MafiaMan

You know, I put together the Hogg event for the chance to match up some of the board nicknames with actual faces. I'm thankful that @jimdahl keeps this great site going as it has given me the opportunity to meet so many people, including @sprig. As fun as it has been over the past 18 years to read sprig's posts and insight, it was that much more fun to have met him in person and chat face to face. I'll be forever grateful for having had that opportunity. So long, Tim. KESSLER #74 forever.

The junta will let you know their decision on this by July 1st.

Don't think for a second that Providence was going anywhere other an Providence, seedings be damned. That's not exactly impartial seeding. The reward for being better than everyone else should not be going on the road for the playoffs. The gap between #1 and #4 seeds has never been closer.

I've been saying this since 1998. The reward for being a 1 seed was to go play Michigan in their own arena? Stunning that Michigan won that game (not). The same thing happened a year or two later when DU had a fantastic squad and was "upset" by the Wolverines at Yost. If the top seed in the country is Lake Superior State, well, so be it. #16 can enjoy a flight to Detroit or Milwaukee and a nice bus ride. That's how it should work.

Big losses for SCSU. My best guess is that AIC, RIT, or Canisius College beats them 6 or 7 to 1 in next year’s NCAA first round.

I’ve always been partial to ‘junta.’

Sophomore. HUGE Loss for the Yellow Jackets Huskies.

To be fair, Providence College's undergrad enrollment is less than 4,500. You're not comparing apples to apples when talking student numbers vs North Dakota or Minnesota State.

While I'm not going to fault Providence College for taking advantage of a seemingly big NCAA loophole in terms of these regionals, it certainly seems fishy that Brown University is so willing to host these. Brown is to Providence College what Worcester is to Boston College.

Wilbur and I talked earlier this evening. He had a great point and I hope someone in the UND Athletic Department takes notice. If there is a fan deserving of a team captain and/or coach showing up to pay his/her respects to, it’s Tim Kessler.

Wow! So what you’re saying is that the most rabid fans in college hockey don’t belong to North Dakota, but to BROWN UNIVERSITY?

The first time I ever ran into Blackheart in Mankato, I believe the conversation went something like this: B: Hey, are you on SiouxSports.com? MM: I might be. B: What's your handle on there? MM: Well, that depends. B: On what? MM: Well, if you think I'm an OK poster, I'm MafiaMan. If you think that guy's a total idiot, then I'm sprig. B: I'm pretty sure I used that line on more than just Blackheart too.

I believe his family had logged in as they wanted to post something. I told them it would be taken care of.

"shocking announcement"

sprig is in the back on the far left in this photo - his granddaughter took home the grand prize raffle Sioux bean bag boards that day. One of my favorite Hogg get-togethers of all-time. UND lost the Friday semi-final (again) in the NCHC tournament and we were all bummed out at this event on Saturday morning. We're all smiling, though - almost like we KNEW that North Dakota would roll to the NCAA title two weeks later...

It is with a heavy, heavy heart that I announce that our very own sprig passed away this past Friday. I spoke with his son a few moments ago and he asked me to post an announcement on the SiouxSports.com board. HIs obituary is below: http://www.amundsonfuneralhome.com/obituary/timothy-kessler Tim Kessler was one of the biggest Sioux fans I have ever met. I spoke with him many a time at WCHA Final Fives and NCHC Frozen Faceoffs. He was also a regular at our annual Hoggsbreath brunches and I enjoyed chatting hockey with him whenever I got the chance. To the family, as I know you'll be reading this, please know that you are all in our prayers. @sprig , you will most certainly be missed by your friends here on the message board. May God bless you as He welcomes you home. Goodbye, my friend.

Well, we’re down to the Frozen Four...Hockey East, you have one job. One job.

The only time this season that I’ll be rooting for Pecknold’s team.

I’ll give ASU some credit...I figured that QU would roll them.