Showing posts with label Sioux. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sioux. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

UND and NDSU to resume the football rivalry?



Tonight, there was a tweet WDAY's Dom Izzo and apparently there's a chance that the NDSU and UND might resume the historic rivalry and begin playing football in 2015. That would be awesome news if true.

I was also re-reading an old blog post from last November  and of course there was the usual and predictable moronathon of comments from NDSU fans. You know, "the who needs UND, blah, blah, blah"…Kind of reminds me of the comments I have seen made from another rival or ours.

Look, when I went to school at UND, the Sioux vs the Bison football game was one of the hottest tickets in town, it was a very fun rivalry. I don't understand why people are still biter on both sides, after all of these years. Sure, Roger Thomas made a poor decision by deciding not to continue playing NDSU, but he has been gone from UND for a long time.

Lastly, I found a comment from a fan that really hits a home run. Also, this guys comments kind of puts things in perspective. Check it out. I would love to buy this guy a beer, because he gets it. Seriously, he's right, do NDSU fan "really" want to see the Bison play some slouch team, that fits the weak sister of the poor label, or do they want to play a real rival?



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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Fighthing Sioux Nickname: Spirit Lake committee's last effort to save Fighting Sioux nickname fails

This is just in, not really a big shock to me. I have talked to a few lawyers that didn’t see this case as having much of a chance of making it. This is probably the final chapter of the Fighting Sioux nickname.
Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald – In what may well be the final chapter in the long, contentious fight over UND’s Fighting Sioux nickname, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today affirmed a lower court’s judgment against the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe in its effort to save the nickname.

More than three months after impassioned arguments in St. Paul, the appeals court upheld the ruling last year by U.S. District Court Judge Ralph Erickson that the tribe lacked standing to sue the NCAA over its policy discouraging the use of American Indian names and images by member schools.

“The committee has not shown that the NCAA acted with discriminatory intent,” the appeals court stated in its opinion. “There is no evidence that the NCAA enacted the policy in order to eradicate Sioux culture, as the committee alleges.”

The appeals court also discounted the committee’s primary contention, that Spirit Lake and Standing Rock Sioux elders authorized use of the name by UND in a 1969 ceremony.
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Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Brad Malone vs Rich Clune



According to Hockeyfights.com, that the first NHL fight of former fighting Sioux forward Brad Malone's NHL career. Malone has been in eight, AHL fights during the course of his hockey career. Rich Clune of the Nashville Predators on the other hand, has been in 10 fights this season.
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Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Monday, January 14, 2013

A few things... UMN vs. UND


For whatever reason, there is a lot of negative energy this week, perusing Sioux Sports, that sight has become toxic, you'd think that UND has no chance of taking any points. You would also think that UND is a bunch of talentless, good for nothing, hacks. I don't get it, you'd think that UND is also having a horrible and sub par season, and that is just not the case.

UND is currently tied for 6th in the Pairwise, they've played the 4th toughest schedule to date and lost one game in the previous eight games and are 8-2-0 the last 10 games. UND's offense is 6th in the nation and their defense is 20th over-all.

What gives?

Let's not forget that UND is 1 point out of first in the WCHA and has two games in hand.

Here's the UND vs. UMN tail of the tape.

Finally, UND's record against the Gophers during the last 15 games; 6-7-2. Since taking over as coach of UND, Coach Hakstol has a 17-13 record against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.


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Thursday, January 10, 2013

Don't forget to vote in the Greatest Sioux Jersey Tournament



The Greatest Sioux Jersey Tournament being held by the Sioux Jersey Blog has now narrowed the field from 16 to 8. Go to the Sioux Jersey Blog and click on the link to go vote for your favorite Fighting Sioux Jersey. [Click to vote]


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Thursday, December 06, 2012

The staches are staying for now



The UND women's coaching staff's are sporting mustaches a week after Movember ended. This story line has sprouted legs and has the potential to get even bigger... The UND Women's team coaches grew mustaches for Movember. The UND women went on an impressive seven game winning streak starting on November 3rd, 2012 when UND beat Clarkson 3-2 at the Ralph Englestad Arena.

The women kept winning and were on a six game winning streak when November turned to December. So no one dared shave their mustaches. If the UND Women sweep the Badgers this weekend in Madison, Wisconsin the mustaches will probably remain till UND plays Lindenwood College on January 4th and 5th, 2012 in St. Charles, Missouri.
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Sunday, November 18, 2012

Check out these unis... Karvinen goes off.



The UND women broke out their black jersey's as well. They look a lot like the Men's black business suits as well. UND had their first road sweep of they season as they beat BSU 7-3. This weekend Michelle Karvinen returned from injury and went off scoring five points (1g-4a—5pts).

