NorthDakotaHockey

Yes. We are wasting time on a drive to Rochester. Twill be a great show. FYI to all Fargo folks. She is in Fargo on May 17. She'll cut you with a knife.

We have two great seats for the May 18 Lucinda Williams show in Rochester. She never fails to knock the socks off. Front and center in a small intimate theater. Our TicketBastard price for the pair is $105. That is our price to you as well. Many may not know her. Those who do will vouch. We have seen her many times, both electric and acoustic. Amazing stuff.

Not me. Can hardly skate a lick. I've been a girlfriend once or twice. Even bitter on rare occasion. I have no clue what all went into Brett's decision- making process. He must have had reasoned counsel in his ear. I just figure that kids on the fringe, like Hextall, will develop just as easily at most D-1 programs as they will riding the circuit of some minor league. Maybe the money was not going to be there in a year. I don't think that Brett will ever see more than a cup of coffee in the NHL. The AHL is an unlikely stretch as well. Banking the remainder of his education now, while having the chance to showcase his skills, both as a leader and as a player, on national TV at the collegiate level for another year just strikes me as the better play for his circumstances. The money would still come, maybe more so. If I could quit my job to drive from town-to-town with my golf clubs in the trunk and stay in cut rates while chasing the satellite golf tours, would I? That's a good question. If I was Brett's age, I suppose I would for a year or five. After I had secured my fall back position. Sadly, perhaps, I am now just an old man who fishes the big waters alone.

Well this is a disappointment. Best of luck to Brett. Load up the i-Pod Brett, because the grind and the long bus rides, that could have easily waited another year, are going to get old and be brutal. There is plenty of talent stacked up behind Brett that has been waiting on the pine to step in and take his place. Heck, we will probably be skating short-handed a lot less. There are silver linings in almost every cloud.

While I am sure that it has been said by others but I do not wish to now wade through the drivel to find, I am with the camp that does not think that Hextall will sign. He is a good candidate for becoming captain. He clearly loves his time at UND and his integral role with the Sioux. He is not ready for the NHL anytime soon, if ever. While there is certainly no shame in a career in the AHL, where many great hockey players have had solid careers, that will come soon enough if it is going to come at all. Europe may be a better option for him. North Dakota will develop him as well as will any minor league team, save for the game time. Hextall loves playing for the Sioux. His options, while reasonable, are likely not lucrative enough right now. He will see the forest through the Phoenix trees that may be standing in front of him right now. Temptation to put pen to paper will pass after reasoned thought. If Phoenix is indeed putting any paper in front of him at all.

More proof, indeed, that your sources in fact simply do not know jack. I have no anger toward you lomackman. You are simply an inconsequent to me.

I prefer to wait on news from official sources. If true, the news will come soon enough. I have plenty of "sources" as well. Sadly, perhaps, they are about as reliable and as informed as are you lomackman. These self-proclaimed know-it-alls simply do not know jack. You know the type? You should. Missed you at the Frozen Four. What, no free tickets come your way?

Allowing the team, en masse, to attend The Hobey. A very special moment for those Sioux fans who were there to give them a nice standing ovation both as they filed in, and as they went out to their bus after the ceremony had ended.

Hats off to the Dogs, for sure. They have waited a long time. It is nice to see another Minnesota school with a Crown. It was mildly aggravating to me on Saturday that many Bulldog fans were imploring me with the "WCHA all the way" plea when many did not have the same league loyalty on Thursday night. I suppose that I should not blame them for fearing the Sioux. Anyway, Duluth deserves it. Great coach. Solid hockey town. Loyal fans. Program on the rise. It has it all over its sister school on each of these four measuring sticks.

Everyone worries about what kids are leaving early. I have said for a long time that the next Michigan Tech coach is going to be our own Coach Eades. Will hate to see him go for sure, but will not be surprised to see him go at all. He deserves a head job. If he wants one, this is it.

I think that your plan is great YaneA. Hope to see you around The X, or are you going back home? Sioux fans, win or lose, are still, and always will be, the greatest fans in the world. For many many reasons, and your plan is one of them.

I am sure that your wife and children are real pleased and impressed with you as well Doc. Assuming you have the skills to hold a relationship of any form together. Judging from the crowds at The John this year, you are not all in on that relationship. Go back to lying under that piece of plywood under the shade in the back woods of your momma's house. One of the many great things about college hockey, in my opinion anyway, is that they do not take wagers on college hockey except for the tournament. They are a fool's game. I know. I was once a fool. Clearly, you are a fool too. In many more ways than one. Go home. To that cool, moist, shady spot under your piece of plywood.

