This sounds familiar.

[siouxguyinstpaul]

These old arguments again?

I'm not sure if the Gophers are truly behind all of this but....

1. If the Gophers did have control over the media coverage, then why are they losing it? Star Tribune just cut the Gopher hockey beat writer because of "lack of interest." Despite the "fun" we could have over that, this simply wouldn't happen if the Gophers were true media darlings.

2. The XCel Energy Center is one of the finest arenas in the nation. PERIOD. The fact that it is in the Twin Cities is coincidental, really. They did not build the XCel to house regionals or the Final Five. They built it for an NHL team primarily and everything else, secondary to that. Yes, the Gophers do have a home advantage playing there. However, there is really only a very few places the WCHA could go otherwise. The United Center (Chicago) would fit a truly neutral site, but would basically destroy attendance. The Pepsi Center (Denver) would just cause us to cry willynilly over DU getting home advantage. Can't have it at the Kohl Center or at the Ralph because those aren't neutral sites. Perhaps they could hold it in Milwaukee...

3. Media coverage is just thanks to Fox Sports North's commitment to everything Minnesota. That's their charter. The Gopher hockey team benefits from that. Really, no other team benefits from that, even other Minnesota teams. The only way to turn the benefit is to beat the Gophers. I think UND has done a fairly good job with that over the past 3 years.

4. Regional hosting is on a bid basis under a criteria. Right now, the only places off the top of my head that are now capable of hosting regionals are Milwaukee, Chicago, Denver, and Minneapolis (among WCHA areas anyways). It cannot be held at a school's building regardless of how nice it is. So expect the XCel to host more regionals yet.

As far as #1 is concerned - the Strib has cut approx. 80 staff over the past several weeks as nobody reads that socialist fish wrap anylonger - even with the all out condemnation of everybody with an "R" behind their name - especially in metropolitan Minnesota

[siouxkid12]

Siouxkid,

Could you explain what are ALL these advantages the Gopher hockey program has over other schools?

Since I worked for a professional sports team in St. Paul this summer I know how the media works to teams advantages. With MPLS/STP being the 14th LARGEST media market in the country it helps every college/professional sports team in the area. If you get out of the North Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota area you will come to find that people know more about the Gophers than they do of the Sioux. It's plain and simple...having the media in your corner is a HUGE difference. Yes, the Sioux are fortunate enough to still be one of the top college hockey teams year after year but its not because we have media coverage or because of an arena and if anyone wants to say its because of our arena its bull$%!# because we have not won anything with this arena and the talent that comes with it, i am not saying our arena isnt a major recruiting tool but realistically an arena does not make the team (espically when the people who run the arena want to run it like a church). Also you don't think the Xcel is a major home ice advantage for the Gophers? you have to be out of your mind...yes it maybe considered a "neutral" site but we all know it's like a home game for them...even the broadcasters say its like a home game for them.

[AZSIOUX]

and if the final 5 was in sconie it would be home ice or colorado would be home ice for those teams and so on. its perfect where it is, tons of fun and the best hockey tourney there is including the frozen 4! sure its a advantage but big deal, the sioux and others dont get fazed by it. and please stop with the "its not olympic ice" crap, the whole argument about the home ice for those who argue it is where the location of the tourney and thats in minny.

[siouxkid12]

and if the final 5 was in sconie it would be home ice or colorado would be home ice for those teams and so on. its perfect where it is, tons of fun and the best hockey tourney there is including the frozen 4! sure its a advatntage but big deal, the sioux and others dont get fazed by it.

I know no one really gets fazed by it and I never really thought I would have to explain what I said in such grave detail but i guess hockey1 (who might be a gopher fan) just doesnt understand certain things.

[siouxnami]

nobody reads that socialist fish wrap anylonger - even with the all out condemnation of everybody with an "R" behind their name - especially in metropolitan Minnesota

Last I checked it still has far and away the biggest distribution in Minnesota.

[Goon]

As far as #1 is concerned - the Strib has cut approx. 80 staff over the past several weeks as nobody reads that socialist fish wrap anylonger - even with the all out condemnation of everybody with an "R" behind their name - especially in metropolitan Minnesota

WELL STATED...

[siouxguyinstpaul]

Last I checked it still has far and away the biggest distribution in Minnesota.

lots of fisherpersons in Minny.

[hockey1]

I know no one really gets fazed by it and I never really thought I would have to explain what I said in such grave detail but i guess hockey1 (who might be a gopher fan) just doesnt understand certain things.

Souixkid,

I understand things perfectly. You are the one who said the Gophers have ALL the advantages and when I asked what they are you came up with one- the media. Alot of schools have advantages over other schools when it comes to recruiting. A recruit may like a big city, small city, large campus, small campus, NHL size ice, Olympic size, etc. You make it sound like the Gophers have every advantage that other schools donot have which is not true.