After one weekend of play Karvinen (2g-4a—6pts) is fourth on the team in scoring and missed 10/12 games so far this season.
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Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Herald; NCAA: Most logos can stay at the Ralph Engelstad Arena

English: Ralph Engelstadt Arena at the Univers...
English: Ralph Engelstadt Arena at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota. *Personally photographed by the undersigned May 8, 2007. Elcajonfarms 03:46, 3 July 2007 (UTC) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Ralph Englestad Arena and the University of North Dakota got some good news today when it found that many of the logos can don't have to be removed from the Arena.
Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald --- The new addendum requires the removal of the signs on the outside of the facility that say “Home of the Fighting Sioux” as soon as possible, Stenehjem said, and replacement of the logo carpeting as it wears out.

The “Home of the Fighting Sioux” signs are not accurate, Stenehjem said, “because it isn’t the home of the Fighting Sioux anymore since the State Board retired the name.”

He said it will be “up to the managers of the arena how quickly they can do it, and they will have to decide what they replace it with, ‘Home of UND Hockey’ or ‘Home of Champions’ or whatever.”

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Friday, September 21, 2012

A decent read?


Kurt Snibbe/ESPN.com

Proposed Fighting Sue helmet logo.

Someone posted this article on Sioux Sports – I believe it was a Bison fan. If you haven’t seen this it’s worth a quick look. The reason that UND hasn’t been in March Madness is that UND just finally finished their transition to Division I in all sports, I expect that eventually UND will make the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball tourneys as well.
Low Graduation Rates? Fine with the NCAA. Two Feathers? OMG! Over at the University of North Dakota, the state's voters recently endorsed a referendum to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname. Right now the school's teams are the -- we'll get back to you on that, as UND teams have no nickname at the moment.

The NCAA ordered the University of North Dakota to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname and cease using a Sioux head image drawn by a Native American artist. The NCAA also ordered William & Mary to cease using a two-feathers sports logo. Yet the NCAA is fine with the University of Utah's American Indian nickname, the Utes, and its two-feathers logo.

What's the distinction here? Money. The North Dakota men's basketball team has not made the March Madness event in 20 years. William & Mary has never made the men's tournament. Neither the University of North Dakota nor William & Mary provides the NCAA with the only thing it cares about: greenback dollars. The University of Utah, on the other hand, has 26 March Madness appearances, including 12 of the past 20 tournaments. Because in the case of the Utes, the American Indian imagery generates cash for the NCAA, all is well.

Since the University of North Dakota needs a new nickname, TMQ proposes the Fighting Sue, perhaps with Johnny Cash theme music.
That being said, UND is usually in the NCAA Division I playoffs for hockey every season but once (missed NCAA playoffs in 2001-02) since 1997 and last season was the first time during the span that UND didn't wear the Fighting Sioux logo during the NCAA tourney. I am not so sure that the Johnny Cash Logo would catch on either. :) I did get a good chuckle out of that one though.

I do think it’s funny sometimes how the NCAA picks certain issues like Sports Team logos over more important issues like graduation rates.
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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Kristo will sign next April after the NCAA Playoffs

There has been a lot of discussion – from Hab’s fans and Fighting Sioux Hockey fans – who, when and where the soon to be senior forward Danny Kristo is going to sign.

After reading this article from the Montreal Gazette, it sounds like Kristo intends to sign with the Montreal Canadians after the UND’s season is over. According to the Sioux forward; Kristo and his teammates have some unfinished business to do.

Based on who UND returns to the lineup and who is coming in, Fighting Sioux hockey fans might have something to be excited about going into the season. What makes the prospects more exciting is an inspired Kristo on a mission and the spark that he could add to this team.

Taking it further, imagine Kristo with another off-season in the gym ready to lead the Fighting Sioux for the 2012-13 season.
Pat Hickey, The Gazette --- [Danny] Kristo said he envisions turning pro next April after what he hopes will be a successful season at North Dakota. The school was one of the top seeds in the NCAA tournament, but missed a berth in the Frozen Four when it was upset 1-0 by Minnesota in the Midwest Regional final.

North Dakota did appear in the Frozen Four two years ago, but lost 1-0 to Michigan in the semifinals.

“I have some unfinished business in North Dakota,” said Kristo, who was Louis Leblanc’s linemate in the USHL. “The past three years we’ve been close, we’ve had a good team. We only lost three guys from last season, so we’re going to have a good team.”

Kristo said he takes some inspiration from former teammates who stayed at North Dakota for four years.

