Dave P

I don't know what's in store for this year's team, but let's enjoy it while it lasts. Happiness is having one more game to play! Last year's team is a great example of the Sioux hockey tradition and what can happen any time they lace up the skates. The 2008 Sioux peaked slightly before the NCAA tourney but they pulled it together and made it to the FF. Look at that game in Madison when they rallied to beat the Badgers. Wisc should have been ahead 5-0 going to the third, but Lamareaux kept them in it. Coming from behind in the playoffs is tough enough, but playing on enemy ice with only 20 minutes on the clock just shows you the grit that team had. St Cloud would have wet themselves and Minny would have have fired their asst coach, but not the Sioux. Those guys rallied and won the game. So as for the 2009 Sioux, I believe that the same grit and determination is alive and well in their locker room. Right now they need to do what's necessary to win the Broadmoor Cup. After that, they need to do what's necessary to advance to the FF. And then, sometime in April if all goes well, I'll get back on line and continue this thread. Go Sioux!

Here's a little history on the MacNaughton Cup. http://www.cchockeyhistory.org/MacNaughtonCupWinners.htm Don't know who maintains the website but you got to love the photo of Parise holding it high! Go Sioux!

If I had to rank the chances of the six WCHA teams right now, I'd say Wisconsin has the slimmest chances of making the FF. Even playing at home, they will struggle to get by Denver (not to mention North Dakota). I'd say St Cloud has the next toughest route...getting though Michigan will be a tough task. Then I'd go with Denver. I can see them beating Wisconsin, but will they be fortunate enough to beat North Dakota on back-to-back weekends? That's a tough task. So it comes down to Minnesota, CC and North Dakota. I like the chances of all three schools making the FF. IF Minny can get by a good BC team, I think their success will continue and they will beat Miami.

The Gophers got a lucky bounce to beat CC. Great...a Sioux fans dream. Now it will be WCHA #1 vs #2 for THIRD place. Talk about fantastic finishes!!! I doubt either team will score more than 2 goals tomorrow.

I was disappointed that the Sioux didn't play the body that much today. If there was ever a trademark of Sioux hockey, it is the physical play. There are 3 ways to change momentum in hockey: 1) score a goal 2) hit the post 3) lay somebody out

If New Hampshire loses to BC they would slip to #4 in the PWR. That would open the door for the Sioux to move into the #2 spot in the PWR if they win the WCHA tourney (and there are no upsets elsewhere). 1 Michigan 2 North Dakota 3 Miami 4 New Hampshire 5 Colorado College 6t Boston College 6t Denver 8 St. Cloud State 9t Michigan State 9t Clarkson 11 Minnesota 12 Minnesota State 13t Notre Dame 14 Princeton 15 Niagara 16 Air Force

What I find frustrating is that the "bracket integrity" rule is not over-ridden by the "national tournament" philosophy. Moy does a decent job trying to predict what the NCAA will do. And when it comes to the NCAA, there's just no common sense involved. These brackets would be nothing more than a bunch of re-matches. COLORADO SPRINGS: featuring the top two teams in the WCHA North Dakota and Colorado College MADISON: featuring the only 2 legit teams in the CCHA Michigan and Michigan State ALBANY: featuring 4 marginal teams from 4 different conferences Boring WORCESTER: featuring the only two teams in Hockey East New Hampshire and Boston College Absolutely brutal and yet absolutely possible.