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The DECC has netting behind each net. It sucks to look through, but I did feel more relaxed during games, and especially during warmups when pucks are flying everywhere.

Sorry about that, I didn't even bother to look it up - just assumed, and you know what they say about that. That's kind of weird that the defending national champion was not even picked first in their league at the start of the season. I guess they did lose a lot after their 1st championship. Just thought it was general practice to vote someone #1 until they lost. See you at the Ralph.

The Gophers were picked number 1 last preseason. So there goes that statement.

You're exactly right, but what "better" schools would want to play UMD? The top 10 teams or so either pick another top 10 school, or a *ahem*"cupcake" to fill their NC schedules. UMD will always play Bemidji because of proximity. Union contract is up after next season. This is the first year with Bowling Green. Of course, everyone at UMD would like to get some tougher opponents, but when you're not "the top dog" you can't pick and choose who you want to play.

As requested the 2003-04 UMD Bulldogs Schedule... Oct. 4 -- at North Dakota (U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game) Oct. 10-11 -- Ice Breaker Tournament, East Lansing, Mich. (UMD, Boston College, Findlay, Michigan State) Oct. 24-25 -- at Minnesota Oct. 31-Nov. 1 -- ALASKA ANCHORAGE Nov. 7-8 -- ST. CLOUD STATE Nov. 14 -- at Bemidji State Nov. 15 -- BEMIDJI STATE Nov. 21-22 -- at Union College Nov. 28-29 -- MINNESOTA STATE-MANKATO Dec. 5-6 -- at Michigan Tech Dec. 12-13 -- at North Dakota Jan. 2-3 -- BOWLING GREEN STATE Jan. 9-10 -- at Denver Jan. 16-17 -- COLORADO COLLEGE Jan. 23-24 -- MICHIGAN TECH Feb. 6-7 -- at Minnesota State-Mankato Feb. 13-14 -- MINNESOTA Feb. 20-21 -- at Colorado College Feb. 27-28 -- NORTH DAKOTA March 5-6 -- at Wisconsin

Unlike Grand Forks, Minneapolis has other things to do besides going to a hockey game.

Please know that Wiseman does not represent UMD fans. In fact, I highly doubt he is a Dog fan to begin with. Most likely someone just looking to stir up the Sioux faithful. Thanks Looking forward to seeing UMD/UND 5 times next season!

Yeah, you should really go back and edit that and remove the 's'.

A friend of mine in the UND band told me last weekend at the Final Five, that if the Sioux got put in the Mariucci bracket that they would be making the trip. So expect to see the band there.

bekaws u can spel and right in comlete centances.

I could babble about your inability to use the English language correctly.

I don't know how to be "oftly" quiet, but I do know how to be awfully quiet. And we are never quiet - even when UMD is losing. SoSiouxMe - just stand and clap and yell, I'm sure the students would appreciate it.

Well, we've been on every road trip this year except for Denver and Alaska. I would say that the fans in Grand Forks were either the nicest fans, or else they just had nothing to say to a bunch of fans of the winning team. Only a few people even fired a comment back at us - most just ignored us. Every other place (St. Cloud, Mankato, Madison, Houghton, Bemidji) has had fans that jeered us the whole time, or tried to out-cheer us. I'm sure the students at the Ralph were loud, but the arena being so big, we couldn't hear them. To answer your question, I never felt "threatened." At the old Ralph I always felt "threatened" when I wore my Gopher jersey there (before I came to UMD). People threw pop and candy at me, and I think that's great. It's all in good fun. Obviously it wouldn't be quite as fun if I was an older person, but as a student it just doesn't get better than that. So I think some good 'ol ribbing is great for a college atmosphere. The people of Grand Forks treated us well - almost too well for cheering for the enemy.

I had a flag. And yes, it is weird for me, a Bulldog fan, to be talking smack. But I could get used to it.

Sorry, I didn't know we couldn't cheer. We'll keep that in mind next year, when we'll be there 3 times.

Well, the UMD Super Fans made it back safely to Duluth. We had a great time in Grand Forks. Wish we could've been in town for two nights instead of one. We arrived in Grand Forks 1.5 hours before gametime Saturday. We went straight to the Ralph so we could look around. We went to the bar to see our standing room tickets. We were informed that we had to stand 10 feet back from the railing where we couldn't even see the ice. We paid $22 per ticket for that?!?! So we were pretty upset right away. We traveled around the arena, taking time to yell at the students that had to get there so very early. Finally we found an usher that would hook us up with some seats in the top row of general admission next to the band. We owe that usher a lot. He was one of the reasons we had a great time this weekend. Saturday night we went to El Roco, played blackjack, drank $1.75 Morgans, and danced with the ladies until close. Then we headed to an after party before getting to the hotel at 4am. Woke up Sunday and started drinking at 9am. We headed to Buffalo Wild Wings for lunch and were informed they couldn't sell beer to us til 12 noon. That was suprising. We ate and drank and headed to the Ralph. We were hooked up with the same seats again. We had fun cheering on our winning Bulldogs. The Ralph is obviously a very nice arena. I do believe the Sioux would have swept the series in the Old Ralph. That place had atmosphere. I was disappointed with the atmosphere at the New Ralph, but I realize with such a large buliding it's hard to generate noise. Didn't meet a lot of Sioux fans, but the ones we did were very nice. We enjoyed eating cupcakes in the lobby too. Thanks for the great weekend - maybe see you in the Final Five!

Too bad Clay Henry isn't going to be there so we could sing the Clay Henry song. "He's Henry, Clay Henry..."

Have some guts! Wear the Bulldog jersey! See everyone this weekend - look for the guys in the maroon shirts making a lot of noise. Come say hi!

This is great guys - thanks for all the info. I've been to REA, but the other guys that are coming haven't. They are in for a treat. I wish this weekend would come sooner!

Thanks for all the replies!! We have standing room tickets so I think we have to sit in the North Bar during the game. Oh shucks!

Hi I need a little help from Sioux fans. I tried asking for help on USCHO, but no one replied (perhaps still dealing with those idiot Mankato fans). There is a group of 8 of us UMD fans headed to Grand Forks this weekend. We were wondering where hockey fans gather before games? Somewhere we can get a beer for sure, and maybe something to eat. We can take a little friendly ribbing, so no worries there. We are staying at the EconoLodge near the intersection of I29 and 2. Is that within walking distance of The Ralph? We also were only able to score standing room tickets. It said on Ticketmaster that we had to be 21, so does that mean we stand in the bar at the end of the ice? Are there other places they allow you to stand? We're looking for a fun weekend of hockey. Look for the guys in the maroon shirts! Thanks for your help!