leifolson

Even the best of us make mistakes.

Um...I don't know if it's possible to put TOO much stock into something like this. Repeating IS the hardest thing to do in any sport. All sorts of things go in to making the repeat the hardest thing in pretty much all sports. The fact that the Gophers repeated this season is a testiment to how good they were this year. They over came all of those little things that prey on the defending champions' minds. Yes, other teams DO gun for you a little harder. Even if they already have a deep rooted hatred for your team, they feel like they need to play even harder against you to prove that they can beat the Defending Champions. Look at the NHL Playoffs. Already this season, the MIghty Ducks sent the HEAVILY favored Red Wings home in a four game sweep; certainly not because Detroit didn't play well, because they played just as well as Anaheim, even better most of the time. The difference was that Anaheim wanted, probably needed, to prove that they could go toe to toe with the Defending Champs and prove that they belonged in the playoffs. The Red Wings are just as good of a team as they were last season...well maybe not quite as good, but pretty darn close. Certainly better than Anaheim. Also during the regular season, other teams played harder against them only because Detriot was the defending champion. You can argue all you want about that not being true, but I watched a lot of those games and not one went by where this discussion didn't come up and everyone (from the players and coaches to the commentators) agreed that teams just gun for the Champions. To get back to college hockey and the Gophers. I think it's hard to argue that teams in the WCHA didn't play a little harder against the Gophers last season than the season before. It's just that the Gophers played better. It also seems reasonable to believe that those same teams will be gunning for Minnesota next season even more than they did last season, because they really want to prove that they can knock off the 2-time defending champions. Now...whether or not Minnesota will be able to weather that storm can only be determined after next year's champion is crowned.

Good point...I'm not at all ashamed to admit that I was wonderfully surprised to find the Sioux in the Championship game in 2000 (and even more wonderfully surprised the following season). I didn't at all expect to see the Gophers there this season, as I'm sure many people didn't. That is not to say that I thought they were a bad team...quite the contrary. I agree that Minnesota's road back next season will be quite a bit more difficult than last season...again, not to say that they are not good enough to do it. They certainly have the weapons.

Although maybe a bit high, it does seem fairly legitimate to me since Bochenski and Parise had 60 between themselves...and that was with Parise cooling off greatly the last half of the season. If everyone kicks into gear next season and can possibly sustain that level (I realize that this is asking a lot but I believe the point of this thread is to put forward some extreme goals and some wonderful what-ifs.), there is no reason to beleive that the #1 line couldn't score 85 goals.

Oh no..I might have had to log in under anonymous status from now on in order to maintain some bit of dignity.

Agreed...when I went back to ND from California to visit right after they started that little campaign, I laughed my a$$ off........However, we Sioux fans can't laugh too much. Anyone remember GANG GREEN?

Well, my friends and I beat the crap out of our apartments, but that was about it.

I had completely forgotten that Shjon Podein had played for Duluth before going to the Avs and now St. Louis.

I have to agree...I'd be surprised of Vanek sticks around...and I'll say it: a bit dismayed. Oh well...congrats to the Gophers. Here's to next season.

I'm sorry but I can't send out congrats to the Wild.

I am hoping that they lose for very selfish reasons. If they win...it will not be the end of the world, except that 7>4 will have to change his name to 7>5.

What was with that OT goal? Montoya didn't even look like he was looking at the guy with the puck. It seemed like he was looking off to his left. It just didn't seem like he was paying attention. Oh well...congrats to UMN. It was a tough game for me to watch since it was between two of my three least favorite college hockey teams (the other being BC), but still rather enjoyable. It almost seemed textbook for the game to end right at 6pm though, so that I can now see all of the Avs/Wild game.

I have to agree Greyeagle. It just didn't seem like the team quite had the drive to finish games, whether it be to hold a lead or come from behind, that it had in the previous years. Hopefully that was just a product of being young and they'll shake that off this season. If not...I'm afraid of what next season might have in store.

Hopper, he's 7>4 isn't being anti-Sioux with that comment, but rather quoting/commenting on something that a Gopher fan (I can't remember which) had stated in an earlier post. 7>4 is actually making fun of Yellowdog, so there is no need to be confused. Smile on Go Sioux!

I went to Red River as well way back in the day and, sure, held a bit of a grudge at the time against the school on the other side of the train tracks, BUT....let's not forget that the Panzer boys were also from GFC. All I can say is, if they come to UND and have the skills to help us the Sioux win, I don't care where they come from....suit them the hell up.

I remember the arena being a little empty a few nights.

What does that even mean?

