NorthDakotaHockey

No. 2. White. Two Minutes. Cross check. The seven sweetest words said on the ice so far this hockey season. Joe is back on the ice. Siouxeeet.

Three tickets in Section 110, Row P. End Sioux defend twice. $25 for all three, or $10 a piece. Call John at 701.772.3622 before 6 p.m. Tickets are in GF, and could be left at Will Call on your strict assurance that payment would be made when you put your hind ends in the seats.

No, it is not a gay song. Whatever those are. The NDU Sioux have two of the greatest fight songs in all of the land. One builds in intensity. Bum bum bum bum, bum bum bum bum, bum bum bum bum bum bum bum. A classic. The other one is played at the period breaks. I don't know the name of either of them, but they are great great college fight songs. Probably including the one of which you complain as always being played at halftime. Beats the heck out of any video board b.s.

Four year players in college hockey are great guys. Especially the studs who have other options and who remain for the love of the college sport and the education that it brings. The last four year stud at UND had a similar problem, only at the beginning of his career. Da Kaipster. He suffered and was out long stretches of his freshman year, only to roar back. Here is our hopes and prayers that Joe will be roaring back soon. Geez. I did not realize that he was last year's WCHA Plus/Minus Champ. That says a whole lot about the lotta holes in the ice when he is not suited up. Git Well Joe. Take all the time that you need to do it, but git well. BTW, my initial post suggested that it was Joe's old man who was home under his momma's care. I meant to say that it was Joe who was home sipping the malted milks and feeling his momma's love. Can't beat that.

Damned straight, damned straight. Non-stop Fight On Sioux for about three minutes before the team takes the ice. Building in intensity. That's what the old arena needs. Someone oughta leave a wrench in the video boards.

I went back through the threads and while I may have missed one, I was surprised to see that there is not a thread on Big Joe Finley, Sioux senior blue liner who has been an instrumental part of this team over the last three seasons and whose absence is likely one reason, perhaps a big one, why the boys seem to struggle from time to time so far this year. We are big big Finley fans. He was near single-handedly, along with Trupp, responsible for the Sioux victory in The John last year in that great overtime game. He will be, upon his return, a solid candidate for being the heart, the soul, and the glue of this team moving forward into the New Year. If only he will return. We miss seeing Big Joe on the ice, and we miss seeing Big Joe's old man around the concourses. Last I heard, he was home under his Momma's loving care for a short stretch. Things were were getting better, and he was well on the mend. Of course, what do I know, other than that the person who told me this is well into her 80's (let me clue you, these are the people with the most information) and was a bit unsure of her own information, at least on this. There is no doubt in our minds that the Sioux will be competitive in most every game from here on out, and that they will certainly win a fair share of their games with the boys that suit up every night. However, as much as I hate to see, none of us are going anywhere far to follow this team anywhere deep in the NCAAs unless and until Big Joe's imposing presence, guiding hand, crushing hits, and strong skill sets are back on the ice night after night. Come on Joe. Here is wishing you a quick quick end to your pain over the last few months.

Zach Jones.

FWIIW, I really like YaneA's suggestion of UND.DOT.NET. It makes for a better coversation piece, it ties in UND Sioux hockey, the DOT line, and their favorite place, the NET, where all of the pucks belong.

TJ was in the house at the Wild game last night and a little birdie told me that he should be up and ready to go for the Blues next game. Great news for the Blues as they looked a bit hopeless against the Wild last night. And, playing the Wild, that is pretty hard to do . . . .

Two tickets to Friday's game in Section 116, about four or five rows off the ice, right near the Sioux bench and tunnel. Watch and hear the bench action in addition to great sight lines for the end that the Sioux defend twice. $50 for the pair, which is below what we paid.

These guys are hopeless. I mean the players, not the players.

Big win tonight. I will be in the house. As in DaDECC. Can't beat yer Saturday night in the WCHA. It is an especially strong and amazing league, top to bottom, this year.

Thanks a million Sprig. I can stop worrying about that.

Is anyone watching this game on an FSSN satellite outside of the network? I got the hockey game from Duluth fine last night, but the same channel has "no signal" today. Maybe that signal just comes out of The Ralph? Seems I got a football game last year. I suppose I could work on my wife list of things to do since I ain't got a wife to do 'em for me anymore . . . . Sounds like a great game. Sioux-Coyotes has become a damned good football rivalry and it is only going to get better in the years to come.

