NorthDakotaHockey

WPoS: I love you. You seem to be an intelligent source. I am largely done licking my wounds. Do not, however, take a shot at Ralph Engelstad. He was a big and kind hearted man, the likes of which Minnesota has never seen in its group of boosters. If Slippery Sid could get some of his jewel-laden friends to cough up even a small fraction of their fortunes for the public good, in any arena, maybe we wouldn't have to listen to the Gopher footballers cry for money for a new campus stadium. Ralph gave millions to UND, his hometown, churches and small towns throughout the land, and to the handicapped, singlehandedly buying thousands of wheelchairs for those in need. His enterprise employed countless handicapped, and his loyalty to tradition and history are unsurpassed. So don't give me this narrow-minded, envy filled, biggotry scat. You know better than that. Nothing wrong with having the balls to fight for a school nickname that is both proud and right. If you are referring to the Hitler Party from years past, well, that was some bad advice from a PR firm to commemorate Ralph's purchase of the largest collection of WWII vehicles, including those owned by the Third Reich. One mistake in an otherwise life filled with philanthropic gestures on many fronts. Sid and his buddies have made many, many mistakes in living their otherwise niggardly lives. Look it up before you jump on me for being a biggot. It's spelled N-I-G-G-A-R-D. Synonymns include Sid Hartman, Irwin Jacobs, Carl Pohlad, and the rest of the Minneapolis so-called "power brokers" and "M-Club" Members. Stop putting the snout in the public trough and build some alumni financial support, and athletic programs that are capable of being self-sustaining. This having been said, I still love you, despite the brown and yellow stains in your life.

If this is going to be the case, which it clearly will not be, then I suggest that the powers that be in the Gopher fiefdom (and I do mean fiefdom) get working on teaching the crowd on how to count to ten. Gopher fans have been working for years on how to spell "M-I-N-N-E-S-O-T-A", and learning that it is indeed a word of four syllables. Now that they appear to have mastered spelling, they had better get to work on a count, because by 2010, the Sioux will likely have ten banners by then. Banners ain't easy to come by my boys and girls. Besides, wouldn't surprise me a lick if it is soon uncovered that Lucia's staff was taking Adam Houser's spelling tests, and that the 2003 banner will be stripped from the arena, ala Clem Haskins and all of the crooks across the street in Williams Arena. Gophers looked really beatable yesterday in the last half of the game. Funny thing about Gopher fans, at least a number of those in the building around me, they turn on their boys in a second, and they start piddling and a moaning at the first hint of trouble. I was really hoping that Ferris State would have at least closed the gap to a goal, so that I could hear the sound of 9,000 sphincters slamming shut at the same time. Oh, wait, make that 8,000 sphincters. In a region of 4+ million folk, and with the defending national champions playing their last game of the season at home, the so-called Gopher faithful could not even break away from their Sunday afternoon chip-n-dip fests to fill their crackerjack box arena. So much for tradition. So much for fan support. They ain't even fair weather fans! This having been said, I did meet a handful of genuinely knowledgeable, and courteous, Gopher fans in the building. They was mostly women in their sixties, arms clutched mostly to the thirty-something beer swilling guys popping out of their jerseys, who constitute the majority of the fan base. Go CC. Go Michigan. I cain't cheer for the East, unless they become our last clear chance of sending Lucia to the barbershop early.

Funny. I agree. Lucia was decent in not running up the score. The only victory for Mercyhurst was the moral victory of preventing the "double digits" that some of the Gopher faithful were crying for needlessly.

Never flown there, but drove there twice. I am, admittedly, perhaps too hard on Biggie Fry. I just need to cool down from another frustrating loss. I was really looking forward to the biggest Sioux-Gopher clash since March 24, 1979. You remember. Jimmy Carter was president. It was the l ast Gopher title, ever, won with solely Minnesota kids. Glad to see that the Gophers are finally recruiting "outside" talent. It was sadly needed for the Gophers to step up into North Dakota's class. Potulny. Vanek. Maybe someday soon the Gophers will again be able to draw the best in-state talent to their squad as well. Parise is not an apparition. He will become the rule, rather than the exception. There are many fine Gopher fans. You are obviously one of them. Good luck tonight, although I will be cheering for the Bulldogs. I trust that you will cheer for Ferris over Mankato at the Frozen Four?

