jloos

ND Mr. hockey finalists named: Allan Jechort Bismarck Century "Patriots" Jordan McIntyre Grand Forks Central "Knights" Matt Moreland Grand Forks Central "Knights" All three are very good players. I think Graalum could be on the list. The most impressive in my opinion is Jechort who lead the state in scoring without a supporting cast like McIntyre and Moreland.

Forum Article I know this was posted before, for those interested the cup will be at West Acres along with a traveling exhibit from the Hall of Fame (Hockey not USA). It will be open to the public from 1-9 on Friday, cost is $5.

I'm looking for this series to be one of the best in recent years. I'm glad to see Duluth doing well again, they have some great fans that are very loyal, even the previous few 'rebuilding' years. SS has done a great job. Duluth has had a great year, I'll almost feel sorry for them they are swept this weekend, dropping out of 1st place. I remember watching the Sioux skate in the scrimmage at the beginning of the year and thinking "that Fabian kid can barely skate, he'll never dress". Glad to see him prove me wrong, he is a little sloppy on the skates for a D1 player, but he is strong on them. The few times I've seen him play I've been impressed, he works harder than anybody else. It's great to see a kid that could have gotten more icetime elsewhere work his a$$ off for a spot with the team he always wanted to play for. I'd still like to see Masson given another chance, I think he matches up well with Duluth. Also look for Palmo to see some ice time, being this is his last year. Maybe not this weekend, but he'll be in the line-up for sure against tech.

I believe Shanley plays all of their home games in Moorhead. The Burgraff's have used the Sports Center for years, I'm sure they get a discount on ice time . The West comes and goes with hockey, I would say Hazen is the only team that has really been building their program up. Bismarck usually has a decent team and Century and Minot are on again off again. As a whole I don't think the West is 'catching up' to the East, mainly becuase they don't have the luxury of having dozens of quality teams to play within a couple hour drive. I remember when I was in junior high Minot and Bismarck played in the state championship game, I believe that was the only year a western team won, I think Minot won. If I remember right Minot had Tom Philion and Bismarck had Peluso, arguably two of the best high school players ever in ND. I've seen RR play 4 times this year, I was always their for the other team, but nobody on RR really stood out. They have a good team, just no real stand out players, except maybe the goalie. Cink was always one of the best players in youth hockey, I remember coaching against him. He looked like one of the top 2 or 3 players. South may have trouble with Century, South has had poor goaltending and Jechort can really light it up. He's played with my cousin on the select teams and the MN fall league, the kid can really score, he is by far the best player from the West that I've seen. Federov did you play for South?

Most of the players I was referring too didn't see the ice as Shanley only played 2 lines at EDC. The two players on the top lines I coached are Gary Stensgaard and David Hurt, both played Patriots. David played Patriots all through youth hockey and Gary played bantams after moving to Fargo from Northern Manitoba. A few Patriot players could play at the A level, but chose not to play Flyers or Raiders. I can think of 4 or 5 players that were just as talented as Hurt and Stensgaard that were cut from North or South. South has done a better job at giving Patriot players a chance (there captain last year played Patriots). North is terrible, if you don't play Raiders you don't play at North, there are few exceptions. After watching Graalum again I think he has more talent than anyone in the state. Only Jechort from Bismarck and a few from Central can match him. Fylling was fun to watch, a very gritty forward, but he has good hands. Are you sure he's Quinn's brother? He looks about 6-4. He looks like he is getting used to his height, a little sloppy on his skates. Working with the Burgraff's should solve that, I believe he is only a junior, I would look for him to take over Graalum's role next year.

