Old Barn Guy

I had the pleasure of working with Matt Greene this summer at the hockey camp, and I can tell you this: Matt Greene is an excellent choice to be captain. He's the kind of player who will look his teammates in the eye and challenge them to meet his commitment and effort for the team's success. There won't be any "dead weight" around with Matt as captain. Good luck Matt, and congratulations!

If you like steak, the Bronze Boot is great. It's on North Washington (I believe it's old hwy #81) just about a 1/4 mile north of the intersection of Gateway (hyw #2) and North Washington (the El Roco Lounge is on the southwest corner of this intersection). Enjoy your visit to GF, but I hope you are very dissapointed at the outcomes of the games!

I have to agree that college hockey is much more exciting to watch than the average NHL game. Now that the Stanley Cup playoffs have begun, the games are much more exciting and the players' have raised their levels of performance. That just makes me feel even more strongly that the regular season is too long, and that there are probably about 4 or 5 too many teams operating under the guise of "NHL" titles given to their teams. I would like to make two comments on improving the college game: #1- Change the "in the crease" rule regarding disallowing goals. What happened to Maine against Denver in the Championship game was a shame. The rule was enforced correctly, it's just a very lame rule. They should only disallow the goal if the player's presence in the crease hampered the goaltender from making the save. I'm glad Denver won the game, but have to feel that Maine should have at least played into OT for the championship. #2- This suggestion does not relate to the way the game is played, it relates to WHEN it is played. To have a National Championship semi-final game on mid-day in the middle of the week is ridiculous. The fact that I could just about turn on a college basketball tournament game any time of the evening for about two consecutive weeks makes me wonder if the NCAA should be administering the hockey playoffs. The only good thing about the Sioux not making the semifinals is that then I didn't have to miss them playing on the tube because I had to work. Another point in regard to when to play, get a tv package in place so that those who would like to watch the game can do so (and without having to go to a smoke-filled bar to do it). We're willing to pay an extra charge to get the game. Just see that we are given the opportunity to do so. Thanks to the Sioux hockey team (players and coaches) for an outstanding season, and good luck in the pursuit of the National Championship next season.

Who is Josh Olson, and where did he play hockey (in Grand Forks?)? I have never heard of him before.

Isn't it disgusting that you can see about a hundred basketball games on all different types of media (cable, satellite, and regular tv) but the NCAA hockey tournament games are part of a scavenger hunt for hockey fans. It's a disgrace. I bought the Direct TV dish a few years ago so I would have more options. Now the local cable company has tied up the Sioux games and I can't see them unless they are on the Fox Sports net or ESPN. I'd be glad to pay for the Sioux games on my dish, but that's not even an option. I tried watching one game on the computer feed from Wisconsin, but that was not very good reception and it was about 2 to 3 minutes behind the actual play. Looks like I'll be going to a local bar, if they will be carrying the game.

As a player, you should always prepare for the NEXT opponent, no matter whom it is. Once you are in the position of having a 4 or 5 goal lead, then you might start to think about who's next. The coaching staff has the difficult task of planning beyond the next game, but must do so conservatively. Coaches must always have contingency plans ready, but players need to focus on the game they are getting ready to play, and they need to do that long before they arrive at the rink for that game. A twisted ankle or charley horse in the thigh can handicap a key player from performing up to par, or from performing at all. This can change a coach's strategy/game plan immensely. I hope Dean and his staff don't have to contend with this, but it is always "lurking in the shadows." I just hope we end up getting another chance to play the Gophers, before this is all over. I know the team can play better than they did last Saturday, and I'm pretty sure the players know this also. I'm hoping that this is a case of "He who wins last, wins best!" Go Sioux!

McSorely was on the Edmonton team with Gretzky, but it was Semenko who was really Wayne's guardian, playing wing on his line most of the time. They didn't nickname him "Cement Head" for nothing, you know.

I think you're right on, Arizona! Let the coaches do their jobs and they will be held accountable for the results. The public usually doesn't know what goes on behind closed doors between a coach and his players. Sometimes teammates don't know what really goes on between the coach and a player when they meet in private. Dealing with so many different personalities and trying to know how to motivate them, all the while having team rules to enforce and deal with problems that arise away from the hockey rink.........and the list goes on. That's what the general public doesn't often grasp. I would say that coach Blais's record should speak for itself. Sometimes a player needs a pat on the back, sometimes a kick in the rear. I remember what one of my high school coaches once said to us: "Don't worry about what we say to you, or about you. You need to worry when we stop talking to you or about you." Best of luck to the Sioux, I hope to see them carry the Cup around the rink this weekend.

Montecello used the "trap" against Rodgers and it completly threw them off their game, slowed the pace up. Morinville was in a no win situation (as far as pleasing the general crowd), sounds like he did the best he and his players could do under the lopsided circumstances.

How about yelling "Monty Pylon" when the opposition's defensemen are introduced?

I feel a lot better reading most of the posts on this thread today, than I did on the posts during the Saturday game. I criticized some of the posters for being "quitters" after the second period, and got some flak for that. I guess if the shoe fits.........well? If you are not a quitter, don't take any offense by my comments. I took exception to the way some posters sniped at some of the players, especially the goaltenders and even the coaching staff. Geez, this team is still a pretty fair collection of talent. They just didn't perform up to the level that we have become used to seeing. Let Coach Blais have this week with them and I'd be willing to bet that they'll redeem themselves this coming weekend. I really liked reading the supporting posts above, and know that for the most part, Sioux hockey fans are the best in the world. I also know the players appreciate the support they get from the fans. We as fans need to remember that, and how fortunate we are to have a team like the Sioux as "our" team!

I have satellite Direct TV and often get the Wisconsin Fox TV coverage of the Badgers (I'm in western ND). According to what I have read, the Friday game between the Sioux and Badgers will be carried on the Wisconsin Fox Network (it's right next to the station that carries the Gophers hockey games, which is channel 641). The Saturday game is listed as being carried on "UPN WPT," whatever that means. I think it means that I won't see the Saturday game from Madison.

Here's what I heard, first hand, from one of his former Sioux teammates: " He told me that he led the USHL in scoring and was National Junior Player of the Year and he didn't work out in the off-season before that. He said he didn't see why he should do anything any differently here in Grand Forks." In other words, while his teammates were sweating and working out to get stronger, he was goofing off, apparently not even joining in the summer skate scrimmages during the summer camp. I was not surprised that this guy didn't last very long in GF. It should be an interesting reunion when the boys in green and white meet him on the ice!