MafiaMan
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Posts posted by MafiaMan
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No offense, but the Pairwise Rankings Index is the BCS of college hockey! What a joke. #6 in the WCHA but #6 in the PRI? That's as ridiculous as St Cloud going to the NCAA's over UMD last year. There should be a reward for who's turned it up a notch at the end of the season and a "thanks but no thanks" to teams who stagger into the conference playoffs and bow out with a one-and-done series (at home no less...I'm talking about YOU, St Cloud!). Put human error back into the mix!
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With all due respect (as much as I hate the swapping of games), when the Final Five was in Milwaukee a few years ago, Bucky got prime-time on Friday night even though the Sioux were the #1 seed there as well.
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Goon,
Wasn't I already pointing out that "freedom of speech" doesn't necessarily mean the freedom to say anything anywhere at any time?
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Dagies,
You're right...I'm ASSUMING that I'm not coming to Grand Forks to watch the Sioux get swept themselves and see the cup FedEx'd to Madison when UMD clinches.
That being said, I think the Sioux have come too far to suffer a let-down now. I'm optimistic they won't disappont.
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I wouldn't mind some new blood at the tournament, but maybe I'm the only one who thinks it would be cool to see Alaska-Anchorage and Michigan Tech make it. It's been ages for Tech and I don't think A-A has ever qualified. I wouldn't mind NOT seeing St Cloud there this season (still peeved about the 2001 title game) and it's pretty obvious Mankato won't be making a return trip this year. Give me CC, UMD, North Dakota, Denver, and Wisconsin and I'll be happy. The WCHA would kill me for saying this, but I think it would be interesting to see the attendance figures from a Minnesota-less Final Five held in St Paul.
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I know Doug Woog's opinion on the matter since he's not concerned at all about it, but I'm wondering if anyone else is thinking the defending-NCAA champ Gophers might not make the sweet sixteen? Let's imagine a split this coming weekend against SCSU and a first-round one-and-done in the WCHA Final Five playoffs. Could they "husky" their way into the NCAA's the way St Cloud managed to last season? Both Denver and Colorado College are playing well as of late...
One thing I will say is that the WCHA has to be fairly happy about Minnesota playing in a 4/5 Thursday night game. Think about it...the potential for a three-game run with 16,000-18,000 fans in Xcel Energy Center? A few years ago (I believe it was 94 or 95) at the old St Paul Civic Center, they had a sellout for a Sioux/Gopher 4/5 game. Unexpected for sure, but it did add some extra $$$ to the WCHA as opposed to a CC/Mankato or Denver/UMD Thursday night game.
Not trying to rile up the Gopher fans hanging around here, just curious as to opinions as to their tournament hopes.
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Barring any upsets in the first round, the #4 seed would play the #5 seed on Thursday night. Let's say (disaster!) that #10 defeats #1 in the first round and there are no other upsets. That would bump the #4 seed into Friday semi-final action and the #5 seed would play the #10 seed on Thursday in the loser-out game. Let's go one step further and say that #9 defeats #2, leaving both #1 and #2 seeds at home. Your Thursday night Final Five contest becomes a battle between #9 and #10, and the #4 and #5 seeds would both advance to Friday's semi-finals. Capece?
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What an awesome weekend to be a Sioux fan. Nice job this past weekend, boys, and nice job Coach Blais! I had my doubts about a sweep at UMD but you pulled it off. I can't wait to make the trip to GF this weekend to see you hoist the MacNaughton Cup.
I can't remember what season it was, but UND clinched the cup with either wins at Mankato, St Cloud, or Duluth. I remember being totally disappointed because I expected the cup to be in the building and that I'd get to see the team skate around with it. Turns out the ever-wise commisioner Bruce McLeod decided to let the Sioux hoist the cup the following weekend at home. Thanks, Bruce. It took four or five years, but I'm finally going to get to see the team do it in person. Just a suggestion...when a team wins it (home or away), you should get it presented to you that night. The team can always show it off at the next home series anyways.
Go Sioux! Looking forward to this weekend and in seeing you again at the X for the Final Five!
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Yawn. Yet another person thinking "freedom of speech" gives you the license to do anything and say anything you want. I'd sit next to PCM at a hockey game anytime, Diggler.
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You're correct, JoJordan. Guess I wasn't paying total attention. I'm very much aware of the differences...been to several WCHA games and a couple of NCAA title games. BIG difference.
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Whoa...don't go out on a limb or anything. The Gophers in the championship game of a tournament in an arena where 15,000 of 18,000 fans in attendance will be cheering for them? Wow! Is it really possible? Do you think they could win not one but TWO games in front of the home folks and get to the title game?
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WPoS,
Hey, if Catholic schoolgirls all looked like Britney Spears in her video a few years ago...wait...sorry...where was I going with that? Nevermind...I got off-track with my thoughts there for a second.
I'm not advocating students sitting down or stopping cheering altogether. However, I took a date a number of years ago along with my best friend and his girlfriend for their first-ever trip to UND. They were absolutely mortified at the student chants and all three agreed it was the worst behavior they'd seen at any sporting event. Instead of showing them how cool UND hockey was, they all left with a bad impression.
That being said, it's definitely not just a UND issue. Look at the rest of the country, especially college football (players punching and elbowing fans rushing the field) and college basketball (teams with 1-15 records knocking off a conference leader and thousands of fans storming the court) where there are bigger issues to tackle. I just think the issue of fans is being blown out of proportion by both sides. No one wants REA to become the new library on campus but at the same time, no one wants to see an arena where three year olds yell out swear words with the saltiest of fans either.
