NorthDakotaHockey

Sorry, these tickets are gone.

Granted I have been out drinking tonight after watching some great amateur basketball and some not so great NCAA basketball. Man, other than the high school kids, does that sport ever tuck big greenie compared to the NCAA Hockey Championship. Who is with me on this one? So, there are four games left to an absolutely magical season. Those in the know know how absolutely difficult, and special, it is for a team to win a National Crown. The Sioux have been playing hockey, top shelf hockey, for more than fifty years and have seven solid crowns to show for it. More than anyone other than Michigan and the same as DU, the elitists to the West of us, and more than all of the clowns in the so-called State of Hockey. So, here's the deal. Many of the fans on this board ( a fine board it is Jimmy and others who once sprung it from the dust), simply cannot make it to Madison or to Denver. Jobs. Family. Money. Jalopys. Pains in the arse for significant others even. We have all been there. Even me for a long stretch of time. Those in these categories, stay home, work the jobs, bounce the kids on the knee (after all, they will be children for just a grain of time, and North Dakota hockey will be around forever), and pull for the boys on TV and the radio. After all, what could be better than listening to a Sioux game with TH calling the play-by-play on the radio? However, those of us who have the privilege, time, money, and willingness to go, get your arses out to The Kohl, and out to The Can, to watch these boys bring it on in. Maybe they will, and maybe they won't. But it will be fun watching. If they do, great. Prophesies fulfilled. A better bunch of boys, coached by a solid bunch of men, has never heretofore existed in the annuls of Sioux hockey. If they do not, it will not be for lack of effort, commitment, skill, dedication, and drive. These boys have shown all of that, and more, all season long. Now it is one and one. The next team to win four more is National Champion. Having had the privilege and the luxury of following this team day in and day out, all season long, here is saying that, regardless of outcome, these boys are a band of brothers, and that they are top shelf. Some will win, some will lose. Sixteen to eight, to four, to two, to one left standing. Here is saying that the One will be the Sioux. If they are not, the season will not be a loss, but instead a victory to the team left standing. We do not like the naysayers over the season. You know who you are. Crying. Griping. Knashing your teeth. These are the folks who, along with the legions of faithful all season long, who must travel to The Kohl, and to The Can, to witness Number 8 in 2008. If it happens, and here is saying it will, Great. If by chance it does not, well boys and staff, thanks a million for another unforgetable season of Fighting Sioux Hockey. Win or lose, up or down, this crowd will drive anywhere, anytime, and for any reason to see the Sioux skate great, and hopefully to number eight, in 2008. Princeton. Wisconsin. Air Force. Colorado College. These, I am certain, are the four roads that remain to be travelled, and that will be travelled. Bartender??.

We have two singles, one in 114/Row M, one in 109/Row L. Both fine seats. If someone is looking for two, we can move things around and put you in two seats in 114/M. Face value, whatever that is. Probably $70 a strip, although the tickets read $40 per game on the ticket. It will be a wildly fluctuating market. If the Badgers win on Saturday, it will be a tough ticket. If they do not, tickets will be laying on the sidewalk. If interested, pm me before Saturday morning 7 a.m., or call 612.201.3239 anytime after that as we will be on the road.

Two sold, two remain. Who is ready to watch these boys sk8 gr8 to #8 in '08? First $300 sits next to a couple of top shelf Sioux fans who had the foresight to buy now, knowing that the Frozen Four is on the horizon.

People ain't exactly getting rich selling hair gel to you either 7>4. Just because you have seven hairs on your head, and I only have four (or maybe now three because I think I saw one fall in the sink this morning), doesn't mean that I still can't go to my stylist. Princeton has a Hobey Baker guy, a boatload of desire, and a big crowd of folks that will be rooting for them. Fortunately, our boys have two Hobey Baker guys, an ocean liner full of desire, and a big big crowd of folks that will be rooting for them. It will be a fine regional. Next team to win four straight is National Champion. As many of us has said with unwavering commitment all season long, that team is going to be the North Dakota Fighting Sioux. Git your Frozen Four tickets now. (See Tickets Thread).

These tickets are actually in Section 326, Row 8. Will sell for $600 total, and include shipping. Paid $635. They are also now being advertised elsewhere as well. I am looking to not be left holding the bag. Those with faith, and without tickets to Denver, will buy now.

