DAR

I see your point but I just don't think this warrants a thread on this web site. I just think it adds fuel to the fire that Sioux fans have some obsession with the Gopher program which is as we all know a bunch of crap. In my opinion if someone is interested in this they can go over to GPL and find out more than they probably would ever want to know. This obvioulsly would not be a topic of discussion and a thread if this happened on any other team other than the Gophers. Personally, I don't care what is going on with a fifth liner on the Gophers.

Not to be rude but this is a Sioux hockey message board, why do we care about some Goofer who gets no ice time going back to the USHL. It certainly does not warrant its own thread!

Come on....happy with a split. This is Bemidji we are playing for crying out loud. There is no reason we should not sweep Bemidji. These are two important games and even though Toews and Finley will not be in the line up there should be no reason not to sweep an inferior Bemidji team. If this team wants to make the tourney they need to get these two games.

I have been to a few Sioux-Goofy games there. I did not have much problem with the fans altough it has been a few years since I was there and those were the couple years where the Sioux really had some power house teams and the Goofers were a step behind the Sioux. There is no alcohol served there which is probably a big part of the reason there is less hostility toward opposing fans. It is funny how some people can change quite a bit if you get a few drinks in them. I witnessed quite a bit of abuse to some of the Goofer fans at the Ralph this past weekend. Which was fine with me since maybe they will stay home next time and most of them were briniging it on themselves. One guy in front of us was particularly annoying with his comments and smirks whenever the Goofers scored. Then he would stand up and pretend to do the rouser. A total idiot in my opinion and he desreved all the expletive laced comments that were directed his way.

Right now the Sioux are not a very physical corps. Smaby is really the only d-man who is playing a physical game. Jones gets his nose dirty but he does not have the size to really intimidate opposing forward. I have seen very little physical play from Finley and he was pretty much invisible out there this past weekend. I don't know if he is worried about drawing penalties or what but he needs to play with more of an edge. For a guy that big he needs to play a physical game. Hopefully this will start to show in the second half. Lee, Chorney and Radke are not physical defenseman by nature. They are puck moving defenseman and that is not going to change. I guess I just got a little spoiled from that frozen four game last year when it seemed like the Goofer forwards were scared to reach the Sioux blue line and wanted no part of "broken nose alley" in front of the net. There was not that physical presence this weekend. I really hope we can find a good physical defenseman to replace Smaby or we are really going to be soft back there if we expect to replace Smaby with Marto next year. I think Marto is about 170 pounds.

EXACTLY!! You'd think some of these officials want the fans to act like they are at an opera or something. It's a friggin hockey game where the fans are supposed to give their team that extra boost to get them over the top. I am as much of a home Sioux fan as anyone and have been to most of the arenas in the WCHA. The new Ralph is hands down the best facility, but the atmosphere leaves something to be desired. I do think it was a good move to put the band in the lower level. Maybe in the offseason something can be done to promote more atmosphere to the arena. I also don't think the new PA announcer is very good. He seems to try and imitate Hennen and does not do a very good job of it in my opinion.

Yes, it was a lot different and I speak from first hand experience. I attended many games at the old Ralph while I was a student in the mid to later 90's. You could really tell the Sioux feeded off the crowd in the old building and I just don't sense that in the new building. I have attended numerous games in the new arena as well. It is a great building and the school is extremely fortunate to have a hockey facility like that. However, the energy and enthusiasm of the non-student fans leaves a lot to be desired. I think in the old Ralph you had a lot more die hard hockey fans as it was a much smaller building. Here you have people who are out for a social gatering or a place to be seen and don't get into the game at all in many cases.

I have to disagree with you. I was at the game Fri night. I just do not see much enthusiasm coming from any sections other than the student sections. If you took the students out of the arena, you could hear a pin drop. I was watching the game on FSN on Sat. night and for once Woog made a good point. They were talking about how the new Ralph does not have the intimidation factor to opposing teams as the old Ralph. He said "theater seating leads to a theater attitude among fans" and I believe he is exactly right. I don't know what can be done to change this but the fear factor is gone for opposing teams coming to Grand Forks.

These tickets are in high demand. I just bought 2 tickets in row d lower level off the arena exchange forum. Paid well over face value for them but to me it is well worth it as I live in the cities and only get up to a few games a year. It is always great to be at a Sioux/ Gopher game and to me is worth the extra money.