[siouxguyinstpaul]

Sure it's like a home game in that they have more fans in attendance cheering for them, but I really don't think having the crowd on your side makes you perform better. At least not enough to call it an unfair advantage. For as much as fans like to complain about the Gophers "hosting" the Final Five, I have yet to hear any similar complaints from players or coaches. It just isn't that big of a deal. Where else are they going to hold that tournament and expect to get the kind of attendance they get in the Twin Cities? I see no logical reason to ever move that event to a different site.

Lest we forget about the Friday night game that the Gophs always play in no matter what the seed or the way they complained about having to play the Sioux in Grand Forks in the regionals a couple of years ago - oops - that did not materialize though - never mind.

[dead_rabbit]

So DaveK, let me see if I understand your reasoning... It's not ok for me to cheer for UND Hockey because I cheer for SU FB, because UND and SU are/were each others biggest rivals/even thought they're totally different sports....BUT it's ok for DaveK to cheer for both UND hockey AND Gopher hockey?? Como What??

In spite of the fact that the team that is only 75 miles away represents the school that is without question the most bitter rival of your school? Interesting.

[dead_rabbit]

You don't happen to sit in section 303 do you?

No, I sit a few sections over.

[THETRIOUXPER]

Sure it's like a home game in that they have more fans in attendance cheering for them, but I really don't think having the crowd on your side makes you perform better. At least not enough to call it an unfair advantage. For as much as fans like to complain about the Gophers "hosting" the Final Five, I have yet to hear any similar complaints from players or coaches. It just isn't that big of a deal. Where else are they going to hold that tournament and expect to get the kind of attendance they get in the Twin Cities? I see no logical reason to ever move that event to a different site.

Let's ask those boys from Holy Cross if having a huge crowd behind them made any difference in THE BIGGEST UPSET EVER IN NCAA HOCKEY HISTORY. I'm almost sure they would disagree with you dave.

[dead_rabbit]

Dead Rabbit, a UND hockey fan should have the good sense to travel 70 miles north to attend a decent school, even if it means changing your major from taxidermy to mortuary science. Your "At least I'm one step better than a guy whose second favorite hockey team is the gophers" reasoning is inept and pitiful. At least Dave K. likes UND football AND UND hockey first and foremost.

Besides Dave K, I know I'm not the only one who was rooting for the Gophers last year against Air Force, hoping for a Sioux/Gophs regional final--I LOVE LOVE LOVE watching the two teams square off when it counts the most because I know UND will out play, out hustle and straight pound the hell out of them. My gopher fan "friends" cringe whenever there's a sioux matchup looming. BTW, if you don't have a gopher fan to watch a UND/Gopher game with, I highly suggest you go find yourself one (can easily be found at a local Menard's near the beer bong building section, or at Bed Bath & Beyond, near the beer bong building section) because the look on their feeble faces trying to find an excuse is terrific. Cheering against Holy Cross was impossible, tho.

All teams from Michigan and Massachusetts can also eat it.

I knew that I'd get this kind of banter from Sioux FB fans when I proclaimed my love for NDSU FB, but I can deal with it. There's quite a few of us out there. I wouldn't compare being a UND hockey fan and a NDSU FB fan to cheering for the NY Yankees, and the Boston Red Sox. I wouldn't even compare it to cheering for the 49ers and the Oakland Raiders. It's more comparable to cheering for the A's and the Giants. But it's certainly not even close to the same as cheering for the the 7 time D1 Hockey Champs and the what is it...oh yeah, the Minnesota golden gophers.

As far as a UND vs. UMTC game in the west regional this last year, I was hoping for one. But I wouldn't go as far as to say that I was cheering for the gophers. How disheartening would it have been to lose to the last seed two years in a row? Would you have worn your Air Force t shirt/game worn Friday night or Sat? Of course the HC t shirt/game worn would get worn the other night;)

[siouxhockeyfan11]

Sure it's like a home game in that they have more fans in attendance cheering for them, but I really don't think having the crowd on your side makes you perform better. At least not enough to call it an unfair advantage. For as much as fans like to complain about the Gophers "hosting" the Final Five, I have yet to hear any similar complaints from players or coaches. It just isn't that big of a deal. Where else are they going to hold that tournament and expect to get the kind of attendance they get in the Twin Cities? I see no logical reason to ever move that event to a different site.

If the Xcel Center gave them that big of an edge they would win there all the time which they dont. I would just rather see the frozen four at a neutral site. People will travel to watch their teams play in the frozen four i dont think attendance would be an issue.

[AZSIOUX]

If the Xcel Center gave them that big of an edge they would win there all the time which they dont. I would just rather see the frozen four at a neutral site. People will travel to watch their teams play in the frozen four i dont think attendance would be an issue.

the frozen 4 is at a neutral site every year. how can you ever say the frozen 4 is not at a neutral site? that doesnt make sense at all, you have no idea who is going to make the frozen 4 and if a team is lucky enough to make the frozen 4 in their city then props to them!

