yababy8

You must be an idiot.. he stayed because he wants to WIN two games there.

Im planning on getting an FTA system before the season starts. I am wondering if there would be any value in getting an HD receiver vs a standard one. I don't think Ill use it for much else other than Sioux hockey but who knows.. any insight you could add to help me with my quandry??

Our offense was on a roughly 20 game beaten once streak without "pouring" goals past anyone. Now I agree that the Sioux need to focus more on offense as a team. I think last year they were just plain bad at setting up anyone offensivly. Those who felt that BC played like we used to are in my opinion right on. I don't think the Sioux have really had that style since Hack has been calling the shots... remember the days of Blake, Panzer, Hoogs, and many other crafty fowards who worked the puck down the ice with creativity and purpose. I remember Haks first year and I was like oh I guess we are a dump and run team now.. Our teams have done pretty well employing that style but I prefer the BC or 90's Sioux style much more as a fan.

I put up a post about this before but given the constant Finley debate I will say it again. I was at the Pepsi center for the meltdown and I re-watched the game three times since then. And here is the fact of the matter when it comes to who did and did not do what; (Sans Johnn Filllipy) Genoway pretty much single handedly lost that game for us. In all but one of the first five goals he made a horrible move or lack of a move that either allowed the shot or was the primary error that led to the shot. Please, before you contest this with me, I suggest you watch the game again. Just fast forwad to the goals (carefull, they come often). Further I can say that in three of the goals there was nothing Finley could have done to save the situation (please don't tell me he could have stopped the first goal, Genoway is out there figure skating and leaves the puck sitting there for an fast fast break. That was an very unexpected error and there would be no reason for finley to think Genoway would have melted that much.) ..I cannot remeber the fourth goal at the moment. I'll go watch it if anyone wants to make the bogus argument that Finley should have saved him. By the way, If I recall correctly on one of his goof-up goals Finley wasn't even on the ice with him. He had already changed- I think with Chorney... Now where is the coversation about Genoway and whether or not the forward convert has a complete enough skill set and defesive acumen to succeed at the D1 level? let's start that thread. Here is what I have to say about Genoway; Awesome skater. Often very aggresive offesive defensemen. Very good insincts and vision on the offesive side. Adequate on the defesive side but very green when it comes to defesive decision making and vision. Can be exposed by teams with offesive skill as seen against BC. This was not realized last year until the frozen four because the WCHA in its new defensive minded paradigm presented no team that had the offesive talent to expose the flaw. Don't get mr wrong, I like Genoway. I like his intesity and he is obviously a great competitor but he aint a defensive expert.

putting Duncan on a line with VV and Kozak would be a mistake. Kozak is a shoot first, shoot second, shoot third and vv is not far behind. The problem with the team last year is there was no skill at setting up guys like Duncan. Lets's see if Gregoire or Trupp or Toews can move the puck in close with some touch before we sell out Duncan to a line of blasters! a line with Freshmen and a hobey senior is unorthodox but given the lack of touch playmaking prowless on our team last year outside of Dunc and Oshie I would say it is the best move.

I was thinking about this combo myself. A couple of creative finess players that can feed nice touch passes to Dunc in his little hideout... I haven't broken down the handedness of the line yet but if that works, this would be a very offensivly effective line!! ..These debates about Duncs skill are kind-of retorical... here is the bottom line with Dunc and everyone who knows hockey and watches the Sioux know this: Dunc has about the perfect hockey character Dunc is above average in speed and maybe a little above above average in quickness Dunc plays very physical for his size and is successfull at it Dunc is short Dunc has about the perfect hockey character Dunc can play defense well and playes the kill very well Dunc is amongst the best who have ever played the game at the chip shot. Certainly the best college player I have ever seen in my 20 years of watching Sioux hockey. Let's just say he is the best chipper in college hockey. Let's start calling him chip. Dunc has about the perfect hockey character ...get Toews and Trupp to start feeding him in his hideout.

