Hockey Dude

GAME #1 CLASS "A" Duluth Marshall 2, Mankato West 1 (F) GAME #2 CLASS "A" Warroad 2, Litchfield 0 (Start of 2nd) From Section 8A Boy's Hockey Web Site: www.section8ahockeyblog.blogspot.com Warroad is known for Walleyes, Windows and Hockeysticks. Now, you'd have to also use phrases like "Main Street Bullies" to the addage as Warroad used grit and toughness in the first period of play against Litchfield. The Warriors jumped out to a 1-0 lead on a Jeremy Hahn tip-in goal off the blast from Eric Milbridge. Hahn located himself in the mid-slot right and redirected the puck past Lucas Johnson to open the scoring for Warroad. Hahn also scored the first goal of the 2007 MN State High School Tournament against Albert Lea. Junior Dane Shaugabay also assisted on Hahn's tally as he whistled a pass to Milbridge off a Litchfield turnover. Late in the opening stanza, senior winger Andy Pelland leveled a Litchfield Dragon defender but ended up taking the brunt of the collison. Play was stopped as Pelland gathered his senses at center ice. Moments later, senior captainBryce Ravndalen took a Michael Pieper pass behind the Warroad cage and went in untouched as he weaved between several Dragon defenders. As he approached the goal mouth, Ravndalen juked and jived and shot the puck five-hole to beat Johnson. Pieper was the lone assist as the goal came at :08.4 left in the opening period. Warroad outshot Litchfield 13-3 in the opening frame.

Here's a previous post and then I'll comment on Sicatoka: "I'd also say it's the other way around. Oshie owes you. I'll say that again. Oshie owes YOU. YOU are the ones who buy the tickets, YOU pay for his tuition, YOU pay for his equipment, and YOU cheer your guts out for him every weekend, making it possibile to develop his hockey talents so he can bring honor to your school and state and even hit the big NHL payday someday. Oshie represents YOU, the fans of North Dakota, every time he skates out on the ice as an ambassador of your school and your state, and off the ice as well. Oshie owes it to YOU to act in an exemplary way. It's right there in the scholarship agreement he signed... If he goes out and gets arrested twice, he's not thinking about you. He's thinking about him. And that's the difference, folks. He's no longer a kid. You might think you owe him your support, but he's the one that owes you, especially now. You need to be demanding of your student athletes, because without YOU, there is no high profile hockey team. TJ Oshie is a fine hockey player, but you have every right to question his chacracter and judgment..." First off, Oshie doesn't owe any on this board a thing. YOU don't pay for his scholarship (the Fighting Sioux boosters and other avenues do). YOU cheer for him only when the Sioux are winning or he knocks someone on his ass. YOU haven't made it possible for him to develop his talents. YOU aren't the reason he plays every shift like it's his last. YOU aren't the reason he was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2005 and potentially will sign. YOU need to know the facts, he was never arrested for the Judy's incident .. a citation was all he received. YOU are not who he is thinking about when he orders a Subway sandwich or Red Pepper grinder. YOU, yes YOU, are not the reason he's played hurt the last two seasons. He does all that for his team, his teammates, his coaches and all the MEN who played at the University of North Dakota before him. He does all that for that SWEATER .. that JERSEY. The blood, sweat and tears. He does that for all the coaches and mentors he's had since his days in Seattle where no one gave the kid a chance. He does the things he does because it is his destiny. YOU people need to stop treating this kid like he's a murderer. YOU people should disclose all your real names on this board so we can check out your credentials. This kid has given so much to YOU people YOU have no idea. And to treat him the way you have on this board is so typical of hockey fans. Throw a kid out in the street when times are tough .... Boy, we love this kid when he guides us to a National Championship!!!! And when people try to support HIM, you crucify them on this board. Shame on you people. You forget this kid has a Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles. You forget this kid is a human being. I'm done posting on this worthless Forum. You people make me SICK.

