MafiaMan

I'd better quit this conversation while I'm ahead, LOL. Pairwise-be-damned...UND is making the NCAA tournament.

Wow, those really bring up some great Class B memories. I posted mainly Region 8 (now Region 7) teams because that's where I grew up. Some favorites of mine: Kenmare Honkers Grenora Gophers Crosby-Divide County Maroons Was Tolna really the Bluejays and Trojans? How about University of North Dakota Leprechauns? I'm sure Ron His Horse is Thunder would love that one.

Be careful where you go, IrishSiouxFan. I had a USA jersey that I took to a store at the Mall of America a few years ago because they offered "authentic customization." I got back a jersey with letters stitched directly onto the jersey - no nameplate. When I pointed this out to the store manager, he replied back, "well that's how they do it." No, it wasn't. Still a nice jersey but the no nameplate thing still perturbs me.

Did someone get this done? I probably have a Zach Parise one that I could spare.

Interesting stuff. That's probably enough dough to be able to afford a really nice watch.

Sure would be nice to have this game back. 29 TO's...ouch.

It'll be stunning if all three don't make the tournament. But, watch, if one team gets left out, it will DEFINITELY be North Dakota.

I'm pretty sure most of the hockey players moonlight during the offseason as waterboys for the football team.

Cue the carnival music...not quite what I had in mind for predictions, Blackheart and smokey. I'll offer one up - I think Russia has waited four years for the chance to avenge the thrashing it took at the hands of Canada in Vancouver. And I think they get their revenge.

It's almost time...any Olympic predictions?

Let me see if I have this right...St Cloud rotates out next year and Sacred Heart rotates in, correct?

Fixed your post.

The Ray Jays aren't around anymore either? How about the Alexander Comets? Rhame Pirates? Golva Tigers? Reeder Rockets? Scranton Miners? Almont Eagles? Mott Cardinals? Regent Rangers? Elgin Dutchmen? New England St Mary's Saints? Hebron Brickmakers? Taylor Redbirds? Richardton Rebels? Belfield Bantams? Glen Ullin Rattlers? Center Wildcats? South Heart Eagles?

I realize it's an apples to oranges comparison, but it's a comparison nonetheless...

In all fairness to TC folks, if you stuck an NHL team in East Grand Forks and put an NBA team at the AFB, I think Sioux hockey attendance might take a bit of a dip too.

Not sure if your dad can make it? I don't care if I have to raise money so he can take a cab from North Dakota to Little Canada for the brunch, he's GOT to make it!

Well OF COURSE Minnesota sent their friendliest and best-behaved fans. They all had permission from their probation officers to leave the state for the tournament and were risking have a probation violation being filed upon their return to Minneapolis if they weren't on their best behavior.* *I apologize in advance to any Gopher fan who takes offense to the above post. It is meant strictly in jest and any familarity to any Gopher fan, living or deceased, is unintentional.

Agree 100%. I attended the Subway "Classic" in Grand Forks years ago...can't even remember what cupcake UND played in the 7:00 pm Friday semi-final game but the 3:00 pm game was Findlay (Ohio) vs Wayne State (Michigan). I expected to see maybe 1,000-1,500 fans when I walked in (I was late...due to the weather...no, seriously...) and spent the second period counting fans in attendance. Unofficial total: less than 100.

I made that same argument for years about the Final Five...hometown fans shouldn't complain about leaving work at 3:00 pm on a Friday afternoon so they can make a 4:00 pm face-off time 20 minutes away.

I know you're a Mankato fan and I'd agree...a mid-season rivalry tournament at the X has the potential to grow over time as opposed to another run-of-the-mill non-conference series against Robert Morris or Sacred Heart at the MWWCC. Maybe I'm just bitter because I already miss the yearly road-trips to Mankato to see the Sioux play.

I watched the games on TV and heard the estimates on "Beyond the Pond" on Saturday morning. The show did everything to try to minimize the Friday afternoon attendance problem, including at one point, blaming the weather. Instead of saying using actual numbers, they pointed out the 14,000 figure from Friday but admitted "several thousand less than that" for the afternoon game. Several thousand? Try 10 out of every 14 people with tickets not showing up for the UMD/Mankato game. Only UMD play-by-play man Bruce Ciskie mentioned the low attendance for the afternoon game as being problematic.

You didn't listen to "Beyond the Pond" on Saturday morning, did you? if I'm premature in comparing it to the Final Five, Minnesota homers are beyond premature in comparing it to the Beanpot or the GLI. Beyond the Pond's quotes that I listed earlier in this thread on Saturday morning were laughable. "A different vibe" at the X? With 4,000 fans there? C'mon.

http://www.mankatofreepress.com/sports/x651196278/Despite-finish-Mavs-impressed-with-North-Star-Cup There won't be an announcement of single game attendance for this reason (taken from the Xcel Energy Center web site: Tournament packages include two tickets, one for each day of the tournament. Each day’s ticket will provide access to both games on that day. The arena will not be cleared between games each day and there will be no ‘in and out’ privileges either day. Single session tickets will allow access to both games in the session. Your estimate of 38,000 fans in attendance is about 10,000 too many. I sent a Gopher fan friend of mine a text as I knew he was in the stands for the championship game (he skipped the 3rd place game along with about 10,000 other folks). When asked what the atmosphere was like for the Gopher/UMD game, he said while it was a great game to watch and the crowd was into it, the crowd numbers rivaled those of the WCHA Final Five 3rd place game.

Nice!

I caught that as well...total double standard, ya think?