MinnesotaNorthStar

Ok, Vanek shot at Jones...time to set the record straight. Jones is a dirty player . Jones is one the best ALL-AROUND defenseman in the WCHA if not the country. I'd take him before any defensman in the country (ok, my sig line may give away a slight bias, as he is my favorite player...but I digress). Ballard is better offensively, but Jonesy doesn't let a Hobey candidate walk around him to go on a short handed breakaway when down by a goal. And, yes, I'm aware that Ballard is a fianlist for said award, but when was the last time a defensman who...get this...plays defense...was a finalist? Would I take Ballard on the Sioux?...of course, I'd be stupid to say I wouldn't. Would I take Vanek?...yes, again I'd be stupid not to.

The ticket guy didn't want to scan my ticket as the Minny band was doing the walk around the arena thing. They had stopped by the entrance. He said he wanted us to hear the Rouser. To which someon else replied we'd hear it enough tonight. I told him that only between periods wouldn't count as a lot. Overall, the Gopher fans behind me were great. There was some good natured back and forth between us. After the game they told me great game and see you guys next year, as I said the same. Also, the Shattuck headmaster, I think, was behind me during the play in game. There was one group that kept yelling at Brandt that they needed pulltabs, or that they wanted a $20 from Bochenski. Every 5 minutes. Of course I expected this from them as they are very very annoying.

Yeah, I don't know what came over me...maybe it was sitting next to my dad (a Gopher fan) for the tourney.

Who is Zach Parisi? Was this another Christmas add like Siembida a few years ago that I missed

PCM...only you would be so arrogant to cloud the issue with facts and whole truths. Are you a closet Gopher fan? Fine replace Ballard with Fuher Go Sioux!!

Did any defensmen play defense at all this tournament? Watching the games, Ballard and Jones (my bias aside) definately had the best tourney of defensmen though neither really played that well. MY all tourney team MVP - Irmen F-Irmen F-Parise F-Schwabe (got screwed out of a goal...he should have had 2 on Saturday, they gave it to Lessard) D-Jones D-Ballard G-King redwing...Irmen didn't play against UMN

You know, I didn't see Vanek stick Prpich at all. Maybe he knew he'd get dropped like Marco Peluso. Riddle is eye for eye. That's how he got a matching minor with (Stafford? Jones?) when they knocked his helmet off. He started pushing back. But, cheap player he is not.

Yeah, but that's just Anti-UND officiating, and the vast Gopher conspiracy Though I disagree with mikejm...he didn't specifiy called penalties. And Vanek was lucky he didn't get 5.

The funniest thing about this quote is that it implies that we don't have speed I see Miami-Ohio beating Denver in the first round, unless Berkhoel stands on his head, which is a distinct possibility. With Connor James out, I don't really like DU's chances. It appeared that Lessard hit the boards funny, didn't put a lot of pressure on his (left?) leg while coming off the ice. He was sitting on the bench in the third on Saturday, but didn't play.

It was me..... Actually, I was across the street with the POI guys and didn't see the incident, nor hear of it until now. I was busy almost taking a dart to the foot by forecheck

It's $$ reasons...it's been that way no matter where the Final Five is. If it's in Milwaukee, then if the BADgers get the night game. If it were to come to the Ralph, then the Sioux would get the night game.

