MafiaMan

Bloomington Senser's it is! I'll be there...passing out Libery Bail Bonds handcuff key chains.

Here we go again...FSN not televising the 2:00 pm game Friday. Why would they? If the Gophers are alive, they'll be playing at 7:00 pm. I love how some people defend this just because Minnesota is the "local" team. Here's a news flash, people. While high school kids are busy at class at 2:00 pm while a North Dakota, UMD, St Cloud, AA, or any other school is playing, those same kids are watching TV at 7:00 pm when Minny comes on. Thnk that's not a huge recruiting tool for the Gophers? The Gophers want that 7:00 pm game? They should win the *#^% MacNaughton Cup or have the seeding fall where it may so they play the #1 seed in that game. If the idea is to get out-of-towners to the X to watch some hockey, the way to do it is to let them get there for a 7:00 pm Friday night game, not have them take a day off of work to get there shortly after lunch.

Thanks for adding your comments, mikejm. I am amazed by some people on the board who thought "Lose Zach, lose Bochenski, that's ok, good teams just re-load." Sometimes, it's just not that easy.

Possibly. I hate saying it, but I wouldn't bet against Minny in Mariucci.

I still say the biggest joke is the regional set-up. I've said it before and I'll say it again... All Minnesota has to do is limp into the tournament, even as a #16 seed. Is there any question that even a top notch opponent as a #1 seed faces a tough battle against the Gophers at Mariucci? What the he** is the NCAA thinking?

Considering how the Sioux have played recently, if I'm BC, I'm licking my chops!

Further proving that coaching isn't an exact science, check out George Gwod's record at Miami before moving onto Denver: 83-94-19 That's a .423 winning percentage.

Words of wisdom, Coteau. My thinking is that since the Sioux were pre-season #2 and Wisconsin was the pre-season #3 team, that the Sioux will easily sweep this weekend.

For those curious, the two other finalists for Sioux head coach after Gino Gasparini resigned were then-Gopher assistant coach Mark Mazzoleni and then-Lake Superior State assistant coach Paul Pooley.

I'm chuckling, Coteau.

Wow...over-analyzers today. I just thought of three numbers and typed them...I wasn't even necessarily thinking REA. Let it go!

I don't know a specific fan in section 214, lol. I was just picking Joe Public in the arena yelling, that's all. Don't get all riled up if you sit in section 214.

You're right, skateshattrick, we need to run David Hakstol out of town as soon as possible. And look as foolish as Notre Dame football in the process. That way, we can bring in the next guy, put a loaded gun to his head, and say "win NOW or get fired" and he'll say "sure, when can I start?". You know what I'm sick of? Fans that take personal cheap shots at the coach and who arm-chair coach from section 214. Why don't you apply for a job somewhere? I'm sure all that experience would help.

One more comment, skateshattrick, that shiny new arena isn't a guarantee of ANYTHING. If you think it is, you are sadly mistaken. Have you ever seen Yost Arena? I've attended games there several times. It's a dump. However, it's also a cherished relic. It just depends on what type of fan you are and what your idea of a hockey arena is. There is a lot more to a hockey program than thinking that having the spiffiest arena means you'll get the best players. Is that so? I challenge you to show me a sports franchise in ANY sport that has never had a bad year. 49'ers? Try again. Steelers? Nope. Lakers? Buzz. Yankees? Check the 1980's. Keep looking...and good luck.

Wow, a fan for 40 years and a season ticket holder for 18+ years? You're right, you should have received a phone call from Dean Blais himself asking your opinion on who you thought should be the new coach. Again, we're back to the topic of "this team was picked to finish 2nd in the conference!" and now we're moaning about it. Pre-season polls mean nothing...will people ever get that thru their heads? Hell, I have a better idea...why don't we take the pre-season national poll, then cancel all the games and give the title trophy to the pre-season "winner"? Ever seen Playboy's pre-season All-Americans in college football, then take a look at who actually IS an All-American at the end of the season? Big difference. Then again, nevermind, I probably couldn't tell you the name of a recent All-American, but I could tell you the name of the playmate he was posing with. By the way, I'd hardly think I'm ranting or villifying anyone who disagrees with me. I think you'll find I'm one of the more open-minded fans on siouxsports.com. Has this Sioux team under-achieved? I think so. Do you want to set the precedent that you win OR ELSE at UND? I would hope not. Am I disappointed in this season's team? Yes. I'm obviously not the only one. The process is what it is and Hakstol is the head coach. Now give him another year or two, will you? Since you're so upset about Hakstol, are you also thinking UMD should consider canning Scott Sandelin? After all, they were the pre-season #1 in the conference, right?

