Telly33

Football isn't technically an NCAA championship. Different animal.

I felt like I was pretty close both times I called. Probably just on the whim of some pinhead supervisor in their call center. I'm sure they have tons of tickets on hand with virtually no demand from actual OSU fans. The first guy I talked to was really puzzled how I knew to call there. I just said I called the ticket office number of the school I used to go to.

OSU is a tough nut to crack, that's for sure. I even setup an account on their athletic ticketing website with a non-701 phone and non-ND mailing address so I could refer to that when I called. They still said we're not sure if we're going to be doing a public offering yet at this point. This was after lengthy holds so they could talk to supervisors. Curious if anyone has had any luck whatsoever with OSU?

Will call.

Yes, they are. Don't bother calling if you have a 701 area code. Waste of time.

That's possible, but other schools are certainly playing this game that's for sure.

I wonder who they think will get the tickets after they send them back to Scheels? It's funny how all these schools think they're accomplishing something by not selling to Sioux fans when the actual problem is their own fans don't travel. The tickets are going to end up in Sioux fans' hands one way or the other.

This is strange. Alarm bells would be going off in my head.

Harvard is a smart hockey team.

If you guys have any friends with DishAnywhere call them and get their log-in info. That's the route I'm going tonight.

Sold.

Tickets in hand, located in Grand Forks. $375/each, must sell together. Text preferred or call, 701-610-6062. Can meet you anywhere tonight or tomorrow to deliver.

SRO?

I like the idea. It could be something to try without a large multi-year commitment to be bound to. I didn't get through all of the posts, so some of this might be echoing what others have already said but: 1.) It's almost the exact same drive down to the mile from GF to SF as GF to MSP is. So you're not asking area Sioux fans (who make or break the tournament) to make a larger than usual travel commitment. There are also lots of Sioux fans in SD and western ND that might become part of the picture with a SF tournament. Sure, you lose out on some Sioux fans that live in MSP and just come out because the tournament is in their town, but it is speculation to think there isn't a large contingent of diehard MSP Sioux fans who would be willing to travel to SF for the weekend as well. 2.) Sioux Falls leads the USHL in attendance by a very large margin (They average 6,300 per game which is about 80% more than the Force who are second in attendance). Sioux Falls is obviously a very strong hockey town. I think if the tournament became an annual tradition in SF there's a very real possibility that great local support could be expected nearly every year. Without a true dog in the fight for SF hockey fans they might support the tournament regardless of the teams in it each year thus mitigating to a certain degree some of the nightmarish scenarios we currently have if we get a perfect storm of poorly supported teams in it. They could also examine the idea of greatly discounted tickets for locals in certain years or games where necessary. 3.) I think the arena is the perfect size. Not so large that it would look and feel virtually empty in a poorly attended game, but plenty big enough to support a large crowd as well. Also, what others have brought up about it being a hockey venue and all of the merits that brings to the table. 4.) Omaha is still relatively new to the college game. It stands to reason with the success the program has had early on that their fanbase will only grow over time. That takes time though, it doesn't happen overnight. With a tournament being held within about a two hour drive for them (versus over 5 hours to MSP) it also stands to reason their support of the tournament might increase as well. 5.) Den, CC, and WMich are all non-factors. SCSU has shown that they're not even willing to drive 45 min. to watch their team, but I suppose the faithful SCSU fans might make the ~200 mile drive. Duluth is the true wildcard as we haven't yet seen how they will support the tournament regardless of where it's held. To me, as stated above, it should be about tapping into the emerging hockey markets. 6.) In SF it would be the only show in town every single year. Hockey fans could "takeover" the town to a certain degree and not be splintered off in a huge ocean as it currently is with the three tournaments in a very large market. It would have more of an old school WCHA Final Five vibe.

Is the Gastropub doing a bus?

Lets not get off topic here people, I want to hear more about the water bottle caps please.

Are these eternal contracts? Were they written in blood?

I was going to suggest this as well. Some sort of joint tournament between some combination of the NCHC/B10/WCHA leagues seems like it has to be the logical progression. Share the expense and mutually benefit from more hockey fans in one location. For as great as we Sioux fans are and as much fun as it is to laugh at the failure of the B10 tournament, there are some very ugly potential scenarios attendance-wise for the Frozen Faceoff as well. Picture an oddball year where UND, SCSU, and Duluth all miss the FF. You would be able to hold that tournament at Eagles Arena. It will be interesting to see how all of the realignment growing pains shake out in the coming years. You would think there would have to be some changes on the horizon though.

Johnson needs to be scratched for today's game. That effort (or lack thereof) in the final 80-90 seconds when the puck was deep in SCSU's corner was embarrassing. One goal game, empty net, and he literally stops playing and turns his back to the play and is bitching at the ref for not whistling the play dead. Meanwhile SCSU is winning the battle for the puck and skating it down and scoring. Watch the video if you didn't see what I'm talking about. Time for Hakstol to do the right thing and send a message. We're not nearly talented enough to win playing like that.

Looks like maybe cheaper on the DU website? $9.95

What are the viewing options tonight?

I setup a Canadian proxy server and was able to get past the Not Available in the U.S. error message on the TSN site. Unfortunately before the video stream will start you have to select what Canadian cable provider you use and log-in with those credentials, similar to ESPN3.

It says 'channel deleted' now for me.

Speak for yourself. Our goaltending was more than good enough to get the job done, IMO. 92% for both and 2.29 and 2.45. Very encouraging for both of their Sioux debut seasons. Goaltending was not the problem. Scoring and team defense was. Stupid comment.

Who's making excuses? I know I wasn't. In my mind it's simply a lack of preparation and fire. Some of these Cinderella teams in the tournament clearly have had it. You wouldn't have to say a word to get the troops ready to play Minnesota or BC. It's getting them ready to play the Niagaras and Yales of the world that seems to be the challenge. At the end of the day the players play the game, but the only common denominator over the last nine years is Hakstol.