NorthDakotaHockey

Sorry Folks. THESE TICKETS ARE SOLD. More proof that the early birds get the worms. Thanks for your interest. NDH.

We have five seats in Section 120 behind the net that the Sioux will shoot at twice. Great seats. Asking $160 which is what we paid SCSU ticket office. $30 each plus a transaction fee. Tickets are in the Twin Cities, and can also likely be delivered in person during Friday game. Wish to sell all as a package but might consider a 3/2 split.

Looks like we may have over bought. Three great Final Five ticket packages bought from a great Sioux fan on this site. Sit next to other great Sioux fans at center ice. Or, maybe if you prefer, on the glass. $160 per strip, includes all five games. Be there. Or be disappointed in yourself for passing on the greatest collegiate tournament in all of sport.

This series will be the last chance that many very very good to great Sioux fans will have to see the Fighting Sioux play. Ever. They will not see them at the Final Five. They will not see them at the West Regional. They will not see them at the Frozen Four. They would love to do all, but their stations in life may not allow them that luxury. Therefore, they will go to the first round of the WCHA Playoffs. Next year, they, and us all, can see North Dakota, but not the Fighting Sioux, play hockey again. Sad. But most likely, absent a miracle, true. No more Fighting Sioux. Buy right away. It's a no brainer in my book.

Question: Unlike most, if not all, team sports, one of the many beauties of hockey is that,theoretically, play may never be whistled to a stop for an entire period. No goals. No penalties. No offsides. No icings. A few questions here . . . 1. Does the WCHA, or high school leagues, have mandatory time-outs during a period? It seems to me like this is a practice in league games recently. While they may be extended TV breaks, I wonder if these extended breaks are taken during league games that are not televised as well. If there were no stoppages in play, would the refs at some point whistle one themselves for these breaks, if they are in fact now mandatory? 2. When "changing on the fly," how do players know when to get off the ice? Of course, it is mostly, if not always, done when the puck is dumped deep into the offensive zone, but what tells a player it is time to get off? Some seem to pull themselves after a particularly long and exhausting shift. Some get off and on when they can, with linemates appearing to soon follow. However, do they catch this out of the corners of their eyes, do they instinctively know it is time to switch, or are they waaved off or signaled to do so from the bench? If signaled from the bench, how are some of the ways that coaches typically do this? It seems that whenever I am at Goofer games, I hear a loud shrill whistle that I think may come from the bench. The whistle is often followed by a line change on the fly. Is this how Lucia and his staff signal up a line change on the fly? Maybe the best signal is simply yelling to the players on the ice. 3. Do coaches call the line changes with names, or with a number or other designation? 4. While it may well depend on the closeness of the game, the time of the game, and the intensity of the shift, what is the range of seconds for a typical shift before an "on the fly" change is made? I love watching action with few whistles. It tends to keeps the boneheads in their seats during the action. Up. Down. Up. Down. Excuse me. What happened?

Question: What does it mean when someone says that a player should have "pinched in?" Is it something that is taught and learned, or is it largely instinctive? I understand it to mean when a player should be skating forward taking the play to the opposition, especially to "hold the zone," as opposed to when a player should recognize that she should start the retreat because the puck is soon heading the other way? Is this what happens when a player essentially "gets caught?"

