brianvf

Wed update from the Sioux blog: http://www.areavoices.com/undhockey/?blog=67297 Good to hear that both Genoway and Zajac will be making the trip, despite not being able to play. Great news on Zajac already skating! And you have to think that Genoway is close to returning if he can make the trip with the team. Looking forward to seeing what Fratts can do against Niagara!

Herald article: http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/arti...889/group/home/

Negative, although I'm not sure what I'll do when they're shopping. This will be my first time seeing the Sioux live this year, so the extra cost will be worth it.

Yeah, the wife made the hotel arrangements, so we are right across the street from Woodfield Mall. Funny how that works out.

The $20 ticket package covers all four games. I bought 2 tickets and it came to $70 ($40 for the tickets plus $30 of useless fees from Ticketmaster). Agreed about it not being very crowded, it seemed all sections had openings when I was looking about a month ago. I'm in section C102, Row 2. Feel free to swing on by, it'd be nice to meet another ss.com poster! It sounds like the area around the arena is pretty empty...is that about right? Our hotel is about 20 minutes away as well according to Google maps. I'll be there with the wife and daughter.

$20 a seat for blueline, row 2 lower level. That covers both games, both days. A steal if you ask me. They have 3 pricing levels, $14/$20/$40 for the ticket package I believe.

I'll be there for both Sioux games. Already got tickets.

Welcome back Matt! The Zajac injury, while still a blow, isn't quite as bad now. Looking forward to seeing him play against in Chicago.

8-1 USA Stepan gets the goal.

Don't you mean, the Latvian crowd goes nuts? Darn Canucks.

They'd have to score 3 or 4 more than 16 if they wanted to cover it entirely based on the goal spread in the Canada/Swiss game. How does 20-0 sound? They'd have to pick up the scoring pace a bit.

Zucker

Kreider and Johnson got the 5th/6th goals, 30sec apart.

http://www.fasthockey.com/login.php But you have to pay for it I believe.

I wonder if Blais is doing the same thing that Hakstol did...move Kristo down in the lineup to get matched up against lower lines. 1-0 USA 7-1 Czech

Czechs leading Austria 4-1 after two periods. All four Czech goals on the PP. US/Latvia game starts in 10 minutes.

Yeah they are. Hakstol should take notes watching their PP work on the ice. Simply amazing puck control and chances created. 5-0 at the end of the 2nd. The TSN webcast is crystal clear. Very nice.

I always thought Schroeder was one of the better passer/playmakers on the UMN roster. That said, I'm not sure what happened to him this year. He seemed dominant last year, and this season he's hardly noticeable at times. Was Stoa that important to his success last year? I'm really liking the play of Kristo at the WJC so far. He's flying around and creating chances almost every shift. He really stepped up his play within the last month or so for UND as well. Hopefully he can come back from the WJC and continue with that type of play. Once we get a healthy Genoway and a confident Kristo back in the UND lineup, the Sioux will be a difficult team to play against.

Normally I would give the nod to the Sioux with how poorly ND has been playing this year, but missing three big time players is going to hurt UND, especially on the PP. First things first, get past Niagara and worry about the 2nd game on Sunday. I agree about the PWR. Two more OOC wins would be huge for the Sioux.

Making that swap would probably create the fastest line in the tourney...

No doubt. The NCAA line of Stepan, Kristo, and D'Amigo is the USA's most consistent line...they're always creating chances.

Yep, and from the sounds of it, they filled his head full of nonsense. He wants to be in the NHL in 2 years...sorry kid, that's not going to happen regardless of if you play at Michigan or in the OHL.

International hockey is more wide-open than NCAA hockey. Remember how much Parise and Toews dominated this tourney when they were there? And then they came back to WCHA clutch-n-grab hockey and couldn't produce as much.

US wins 3-0. Kristo looked good, but no points to show for it.

Kristo has been showing off his wheels all game. The announcers are impressed with him. US scores again. 3-0