roper1313

I don't think it will happen for a long time, if ever at NDSU. Although I love to see new DI hockey programs and would watch some NDSU hockey if it ever happened. IMO I don't think NDSU can affoard to start mens and womens program from scratch. Maybe if they could start another womens program instead of hockey, as UND knows, womens hockey is a drain on funds.

It looks like the financing for a new 4 sheet complex is almost done in Fargo. This will include a main 4000 seat arena that will be for youth, high school and junior hockey (NO COLLEGE). Cost for the main rink is around $20M and $30 for the whole complex. This plan has the support of the park and school boards. IMO, this is the just what hockey in fargo needs. 4000 is the right size, it might be perfect for EDC. The Ralph is empty during regionals and absolulty no atmosphere. Hopefully it gets done, rumors are that close to $15M is already raised!!!

I pretty sure that most Sioux fans would take EJ in a heartbeat. He is a STUD, and will be a first unit D-Man in the NHL. Hopefully Toews will come back from the WJC and have a second half like he did last year.

I think you will see the South side hockey continue to compete with the Moorhead teams in the future. To be honest, this may be Moorhead's last shot at a HS state title for quite some time. The reason for the improvment in fargo is that there are more and more parents that played hockey now have kids coming through the system. When I came through the Flyer system in the 80s and South in the early 90s my dad was one of the 2 or 3 parents who could skate, and was probably the only one who played HS hockey. I was fortunate enough to play against some of the best youth hockey teams in the country (GF Central/North team that won a Bantam national title and a moorhead team with multiple Div. 1 and NHL players) the reason these teams were so good is because their parents and coaches had a passion for hockey that didn't exitst in fargo at the time. A lot of that passion came from parents who played HS hockey and passed that down to their kids. Will fargo ever get to that point? It's hard to say, but the gap is closing by the year.

Both teams need to stay out of the box. Whoever has the fewest penalties will win the game. If south can use their size without getting penalized they might be able to wear down Moorhead. With 12 guys over 6ft. they are a big team, but can't seem to stay out of the box. IMO, Moorhead has a slight advantage at forward, and an advantage a defense. Sounds like Moorheads goalie was finally tested on Tuesday and played well, but I still give the Bruins an edge with Deichert in the net. I hope it is a 1-2 goal game. In past years Moorhead would score the first goal and you could see south deflate and say, "here it goes again". These seniors beat Moorhead last year and should not have that problem. FYI, the coleseum can hold a lot of people, and I'd be surprised if it sells out. If it does it will be real loud in that tin can.

I'm pretty sure Hunter will lose a full year of eligibility. Best of luck.

A couple of days ago John Buccigross of ESPN.com put out his all-star team, and he would like to see Blake get rewarded for his great two-way play. Here's the link. http://x.go.com/cgi/x.pl?name=SEARCH_espn&...&id=2685723

BleedGrn- You've got to be kidding me. D1 hockey players not going to a bar or party. After all these years I don't think Parker is too shocked that his seniors were out getting a bump or two, or three... Have you ever been out with any of the hockey players on a Saturday after the game. Let's just say up in Duluth in the mid 90's there was a little steam being let off by the boys. I'm sure the UND players are locked in their dorms/houses drinking a O'Douls and playing yahtzee on a saturday night.

Duluth actually hung a banner for third back in 2004. I'm a UMD grad and that was pathetic.

I've hear both, but initial reports had Montana State going to play Texas A&M, now I've heard Tech from a few different sites, so who knows. I think it has been confirmed that the Bobcats have already scheduled a DII team for the NDSU date. I'd love to see UND go down to the Fargodome, and I'm sure it would be good for NDSU's bottom line, as they were expecting close to a sell out with Montana State.

After reading the last page of posts I hit my head on my keyboard so hard my eyes started to...... Must be blood.

