burd

Murphy put on some good moves Sunday. It will be interesting to see how he develops.

I didn't see anything wrong with Rory's comment. Just sounded like an honest opinion to me.

It's hard to know when you see the game online and not the whole ice in person, but I thought Murphy showed some good things when he touched the puck last night.

Sorry. My bad.

Some good points, but I completely disagree about Grimaldi not passing. He dishes the puck too quickly sometimes.

Now there's some memories . . .

How much time do you suppose they have had to practice the PP?

Where's my American Tire commercial?

I knew I would love a guy who would dive on a backcheck in an exhibition game. As it turned out, it wasn't the only diving play he would be remembered for.

I was trying to remember some memorable moments against Manitoba. Was it against Manitoba where Evan Trupp made that great backcheck play where he dove and flipped the guys stick off the puck on a breakaway?

There was a time when this rivalry was fueled in part by Northern Minnesota kids in Warroad, Roseau, Thief, etc identifying with UND's smaller, rural character as opposed to the mpls/stpaul kids and wanting to play and beat them while playing for UND. Northern Minn and the range claimed an ownership of the hockey tradition in the state, much like kids growing up in small towns all over Canada did. Now, kids headed for D1 college hockey end their high school years playing in far from home, teammates with kids from all over, including former rivals. UND and UMinn are neighboring schools with a great traditional rivalry, but it will wane, IMO. I hope I'm wrong, and probably am, and I will still get juiced up for the games they play against each other, but it will slowly change. But don't throw away those frozen gophers in the freezer--there's still hope.

I really like the class that came in '11--this year's juniors, including Rocco.

I wondered the same about the lack of love for UW. Maybe it's because things have been so down in Madison, or at least perceived that way by the fans, that it will take some convincing. I think the momentum they had last year coupled with the conference change will be good for the Badgers.

No team is feared more than BC, and it's because of their speed and skill, not their size.

Makes it seem all the more remarkable that Greg Johnson stayed for four, even though he left town a little over 20 years ago. He was a special talent when he was a freshman. Very good student too, maybe that made a difference.

When I was a freshman I remember Larry Drader, who played for the Sioux along with his younger brother Daryl (no, not the other brother Daryl) taking me over to the site while the old Ralph was under construction. We sat up high looking down on the area where the ice would be, and Larry talked about how he could visualize it all. I just saw a hole in the ground, but I was blind. He and Daryl were fine people. Jeff Sauer brought CC in for the first regular season game in the building, I believe, and most of us felt the new rink was nice but too quiet. The old barn was a raucous experience--cold and raw. I think Alan Hangsleben played out his second year at the Ralph and went pro, but the teams in those years were not as successful as they were later. The fans still were charged up about it, though. After a dozen or so years in warm weather, hockey deprived parts of the country (and no web to keep track of things), I returned for grad school in 1989 and my wife and I go to the first home game. First thing I hear at introductions is "Who's he, he sucks shat"!! The place was rocking from the start, a great change from the early days when it first opened. I often think back on that first look at the place with Larry and his comments how he could visualize it all before it was finished and those first experiences in 1989 when the place was jumping, the students down on the glass, Badgers and gophers going on the ice, and the intensity that was lacking when it was first built. I don't think he visualized that. So, when fans first started expressing regret at the nicer but quieter new Ralph, I put it in that personal context.

A booth at Judy's?

I'm sure Toews will bring the Cup to the Ralph someday, and I'm sure Nick Leddy will get some real playing time in a Cup final series someday.

I'm really looking forward to watching Grimaldi this year, but I don't think he was anywhere near ready to take the next step at the end of last year. It's a pretty good time to be a small guy in the NHL with the new rules, but they'd eat him up, IMO. He's got quickness, vision, and hands, but he's taken off the puck too easily at this point. One thing going for him, he's used up four years worth of posts and crossbars already.

He's a hell of a college hockey coach, much as he pisses us Sioux fans off. He should be behind the bench somewhere.

It would be very interesting to see what Gwoz would do with UAH. There are a lot of good hockey players out there who are not going to BC UMinn or UND.

Very cool. Only problem is the urge that comes over you when you're sitting out on your seats on a nice summer evening to shout: "Who's he, he sucks sh*t."

Bragging about a poolside tan? Double ouch.

Surprisingly, Kristo is one of the best boards players on the team, and his effort the last two years has been outstanding. He has a legitimate shot in the NHL. He has been far more than just a goal scorer at UND.

That bracket is as good as any. And Providence has been good to UND--three of last 5 Natties were won there.