KBG

Thanks for the accusation but I was in Buffalo without internet access. Glad you conisder me to be one of at least three negative posters on this board. I don't stoop to that level, and if you knew me in person you'd know that. I don't know who the person behind that new moniker is, but when I first read the post, the spelling/grammar/capitalization/punctuation sort of tipped me off to who it *might* be.

Not sure if you're a baseball fan but St. Louis is the best baseball city in the USA. I hate the Cardinals, but I went down there two years ago for a Twins game and that city LOVES their baseball and especially their Cardinals. And they have professional sports teams in the only three sports that matter, all of those teams being perennial playoff competitors. And the Arch is just plain awesome!

Greyeagle, I think that may be a mistake. WPoS actually wants opposing fans to come on POI and stir things up. He may deny it, but anytime you see a thread on POI about another team choking (e.g. "0-fer RATED!") or trying to get a reaction from opposing fans (e.g. "Where have all the Opponents gone?") you know that WPoS started that thread. So he posts on POI in a way that promotes opposing fans getting riled up. I hope he posts here differently than how he posts on POI.

hmmmmm.....

Gophers 4, New Hampshire 3...overtime goal scored by Grant Potulny. I'm not trying to be totally ironic here, because I think it just might happen. Now if money was on the line, then I'd say New Hampshire 4, Gophers 3...anytime I place money on my own team they lose, so this would be my "If I were a betting man..." pick

flatspin7s got it right

Where have I shown any disrespect? Just because I'm not brainwashed into thinking that the Sioux having 7 banners means they are the best hockey team in the Nation--even if they barely muster a top-5 finish in the conference--doesn't mena I'm being disrespectful. And Greyeagle isn't respectful, he's a cowardly suck-up who tries to make everyone happy. Choose a side, GE!!

By 2010 the University of Minnesota will have at least as many banners as UND. Mark my words.

I am cheering for the Sioux today. I don't like UND during the season, and obviously I'll cheer against you tomorrow after you beat Ferris State, but I always cheer for WCHA teams (except Wisconsin and SCSU...just can't do that). Plus I think a UND-Gophers matchup Saturday would be a lot more exciting, intense, climatic, etc etc etc...than a Ferris State-Gophers matchup. Go Sioux! GO GOPHERS!!!

I'll be there in my Ballard jersey Friday and a Crowley/Bonin-era blank jersey Saturday...section 15 or 16.

We have a lot more than two chants. You just hear the "M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A...." and "Always were!!" chants the most because we're always scoring goals and successfully killing off penalties.

skateshattrick- first of all, us Gopher fans do not claim Sid Hartman. We cannot stand the guy. He knows NOTHING about college hockey. Two weeks ago he wrote something to the effect of "the Gophers may end up playing the NCAA Regionals at Mariucci Arena." NO CRAP, we are the host school!!! He's an old moron who knows s*** about hockey but just tries to cover all the sports. Please do not associate him in any way with Gopher hockey. Secondly...what is Midwest Sports Channel? It's been Fox Sports Net for a couple years now

I still am awestruck every time I skate at Mariucci, and I've skated there 8 times now. I'm anxious to see the new REA...but first we all gotta get tickets. Bertibm isn't having much luck with your ticket office...any chance you guys know how to get a group of tickets for when the Gophers are in town?

Some tempters flared. Unfortunately the PrideOnIcer's had less self-control than the SiouxSports...ers. Oh well, I think once the dUst settles (if it hasn't already) everyone will look back and say it was a good time. Maybe I'm just overreacting to what went on, but I thought some of our players put themselves above the game of hockey.

Would you like some cheese with that whine? Geez...

Ferris State and the Sioux play at 4:00pm Friday The Gophers and Mercyhurst play at 7:30pm Friday The winners of each game face off at 4:00pm Saturday all times CST

Superman, have you watched our 4th line play? In the past couple months, their play deserves to be described as dominating. In the Final Five, they had a couple amazing shifts agains the top lines of MSU-M and CC where the Mavs and Tigers could not get the puck out of the zone. Domination is not all about goals, as Handy stated. If your top line can't even get the puck out of the zone against the opponent's 4th line, then you are getting dominated. Worked. Schooled. Call it what you want to.