Q: What is The Trap and what should I watch for to see it in play? A: There are a couple trap styles. You'll notice it most by watching the forecheck and specifically the left winger. Trap styles are usually described in terms of the forecheckers, i.e. a 2-1-2 is not a trap and is most common, a 2-3 or 1-2-2 is a trap. The numbers identify the number of skaters, and the order is offensive zone, neutral zone or defensive zone. If you see one forechecker, look at the neutral zone. If there are two defensive forwards just on the offensive side of the redline and the 2 dmen are sitting on the defensive blue line that is the neutral zone trap. The forechecker clogs up the middle of the rink and forces the play up the side boards, thus eliminating good passing lanes and clogging up the neutral zone with bodies. This usually is employed against a team breaking out of their own end. If you see two forecheckers forcing the play up the right side of the ice/side boards, look back into the neutral zone to see if there are 3 defensive players lined up. If so, the guy on the left is probably the left winger and they are employing another trap known as the left-wing lock. This can happen on any change of possession, but mostly is used after an offensive zone turnover. /s/ YZERMAN 19 A: The way I understand it is that it's a zone defense through the neutral zone. When they're doing it they really plug it up in there. I really don't understand the pro's and cons of the different schemes. I guess when you notice we seem to have trouble getting through the neutral zone you should look for the things Yzerman pointed out. /s/ THE WHISTLER A: Correct, in the neutral zone trap you are responsible for an area of the ice, not a player. Pros and cons are: You are almost never going to get an odd-man rush, but you will never give up an odd-man rush. You will have few scoring chances, but if you can force a couple off of turnovers, they should be really good looks. The opponent should never come through the neutral zone with numbers and speed... /s/YZERMAN 19 A: It also helps hide a teams lack of speed and skill players . . . . The sioux use a similar style at times....they run a zone forecheck where all three forwards are no deeper than the hashmarks in the offensive zone....and back out as the opposing team starts to breakout ...same concept ...plug up the neutral zone ...looking for a turnover /s/ ILUVDEBBIES A: I think that most successful teams do forecheck and play tough in the neutral zone. I don't think it's a bad thing... /s/ GOON A: Absolutely agree, love the fact that we're talking about it! The team I coach kind of runs a hybrid type of forecheck that is based on UND's neutral zone system. Upon our team chipping the puck out or coming off a change, we have our first forward take away the d-d pass, and force the puck to stay on the strong side of the ice with F2 locking up with the strong side wing and taking the body if the pass goes to the wall, and F3 taking away the middle lane of the ice to prevent a cross ice pass. Where we struggle (but the sioux do a great job) is keeping consistently good gaps with our dmen, forcing opposing teams to dump the puck instead of allowing a team to come into our end with speed if we get beat in our system with the short passing game. Nothing like the X's and O's of hockey. I just watched the Detroit Red Wings beat the Rangers and was thinking about the Scotty Bowman Left Wing Lock....that they played for like 15 years. /s/ WILBUR A: That is a hybrid of several forechecks that I'm familiar with. In your forecheck then you have F1 and F3 playing a zone and F2 sticking with the strong side winger?..sorta a mix. That certainly cuts the options for the dman carrying the puck up- no pass to his partner, no pass up the boards, no pass cross ice. When does your F1 give up playing the pass and jump the puck carrier? Hashes or Blue Line? /s/ YZERMAN 19 PLEASE CONTINUE WITH POSTS HERE ON THE X's and O's of Hockey! I am less dumber already . . . . Thanks.

In another thread, it was moved, and seconded, that a dedicated thread to the X's and O's of the game would be a good idea. I love the game for many different reasons. Having never skated, or been coached, I am slow on some of the finer points of the game. I have sometimes wondered if there are plays, what is discussed during time outs when a team is in dire need of a game tying goal, various ways in which the power play is operated, what "The Trap" is, what training techniques are most effective, etc. etc. I know that there are alot of guys and gals who know the game, some inside and out. I know that there are alot of volunteer youth coaches who would love to benefit from the teachings and wisdom of others. I know that there are even a good handful of fans who will welcome a better understanding of the X's and O's. I want to be able to turn to my date and say something more than just "Wow, did you see that?" So, here it is. The X's and O's of Hockey. No cat calling. No drivel. Just good solid teaching fundamentals, theories, and questions. There will be no such thing as stupid questions. To get things started, I will try to transfer some discussions of The Trap, taken from another thread discussing one of the Masters of the Trap, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves. How, when, and why is it used, and how does it work? Thanks in advance to all who will share.

Thanks a million Yzerman19 and Goon. Very helpful. If you ever need me to describe the "swing and a miss" play in baseball, I think that I can manage that one.