We have four Frozen Four tickets for sale in the upper deck of The Can. They are in 344 or 356 as best I recall. Higher row rather than lower. Face value, plus fees. Not sure, but I think that is around $635. Would prefer to see them go to Sioux fans but with the ever changing market on Frozen Four tickets, I will wait to see if I can sell them here until Wednesday. After that, I will likely post them for sale on a broader basis. Those who will also buy our West Regional Tickets will be given preferential treatment . . . . PM me, or e-mail me at fortparker911@msn.com

No reason to complain. A trip to Madison is alright with us!! Sioux can, and will, beat anyone, anywhere, anytime. Including in The Kohl Center. We could care less about anyone else . . . . This is a Saturday - Sunday Regional.

Got that right.

Hey MafiaMan. We plan on three adults, and three to five kids. We can go there, or anywhere else. So, if the interest is not high, we have no problem with you standing down on the arrangements. If you decide that it is a go, we will be there. I suppose that the Hogger will be open for walk-in business in any event, no? 11 a.m. is right about perfect. Keep us posted.

I have a good friend with wife and two young daughters. Two are Goofs fans, two are Clown fans. They are desperately hoping to get into the game on Thursday night, prepared to put the family marbles on the line. Sadly, as of now, they have no tickets. They prefer four in a row, but realizing that beggers cannot be choosers, they will also take two and two. If anyone has four seats, preferably in the lower bowl or club, that they cannot or will not be using, please let me know asap so we can make arrangements to purchase and ship as necessary. We will cover your shipping nut, and trust that you will play fair on your pricing demands. I live in Saint Paul. Please call or e-mail if you can help out these poor souls who are great college hockey fans. Gopher and Husky fans first. Sioux fans right after that. Go figure . . . . fortparker911@msn.com. 612.201.3239. Thanks.

For those coming from Grand Forks or points north, I would stay off of I-94 once you hit the Cities. Take I-94 from Moorhead to the I-694/494 split. Stay on 694 East to I-35E. Take I-35E south right into downtown Saint Paul. You will be coming in on the eastern side of the arena, where there will be ample parking and little traffic. You can walk to the arena faster than you can sit in traffic trying to worm your way into a ramp near the arena. Remember, it is I-35E, NOT I-35W that you want. If you go south on I-35W by mistake, simply take that to Highway 36 East exit. Take Hwy 36 East about five miles to I-35E. There, go south, right on into Saint Paul. The folks who attempt to ride in on I-94 around rush hour time may as well kiss their asses goodbye to being in the seats by the time that the puck drops. My two cents. I am in the know. I know. Trust me.

It is about time. Those long strings are a real pain. If I were running this board, and I thank the Good Lord everyday that I am not because then I would be losing more money than I already am, I would also get rid of the emoticons as well. C'mon Jim, you know that I love you and I love all that that you put into this board, including your heart, your soul, and your money, for everyone. It is a fine fine forum. The money shots are all in good fun.

Wow. This surprises me in that The Source is a great guy and a pillar, of sorts, in the GF community. He is also one of the staunchest supporters of Sioux sports that I have ever come to know over my many years of following University of North Dakota athletics. It is interesting to hear his side of the story over his fines and suspensions, and the nature of his alleged "threats" to others on the board. He is about as harmless as I am, and as everyone on this board is. Hoping to "meet you" is not so much as a threat as it is a hope that a reasoned dialogue over board management practices could be had someday, either at the Final Five, the Frozen Four, or elsewhere. It is hardly a suggestion that anyone will get beat up in a back alley. I really think that he has better things to do with his time and with his effort than to continue to try and annoy and disrupt. He is a busy businessman, not a twelve year old kid. Perhaps most importantly, as I recall, although a whole raft of folks were a bit out of line over their whining and knashing of teeth over the play on the ice, as always happens here whenever the Sioux stumble a bit as is expected from any group of kids, all The Source was doing was suggesting, and rightly so, that personal attacks against players is a bit out of line in his book. These kids are amateurs, not professionals. Just as we all are amateurs of sorts, not professionals, regardless of our claimed walks of life. Anyway, I enjoy this board as much as anyone does, but the thin skin on some is starting to amaze me a bit. While choice of words can sometimes be different, a healthy and spirited debate is almost always a good thing. Of course, it your toy, and you can do with it what you wish. Oh Great Oz behind the curtain . . . . Who are you who has the power to fine, suspend, and eliminate with your cyberspace stroke?

Not if the Gophers are shipped there. The Badger faithful will show up in droves to cheer for anyone playing the brown and yeller. All this b.s. about how well the Gopher faithful travel. Last weekend, they are on the road, eighty miles from their home base, having to pay $14 a ticket, and the arena still doesn't sell out? Pathetic. For the fan bases of both teams. Badger fans will rather burn their tickets than to let them go cheap to the Minnesota faithful. Or should I say, faithless . . . .

