The Quest for 8

October 13 - Hall of Fame Game UND - MSU
October 19 – UND @ Boston College "the Dirty Eagles"
October 20 – UND @ Northeastern
October 26 – UND @ MTU
October 27 – UND @ MTU
November 2 – Colorado College - UND
November 3 – Colorado College - UND
November 9 – UND @ BADgers
November 10 – UND @ BADgers
November 23 – UMD - UND
November 24 – UMD - UND
November 30 – UND @ DU
December 1 – UND @ DU
December 7 – Gophers - UND
December 8 - Gophers – UND
December 28 – UNH - UND
December 29 – UNH – UND
January 4 – UND @ SCSU
January 5 – UND @ SCSU
January 11 – MTU - UND
January 12 – MTU - UND
January 18 – UND @ Mav’s
January 19 – UND @ Mav’s
January 25 – UAA – UND
January 26 – UAA – UND
February 1 – UND @ Gophers
February 2 – UND @ Gophers
February 15 – DU – UND
February 16 – DU – UND
February 23 – BSU – UND
February 24 – BSU – UND
February 29 – UND @ UMD
March 1 – UND @ UMD
March 7 – SCSU – UND
March 8 – SCSU – UND
March (14-16) - 1st Round WCHA Playoffs
March 20/21/22 - WCHA Final Five
March 28/29/30 - NCAA Regionals
April 10/12 - NCAA Frozen Four @ Denver

Break down of the Schedule

The Sioux only play the Mavericks twice in Mankato next season unless of course; UND draws the Mavericks in the WCHA playoffs either in the first round or at the Final Five. If the Mavericks and Sioux actually played in the Final Five it would probably be the first time there was an actual fighting major at the Final Five. Incidentally, if that happens, that would make three years in a row we played the Mavericks in the playoffs, I have come to enjoy the yearly dance with the Mavericks in the playoffs.

Speaking of match-ups UND, Michigan and Minnesota have end up in the same regional two years in a row? Anyone want to go for a third? Listen folks I am going on record and saying this will not happen again next season. If that happened I would be willing to predict that if that happened Lucia and Red would snap and come unglued. I would love to be a fly on the wall when that phone conversation is going on, what do you mean you put us in UND’s regional bracket again.

After only playing the Gophers 2 times during the regular season the Fighting Sioux get to play the Gophers four times next season. This should prove to be a heated four games this year after the Gophers were swept at home in January and knocked out of the NCAA playoffs by the Fighting Sioux. Early rumor I have heard is that Don Adam has requested WCHA official John Champion ref all four games that the Sioux and the Gophers play this season. Seems that the 23-10-penalty differential in favor of the Gophers from the season series last January wasn’t a big enough in the Gophers favor. This season my unnamed source is telling me that Sioux fans can expect a bigger penalty margin; this time the margin will be some where in the neighborhood of 45-10 in favor of the Gophers when the two teams play in Marriucci Arena during their February series. There will also be a subsequent memo addressing this issue later in the year.

This season the Sioux finally get the UMD Bull Dogs four times again, rumor has it that the Minnesota legislature is close to approving a new arena for the Bull Dogs, we will see if it gets signed into law. Also, UND doesn’t travel to UAA, so I can say with confidence that the Sioux will not be swept in Anchorage two years in a row by the Sea wolves.

Break down of the Non-Conference Schedule

The annual slap down of the BSU Beavers will be in February 23 and 24, should be a lot of fun. Shall we say that the line has been cast? Don and Gary will be filling my email box with flames and I am sure that the Beavers homer television announcer will be giving me call also soon. Just kidding boys.

One match up I am excited about is that Hockey East power house UNH comes to the REA in December 28 and 29 and rumor has it that Bob Norton of NESN is coming as well and is starting a new web page of HockeyEast4theHobey.com.

Also UND plays B.C. and North Eastern in October, maybe this time the Sioux can fare better against Hockey East. Last season UND went 0-3.