yzerman19

We are nostalgic about the old Ralph because of all the memories there. The building itself is just materials. When we hang another NCAA banner up in the new Ralph it will start to feel like home. I grew up going to the old Ralph. I remember my Dad used to park by University Park and we would run against the bitter cold up to our seats, and I can remember leaving and pretending to be Troy Murray in my basement the whole next day. I will always love the old Ralph for those memories with my dad, of my childhood, and of the times I was fortunate enough to play there in the state tournament. I'm sure it means just as much to students who had great times supporting their team. Once the new Ralph has been around long enough to have created memories like that for kids and for students it will take on that same level of nostalgia. I agree that the new Ralph doesn't have the same home ice advantage and ferocity as the old one, but it is definitely a nicer facility. It's like moving from your childhood home. It takes a while for any new place to feel that comfortable. Let's break it in with the first of 2 consecutive NCAA titles this year.

Sorry, Mr. Troy Riddle lover, I didn't mean to insult your boyfriend. I guess Riddle isn't a prima donna, It's not like he went to Blake or Breck. He was forced out to BSM in St Louis Park. As far as mediocre/prima donna gophers go...Whatever happened to Woog's kid? Also, I saw in the Star TRib last weekend that Mike Crowley is now working for his uncle in the bond business in CHicago. For all the Hobey winners MN has had, only Neal Broten became anything in the NHL. At least UND's one Hobey winner has had a long career. Oh, How many members of the gold medal winning WJC team USA play for the Gophers? Also, aside from the Shattuck players (who really don't count as being from MN any more than Marian Gaborik does) were from MN?

I'd avoid throwing down with Potulny, but none of the other Gophers could fight their way out of a paper bag. I'm sure the cheap-ass Gophers will try and pick a fight with Murray or Parise at the end of the game when they look up at that Mariucci scoreboard and are embarrased. My prediction is that Troy Riddle cheap shots Brady Murray (because Riddle like all Gophers is a coward and will seek out the smallest player to fight). I hope Murray, who played Jr in Canada and probably has been in a brawl or two despite his frame will school Mr private school prima donna Riddle in the art of hockey fighting.

I think we could lessen the garbage play by lessening the penalty for fighting in college hockey. I hate fighting in hockey as it takes away from the game, but if a player new that if he mauled Parise he was going to have to drop the gloves with Matt Greene he might think twice. That's how Gretzky got a lot of open ice. Opposing players new if they rode him or cheap shot him they would have to fight McSorley or some other tough guy. The threat of fighting deters players from cheap play. Maybe that's what the WCHA needs. If I were Blais next time I saw Parise get mugged, I'd get the guys number and send one of our less skilled players out to beat him up. If the officials aren't going to do anything about it, then the team needs to.

Skill wise ZP is ready to turn pro, he demonstrated that clearly at the WJC where he stood out amongst players where most Russian, Finnish, Czech, Swedish, Canadian and US players will be or currently are pros. His supposed lack of point production this year will only be mentioned by stats dorks who don't watch the kid play. A great offensive player will get his points, but what's more important is how many opportunities he generates for himself and his teammates. Not only when he is on the ice, but also by what happens when he's on the bench. Zach digs pucks out of corners that touch three other players sticks before going in the net (no statistical assist), Zach exhausts opposing players so other teammates can score. The bottom line is ZP makes plays at the pro level. ZP also backchecks ferociously and is tough to knock off the puck in the corners. Playing at the highest level is when ZP shines. At his size and everything, he reminds me of my namesake here. I predict one more year at the NCAA level not because ZP isn't ready for the NHL, but because he isn't quite ready to be a first line center in the NHL. As skilled offensively as he is right now, I can't picture him going head to head with guys like Forsberg, Modano and Fedorov in the corners. Watching him at the WJC showed me that he is almost ready. We've got him one more year. Why don't we win two in a row and shut up those Gopher fans!!

The big number to use is pts per game, as Crosby is playing way more games in the Q than any NCAA team plays...bus life.

One thing to remember when comparing major junior to NCAA is that you can only play in the CHL (to anyone unfamiliar with major junior hockey the CHL is the collective of the three major junior canadian(mostly) leagues of the OHL, WHL and QMJHL) as a 16 to 20 year old, and teams are limited as to how many "veteran" 20 year olds they can carry. The overwhelming number of NCAA schools carry very few players under 20. There is a lot more finesse, but they also play NHL fighting rules.

As much as I love college hockey and the Sioux, The Q is in most ways superior to NCAA hockey in preparing a player for the NHL. Crosby will be the number one player taken in the 2005 draft. He will more than likely transition directly to the NHL as an 18 year old. Players of that level (usually Canadians) usually don't even think about a route other than major junior. Crosby made the decision as a 16 year old to not play college hockey, because for a player of his caliber the CHL is the shortest distance between two points..