Yes we will get AA's best game. Because I am short memoried, and not very smart, and for the benefit of a few others here, please give me a quick refresher on how "The Trap" works so I can watch for it in play. My Gleason pick in a 1-0 game will probably have me winning that contest first game out. Folks, you had better load up on Gleason.

Ticket Broker sites are usually safe. USCHO.com fans are usually very trustworthy and reliable. Problem might be, once the Sioux are locked in, the market is going to swing wildly with Sioux fans from everywhere wanting to go. Once that happens, the chance of getting a ticket at anywhere near the face value will slide south a shade. Can still be done, but the number of folks in the scrum will increase exponentially. I recommend flying with confidence that the Sioux will be there. Look to buy now, while prices are still reasonable. On tickets that are even now still hard to find. Once the Frozen Four field is announced, tickets will either be worth a dollar, or they will be worth a dime. Folks will be buying, and folks will be selling. The scalpies will try get their hands on as many of them as they can. Buy now. Sell later if you need to do so. My advice. Who knows?

All I know and believe on this issue is as follows: 1. Danny was taken to the hospital for frostbite. Most likely a serious case, or a cautious reaction to the same. 2. Danny and his family wish privacy on the issue. There has been no other official word. 3. Official word will come in due time, and will come from authorized sources. 4. Until that time, Danny will not be in the lineup and there is hole to fill in the lineup. 5. There are several plenty talented young hockey players who are chomping at the bit to step in and and step up for however long Danny is out. These kids will step up. 6. This team could well use Danny for the stretch run. This said, injuries and incidents happen on and off the ice that take players out of lineups. Happens all the time. To alot of good teams. 7. This team will be just fine without Danny for as long as it is without Danny. One player does not a team make. 8. Number 8 is coming real soon. Enjoy the rest of the season boys or girls. Danny get well. Danny be damned. This is going to be my last wasting of time on the Danny Boy matter.

Where has Forbert been?

Likely nowhere downtown, but just south of the river in downtown is South Saint Paul, West Saint Paul, and Caesar Chavez Boulevard. Great authentic Mexican cuisine at any number of places. The Boca Chica perhaps being the most well known.

Watch the Fan Forum on USCHO.com. Many good hockey fans who decide for some reason that they cannot go will start selling their tickets there soon.

Lousy scalpers . . . . How does this company already know in what sections it has, or will have, tickets?? Tennessee Frozen Four Tix

Sorry Sioux-cia. Did not know that. I thought that you had lived down here a stretch back. You know I am just ribbing you.

I would give Sioux-cia's post a + as well except that it contains one critical piece of misinformation. Regions is in Saint Paul, not Minneapolis. Sioux-cia, you of all folks should know better! Roseau-Warroad. Dallas-Fort Worth. Duluth-Superior. GF-EGF. Potato-Potatoe. Saint Paul is not Minneapolis. Big big differences across many lines. The Frozen Four is in Saint Paul this year. There is much talent that has been riding the the pine. Kids can and will step up. This incident, tragic as it is and preventable as it was, will serve as a catalyst for this team to really come together and recommit to their end goal game . . . . Hoisting a Title on April 9. For Danny. For the fans. For the name. And, most importantly, for themselves, as a team.

This is not good news. Hopefully, Danny will get the treatment that he needs and he will get better someday soon. This means, in all liklihood,next season. My momma, a nurse, always says that everyone, especially kids, should be made to see a case of frostbite up close. If they did, they would wear hats, gloves, boots, etc. Not sure what happened here, and I suppose it really does not matter. Kids do stupid things. This team will pull together. There are any number of guys on the pine who can, and will, step in to fill this big hole. Regions is top shelf on treatment of frostbite. He likely was not sent there for any small reason. Our thoughts and prayers to Danny and his family.