I believe Tim Graveline is the head coach, Shanley did win a few more games than reported. I had a lot of fun watching them play. They a lot of 'B' youth players that would never get a shot to play at North or South, including 2 on the first line. In my five years of coaching youth hockey in Fargo, South has 2 kids I coached, North has 1 and Shanley has 8, needless to say I was pulling for Shanley also. Kyle Graalum may be the best player in the state, he is one of 2 or 3 high school seniors in ND that will be playing in the USHL next year. He would have led all scorers in the tourny if not for the Central players beating Whap/Breck 16-0. South has a ton of talent, not sure how much credit I'd give to Wilson. They did not appear to get better as the season went on, they beat Shanley 12-1 the first time they played, 6-5 in ot the second, 7-1 over North the first game, 4-4 tie the second. On the other hand South has 2 more titles under Wilson than any other coach they've had. He does seem to get the job done when he has the talent (more than I can say for Donny Smith ) Laduceur and the guy with the wicked mustache are the two worst referees I've ever seen at any level. In the North - Grafton game Laduceur gave a Grafton kid a 2-10 for checking from behind, problem was the kid completely missed the North player. In the 3 or 4 games I saw Laduceur gave out 6 or 7 unsportsmanlike misconduct penalties. People in GF why is this idiot allowed to ref so many high school games???

Two first round games with same conferance match-ups? It will never fly... check it SHOULD never fly. MI ST should not be in the tourny - they are a terrible team this year. From what I've seen the CCHA is no better than the ECAC this year and should only have two teams. IF CC has a strong showing the next couple of weeks they should be in the top 14 in PWR and make the tourny. In that case I could see CC and Denver in Denver and the Sioux moving to MI.

University officials area evil dictators that are trying to destroy any fun the students may have. Everybody knows this PCM, have you not seen animal house? From the Homer goes to college Simpsons episode, parodying Animal House. Dean: Hello.. Homer: Hello, Dean! You're a stupid head! Dean: Homer is that you?

I nominate the Sicatoka to take over scoreboard duties.

To clarify - I'm not in favor of bad sportsmanship (swearing, gesturing etc...) - I did not mean to imply all season ticket holders use their tickets strictly for business, I think the vast majority of them are die hard Sioux fans - There is still a good % (even though the minority) of season ticket holders that use the tickets for business. The majority of these are suite holders, but remember the suite holders have the option of buying tickets below their suite (I'm not sure how many) - From what I've seen a good number of suite owners and season ticket holders are from Fargo where there are more 'corporate types' - banks, law firms, accounting firms, investment firms from Fargo all have season tickets. - My experience with law firms is, the firm has x number of tickets and gives x number to clients to attract their business. I did not mean to imply 'conducting business' was actually negotiating deals during the game. - Like I said before the last time I saw the Sioux lose at the REA was last Nov. I think they are playing great and don't understand why people are freaking out - you can't win them all. - Every one seems to agree the atmosphere at the REA needs some work. I think everything discussed on this thread contributes in some way to this problem. I don't think anyone is 'right' or 'wrong'. - The atmosphere is at the REA is still better than Mariucci. The M-I-N... chear is close to the lamest thing I've heard.

I don't remember saying swearing and standing are needed for a good atmosphere. I agree 100% that some of the games have had great atmosphere - BC, Minny, St.Cloud. I also agree students are not 'better' fans. Many of the students are at the games to be seen - I've sat in other sections and the student section is by far the worse for people talking on cell phones, trying to hook up, bragging about how drunk they are etc... Where we disagree is how the corporate nature of sports has taken away from the atmosphere. Ruined the atmosphere? No, taken away from? Maybe. Having large numbers of corporate season ticket holders makes the croud different every night. I have no statistics, nor would I be interested in researching the situation, but it is my opinion that every game has a % of people that are entertaining clients that could care less about the game. This % changes every game. Am I right? I don't know, it just my 2 cents, which is worth... about 2 cents

I missed last Sat's game so the last time I saw the Sioux lose at home was November 14 (yes I had to look that up). I enjoy the games regardless of score, I love college hockey. My point was and still is that a large % of the fans at the REA could care less about the game. Like the NHL arenas the REA has become a place to conduct business. I think this kills the atmosphere more than the adverstising. The advertising has slowly gotten worse over the last 15 years, it is not something new, but in my opinion it is starting to get out of hand. I wonder if 10 years from now the players jersey's will look like NASCAR uniforms. I understand the REA is trying to make a profit, but the atmosphere they are creating is a turn off to many 'real' hockey fans. That said the REA is still the nicest rink in the world, and I am very thankful to Ralph. I think the REA admin needs to work on creating a better atmosphere.