A tough, tough loss to swallow. A handful of observations . . . . 1. The Sioux either got bad luck, or got no luck at all. 2. We need a goaltender to step up next year. Could be Brandt. We have a couple of recruits in tow? 3. Graduation losses are minimal. I do not see anyone else leaving early, especially after the downturn in production the last half of the season. 4. Gopher fans, although fanatical and loyal, are not nearly as fanatical or loyal as are Sioux fans. No question. No doubt. 5. Some Gopher fans set a bad example for the rest of them. Some are simply unsophisticated, do not understand the game, have little to no creativity, and have an Iraqi's command of the English language. 6. Example? Here is just one of many. My kids and I sat near the ice in Section 5. One Gopher fan, who I shall call "Biggie Fry" because he was popping out of one of those UGLY Gopher jerseys, kept it up with the four letters, nothing particularly egregious, but enough to annoy me enough to give him the "Watch the Language" chant. That put his snout back in his bag of mini-donuts. Anyway, what is the purpose, or need, to still be riding a Mercyhurst goalie mercilessly, with incivil and sometimes profane chants, when your team is riding an 8-0 lead? It's not like it was an epic WCHA struggle where one might be justified in riding a goalie a shade, albeit with clever and clean retorts. 7. This same clown was shot down early by a nearby Sioux fan who told him to "Buy a bigger jersey!" Funny. He shut up until several of his other dehorn buddies showed up, at which point he became emboldened enough to get on Parise for going to the "wrong" school. 8. My point? Some Gopher fans make a bad name for all Gopher fans. These types ought to have their legs taped to a chair and be made to eat spaghetti until their jerseys burst. I am sure that many Gopher fans who know and understand the game, both on the ice and in the stands, would agree. 9. Who to cheer for tonight? The Bulldogs, of course. While the WCHA is, by far, the best league in the country, in spite of last night's returns, and while I will almost always cheer for a WCHA team in the NCAA's, the stench of Gopher arrogance is simply too much to bear. It would be great to send the Mariucci crowd packing tonight. 10. Last, but not least. Wasn't it refreshing to see no ads on the boards, or on the Zambonis? Why is it, do you think, or if you know, why the NCAA does not take the opportunity to sell some ad space?

It always seemed that we were just watching high school hockey with the Gophers. Granted, he kept it up near the top, but nary ever a championship, of any sort, was won. Gopher fans used to give me crap about all our Canadians, at least in years past. I simply said if I am going to pay good money to watch college hockey, I want to watch the best hockey that my money could buy. Not some pipe dream that the Gophers could somehow win with only in-state talent. Look at them now. They recruit a North Dakota boy, Potulny, and a foreign kid, Vanek, and they are flying high. At least until they crash to earth tonight. Hopefully . . . . .

The counterfeiting charge, I 'spose. I am a big Bochenski fan, my eleven year old daughter even more so. Last season, the SCSU fans printed up some fake dollar bills with Bochenski's photo in the middle, called the "Bochenski Bucks." Full color. Passed out hundreds of 'em. It was a clever and pretty funny taunt for the SCSU dehorns who should be joining us at the Frozen Four along with Mankato and CC.

Here it is . . . . Ferris State Media Guide Anyone want the Gophies or Lakers guides?

Last try . . . . I truly am a neophyte in the electronic age . . . . My Webpage

One more try on the Ferris State guide . . . . My Webpage

Here is the Ferris State media guide link . . . . GopherSports Maybe I did figure it out.

The Gopher site has posted media guides for each of the four teams. Go to gophersports.com and follow leads to NCAA Hockey. The Sioux guide, which is of some interest, is at the following link, in pdf format: http://www.gophersports.com/2003WestRegion...DakotaNotes.pdf Sorry, guess I am incapable of actually setting up a "link." Let me try again . . . GopherSports Rats. Anyway, check it out.

What's this "if" b.s.? How's 'bout a little faith? After ND takes care of Ferris, in a likely epic struggle, of course the Saturday game will be televised. It will only be the biggest game for fans, at least in all of these parts, since March 24, 1979.

