractive women doing something called a butt dance I turned away quickly. ;-)

I have to wonder about Blais comments. For instance, one game really won't make or break anyone, do you think? If so, then that would mean Dean's mind is already made up, which fits what you have been saying. Or, he is using this to put the fear of another poor effort into the team.

Handy, I was in section 15, top row. I was wearing the old Sioux green road Jersey #87 on the back. My buddy has the new black ice jersey. I was looking around to see if I could pick you out but all I know about what to look for is a tiny picture of you with the POI group at one of your skates so really didn't know how to find you in real life. Yes, we stood most of the game cause no one was behind us until the 3rd period. If it was you yelling at me I probably thought it was the 15 year old idiot (see previous post) who thought it was funny to yell up at us and ask us why we were standing up. AS for the game, I didn't think Bochenski had a good game at all last night. Like others I question his effort. I have also not been happy with his stick swinging, but last night I saw none of that from him and I don't know why goofer fans are on him for last nights game. He did take 3 penalties but they were of the tripping sort. As for Ballard, I ask myself why he seems to be the target for many of the Sioux players. I wonder if there is more to this than just hacking Sioux players......... Only had tickets for last night so won't be there tonite. Sorry to have missed you Handy. I was actually looking around in 14 and 13 but really didn't know what to look for. I did see the 2 guys in the yellow hockey helmuts. Were you there?

I'm a Bayda guy. I hope he doesn't leave. This guy plays his guts out on the ice. Skarp would be my other vote for top player this year. As for unsung hero, I probably vote for R Hale. Not much for points but I have never seen the guy going half-way and he is VERY strong on the puck. I think he has a chance to put up some numbers next year.

I'm just glad I was at the game and didn't stay up late to watch it at home. My buddy and I decided it is probably best to watch a nasty game like this in person. At home you can't scream and blow off steam quite as well. Boy, this game sucked. What good can you say of it? Well, I did think McMahon had a heck of a game. There's a player I think has really come on. And it matters little to that assessment that he scored. He was all over the ice, causing problems for the goofs, and I thought played very well. Expect good things from him in the future because I do. Kollar looked great in the 3rd, I thought. Very quick and confident. I hope that can carry over into tomorrow. I'm no goaltending expert, but I thought Siembida played all right too, but he got hung out to dry by porous D and some bad luck. Seemed like the pucks were bouncing to the goofs the whole first half of the game. Every bounce, carom, deflection went right onto a goofer stick. You can't blame that all on bad luck, because effort and skill improve those chances. Goofers move that puck with ease. If it wasn't the hated goofs it would have been beautiful. I thought the Sioux skated hard, but I didn't see the intensity. Not much hitting at all. And that surprised me because it looked like the team was really up during warm-ups and in the first minute of play. The Sioux started taking the body a lot more after the timeout. And in the 3rd period. Maybe the goofs started sitting back but the Sioux were actually able to sustain a forecheck at times and create some chances. Too many bad D plays. And that is by the team, not just the D men. Too many goofers let to skate between 2 guys unimpeeded, or Koalska left to skate around in front of the goalie at will. This game provided many highlights that Fox Sports will use on goofer broadcasts for years. Bastards. Bad game all around. We're sitting in the top row, no one behind us and so we stand up. A couple young goofer dorks started yelling at us from 10 rows in front of us that we should sit down since we were getting beat so badly. Then one of the friendly fools decides to give himself some yucks by coming to stand behind us and say stuff like "Sioux Suck" and "Why do you guys drive all the way down here to get your asses whupped" and the really clever one "How does it feel to be shorter than a 15 year old". After he came up a second time there was a long pause of a few minutes and I had to crack up when my buddy turns to him and says "What's the matter, did you run out of snappy one-liners?" The Sioux really seemed to play less intense right after Canady got hurt. Anybody know the nature of the injury. He tried to take a shift after that but apparently this is not a Brian Gionta injury because he had to sit for the game. Also, what caused the ugly scrum at the end of the game? My buddy and I figure the goofs must have really said something because you don't see Bayda and Skarperud acting that way normally. Bochenski needs the 4th line tomorrow. Move up Masson. What did Blais have to say after the game??

Goon, you are probably on me for being critical of Bo and Canady. First, let me establish that I am glad both these guys are on the team. Second, I really am glad they are both on the team. Third, I would love them even more if the could keep the sticks to themselves. Maybe Bo was goaded into reacting against MN. I say pop 'em one with the glove, then. But the stick is a nasty weapon, and I'm sure it is easy to use but to me it is not the way to get back at someone. I agree with you that it would be nice to see Bo drop a couple goals this weekend. I think he might, too. I am so excited to get to the game I can no longer work.

I don't understand the fascination with going D-1.

Ok, I'm all ready. 25 copies ready to hand out. 1. Copy of the SI article 2. Copy of the Logo and Ben Brien's explanations of the symbolism 3. Excerpts from several articles with quotes from ppl like Erik Enno, Ben Brien, etc 4. Links to all the sources for the skeptical to verify. 5. A few pages printed off the UND web page regarding Native American programs and opportunities. Now all I need is someone to protest...........

Thanks all. Finally found an issue at Borders by Ridgedale. However, I am not hearing hide nor hair of a protest. No matter. I will put my materials together and I will have them for next year if necessary. I read the SI article. It really is quite good, I think, and pretty well balanced. Naturally I would think that because I believe it supports my own feelings on the matter fairly closely.

Here's full article from the Herald: http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/sports/2808598.htm I like Blais take on the team as well as Skarp's comments. Sounds like the right mindset is there. Let's see if they can execute. I can't wait for tomorrow night!