streakygopher

double...I agree that winning the McNaughton is the true test of the league champion...no argument. BUT, it means nothing in the NCAA tournament where one bad bounce (or poor goalie performance) can send you packing. After watching last Saturday's game between the rodents and the Sioux, I wouldn't COUNT ON either of the goaltenders. Either of them are capable of playing well enough to win. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true. I consider this the Sioux's ONLY possible weakness: Goaltending (and, yes, I know all about the regular season stats...means nothing now)...then again, they said the same thing about Weber last year and Hauser the year before.

Gosh, I suppose you're right. If not for the crowd, there's no way we win that game. And those darn WCHA officials allowed our homer announcer to fire up the boys...and how about that Don Adam not giving Vanek a 5 minute major! The nerve...I heard that they even tilt the ice (just a little mind you) so that the Gophers are always skating slightly down hill and the Sioux are skating up hill. If not for these advantages, it's really probably not possible for us to have post season success. Forget that the team had to fight its way to the post season in 2002 and to the WCHA finals this year for that matter. But I suppose that's an advantage too, just knowing that if you make it all the way, you'll be playing in front of your home crowd...it almost worked last year for...who was it...Niagra?

Okay, that's your opinion...but then, why not give them the credit they deserve? Like the past two years, they appear to be getting hot when it counts the most. They did win the Broadmoor Trophy, despite having to play the two best teams in the WCHA...and though it was a home crowd, there were plenty of fans wearing green and white. Minnesota has shown its resiliency to play through injuries and win despite the loss of Paul Martin and Travis Weber. It also took the better part of a year for their young defensmen to come along as needed for a post-season run. I'm not saying they're going to win it all this year (UND looks like the team that just might get it done), but I give them a lot of credit for earning their spot...given their shaky start. And, yes, they do deserve the Number 1 seed. They EARNED it under the rules of the system under which they play. If you don't like the rules, change the system...but that's another argument.

Nope...we're just that beloved.

Then why don't you just forfeit...at least that way they could be proud of you because you're smart. The only way they even stay in it is if their goalie makes about 60 saves. Reminds me of last year's Minnesota vs. Mercyhurst...just a speed bump.

Of course, they said the same thing about a UMD player some years back...let me see...his name is...ah...oh, yes!...Brett Hull. Vanek hussles when he needs to. He just doesn't have the motor of a little guy like Parise or Riddle. I do agree he needs work on the defensive sheet. At first blush he doesn't seem like much of a skater, but the guy has reserve power. He also has one of the best shots in college hockey. He can beat you cleanly or scrum. He is a very physical player who sometimes loses his cool...and usually hurts his team for it. I will be shocked if he doesn't become a better-than-average NHLer. The shot on Parise was uncalled for (not sure if Zach did anything earlier to warrant reprisal), and if I were ref, I might have called a 5 minute penalty...but then, I might have called a 2 minute on Zach for diving in the game's last minute or two. He goes down real easy, if his team needs a penalty. If a player gets that reputation, sometimes they don't get the calls when they really deserve them. The problem in college hockey is the face mask. It's too easy to hack somebody. Taylor=good physical defenseman who can skate and looks good for a freshman...reminiscent of the Sioux's entire defensive corps.

Predictions are dangerous. I think that UMD, UND, and Minnesota are probably the 3 best teams in the nation right now. It's really too bad that UND and Minnesota couldn't meet in the final game (should both get there). The rematch of Saturday night for the National Championship would be epic. I won't count out any of the Number Ones. Hopefully, if we face UND again, my nerves won't be as shot as they were on Saturday night. It seems like Minnesota really gets up for the tournament with Lucia at the helm. They beat a heckuva good Michigan team (thank you, Pauly Martin) in Buffalo and then UNH in the final with comparatively few biased Minnesota fans around. This looks like UND's year, but you never know...one bad bounce and the season is over.

Nice to see you all having a love-in with WPoS. We like him too...aw, ain't that sweet? Hey, who's the guy wearing the head dress on the Discussion Forums banner, Ralph E?

Imply? Heck, I'll come right out and say it. That team wouldn't have been HALF the team they were without Minnesota kids and the Minnesota coach--LITERALLY. Of course East Coast bias has the country believing that we couldn't have done it without Craig (agree he played out of his mind) and Eruzione (WAYYY overrated). That's the same East Coast bias that believes Hockey East is the best and deepest league in the nation. I guess 4 out of 5 past National Championships by the WCHA somehow gets overlooked. The truth is that the entire Gold Medal team overachieved. If you look at who went to the NHL after the olympics, I think the Minnesota connection looks pretty good. Minnesota kids are all over in college hockey...it's something the state can be proud of.