[Smoggy]

just for fun, the last 6 years, regionals, cant find past regionals anywhere as of yet to see the trends

Future Sites

2008

[Sioux-cia]

Well Dave, I went to school at NDSU, and since they do have a football team, I'll cheer for them. Since they don't have hockey, the logical thing seemed to cheer for a team that is only 75 miles away. Even a Bison FB fan has the good sense not to cheer for goofer hockey

I see your point and agree with it. I worked in Fargo for several years and most of the people I worked with were SU football fans and UND hockey fans; two different sports and no rivalry in the second. The stream of cars that followed me to Grand Forks on a Friday night when the Sioux hockey team was playing at home numbered in the hundreds. They all can't be wrong.

Oh, and I give you points for not cheering for the stinkin', pi$$ yellow/old bloody, Goofs.

[hockey1]

Lest we forget about the Friday night game that the Gophs always play in no matter what the seed or the way they complained about having to play the Sioux in Grand Forks in the regionals a couple of years ago - oops - that did not materialize though - never mind.

You might want to complain to your AD about the Gophers playing the late game on Friday since him and eight other AD's in the league vote for the Gophers to play Friday night due to the revenue that is generated. It is an advantage to play in the early game on friday because of more rest you get.

[siouxkid12]

Souixkid,

I understand things perfectly. You are the one who said the Gophers have ALL the advantages and when I asked what they are you came up with one- the media. Alot of schools have advantages over other schools when it comes to recruiting. A recruit may like a big city, small city, large campus, small campus, NHL size ice, Olympic size, etc. You make it sound like the Gophers have every advantage that other schools donot have which is not true.

hockey1,

So you know what recruits want, why arnt you a college coach if you know so much? the quote was meant as a joke and you read into it waaaaaay too much. Just go back to your gopher message board.

[dead_rabbit]

DaveK, I have every right to tell you that it's wrong that your two favorite college hockey teams are UND and UMTC. A Dallas Cowboys fans second favorite team can't be the Redskins. A Vikings fan second favorite team can't be the Packers. A Broncos fan second favorite team can't be the Chiefs. A Dodgers fan second favorite team can't be the Giants. Getting the idea yet? Unless your brother, son, uncle, best friend is playing for the gophs/sioux, pick a team, and start cheering against the other, even if them losing would hurt the team you chose to cheer for SOS.

You can call it wrong that I cheer for NDSU FB and UND Hockey. But guess what? Although the two schools may be bitter rivals, the two programs aren't bitter rivals. Even though UND may not my minny's biggest rival, minny is one of UND's top rivals.

I'd say it's more comparable to cheering for Iowa Hawkeyes football and Minnesota Gophers hockey. Weird. If I hate a school in one sport I can't envision any circumstance in which I would support them in another sport, but that's just me. If you want to support both Sioux hockey and Bison football you have that right, but you don't have the right to tell me I'm wrong for supporting both Sioux hockey and Gopher hockey. A person who likes Sioux hockey and Sioux football has that right, but you don't.

[siouxguyinstpaul]

Lest we forget about the Friday night game that the Gophs always play in no matter what the seed or the way they complained about having to play the Sioux in Grand Forks in the regionals a couple of years ago - oops - that did not materialize though - never mind.

[hockey1]

hockey1,

So you know what recruits want, why arnt you a college coach if you know so much? the quote was meant as a joke and you read into it waaaaaay too much. Just go back to your gopher message board.

Relax Siouxkid, this all started by you saying the Gophers have all the advantages and all I did was ask you to explain what are all the advantages. This was not to be a flamefest,I just wanted you to back up your statement by some facts.

[The Whistler]

The fact that NDSU doesn't have hockey is beside the point. UND and NDSU are rival schools. The hatred between those two athletic departments ranks right up there with Michigan/Ohio State and Alabama/Auburn......... Honestly, the Gophers are not the only Sioux rival that I don't hate. I really don't hate any hockey teams. Aside from the New York Yankees and NDSU football, I can't think of any other teams in any sport that I truly hate.

That's another really stupid thing you said. There isn't hatred between the schools. It's a good honest rivalry.

I think your family needs to do an intervention with you.

[siouxguyinstpaul]

That's another really stupid thing you said. There isn't hatred between the schools. It's a good honest rivalry.

I think your family needs to do an intervention with you.

his son has already tried - daily according to him

[Sioux-cia]

Hatred regarding a sports rivalry is ridiculous. I don't hate the Bison or the Goofs. I consider them rivals that made/make the sports we play/played against each other much more entertaining. And, I don't like them and I do find some of their fans obnoxious, rude and don't like them. But, hate?? That's waaaay to strong an emotion to have for a sport team or sport's fan. It's entertainment for Pete's sake, not a life altering/threatening event.....