Season Comes to an End at the Hands of the Eagles.

The 2005-2006 Fighting Sioux hockey season came to a thundering end as the Fighting Sioux came up short to the Boston College Eagles 6-5 in the first semi finals game. The Sioux went down 3-0 after one period and just couldn't get back into the game. The Sioux held the play in the first period as they out shot the Eagles 12-5 but were down 3-0 on the scoreboard where it mattered the most. The Fighting Sioux didn’t give up and fought it out to the end but their effort wasn’t enough as Boston College avenged a 6-3 loss to the Sioux during last season’s NCAA regional in Worcester, MA. Commonly referred to by this author as the Bean Pot II. The Fighting Sioux finished one win short of 30 and have a lot of promise for the future. If the Fighting Sioux can keep some of their talented freshman and sophomores I believe the rest of the league will get to know the Fighting Sioux all too well.
Never Quit
The theme for the Fighting Sioux during the 2005-2006 season was never give up, never quit, fight to the end. The Fighting Sioux never gave up during the game and they kept coming at the Eagles till the end of the game, but the Eagles kept scoring goals, getting three of them from senior and Hobey Baker finalist Chris Collins. Fighting Sioux goalie Jordan Parise who back stopped the team during the recent run, and was something like 6-2 in the NCAA playoffs looked human in this game as it was apparent from the start that he didn’t have his “A” game, but so did the rest of his Fighting Sioux teammates. Junior forward Drew Stafford was invisible for most of the game and in the end the Boston College team looked like a team on a mission.

Cory Schneider on the Victory
It was on our minds," said BC goaltender Cory Schneider. "They ended our season last year so it felt good to return the favor. The game was eerily similar to last year's game. It's a good feeling, but revenge isn't our primary factor. We're trying to win the whole thing."

Questions that Remain
Some of the questions that remain for next season; who will turn pro and who will stay for another season? Many of us are holding our breath and wondering. I am sure we will find out in the next few days or over the course of the summer. As a fan of a top program we expect these things to happen. I believe that we have seen the last of Junior Defenseman Matt Smaby and Junior Forward Drew Stafford both will probably sign professional contracts and be gone. I hate it when these kids leave college but I can’t fault them one bit, the NHL will throw big money at these guys. Matt Smaby is a bruising defenseman that probably has Tampa Bay drooling all over it’s self by his play this past season, his leaving will leave a huge hole in the Fighting Sioux defense. I am hoping St. Louis doesn’t get impatient and try to lure T. J. Oshie from the Fighting Sioux before he plays his sophomore season. Also, I hope the fact that Darcy Zajac will be enough to entice his brother Travis to stay one more season as of now according the Grand Forks Herald Travis says he is staying.