Me and some buddies bought our regional tickets a few weeks ago and they said we got the last set of seats together. So good luck!!

Siouxrock, you are the most hockey-intelligent person I've ever seen on a message board. Keep up the quality posts.

But for those who did, it was a fun time. Thanks for sticking around to play the game. Hope you guys had fun and still want to play again sometime.

Since most of your team is probably somewhere on Interstate 94 right now, I thought I'd fill you all in. The game ended with the scoreboard showing a 4-4 final. The Sioux goalie was AMAZING!! They also had a stud player, not sure who it was, short guy with a green helmet and red breezers. Being the grinders we are, the POIers blocked three consecutive slapshots by him, all on the same shift without the puck leaving the zone. I blocked the first one, and my right shin is still throbbing. Hard shot! It was a fun game. I have to say I'm embarassed to have been on the same team as a couple of POIers (I will not name names), but there were a few POIers who really showed no class and I was terribly ashamed to be associated with them today. I apologize for their behavior, and hope there are no hard feelings. We'll have to do this again next year...hopefully you guys can get 10 guys (and gals) to show up so you can take in some more oxygen.

The WCHA picked St. Paul as the host city for the Final Five. The National Champion Golden Gophers call Minneapolis and Mariucci Arena (Olympic ice sheet) home ice. The Xcel Energy Center holds 18,000+. They sold 17,000+ tickets to these games, so they nearly filled it up. What other arenas can hold that many fans? Okay...now of ALL of those remaining arenas, how many are a very central location for the cities of Madison, Minneapolis, Duluth, St. Cloud, Mankato, Grand Forks, Denver, Houghton, and Colorado Springs? Nobody's close to Englestadt except UND (not sure how many fans REA holds). So that leaves the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, which is not close to anyone except Bucky, or the Pepsi Center in Denver, which is only close to DU and CC, and would mean at least 3 teams would have to fly to play. Regarding the announcers, they were off the air, they can say whatever they want. It's not their fault the internet broadcasts cut out the commercials, they are technically off the air, and they had a valid question as well. Would you like some cheese to go with that whine?

Want a cookie? We are 3-0-0 at your new building and 8-1-0 overall in the past two seasons vs. you guys. Also in the last 365 days, we've won a National Title, had a Hobey Baker winner, two All-Americans, a WCHA Rookie of the Year, ...... Our future looks a little bit brighter too!

Strength of Schedules: North Dakota - .5172 - 24th in the Nation Minnesota - .5650 - 3rd in the Nation Parise and Vanek both played the same WCHA schedule (give or take a few due to the unbalanced schedule games), and Vanek won ROTY for the WCHA. The strength of schedule numbers I put above include the WCHA schedule, which makes up 65-70% of both teams' schedules. So having played virtually the same schedule for 65-70% of your games, it's really quite *interesting* to see that UND's overall schedule is 24th in the Nation, while Minnesota's is 3rd. I guess once you factor in the 30-35% of non-conference games, you really see what a difference the non-conference schedules make. MINNESOTA Non-Conference Schedule (sorted toughest to easiest with RPI ranking in parentheses): at New Hampshire (3) at New Hampshire (3) vs. Boston College (7) vs. Michigan (9) vs. Ohio State (13) vs. Michigan State (17) vs. Yale (24) vs. Alabama-Huntsville (32) vs. Alabama-Huntsville (32) NORTH DAKOTA Non-Conference Schedule: vs. Michigan (9) vs. Yale (24) vs. Brown (28) vs. Niagara (38) vs. Niagara (38) vs. Bemidji State (40) vs. Canisius (52) vs. Canisius (52) vs. Canisius (52) vs. Princeton (58) WOW!!! That's all I can say.... Your weak non-conference schedule is a huge reason we were all fooled at the beginning of the season. Once you got into WCHA play you faltered and barely mustered a 5th place finish. Heck, you went SEVEN straight games without a win at one point.

Chad Roberg was on it too. What's your point? By the way, I'd rather have a National Title than be on the Hobey ballot or win the WCHA R.O.Y. award. At least Vanek's got a shot this year... (see ya Sunday at 'Tonka!!)