I included a picture of the MacNaughton Cup because it has been such a long time since we have seen it. It’s been four long years. Yep! The last time the Fighting Sioux had won the MacNaughton Cup Zach Parise was still playing for UND. I can’t wait to take a look at it again when it’s sitting in the lobby of REA.
So for the First time in four seasons the WCHA regular season champs reside in Grand Forks, ND. In case anyone is keeping score that is the 14th MacNaughton Cup that UND Fighting Sioux have won.
At the beginning of the season I had a conversation with a buddy of mine and we were discussing how the Sioux haven't won a MacNaughton cup or an NCAA title yet. Well we can mark that off the list, the Sioux got their cup. The mission for the Fighting Sioux is not complete, this is just one checkpoit on a long road trip.
Since Dave Hakstol has been the Coach of the Fighting Sioux his teams have progressively gotten better each season as he has built the UND program around players that reflect his personality; gritty, talented, modest and hard working. Now for their hard work the 2008-2009 Fighting Sioux will hang another banner from the REA rafters.
(Dave Hakstol's UND career coaching line)
2004–2005 North Dakota 25-15-5 13-12-3 5th NCAA Runner-up
2005–2006 North Dakota 29-16-1 16-12-0 t-4th NCAA semifinal
2006–2007 North Dakota 24-14-5 13-10-5 3rd NCAA semifinal
2007-2008 North Dakota 28-11-4 18-7-3 2nd NCAA semifinal
2008-2009 North Dakota 22-11-4 17-6-4 1st To be determined.
Box Score
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1st Period (20:00)
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WIS 1 - 0 6x6 Ben Grotting (3) (Patrick Johnson, Matt Thurber) 6:12
WIS (+): 14,10,12,17,4,G35 NDK (-): 9,10,14,24,22,G31
NDK-1 Joe Finley (2-Holding) WIS 0x1 7:03
WIS-1 Sean Dolan (2-Interference) NDK 0x1 10:54
WIS-2 Brendan Smith (2-Boarding) NDK 0x2 12:38
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2nd Period (20:00)
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WIS-3 Brendan Smith (2-Interference) NDK 0x3 6:26
NDK-2 Andrew Kozek (2-Tripping) WIS 0x2 16:41
NDK 1 - 1 5x6 SH Matt Watkins (7) (unassisted) 16:56
NDK (+): 20,11,5,2,G31 WIS (-): 9,21,24,7,2,G35
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3rd Period (20:00)
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NDK-3 Brett Hextall (2-Interference) WIS 0x3 6:24
WIS-4 Jamie McBain (2-Hooking) NDK 0x4 8:43
WIS-5 Sean Dolan (2-Interference) NDK 1x5 12:56
NDK 2 - 1 6x5 PP GW LL Chris VandeVelde (14) (Ryan Duncan, Chay Genoway) 14:01
NDK: 29,16,5,14,26,G31 WIS: 14,13,27,17,G35
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End of Game
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hey man thanks for whatve you said. WERE GOING TO KICK DENVERS ASS!
ReplyDeleteHasn't the cup typically been a bad omen for Final Five and Nationals?
ReplyDeleteWhere are the stats on that?
Congratulations North Dakota. Well done in teh second half. I didn't think they would contend for the regular season title this season, I thought they'd be more in the middle of pack, but they proved me wrong. That picture of Parise holding the trophy with a smile on his face is priceless. As far as the other games...Minnesota, St Cloud, and Duluth all pissed away glorious chances to gain some ground, but none of them could get it done against the three bottom teams in the league.
ReplyDeleteNot Necessarily, the Sioux won NCAA titles and WCHA titles in following years.
ReplyDelete1980 University of North Dakota* – WCHA
1987 University of North Dakota* – WCHA
1997 University of Minnesota* tied with North Dakota* – WCHA
Nice picture of one of SO MANY MINNESOTANS to have hoisted the MacNaughton Cup!
ReplyDelete