NorthDakotaHockey

Thanks for the info Sagard.

Hey GreyEagle . . . . Your tag line prompts this question. Why you no list the 1940 AAU Championship? Why does Mariucci have a banner for the same next to its five NCAA banners? Will the Gophers take it down if, and I do mean if, the Gophers win another title anytime in the next twenty-five years? We are all in the "IF" boat. That is why championships won, and banners hung, are so precious. We never know if, and when, any more will ever return. I'll pay you face value for your Fleet Center tickets right now, my friend, if you've four of them in a row.

This thread talking Denver? This series will be tough one. Denver is a solid club, with proven goaltending and a coach well capable of keeping his players heads in the game. They are big, they are fast, and they are hungry. They also have a strong tradition. Not many opponents in the league are much tougher. A split will be fine by me. This team just might need to get a stronger taste of de feet in des mouths so they realize how distasteful it is before tourney time. Besides, a split will give Deano some more coaching moments, and maybe even the chance to throw a chair to make a point. The Don throws trash cans. The Deano throws chairs. The Woogmeister threw keggers.

Mariucci Ice / Weekend RecapThis is a reasoned and good read, imho.

Straight tickets to Heaven for these guys. We talk of hockey games sometimes being wars. It is times like these that make our sporting metaphors look particularly silly and selfish. It ain't until we begin loosing our families and our friends that we begin to realize our own mortality. Hopefully Ken and Keith are big hockey fans. They'll be guests in Ralph's booth from here on in.

You one of da men Damn Straight One. You no need to apologize for reasoned insights and analysis. Who was thrown out of the press box? Massen and Canady??

You paying for that Beemer with all of your money won from playing beer darts? Or selling out of that corn liquor still you own down by the tracks? I drive a Ford and it is a WPoS!!!

WPoS . . . . Sorry I missed you at the game last night. I was in the end where all three goals were scored. That was a break, and fun. Huge win for the Gophers, but as I said elsewhere, because the Sioux will most likely lose a few between now and April, this one was a good one to lose. Gophers played a solid game. Took Sioux out of theirs. Gophers outshoot Sioux by a wide margin. Gophers come away with a W by the skin of their chin. I think the end result of the weekend is that the Sioux will have the upper hand, from a confidence factor, should the teams meet anytime between now and next October. Geez, was that your Beemer that I saw down by the railroad tracks, and that liquor still that some of the POI'ers operate illegally within the city limits?

Glen Somnor, the Goph's radio guy, was crying up a storm on the post-game. Comparing the penalties, and how the Gophers infractions were routine, and the Sioux infractions were always for roughing, roughhousing, foul play, and incivility!! First, I disagree. Both teams were intense. Gophers cried for more calls and got them. A great "seventh man" advantage at the Maruch. After all, Gopher fans do know their penalty calls. State of Hockey y'know, eh? Anyway, I could not help but think it odd of Somnor crying of Goon Hockey. First, it was, and is, unfair. The Sioux win on speed and talent. Second, Somnor ran some of the biggest goon squads in the world, first at Minnesota, and later with the Fighting Saints. Regardless, time to look toward the Pioneers. It is a huge series next week, and it will be fun to put our lower-tiered league opponents and rivalries behind us and look to our best, and most contested, rivalries with the Colorado-based schools.

