GDPritch

Hah, alright! 16 hours of work btwn me and heading to Tampa Wed! I was a bit nervous when I ordered tickets on line last week so went with the will call versus via mail (there was no print at home option, surprising).

You would think a major metropolitan area radio show (that's syndicated outside the state lines of Min thus there are listeners residing outside the TC)) and newspaper would dare venture maybe 3 miles west of the state line, my God. It's not about "praising" UND hockey (they talk about U Min hockey and there's nothing there to praise lately), it's about being the so called "state of hockey" and talking college hockey in general but I guess no plugs for the Sioux.

Exactly, hell that's why with the WCHA Final 5 Xcel was near full every year cus UND was in it (1/3 to 1/2 the crowd with a ton of them being resident's in TC).

Good point. Hell, on a serious note I believe Phil was picked to finish in the lower 4 maybe of the whole NHL so if they just make it to the final four Haks has gotta be coach of the year.

When was the last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup? Edmonton like nearly 30 years ago or did Montreal win one in the 90s/early 2000s or what?

I was thinking Sioux Falls too. And perhaps even the old Neb-Omaha arena prior to this season t moving into their new arena.

Wow, kind words indeed and well deserved based on his numbers (5'9" & a 4.54 40 yd dash & 36" vertical--nice!): Will Ratelle turns heads There was one small school player that really turned some heads at the University of Minnesota Pro Day. At 5’9” and 251 pounds, University of North Dakota linebacker Will Ratelle ran a 4.54 40-yard dash, added a 36-inch vertical, a 9-10 broad jump, and 36 bench reps. Ratelle has the athleticism to really contribute at the next level. His frame is full of muscle and he is getting looks at both linebacker and fullback. His hands were very good as he came out of his breaks and he added a superb one-handed catch in the linebacker positional drills. Ratelle was by far the stand-out among any of the small-school players who attended the pro day. His size will be the only obstacle, but his strength, speed, and instincts might be enough to land him a place in the NFL. Several scouts spoke with him after the workout and it appears he really did himself well at the pro day.

You make an excellent point.

Agree, I thought the very same thing. But the after the 911 call stuff is what leads me to believe she had an agenda in the first place.

Maybe she saw that email but just thought it was creative writing?

Better if it's Uranus and not mine!

Is "over"crowded more crowded than simply "crowded"? : -)

Yah, missing the Wild game. It seems like a lot of channels were out an hour or two ago and some have come back but FSN is just a dark screen.

Interesting, my brother in Rochester is thinking the same thing as you. Me, I'm flying out on Wed staying til Sun and hoping like hell the Sioux win.

Not to degrade NDSU football's 5 year title run (very effin' impressive!) but it shows you the difference between what admittedly are two niche sports in the U.S.--NCAA div 1-A ice hockey and NCAA div 1-AA football. - Hockey final is in Tampa, FL while football final is in Frisco (or Fisco?), TX - Very successful UND hockey coach leaves to coach the NHL's major market Phil Flyers while ultra-super successful NDSU ftbl coach leaves to coach at div 1-A football's Wyoming in Laramie (not so sure it's not a step down actually from NDSU/Fargo other than the big ass $$ to be made). - UND's top drafter hockey players are always in a dilemma whether to leave college early to turn pro while NDSU's top players always stay 4 years and hope to be drafted in the first 3-4 rounds (that's huge news to go that high). Both though are admittedly awesome programs, no debate.

Better be or the NHL is not taking player safety seriously at all. To swing your stick at the face of another player, real bush league and dangerous.

I like your noon time departing Orlando on Sun. We depart Sun morn at 7:00 a.m. from Orlando (but staying in Tampa), early wake up!

Yah, just crazy talk! And a major metro area of 4M folk just 4 -5 hrs away. Who woulda thunk?

I'm no great hockey mind but have to agree. Look at guys like Parks, the Genoways, Trupp, Duncan,... decent/real good college hockey players who stayed 4 years and were just not the NHL prototype. I never played hockey (did play soccer so I do know how to dive :-) so hard to explain but you know what you see. Who knows, maybe Stecher will one day be a good NHLer.

Me and 4 other Sioux fans will be in section 328, row G. GO SIOUX!

When you arriving in Orlando? Five of us also arrive in Orlando Wed afternoon and splitting rental on a Nissan Pathfinder to drive to Tampa, fly out of Orlando early Sun morning.

When you play one and done in sports that don't lend themselves to that (e.g. hockey and hoops in NCAA, the cream does not always rise to the top) and top teams don't get rewarded with home field/ice advantage (e.g. say as in football, such as NDSU in 1-AA playoffs up until the final) that's what happens and will continue to happen. It makes for great tv drama/excitement though.

I believe both Junk Yard Dog and Macho Man were both McDonald's All-American's. Fierce recruiting battles. One and done. : -)

How the hell did they not call that trip?!

Yah, I noticed the tv guy said something about that during the BC game and thought the very exact thing--uh, yeah, "home ice" each of those years...