MafiaMan

Huh? The mascot Colonel Reb may have been changed to Rebel Black Bear, but the Ole Miss nickname is still "Rebels."

I couldn't disagree more. This logo is waaay too busy. I also hate the way Canada touts its success by putting the border around their logo based on the last medal performance in international competition. I'm not bitter at all about Crosby's goal at the Olympics, am I? I guess if that logo were surrounded by silver, I'd probably like it.

One pet peeve of mine (and it is noticeable during the Final Five games at the X) is that you can tell the Sioux fans from everyone else because the local fans here understand the need to wait for the whistle before scampering to their seat or up the steps. The last time I was in Grand Forks, I had to get up every six seconds to let 3-8 people by me so they could go grab a beer. I'm all in favor of standing and cheering and being a hockey fan, but doesn't anyone actually WATCH the game without leaving their seat for a beer/potty break every 30 seconds? I'd much rather watch a game knowing I don't have to divert people traffic all around me while the puck is in play.

LadyDy, aren't you banned from crossing the border?

I think we are getting to the point where outdoor games are 'jumping the shark.' Just check out the 'other' outdoor game held at Fenway Park last year. Once a novelty, too many of these events water the idea down.

I warned people about this a long time ago...the possibilities are endless with those who are offended by nicknames... Town in MO asks kU to ditch mascot

I agree 100% on St Cloud over the choices left. UND, CC, and Denver are touting the NCHC as the 'premier' college hockey conference. If Western Michigan doesn't make this past season's NCAA tournament, there is NO WAY that school gets a bid to the "super" conference.

Cam Neely and the Boston Bruins have raised new era-specific banners in the Garden...it has always bothered me that UND championship teams of past eras have banners in REA which use a logo that came decades AFTER their achievements. If the Sioux nickname does indeed go by the wayside but items of "historical value" are allowed to be retained, why wouldn't REA showcase pretty much the entire logo history of Sioux championships on the national title banners? I think this would be a perfect way to cherish the memory of the Fighting Sioux...and at least be historically accurate. Boston Bruins Banner-Raising

Ouch. I realize it has been a while, but if it wasn't for the 1993 Paul Kariya-led Maine Black Bears, the Lake Superior State University Lakers would be the only back-to-back-to-back hockey champions in semi-recent history. Comparing them to programs like UAA and MSU-M is hardly fair.

Nice to see you again, PCM!

Schlossman article I've only been saying this for about 10 years...I'm sure the NCAA bigwigs probably won't even consider this option, though. I've always felt small schools get the short straw with a great regular season, only to have to venture to Boston, New Hampshire, St Paul, Milwaukee, and other larger cities with either a hostile environment or NO environment. College hockey would change for the better if changes were made to the NCAA tournament format. Does anyone have opinons strongly in favor of this or strongly opposed? I can recall some miserable regional tournaments, like the 1999 regional in Madison where a crowd of what looked like 250 people watched the Sioux lose to Boston College. Wisconsin didn't make the tournament that year and the old "Great Dane" was a morgue. Not to continue to pick on Wisconsin, but their 2006 NCAA champions won the title without having to leave their state border for a regional or the Frozen Four. Ranking the teams 1-16 makes sense, only if the 1-8 seeds can play at home. My two cents...

While I will concede somewhat that Michigan Tech's best route to respectability might be playing NMU, LSSU, Bowling Green, Ferris State, and Western Michigan, I am not buying the 'high profile' view of Ames Iowa as a great hockey road trip. Houghton Michigan is a great hockey town. Keep it in the WCHA.

2005 Final Five on the brain again, YaneA? Platinum? Well played, Mauer!

I couldn't agree more with your first statement. I have heard lots of younger fans gripe about how the WCHA should just kick Michigan Tech out of the conference. I always tell them to read their WCHA history books and reconsider. However, Northern Michigan might have screwed its own pooch this time. 1977-78 - NMU joins CCHA. 1984-1985 - NMU leaves CCHA for WCHA. 1997-1998 - NMU decides to head back to the CCHA. I'm sure if the WCHA wanted the Wildcats back in the conference bad enough, there would have been feelers put out there before Bemidji State and Nebraska Omaha joined. From a travel standpoint, NMU is a long ways away from most WCHA schools.

Thanks for the news flash!

And so the comparison to 1997 is complete. Hopefully this year's Sioux team that paralleled Michigan's 1997 team will parallell Michigan's 1998 team next season. LOL!

UMD fan section cheered like mad when Michigan won on Thursday. Despite that, I cheered like the Bulldogs were wearing green tonight. Congratulations Bulldogs! Can someone tell me what DrunkHockeyGuy did/said now and what these t-shirts said?

There is ZERO chance of Dean Blais going to Michigan Tech. Zero.

Hopefully Aaron Ness can improve on his Aaron Rodgers championship belt move at the next level! That being said, I tuned in for almost every NCAA hockey tournament game this year. Watching players bolt school early for the NHL is becoming disheartening. I'd hate to see college hockey turn into the joke that college basketball has become.

I was just going to say the same thing, star2city. In 1997, BU beats Michigan by 1 goal only to quickly be forgotten about as they lose title 6-4 to Sioux. I'm cheering for the Bulldogs tonight, but the reality is this: If the Bulldogs win 4-1 or 5-1 against a Michigan team that has trouble scoring 2 goals a game, Sioux players and fans are going to wonder for a long time what could have been. If Michigan wins tonight, everyone says 'cinderella story' and goes home thinking 'well, I guess it was destiny just like 1997 Sioux.'

Yea, no matter who wins, it is always something to see the champion throw equipment around. Even when the Gophers won in 2002 and I saw it in person, I politely applauded the accomplishment. Funny that Red Berenson himself compared this to the 1997 Michigan team and said yesterday "the best team doesn't always win." That was my first thought when the clock struck 0:00 last night.

MafiaMan Jr. watched yesterday's game at mom's house. Text this am said he cried for an hour after the Michigan ENG. Family still willing to go to Saturday's games, however, to see the crowning of a new champion. If you're a Sioux fan heading out of town early, don't eat your ticket(s) or sell it (them) to a scalper. Text me at 612-386-8207 and we'll talk. Not looking to pay $100-$150 per ticket either since I paid $180 for one for yesterday's two games. Reasonable offers, please.

I stood behind that guy at a concession stand while I waited in line for a brat...when he turned around, he almost bumped into me. I told him "thanks...now that I've seen that jersey, I've lost my appetite."