ya know I've been reading this blog on Joe for a while and I find it rather interesting... While I understand what pundents are seeing when they have issues with big JOE anyone who didn't see great improvements in Joe's game last year either didn't watch them play much or is just not very bright.. The funny thing is that I have not seen one dish on another defensemen-Genoway. Yes I know he had a huge up side in his offensive play- suprise-suprise for the ex-forward convert. Here is the deal with him; Anyone tape the semi-final agains BC? Watch it. EVERY goal but one was either a direct F-up by Genoway or he had a pass picked or missed checking up his man and it lead to the play that scored. If you watch it it is kinda comical. Hey I know he got us to the final four and he can skate and is physical. He is a great hockey player and competitor. But the reality is he less seasoned at defense and it can be exploited by players like Gerb. So if ya all want to worry about our D-next year worry about the convert not the solid seasoned consitant vetern BIG JOE!

Not well said. My point was in regard to the detrimental act of pumping adds through the delivery devices at the ralph when they should be pumping up the fans! the contra point made was a suggestion to me that I write them a check.. that was weak. Now the arguement somehow becomes that I was saying they are charging to much at the gate?.. wow am I debating a female?? Don't change the point please. If they want to charge 30 bucks go ahead.. just don't mess with the atmosphere with all the adds. Otherwise we would be better off without the new flashy rink and we could go back to to the old building, home of 5 national championship teams where there were no commercials and the only adds were painted on the boards. now I suppose you wanna debate that? Naa you say.... good!.. let's all be smart and agree that the Ralph needs to change their production scheme to facilitate crowd energy... then we can get back to an atmosphere that supports a home ice advantage.. or we can just do nothing and stay at the .500 relm and be told where to shop. ..oh and just for the record, if you feel compeled to make an arguement as to the challenges of Paying your bills in a 'got for free' 11,500+ seat arena with two bars, 50 suites, and a store to boot, well then you should call that Zygi fella in Minnesota he might just have a job for you hanging around with some congressmen in St. Paul.

yes you are correct hurshey bar did used to be a nickel and men used to be apes.. but neither was the case when I paid 10 bucks to go to a game ten years ago.

WOW! Write them a check? Didn't someone do that already? Maybe 160 million isn't enough huh?? ... the old ralph didn't have big giant video screens and a 360 degree electric add machine and I didn't see them in the food lines at the welfare office. Also, students got in for free! and G. Adm. Tickets were 10 bucks! and it was less than 6,000 seats not over 11,000. Anyone who buys the rational that this is something fans should ACCEPT because it is just business is weak in the mind. Oh and buy the way, that type of attitude is exactly how they get away with it!

The list that was created above is very comprehesive and pretty much all of them are good ideas. But the issue of getting someone who knows "the ebb and flow of the game" do the sound production has in my opinion leagues more value than any of the rest as far as changing the Ralph's atmosphere. And when I say sound production that includes when and how the PA announcer should be talking so as he doesn't deflate good crowd energy after a good bit of play. Sounds should feed and perpetuate energy as opposed to boring announcements taking away from it. This is the one way I feel the Ralph can change the home advantage- or lack there of-issue. This list above doesn't state this point specifically. Also, even if it is added I fear it would be lost on those at the Ralph amongst all of the other ideas. I think it should be addressed independently or listed at the top in bold. With a big hey! fix this!!

I shouldn't be suprised by this bit of info but yet I find myself both suprised and irritated by this fact. They are just having newbies with no developed skill or testest or trained concept of how to work a crowd do Fighting Sioux Hockey game sound production?? I don't have any background in this at all but I'm aware enough to know that what 'sounds' you put over that million dollar sound system<--guess.. can have a very significant impact on crowd energy. This is a NO BRAINER! Further, we are talking about the Ralph not some jo shmo D1 rink. Are we not the standard?? And enven without consideration for our 110 milliion dollar rink, are we not The Sioux. I think about the thousands of Sioux fans I see at DU and CC every year and the tradition they and all fans love to support and I can't help but be vexed thinking about this oversight, and about how this lack of investment by the management suggests to me an improper consideration that they are amongst the stewards of our tradition. I don't mean to be harsh but this a blunder and is somethnig that should be remedied.