“Just a year ago at North Dakota, we had three seniors who decided to stay,” Kristo said. “You look at (Matt) Frattin, (Brad) Malone and (Chay) Genoway, and they all played in the NHL last season. There are different paths for everyone. It’s (a) pretty close-knit family at North Dakota and going back for one year will make me better.”
I guess we first need to correct a few incorrect points from the article, UND was beaten by Minnesota 5-2 in the 2012 West Regional Final and Michigan beat the UND 2-0 in the 2011 NCAA Frozen Four Semi-Final, other than that the mess is pretty good.

Kristo is one of the more entertaining players to listen to in the post-game media scrums This is just more classic Kristo right here.
“You never know until you get there, but I think was ready,” Kristo said. “With everything that was going on in the offseason, I didn’t know if someone (with the Canadiens) was going to get fired or there was going to be a new GM but, in the end, going back to school would be the right decision.”
I think that there is a message here – Kristo talked to his former team mates that stayed all four years at UND instead of signing early to play in the professional rank and he decided that it was a good idea personally if he will return to Grand Forks to play his final season for the Fighting Sioux.

Sometimes I think that some of these college athletes are in a hurry to get to the next level and sometimes these athletes miss out on a great opportunity to play out their college eligibility as well as live the college experience. With the present CBA the money is going to be about the same whether they stay and play three or four season in college. One has to wonder if former Fighting Sioux forwards Jason Gregoire and Brett Hextall regret leaving early to play in the minors last season.
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Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Spirt Lake Tribe’s Committee for Understanding and Respect files appeal

Here is the latest from the Fighting Sioux nickname story – the Spirit Lake Tribe’s Committee for Understanding and Respect has appealed their lawsuit that was thrown out of by U.S. District Court Judge Raph Erickson to 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- Three days after their effort to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname at UND was roundly rebuffed by state voters, nickname supporters at Spirit Lake filed documents outlining issues they want to address at the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The tribe’s Committee for Understanding and Respect has appealed last month’s decision by U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson to dismiss its lawsuit against the NCAA, in which the tribe argued that Sioux people were inappropriately denied “a seat at the table” in negotiations over use of the name, among other issues.

Erickson ordered the lawsuit dismissed on May 1, saying that none of the several counts brought by the pro-nickname committee stated a sufficient legal claim under federal law.

The Spirit Lake committee filed its notice of appeal on June 1 and then turned its attention to the statewide referendum it had placed on the primary election ballot through a petition drive. Last Tuesday, North Dakota voters overwhelmingly rejected that effort and voted to allow UND to retire the nickname.
So is this a losing cause or does the Spirit Lake tribe’s Committee for Understanding and Respect have a chance to have their appeal heard? Personally, I think this lawsuit will be thrown out of court. I would love nothing more than to have the NCAA lose a lawsuit in court but I don’t think this lawsuit has a chance of moving forward.
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Thursday, June 14, 2012

ND SBoHE directs UND to retire Fighting Sioux nickname

So it begins again, the retirement of the Fighting Sioux nickname is back on after the Measure four vote revealed that a majority of voters in North Dakota voted 1113,684 (Yes) to 55,114 (No) to allow UND to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname again.
Associated Press, FARGO — The state Board of Higher Education has directed the University of North Dakota to retire its Fighting Sioux nickname.

State residents voted overwhelmingly earlier this week to uphold the Legislature's repeal of a state law requiring the school to use the nickname. The moniker that the NCAA finds offensive had been brought out of retirement for a second time while the measure was decided.

Board President Grant Shaft, of Grand Forks, says there's not much more that can be said about the issue that hasn't been said already.

UND will be asked to report its progress at a later date.
As we found out before, when the Fighting Sioux nickname was first retired from January 1st until about February 7th 2012 – when 17,000 petitions were handed in at the State Capital in Bismarck, ND forcing UND to become the Fighting Sioux again – that’s it’s going to take some time getting used to not being the Fighting Sioux anymore. After Tuesday's vote, UND once again becomes the school formally known as the Fighting Sioux. Don’t expect fans to just change overnight, UND has been the Fighting Sioux for 80+ years.

That being said, you’re also going to hear and the home of the Sioux at the end of the national anthem, and you’re going to see Fighting Sioux jersey’s and gear for a very long time. The reality is that UND isn’t going to have a new nickname until 2015.
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Tuesday, June 12, 2012

North Dakota Voters let UND retire Fighting Sioux nickname

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athl...
University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
The  people of the State of North Dakota voted today to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname - this is a bitter sweet day for many of us who love the Fighting Sioux nickname and the logo - but as you can tell by the election results that  most recognize that the cost of keeping the Fighting Sioux name is too great and will  great harm to the University of North Dakota eventually.

