diggerdan

As could have been expected, the Herald editorial board didn't like the intro to this weekend's games. I thought it was funny and the gopher fans I sat with took it as it was meant - in fun. Warm-ups should not insult teams

I hate losing to the Gophers; more than any other loss, the ones to UM hurt the most. Nevertheless, I was not suicidal after this weekend. I took alot of positive out of these games. I had a great time, the games were good, the crowd was great and the gopher fans I visited with were very jealous of our new digs! This team is not going to be a good team, they are a good team now and they are getting better. Some thoughts: 1) Despite what Gophers fans say, the talent gap between the two teams is not that big and if you throw Leopold out, the teams are very close. The bigger difference is in experience. Schneider, Fuhrer and Jones are as good as Ballard, Stevens and Martin and our d-men's offensive skills are improving more rapidly than the gophs d-men's defensive skills are. Tallackson and Welch are very good players but they, and the other young gopher forwards, haven't been asked to do what the Sioux freshman have. The responsibility put on Connelly, Canady, Bochenski, McMahon, etc. this year will pay dividends. I wouldn't trade our freshman class for their freshmen and sophs. 2) Our team can't close, obviously. That will come. Many have alluded to the team lacking leadership. I don't see how you can say that without spending time in the locker room. What the Sioux don't have is a player who can take over the game late, like Leopold or Jeff Panzer. I don't know who will step up into this role, but it won't be an upperclassman. 3) The Sioux overachieved last year and, in a way, set us up for this year's disappointment. Jeff Panzer carried that team on his back and what has happened since is Exhibit A in the case WCHA vs. the Decathlon Athletic Club for the theft of the Hobey Baker award. (Exhibit B is Steve Reinprecht and I fear Exhibit C will be Leopold). 4) I disagree that the Sioux played lazy or scared in the third. I think they were dead tired. I sat behind the bench in the second and when the 5 minute major ended, Spiewak and Notermann were spent. I knew then that the 3rd would not be kind to UND. I know many are frustrated, I am too. But this was not the Anchorage or Mankato series. The boys really put forth the effort, they just fell short against a very good hockey club. I think Blais' hope for a 6-2 finish is still very possible.

I like UNH from the east. I think that CC has shed their start of year funk and started to play up to their talent level. I expect to see both of them in the frozen 4.

Geez Taz, do you work for the arena or what? Your last post sounded like it was right out of the corporate brochure. God forbid someone question the "perfection" that is the new REA. BTW, I love the arena. I've seen a game from the suite level and its a great seat. But its not the old REA, and it is certainly not as intimate. 5,000 extra seats and a suite level prevent that.

Thanks Scott. I noticed that SSM played both Bozeman and Bismarck of the AWHL earlier in the year and seemed to be competitive with them. I saw Bozeman play a couple times last year against Billings (and Layne Sedevie) and they are a good hockey club. Not USHL quality but much better than the high school hockey you can see in ND and Section 8.

What is the difference between Midget hockey and Minnesota HS hockey, besides the number of games they play? SSM seems to be taking most of their opponents to the woodshed this year. For those of you familiar with both, how would SSM do against the top AA teams in Minnesota high school hockey?

The women's team already has its own locker room in the new Engelstad. It is very nice and very similar to the men's except there is no sauna and no hot tub. Also, the women's coaching staff have their offices on ice level, whereas Blais and his staff have their offices on the suite level, right above the arena staff offices.

Somewhat off topic for this board, but...... On Sunday morning, my daughter (10 yo) brings me the paper (the Hurl) and before I get a chance to glance at it, she asks if she can cut out the picture on the front page of the sports section when I'm done.

At 5-8-1, the Sioux are only 1 point off where I thought they'd be at this point. I am hoping for a 9-5 finish down the stretch which should be good enough for home ice - hopefully hosting Wisconsin. It all starts this weekend, anything less that 3 points against Alaska will doom our home ice chances. I really excited to get these guys home again and wipe away the sour taste from the last home series. Anyone know what's going on with Derek Faul? I had read here he was being converted to defense but I haven't seen where he's played recently.

The "entertainment complex" (bar/restaurant/liquor store) is closed but the motel part is still open. I believe it was under other ownership.

Professor Riendeau??? Seriously, out of all of this talented group of seniors, I believe that Riendeau will be the toughest to replace. One of the best cover guys the Sioux have had.

I believe there is some confusion regarding when non-club seat holders can enter the club rooms. I have been denied access before the start of a game also. I also know that the arena does not want people drinking in the concourses. I don't know why. I believe you are jumping the gun in assuming that what is happening is only happening to students. It isn't. Also, technically, UND has nothing to do with how the arena is run. And yes, without the students there wouldn't be a team. Wouldn't be a university for that matter. But you could say the exact same thing about: generous alumni and friends, faculty and staff, and the taxpayers of the state of ND.