Nice article Dave and very informative, except for your misinformation. I am pretty sure that Michigan is hoping for #11. [Oops, Saint Paul paper says 9, going for ten. I am wrong, yet again!] A reference to the win over Michigan at The Ralph during the West Regional a few years back might refresh some fading memories like mine. After the first game, the second game that evening was a bit of a blur. I recall that the Sioux won rather handily, but maybe not. As always, thanks for your hard work and fine insights. Your predictions? Not always so much. Sioux win these final two games with a combined score of about 11 to 3. Done done deal, and I mean done. While the boys have much hard work and focus left to do and keep over the next few days, all that is left for us fans is the watching and the fun. Have fun everyone. We have been waiting for these days ever since last March, and ever since April of 2000. It is time. It is our time. Their times are over.

Saturday ticket is a stand alone single ticket. It does not look like people can leave between games to go to the Rivercentre. That does suck. Finally, I note that the NCAA tickets do have both a bar code and a tear off perforation. Back to my initial post, it will be nice if ticket takers tear the stub. This said, I suspect that they will not take that time and will scan them only, again creating the concern over crooks and confusion.

Now this is funny right here!!

Yes. One ticket. Odd, but true.

Good one Siouxman. Does this mean that young Mr. Johnson will be coming to the UND to play his college game?

Yes. Those e-mail .pdf tickets that TicketBastard sells. They can be sold countless times over and first person there gets in. All others turned away. Personally, I do not buy "print at home" electronic tickets to events from someone unless I am quite sure of their pedigree. Or, unless they "walk me through the turnstile."

There should be a couple of caveats to those looking and hoping to buy on the street on Thursday. There is a danger that there will be already scanned seats on the street that will look authentic and they are authentic. Problem? Shady characters go into the building with their tickets. Once inside, they go outside for a smoke and hand their scanned tickets back to a protege on the outside. Protege resells to an unsuspecting scalper, er, I mean broker, or sells directly to an unsuspecting fan. Fan, excited with a ticket, goes to entry and is denied because the ticket has been scanned. Seller on the street is long gone. Same could happen between games. Some fans, or shall I say crooks, may decide to bolt after the first game. They get outside, and "sell" their tickets. It will look real. It will be real. It just won't scan. In fairness, the brokers with the peddlers licenses are very likely to selling good product. Ask them for their license and their business card. Check their photo with their ID in case you have a problem. If so, let me know and I'll put a hot poker in their hind end hole for you. I am a big shot in this town. Cue, Lomackman. The scanners have always aggravated me for this reason. Another reason where technology fails us. Why not just the old fashioned way, with a torn stub to represent proper admission and to avoid a resale? No one would buy a torn stub. In short, be wary out on the street buyers on the day of the game. Have your seller walk you to the turnstile where, once in, you will turn to him and hand over your hard-earned cash. It's a Buyer's Beware world on the street if you are not careful. Don't mean to cry wolf, but some folks in their excitement simply do not think as clearly as they must. There will be some evil out on the street. Guaranteed.

Great stories Farce. Very fun to read. I wish I had discovered the thrills of the Frozen Fours long before we started going with the first trip to Columbus in 05? Had too many balls in the air for too long a period of time before then to be able to go. Do remember the '83 hosing by the selection committee. We were all set to go then but the taste of the selection was so bitter that we simply could not bring ourselves to go. Sold our tickets to some very grateful, and gracious, Badger fans.

Very very cool Sioux-cia! Especially the one of the Michigan goalie taken the night that I first exclaimed Holy Folking Cross!! Or, was Michigan the higher seed that weekend? Maybe it was from the West Regional in Denver? Who knows? Great shot. Great shirts.

In fairness, she is probably right in your capable wheelhouse. At 84 years of age.

Gentlemen. Please. Your insipid tripe is doing nothing to advance the spirit of the Frozen Four. If there is such a thing as karma, you are doing your best to destroy it. Lomackman. You could add it to your long list of accomplishments. Single-handedly responsible for the Sioux falling short of their goal. Attributed to your bone-headedness. Fortunately, even you, sir, are not powerful enough to stop the Sioux Train from rolling back to town with The Crown next week. Get over the Kristo deal. It is day before yesterday's news. Get over yourself. You know nothing. You have little. And you will likely be watching the Frozen Four on your 8" black and white in the comfort of your bedroom in your momma's basement. At forty-two years of age no less!