skateshattrick

He left after a disagreement with Dean Blais over Siembeda.

Please! This one is not even close and borders on absurd. Jordan is an above average goalie on a great team. He's not even the best goaltender on the team, Brandt is, there are several goalies in the league that are better, including Bruckler, Reichmuth and Berkhoel, and he's not even in the same class as Montoya or Ayers. Without Jordan, this team would still be at the top of the WHCA. Zach is one of the best players in the country, a legitimate Hobey Baker candidate, and one of the best to wear a Sioux uniform. Without Zach, this team would not be at the top of the league.

I like your optimism, but I'm not sure that I agree. I think that there are 6 teams with a legitimate shot at the Frozen 4: UND, UM, UMD, BC, Maine and Michigan. Apparently, Miami is also playing well, so they may have an outside chance. Wisconsin is a good young team and has good goaltending, but I think that they are a year away. You can never count out New Hampshire either because they are well coached and have very good goaltending.

Thank you. It is posters like you, Greyeagle, Sagard and WPoS who make hockey boards fun rather than a forum to trash talk.

Yes.

He is a very smooth skater, tall and lanky (he will fill out) and very solid defensively. He very seldom makes mistakes and does not panic. He is not very offensive-minded, but does not need to on the current Moorhead team that is loaded and may have 5 kids who will play D1 at major programs. I am surprised but very pleased he chose UND because he always wears a Gophers hat when he helps with the defensemen camps in Moorhead run by Chip Ammerman.

You are wrong. As a privately-run facility, REA can regulate conduct and speech. It is not "state action" because it is not the government. Even if you could argue that it is "state action" because it involves UND, which is a state run institution, even the government can regulate speech under the 1st Amendment. It is called "time, place and manner" restrictions which are permissible. In other words, the state can regulate speech in certain places, facilities and events, particularly for speech that is entitled to little or no protection. Speech, including swearing, that falls into the category of non-protected speech such as "fighting words" "obscenity" and the like can be regulated without regard to time, place and manner. Disorderly conduct is an example of a nebulous and very vaguely defined term. However, the ND Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of disorderly conduct statutes on several occasions.

Yes. Kyle Hardwick is only a junior, and is considered by many to be the top defensemen for his age in Minnesota. He not only is good defensively but has good offensive skills. Brian Lee and Jon Ammerman of Moorhead (also juniors) have also visited UM and UND (they can have only 2 visits as underclassmen), but both are Gopher fans if that makes any difference. I heard from some very reliable sources that if the Sioux do not land Kyle Hardwick, he will probably end up at Minnesota.

He is a junior forward with Warroad High School. He is very talented.

You may be right. At least he has to be considered along with Brady Murray, Briggs, Backes, Likens and Suter.

No one else recognizes it as it is akin to a club title. However, in pulling up the past champions, you may find this interesting: Of the past 34 NCAA titles (1970-2003), the WCHA has won 17, the CCHA 7, HE 6 and the ECHA 3. In that period, UND, UM and UW have 5. BU has 4, LSSU 3, and Maine and Michigan 2. In the past 25 years, UND has 5, UM and UW 3, Michigan and Maine have 2 each. In the past 10 years, UND, UM, and Michigan have 2, with Maine, BU, BC and LSSU 1 each. In the 70's, the WCHA won 6 titles, HE 3 and ECHA 1. In the 80's, the WCHA won 5, CCHA 3, HE 1 and ECHA 1. In the 90's, the WCHA won 3, CCHA 4, HE 3. In 2000, the WCHA 3 and HE 1. Based on this, it does appear that the WCHA is the dominant conference. Also, if you base this upon championships, UND, UM and UW are the top programs with BU, Michigan, Maine and and LSSU on the heels.

Who cares if they are related to any of the teams in the tourney? There are 64 B teams and 32 A teams from all over the US and Canada that spend an awful lot of money at hotels, restaurants, etc. The economic impact is much higher than the National Fastpitch Softball tournament. Besides, you are comparing apples and oranges. Hockey does not compete with fastpitch softball. In terms of participation and economic impact, hockey is bigger than basketball in Fargo and much bigger than wrestling (although the National Wrestling tournament has also done well for Fargo).