His conversion from rabid conservative to rabid progressive began in 1998 when he met Wendy, now his wife. A nurse, she was director of a health clinic for homeless people, and she introduced Schultz to the clients of shelters and soup kitchens. I hated Ed when he was with SU. I hate Ed now that he's with the Sioux. I hated Ed when he was a right when diplomat. I hate Ed now that he's a limousine democrat. Any one want to finish my Dr. Suess like rant? Anybody that knows Ed's wife and reads this quote should be rolling on the ground. Personally I've never met a bigger social climbing, fake baking, plastic surgery obsessed yuppie.

The current state of the REA is due to a number of factors. Read my entire post and you may understand my point - sporting events are becoming more corporate, they are a place to conduct business rather than support the team. I agree that having Burger King sponser the starting lineup does not kill the atmosphere, but it among several other things seem to be wounding it.

I was watching a game from the early 80's on ESPN classic the other night and noticed how strange the boards looked without ads plastered all over them. Also the ice had nothing but lines and circles. The powerplay was not "brought to you by Acme Corp". The fans were very loud and on their feet during exciting parts of the game (it was on Long Island). Like the NHL and other pro sports college sports follow suit. Now there is not an inch of the boards that do not have advertising. The ice also has ads painted in it. The powerplay is "brought to you buy the GF Herald", what if there was no powerplay, would the Herald get a refund? Could the players sue the Herald saying they deserved a powerplay? Today sports are increasingly a place to be seen, to bring clients, not to chear for your team. In my section there are several people that spend more time on their cells than watching the game - and this is the student section. A good % of season ticket holders care more about impressing their clients, friends, and everyone in their vicinity. On that ESPN classic game their were no bar flies claiming to be Bryan Trottier's girlfriend. Unfortunately I have to listen to the girl next me bragging to anyone that will hear that she is ZP's girlfriend and also has have the teams' numbers in her cell phone. It's a sad sign of the times.

I see the Redwing logo and keep scrolling.

http://theralph.com/new2/Watch_The_Sioux_S...h_The_Sioux.htm]Sioux TV Looks like the rumors are true, Fri nights game will not be on Sioux Sports Network. Anyone know if Duluth televises games, if so do they put it on satellite?

Starz Fan, what kind of offensive numbers did Bina put up when he was down there? I remember watching him in high school, he was a very offensive D-man, I always wondered why he didn't move up to forward with his size and skill. That is until this year, he is probably the strongest player on the team (taking size into account). He is the only D-man that rarely gets a shot blocked, he sees the ice really well. If he continues to develop he may be the "offensive D-man" the Sioux have been lacking. I'd still put my money on Radke filling that role next year, but I can see Bina having a good offensive year also.

Every team has a few games where a weaker team comes out and beats them with good goaltending. The Fri. night game in WI was the only 'bad' loss. They outplayed CC on Sat. night, guess what ____ happens. Every person on this board that played hockey knows this happens more in hockey than any sport. A hot goalie can be the difference between winning and losing. This weekend should help the Sioux get some confidence back, I don't think Kato has had good goaltending or defense this year. It seems like they consistently lose 9-6. What sucks is having to fight out Duluth for 1st this year. Duluth has always had the funnest fans, and a former Sioux coach. It makes them tough to hate... wait forgot about Junior "retard" Lessard and Peluso. I hope your not a NWA pilot Carl, anybody that into Bill Murray's Caddyshack character should not be behind the controls of a passenger jet, flying makes me nervous enough without having Carl Spackler as my pilot.

