NorthDakotaHockey

It's a three minute plug by Bruce McLeod for folks to buy Final Five packages from here to eternity. Perhaps not a bad idea anyway. Beginning in February of 2009 through the next five or six years, the WCHA will include a commemorative dvd of a decade of WCHA hockey. The first dvd will feature the WCHA in the 50's. I was a bit surprised to see the quality of the footage from a few games in the 50's. Should be an interesting series. Sadly, perhaps, I might be in the ground by the time that the dvds round their way into the "modern" age.

We are all set. Nothing more to find, nothing more to give. At least for the St. Cloud series. The Saturday tickets could be a HOT item, what with the McNaughton Cup maybe being in the building. One game at a time.

Tickets have been sold.

We have two tickets for each game. Good seats in season ticket section, closer to ice than up in the rafters. I do not have specifics on them in front of me. Want to sell both games, all four tickets. $110 total. PM me or e-mail me at fortparker911@msn.com. Alternatively, will also work a trade for two good lower bowl tickets for Friday night Saint Cloud game, plus $50.

Wow. Wonder what led up to that boil over. There will be fines and suspensions.

There is little doubt that Oshie is the best player in all of college hockey. The Hobey recognizes achievements and excellence both on and off the ice. What has not been said or written much here, at least yet, is everything TJ does to advance the game off of the ice. He does boatloads of things as a goodwill ambassador to the game. He regularly donates his time and his talents to youth organizations across the country, from Alaska, to Seattle, to Warroad, and to Grand Forks. He has a commitment to helping kids on The Rez understand that there is a world of opportunity that awaits them as long as they work to better themselves through eductation and determination. He is, and will continue to be, a great role model off of the ice. For kids of all backgrounds, but especially for those with native blood. TJ epitomizes what the Hobey is all about. Sadly, too many who live in glass houses will point to the "elevator incident" without knowing or willing to hear the full story, and will claim that that ten minutes of youth should somehow erase his years of hard work, dedication, and service to the community. TJ does deserve the Hobey. I ain't ruling him out yet. The biggest obstacle, of course, is the eastern bias. The WCHA has taken what, three Hobey trophies in a row? I will be stunned if the committee awards a fourth. However, should they let reason prevail, and should they watch game tapes and highlight film instead if simply sticking their noses into scoring summaries, and should they look closely at what all candidates do off of the ice on a regularly recurring basis, rather than for ten minutes on one Saturday night, TJ will win the Hobey Baker. Hands down.

I posted elsewhere that we are looking for two Friday tickets, lower bowl, close to the ice if possible for elderly folks. Alternatively, we have three seats in 110/P for the SATURDAY game that we will swap either 2-for2, or 3-for-2 (depending on seats) for your FRIDAY tickets. Let me know if you can help. Thanks.

The doldrums of the Sunday afternoon. This game is a yawner. If the Sioux play like this next Sunday, the Dogz are gonna be barking up a storm. Not to worry, the Sioux will get out of this one at 2 or 3 to nil.

No kidding. I am pretty pathetic. Perhaps you would like to schedule another whipping for me in the alley back of The Moon? I could really use the adjustment. Please let me load up at the buffet first. Maybe a little dish of ice cream too. Then you can beat the drivel out of me.

Looking for two lower bowl tickets to the Friday Saint Cloud game on March 7. They are for elderly parents who do not see all that well and therefore lower bowl needed. Closer to the ice the better. PM me here, or e-mail to fortparker911@msn.com Thanks.

Wow. Brutal weekend for the Bulldogs. Zero goals. That must have been absolutely agonizing for their fan base. This will only build the hornet's nest intensity that will be around the DECC next weekend. The Dogs are in new dire search of wins and they will be coming doubly hard at the Sioux. CC is obviously a team on a mission as well. A couple of Sioux-Tiger matchups before the season is over would be some sweet college hockey.

My apologies Jim, and to any and all whom I offended with my remarks. This is a fine site, and it no doubt requires a great deal of maintenance work. I guess I should have left my remarks by simply stating that I was not for adding a siouxsports.com label on any product. I am just one who is not, and who never has been, big on walking around with a dot.com t-shirt of any sort. This said, I will, of course, gladly buy any tastefully and cleverly designed shirts that have siouxsports.com emblazoned on them if that is the call. I will also reverse course and suggest that it is probably fair that Jim get a buck or two from every shirt that is sold. As I have done in the past, and will do so again in the future, thanks Jim and others who contribute here for all of your time, energy, talent, and resources that go into this board. Please accept my apology.

We need one ticket to the Saturday Beaver game. Will be on the road, so call me on my cell. 612.201.3239. Thanks.