First off, I it was very hard for me to vote yes on measure 4 because I do not believe that the Fighting Sioux nickname is racist or hostile and abusive.

That being said, the NCAA has UND over a barrel and they hold all of the cards because the NCAA writes the rules and controls college athletics - UND can play by those rules or the University or face NCAA Sanctions (as it currently is). One final options is that UND can go join another governing body - the option is not feasible.

I like many think that the NCAA is an out of control organization that needs to be reeled in because they have over stepped their bounds and put there nose where it doesn't belong.  None the less, lets not forget that the North Dakota State Attorney General signed a settlement agreement with the NCAA and UND is expected to abide by that settlement agreement.

Contrary to Majority Leader Al Carlson's delusions of grandeur, the NCAA wasn't going to bend and they have pointed to the Settlement Agreement time and time again.  The good people of Sioux county have finally weighed in on the issue and have voted to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname. That in it's self doesn't make sense since 1000+ people from the Standing Rock Tribe signed the petitions to bring measure 4 to a voted.

But I digress.

If UND had retained the Fighting Sioux nickname our sports teams would not be able to play the University of Minnesota, the University of Wisconsin, Iowa, South Dakota State and possibly the other school North Dakota State University during the regular season play because of the Fighting Sioux logo.

While playing Iowa might not seem like that big of a deal to some fans, not being able to play the Badgers and the Gophers in any sport is a big deal and would end up proving costly for the University of North Dakota in the end. Who doesn't want to see UND beat Wisconsin and Minnesota whenever we get a chance.

In my opinion this is a sad day me and it has been an emotional roller coaster - I love the Fighting Sioux nickname and it's one of the best logos and nicknames in all of college sport, nothing we replace the nickname will ever be as good as the Fighting Sioux nickname. I will wear my Sioux logos with pride until they wear out. 

Rob Port of Sayanything blog had this to say of the vote.
It was a valiant fight, but it’s time for the Sioux nickname to go. Barring a vote on the Standing Rock reservation, or the Spirit Lake Sioux getting the NCAA to back down with their lawsuit, the people of North Dakota have spoken. It’s time for the name to go.


Statement from UND President Robert Kelley About Vote on Measure 4

We are appreciative that voters took the time to listen and to understand the issues and the importance of allowing the University to move forward. We also understand how deeply this has affected all of us.

Tuesday's vote allows us to focus our attention on our students as we continue to build exceptional programs in all areas of the University. We appreciate the support that has been expressed for the University of North Dakota over the past several weeks, and especially for UND Athletics. It is support that will continue to be important as we build a great future for the University and for UND Athletics.

We will continue to work with the State Board of Higher Education, the North Dakota University System, and the leadership in athletics as we move forward.
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Sunday, June 10, 2012

Poll on Ballot Measure four, 59 percent will vote yes.

Someone posted this link over on Sioux Sports. This week there are four state wide ballot measures during the primary for North Dakota voters to vote on. One of the more emotionally heated issues is Ballot Measure four on whether the University of North Dakota's sports teams will remain the Fighting Sioux or not. A "Yes" vote means you that you want University of North Dakota to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname. A "No" vote means that you want University of North Dakota to retain the Fighting Sioux nickname.

Posted above is a screen shot of the Ballot Measure 4 polling numbers. A state wide poll was conducted by a national polling firm, Mason-Dixon during last week. It would appear that the Yes vote on ballot measure four has almost 60 percent of the vote, but we will wait and see how Tuesday's vote turns out.  A lot of things can happen and it would be interesting to see how they conducted their poll on. Polls conducted on likely voters are more accurate than a simple poll of potential voters.

Based on the numbers it would appear that women voters are more in favor of a the University of North Dakota dropping the Fighting Sioux nickname than men; Republicans seem to be more in favor of UND retaining the Fighting Sioux nickname than Democrats and Independants.


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Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Comparing Brock Nelson and Chris Kreider's deals



Chris Kreider's Cap Geek page  

 I was perusing the Cap Geek numbers for former Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson and for former Boston College Eagles Chris Kreider and I was a bit shocked at the difference in numbers. It will be interesting to see how these two players’ careers play out.


 Brock Nelson's Cap Geek Page 

 
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Tuesday, April 03, 2012

Nelson signs with Islanders and Big Mac to return.