Being a little hard on the Gilbert aren't we? I think the point of the story is that the Gophers seem to be surging now that it's playoff time and that the Dogs will face a different Gopher squad on Friday night. They've been up and down all year, but last weekend--albeit a slumping SCSU squad--the Gophers looked very sharp in their passing game. They also appeared more enthusiastic than usual. Their goaltending is still a major concern...and of course, young defensemen can always cost you a goal or two. No matter how you feel about them, however, they're still the defending champs and they have the talent to compete with anybody in the country...UND, UM, UMD, BC, Maine...the 5 best teams in hockey. Should be a fun weekend. No matter who wins on Friday night, the Sioux will have their hands full with (presumably) CC and then MN/UMD. Kudos to your squad for winning the conference, the toughest league in hockey.

Another wild card in all of this in favor of him possibly staying is that the kid is very intelligent. To Martin, I'm sure finishing school is much more important than say a guy like Ben Clymer who had no business being in college in the first place. Hey, it's just possible that the guy likes college life and wants to let it roll one more year...add to this that he will likely be a Hobey candidate, has a legitimate chance for a 3-peat, and will probably be first-team all-america (on the mural at the mecca)...well, those are pretty good reasons to stay if he feels that some semblance of the current offer will be there next year.

Minnesota will have speed. Their whole team is built around it. Vanek gives them scoring, scoring in big games at crucial times. That's what would be missed the most.

Sch...dog... What do you think of that?!

Apparently, this Kizla joker had the look of Shock and Awe himself...and what might he possibly right in response to it? Just that the Avs must have choked...couldn't be that at least for this 7-game series, the Wild was the better team!

How in the heck do I use that dad gum "quote" key. I highlight then hit the quote key and it shows up in an edit box under the post box. It seems like I always end up with the entire quote repeated, not just what I highlighted...someone walk me through this, please

It would have been interesting to see UND play MN in the West Regional (although I'm glad it didn't happen). I'm guessing UND plays a much better game if it were Minnesota than FSU. Somehow UND just seemed totally out of sync during that game, though they did get some shots on goal. It appeared to me that their defensive game and transition game were curiously weak. Someone made the point earlier about lack of killer instinct, and I agree with that. The UND teams of years past were NEVER out of games. I remember the Gophers one year with a 3 goal lead going into the third period and then the roof caved in. Great college defensemen have a way of making a team's offense look really good. Any coach will tell you that the first pass out of the zone must be crisp and on the tape to accomplish a good transition game. Minnesota did that when they played really well this year, such as the games against FSU and UNH. Defensemen that can start a break out are key to skating teams like Minnesota and UND. If UND gets some really good skating/passing defensemen who can jump up into the play, it will make that Parise line click. Without that, they'll spend half their shift in the defensive/neutral zone trying to gain control of the puck.

sorry for d. post...Skateshattrick: I didn't intend to compare Minnesota's program to UND's. They're both steeped in rich hockey history...and they're both among the jewels of the WCHA. It just grates on me to hear someone take a cheap shot like "needs a non-Minnesotan..." when for years many of the Sioux faithful made fun of Minnesota for recruiting that way! And if Minnesotans on the POI side accuse UND of winning with 25 year old Canadians, so what? As you pointed out, they are legitimate NCAA recruits and that's all that matters. I think Minnesota should be lauded for doing as well as they did over the years with younger, smaller, and less experienced players. Instead, they're made fun of...then years later, made fun of again for changing!!?! Oh well, this could go around in circles...do older, more mature players make a difference? You bet they do. Minnesota is finding that out with recent recruits such as Grant Potulny and a few others.

Sprig-- It wasn't much of a tantrum. I'm just calling that poster on the carpet for her/his absurd, infantile remark. Yes, it will happen...from those who know little or nothing of hockey, but only of trading childish insults or casting meaningless aspersions. And that goes for both sides. Sorry I didn't use the "feel good" language you needed to hear in defense of the Minnesota program, and so what if it's a Sioux board. People should be held accountable for their remarks, regardless of the forum or venue.

