NorthDakotaHockey

The once proud Days Inn at 1964 University Avenue is also an option. A bit of a hole these days, but right on a bus line to and from the X. With the Turf Club along the way. Great music venue. http://traveldaysinn.com/details.cfm?LocationID=924

There are some cheap hotels in Roseville, convenient on the way in and out of town. 35W and Hwy 36. Hwy 36 to 35E into Saint Paul and the X is a very easy drive in about fifteen minutes. Motel 6 and Super 8 stuff if you are looking at going to that pricepoint. Many other hotel options there as well. Only drawback, like most anywhere else, is the drinky drivey issue if that is your cup of tea. A reasonably priced weekend of fun could turn into a whole lotta trouble if one has equipment not working on the old car, or is inclined to get a lead foot or a bit swervy on the roads after a few. If you are thinking about doing that, bite the bullet, pay downtown prices, and save yourself $10K. Have fun. The Final Five is the best tournament in all of sport.

Valid points all in your first paragraph Bucko. As for the second, many of those things, and departures, were of Lucia's own doing. Players leave early for many reasons. Most of the Gophers' early departures were due to reasons that have been reasonably well documented, and pertain to player development, or lack thereof, and a locker room Me Me Me Syndrome that was due, in large part, to absentee or failed coaching. The injuries hurt, and are part of the game. Lucia's illness was mysterious and unfortunate, and one from which he is hopefully now healed. The other failings of the program are on him, or maybe, as I had long suspected, were on the now departed Johnny Hill. Guentzel for Hill. This season v. last season. The analysis is not rocket science. There is much of the season left to be played and the upcoming series for both teams will say alot about their coaches and their hearts. As the old saying goes, We Shall See . . . .

Have a pair for Saturday night. Section 222, Row 8. Asking what I paid, including fees. $75 for the pair. Tix in Twin Cities, or will hold and meet at arena to a fully committed buyer. PM me or reply here.

I think that the preferred autographed puck pen of the pros is the silver Sharpie. Buy the fine point model if the bold stroke causes problems.

Take it outside and finish it girls. Here is some cold hard truth for all of your inflated egos. You all appear to be reasonably qualified grasshoppers in the games of life.

Thanks for posting these GeauxSioux . . . . . One of the most famous, or infamous, moments in the storied history of the greatest greatest program in the greatest league of the greatest game ever played. The Fighting Sioux. The WCHA. And college hockey. Should be another barn burner tonight. And, as I have long said, the only thing better than a Friday night in the WCHA is a Saturday night in the WCHA. Certainly, the fans at Dane were treated to much that night. I went to many a WCHA game in those days, and still do. Sadly, I was not at Dane that night.

Benny the Blood. Friday night. Game winner even.

Your best bet is to watch the e-Bay. Check Fighting Sioux. Folks sometimes dump their old Sioux memorabilia, including pucks, there.

Thanks for doing these Dave. Always informative. Always interesting. Always accurate. Always very well written. Always much appreciated.

We appear to have two due to changes in travel plans. Section 306, Row L. Seats 23-24. Ticketfast Tickets. I bought them. I have only printed them once. Here is a breath of fresh air. I paid $118 for the pair with the TicketBastard fees. Will sell pair at a loss for $110. Wow. Phone is best as I will be on the road this afternoon. 612.201.3239

I posted long ago that we are looking. Have some family from out of town and a son back for another run at an education at The Harvard of the Northern Plains. We are in continuing dire search of tickets for both nights. Looking for 2-4 each night. Obviously, would prefer to pay face or fair value. I have sold many at face, fair value, or less to many folks. Maybe I shall get lucky and catch someone of the same cut. PM me, or e-mail me at fortparker911@msn.com, or call me at 612.201.3239. CALL MIGHT BE BEST as we will be rolling the trailer of junk furniture up to the UND this weekend for a Monday school start.

To state the obvious . . . . Tonight's game is the last conference game until Minnesota comes to town in mid-January. A win will bring the boys back to .500 in the great WCHA. The House that Ralph Built should be packed and rocking. This is a big big game. It is against a rock solid program. The outcome will tell alot about what is likely to happen in the second half and the stretch run. Why does the hockey season seem to fly by some much faster than the off season?

Marto. Er, I mean, Gleason.

If you are not wed to air hockey, I'd look hard at going with a good quality rod hockey, or lever hockey, game. So much more fun in my opinion.

Go Sioux. I shall be out dancing the blues with The Lamont Cranston Band. Thankfully, I've no smart phone so it shall be like the old days. Check the newspaper for the score in the morning.

It's Thanksgiving. There will be plenty of biscuits in the basket. The Way to the Bay starts now.

I caught a bit of the Gophers' pre-game show on the radio last night while in the car. They had a great about five-minute production called This Week in the WCHA. Great recaps of teams, upcoming games, and other news. Sound clips. Very good. It reminded me, again, of how solid this league is, top-to-bottom, how there are many rivalries across the board, and how sad it is that the league is getting reformed because of the Pig Ten and the NCHC. This Week in the NCHC just isn't going to seem the same, at least not for a long time.

Got an e-mail from the NCAA giving me my seat selections for the Frozen Four. First time that has happened I believe. A bit disappointed in what I got as I had moved down to the lower bowl last year and this year back up top. Might be because I cut down to two tickets instead of four and the NCAA is punishing me for my insolence in doing so . . . .

I do still have a couple of singles. In end that Sioux attack twice. I'll send you a PM Cratter.

You oughta be tied to a post and pistol whipped you worthless maggot. I know Tim Oshie personally, and well, and your accusations are slanderous per se. Oshie has done more for others, out of sheer goodness of his heart, than you will ever hope to do. Show your face to me this weekend and we can talk further about your scumbag behavior personally. I'll be in a #29 black "Cookacknov" jersey and will be happy to talk to you. Maybe even serve you with a summons and complaint. Go back to lying under your piece of plywood in the cool shade, or to your momma's basement. Real courageous to be making such accusations behind the anonymity of a message board. Let's talk this weekend Mr. Mole.

The PAIRS have been sold. We have TWO SINGLE SEATS, separate from each other, left for the Friday night game.

Sadly, funeral arrangements will conflict my 85-year old parents from coming to The John this weekend for the game. It's a dying game out there, especially at their ages. A good friend is down and last respects for the deceased are more important than last rites for the Gopher program. So, I have a PAIR of SEATS available for each night. Friday night is in the end where the Sioux will shoot twice. Saturnday night in the end that the Gophers shoot twice. Bought these at a premium so they could sit togehter. Paid $130 for each pair. Asking $120 for each pair, which is about $10, or 20%, over face. PM me if interested.

Gave you a call and left you a message Tracy. I am in the TC if you are interested.

Yes it does. No question about that. Even if this went through, most players are not on the full scholarship. $500 to $1000 or so would be the more likely stipend. They get plenty of perks around town at local restaurants and, for those kids over 21, bars as well. Their lives will not change dramatically if they get the stipend. It will set a bad precedent. Last I checked, $576K is a ton of money and any money that might come from television contracts and dues will have much greater need elsewhere. Like better skilled officials perhaps?