TNF

Is it time to copyright #StechWagon? Glad he is generating buzz in Vancouver and even more glad that the UND fan base can act like we've been there before.

2015-2016: Believe It, Earn It, Raise It 2016-2017: Defend It

As much as I loved to hate the "great and powerful Gwoz" I have a lot for respect for Monty at this point. His teams have gotten better each year, he largely looked the other way during the moment of silence snafu at The Ralph instead of using it to fan the rivalry flames, and he did the right things post game at the FF and at least publically cheered for the NCHC team to win it all. Conversely Q's coach proved why no one likes them with his post game comments. I think DU is going to be the team to beat next year along with BU but I'm not counting us out just yet.

I think we learned this year that a coin flip IS the most reliable source (at least when compared to a certain UND beat writer).

Two lower bowl tickets to the Frozen Four to all three games. Section 129 Row M seats 7&8.... face value $520 or best offer. Tickets will be available for pickup in Tampa prior to the first semi-final.

The best news is that E:60 is scheduled on ESPNU before our game and not regular season lacrosse. Here's to seeing the opening puck drop this year and not John Hopkins getting ready for a second overtime.

"We" don't have to question the motivation of the players but some feel the need to do it anyway. The top tier guys do not select to buy-in to the team first mentality without the goal of raising a green banner. They also do not turn down pro contracts to return to lose in the first round. Likewise third and forth line players do not fight to be in the lineup every night at UND simply to make it to the NCAA tourney when they could be on the top two lines in countless other programs across the country. If anyone needs a reminder of what this program means to these players go back and watch the "senior" Through These Doors episode. Does that mean they will win every regular season game or breeze through the playoffs? Absolutely not. But to question their motivation is laughable.

Here is my glass half full answer; I would take a loss and a tie and go into the NCAA tourney with a full compliment of "healthy" players versus running away with the tourney and feeling comfortable with how the team is playing but lose a key piece to the puzzle. Or it could be like last year where we were not good in the NCHC tourney and dealing with the lose of Mark Mac.

This is what I came up with as well. So the big questions is if they flip Michigan and Denver for attendance.

If I look at this weekend only I hate the fact that we play the afternoon game. But if I look beyond this weekend I like the fact that we get a chance to play an afternoon game in preparation for the national tournament. It is rare you get to play all night games throughout the NCAAs. Since the NCHC thankfully avoids Sunday afternoon games during the regular season this shift in routine may be a good chance for the players to get an advanced feel for the next round.

I do like this but with the adoption of a less than unique nickname It becomes even more critical to have a truly unique logo. With that in mind we need to make sure we are unique in our respective conferences. This logo reminds me a lot of the EWU logo.

Tomek saw the future since this helmet design was posted on Marcus Power's website back in June.

The administration better be praying Nodaks doesn't win. Can you imagine the outcry from the non-nodak crowd since it should have been eliminated according to the original rules? While the sensible crowd might be okay with it knowing it most likely had to survive two run-off rounds, the non-sensible crowd will blow a gasket. These final rounds of voting need to finally bring closure to this whole thing (after a brief morning period for the fallen names).

It is the World Junior syndrome all over again. The Ralph hosted the WJC and it was so popular that it attracted bigger fish to compete with it and now the tourney is simply too big for Grand Forks. Fargo hosted the regional and proved that it easily could have doubled ticket sales and it attracted bigger fish to the marketplace. The difference is that Fargo is lucky enough to host it twice.

My guess is capacity. Sanford Center in Sioux Falls has a capacity of 10,678 for hockey. This change would allow in the neighborhood of 40% more Sioux fans to attend. Of course the town will have to be renamed SoDak Falls for the weekend in order for the NC$$ not to deem it hostile and abusive.

Here is a pic of the Pepsi Center setup. I know the Tampa Bay Lightening have a similar setup as do several other NHL clubs.

What if they updated the Ralph with the new Pepsi Center style scoreboard and moved part or all of the "old" scoreboard over to the Betty? I have only been in the Betty once or twice so I'm not sure what kind of space constraints would have to be taken into account. This would allow the Ralph to keep up with the current arena trends while providing some much needed technology to the Betty.

12 of us coming from 3 states staying in the suburbs.

I thought NS upped his play in the defensive end during the critical stretches of the third period. He won a few puck battles right in front of us and seemed to be making a conscious effort to work harder in that end of the ice. He will continue to grow defensively next year but I thought it was great to see him take a step in that area heading into the FF.

I could easily see this happening but to play devils advocate by placing both in the same region it is highly likely that one of the Boston schools makes it out of that region. If you split them up you could get both there but you also increase the risk that both miss out.

Ticket has been sold!

I have access to a single All-Session ticket to the 2015 Frozen Four in Boston. The seat is located in section Loge18 Row 8 Seat 7 (only 8 rows from the glass). The ticket will be sold for face value and will be adjacent to two other Sioux fans. Let me know if you are interested.

Dean likes to prevent entry into the offensive zone and gives his D full permission to hit anyone as they come across the blue line as long as numbers are even. I'm afraid this is the series we learn the hard way how beneficial Stetcher's ability to gain the zone is to this team (assuming he is officially out). With that said, it is a great opportunity for Poolman, Ausmus, and even Mattson to take a step forward in this area.

I miss when college athletics were more about the competition than money/politics. Back when rivalries meant something. When you anticipated the year you crushed your closest rival and sent them home with their tails between their legs. Back when fanbases' petty arguments were settled on the field when the teams faced off head to head. Sadly we are to a point where money, power, and satisfying your own agenda are the most important things to most programs including our own. This isn't just an UND/NDSU thing either but just the latest example. We might as well start paying the athletes because money is already the main driving force behind most decisions in collegiate athletics.

I'm getting the same on both CHN and USCHO. Wisconsin has to win or we are the last one out.