Yeah, that bit in our book. Radke should have dressed at least a game or two this weekend. He had brought alot of fire to that fourth line and the team's roll had coincided with his return to the lineup. This said, Marto did a heck of a job as forward. The coaches obviously think highly of both him and LaPoint. As we all have always known year in and year out, this is a tough tough lineup to make. The coaches dress who they believe are their best twenty guys, and right now Radke is barely on the outside of that bubble, looking in. It's nice to know that he is on the pine fully ready to step in as need be from here on in in the event of injury or illness. When the Sioux hoist No. 8, those in the know will know that Radke was a big, big part of their success. From where we sit, he leads both on, and off, the ice.

Wow. You are really a conspiracy theorist dagies. The Goofs get to play for third place, even after a loss and a day of rest!!

I would try to goad Radke into a skirmish, and hope for a fighting DQ. It is not pure coincidence that this team's present tear largely coincides with Radke's return to the lineup on a regular basis during the January St. Cloud series. He has brought a huge spark to this team. He has his linemates go balls to the walls, in a smart way, every time that they are on the ice. As has been noted elsewhere and often, a team's ability to roll four lines effectively pays huge dividends and is integral to consistent success. I also sense that Radke is a big team leader off the ice. He has brought much to this team's run. There were a fair number of folks crying for his head some time back, claiming that he did not deserve the ice time that he was getting. Yup, you'se folks were wrong. More proof that opinions are like arse holes. Everyone has one. Radke deserves, and has always deserved, nothing but the utmost respect out of my camp. A four-year lunch bucket guy who brings it. Night in, night out, all night long. You wanna beat this team? Take out Radke. Only problem is, he ain't going anywhere. He has eight or nine games left to play, and he will be playing 'em all.

Gosh I get sick and tired of reading about the Goofies and their so-called "chances," and who they are, where they have been, and when and where they might be going, on this board. I understand that this is a Bracketology thread, so it is certainly a legitimate discussion. Nonetheless, I get tired of certain folks getting their strokes over the Goofs' pretended chances over here instead of over in their own clubhouse. Sagard, WPoS, and Cardinal excepted in that they do bring a degree of civility and understanding to this board, unlike many of their brethren. E.g. Bucky, Rex, 'pherz, and assorted other numbskulls. The Goofers have proven nearly all year that they are without leadership, without direction, and without heart. They have been, and will simply continue to be, utter non-factors this college hockey season. The only reason that they are as high as they are right now, and on the bubble as a result, is because they are a WCHA team that has played, albeit rather with mediocrity, a WCHA schedule. While the Goofers have had wild historical success against the Mavericks, that will be righting itself this weekend. Here is saying that the Mavericks absolutely kill the Gophers in two straight. Just in time for the golden boys to get jobs riding the corn planters down in southern Minnesota in a few more weeks . . . . Tigers. Sioux. Bulldogs. Mavericks. Huskies. It's gonna be a great Final Five, and an even better NCAA.

Sent you a PM 82SiouxGuy. We would like them if still available.

That's the plan right now. Let me know if you need a ride. Just two of us going the way it looks. Wheels up Friday around 1 p.m.

Dagies will have a bone put in his nose during the play-in game on Thursday. In the concourse outside of section 114.

I will likely have kids in tow. Three boys, ages 8, 11, and 13. Two sixteen year-old girls. We can sit the boorish folks at a separate table if need be. The MafiaMan knows who they are. We will identify them with some kind of mark. Maybe a bone through the nose or something. We can tell the children to stay away from the folks with the bones through their noses.

Good food. Good drink. Good atmosphere. Heck, even kid friendly, at least during the day. The hookers don't move in on the place until at least after nine. For those looking for a bit of local flavor and culture, it is also but a 10-12 minute drive from the Capitol, just north of downtown, up one of the most famous of all streets in The Jungle of The East Saint Paul . . . . Rice Street. Take a cruise up Rice rather than hugging the freeways. BTW, it is also a very easy find off of the freeways.

Interesting. Makes some good business sense. However, I suspect that if the Blues pull themselves out of the present state of mediocrity that they are mired in, and make a late season run to the playoffs, this scenario would change and TJ would be helping his new teammates battle for the Lord Stanley's Cup. Depending on how healthy he is coming out of the NCAA wars.