I can agree with on that. Hopefully the NDSU fans can stick out the next few years. I never thought NDSU football would take away from UND hockey. Hopefully NDSU can match the success Montana has - they have some big crouds for a small town.

After getting swept Blais likes to change up the lineup, who are going to be scratches for this weekend. I'm expecting JB and JP to play this weekend, but NZ as the backup for both games (assuming his hand is healed). This should be a good series to have TP play, CC is supposed to be very physical, should be more finesse games. Also I'm sure Blais will try and get him in the lineup more being he's a senior. I still think Massen could contribute if he is on the PP. He is good in front of the net, quick hands and big frame. It seems JM hasn't gotten much of a chance this season, it's hard to contribute playing off and on with the fourth line. I think Bina and Porter are tied as the surprise players of the year. Porter was expected to play a regular shift, but in a checking role, its nice to see him as a consistant scorer. Bina is probably the smartest D-man, very good passer. Wish I could see the hit people were talking about from last Sat.

That's it, I formally denounce my undergrad degree from NDSU. The last few time I was in Fargo I was wearing my Sioux hockey hat at Playmakers. Some drunken NDSU students started giving me crap, I calmly said, I graduated from NDSU and remain a Bison football fan, but I've been a Sioux hockey fan all my life. The response: hockey's for faggots. NDSU has been taken over by hicks that think cow tipping should be an olympic sport. NDSU's next great rivalry NDSU is starting a new rivalry in football with the nationally recognized Northwestern Louisiana State in Natchitoches, La. When our hockey team is in Denver and Boston this spring playing 'little' schools like Minnesota, Michigan, Michigan State, Boston College and Ohio State I'll find an atlas and try and find where in the hell Natchitoches LA. is and think of how jealous I am of the great D-1AA NDSU.

The first mention of Inside Edition makes this article lose any credibility. This is comparable to citing the National Enquiror. Next week Ms. Yellowbird will probably have an article about how Elvis is the true father of Michael Jackson's children making Lisa Marie their half sister/ex-stepmother. From the Simpsons Episode mocking shows like Inside Edition Homer: You mean...I'm on my own? I've never been on my own! Oh no...on own...on own! I need help...oh, God, help me. Help me, God! [phone rings, Homer answers it very slowly] Homer: [very slowly] Y'ello? Man: Hello, Homer. This is God...frey Jones from the TV magazine show "Rock Bottom". Jones: We're aware of your problems, and, Mr. Simpson...we want to help. Homer: Mmm. I saw that report you did on Sasquatch. It was fair and even-handed. I'll do it!

From my observations sitting in the student section, several of the students that sit by me know nothing about hockey, and are just there to socialize. The idiots that sit behind me have come very close to the point of getting strangled several times this season. The seats next to me on either side are empty about 1/2 the time, and I've never seen the same person sit in front of me from week to week. From my observations the lower down in the student section, the better the fans. The two things that really get to me 1. The idiots behind me never shut up (they are never talking hockey), during the who's he he sucks chant they both go who is he - the extra syllable throughs off the chant and makes them sound like the idiots they are 2. The idiot that sits in front and off to the side of me that wears a wife-beater every game and yells "foul" "foul" "kick his __" "hockey sucks, where's the basketball game". Before getting season tickets every student should be asked: 1. How many times have you seen Slapshot? 2. What is the greatest movie made that has Patrick Swayze in it? If the responses are 1. anything less than 5 and 2. anything other than Youngblood sorry no tickets On a different note, I agree about visiting Madison, it is a fun city. I'm already looking forward to the Frozen 4 in Milwaukee. The entire state of WI is fun, cheap beer, good food, good people (for the most part). On your way you have to stop at the Leine's brewery in Chipawaa Falls (10 miles N of Eau Claire). Nothing like getting half drunk before the rest of the drive to Madison.