Big A HG

Ya know what...let's make these USF/NDSU comparisons.... USF plays all their home games in an NFL stadium. This is a great recruiting tool for not only players, but for trying to get into a big time conference. NDSU plays in nothing as of right now. The UPC is no where near being even comparable to something like that. Even if NDSU had something like what UNO had it would help. The UPC could work out for the short term, and you have these big dreams about the FD hosting hockey (and still fail to address serious issues brought up with that). OK, let's say the FD gets the go ahead to add hockey capabilities. Since you're in love with USF and comparing them to NDSU....don't you think NDSU should have to pay their dues in a lower ranking division or as an independent...or maybe just not being able to play in the NCAA tourney for something like 3-4 years once off the ground? This would be an awesome way to kill NDSU hockey before it even started. This isn't my idea on what should happen, I'm just trying to speculate and play devil's advocate since you want to compare NDSU to USF so much. USF isn't the rule...it's the exception. They did everything the right away and are privilaged to play a sport that is about ten times more popular than hockey, easier to grow a fan base, and have the opportunity to play their home games in an NFL stadium....which happens to be the biggest stadium that anyone in the Big East plays in. They paid their dues as a D1-AA independent, then as a D1-A independent, and proved they could play Big East football before the Big East gave them a chance. They didn't just plan all this assuming the Big East was going to add them. If the Big East didn't lose teams like Miami, Boston College, and Virginia Tech, USF would not have this opportunity. If a Big Ten conference ever formed, I think this would provide the best opportunity for a school like NDSU to join college hockey and gain approval from the WCHA. But with no room or poor location to all five college hockey conferences added to the fact they don't have good place to play/practice and have never played one game of D1 hockey just doesn't seem reasonable to assume the WCHA is all for adding NDSU. It seems as if you are trying to assume I'm unducated about what you are trying to sell me, but it's not going to work. You are just making yourself look dumber each and every post. This is not a bash, just the truth. "Thou shall not lie."

You continue to use this USF argument over and over, but continue failing to address all the other problems there are that need to be solved. Don't worry, USF joining the Big East solves all! What's your paypal address, I should really start paying you for this comedy you keep spitting out.

The argument of comparing NDSU to BSU is silly and shows how uninformed some people are. 1) BSU has a great hockey history and already has a team up and running and a yearly series against half of the WCHA. BSU hasn't proved much at the D1 level, other than being a decent test of hockey on occassion. If added to the WCHA, along with a new arena, they can compete on a decent level hopefully. However, the WCHA isn't considering this because of some love affair with BSU. See point #3. 2) NDSU has never played one game of Division 1 NCAA hockey....ever. The WCHA is an elite hockey conference. To think that a team that has never had one player step on the ice would be a for sure addition to the WCHA is beyond ridiculous. 3) This is the big one...WCHA doesn't want to add BSU necessarily, but NEEDS to add BSU. If college hockey loses any more teams, the NCAA may be forced to trim down the NCAA Tournament to less than the current 16 teams. Keeping BSU alive, along with as many other NCAA programs as possible, is of top priority. The WCHA is merely doing their part by willing to consider adding BSU....something that you assume has already happened...even though it has not. To think the WCHA would add NDSU in a second is flat out dumb. Some people here are factually challenged apparently. If anything, NDSU would give hope to keep a 6th conference going with some conference realignment...but even that's a stretch. There's no room for NDSU anywhere anyways. Schools already in D1 NCAA hockey should be considered for any conference opening first. WCHA is at 10, and can go to 12, but BSU and UAH are still in need of a home. UAH is a stretch for the WCHA, so if they can get into the CCHA, it'd fit great. But then the CCHA is at 13, and would probably need to trim down to 12. This is where a team like UNO or NMU come into play as potential WCHA 12th team candidates. The CCHA doesn't want UAH over either of those teams, but they are doing their part, just like we'll be doing ours by likely adding BSU. A new conference would need to be formed, and no one would want to be in this crappy lower tier conference because the location of all potential schools is so far spread it'd be way too costly, along with big money-generating schools of bigger conferences are preferred at these smaller schools. Please stop kidding yoursleves.

Very cool album, thanks!

I see I returned to GF and SiouxSports on the right foot!

You assume that the WCHA would automatically add the Bison because of a multipurpose FD. The truth is, NDSU would probably be one of the last teams the WCHA would want to water down the league. Give me UAH please!

A quality NDSU education I see... Again...just because they can, doesn't mean they should. I'm going to change my stance on the issue. I hope they do add hockey. Then, they can join some crappy conference (why would the WCHA want them?) and fail miserably financially.

Kinda....it was more of a lack of physicality and goonishness....which I guess can be translated into a poor attitude. Gino did wonders with his playmaking ability though, once he got out of the WCHA he really shined.

Wayne Gretzky

Mark Taylor

People keep acting like going to the AHL is some sort of charity work. You still get paid in the AHL! And you still get paid A LOT! You may not get NHL money, but 100K in the AHL is still more than getting nothing in college. If you waved a giant paycheck in front of someone between 18-23 years old, most of them get a little wide-eyed. It's not like VV is leaving after his freshman or sophomore year. If he leaves early, he still had 3 good years in a Sioux uni.

Ian Kidd wants to go to Detroit too!

Frank Burggraf

Captain Bobby Joyce

When we were talking about eating crow for UAA's defeat over Denver, we were talking the bird, not the bar...

Football is a totally different animal than hockey. Football is more popular across the country by about tenfold, especially in the south. There's a reason the NFL, NCAA, and high school football is as popular as it is from coast to coast and border to border. Building a program and relying on fans is not as extreme as it is in hockey. Also, I never said NDSU couldn't be as succesful as Mankato or St. Cloud. But the apparent "want" of a hockey team at NDSU isn't there within the Bison faithful on a scale that's necessary for developing a program. It's mostly people outside of NDSU. Just because they can (IF they can), doesn't mean they should.

I don't think having 2 good goalies would in any way make us a worse team. Whether or not it makes us a better team remains to be seen, but I don't think it can do anything but good. I don't think there's a team in the country that would say no to a second good goalie in the lineup.

Sources have told me Brett Hextall is still holding his breath....

I'd put Watty's speed walking up against half of the SiouxSports.com forum member's running any day. He had some serious speed going.

I like the idea of a backup goalie shouldering some of the load...I'm not saying 50/50 or even 60/40. But, anything can happen and it's a good thing to have someone pushing you and looking over your shoulder every night.

Yep. But each team has had their own unique and accomplished histories. Also, College football isn't a sport in need of growth in any area within the US, as far as I know.

Good find. It seems as if he's got some skill from the little bit of info about him. Definitely someone to keep an eye on.

That reason actually made more sense than any I've heard....but if you're living in Fargo, or anywhere in the region, you already know what Sioux/college hockey is about. USD or SDSU would be a better place to try and grow the game for sure.

Why do UND fans/alumni/whomever want NDSU to get hockey...? I never understood it. It's like saying Milwaukee should add an NFL team along with the Packers in Wisconsin. Hockey fans from ND will/should always be drawn to Sioux hockey. Yeah, there'll be NDSU hockey fans, but it won't ever be Sioux hockey. The only reason to want them to have hockey is when we play them in Fargo, it gives a close rivalry game for Sioux fans to attend. If they did add it....what would happen if/when NDSU wins their first title? All hell would break loose. Grand Forks would hate Fargo even more...by about tenfold. Who wants that? NDSU...stay away from hockey, please.

Clarke with a fight.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6anS0RG8sKA&NR=1