I don't think it has anything to do with taking rivalries too seriously. The article doesn't read like something put out there to pull anyone's chain. I think that very few of us would have a problem with it if it weren't so terribly uninformed. To say that Sioux fans were getting fitted for NC hats and shirts if pretty ridiculous. If he had paid attention to many posters on this board, he would know that many of us didn't think that the Sioux were going to win this year. We hoped beyond hope that they could pull it out, but there was very little INFORMED discussion about actually winning. Most eople pointed out the fact that the Sioux were greatly overachieving early on and that it would probably take another year to be where we (and Blaise and the team themselves) would like them to be. And this statement is just plain stupid and idiotic: "The Sioux made it back with essentially the same team, and lost in the championship game this time around. While fans will have to wait until April 10 to find out how the Gophers are going to do, the Gophers did make it back despite losing their top three scored from last season." To say that the Sioux had the same team as the year before is showing how completely ignorant Joe Shirmer actually is in college hockey matters. I mean come on; losing Goren and Commie are enough, but we also lost Jason Ulmer, Armbrust, O'Connell and DeFauw, all quality players, most of whom are still playing hockey somewhere, including the NHL. This is not to say that the Gophers didn't lose some great players...they did. They lost their top three scorers. But the Sioux lost 2 of their top 3 scorers (Goren, Ulmer) as well as one of the better defensive college Defensemen (Commie). They may not have scored quite as much, but DeFauw (22) and Armbrust (11) were two guys who played with a crapload of heart and enthusiasm and always seemed to be somewhere near the important plays, which is a terribly difficult thing to quantify. I'm not sure that reading the NDSU Spectrum is as much a sign that someone cares what the other person is saying as it is just a smart way to keep informed of the goings on around you. I for one read all sorts of things from NDSU mainly so that when I make it back to Fargo once a year to visit my family I can have informed discussions with my dad (an NDSU alum) about the goings on around NDSU athletics. I also read things from other schools because it's just a good way to keep up with what is going on in the league. It's tough to have informed discussions about anything if you don't know what the other guys are doing.

It was just there a second ago when I checked.

It's sort of true, but I'd like to point out that many of the small schools who have never won, or at least, haven't won in quite a few years, like the SCSUs, the UMDs, the UAAs, just to name a few in the WCHA, but not forgetting the many others in the other conferences also care; not necessarily just those from teams like UND, Michigan, BC, Minnesota, ect...who have been winning. Those fans always care...even when their teams suck, much like we always care, even when our team sucks. When it comes to the Stanley Cup, more people jump onto bandwagons than will ever jump on a college hockey team's bandwagon. I can't tell you the number fans Florida had back in 1996...now days, even the people I know who were ardent Panthers fans, are remiss to admit it. That is something you find very rarely in College Hockey. Not to say that it doesn't exist, because that would be silly...it's just not as prevelant or visible.

Is minesota (sic) slang for something? Sorry...I couldn't resist. Please read it as what it is....just a friendly ribbing.

I sure hope Fox Sports will show at least some of the games....it's the only way I'm going to get to see them all the way out here in So. Cal.

With the Administrator's comments in mind and taking to heart the actual topic...I personally would love to see UND and NDSU continue to play football against each other regardless of Division. As a UND graduate and the son of an NDSU graduate, I can't tell you the number of fantastic conversations (and arguments) I have had with my dad about these exciting games. There is a certain tradition involved that can't be measured in the dollars made or lost because of Division designation. I'm sure it is the same with many families and friends around the state of North Dakota and Western Minnesota. You badger each other constantly all year (especially the week before they play) until finally the big day arrives and you go to either Grand Forks or Fargo and the good-natured ribbing gets even more intense and ridiculous, until finally the game is over and you go out for beers realizing that once again you witnessed a moment of history...no matter how miniscule it is in the grand scheme of things...and you can't wait until next year when you can start ribbing each other over beer and chicken wings all over again.

Unsurprisingly, all of them have BC and/or BU making it to the FF. Granted, both are decent teams and at this point everyone has a shot at the Championship, but honestly, I would have been more surprised if at least one of these guys didn't pick either BU or BC to make the FF. ESPN coverage of NCAA Hockey is nearly always skewed to the Boston area...or at the very least, the east (NH, Maine, etc...), which makes sense since the population is quite a bit greater in those areas than out west. Still, who are these people? I'll be the first to admit that I nearly never check out college hockey coverage at ESPN (usually because it is non-existant), but honestly...I have no idea who these people are who are predicting the outcomes here. Are they actual college hockey experts, or just some people that were told to predict something? I honestly don't know...mainly because I'd like to know what I'm supposed to think of their predictions.

Wow...hate is such a strong word. I've been to quite a few games in my life and I have to say that our chants and cheers haven't changed all that much over the years either. While we do have the occasional one come and go, many have been around for years...probably to the annoyance of WCHA foes who come to REA year in and year out. Plus, while there are some fans who are a bit obnoxious...likewise could I point out quite a few fans at Sioux games that could use a swift, hard kick in the rear for being complete a**holes at games and on boards. The team itself has a great tradition...both of winning and not winning (much like the Sioux). Yes they got very excited about winning a National Championship last year and played the card for all it was worth....can hardly blame them.....for crying out loud....they WON the National Championship. If it's at all worth anything for the Sioux to do that even once, why in world wouldn't it be so for the Gophers...no matter how many years came in between. All of the arguments two years ago on USCHO.com between Sioux Fans and BC fans were ridiculous enough...why in the world do they need to be repeated everytime someone else wins after many years of not winning. Either way you look at it...winning a National Championship is a pretty great accomplishment, even if you aren't a fan of the team. I think that the Gophers had a great year last year and if they win again this year, it's certainly not because they aren't a good team...because they are. I would, of course, rather see the Sioux win it all every year...but there's certainly no reason to get so down on opposing teams and their fans just because they did win and they want to celebrate it. Of course, there are plenty of Gopher fans who maybe went too far in their revelry...but the same can usually be said about a couple of fans for every team that wins. Let's just try and watch good hockey and hope that the Sioux kick some butt and hopefully if we come across the Gophers, we'll beat the crap out of them...but, if we do get to play them and they beat us, chances are, it will not be because they are no good, or they wear ugly jerseys, or they have the WCHA higher-ups in their pockets. It will be because they played better hockey than us and deserve to go on to the FF. With that being said..........GO SIOUX!! Let's play hockey!