Long since abandoned through reason and logic, not through name calling and abuse. To say something is stupid with little more to back it up is stupid. Everyone has made up and we are now moving on. As for putting siouxsports.com somehwere on the shirt, I see little reason to be a walking sandwich board for someone else's money making ventures. If siouxsports.com is to get free ad space, then siouxsports.com should chip in on the overall cost to whittle down final price. Jim is no doubt a great guy and this board can be a fine source for information, but his is a business and businesses should pay for ad holes, just like the businesses on this board pay for ad holes. Why not advertise Goon's blog, Brad's blog, AZSioux's website, LFSPRO's site, and everyone else's blogs and sites while we are at it? Those who are taking the lead on this project are doing a fine job, and should just finalize a design by themselves rather than by committee, post it for buying interest, and be done. Once hockey starts again this afternoon, this idea could well find itself in the dumpground of ideas unless it is taken to the final design and order stage right quick. Let's pull the trigger, or not.

I can be down with this. Using Diggler's design and typeset. Maybe even with some blood drips. On further reflection, I also agree with those who are advising against Murder, Inc. At least those who are doing so with reason and logic, rather than through name calling and attitude.

Phil could also hurt himself while doing one of those many silly dives that he attempts game in and game out. God, I hate those things. What was with him laying on the ice, not moving a muscle for a full minute or more, back earlier this year? New Hampshire maybe. I know that I, among many, was genuinely concerned that he might be hurt, even badly. Then, he gets up and skates away. Pure poppycock. He could at least have moved a hand, or a skate, while he was milking that one. I do not think that he was knocked out cold. If he was, never mind. I like Phil. I just think that he is a lousy diver.

Indecision by committee. Too many cooks in the kitchen. A conscensus on all fronts will be difficult. We are still all in on the original idea, and Diggler's design remains my preference. The first take is often the best take, in many fields of pursuit. This said, the Sioux are not murderers, nor are they goons, nor are they thugs. If I were to make my own shirts, which I am not, I might go with the corporate name of Kickass, Inc. That is really what the Sioux are doing, and will continue to do until we secure #8 in '08.

Ah, the Blue and Gold Banquet. Can't beat 'em, especially if the leaders make them entertaining and fun. I was a Cubmaster for years in the Cities, and consequently missed a good chunk of Sioux hockey games. You have all of your priorities straight here Siouxmama. Your children will only be children, and Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts, for but a few years, and then they will be grown and gone. Well, maybe gone unless you let them start living in your basement. On the other hand, Sioux hockey will be around forever. No doubt someone will step up to the plate and record the game for you. I am not in a position to do so, but applaud your commitment to your children over your hockey.

We'd be in for four or five. A couple of smalls, a medium, a large, and an extra-large. Assuming that we can get the price down to the bottom shelf range anyway. Over at GPL, I think that they might be working up a line of t-shirts for their season. The Butchers of Badness. Gopher Hockey. '08. Actually, I firmly believe that the Gophers remain dangerous, and will be so until they are packing the equipment for the season.

It has probably already been observed through these pages here but that was about as sweet, and as challenging, of an empty net goal that one will ever see in hockey. Oshie skates down a DU carrier, puts him to the boards, and in a single motion steals the puck and, with his back to the goal, backhands the puck 130+ feet dead center empty net. A shortie to boot. Wow. No garbage goal there. After all of the pucks that he was putting on teammates' tape all weekend, TJ really worked for, and earned, that empty netter.

Fox Rocky Mountain Sports. If you are on a Comcast feed, it looks like a no go tonight in the Cities. Best I can tell anyway. Last night, the game was on 262 as I recall. Tonight, they are showing Michigan-Lake Superior State. 263 or 264 is showing Badgers-Mavericks at 8 p.m. I cannot locate anything else on Comcast. Thank God for FSSN satellite and Peter S. Bain. Next best thing to being there.

Hey Pete. You are a stud. My system is working great. More important, you are a Big Stud for having hooked Nick and his family up. If it is true that one reaps what they sow, as I firmly believe, some day you and yours are going to enjoy a might big and plentiful harvest.

Wow. What a game. Could not make the trip but I have heard from a few folks that The Ralph was really rocking. Sure was a morgue at 4-1. Of course, it was early and I never had a doubt. I have expected Eades to pull Lammy at the timeout. Good thing that he did not. Sadly, I missed the game winner as my extra cheese chicken garlic pizza and milk finally settled in and my face hit the plate shortly after the tying goal. I will try to call it up on the DVR today. The boys learned many many valuable lessons about themselves last night. That game was a springboard game. I am beginning to concern that the boys may get sent out to the east regionals. I much prefer that they go to The Springs, or to Madison, even. Have tickets there and it is a much easier drive. I could care less who they would be playing, and where. It will be tournament time, and anyone will have to beat four solid teams, anywhere, to win the Championship. This team, and its legion of fans, has no reason to fret over playing anyone, anywhere, at anytime. The Drive to Denver continues, and it just happens to be going through Denver this weekend. Sweep tonight and we are atop the league standings. Just like some of us predicted not all that long ago.

Yeah, that's right. When I am done with Wheeler, I am going to beat Dick. Just as if he owed me money.

Joe usually subs out his sallywork to me. I am scheduled to mop Sally's floor with Wheeler's face at 11 p.m. Saturday night. Unlike Wheeler, Joe has much bigger fish to fry from here on in.