GDPritch

Hey, I've heard about this place before. WTH is "Hoggsbreath" (sounds like something out of Harry Potter)?

Hey, I'm an old timer who's been hitting Sioux hockey games since the late 70s and I'll be the first to bemoan the atmosphere at times in the Ralph. Taking into consideration though we were playing a last place team, it's spring break, less than a full-house crowd (we're spoiled though, I bet there were still 10K in attendance) and our NCAA tourney hopes weren't on the line (lose qtr-final to CC and we still make the big dance), it really wasn't half bad this weekend. Do I wish the Ralph was louder/more fan cheers & enthusiasm going on during the games to have a bigger home-ice advantage? You bet I do.

Unlike NDSU up until early 2000s, UND was already used to being a div 1 sports school due to its hockey program. 800 miles, used to traveling such distances--Anchorage 3,000 miles (?), Den 900 miles, CC 950 miles, Madison 575 miles, Omaha 500 miles, Mpls 300 miles,... Unlike NDSU for UND even pre-2000s it wasn't just 2 to 5 hours bus rides to St Cloud, Brookings, Vermillion, Duluth, Mankato,...so prob a non-issue.

Hah, I well remember that game! Crushed Mia 9-2 despite being jobbed 2 or 3 goals by the refs! Didn't realize MacM had 2 of those disallowed goals. Review them NCAA/NCHC now and give him that 1 extra point!

To be honest, other than the last several minutes of the 2nd period and first half of the 3rd period Fri nite when the Sioux racked up 4 goals, CC played tuff (as I suspected) for a last place team. Hats off to an improved team from early in the season. Are the Sioux a better, more skilled team--you betcha, no doubt--but put CC in the Lil6 (Big10) this season and they're sitting middle of the pack conf-wise.

No offense to Mr. Gaarder but other than a Gofer everybody mocks Edina hockey/youth as privileged/spoiled but he's way outside the stereotypical mold (probably fabricated/exaggerated I have a hunch but maybe a bit of truth) of the image of such. A great college hockey player certainly not, future NHL player no, but he's a solid blue-collar, valuable college hockey player who stays 4 years and gets who improves each season and is more valued each year/ He's the type of players you need (along with a few blue chippers) to be a top ranked college team. So glad he's a Sioux!

I'm prob way late on the response but believe it was for the Sioux defensemen laying on the puck just outside/in the crease in def end.

Well said by the writer. I'm a patient guy and I realize we lost a ton of starting seniors from last year's good (not great) team but so did that team to the south and they seemed to find their stride as this season went along. As someone else said earlier, I think next season (if not during the off-season now) is Jones' make or break.

Welcome ted2you. Sounds like we started watching Sioux hockey near the same time, late 70s (and still continuing) for me and at UND 81-85. Some great teams/good times at the old Ralph & some real good teams/still good times n the new Ralph. Random thought; I believe (?) won it's only national title in it's first year at Alerus Ctr but since hockey moved into the Palace on the Prairie no national title (although consistently a national powerhouse). Hopefully that will change soon but even if not, still love the ride (imagine being a Wisco fan)!

The only time Payton was smarter than the game was the time he paid his players bounty fees for excessive/dirty hits (hey, it got him a Super Bowl that season). Ask the Vikes.

Ain't heard back so I'll take that as a no and pull back my offer.

I might be wrong but didn't EGF wr receiver Lueck (?) bust it open for a 80 td catch on what might have been the first Sioux play of the game in 2003 against the bison? That got loud, like nearly the whole Cal-Davis play-off game in 2001. Not talking a home game but I also made the road trip down to play Winona St early Sep (prob 2005ish?) and it was hotter than hell that day. Small outdoor stadium but it was overflowing (4,500 fans?) as they came out thinking they might win as they had us on home turf. I think they had played us fairly close/at least semi-competitive when we hosted them at the Al for two play-off games so they had confidence being at home. Anyhow, I believe they scored first off a turn-over but then we went on to methodically crush them something like 52-13 or something like that.

Agree 100%, UCLA Princeton and Yale currently not power houses. Gotta think though Oregon is a powerhouse though, seems like they've been in the hunt/top 10 (I could be wrong?) the past several years/decade, have they not?

Maybe not upset, more so mystified or puzzled to be honest. Not sure what folks are drinking.

..."don't" dominate/make it easy for ourselves.

Section 121 row c seats 6 and 7 for 2 tickets to EACH of the 4 games on Fri and Sat I'm offering total of $160. You might be snickering but I'm going out on a limb as there's no guarantee my team will make it (likely, yes), plus I ain't really too thrilled about the other 2 games not involving the Sioux. Yes, #1 vs #8 seeds in 1st round but CC played us tuff last time at the Ralph and although we're #1 nationally, we normally dominate/make it easy for ourselves.

I agree with you on that point. I noticed that the last 2 - 3 weeks. Cashman was the better player although a small sample size.

Yah, a number of the Twin Cities suburbs of similar size to GF or even bigger only have one public HS, which makes (or should) for bigger student size to choose from for sports teams. Also, on the flip-side, EGF enrollment 490 so makes it even more impressive how EGF has competed in hockey the last 2 - 3 years against the bigger GF high schools. Heck, EGF even beat class 2A state tourney qualifiers Blaine and Bemidji (they split) this season.

I'm as optimistic as any Sioux fan but gotta agree with you. Yes, we should be better but we should be happy if we get near the middle of the BSC standings. A lot of the BSC teams that beat us this year have a lot of under classmen and I don't think any of them will be leaving early for the NBA.

Didn't get to view/listen to the game but I noticed in the GF Herald today in the box score DeRouen was like 2 or 3 of 10 on fg attempts & 1 for 3 on ft attempts. And Sioux lose by 1 pt.

Yah, I was being nice. The turn-overs are killers. The rebounding margin has dropped dramatically. It all adds up to a bad 2nd half. To be honest though, I'd rather win more games and lose by a lot compared to a team that wins MUCh fewer games (style points at best) but loses many close ones. Point margin gets you no where, W-L do.

Wow, you were half-right.

Spot on/ditto.

Not that I necessarily disagree with you but don't hold your breath. I've seen a few times this year folks by themselves at Ralph for Sioux hockey wearing for Lord knows what reason their ndsu livestock jersey. Not kidding.

On any given day, .....