Smoggy

As big of a series as Minny is, it shouldn't affect us. Why? Because we weren't emotionally drained after those games. The games never even felt close when the score was 2-0 minny. By close I mean us losing. As in we weren't even close to losing.

While I can't imagine Eddie coaching, don't forget that his ex-wife is from EGF (pretty sure her parents still live here). So maybe a no to coaching here. His boys used to always go to Sioux camp as well (I believe). So maybe a yes. Personally, you hear things about Eddie being a man's johnson, but I don't know. When he came back and played in that alumni game he pulled my little brother (who was crying. the wimp) out of the crush of autograph seekers. That shows you he cares.

One more thing. Yes certain sections and people of the band suck at playing. Everyone knows that. When I hear the trumpets on the radio it's like nails on a chalkboard.

Figured I should chime in since I was in the band. To begin with, the band practices a lot. Not as much as big time schools, but they do practice. We are there a week before school starts and during that week we work all day. During FB season we pratice three times a week for at least an hour and a half. Saturdays really blow. We are at the Al to practice at 9 and then have to march around outside and then the game starts. After the game we play some more. Don't even get me started on parades. The shows stay the same when games are back to back at home. It isn't easy learning where to stand plus music in one week. Many of us aren't music majors. Hockey is different and isn't nearly the same as it was. Not sure how many seats we get, but less than 60. Keep in mind that drums take two to three seats each. The band normally has around 100 ( i heard less this year), so not everyone gets to go to hockey. Having the band miked is the gayest thing of all time, but a necessary evil. The new Ralph never gave the band a chance to play. Not even sure why we are there, because playing the same commercials for two straight years seemed way more important to them. If you've ever been to the Frozen Four/Final Five, you realize how nice it is to have a band. Especially if the other school comes. My first year at the Final Five at the Target Center our fans made us play and march all the way to the alumni party after the games. They really enjoyed it. I did too, and that was why I played.

Makes one wish he could've stayed for one more year. Since he left the PP hasn't been the same.

I thought I had read some other post either here or at POI saying he's going to be paid 100,000 for next year. This seems a bit ridiculous to me. Is there a limit to how much major juniors can pay?

Some people told me last year that when the Sioux moved from winter sports to the old REA, the fans thought it was dead in there as well. I hold out hope that the atmosphere can match the looks of the new arena.

The hobey is a political battle between minny and whatever the east puts up. When I was in Albany watching the announcements, the BC (Gionta) and UND (Panzer) fans just turned to each other with a dumbfounded look. Ryan Miller!? Did he have a great GAA. Sure, but teams averaged less than 20 shots against him. The excuse we heard was that they didn't think another goalie would ever be up for the award. WHAT?! The point is that many "western" voters don't vote Sioux. We all know that the east won't.

We've been spending so much time lately talking about the goofs and how the rest of their season will go, that I thought I might chime in on us. We're beginning this season much like last. Fact is that we have the the same crappy all home beginning and all road ending. I think some people are getting nervous that the same fallout might happen to us this year. I personally don't see it happening. Watching last year I felt the beginning was a fluke. I was converted as they kept rolling, but then like every Minnesota pro franchise they decided to bow out early. I think we are forgetting that even when we were losing, WE WEREN'T BAD. I have never seen a team have so many unlucky breaks as we did last year. Were our goalies great? No. Did we struggle at times? Yes. Were we failing to put the puck in the net? YES. When we were losing we hit more pipes than the other team had goals. This seems so impossible, but even when I was at the first round of the NCAAs, I think we hit three pipes against Ferris State. Imagine if one went in and the change of momentum that would've happened. You could see the guys sink lower every time you heard the clang. Plus the other goalies always seemed to play out of their minds against us. While breaks like these can't necessarily be controlled, I just don't see it happening this year. This year we are deeper with better goaltending. Our guys are hitting the net and right now we aren't relying on Parise. This team has so much potential it's scary. No matter what, it'll be fun to watch. That Murray kid is going to be great. Bo to score, Parise to pass, and I think Murray could do it all.

Are we talking about just as a Sioux or their overall career?

Will the Al ever put up banners for being NCC champions?

Love the stand up sit down idea forecheck. It would be like the old slow/fast wave. At first I was bitter over the whole situation and thought the students should boycott a weekend so that the atmoshpere really sucked. Eventually I realized we'd just lose our seats. I just graduated last year and spent all my time in the band (which is often forgotten about). I went to a few games where we didn't play. I love that the students stand. Problem is that my feet and legs can't handle it. So I sat in the arena where it was sitting. I still had a great time watching the game. If something exciting happened, I'd stand. Our school song is STAND UP AND CHEER! On a side note: REA is making a fistful of cash. Now they are charging more for tixs. What happens when we hit a three year lull? They are going to need the students then just as was the case in the mid 90s.

EZ schedules don't matter. Remember, Minnychoka thought we had played an easy schedule and look at what we did to them. It's too early to say someone has an easy schedule. There are always surprise teams out there. SC could be one of them.

In the original seating plans for the arena, the students had four lower bowl sections. Basically the same set up as the old rink. I'm not saying they should get four lower bowl sections, but if there were the standing wouldn't have been as big of a deal. I thought they tried mvoing the students over the summer? Personally I like having the students behind the penalty box so they can screw with the players.

Good thing I taped the game. I had to keep the jitters down.

If someone wants to start a poll, do it. But it looks like money line is the winner. P.S. I can hardly type I'm so drunk. BIG WIN SIOUX.

Where's the Dogz fan? They didn't do a good job of softening SCSU for us.

Who would have thought that the D would account for 3 goals? This is the key to the power play.

Homecoming or Potato Bowl should be at memorial. The bad news is that they have sold off some of the wooden bleacher seats. Personally, it makes the place look even better.

Replay of Sioux's third goal shows Boch in the crease. Does college have the same rule as the pros where you can be in the crease as long as you're not interferring?

That's why parise is a better player. Maybe I should say more complete player. How about the backcheck in game 2? The kid is an all around player, where Vanek is one dimensional.

Good point on the transition game. I don't know that much on Harrington. I was just listening to the wooger and his buddy talk about Harrington as an offensive d-man. BTW, wooger didn't sound too bad for first two periods last night. Only after the gophs started scoring did he revert to lucky bounces and reffing.

internet radio for me is about a minute behind the game on TV.

Ballard and Harrington could not have helped the Gophers last night. Offensive defenseman were not what they needed. The gophers played really well for about 5 minutes (when they were scoring). Yes we got some bounces, but we should've had some other goals, but Briggs stepped up.

Who starts for minny? Not that it matters, we'll score anyways. Brandt made some excellent saves. We also had the bounces last night. Where last year pucks around the net found the net, last night they'd roll around for a while and finally be cleared.