I am driving up and back on Saturday for the game and will likely have a couple great extra seats at $30 a pop (less than face plus fees) if anyone wants to jump on board. Leaving from Roseville, probably around 3:30-4 p.m. Not sure on the load or the logistics yet, but if ye wanner be put on de list, let me know.

Still in need of someone driving back to the Twin Cities after the game in Duluth on Friday to bring a BIG Sioux fan to the Cities for a really special Saturday evening of hockey in the Twin Cities for his family. I know it's a long shot but we are giving it a shot. PM me if you can do it. Drop off at any Twin Cities roadside ditch will suffice.

Bumpy bump. Also, if anyone is returning from the DECC to the Twin Cities on Friday night after the game, I am looking for a ride for one solid Sioux fan. PM me if this is a possibility. A great guy, at least so many say.

RIDE REQUEST. Here is an offbeat and perhaps a longshot request. If anyone is leaving the DECC on Friday night, after the game, for the Twin Cities, I am looking for a one way ride back to the Twin Cities for a solid Sioux fan. If you have a cow catcher on the front, you could, perhaps, lash him to that. Anywhere in the Cities will do. Please reply or PM me if this is a possibility.

While it may have probably already been said elsewhere, last night's game is more proof that hockey is a sometimes funny and an always great game, and that a three goal lead, no matter how late, is nothing. The Sioux damn near tied that game and it would have been precious for many reasons, including beating all of the fans who were long in their cars or already at home out of a thrill. As it was, it was thrilling none the less. A certain WCHA home crowd in the Twin Cities is famous for leaving the arena early while the outcome is still in doubt. I would hate to someday have our knowledgeable and faithful home crowd be compared with the high crying and early leaving crowds from venues south and east. Folks, we pay hard earned money, or at least most of us do, for our tickets to the greatest show on earth. Why rob ourselves of time at the show by packing it out before the final whistle? Those with young kids or other pressing needs excepted, I think that the throngs of folks who left the arena early last night should sit for at least two minutes today and feel shame. New game, new story, tonight. Another beauty of The Game.

We have a good buddy who bought four seats at the DECC on Ticketmaster for both games of this key early season series. Now, he and is family cannot go. Treat yourselves, and your friends and family, to a great weekend series in the great port of Duluth-Superior. There are many fun things to do in Duluth. If interested, call 218.779.2831 for more details. The DECC will soon see the wrecking ball. See this classic WCHA arena now before it is too late.

Thanks to The Source, of course, we are all set for Friday.

We need three to the Friday game. Prefer three in a row, will take a 2-1 split. Please PM me. Thanks.

I will be at the X on Saturday because I cannot be at The Ralph. Mankato playing a very talented Sioux team extremely tough in The Alltel a few weeks back was no fluke. While it will be little consolaton for them for the tough playoff loss last year in a great series, I, among many, think that the Mavericks are going to kill the Gophers on Saturday night in front of a modest crowd of Kool Aid drinkers. The Bulldogs-Huskies opening clash will be the better game. I can't imagine why it was not given the later slot.

While what you say may be true on the ADA, nothing will stop KFAN's owners, a large large corporation that could care less about light portrayal, from making sure he does not return to the airwaves. There may be a few sheckels of blood money paid if Dubay gets himself a snakey lawyer, but KFAN will make the business decision of making sure that the guy does not return to the airwaves. At least in this market. The guy now has zero cred as it is said in the industry. A settlement could have him working for one of their radio stations in Timbuktu, but not in the Twin Cities. There are a raft of guys looking to take a job in radio, and there is nothing special or unique about Dubay that makes him indispensable to KFAN's market share. He is history here. His lawyer will make some dough, Dubay will get "better," and he will be, or already is, gone.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Too bad for Puffy. I hope that he gets his life in order. Life is too cloudy when lived under the crushing weight of drugs and other demons. There is also no way that KFAN, or FSN, will have or take him back. He is kaput. Absent a written employment contract, he is "at will." He can be fired at any time, for any reason. He has given KFAN and FSN reason enough. If he does have a contract, it is likely strongly in favor of KFAN, and likely says "You do anthing to smear our reputation or yours, Kaputsville." I do hope that KFAN gets someone in to talk college hockey. If Sagard, Greyeagle, or WPoS are looking for a career change, they oughta be ringing the phone right now.