InHeavenThereIsNoBeer

If you believe that the pairwise is always the perfect system for predicting teams abilities, then yes... but I know you are not that naive. Also, CC was about to have their season ended and beat us in a tightly contested overtime win while we outshot, outchanced, and outplayed them heavily and Thorimbert stood on his head to stop everything. Michigan lost 4-0...I repeat 4-0. That's not the result of a goalie standing on his head, Michigan was never in the game against an obviously weaker opponent and to show it wasn't a fluke proceeded to lose to them at Yost Arena. Like I said, they're highly inconsistent at best.

Yeah, beginning of the year I believed Michigan was decent but when you lose 4-0 to Penn State then get beat by them in your own building, your credibility goes out the window. At best they're very inconsistent.

I'll just leave this here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAOvCCYpyrQ

Great perspective on things I wasn't aware were happening and this will definitely play into the atmosphere. You need to have a student section that can be allowed to act like students. The "Who is he, he sucks sh** has been around since I was a kid at the Old Ralph and my parents didn't stop me from going to games because a swear word was said(they just got mad if I joined in). We don't get the great atmosphere at games by people in suites yelling and cheering(unless you count me on Saturday night), it's all about the students. I'm not exactly "bashing" the Ralph as I love the place but I am bashing the practices you talk about above that encourage people to sit on their hands and not get into the hockey game unless we score 9 goals which only happens when you play Miami

Did anyone ever claim that every Sioux fan came straight from Grand Forks?(serious question) The point being that there are more Sioux fans at away games than any other team. Every school has fans in different areas of the country because people move for jobs, school, family etc. but those schools don't have the turnout in Denver, Colorado Springs, Omaha, Minneapolis, St. Cloud State, Duluth, Bemidji like our fans do. So not sure why it's important to know not all of them came from GF, that's just common sense.

Second this, I pray my life never goes that horribly wrong.

Your 3rd point was something I've been thinking before but always dismissed. However, you are absolutely right. Some fans(definitely not me) seem to be tentative to join in the Let's Go Sioux chant. I saw it happen at the women's basketball game and Sioux hockey games last weekend. Someone would try to start it and everyone would just clap to the beat instead of vocalizing "Let's Go Sioux". It's too bad because I really hoped that the misguided decision by the Board of "Higher Education" would not affect people's use of the term Sioux although it appears it is beginning to, at least with the average fan. As far as the diehards...we'll say "Let's Go Sioux" until the day we die. (cue gopher troll)

I can't believe that this is actually happening. Were there that many issues with students previously that the administration needed to "crack down" on them? Agreeing with all previous posts, the Ralph this year has felt extremely sterile and dead. Last weekend's CC games felt like I was at the Sunday Manitoba exhibition game, besides when Schmaltz scored to tie it up. I really hope the arena and administration get together to make the atmosphere better because 10k in the seats every night is just awful.

http://www.muredhawks.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=26100&ATCLID=209438057 'Miami was a bit flat in the series finale, falling to North Dakota 9-2 on Feb. 15.' Understatement of the year!

Yeah I agree with the traffic in front of the net. I think 3 of CC's goals were tips in front of the net and a lot of luck plays into those as well. So the goals last weekend were tips, mental mistakes creating bad turnovers in our own end, and one softie by Zane. It's not like CC was setting the puck up, cycling on us then making cross ice passes to a wide open backdoor play. This makes me feel like all of our issues are correctable and if we can play a smart 5 on 5 hockey game against the Redhawks we will win. Changing gears, does anyone else notice how many mistakes Nick Mattson makes in the course of a game? He seems to bring a nice offensive side but anytime he faces a stressful situation I see him make some really terrible decisions.

If Blake Coleman is in last series, do we only win 9-4 on Saturday?

Someone said every single Sioux fan at away games is from Grand Forks? I just think the article and comments point to the pride we have in how far our fans travel to see the team. I lived in Colorado Springs for a few years and I was at UND and UM series vs CC. Not even close in fan support unless Minnesota fans were all hiding in Tiger jerseys.

And in Omaha last year? There was a horde of people driving down to Omaha. For example, while we were driving down through Iowa from Minneapolis we passed a few cars that had GO Sioux and UND regalia on there car. Maybe I'm biased but I don't hear nearly as much about Gopher fans being at away games taking over arenas like Sioux fans always are.