Dam Strait, You mentioned Dean's SECOND year of coaching when they came to the Final Five and almost upset a heavily favored Gopher team (1995 - I was there). You didn't mention Dean's FIRST year, when the Sioux were a .500 team. Now is that because they were expected to suck and exceeded expectations that season and therefore Dean is a hero or is it because the gods of the science of expectations and polls thought an NCAA title should be on the horizon this season and a failure to get close to one should result in lopping off Hakstol's head? Let's look at some past favorites in the NCAA tournament, shall we? 1997...Michigan...a sure-fire pick to repeat. Did not. Down with Red Berenson! 1998...Sioux heavily favored to repeat. Didn't even make it out of the regional, losing to Michigan. 1999...Again, UND expected to win it....embarrassed in Madison regional by BC. Dean Blais...has he lost it? He should have won 3 straight NCAA titles! Fire him! 2000...Not expected to do much, Sioux win it all. Think BC is feeling frustrated by now? They have now lost three straight NCAA title games...time to fire Jerry York? Sioux fans now ask pope to petition Dean Blais for sainthood. 2001...Sioux over-achieve and make NCAA title game. Honestly, I think this was Dean's best coaching year at UND. 2002 and 2003...every Sioux fan's nightmare. Enough said. Oh I wish Lucia had stayed at CC. 2004...Goldy Gopher getting cocky about three-peat. Thanks, Bulldogs, for snuffing out that dream. Bottom line is the favorite rarely wins. Pre-season polls and pre-season fan expectations mean nothing. That's my whole point. Now another mediocre season by the Sioux next season, and I'll start agreeing with you, but until then, ease up on the hair triggers calling for a canning of Hakstol, will you?

Dam Strait, I'm just glad that UND didn't send out e-mails to 11,000 people asking them for their opinions on the coaching selection process or whether or not they feel Hakstol should be fired at the end of this season. Were you on board when UND hired Dean Blais after Gino Gasparini was let go? Were you high-fiving your Sioux buddies because you were so excited that this no-name high school coach was picked to lead your Sioux? What did you think after two years of mediocre hockey after Dean took over? My money says you were calling for his head too. And then 1997 and 2000 came along...If it's 2-3 years from now and the Sioux are mudding thru another .500 season, I'll agree with you. Until then, just because the Sioux didn't meet your own personal expectations this season doesn't mean much. I realize that plenty of fans on this board feel that anything less than an 8th national title is considered a crappy season, but gimme a frickin' break. I'm glad I have seen a national title in my lifetime, let alone several of them. I could be a BC fan from the 1940's who died in the 1970's crying because they didn't win it all again.

That's the fun part about it, jk. Remember back in 1997 when the Sioux were picked to finish 5th in the WCHA coaches poll? I believe local media polls had them no higher than that, too. I'll still consider winning the Final Five that year at the old St Paul Civic Center one of my greatest Sioux hockey memories ever. And then to watch BU beat Michigan and see the Sioux come roaring back from a 2-0 deficit to win the NCAA title....what a great story. Had UND won the title last season, would I have been happy? You know I would have been. But it's different when it's expected and not totally by surprise.

That's the problem, jk. Who sets expectations? The fans? The media? Check out any sport. Do you think Carolina set out to miss the playoffs this year after almost winning the Super Bowl last year? Who didn't think Tampa Bay would be a dynasty when they rumbled over the Raiders three years ago? I know I thought they'd win one or two more easily in the next couple of seasons. Now there's like 1 guy left over from that title team! How could the Yankees not win the World Series this past year? Down 3-0, Doug Minkeiwitz was whining in the clubhouse...now he's being fitted for his World Series ring. Who thought the Lakers would get spanked by the Pistons last spring? Did anyone hear guess that Tampa Bay would be hoisting the Stanley Cup and that the Red Wings would be bounced in the early rounds of the playoffs for the second straight year? When expectations are high, the disappointment is greater. I felt this season that both UND and UMD would be better than they have been, but obviously losing key players has hurt more than most people thought possible. In UND's case, I think the coaching change has set things back as players must adjust to a new style, not to mention the fact that injuries have played a key part this season. We'll see what happens in the next two weeks, but I think anything less than a Sioux sweep of the next four games will result in them sitting home watching the tournament. And don't give me any of this quality loss crap if they lose close games to Wisconsin and if someone else's power ranking drops. UND right now does not belong in the tournament. Period. If they win the next four games, maybe the computers will turn in their favor, but right now, this team can and deserves to be staying home.