The Hrkac circus was the greatest college hockey team of all time period. Anyone who wasn't around GF at the time really missed out. Other squads have put together more NHLers, but top to bottom the 86-87 Sioux were so unbelievable...just think if Hrkac, Joyce, Ian Kidd, and Ed Belfour had stuck around another year (they all had remaining eligibility)...If they had played together again, I have no doubt in my mind that UND would've repeated.

I'll always remember Andy as Toby's pudgy little brother trying to play with us "big kids" at the Kelly elementary outdoor rink.

Krafty was a buddy of mine in school, and yes, Redwing77, you are correct he was born in ND, but he learned hockey in Moorhead. Unfortunately, he hasn't gotten much of a shake in the NHL, despite being rookie of the year, all-star fastest skater, etc. in the AHL. Jason Blake actually spent his elementary school/early jr high years in GF-I played on his Pee Wee team. So he is more of a ND native than Krafty (in my opinion). I have never claimed that ND has the same quality of hockey/hockey player as MN at the prep level. Mike Peluso form UMD via Bismarck ND has played a couple games in the NHL, but anyway. Brett Hull does have a summer home on Island Lake in Duluth...I ran into him getting on a private jet at the St Paul airport two summers ago...very nice guy...he is definitely not a MN though. If having a summer place in MN counts, then I guess Paul Newman and Tom Cruise are MN too. The Shattuck factor is interesting, but I equate that program to the developmental team in Ann Arbor. Those kids are residents of a bus, not a state. I do like stealing players from under MN's nose. I remember talking to Nick Checho at a party in college (he hated Woog by the way) and he was telling me that Woog used to have players slated to wear the Maroon and Gold in Bantams. That is why the Gophs missed so many good college players, if you were a late bloomer or didn't get any exposure until you were an upperclassmen in prep, Woog wouldn't notice you. Good for us! Michigan and Mass continue to produce high level hockey players at the same rate as MN...regardless they can't compete with the canadian major jr ranks.

Calling MN the state of hockey is liking calling Manitoba the province of basketball. It is still their game up there. We just play it. Aside from Phil Housley and Neil Broten MN hasn't produced a top end NHLer for a while. Langenbrunner (who i happen to know) even left MN prep hockey to play in the O, because he knew that Canada was the best route to the show. As much as we all love college puck, for most of these guys it is the beginning of the end. A couple of years in the East Coast league or the AHL and then it's over. Top end American born players in the show right now...Modano, Roenick, LeClair, Tkachuk, Amonte...hmmm...none hail from MN. MN does produce the occassional grinder...but not as good as ND...ala the RP!

I vote for 7-11 line...it kind of reminds me of the old Red Army KLM line...time for tea with Ms. McGill.

I am UMN alum, but a GF native and die hard Sioux hockey fan. Having lived in the TC for 10 years, the biggest thing I can't stand about Gopher fans is their unwarranted arrogance. The whole state of hockey crap and all of that blah, blah, blah. The avg Gopher hockey fan honestly believes that it is everyone's dream to wear the maroon and gold, that MN is the homeland og hockey and that MN is the only place where junior level hockey exists. They have obviously never heard of the O the W or the Q. Anyway, it was great to watch the POI fall apart. They think that they are despised because they are the best, when actually it is because they have stupid fans. Instead of being happy to have an elite college hockey program they have to act like they are the only college hockey program. You just can't reason with them...7>5, or three years ago...7>3 and they respond with some stupidity about 25 year old candians or padded stat sheets. Anyone who makes that comment is obviously recycling garbage from an hockey ignoramous. Has UND ever had an NCAA rules violation? I certainly can't think of one. Anyone remember the CLem Haskins deal...you don't think any UMN hockey players got the same kind of help do you? No, never. Gopher fans don't listen to facts, they listen to Woog and Mozzaco (sp) and Sid. I just needed to sound off a little and remind any Gopher fans that their team is terrible. A little school with a much smaller enrollment and a much smaller balance sheet beats them repeatedly at the game which they pretend to own. Parise for President! He isn't on the scoring sheet as much so far this year only 9 points in 7 games (only) , but he is impressing the hell out of me in his play away from the puck. He isn't forcing things, he is just making it happen, and realizing that when he can't, he can still draw a crowd so that BM and BB can do the damage! His backcheck and take down of Vanek in the slot was one for the ages, especially from an offensive force like he is.

Jim Archibald-he could score and he could fight and he was funny...the ultimate fan favorite. Consideration also has to go to guys like Phil Sykes and Doug Smail and Craig Ludwig and Scott Sandelin.

Has there been an official disclosure of his injury? He must've had an MRI read by now. This weekend's series is going to probably end up being very important for NCAA seedings! If Blaiser does scratch him against BC, this just adds to my opinion that Blais is one heck of a hockey coach. He cares more about the health and future career of his player than he does about winning a very big series. I guarantee you that Zach is telling him he can go, but Blais won't let him. Gophers are overrated!!!