Oshie actually played in (11) games with the Sioux Falls Stampede. He was able to make (3) games prior to his Warroad Warrior season and (8) games after. Oshie did this concurrently while playing in approximately (25) games in the 2004 MN Elite HS League. He did play in the minimum of (10) games so Sioux Falls retained his rights for the 2005-06 season but when UND gave him the chance to attend UND in the fall of '05 he accepted. The decision was made final in late May '05 for Oshie to become a Fighting Sioux for the 2005-06 season. So I guess it would be correct that Oshie did come straight from Warroad High School to the UND Fighting Sioux after winning a 2005 MN State Class A Championship.

I have (2) TIX ice level.

More quotes from St. Louis Blues Development Camp yesterday: Oshie will return to North Dakota later this summer for his junior year. "Mostly it's my teammates," he said when asked about the decision. "We have a really strong, close family at North Dakota, and after that loss, it hit me a little harder than it did the year before because I'd been there for two years. "It's my role to try to go back and do what we couldn't do last year." Oshie has been one of the most impressive players after two days at Blues developmental camp this week. After one day, Blues President John Davidson compared Oshie to Blues icon Brian Sutter, the patron saint of talent coupled with hustle, desire and grit. "He's a great player, he kind of reminds me of like a Keith Tkachuk in front of the net," said Blues goaltending prospect Ben Bishop, who has faced Oshie in college. "He's got a lot of skill. He's kind of like a football player out there, but he's got good hands and a good head on his shoulders." Here's the link to a story from the News Republic last night on T.J. Oshie: Prospect makes tough decision: He won't join Blues http://www.bnd.com/sports/blues/story/78420.html Like Triouxper stated in a post from yesterday, Sioux fans this is a real great group of kids who have stayed together to try and accomplish their mission of winning UND's #8 National Championship in 2007-08.

Get insights from this web site on Oshie, Duncs and the rest of the St. Louis Blues prospects: http://www.bnd.com/sports/blues/story/77562.html Here are some quotes: When asked what he hopes Oshie takes back to college from the camp, Davidson shot back, "I was hoping maybe an NHL contract after watching him practice today. This kid's a player. "When you see young players come in, you try to compare them to somebody. With the way he worked out there, and the way he could finish, it just reminded me of Brian Sutter. I saw a guy that just worked his tail off every single time he was on the ice." That's high praise coming from a former announcers well acquainted with the famed Sutter work ethic and intensity. "I'm very happy with the support they've given me," Oshie said of the Blues. "They didn't make the decision easy, but once I made it they made me comfortable with my decision." After practice, Oshie was besieged by autograph requests from the standing-room-only crowd. "I've only been here two days and I'm already loving it," he said. "I'm loving the town and loving the fans, I love the rink, especially the players that are here. We've got a lot of great guys here."

Dude, I thought for sure you would put your $.02 worth in on the Brian Lee thread. You're disappointing me.

My brother, THETRIOUXPER, the chosen one. The heart of soul of siouxsports.com. Just thought I'd give the full meal deal as the Oshie' commitment to the University of North Dakota. Forgot to mention "the source" and "thetriouxper" are #1 Fighting Sioux fans. I can't believe their dedication to this team. Chix wings, cold malts and hours upon hours of the program is second to none. These guys are TRUE FIGHTING SIOUX fans.