I am still tired of the "this is unacceptable for our program" attitude. It's called a tough season, folks. I've been a fan for twenty years. For you newbies, I suggest you re-read some of your Sioux history and check out the "Dark Ages," also known as the time frame of about 1991-1995 when there were 3,000 fans at Engelstad and the team was limping thru the last years of Gino Gasparini. Everyone had forgotten about the 3 NCAA titles by the time his grand tenure wore down. Hell, Wisconsin has been down for a few years and only last year, climbed out of the hole. The Gophers went thru a tough spell in the late 1990's. You can't expect to lose players like Bochenski and Parise and not recover. Ask UMD how they feel about seeing Junior Lessard graduate. Oh, no problem, it's only one or two guys. Yea, but those guys are difference makers. I think the one common thread we can all hang our hat on is that regardless of your opinion of the players or the coaches lately, we're all disappointed in what we're seeing. I'm sure they have the same feeling in the locker room. Now, I'm not going to go Green Bay on you here and start yapping about "Titletown" and championships won before there was even a Super Bowl, but I will say that I'd rather be a Sioux fan having personally witnessed one NCAA title (1997) and watching another one on TV (2000) as opposed to being a fan of Western Michigan, Notre Dame, Northeastern, Ferris State, or any other school that hasn't gotten close to sniffing an NCAA championship trophy. I'm not ripping on those schools, it's just a matter of expectations. And our expectations of Fighting Sioux hockey are high. We know that, the players know that, and the coaches know that. I'm guessing no matter how this season winds up for the Sioux, they will be back with a vengeance next season.

Wins are all that matters now? With all due respect, this team knew that 2-3 weeks ago! I already gave my prediction a while back for the finish and while most people were saying sweep AA, split Wisconsin, and sweep St Cloud, I think I'll wind up right on the money when I said 3-3 at best and most likely 2-4 in the final 6 games of the season. The Sioux are almost at the point that they need to WIN the Final Five just to get in the tournament.

Dam Strait, Are you kidding me? Did you actually write "I just want what is best for MY (emphasis added) Sioux."? See page 14 of this thread if you need to re-read it. You have lost your mind. I just love it when some no-name fan who bucks up for couple of tickets to any sporting event decides that a particular team is "his" and refers to it as such. "My Vikings lost today. Time to fire the coach and trade Moss." LOL. Yea, your team lost. And it's all your fault because you made a bad coaching decision or you dropped a for-sure touchdown. Oh, nevermind, you were the guy in the nosebleed seats watching the game with your binoculars. Is it your $200-$400 million invested in the team? Are you the GM? No, you're a fan, dumba**. Get over yourself. "I just want what is best for my Sioux." Are you on the board of regents? UND Administration? State Legislature? Assistant coach? Janitor at the arena? What, oh what, qualifies the Sioux to be YOUR team any more than the team is mine, PCM's, or Dagies'? Unbelievable.

OK, goon, we find some common ground to agree on. I totally am with you on the "no atmosphere" in the new arena. I tell you what...I was up there for the DU Saturday game a few weeks ago and watched the crowd in the bar area. There were 2-3 tables of people I watched just because I wondered how into the game fans were in that area. Not only did they not leave the bar during the game, they weren't even FACING THE RINK! These "fans" couldn't care less about what was going on on the ice. Sioux hockey has turned into a gigantic "look at me look at me!" social event.

Cut UMDDogz some slack. I can think of a lot of other schools I'd consider "second-rate" as opposed to the three schools listed by goon. LSSU, Michigan Tech, and UMD have 6 national titles amongst them and I believe 3 runner-up finishes, not to mention 4 (or is it 5? Did a Laker win the Hobey?) Hobey Baker award winners. I'd be ticked, too. UMDDogz, some of us don't wear green and white glasses when typing at our computer. MafiaMan

Dam Strait, you are the epitomy of a homer. And to be honest, I'm with someone else who said "post something meaningful" instead of your SPAM e-cheer. What if Wisconsin had pulled the plug last season after losing in the first round of the WCHA playoffs? Maybe Denver should have yanked George Gwod after not making the Final Five and had an interim coach take them to the NCAA's? Good thing UND didn't dump Dean Blais after the 1994-1995 season. Sheesh. Remember when they hired him? A lot of people were stunned wondering "who's this high school coach?". Now you think he's a Greek god. Give Hakstol a break. I don't agree with all of his decisions (like not calling a TO tonite to slow the AA momentum), but he's still learning. That being said, I'm SICK AND TIRED of hearing about turning it up a notch at the end of the season just like Denver did last year. Well, I'm still waiting. How often has a cinderella like that happened in the last 7 decades of college hockey? I'd say 1997 Sioux (but they didn't exactly stumble into the post-season like Denver), but cmon, to not even make the Final Five and then win the NCAA title? The season is almost over boys, it's time to put up or shut up. You can't just limp home and then hope to turn it on for the NCAA's. First, you have to qualify for the NCAA's. It's not going to do any good to sandbag the season and wait for the tournament if you've got to win to get in the tournament. Too many times this season I've heard "turning the corner" or "now we're gonna make a run," only to see the team lose the very next game. I've written it before and I'll write it again. This is a .500 team and their record pretty much proves it. Last night's game was absolutely huge and they blew it. On the flip-side, it was also a huge game for AA in terms of the standings and after having seen them at the Final Five last year, I can tell you that they are no slouch. Some of the posters here seem to think that the SiouxSports.com hockey team should be able to handle Alaska-Anchorage or St Cloud. Gimme a freakin' break. End communication.