ScottM

Well it's nice to see a pretty broad-based effort last night. Good win for the team. It's nice to see some of the pieces finally finding their place in the puzzle. Hopefully, they build on this and keep working hard. Let's go for another strong win tonight. Still looking for this team to make some noise in March, and perhaps spoil the post-season hopes for another program or two.

I think the primary difference is that Midget teams have more discretion as to who and where they play. In addition, they are not bound by the conference schedules and residency requirements as are MSHL teams. If SSM played a top MSHL team like Hastings, Elk River, AV or Moorhead they would probably kill them just based on the greater level of experience. It would be like having a USHL team come into the arena, as those longer schedules do make a difference even if the players are the same ages. I'm looking forward to watching SSM play next week, and I know a few Minnesota fans who are too.

The first batch of four are already spoken for, but I have feelers out for more. I suspect more will surface around March as the holders find their teams are not going to St. Paul and the tickets start arriving. I doubt the Sioux will be there, but I can't pass up an event like this 15 minutes out my front door. jk and forecheck, I will keep you in mind and email you if I can find any more. Goon, no, it's not Chris!!! But one of the more lucid BC fans.

The St. Louis Park Arena is located at 3700 Monterey Avenue, just off Excelsior, west of France. I looked that stuff up last night, even used a Yahoo map.

I MAY be able to swing some tickets for the Frozen Four in St. Paul, courtesy of a BC fan who has a conflict. If anybody is interested let me know and I will see what I can do.

The guys NEED at least two points this weekend. Not only for standings, but more importantly as a reward for hard work. The work ethic seemed to be there at CC, but they just didn't have the horses to get two or more pts. Hopefully, they transfer that desire and drive to the Tech series. Can't take Tech, or anybody else, for granted, but if they play was hard as they did at the GLI, they should be able to bring home some points.

Well, it does suck to get swept on the road. However, it does seem like the team played with more grit, especially Friday, than during the UAA series. So there is still room for hope. It sounds like the younger guys are continuing to improve and learn the system, so there are glimmers of hope in the Intensity and Consistency departments. As a wise sage once counseled, "Patience."

Most of the bigger sports bars, e.g., Joe Senser's, Champp's, etc. will try to find a game if you can give satellite or channel information. I don't think they would object to finding the game given the large number of UND alumni in the area and the fact that the Minnesota-UAA series probably won't be televised.

Minnesota's football team is a money loser, with men's bouncyball and hockey as the two top money generators. If the football team is a winner, it is going to generate money for any school, not sure if BU's team was very good its last years or so. And it might help Minnesota to actually play in a real stadium not that #### bubble ...

Can we expect to see the score from the '97 title game, instead of the tired, old Maine score from last season? We'll see ...

Dagies, Shattuck is scheduled to be playing at Benilde St. Margaret's off 169 on the 30th, if you're around. I may head out to see our wunderkind, if I'm not too buried in work.

Goon, I found nothing about Dix on the Bruins' site, but found the inactive status on CNNSI(?) or some other sports site. No luck when I punched his name into Google, except for some Bruins related stuff from last season. He may very well be out of the game or in some obscure junior system.

Sounded like another "fine" effort at home. Losing 3/4 pts to UAA, a team they had to beat and should have beaten. Good god, they step up to the plate against Michigan, MSU and Minnesota but play like a sh!t against a team they must beat to have any degree of self-respect or credibility. Can we get them moved over to the old REA for the next series? Grrr.

I didn't see/hear the game, as I was watching another "grand" effort on the part of the Wild. Sounds like the Sioux generally played like sh!t and without the intensity needed to win. Perhaps it's better to bench the deadwood and play with 2 lines of frosh and sophomores, at least they seem to have a desire to get better. "Home ice"? These guys play better on the road, and sure as #### don't deserve any benefit to play in REA. Maybe it would be better to finish out the top-5 and hit the road in March. I've harped on this all season, where the #### is the leadership on this team? The upperclassmen seem to be phoning it in. Grrr.

Looks like SCSU's PC president just can't get enough of this issue. http://www.startribune.com/stories/513/1025080.html

I hear ya, Doc.

I know a bunch of Wisco fans are passing around Steve Johnson's name. Regardless of his lineage, I think they'll probably go for somebody with head coaching experience like Gwozdecky. Either way, I think there will be a certain curve in time (2-3 years at least) before Bucky gets back to old form, meanwhile the rest of the WCHA will continue to develop and get stronger. Sauer was there just too long and let rust develop on his recruiting connections.

Sprig, I believe Lucia received a verbal from a Canadian defenseman(?) in November. Can't remember his name though. Might be on prideonice.com though. Gee, you mean somebody actually gave Sonmor a copy of the NC$$ rules.

####, if Minnesota brought in a player during mid-season certain of their fans would be hailing it as a great coaching move by Lucia. When the shoe's on the other foot though ... These are the same clowns who whine about other programs bringing in USHL and Candians and wax poetic about "pride on ice." Let 'em whine. I like Siembida's potential and raw talent alot. I just hope the rest of the team plays with his degree of focus and concentration. We still haven't hit our full potential yet, but there are flashes of hope.

Adam or no Adam, a good team can play through bad officiating. We barely made it through last night, and managed to sit on our a$$es in the third ... again. Great goaltending was the only thing that kept us in the game, IMO. The rest of the team showed flashes of brilliance, but overall didn't give a great effort. We still have not learned how to play with a lead, and finish off the other team. (See my opinions regarding a lack of leadership.) At least the gophers wanted to win tonight, much like we did last night. Now, if we can only hit that consistent stride. All in all, a nice series, but we still have alot of work to do to finish in the top 4-5. But we did finally find a goaltender ... does Siembida's facial expression ever change? That kid is so #### focused ... it's unreal and quite welcome.

The gophers could be on a 12 game winning streak and the coverage wouldn't be much better.

I was at the game, but after clearing out god-knows-how many Heinekens, many purchased by my Minnesota friends I have a few lucid thoughts, for once. I thought Siembida is the real deal. Seems to concentrate on the entire game and doesn't stand around too much and watch the action at the other end of the ice. Is pretty agressive around the net, not afraid to clear the back side or poke check. Lots of solid, raw talent that can only improve as he gets more game time. The younger guys continue to improve. I thought the overall team played pretty conservative, and somewhat sloppy, hockey, not too many disciplined chances taken. I'd write that up to frosh jitters in Mariucci. I hope the relax and play, as they seemed to moving into the third. Special teams really need to improve. PK was okay, but let Minnesota have too much time with the puck. Needs to be a bit more opportunistic and maybe open up a shorthanded goal or two, or at least move the puck to the other end of the ice. Could be a reflection of Blais' renewed emphasis on the basics though. PP was ... there. We need to find a definite "quarterback" for the PP, I think Boscheski or Massen might fit into the role over time. Good efforts that were rewarded. I expect the gophers to really pour it on tonight, but I hope the Sioux step it up too.

Sprig, you suprised by the Hurl's exemplary coverage. I was just glad I didn't see obituaries or recipes. The old Maine score was back in fine form when I checked.

Kuhninca, if the amount of money I took from my Minnesota friends tonight @ Mariucci is any indication, most Minnesota fans really support their team. However, most "savvy" Minnesota fans I know still worry about mid-season swoons, Hauser and traditional overconfidence. I was just hoping for a 1-2 pt spread, so I was overjoyed, but not overly surprised by a third period comeback in some form. Nice win for the team. Even if we split, I think this win should help the team develop a greater degree of confidence, especially for the younger guys.