THETRIOUXPER is truly one of a kind. Here are the exact details. "The Source" is not TJ Oshie. The Source is the man though. UND athletes are not allowed on these boards. TJ's Ojibwe name is "Kiiwe Kaaboo" which does translate to "coming home" in English. Keeway Kahboo is the phonetic spelling for the english speaking citizens. His dream as a young child was to play hockey and attend Warroad High and be a WARRIOR. Every message board in the state said he was another "Warroad Transfer" yet these people have no idea the story behind it. He had an offer from Shattuck-St. Mary's the weekend after leading Warroad to the 2003 MN State Class A Championship during his sophomore season. That was his coming out party. He turned it down. Leave Warroad HS after winning a title? No way. He wanted to win three back to back to back. If you were to check the record books, you will see that back in February of 1948, Max "The Chief" Oshie scored 11 goals on a goaltender from TRF named Ralph Engelstad. That is TJ's great uncle who passed away this year to bone cancer. You will see back in 1948 MN State HS Tournament an 8th grade kid named Buster Oshie take the tourney by storm. "Little Chief" made the all-tournament team the following year as a freshman. Buster Oshie is TJ's grandfather. You will see the legendary Henry Boucha electrify crowds in the 1969 State Championship where Warroad fell to mighty Edina, 5-4, in OT. Where Boucha was knocked unconscious by a vicious check at Met Sports Center. Boucha is TJ's cousin. Another cousin , Gary Sargent, who played one year at Bemidji State, won a nattie then signed with the Los Angeles Kings and later the Minnesota North Stars. Loyalty there in coming back playing for the North Stars like Boucha did. History, tradition and loyalty are very common in the Oshie bloodlines. As per TRIOUXPER'S correct statement, yes, TJ Oshie could have bolted to play for the Sioux Falls Stampede with Cary Eades leaving Warroad on August 1, 2004, and taking the Assistant Coach position at UND. But, the word and the definition of loyalty is persevering when times are tough. Warroad figured to lose at least 3-4 players to the USHL but they "make a pact" the summer of 2004 and stick by it. Even Coach Eades met with his team before his departure and told his kids to stay in Hockeytown USA. Well, the history to that storybook was finished on March 5, 2005, when Warroad defeated Totino-Grace Eagles by the score of 4-3 in 2OT which has already been labled one of the greatest State Championship games of all-time in Minnesota HS Hockey history. And if you haven't seen the championship winning goal you better. Oshie stretched out on belly after walking a draw to pass to Aaron Marvin who slammed home the winning goal in the open net. Go to YouTube on click on TJ Oshie. It was that goal that caught the eye of the St. Louis Blues to draft him in the 1st round in 2005. WHY? Because TJ Oshie has loyalty, dignity, honor, tradition. The word T.E.A.M. comes before anything else in his mind. Folks, this kid is staying at UND for reasons more than just his. Would the St. Louis Blues take him? In a heatbeat. Would it be the easy decision usually to turn pro and get the last step closer to playing in the NHL. Yes. TJ Oshie is staying at UND because he believes in the university that first believed in him. After a stellar freshman season, some people would say he had a so-so sophomore campaign. HOGWASH. Have you ever thrown a football with a broken thumb? Have you ever swung a golf club with a broken thumb? Have you ever shot a basketball with a broken thumb? Have you ever taken time off with a broken thumb? Most people would say no, except for the last question, because the DL (disablity list) would be full. This kid, when he signed his scholarship, he gave more then just his signature. And yet his signature can now be put alongside the word "LOYALTY & DEDICATION". He has given his heart, soul, body and mind to this institution. And he will until he makes the jump. Not just a few shifts during a game. Every shift. TJ Oshie is a rare breed. You can tell when the line fills up at the Meet The Sioux functions and high school hockey games across northern Minnesota. You can tell when the lobby is full after games with little Sioux fans looking up with a half smile asking for his autograph where not one goes unsigned. You can tell when he steps on the ice every single shift like its his last yet always has the radiant smile coming back to the bench knowing he has 25-30 more shifts that night. You can tell when TJ Oshie gives you his word .... it is as solid as oak! Seattle Junior Hockey, Warroad HS Warriors, Sioux Falls Stampede will all tell you this kid is special. So when this kid tells his teammates, his band of brothers, that he will stay for the team to try one last time to win that coveted 8th NCAA National Championship, this kid means it with his heart and soul. I wish I had TJ Oshie as a hockey teammate. Success has always followed him. Now, he has put himself in a position to accomplish something magical his final season for the Fighting Sioux. For the University of North Dakota who believed in him.