Oh the humanity

First of all, our cheerleaders are great...two even smiled at me during the Gopher game (made the loss a little easier to take...one was right after the disallowed goal and a Gopher fan yelled at me to sit down, as I was standing and clapping with a smug look on my face, then she smilied her encouragement, so I clapped louder) On the mascot issue...think of our nickname and the controversy that surrounds it, that'll answer why we don't have one. Two, I just about took Goldy's head off on Saturday night...if he'd a spun his head, it was comin' off. Yes, it is long...annoying too. I, for one, am sure happy we don't do this. We need to get everyone involved in the sieve cheer. I liked the Green Hairum with the Mediocre signs that they held up every time they did the Rouser. I even started spelling it out for the Gopher fans...but I don't think they heard me (Ok, who didn't have me jumping in to defend the cheerleaders...anyone, anyone? Bueller?) Final Five Final (non-hockey realted) Thoughts...1) BeerDarts rules!! I got to try my hand at BeerDarts, I'm 1-3 (the one did come against a Gopher fan, as did 2.5 of the losses...WPoS stepped in for forecheck and bottom-holed me in one shot , that's where the .5 comes in). I need to brush up on my dart throwing skills at the bars this off season. 2) While they may seem like arrogant no nothings on here , the POI crew is really a great bunch of people to tailgate with. Despite the fact that forecheck and I (and several other Sioux fans who don't post here on Saturday) took quite a bit of heat from them (all good-natured...I hope) I will tailgate with them anytime. 3) The tUMD Penalty Box is the biggest bunch of drunks in college hockey, they know it, and their damned proud of it. DHG is probably one of the funniest people I've ever had the pleasure of drinking with. I'll party with them anytime as well...though I wouldn't be able to go drink for drink with them, nor would I try. 4) While I've always hated the Avalanche, I now hate them even more for a fan of theirs ****-blocking me on Padre Island with a girl I was trying to sweet-talk and share my hockey knowledge (not really Final Five related at all...but it still pi$$ed me off...amongst other things). 5) Walking to Minnesota & 4th from the X, then all the way back to Tom Reid's for the tailgate is long...and cold when all you have on is wind-breaker pants and a great looking green Matt Jones jersey, but worth it (see #'s 1-3). 6) And finally, Gopher fans really do like Dean Blais...as one of them was wearing a Blais throwback from his Gopher days. Complete with nameplate and everything.

King was THE best goaltender at the Final Five...no one was even close. He let in 1 goal on 47 shots vs. CC to give AA a chance at the autobid, and 4 goals on another 40 some odd shots against one of the most high powered offeses in the country. I'm glad Briggs was "modest" about it, because he kept just enough pucks out of the net for Minny to win. They played two even games, and 8 goals in two games...as compared to 5...c'mon voters, grow a pair and recognize great goaltending. Briggs played Hauseresque (without the stickwork)...solid, but nothing special. Irmen played extrememly well and deserved to be tourney MVP, he was all over the ice both nights.

Thomas Vanek.............should he stay around as well

I shall leave it for next year and to remind everyone who got hosed in the Hobey process (no defensmen have anything on Jones that were top 10 finalists...not even Ballard, or Pock )

I agree with Goon on this one. The trap will not get you a national championship. Earl and Bourque are really the only offensive people on that team. And I'm sorry, but Bruckler does not match up against Doyle and Howard. It's like Montoya going up agaisnt Roy or Broduer (in their prime, which Broduer may not be at yet...scary thought to anti-Devil fans). Solid, but Maine's goaltending is much better than anyone Wisconsin has.

How about this reason...Notre Dame plays well as long as they don't play at home. They've beat teams like Maine (unbelievably great goaltending), BC (another offensive juggernaut), and Michigan (conference powerhouse), all on the road or on neutral ice, while they're home record is horrendus. They are the most likely #4 team to make it to the FF. But, I just don't see them getting past Minny. The other ND will definately give that bracket a run for hte money and make them work for it. Of course should they make it out of the Midwest...the Sioux will laugh at them and dispose of them properly.

West.....Siooooouux Midwest....Minnesota East.....Ohio St. (my sleeper) Northeast....BC Sioux avenge loss in Final Five BC shows Ohio St. that it was a mistake they were there. Sioux show BC that the East really does suck NC Banner #8 gets raised along with WCHA banner at the Ralph in the fall

I'd like to know that too...we took a lot of crap for you all Oh well, it was fun anyways...

Sioux win 5-3. It has been written, therefore it shall be.

Common's the one on the right, correct?

Like Richard Petiot and Mark Stuart

You mean Wayne and Garth? I agree. The NC$$ could have thought about how much advertising would be sold when the games can actually be viewed on more than 4 TV's in one of the most college hockey fan rich areas in the country They just looked at the upfront money that VS1 offered them.