hockeygrl When will Minnesota EVER win a legitimate national title? For years Sioux fans derided Minnesota's "provincial" recruiting style of going after Minnesota-only players. Now, we get criticized for "needing" outside players. Well, which is it? At any rate, the real pith of that discussion (if you really want to go there) is the age question, not where the player came from. You see, Doug Woog always went after the MOST TALENTED Minnesota players. That long and glorious list includes guys like Neal Broten, Corey Millen, Larry Olimb, Trent Klatt, Erik Rasumussen, Brian Bonin and, more recently, Mike Crowley, John Pohl, Jeff Taffe, Jordan Leopold, and many, many others...all truly great college hockey players with one stat in common: They came into the league as TRUE FRESHMAN...get it? It's very hard to win with younger players. That said, what Minnesota did this year was more amazing than last year (though now only 50% or less of our players came in as true freshmen), and it wasn't just Vanek. EVERYBODY (including our lone Senior) played great hockey on Saturday night. Now that Minnesota has opened its borders, it's given small-minded fans like you another way to criticize the program (but now on the opposite side of the issue for which we were criticized before!). Your twisted logic really has my head spinning. Did Minnesota NEED Grant Potulny to win last year or Vanek this year? Maybe. Maybe not. We'll never know. But note that I have never assailed UND for "needing" canadians like Lee Goren or Minnesotans like Karl Goerhing to win championships. I for one am sorry that Vanek scored on Saturday and that Grant Potulny swatted in a rebound last year. It gives small minds like yours childish, one-line quips to regurgitate so that you can somehow minimize or cheapen the legitimate butt kicking Minnesota put on UNH this year. Maybe we should just give the trophy back or better, send it on up to Grand Forks since they have a better program anyway.

Thanks to all for the kind comments. We're giddy about a back to back win in Buffalo, and once again, the trophy stays in the west where it belongs. It wasn't a cheap win, that's for sure. I'm glad Minnesota put on a show, proving to the country for two straight years which conference is the best. UNH was a good hockey team that the U made look ordinary. Our transition out of the defensive zone was flawless. Though the entire team played their "A" game, Martin, Ballard, DeMarchi, Martin, Stevens, Ballard all played their "A+" game. To me, that was the biggest difference in the game. UNH simply did not spend enough time in Minnesota's end to mount much of a scoring chance. Vanek's play speaks for itself, but let's not forget the rest of the team, who applied pressure for 60 minutes. Ayers had his finger in the dike for two periods, but once that second goal got scored it was like pouring gasoline on the fire! On Matt DeMarchi...many Sioux fans simply don't give him his due. He was absolutely rock solid in the last two months of the season. He will definitely be missed. I see him as a productive NHL player (excellent skater, has size, good shot). The most vulnerable to lose to the NHL? Vanek...hands down, and I agree that he raised in NHL stock this weekend. He said it will take a 7-figure offer to get him. Ballard wants to come back and he's not ready to go anyway. Martin and Tallackson need more development. As for the Sioux, I think your first line will be awesome next year, but I don't know much about your depth. The other thing I don't know about (and would appreciate opinions) is if you have any defensemen who can carry the puck up the ice, ala Ballard, Martin. I believe this is critical to team success. It made the difference against UNH.

I thought I read on USCHO that UNH plays on a 100 by 200 surface, just like Mariucci. Can't confirm. I hope Minnesota realizes they stole one last night. Maybe that will get them better prepared for Saturday.

MKSioux I didn't sit next to any high-fiving Gopher fans, and if you did, just ignore them. They're just trying to rub it in, like any 5-year old would. Years ago I sat in a bar watching the Gophers against Lake Superior State. Safe to say, it wasn't much of a Gopher effort. A table of Sioux fans (about 5 or 6) started the "Golden Chokers" chant. It almost started a fight. Of course, I wasn't about to get into the fray, but I do remember how low class that was. Do I think all Sioux fans are like that? Nope. I just ignore the ones who are.

Geez, all this talk about Minnesota fans like Yellowdog and such. Well, for every Yellowdog, there's a Goon...get it? It's the same all over. Most fans are civil; some are idiots. That will NEVER change. The idiots, by the way, are most likely idiots in life as well. My advice? Ignore them. It's the mature thing to do. The fans at Mariucci who cheered FSU over UND may have been pulling for FSU for the same reason I was (although I wasn't vocal at all): Minnesota matched up better against FSU in the next game. I mean, wouldn't Sioux fans rather go through FSU than Minnesota for a chance to get to the Frozen Four? Yep. When Minnesota plays UND, all bets are off no matter who the better team is. I was happy when UND won the title in 2000. I liked Goring and Minnesotans, like Blais, DeFauw, Goehring et. al. And, when the idiot type fan throws SEVEN NATIONAL TITLES! in my face? I ignore them.

UND hockey is every bit the program that Minnesota is. Both schools have enviable hockey programs. Your time will come again. But now, it's the Gopher's time. It runs in cycles, folks. We need all the karma we can get. Let's keep the national title in the west! And, I will not come on this board (if we win) and spew garbage, just as I hope no one from this board will come on to POI and spew garbage if we lose.

Fighting Sioux Fan Don't blame the UofM basketball program. Blame Clem Haskins, Jan Gangelhoff and all of those (including the players) who were complicitous in the scam. The University was found guilty and fairly punished (they still have one more year of probation). Dan Monson and the current group appear to be honest, rule- following individuals. Whatever the program, company, school or institution of any kind there's always a cheater or two hiding somewhere in the bushes. That doesn't mean the institution knows about out it, much less endorses it.