Brady Murray played in the Fargo Flyers Squirt tournament while living in Winnipeg. Patrick Roy's sons played here, and Patrick Roy and one of his teammates from the Avalanche signed autographs. Ray Borque's son played here a few years ago for Littleton. Peter Mueller, who is the "youngster" who committed to the Gophers in 2006 played here for Bloomington Jefferson. These are just a few examples. This is a really great tournament, probably the best squirt tournament in the US, if not North America.

I agree Sprig, and it will probably come down to the Pairwise Rankings. The last time that I looked, UMD was 3rd and Minnesota 4th. I have a feeling that the Sioux will have to face one or the other in Colorado Springs should the Sioux win the league as expected. In a way, I would like to see the Gophers stay hot so they get the No. 2 seed and get sent to Michigan. UMD will also be tough, but at least they don't play on an Olympic-sized rink like Minnesota.

If that is the reason, it is short-sighted. Most people that move into Fargo, particularly those with money, have kids. Kids participate in soccer, baseball, hockey, golf and other sports. If you go to Minneapolis, the sports complexes for soccer, hockey and baseball are unbelievable. Wayzata, Eden Prairie, Blaine, Apple Valley, etc. have far superior facilities to Fargo in all of those sports, even though these suburbs are smaller in population. If you are a young professional (doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc.) and you are thinking of relocating, do you think that might not be a factor? Particularly when the rate of pay is higher in the Twin Cities and the cost of living lower? Furthermore, if you do decide to locate to this area, why not go to Moorhead where they have far better hockey facilities and program? You can always golf in Fargo or the lakes.

I understand where you coming from, but I'm not sure that I necessarily agree. I believe that there is fan support, just not support from the City, the Park Board and NDSU. You have to remember that 1/3 of the season ticket holders at Sioux hockey are from this area. Youth hockey is Fargo has great numbers, just a woefully inadequate number and quality of facilities. The Flyers and Raiders have 15 teams from Squirt to Bantam, the Patriots typically have 9, and there are also some rogue teams. However, these are all private organizations that receive no support from the Park District or City. Fargo recently built 2 rinks, which means there are now 4 public rinks for a city that is over 100,000. In other words, the number of sheets of ice are pathetic. I could go on all day, but there would definitely be support if: (1) Fargo would build a quality arena and (2) the Park District and City would provide some financial support rather than simply supporting golf and softball.

What is the attraction? Is it the ugly uniforms or are you just a masochist who enjoys seeing the Sioux spank your teams around?

Or with Steve DeBus and Dan Woog, 25 year old Gophers.

I agree, and I have never said that. Like any national championship, you have to have a little luck to win. The bottom line, however, is that you won it. There is no asterick next to a national championship. The Sioux caught a break in 1997 when they did not have to go to Michigan. They did not in 1998, and had to play in Michigan. Ironically, the 98 team was much more talented. The Gophers caught a break the last 2 years when Denver and CC had to go to Michigan. However, all they could do was take care of their own business by winning and they did that. They deserve recognition for winning the past 2 years. It's not easy to win a national championship. However, the fact that they won the past 2 does not automatically annoint them as the greatest program in the country, either now or over time. There are many programs that can make a legitimate case for being the best, including UM, UND, Michigan, Maine, BC, BU and even Wisconsin and Michigan State. It's a little like saying that Miami is the best in football. It depends on the era and one's perspective. I would think that people from Nebraska, Oklahoma, Florida State and others may feel differently. As I've said, the biggest problem that I have with Gopher fans and announcers is the arrogance---that they are the best, and they spin the facts to make that case---and the fact that whenever someone else wins, there is always an excuse---"its only because you use 25 year old Canadians," etc.

From my perspective, it has nothing to do with the players, and everything to do with the fans and announcers. The Gophers play a great brand of hockey that is the most similar to the style of UND and CC. However, the Gopher fans and announcers are a different story. As I stated in an earlier thread, Wisconsin fans always cheer for the Sioux and other WCHA teams when they are not playing Wisconsin. Minnesota fans do not. When the Sioux beat Wisconsin, I have never heard the excuses like: (1) the only reason the Sioux won was because they had 25 year old Canadians or (2) the academic standards are lower or (3) the Sioux are a Division II team and its easier to win when you only have to concentate on one D1 sport or (4) the only reason you win is because you recruit heavily out of Minnesota, etc. etc. Bottom line: it is the arrogance and excuses of the Gopher announcers, media and fans. Wisconsin and UND have mutual respect for each others' programs.