It was a great weekend of college hockey at the Maruch. Sure, a sweep would have been lovely. The tight defense-dominated game left the fans on our hands more than we would have liked. Pioneer Press described it as a raucous crowd. I'm not so sure I'd agree with that, although I will agree that Gopher fans are rabid fans. I have always read, and sometimes seen, how they are big criers for penalties. I had some fun mocking them, standing near everytime there was a Gopher touched in an aggressive way, and holding my arms outstretched and pointing out the area of the ice where the shadow infraction was alleged to have occurred. The thin skins of some of the less knowledgeable Gopher fans were ripe to be burst last night. For their own sake, and for the sake of their wives, girlfriends, and children (women Gopher fans are more relaxed and somewhat more knowledgeable, on the average, than their male counterparts, and they do secretly, if not outwardly, admire the studliness of Sioux fans), it was a big Gopher win. That was clearly the edict that came down from the league offices. Actually, give the Gophers credit for solid play in a huge game that they needed to win. While I hated to see the Sioux lose, especially there, last night, it was good for a couple of reasons. 1. The Sioux realize that they need to do more than just show up every night, and that they need to skate hard for 60 minutes. 2. The loss will give the Sioux extra motivation next time, if there is a next time, that they play the Gophers this year. The Sioux are, imho, clearly the better team, and they will go into any rematch with both superior confidence and resolve. This might not have happened had the Sioux stole the game last night. 3. The Sioux will realize, as does anyone, that you will not win a game with under 15 shots-on-goal. The Gophers defensive intensity will make for some good "coaching moments" for Blais and his staff over the next several weeks. As for the goal, I was with Corn Cob, a Gopher fan who was indistinguishable from a thousand other Gopher fans, five rows off the ice behind the Gopher goal. Sheppard quickly waved off the goal, so we did not get too excited. I will need to look at the replay to see if the puck went off a Gopher. Zach's stick may have been a shade high, but he certainly could not have let the puck go by him with the time left. It was a great play by him. I understand, likely incorrectly, that the whistle blows when the puck is played. No? If so, then does it matter if the puck subsequently bounces off a Gopher for the tying score? I don't know. In any event, it was a real pleasure, if only for a moment, to hear the very distinctive collective sound of 9,000 Gopher sphincters slamming shut at the 59:46 mark of a great WCHA hockey contest. Get your tickets now for Duluth Feb. 27-28. It is there, and then, that the Cup will be decided.

I forgot to mention that Don Munson's boys, all Minnesotans, are playing Indiana. 3:30 start. It will be a zoo with people trying to get in and out of the parking lots between games. Thank God that it is not the Gopher women playing. Bigger crowd then. I like Gopher basketballers, to the degree that I enjoy basketball.

Not to get off topic here, but Corn Cob and I have a date to Williams Arena this afternoon. Might I look stupid crying the Rouser in a Sioux hockey jersey?

Some joker at the Blue Line lunch yesterday, a Gopher fan, was adamant that the NCAA had switched the site of the Midwest Regional play from Western Michigan's Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids to Yost Arena due to poor advance ticket sales. I searched a few sites to try and verify this, but have found nothing. I suspect that the guy simply was misinformed, or simply looking to set the hook on a fish. This switch would never be made, no?

Well now that sure was fun for a Friday night. Beating the Gophers at their own game. We had a blast on the rail, section 3. Even got to give the Gopher fans, students specifically, some "beat the traffic" (a few were actually leaving when they were on the power play with under three minutes remaining, down 3-2!) and "awful quiet" chants. On the way to our car, two old-timers started grousing at me and my kids. "Well, that sure was some home cooking for a road team." Thought he was talking to me because of my name. Tried to engage him in a friendly way over what a great game it was, which it was. He wouldn't bite. Starting complaining that we got all the calls, and that we play "Canadian Goon Hockey." Funny. All we could do was look at him, and gave him a collective "Thank-You Kind Sir!!" and give him the "Let's Go Sioux!" chant. He was pissed, for no good reason, other than the obvious. Looked like a clone of Somnor. Somnor have a persnickety brother? Stood behind the student section. A great bunch of students, who did a nice job of give and take and the ribbing. Of course, by night's end, we had the upper hand. The ice break between the first and second period was really beginning to look like a concern. Took forever to remedy. Of course, with Minnesota's famous IT Department, I expected them to have rocket scientists all over it. There were some who, including me, who were concerned that the game might actually be called. The Sioux hung tough all night long. Power play was crisp and clean. Penalty kill was really impressive, giving up only the deadly 5 on 3 goal. The good Lord was berry berry good to me today. Saw a Sioux win in hostile territory with my kids. I am thinking sweep, as can we all right now. Matt Jones is one hell of a D-man. Drew Stafford is the strongest man on skates. Pulltab deserves to start again tomorrow. He made some huge saves. Oh yea. DamStrait is a damn solid guy. WPoS is as fine a man, and a college hockey fan, as any of us will ever meet. Feels good to have pucked the Gophers tonight. Beat them to most of them. I wish I could get the sad sight of the old guys grousing about penalty calls and Canadian Goon Hockey out of my mind. There. It is. Let's Go Sioux!

Well dere ya go den. Really cool.

Hey Butsy, that you?

TC . . . . Got me. You are right. Lucia has coached some big games. Even bigger than this. You could hear him say, however, that if they do not pick it up from here on in, they will be on the road in the first round of the WCHA playoffs. That, under most any scenario, would not be a good thing.