At least you caught yourself! I was thinking the same thing.

Jordan is older I believe that is a misprint.

I see goaltending as a potential weakness for this team. Schneider was really shaky last year in the tourney and if the Frazzled one plays like he did Sat. against Wisco the US team could have some problems. There is a lot of potential there for this team but a gold medal will be far from a given. Even though Canada's roster is somewhat depleted for this tourney they will still be tough to beat on their home soil as will the Russians.

I think Phil will play one of these games. However even if he were to get a shutout Parise would play Sat. night. Parise is the clear cut number 1 goalie on this team and I don't see that changing this year.

We need 4 pts out of this series. Tech is not a very good team and the Sioux have done fairly well in Houghton in the past. It will be a good warm-up for the dirty Goofer series the weekend after. We need to correct that 1-3 home record in league play immediately! Kozek to me is not getting off a whole lot of shots at the net. It is harder to score when you play on the 3rd or 4th lines with players who are not necessarily playmakers or scorers first. I think he would have a few goals by now if he was on one of the top two lines but obviously there are only 6 spots on those 2 lines and you have to put the best players on those lines. I would like to see Finley play a little more physical. In time I think he will develop more of a physical presence as I am sure he is wary of drawing penalties and putting the team at a disadvantage. I think he will be a force in time.

I believe I read somewhere that Sparky will be back for the Duluth series next week. He is out this weekend according to all reports. It will be good to get him back as he provides some good experience, even though he is only a sophmore. He is considered a veteran on this team.

Obviously the Goofs were recruiting him hard....that is always their fans excuse when they don't get a player. "well we really didn't go after him that hard anyways, which is a bunch of BS in this case and many others". I am glad the kid saw the light and made the correct decision, he must be a real bright kid!!

I actually hope Mr. media goes first overall, that way he is most likely to be one and done. Hopefully the team that picks him will want him to sign immediately.

While it is true no one is a sure thing, I think someone who has been scouted and is rated as highly as Forney has a pretty good probability of being a good college player. There is a good chance he will go in the first round. I expect him to be an impact player. Marto on the other hand I am fairly skeptical on what type of college player he will be. He definitely needs to do a lot of bulking up to be ready for the WCHA. Hopefully that is happening in the USHL so he is prepared to play at this level next fall.

Ha Ha...Nope have not had a chance to make it to Houghton. I know they get A LOT of snow up there so I would have to be careful to pick a year when the games are played there before winter comes in full force. I can't imagine it would be too exciting being stranded in Houghton due to a massive snowstorm.

I have not seen the "scoring" part of Kaip to this point. I believe he has played at least 15 games in a SIoux uniform and don't believe he has yet registered a goal. He has 0 points so far this year. I realize it is important to have a good checking line and he seems to check fairly well. I have not seen much in the way of offense from him however. Maybe that is partly due to the role he has been asked to play by the coaches. You would think he would get one in the net here pretty soon if not just by accident.

Great news.........I guess all kids that grow up in Minnesota don't dream of playing for the GOOFERS! (As most fans of the maroon firmly believe) I know Lucia pet was after Forney pretty hard. Good job coaching staff

Bottom line to me is that in my observation the students cheer and the rest of the building could just as well be watching an opera for most of the game. If the students were taken out of the building you would be able to hear a pin drop. There has to be a way to get the rest of the crowd more involved in the game to have a true home ice advantage.

I was at the Friday night game against Denver and had not attended a game at the Ralph for a while. To me it seemed the only people into the game were the students. If everyone was into the game like the students that place would be unbelievably intimidating. I realize this is probably unrealistic but the contrast between the sections clearly stuck out to me. The only real cheering from the other sections is after a goal is scored and even then it is for a very short period. I remember at the old Ralph when the students had the whole side of the arena that the noise in the building really was cranked up. I just wish the non-student spectators would get more involved in the game and we would have a much better home ice advantage.

Agreed this is kind of a cool topic! It is interesting to see where a lot of the familar names are located. Minneapolis, still try and attend as many Sioux games as possible. Heading up to Duluth in less than two weeks for the third year in a row. That is a great road trip if anyone gets the chance.

I would like nothing better than to see the Goofies so called "dream season" shatter and for the Sioux freshman to steal the Kessel and Co. thunder. These freshman seem to be doing quite well so far and I can't wait to see my first game in person tomorrow night.