This is a very interesting thread to me. I have always felt unimpressed with the atmosphere at the new ralph. I only see one series there per season as iInow live in Denver but it just doesn't seem to have the intesity that the old ralph did. Some of you might find the following interesting; Last January after being very frustrated at yet another home split I started to really contemplate what was up with our lack of home dominance. I guess i was still pretty vexed about that Michigan Tech sweep at home in '06. I looked up our vs WCHA record at home since the Sioux moved into the new Ralph. At that time i checked we were pretty much right at .500 all time. Then I decided to do a little study by rewatching a game online while I was at work... ya know a good way to pass the day.. I watched the first game of the St. Cloud series, a game we lost 2-3. I payed attention to how the music and band worked the crowd. And let's just say it was very inlightening. I wrote it all down. It's at my desk at work and I can put it on here if anyone is interested. But In a nut shell I concluded that the person who decides what tunes to play and when and whether or not to play a tune or do an add has absoutly no consideration for the enegy in the game. This is a huge detriment to perpetuating energy and enthusiasm One example that stickes in my mind; In the second period, I'm thinking it was 0-0, and the Sioux hadn't been doing much to give the crowd a reason to cheer. I think it was Osh that made a couple of nice moves and got a good shot off. The save was made and of course the wistle blew. The crowd woke up and was getting kind of pumped. Sweeney was all excited- ya all know how he gets. Then right away you hear the PA doing some informatinal spew about some upcoming event or some other stupid thing. and the place goes quiet in an instant. This is just one example. Anyone who has a home game saved should check this out for themself, tell me if I'm off the mark here. ..There should be "cheer" "make noise" and "get loud" type messages when ever the team does something good and there is a subsequent stoppage in play. Other obsevations; Play more music that involves the crowd and I ait talk'n about YMCA! They at one time played a Boy George song- people were getting all over that I tell you. And when they did play a song that had interactive potential they played it at a time when nothing was going on AND they couldn't play it long enough to have an effect. "We Will Rock You" has no effect on crowd energy when you play 4.5 seconds of it. So wait to play it after a good dominating series of plays and there is engough of a stopage in play. Here is my suggestion to the management at the Ralph. Hire someone who has a degree in psychology or someone with an advertising background. ...ya know, a person who knows how to manipulate people. maybe give Rush a call he might have a cousin in the area. Ya gotta pay atention to this aspect though.. especially with all those scandinavians up der in Grand Forks and that seasonal affective disorder issue in the middle of hockey season.

The Sioux fans gathering at Brooklyn's created a supply and demand market that hyped the prices early. Hundreds of Sioux fans getting to the gathering, which was across the street from the Pepsi Center, three or four hours before game time and asking scalpers for tickets they didn't have yet because Colorado fans hadn't got there with their extras to sell. We got there at 1:45 and the scalpers were asking $250 for upper bowl. We laughed at them as they demanded there were no tickets around. We waited for local fans and got some for $60 each upper deck. A scalper tried to cut in and offer more but she told him to go away.

is this your guess or is this inside info?

I think Hak wants to keep playing LaPoint even though he is basically a liability because LaPoint has a big scoring upside talent. The game is just to fast for him to do really any focusing on taking shots. He is to busy trying not to screw up. You have to have your D position down to a comfortable position before you start working the shooting lanes and finding shooting or passing plays and he is not even close to comfortable and solid on the D side. He has a ways to go

I went ahead and spent the 6 buck and it is 100% better! Its funny though, they put the UMD play by play over the UND video feed.

that's weird, if i play an on demand game like one of the Denver games its smooth as silk but these Duluth games are not even watchable. Im getting smooth audio but vid about 20% 0f the time. no one else having this issue?

my webcast through fightingsioux.com is horrible and it was for the sat game too. Are others having same problem and if so is it better throught B2?