T.J. Oshie carries his Ojibwe Indian heritage with him every time he dons a UND Fighting Sioux jersey. Excerpt from feature by Dennis Dodd: "North Dakota center T.J. Oshie is proud of his Native American heritage. Coursing through his veins is a significant amount of Ojibwa Chippewa blood. Oshie is equally proud of his team. Seven national championships, in addition to its third consecutive Frozen Four this week in St. Louis, make North Dakota the UCLA (OK, maybe Florida) of college hockey. It is the reason the Ojibwa became a Fighting Sioux." Click below to get the full story. http://www.sportsline.com/collegehockey/story/10108585

What a thrill for TJ to having the chance to showcase his talents in front of the Blues faithful tonight while playing for the Fighting Sioux. St. Louis nabbed him in the 2005 Entry Draft where he was an "off the boards" pick where not even TSN knew much about him. Immediately following his selection, St. Louis Blues scout, Mike Antonovich, contacted the producers right away after his selection and minutes later TSN had a special on Oshie and Warroad hockey. Now, with his career at UND that has skyrocketed since his arrival, Oshie has a chance to show his magic at the ScottTrade Center later tonight. Hats off to #7.

Need To Stay The Course & Once Again Keep The Faith I will be the first to admit that the OT goal last night hurt. But, we can't forget the run these kids have made since Christmas break. Too many people on this board are too concerned with what happened in the first half of the season. Do any of the posters on here coach hockey or any other sport? I doesn't make any difference what you to at the start of a season. Just ask Lucia and the Goph's last year and it's looking alot like the same this year for Gopherville. Teams, organizations are built on climbing the pyramid throughout a season or fiscal year. The Sioux did lose some tough games early on but they've learned from those lessons and move forward. People on this board must move forward. Reasons for last nights luckluster at times effort: Denver is called the "Mile High City". Why? Because it's exactly one mile high above sea level. People here in the Midwest have no clue what elevation does to the human body. I coached and played in the Pacific NW and can tell you it takes your body more then one day to adjust to the effects of elevation. I realize the Sioux leave early on Wednesday mornings when they play in Alaska and they should do the same for series in Colorado. The air is thinner which thins your blood. The recovery time after a shift is alot longer then playing at 1,000 feet in GF. Some players don't adjust well to this and maybe that is why the boys looked like they had tired legs. Yet, no excuses. We played good enough to win the game and simply let DU score on a goals where we simply broke down in our zone. Third goal by Punko was a breakdown back checking by Kaip. First goal was a lack of stopping a player at the "coffin corner" (5-10 feet inside the Sioux blueline on half boards) as Jones allowed the DU's Helgson to fight off the check at the coffin corner, get the puck to Dingle who shelfed one backhanded for the late goal in the first. On the GWG in OT, you simply have to win all face-offs late in the hockey game. But credit DU for the extra effort. We just didn't get the bounces late in the game as Oshie's blast between the legs of a DU defender jumped straight out rather then slicing in the net deep in the third. But back to the original theme. Posters all season long have simply been too critical on these kids. The losing streak during the first half of the season, the incident at Judy's and the such. It's time to get behind these kids and unconditionally give them the support and spirit during this stretch run. They did it in 2005, 2006 and it's looking like the same in 2007. All the fans need to get on the "wagon" and give them the push they need. A poster stated earlier in the year "to keep the faith." It's time that we precisely do just that. No one feels the loss as much as these kids.

The drama over this incident is dying down with hockey right around the corner. Regardless of right or wrong, these young men do what most college students do ... enjoy a cold one or two. They made a mistake ... they publicly apologized this afternoon ... and they will move on with their lives as will the Fighting Sioux. The people that are blaming a single person is falsely incorrect and should stop. Reports will prove it. This will make the 2007 Fighting Sioux Men's hockey team a stronger, closer and more determined group of young men.