Where can you purchase the $65 parking pass, and how far is it from lot to the REA? I've had it with the shuttle busses. One too many trips where the drivers are not paying close enough attention and stopping short, and that's scary with 2 little kids on a bus jam packed full of people. Thanks.

I disagree redwing. I've seen a few south games this year and there is nobody in the state that can stop their running attack. South's line averages close to 300# and if they choose to they can just pound it down other teams throat. Most of the starters on this team went though the disapointment of last season and from what I've hear this team is very focus on taking it one game at a time. This is probably the best south team since 1990 which ranked in the top 25 nationally. I'd love to see this team play Eden Prairie and Creiten (sp?). They might not have the top end talent, but I don't think many HS teams could stop the Bruins running game.

We are in Fargo and got ours Yesterday, 9/13.

Do you think?? IMO, the State's needed to look at this issue 20 years ago. I believe we have close to the same number of institutions as MN, but last I checked our population was quite a bit lower. This will be a tough row to hoe with the western legislators. Maybe we need to focus on building one of the western campuses to a larger regional university. This way we'll have the two national institutions, in the east and a midsized D2 university in Dickinson, Bismarck, or Minot. Something needs to happen in the next 10 years or else we could see huge cuts in the future. What does everyone else think??

You could also add a couple of ND boys, who are playing juniors in 2006-2007. Of course this depends on if they develop fast, and become WCHA prospects: Marc Mahulka (F-M Jets) Paul Weisgarber (Waterloo) Jordan Willert (Tri-City) Mihulka and Weisgarber will probably need two years of Juniors before being ready, but Willert might be a possibility for 2007. Jordan has WCHA size and should, make a big jump this year for Tri-City.

To add to the topic of Vandevelde. I've spoken with quite of few Moorhead players over the past couple of years and to a man they all expect Vande to make a significant impact. I dont' think 30+ points is out of the quesiton.

Did you send this via e-mail or USPS? If e-mail do you have it handy? I'm sure there are a few others who would like to get in Earl's ear.

These are the exact same comments that we heard after Greene's and Smaby's freshman year. IMO Finley progressed better than those two during his freshman year. I didn't notice him much during the year, which is a good thing for a big, young stay-at-home defenseman.

The best defensemen in the world get burned on a weekly basis in the NHL. It's part of the job. I'm pretty sure if we looked back on the Sioux defenseman in the NHL we could find tape where they have been burned. One play doesn't make a career. Oh yeah, I forgot, bench, JP, he had a bad game against BC.

I willing to say that Smaby is as good, if not better than Greene was when he left. I don't think Smaby brings the same mean streak that Greene does, but IMO Smaby was one of the top 5 stay at home defencemen in the country this year and if that's not good enough I don't know what is. Smaby is a little better than Greene was offensively, adjusted to the college officals a little better, and is one of the best open ice checkers I've ever seen. Family advior or not he's ready to go. No question.

Actually we missed most of the late snow that you got up in Grand Forks. The snowpack in GF was quite a bit higher than in Fargo the week of the Regionals. This flood has come on so fast it is almost rediculous. Last Tuesday there was significant snow in the fields surounding F-M and the rivers streams and coulies were full, but not overflowing. Last Wednesday the temp hit 52 and the wind was blowing. By thursday evenings all hell had broke loose as every stream and river was flooding. It is amazing how fast the water came up. The Red was rising 4-5 feet per day late last week. Last week Monday there was less than a 50% chance that the Red would crest at over 30 ft. in Fargo. Tonight we are supposed to see a crest of 37.5, 3rd highest in 100 years!! Let's just pray for dry weather for the next couple of weeks. Good luck to everyone in Grand Forks. At least both cities are better prepared for this.

My boss and I are having a long, late lunch at Hooligans in West Fargo. The Sioux haven't lost an early semi-final yet when we are at our "meetings".

I've been trying to find out who has control of the arena for about 30 minutes and to no avail. I still think that the rumor is a bunch of crap, but would like to see a link to the management/ownership agreement for my own reading enjoyment. Thanks.