I was at the Blue Line Luncheon. See biased report on another thread. Lucia did seem tight. Talked of mundane things that people already know. Cliches. Dean spoke of things most important in life. Coaches do mirror their teams. Today, from my novice read, Lucia looked tight, Blais loose. Lucia can be an entertaining and an engaging speaker. He has alot more to lose this series than does Dean, IMHO.

Oh yes. In good natured banter, Dean said that The Don will not get 400 this weekend, and The Don said that he will move to 401. The Don also said that Dean has a great "laid back" style to him, but that he would cut your eyes out if he had too. Dean told the story of his grandkid scratching his eye while wrestling recently. The Don, in his only real attempt at, or hit upon humor, suggested that he was surprised that Dean did not return the favor, and scratch his grandkid's eye to even the score. The Coach's Fraternity. A cool thing. Players have the same bond? Unlikely I say. Unlikely. The fans? Most should, others cannot.

Just got back from the Blue Line Luncheon here at Jax. Dean. Hennessy. A solid show of some other Sioux support. Mostly Gopher fans, meaning that the average age was just below the Ray Christenson Line. Dean is a fine public speaker. Talked about children and grandchildren. It was clear that those are the things, and people, in life that he most cherishes. Suggested that we would deny The Don is 400th. Dean marvelled at that number, as Dean said that he is 53 and only has about 250 wins. Said the NHL strike may allow both Don and Dean to keep some of the better players around another year, and if the league does, the strength of the league will be even stronger next year. Dean spoke with great pride at how the Gold Line returned with great pride. Dean has been involved with coaching several international teams. He described, with some emotion, the emotion that national players feel before big international games, typically being moved to tears before the puck drops. Very cool descriptions. Said that Murray at first wanted to play for Canada, but took the USA route because of all of the major junior talent on the Canadian team, that would have left Brady on the outside looking in. Dual citizenship. Andy Murray's idea, and IMHO a damned good one. The pro-Brown & Yellow crowd seemed to deflate as Dean shared North Dakota's contribution to the USA gold this time around. Brian Bonin was there. Spoke briefly. He is back from overseas, and has a potentially career-ending wrist injury. Sounds like some doctors may have missed the mark on that one. Dean was very gracious in pointing out what a fine player Bonin is, and equated him to Jason Blake. The game, as is life, is often made of breaks. Jason got a good one, Brian has not yet had one. Bonin is expecting his second kid, and said that he will be scalping his game tickets outside the arena tonight. Both coaches mentioned that the weekend series is a big one. Both pointed to the future as being much more important. Frank Mazzacco, or however you spell his name, was MC. Recognized Hennessy. Called up Somnor, who told a good story about his days of coaching Canadians on the Gopher squads from the late 60's, and how Dean was a young freshman linemate of two Canucks who were kicked off the team. Dean then teamed with Antonvich, and the team took off to the top of the league standings. Doug Woog has a birthday this weekend. Although he did not say, it looked like he would be more than happy to accept cases of Premium. The Don droned on about his team, their up-and-down season, the schedule ahead, blah blah blah. I have seen the Don before, and he can be entertaining. He clearly was not this time. If coaches are reflections of their teams, then I predict that the Sioux will be a much looser team than will the Gophers tonight. I know I am missing a few things here, but that is about it. Sat next to some good Gopher guys, although alot of them treated me like I had leprosy when I showed up in Sioux garb. Can't wait to listen to the quiet in The John come around the 44-minute mark tonight.

Thanks WPoS. No kids deserve to see their daddy beat up in front of them. My young son is doing well enough asking for his own beatin' from Gopher fans. Geez. Are we all pumped or what? I don't care if we're there in person, standing or sitting, watching the Woogenmeisterdrinkoholic on FOX, listening or watching the Hennessy feed on the internet radio, or sitting in some sports bar across the country, this is THE sporting event, BAR NONE, across the nation tonight. Many folks just don't realize it. Drop the 'ing Puck!!

SRO is different. We've got spots marked on the floor. Rush allows you to grab an empty seat or spot, but you must sacrifice it to the true ticket holder should they show. Any local fans going to the Blue Liner bean feed?

Section 3 WP . . . . If you promise to not have me beat up.

Yeah. Plus, we get to stand behind an entire section of Gopher fans. That way, they can all hear us when we start mocking them, in a clean and largely friendly way of course.