Slap Shot

Then you shouldn't like any team because EVERY single one of them has fans like yellowdog. I think age question and where the players come from is tired. Lucia isn't taking young guys like Woog and I doubt the ave age of UM is any different than most teams now days. And if players like Potulny and Vanek win NC's for the Gophers, all the better - it proves Lucia was wise to go outside the borders. I'll also repeat it's way too early to claim UM the prohibitive favorite. Well, perhaps on paper they ARE the favorite but pre-season WCHA picks generally mean squat in the end. Too much can happen. Once we know the roster, there's a myriad of things that can happen. Injuries, a string of bad luck, players falling off their game, freshmen not living up to expectations, etc., etc. UND will be good next year despite what they lose - Blais is one of the best, their goal-tending will be better (imho) and they have a nice class coming in.

While on paper that may all be true, I'm going to hold off until about this time next year. We've seen pre-season favorites fail to live up to expectations in the past so I'm leery of predicting glory next year. I'm going to enjoy the run to the FF tonight and hopefully beyond.

I think it's amazing there are people out there that believe Gopher fans are worse than any other set, especially given the UW, SCSU, UMD and various newbie UND fans running around USCHO. I cheered for UND in 2000 and 2001 and will every time they don't stand in the way of the Gophers. I had a good time at the X last April with the Sioux fans in front of me for the Frozen Four, and with the Sioux fans next to me at the X this year for the Final Five. You think we'll never let you live it down if we win two in a row? How many times has "7>4", and until last year, "23 years" been shoved down our throats by Sioux fans? Crimminy, you have posters naming themselves 7>4 and others putting in their signature. I don't expect this to change anyone's mind and I'm not actually asking Sioux fans to cheer for MN, but our fans are no better or worse than your fans.

I don't know that I'd argue the Gophers are far superior to the Sioux. Admittedly I like their chances next year but I wouldn't count the Sioux out and I don't know how much of a gap exists. Both teams have skilled forwards, solid defensemen, sketchy goaltending and two of the best coaches in the country. Yes, the Sioux did fade down the end but the loss of Hale hurt. Remember what happened to the Sioux of ('99?) and the Badgers of '00? Two teams that had a lot of talent but didn't make it happen in the end. Next year is WAY far away and imho it's way too early to assert the Gophers and Sioux will do this or that. Games aren't played on paper, they're played in your TV.

Heck, there were four Sioux fans the row in front me at last year's Frozen Four, two Bucky fans in front of them, and four Sioux fans in my same row this year at the Final Five. The Bucky fans were the only ones to root against the Gophers. Sadly, I will not be going to Buffalo this year but I my plan is to go to Boston next year regardless of the teams. Getting tickets is the easy part, it's the 4 months I was out of work that's the stumbling block this time around.

So his time is wasted when posting here but your's is not?

Did your mother feed you paint chips?

Because of the number of seats available.

You're not barking up the tree of objectivity, BisonMav.

I don't lump everyone together, I was just having fun. You have to admit it's pretty funny/ironic that within minutes of my post someone desmonstrated my point.

GO EASY!

See what I mean?

Lord knows Gopher fans were never subjected to "23 years" and "We have 7" day after day until last year, right?

There are plenty of Sioux fans that post at POI and as long as they are civil you don't see Gopher fans getting defensive about it.

It's Sioux fans like you that make me question why I cheered for UND in 2000 and 2001. God knows people can't be nice to each other if they don't cheer for the same team, right? If they should happen to ask for an honest opinion they should be ravaged for having the audacity to expect the possibility of a thoughtful, respectful and non-belligerent response, right? btw, as for how UM will do next year? Who the hell knows? On paper I like their chances (even if they lose someone early the +/- HAS to be considered better than at the end of the 2002 season) but UND returns a lot and won't be pushed around, and UMD also returns a lot. MSUM could be good but they HAVE to improve their defense if they expect to do much over the long haul. Not sure about CC and DU yet. I think SCSU will be lucky to finish Top 5 next year given what they lose and I'm not impressed with their incoming class.