Years past, some skills competitions of collegiate skaters. This year, looks like Hobey and Humanitarian presentations, and other things. Open skate on the ice. Here is the schedule: FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE FROZEN FOUR Xcel Energy Center 4 p.m. Gates open to public 4 p.m. Entry Giveaway 2,000 paper helmets courtesy of Bauer Xcel Energy Center; Gates 1 and 2 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Autograph Session with two team finalists and Hobey Hat Trick, presented by AT&T Xcel Energy Center; Team A at Section 123 & Team B at Section 110 5 p.m. RBK Hockey/AHCA Division I Mens All-America Team Announcement 5:30 p.m. Hockey Humanitarian Award Presentation 6 p.m. Hobey Baker Memorial Award Presentation 6:30 p.m. Science of Hockey Awards Ceremony 7 to 9:30 p.m. Open Skate with College Hockey Legends Bring your own skates; skates also provided by Bauer Xcel Energy Center 7 to 9:30 p.m. College Hockey Passport Program Interactive fun for all ages Xcel Energy Center

$195 each for all three games. Plus a $6.00 handling fee. $396 for a PAIR. This does NOT include the Frozen Four Friday Night, which is extra.

Just got an e-mail from the NCAA offering more Frozen Four seats for sale. Mostly 200 sections on ends, mostly on the bar rails with high back chairs. I suspect that some folks are looking. If so, this might be an opportunity for you. I am surprised that these were apparently easier to come by in the lottery than in years past. Must be the economy. As everyone knows, this is a volatile market. Depending on who is there, you may not be able to find a seat for your life, or you might be able to take your pick of seats for $20 each. Here is the linky: Ticket Link Sorry, it might be that this link times out. Not sure I can link it here. If you are looking, and know folks who bought tickets, you may need them to lock them down for you. Here is the info from the e-mail: TO: Individuals Who Purchased Tickets to the 2011 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four. SUBJECT: Additional Tickets Available for the 2011 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four. Great news! A limited number of tickets to the 2011 NCAA Men’s Frozen Four at the Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, have become available. We know that you have already purchased your tickets, but we wanted to provide you with the opportunity to purchase additional tickets if desired. Here are a few very important notes regarding these tickets: 1. The tickets that you purchased through the online ticket application process last spring will be mailed to you via the United States Postal Service in late February/early March. Any additional tickets that you purchase through this offer will be mailed to you directly from the Xcel Energy Center in a separate mailing. 2. A maximum of four additional all-session tickets per household may be purchased. 3. Remaining available seating is located primarily in the 200 level of Xcel Energy Center in the end sections (208 – 215 and 223 – 230). Available 200 level seating includes reserved locations at bar rails with a high back bar stool for seating. Limited club level seating includes reserved locations at bar rails with a high back bar stool for seating. These seats WILL NOT be located with the seats that you purchased through the online ticket application process. 4. You will not receive any additional priority credit for purchasing these tickets and your seating location will NOT be dependent upon your current priority level. Seats will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis and seats will be assigned randomly. 5. You may access the link to purchase tickets by clicking here. You may use the account and password that you established during the online ticket application process. As a reminder, these additional tickets will be mailed to you directly from the Xcel Energy Center and will ship separately from those tickets that you purchased through the online ticket application process. We look forward to seeing you in Saint Paul!

Jumping Joe Gleason.

I do not pay much attention to the Pairwise, except in years that we have been on the bubble. I am quite sure that we are destined for a #1 seed and heading to Saint Louis before we see Saint Paul. This said, I could swear that we were lower in the rank yesterday morning that we are today after the big win in black attack. 1.30.11 Pairwise Rank Maybe I, or you, are looking at the wrong one? Or, maybe I am just plain wrong as I sometimes am. Per an earlier post from Numbers Jim, we lose the comparison with Yale never to get it back. At least this is what I understand. Does not mean that we cannot step over Yale, or anyone else, to #1 overall as I understand. Yale drops two. BC on the roll. Gophers drop one at home to AA. We must guard against that in two weeks. Season heating up. Great time of year to be a college hockey fan.

Go Sioux!! 9-4 Sioux. Blood with a hattie.