I spoke briefly with Doug Woog yesterday at the Sioux practice. He was preparing for his broadcasting gig. After telling him that I appreciated all that he had done keeping the Gophers mired in mediocrity for so many years, with the arrogance of recruiting only Minnesota kids, I asked him how he saw the tournament shaping up. He is completely overlooking Mercyhurst!! For many reasons, Mercyhurst will have my cheers, unless, of course, the Gopher fans are strongly vocal in support of the Sioux. What are those odds? Lordy lordy, please have Mercy. Stage the biggest upset of them all. While I would clearly love to see a Sioux-Gopher finale, my brother points out that an upset, however wildly unlikely it is to occur, would give us a veritable plethora of chants against the Gophies for years to come. Who's bringing the dead ones? Have fun. No profanity in the arena please (unlike certain dehorn fans from other schools), and let's enjoy the boys tacking up the bulldog and gopher pelts on the way to Buffalo.

The much ballyhooed storm wimped out of town, much like the much ballyhooed Gophers will be limping out of town come Saturday night. System stayed largely south. There are a few inches of snow in town. If you are coming down from GF, NW winds will carry you and increase your gas mileage performances. There may be a system bucking just to your east, in east central Minnesota, but you will likely miss it. Safe travels. Let's Go Sioux!

I like the poobah forecast. Nice job grand one.

It is raining cats and dogs right now. It is supposed to turn to snow tonight, moving up from the south. Southern Minn. is to get kicked with 8-12". The line is only to extend north to St. Cloud, with St. Cloud, and the northern metro, getting no more than 2-4. All by morning. It may be plowed by then. Who knows. It could stay all rain. It could swing south. It could swing north. Suffice it to say that GF travellers should give themselves a good cushion on the drive. Make hay while you can. When you hit 60 miles out, things could slow down. Ain't nothing gonna stop you though from being in Mariucci. Ain't nothing gonna stop you. Ain't no stopping the Sioux this year.

You got 'em Dam Strait. Call me.

Just came from the Sioux practice, open to the public. A lively workout. Boys looked relaxed. Coach Blais chuckling himself. They look sharp and ready. The Ferris State boys, next on the ice, had their heads on a swivel looking around the Big Arena. Doesn't mean that they won't be tough, just that they might be a bit wide-eyed. The Sioux band is reserved for the top rows of Section 3. I've still a few singles in Section 3, Section 4, and Section 13. I will let them go outside the arena on Friday to the highest bidders of any colored jersey if we are all good to go here. Let's Go Sioux!

Oops, a misplaced modifier. The Sioux are not practicing with my kids who, truth be told, aren't solid skaters but still big fans. I am going to the arena with my kids. Sorry for any confusion this post may have caused. I am still willing to beat the bushes for tickets, and maybe even cane a Gopher fan or two to get them for you if necessary.

I am going over to the Unspeakable Arena to watch the Sioux and Ferris State practice with my kids today. I hope to pick up a handful of ducats that I have at will call, and will beat the bushes over and around there if anyone is still looking for tickets for the Friday session. I suspect that all that is available, if anything, will be single seats and standing room. Anyone still looking to have a dream come true, watching the Sioux take care of business with Ferris State, and Mercyhurst ending the Gophers' season on Friday? Let me know.

Me thinks he is a rather big-tittied guy about sixty . . . . Knows his hockey. Likes to eat.

Heard it from Dave Dahl's replacement on Garage Logic radio show. Dahl must be history. He couldn't predict a snowstorm, even in Brad Winchester's apartment.

Here, from the Gophersports.com site, with info on the NCAA West Regional, is the posted practice times for each of the four squads . . . . ------------------------------------ Practices open to the public will take place on Thursday March 27th. Practice times are: 11:30 am - 12:30 pm - Game #1 - Visiting Team 12:45 pm - 1:45 pm - Game #1 - Home Team 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm - Game #2 - Visiting Team 3:15 pm - 4:15 pm - Game #2 - Home Team All times listed are Central times. ----------------------------------- I assume that the Sioux are the visitors as the lower seed, and will practice first, followed by the Bulldogs.

Hey. I live down here in the Twit Cities. The local weather mavens are calling for a BIG storm Thursday night, into Friday morning. Some claim that it will bring 8-12" through the south, into the southern suburbs. Less as one moves north, affecting a swath at least up through St. Cloud. We need the big contingent in their seats by the time that the puck is dropped at 4 pm. Please plan accordingly. Please drive safely. Put the cap back on the Strawberry Hill by the time that you hit Monticello. Let's Go Sioux!! N-O-R-T-H-D-A-K-O-T-A. North Dakota. North Dakota. Aaaaaay Sioux!