NorthDakotaHockey

Nick Coleman is an idiot. Always has been, always will be. He would smear the legacy of his own father if that is what it would take for him to keep his chair and typewriter for another day in a dead end job spent practicing his near obsolete brand of so-called journalism. Smear the dead guy without getting out of the chair to check one's facts. And do it all with penile envy dripping from every word. A classless move by a classless hack working for a dying newspaper. If the big shooters at the Star and Sickle, and all of their wealthy Twin Cities friends, were half the men - and collectively had half the heart - than was and did Ralph, we would not have to read stories about special legislative sessions for the football Gophers looking get an on campus stadium twenty-five years after the Star Trib sold Memorial Stadium, and all of its tradition, down the road. All for the price of a couple of newspapers that could be sold outside of the Metrodome that now sits next store . . . . This said Nick, congrats on your new child. Perhaps he or she will teach you a bit about the things in life that really matter. You obviously have no clue at how Ralph gave so much, to so many, for so long, and never expected a word of gratitude or thanks for it. Coleman, it is your crowd, with your self-serving agendas and self-righteous attitudes, that make up the jack booted thugs in this world. Buy a clue.

Greene was an absolute Force at the blue line. Damned near his whole career. More than that, he taught many of the younger blue liners well. Most importantly, he has a great great sense of humor, is a consummate gentleman, and knows that these things are much bigger than any game. Here is saying that he will dominate the AHL, ride herd in the NHL, and will always be a great guy to boot. In short, the kid can't miss. It was our pleasure to watch him play.

I am sure that it has been surely said somewhere here before but I've neither the time nor the desire to look. It is ironic that in this day of cultural diversity, and of celebrating diversity, and of learning about and downright revering other cultures and ways of life, there are those who want to put a spike into the vehicle of sport to keep cultural names and identities front and center. Kids thirty years from now are not going to remember the Sioux because of history lessons. They will get their history lessons from wondering about the Sioux who are revered by that team at NDU.

Dang straight. I have long said it. "The Fighting Sue." Logo could be some big old battle axe with a cigarette hanging from her lips, her hair up in curlers, and swinging a cast iron frying pan in a menacing way. Plenty of models for those dere brand of women down here in the Twin Cities. I will be shocked and stunned if the University ever cows to the polically correct crowd, and the NCAA, now. Nothing like some fighting words to get Dr. K fighting. Whipping the NCAA may become his best and most lasting legacy.

A top-shelf guy all of the way. Top shelve people usually have good, if not great, things happen to them. Jones was rock solid. Damned near always. Gonna be missed, but not for long hopefully what with Zach on the horizon, eh?

OK. We bit. Last season end in Columbus, OH on a great run. This season begin in Dayton, OH on what may well be a magical run. Lefty McFadden tickets went on sale today. Punch in "Nutter Center" as a venue on Git yer tickets here. Sioux v. Miami Redhawks at 7:30 pm Saturday, October 8. Sioux v. Michigan State Spartans at 3:00 pm Sunday, October 9. Be there, or be square. Or not. Long drive. Great road trip. Ohio out. Ohio in. Symmetrical Karma.

If this news is from The Source, it is of course true that The Force is gone because The Source says the news comes straight from the horse. Matt Greene is a horse. As in work horse and stud horse. He is a top-shelf guy who always gave his all on the ice, and who was always nothing but courteous and cordial to the fans and to the University. He has done all that he can, or needs, to do at this level. Why come back to hear a fair number of boneheads from the stands complain about his time in the penalty box? We is one of the principal reasons why the Sioux were so fun to watch over the last three years. He is probably the main reason why the Sioux ran all the way to Columbus last year. I sometimes chuckle in mild aggravation over the posts that were flying around here earlier this year about Greene being a detriment. Well, we need not cry about that anymore. Good luck and godspeed to Matt, if in fact The Source has been laying off of the vodka.

"How Many Months Until Hockey . . .?" Cripos! The first game of next season is now well closer than the last game of last season. One of the many great things about the Sioux making it to the Big Show in Columbus. God, I hate reading about Phil Kesshole on this board. Jan Brady State University. The Gophers and their fans are somewhat akin to Peter Brady worshiping the ground that his older, better, and smarter brother Greg walked upon. Here, the Fighting Sioux of NDU.

It looks like it is all downhill for John Hill from here. A complete move in the opposite direction. Da Donny must be trying to make a point of trying to prove that he is a loyal man. Between the two of them, maybe they can come up with a solid motivational plan for that guy that has all the Gopher fans drooling, so that he does not develop the bad habits of Vanek, Hirsch, or that kid from the Seawolves -- his name escapes me -- who had much talent but would rather eat hamburgers and french fries, and spit and pout, rather than skate. Hill's move is a great opportunity for someone somewhere to step into the UAA job. Because Da Donny will hang on at the U for as long as they will have him, having no other options, Hill will be an old man before that post ever opens up. Anyway, good luck to John in The John, and congrats to the guy who steps in at UAA. A perfect opportunity for a few folks, Eades and Berry included.

My kid works alongside Darby Hendrickson on the Burger King fry line and Darby was telling him the same thing.

WPoS . . . . If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a Merry Christmas. Donny is at the peak of his potential right now. He can't even keep Hirsch on task. How would he ever handle a raft of NHL prima donnas? I'll be the first to eat my hat. Come looking for me in the Roselawn Cemetery, 'cause I'll be long passed from this earth before Don gets elevated. Eh?