My take of what is most likely to happen if UND beats Miami and loses to Denver in the championship game. They still get in with the last spot. Your Picks Atlantic Hockey Semifinal #2: Robert Morris defeats Niagara Semifinal #1: Mercyhurst defeats Canisius Championship game: Robert Morris defeats Mercyhurst Big Ten Play-in #2: Michigan defeats Penn State Play-in #1: Michigan State defeats Ohio State Semifinal #2: Wisconsin defeats Michigan Semifinal #1: Minnesota defeats Michigan State Championship game: Minnesota defeats Wisconsin ECAC Semifinal #2: Quinnipiac defeats Colgate Semifinal #1: Union defeats Cornell Championship game: Quinnipiac defeats Union Hockey East Semifinal #2: Providence defeats New Hampshire Semifinal #1: Notre Dame defeats Massachusetts-Lowell Championship game: Notre Dame defeats Providence NCHC [*]Semifinal #2: Denver defeats Western Michigan [*]Semifinal #1: North Dakota defeats Miami [*]Consolation game: Miami defeats Western Michigan [*]Championship game: Denver defeats North Dakota WCHA [*]Semifinal #2: Minnesota State defeats Bowling Green [*]Semifinal #1: Ferris State defeats Alaska-Anchorage [*]Championship game: Ferris State defeats Minnesota State Read more: http://www.uscho.com/rankings/pairwise-predictor/#ixzz2wE3x8DNc

So this is a hockey message board... you must be lost.

Technically, yes however the matter of will the NCAA ever pick the REA again is another question. I mean, the first time around in 2006 was pretty crappy as far as atmosphere, attendance, everything you could want in a regional....oh wait, no it wasn't.

Love this idea. If someone reminds me of this idea next October, I'd gladly accept nominations all through next year and run the voting through my blog. 2014 SS.COM PST has a nice ring to it. EDIT: Just hope I wouldn't have too many submissions for my posts

I mean there is a 50% chance of us getting put in a regional with one of them. Pair that with the NCAA wanting to put us in St Paul for attendance and we no longer have the inter conference match up problem and I'd guess we will see a lot of the Gophers in regionals.

Agree on the happy hour and food but for nightlife I'm not a fan. Got bottle service for a relative's birthday there and they kept trying to screw us over on the price charging us $300-400 more than what it should be. Luckily I was keeping tabs on what the bill should be and confronted the host about it. At first he was defensive and finally admitted it was wrong, so I'd stay away past 7 or 8pm.

The bolded part is hilarious! The exciting downtown bar scene of St. Paul, got my laugh for the day. Thanks!

Spitting distance Went to Capital Grille a couple weeks ago, vodka tonic was $15 I believe, no thanks. Some bars for the commoner: The Pourhouse(Sioux gathering is here and fun place) Sneaky Pete's(Gets packed on weekend nights, good party) Brother's(close to Target Center and it has shuffleboard in the basement!) 508 Bar Kieran's(Across the street from Target Center, most likely will be packed but make great pot pies)

I'd say my order and subsequent reasoning is: NCHC regular season title (Penrose Cup)- Get to hang a white banner, 2nd best thing Winning the NCHC postseason tournament- Another trophy for the case Appearing in the national championship game (runner-up finish)- We were close but couldn't get it done, this one hurts Advancing to the Frozen Four- Tells me we had a really great run but again couldn't close it out NCAA tournament appearance- At least we have a chance every year Hobey Baker award winner- would rather have a Ryan Duncan on the team than beat Niagra and lose to Yale Making it to Minneapolis for the Frozen Faceoff- Extra hockey for me! Home ice for the NCHC playoffs- Got a nice streak going Winning a game in the NCAAs (appearing in the regional final)- Participation Banner territory 20 win season- Nice but not necessarily required to make the tourney EDIT: There are many different ways to look at these. On second thought, the Hobey Baker is appealing because it's another trophy but as we have seen in the past, this is not always given to the best player in college hockey player which makes it fall out of favor for me.

Ugh, I don't want to hear about this. Let's just beat CC in 2 and be done with it.

As a Sioux fan, you have to love reading the following paragraphs from the article: 'So it would only be natural for the Chaska, Minn. native to follow his dad and uncles to Dinkytown, right? Instead Gersich, an Under-18 forward at USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, will move on next season to the Gophers’ longtime rivals, the University of North Dakota. “Obviously, it was between Minnesota and North Dakota,” he said. “North Dakota’s facility speaks for itself. The coaches are professional. I just like it. My dad didn’t give me any grief. He told me it was really up to me.”'

I had mentioned that I thought it was pretty hilarious and quite a compliment that SCSU players actually planned out a celebration towards our fans if they scored...especially since uh, it was at their home rink It shows you that they recognize and are affected by the travelling Sioux fans, which is great.