MafiaMan

Thanks, Oxbow6. You always know how to brighten my day!

Motley Crue is calling it a career after their next world tour finishes. I haven't been this depressed since Scott Weiland was fired by the rest of Stone Temple Pilots.

Throw in a good snow day like today, smokey, and that four hour drive from Bemidji to St Paul could easily be 6-10 hours long. I just talked with someone who had a nice three hour commute this morning - from St Paul to Eagan!

JUST KIDDING, YaneA! pink: Amber, Audrey, Whitley grey: Arlyn, Jake

Atlanta: 2 inches of snow paralyzes traffic Minneapolis/St paul: 2 inches of snow paralyzes traffic I guess we aren't that different after all!

I think Saturday's the way to go with the two-day format and most folks from out-of-town probably arriving Friday morning/early afternoon and headed right to the Target Center for the first semi-final game. Let's let everyone get their bearings straight and keep the brunch on Saturday the 22nd at 11:00 am. With the 3rd place game being at 3:30 pm that afternoon, there will be some extra time to kick back, relax, share some fan and moniker introductions, and tell some of our favorite Sioux hockey stories (please please please let Wilbur's dad make it). Previous years' 3rd place games were at 2:00 pm - now folks won't have to eat and sprint out of the Hoggsbreath by 12:30-1:00 pm in order to get to downtown St Paul. I don't know if we can ever top last year's brunch head-count, but we'll try...pass the word along - would be fun to see some St Cloud fans, UMD fans, and Miami fans who lurk around the board make an appearance. Maybe if I keep hyping this thing...if I call it the North Star Challenge Cup of brunches, would that help? Last year's door prizes will be difficult to top this year - if you have any ideas or wish to contribute something, please PM me and we'll talk. Thank you!

I know...you and your wife are great fans. My post was meant with some thick sarcasm because of all the early bandwagon jumpers thinking UND wouldn't make it to Target Center. While that's obviously still a possibility, I think those naysayers have quieted down a bit (maybe thanks to the moderators for a certain poster who shall remain nameless)...

Bold pick! I like it! USA wins it on a TJ Oshie power play goal after Sidney Crosby gets 2:00 for a slew-foot!

Thank you Wreckincrew and neonpelican for your payment. For those of you who mailed checks, they were deposited at the bank this morning. Fix-it hats for bigskyvikes and YaneA...Coaches Choice is still working on them. Thanks for your patience. Just to confirm: 2 black hats - BIGSKY 3 pink, 2 grey hats - YaneA also neonpelican 4 black hats - 7 9 11

'The '95 tournament sure sounds a lot like the '13 tournament, LOL!

But the doomsday preppers on the board don't think the Sioux are even going to make the tournament...gutsy move buying tickets now!

Uh oh...AZSIOUX will NOT be happy about this...

It's been located inside Richfield Ice Arena for as long as I can remember...

The first stop from the MOA is a good one because you don't have to deal with the mall traffic and other cars in the ramp.

I posted this a couple of days ago, Snake. Yes, 1 ticket for both games. Obviously about 10,000 people with tickets didn't bother to attend the Friday afternoon or Saturday afternoon games.

The one that killed me was the "different vibe" walking into the X on Friday afternoon. Seriously...

OK, we can agree on that. Comparing this tournament to the Beanpot or the WCHA Final Five is going to result in sadness. Just create your own identity and run with it. You have to admit, the guys on "Beyond the Pond" last Saturday morning were beyond ridiculous with their over-the-top comments.

Did Bruce Ciskie note that the initial Beanpot tourney was in nineteen freaking fifty two? That's 1952..over 60 years ago. I'd say that's an incredible draw for a first-ever hockey tournament back in those days. http://www.sbncollegehockey.com/2014/1/27/5345466/thoughts-on-north-star-college-cup

Yea, given the facilities they have access to in Prior Lake, I'd completely agree with you. It was 5-7 years ago that Jefferson hired a figure skating coach to work with the youth in order to re-build the program from the ground up. A grand idea, but I think the best days of Jaguar glory are behind them. Richfield has such great history as well...it's a shame to see Richfield Ice Arena renting out space to Edina's kids. Back on topic: Go RPI Engineers. Bring back the skating gear logo jerseys.

I was going to suggest that option myself...I have taken the light rail from the MOA downtown several times for Twins and Vikings games and it's far superior to trying to manage traffic and park somewhere around Target Center.

Hat Trick Hockey is still open though...

I'm sure you noticed then that Westwood Sports has closed their Bloomington store location...that sure says a lot about the changing demographics of hockey. The Lakevilles and Eden Prairies have over-run the Richfields, Kennedys, and Jeffersons of the metro area.

I only wish the programs that are available now had been available when I was a kid growing up in SW North Dakota. Dickinson and Williston are basically newcomers to the hockey table in North Dakota (neither one had a program 20 years ago) and I even have a friend with kids in a program in Watford City. Watford City! I would love to see some new schools join the ranks of North Dakota high school hockey. Editor's note: Now that the Devils Lake Satans are no longer, the Dickinson Midgets is the coolest nickname this side of the Bismarck Demons.

Great stats - interesting stuff.

119 posts...been a SiouxSports.com member since 2004...it's not like he signed up five minutes ago and posted for the first time.