About all this move really tells me is that da Don has confided to his assistants that the NHL is not going to come calling for his services for a long long time and that, therefore, da Donny is going to hang on to his present coaching position for as long as the Gopher higher ups will have him. Motzko, seeing that da Donny is not going to be elevated to the pinnacle where all great coaches end up -- the NHL -- figured he'd rather be lead fiddle at St. Clown than second fiddle for the next twenty years at The John. Good luck to Bobby. He could not have made a better career move.

WPoS. A classic example of a revisionist historian. Gopher fans always figure they are going to Frozen Four, especially since Da Don arrived in town. No problem, just fact.

Perhaps because the Gophers have now gone two years since their last title and many of the Gopher faithful are positioning themselves on the Washington Avenue Bridge looking for a reason to do a John Barrymore?

The funeral service was yesterday in Roseville. Very sad, and very cathartic. Marty, Mike, their sister Sara, and hubby Steve all spoke, along with a raft of others. Bruce Brothers has a reasonably good story in today's Pioneer Press about the service. I'd link it here but do not have the time to do so right now. Scott Owens was there with his bride. A number of CC players were there as well. Brett Sterling was one of the pallbearers. Class moves by a class organization. There were alot of old hockey salts in the crowd. Alot of guys with weathered faces and broken noses. Throwbacks to the days when hockey was practiced and learned outside in the bitter cold, and when hockey helmets and facemasks were the exception rather than the rule. A better send-off Patty could not have had. One heck of a wife, momma, sister, daughter, and friend. Wish that we had known her better.

After a long and courageous bout with brain cancer, Patty Sertich, the momma of Hobey Baker award winner Marty Sertich, passed away at her home in Roseville on Saturday. She was 52. Marty was presented the Hobey Award on Thursday in Minneapolis, Friday was Marty Sertich Day in Minnesota. He threw out the first pitch at the Twins game. The Sertiches spent the last half of the season in Colorado College following Marty and the team, where his younger brother Mike also walked on successfully. Most of you probably know that the Sertich name is legendary in Colorado Springs and the Twin Cities, as well as in the WCHA. Long-time UMD and Michigan Tech coach Mike is Marty and Mike's uncle. Their father, Steve, was a standout for CC in the 70's, and was also a member of the '76 Olympic squad. There is an arena in Colorado Springs named after the family. Many local media are reporting that Marty was named the Hobey winner just this past Thursday, and that his Momma hung on to life long enough to see this award. This makes for a good story for the televisions. Typical. Of course, the actual presentation was in Columbus. Because we live in Roseville, my daughter and I made up a real nice sign for the presentation "Roseville Loves the Sertiches / Marty for Hobey." The Sertiches could not have been more gracious and grateful. They are a class act all the way around, just as Colorado College is a class program. Here is saying that Marty will ride this emotion to accomplish something that has never been done, best I recall. Back-to-back Hobeys. More proof that only the good die young. ps. Advance apologies to those who might feel this is posted in the wrong area. Seems to me that with the Hobey and the history, this is the better venue of the others.

With no old lady around giving me flak while I'm doing it . . . . Watching tv, that is.

Geez, Brady is a class act. First class class act. That does not make him a bona fide NHL hockey prospect, in my opinion. I did not mean to slam him. Heck, all of the sudden, he is far more successful than me, with a single stroke of the pen.

This news really bums me out. Brady is a class act, and was a blast to watch on the ice. Too bad he was sidelined much of last season. I wonder how many offers my mailbox will have when I get home tonight. One of these days, I am gonna bite on one of em. Maybe the History Book Club. Maybe Playboy World of Video. Maybe that No Interest Chase Card. With everyone biting on offers, I should probably do the same. Good luck to Mr. Murray. Take the money while it is there to be taken. No slam on Brady, but this will probably be the pinnacle of his career and development. He ain't no NHL'er, at least from where I sit.

I am the blind birdie. Good call. Lucky call. Same difference. Dr. K.

Geez, even a blind birdie finds an acorn now and then . . . . This guy will be good, if he keeps his focus and his head where they belong, unlike his predecessor . . . . Blind Birdie . . . .

Well, one good thing about cable is that a couple of the channels sometimes replay games from this past season. Without recollecting the outcome, just watched Denver beat AA 3-2 in OT on a goal allowed following a replay look. Such is the state of my so-called life. Anyway, Referee Todd Anderson waived the goal off with a great save by AA's Lawson with 21.4 seconds in OT. Anderson was right on the play. After a long look at replay, they in fact gave the goal to Drummond. Game over. College hockey history. First game, so the announcers said, that had ever ended on a replay call. AA had tied the game with less than a minute in regulation on a soft goal past Mannino. I recall that last year only DU and CC had the replay for WCHA games. I think that I heard that all arenas will be so equiped this year. This true? I can see most schools, but question whether the small tv markets, MSU, MTU, AA, UMD will have it as well. Anyone know? Really kindof funny after watching that Sioux goal get waived off in Columbus for me to turn the TV a month later and see Denver benefitting from a good look and a good call on a glove in the net that was no more out of the net than was Mannino's on April 9. What the hey . . .

I was at that game with a camera in hand. Have some great b&W snaps of the Grafton boys, including the goaltender, and the team skating around the ice with the championship. I think that the crowd in the background might include the lead singer of the Silver Swan and his posse . . . .

Compared to a lot of the absolute tripe often found of this board, including a bit of it contributed by me, I am more than happy to read about a Grafton boy who apparently has recovered from a bad concussion, and may have a shot at making the Sioux squad next year. Of course no one is "lobbying" on this board for him to make the team. Anyone with any degree of self-respect knows that the coaching staff has about two hundred ten better things to do than to waste their time surfing fan message boards. They have lives, and things to do. Many of us here do not. Keep the Lindenberg updates coming. It is also good to hear of someone with what might be a similar injury to that of Kaip's being cleared to play hockey again.