I too think hit squad is good. Hey it's a punn! I guess I should take responsability for name calling. my point was not ehanced by doing so. I'm impressed with the reasonability in the responses! Very rational and thoughfull- full of smarts- must be SIOUX FANS! anyway, sorry if I offended anyone

I'm not sure what and where this Murder Inc thing came from but if someone is trying to associate the word "murder" in any form to the Sioux I would say they are personifying their troubled and misguided outlook onto a team that it trying to fight against being misinterpreted as goons and this is not a good combo. Attempting to associate yourself with the concept of murder is not what any team our group that wants to create any kind of respect would do. -...Just so the misguided don't do what they are inclined to do and wax me a stiff or a prude as a reaction to this point. I will say that I am all about the Sioux being tough and kicking some ass!!! This team is finally, after six plus years of being lost, starting to re-establish what has made them a force in the storied history of college hockey. I think it all started with Kiaps fight last year against Alaska. This followed the low of recent Sioux history where the Sioux were swept at home by Michigan Tech last year. Now, finally (I think), the Sioux have established a home ice intimidation factor for the first time since they played at the old Englestad!- ...Now back to my point. This Murder crap is retarded juvinille piss juice. How do you think the pundents would write this Murder Inc nickname when disscussing the the Sioux name issue? Or how bout when we are trying to justify the fact that teams take cheap shots at us when we are dominating them and we are forced to retaliate with a fair fight? Part of being stupid is not thinking about callateral consequences of your actions- so just see me as trying to help. So in the name of not being an idiot and in the name of the Sioux dissassociate yourself with this ignorant name. In fact im wondering if the whole MURDER INC thing isn't being started by a crafty Gopher fan out for sabotage??? definition of MURDER: Murder is the unlawful killing of a human person with malice aforethought. Murder is generally distinguished from other forms of homicide by the elements of malice aforethought and the lack of lawful justification.

Justin DOOOOOOOOOOOOObbberman! ah brings back memories. Dubes, Ward, Romenuk, and the venerable Johnson... I miss Johnson, he was so fast i swear he had a breakaway every game, and a breakaway for him included a defender between him and the goal which he always skated right by even if the defender pinched him into the boards he would squirt out the other side like a wet pea. I think someone should start a Greg Johnson thread and we can reminisce. Anyone remember the time he flipped the puck over the net and bounced it off the goalie? and then there was Ward Mr. Camper.. how many goals did he get hanging out right up against the post on the weak side. ..speaking of that, that is the one thing we need this year. We are not getting our fair share of rebound slap-in goals. Every game has the puck just sitting on the door step and we cant get a stick on it.. and every time it happens it reminds me of the regional in Colorado Springs like a bad dream.. seems like every goal we get is a thing of beauty. The Sioux need more Garbage goals! Where is Ward... doesn't he have a kid our something?

I hate to be negative about a player but the situation is crying for it. I will say first that it was sweet to see our front line getting it on like last year.. finally!! Go Kozak-Lazer Boy... I got on here today for one reason. To make sure all the wise Sioux fans were very aware of what I would call the LaPoint situation. I watched the game later last night on TVo and I was amazed at how bad LaPoint was playing. I noticed a few bad moves by him in the fist period and made a comment to my friend that he wasn't doing things to well so we started watching him. In the second period he was horrible and i mean Horrible. He was by 50 miles the worst player on the ice last night. He was getting baked to the puck by any pioneer within 20 feet further the puck from him. Then i started to notice his stride skating, he takes these little funny looking abbreviated strides and he is just plain slow!!!!!!!!! he gets beat at the fore-check, he SLAPS!!! at the puck. he passes to the wrong team. I have no problem going back on my recording and giving times of reference on these happenings. I will say that anyone who thinks he was adequate either missed his play or is no judge of player performance. Marto on the other hand is an excellent skater and a good decision maker. i would probably put him above Bina on the defensive side- and I am big on Bina. I know Lapoint was a big time scorer in Wisc. and I hope he developes with us and am not suggesting that we quit on him-heck Finley used to suck. I'm just saying he shouldn't be out there in the stretch run unless he changes it up in a big way. I'm sure Hak see's this and you WILL NOT see LaPoint in tourney play. Maybe next year

Trupp