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I agree, UltimateSiouxFan...if the original writer is upset because she can't swear at a Sioux hockey game, then she's missing the point. Contrary to popular belief, it IS possible to cheer and get fans riled up without using vulgar language.
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You hit the nail on the head, WPoS. I attended several games at old Mariucci Arena including the last game EVER there and I must say, if that place was as intimidating for opposing players as it was for opposing FANS, then those guys must have all peed in their breezers before taking the ice. Love 'em or hate 'em, what a great, great atmosphere in the old barn. The only place I know of now (and I speak from experience) where you can experience that is Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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Can't help you out with the cards, Yooper, but are you really a Yooper from Houghton? I've been to games in Marquette and Sault Ste. Marie, but not yet to Houghton, although it's ear-marked almost every year. One of these days...
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WPoS -
Rivalry is always in good fun.
What fun would life be without it (cue the ESPN commercial of the guy in the Ohio State t-shirt kissing the girl in the Michigan t-shirt)?
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You thought that? I didn't think so. I've always had a pretty good time down there, even after last year's games. On the plus side, at least they had some decent-looking "talent" this year. Last year, we got to witness a six months pregnant stripper. Some things are just meant to be covered up.
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With all due respect, LetsGoSioux, if you were sitting in that section of Sioux fans, you may have thought the whole MWCC was rocking. I was on the other end of the arena and trust me, the loudest noise I heard all night was Mankato's fans cheering after their first goal which made it 4-1.
I think I've pointed out already on other posts that I like the road games more than the home games. I was that way when old Engelstad still existed. It's just fun to be a part of the minority of fans celebrating. The only thing missing Saturday was a stick-salute to the Sioux fans in attendance at the MWCC.
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Wreckincrew,
You were at Mettler's TOO? A 10-1 hockey victory followed by pizza and girls dancing. Cue the "It doesn't get any better than this" commercial.
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WPoS,
Who does that 1997 MacNaughton Cup "co-championship" taint more, the Sioux or your beloved Gophers? UND and Minnesota tied in the regular season and then the Sioux defeated the Gophers 4-3 in OT at the old St Paul Civic Center in front of a full-house of Gopher fans and about 250 Sioux fans. I'd say the Sioux title isn't marked with an asterisk for a reason. For the same reasons, perhaps your recent success should be ear-marked with "Gopher Hockey - it's not just for Minnesota kids anymore."
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PCM,
Get your sorry butt down here for the Final Five. And you call yourself a fan. I'll even guarantee you a free parking space to help cut costs.
I'm debating a trip to GF just to see the Saturday Michigan Tech game if UND does well this weekend. Not that I won't get into huge trouble for it...
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I agree with the comments for the most-part according to reports of what happened last weekend, but in defense of the hockey team, there are going to be nights (yes, at home, folks, it happens) where the team looks like they spent the night before out on the town with the University of Colorado football players. And there's not going to be much for the home fans to cheer about. It happens. For every five or six games where the place is rockin', there's bound to be a night where the team just doesn't have it. Is she more upset with the place being a church service or because she can't swear like a sailor's parrot in the building?
Back in 1996, UND hosted a first-round WCHA playoff game for the first time since (if memory serves me right here) 1990. My roommate at the time and I drove from Minneapolis to Grand Forks to see a 2/3 full old Engelstad Arena. Seems students still didn't get the notion that the WCHA makes money off of the playoffs (and it still only cost them $5 or $10 to see them play), but hardly any students turned out that weekend. UND lost a heartbreaker series to Wisconsin, losing in OT on Friday night and losing on Saturday on a last-second (and I mean last second...it was scored with .01 left) goal. My roommate and I were so ticked off, rather than stay in Grand Forks as planned, we left at midnight and drove all the way back to Minneapolis. What a shame to see the Sioux host a playoff series for the first time in six years and see the place not packed to the hilt. I don't think the writer in the DS would have found that enjoyable either.
I truly hope the writer didn't mean she was a "puck bunny" at four years old. I'm not sure what kind of meaning that moniker carries around Grand Forks, but it's not exactly a compliment to a college-aged female hockey fan if you catch my drift.
Also, I beg to differ with the "estimate" of 1000 of the 4500 fans in Mankato in attendance being Sioux fans. Yes, there were plenty of Sioux jerseys at the Midwest Wireless Civic Center (presented to you by Arby's, Holiday Inn, and Mettler's...sheesh...speaking of corporate), but I wouldn't say every 1 in 4.5 fans was pulling for the Sioux. One section contained about 90% of the Sioux fans in attendance...it was probably more like 300-500 fans TOPS.
If (and it's a big IF) UND pulls off a sweep at Duluth this weekend, I bet next weekend's series against Michigan Tech will make her forget all about the 4-1 game against CC.
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I was just gonna say...I was there in person watching the Sioux skate around with the MacNaughton Cup, saw them win the Final Five and get the Broadmoor Cup, and then win the NCAA title in 1997.
Of course it CAN be done...the only question is, WILL it?
MafiaMan
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Oh, hell, I'm with Sicatoka. Who am I kidding? If someone offered me one million dollars to quit my job, never play co-rec softball again, and move to Vancouver and start my life under the Canadian witness protection program, I'd pack up everything I owned and be on the road by 4:00 pm today.
Refresh my memory please
in Men's Hockey
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gobig6,
I highly doubt your "rumor" is true. Everyone looks for recruiting edges and you won't convince me that UM doesn't mind their prime-time Friday night 7:00 pm game and relegating the UND's, Wisconsin's, UMD's, St Cloud's, etc. to the 2:00 pm NON-TELEVISED game. Everyone wants a piece of the pie so I don't doubt the other 9 votes but I think your rumor is more urban legend than anything.