01grad

I have been relatively impressed with our overall play though it has looked a bit disorganized and we haven't looked like the teams of the past. We still have won and seen some positives in goaltending and defense (penalty kill). Things are just coming together very slowly this year. We did loose leadership in Bochenski and Parise as goal scorers and the younger freshmen and sophmores are getting a few good chances and converting here and there. I think they will make very quick strides to become great as players in the past have. As some people have mentioned we do need to shoot the puck much more. This is how we have been so successful in the past. We never used to get outshot.

I know it is early still, but I think we really need to find those scoring combinations soon to pair up lines. We also need crisper passing, which should come with time and learning each others ability levels on the ice. I have been really impressed with our play so far and this poll is in no way saying that we need a ton of improvement and we should be worried because we lost a game. This team will bounce back and it is important to always be critical of performance to improve. Just wanted to see what others forsee as trouble spots for us this year that we need to work on right now to be the best we can be. Every team isn't perfect, but we all know that the Sioux are closer than any other team year in and year out!!! GO SIOUX!!!

The iron really saved our butts tonight. Granted Parise made some really good saves, but it was nice to have a little luck on our side again. There is no flow to the games anymore. I switched between our game and Denver/St. Cloud and every flip showed penalty time at the top of the screen. I wish they would have shown Dean Blais's reaction on camera more to the missed passes and penalty calls. He is probably glad he got out when he did. The game is being ruined by so many penalty calls. Players will get used to those cheap calls and dramatize every contact because they know a penalty will be called. We saw it tonight with the trip/dive and another time a player was grabbed they went down so they would get the call. The game won't be cleaner with more calls, it will only get sloppier with more guys trying to draw penalties. Records will probably be set for penalty kill and power play percentages since everything is so upscaled and different from the past. Everybody was probably so tired from the penalty kill tonight, that they probably won't have anything left for tomorrow. Just my take on the changes in the game. Things have become a little out of control if you ask me. It's tough to go from calling only certain penalties every once in awhile to calling everything. I think the players are having a tough time adjusting and need to be more disciplined than ever. By the way, maybe we were too quick to credit Mankato with great defense and goaltending. Look at what Duluth did to them tonight. Which means we really need to find some offensive leaders on our team because we should be able to score like that as well. Hopefully we don't need luck on our side tomorrow and we will sweep straight up!

Thanks for the Star Tribune articles. I only receive the Pioneer Press at home. Here is the USCHO link for the weekend: http://www.uscho.com/m/wc/?data=preview

You either renew your seats from the previous year or upgrade your seats. If you were in the top deck last year, they might be trying to convince you to move down to the lower level.

http://www.insidecollegehockey.com/7Archiv...5/wcha_0306.htm Weekly notebook from INCH. Just a tibit about our series.

Today's GF herald online poll. Our biggest rival? duh! Think about who we play this weekend, which is probably the reason for this poll. Anyways, here it is so you can make your voice be heard. http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/sports/9963697.htm

Here is the link to the pride on ice discussion on the series this weekend. Interesting to read some of their predictions and expectations. http://www.prideonice.com/chat/viewthread....=10501&sec_id=1

That would have been a great picture for fatty Fournier if he played for the gophers.

Priority members are those people who have purchased packages over the past years and are given the chance to renew their seats. I just happened to be at a Wild game the day packages went on sale 4 years ago and was lucky enough to get seats 10 rows up center ice. Important dates for the final five: First set of packages go on sale November 15 (Don't receive seats until Jan. 9th, best seats available are given, but can't choose. Confusing but this is what it says in the brochure) Packages go on sale December 20 (This time seat locations are available to pick a section of area of the rink) Single game tickets go on sale March 7. The games are played March 17, 18 and 19. When I first started going, when it was at the target center, I would wait until I knew the Sioux were in and purchase the tickets for their games only. I don't recommend this way because the seats were always bad and it was such a hastle. If you can get good tickets, in a package, just keep renewing. This is very possible because many people don't renew their tickets, and great seats open up. The only problem with this is that it does start to get spendy. The more Sioux fans each year, the better! (It's sad the WCHA site is never updated and this is the way we need to receive our information)

Just got my priority ticket info. today! The price for package is up to $133 from $115, but what the heck, it's some of the greatest hockey games and memories ever! A Sioux couple that sits just a few rows behind me to the left were pictured in the bulletin, next to a few varmint fans. The price also includes this year (for priority members) -Tickets to October 2005 womens WCHA all-stars vs. Womens USA national team -Complimentary collectable WCHA item. (probably just a puck though) I wonder why the price went up? Either because they know they will have great attendance again as always or to pay for this extra stuff considered a bonus? Either way, I can't wait! Go Sioux!!! You had better be there again this year! One thing funny about the visit to Mankato was that they had a banner hanging just for their final five and NCAA tournament appearances. I guess you have to start somewhere though. GO SIOUX, skin, shed, rip, burn, scalp the PHERS!!!

I'm sure that everyone knows about this one, but I'm in a posting mood. http://www.fightingsioux.com/sports/mhocke...RELEASE_ID=3225

Here is one from the pioneer press today 10/19 about our stellar goalies. http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/s.../9954022.htm?1c

I brought back the minnesota idea thread from last year to help generate some ideas for signs this year. Let's keep the new ideas for this year in this thread. I think after the Sioux win Friday night, we need to see a sign that says Sioux Go-Pher Sweep!

Here are the ideas from last year. Of course, some of them may not apply now, but still some good ideas generated.

Are you going tomorrow Dagies?

Stupid tie. Shoot.

We had better win this game. I will be down there tomorrow and want to see a sweep.

Just tuned in. What is going on? I thought we were supposed to win 5-1.

Great job Pat! Keep those pictures coming as well! You and diggler are the best!!!

Brandt in goal Friday night, Sioux win 6-2. Parise in goal Saturday night, Sioux win 4-1.

I don't know. Where's Waldo?

#3 on the INCH power rankings. http://www.insidecollegehockey.com

Buffalo Wild Wings is it!!! Let's take the place by storm. Last year we didn't have much time so we ate at long john silvers. Wings and beer sounds much tastier.

Did you call ticketmaster or the Mankato ticket box office? If ticketmaster, what was the number and do they still have extra charges if you pick the tickets up at the arena? If you can request specific sections, what were the sections that had mainly Sioux fans? Thanks for the help!