This the news that we figured that was coming, I think there are a few more players we have to worry about, Danny Kristo is one, but also Corbin Knight and possibly Aaron Dell. The Fighting Sioux did get some good news as they found out that Junior defenseman Andrew MacWilliam will be returning to the Fighting Sioux in the fall for his senior season. According to @UNDSID there could be a few more to come. Good Luck to Brock Nelson... [Official Release]

I will post any updates that come up. It's turning out to be a busy news day for the Fighting Sioux.
There have been 8 players to forgo their college eligibility this season in the WCHA this season. 


University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
Brock Nelson, sophomore, Forward, New York Islanders

Colorado College Tigers
Jaden Schwartz, sophomore, Forward, St. Louis Blues

Denver University Pioneers
Drew Shore, Junior Forward, Florida Panthers
Jason Zucker, sophomore, Forward, Minnesota Wild

Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
J.T. Brown, sophomore, Forward, Tampa Bay Lightning

Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks
Terry Broadhurst, Junior Forward, Chicago Blackhawks

St. Cloud State Huskies
David Eddy, Junior Forward, Calgary Flames
Mike Lee, Junior Goalie, Phoenix Coyotes

Related articles
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Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Islanders won't pressure Nelson

This is the worst time of the year when fans of college hockey teams have to worry if they are going lose their favorite college hockey players. According to Chris Botta, who is a writer for the New York Times and the New York Islanders had this to say about Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson on his twitter feed

This past week, DU lost  blue chippers Jason Zucker and Drew Shore in a matter of couple of days. So you never know what will happen and fans always seem to worry up until the puck drops in October.
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Sunday, March 25, 2012

Sioux close out the season with loss to Gophers

One of our fans posted this on the FightingSioux.com chat, this comment is ridiculous and far from the truth, Coach Hakstol did a great job coaching this team this season, especially with what he has been dealt this season and I hope the University gets him locked up with a new contract soon.

I was going to wait till tomorrow to put something up but I figured I would chime in with my two cents. While the defeat to the Gophers does leave a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth, I can’t say that UND’s didn’t give it their all to the end. They fought, they clawed and they emptied the tank. This team didn’t go down without a fight all season long.

Congrats to the seniors, Ben Blood, Brad Eidsness and Mario Lamoureux I have enjoyed watching you play for four years at UND. All three are character guys and will be successful in whatever they do in life.

It pains me to say that the Gophers were the better team today. That’s hockey and that’s life.
For me personally, this season has been one of the most exciting seasons of Fighting Sioux hockey that I have ever had the pleasure to witness since I started watching Fighting Sioux hockey back in 1992.

As I wrote for Inside Hockey last week, “Back in November, who would have thought that the Fighting Sioux would face off against Denver University and win the championship game of the Red Baron WCHA Final Five?

Especially on Sunday the 20th of November 2011, the Fighting Sioux had just suffered an unimpressive 1-0 loss to the Bemidji State Beavers at the Sandford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota.  After that loss, the Fighting Sioux had a lackluster record of 4-7-1 overall and 1-5 in the WCHA. That record was good for 11th place in the WCHA standings.

After the game, the Fighting Sioux took the two hour bus trip down highway two back to Grand Forks, they regrouped and on Monday morning the Fighting Sioux coaching staff conducted a bag skate on the Fighting Sioux hockey team at six o’clock.

Since that early morning bag skate, the Fighting Sioux have gone an impressive 21-5-2. That is the best overall record in Divison I hockey since November 26, 2011.

The Fighting Sioux finish that midseason surge at 22-6-2… The loss tonight ends the Sioux season with a record of 26-13-3. That was the eight season in a row that Hakstols teams have won 20 games or more.

This season show cased some new players that are going to be a force going forward. The Carter Rowney, Michael Parks and Mitch MacMillan line has a chance to be one of the better lines in the WCHA next season.  

While some of our fan base wants to run Coach Hakstol out of town on a rail, I think making it to the NCAA tourney this season was a big accomplishment, based on what happened to the Fighting Sioux hockey team, this is also testimate to the type of hockey coach that Dave Hakstol is.

During the offseason UND lost J.T. Miller to the CHL and it all seemed to snowball from there.
Here is the injury list from this season’s Fighting Sioux hockey team. Let’s not forget that three Fighting Sioux hockey players had season ending surgery.

North Dakota injuries: Taylor Dickin (lower-body injury), forward Rocco Grimaldi (season, knee surgery), Brendan O’Donnell (season-ending surgery) and Derek Rodwell (season, shoulder surgery) are all out of the lineup.

I mean seriously, Grimaldi, O’Donnell and Rodwell would make one heck of a line in any college hockey league.

Lastly, to the fans that want to fire coach Hakstol, here is a quote from my friend Moose Richards… “I find the whole fire Hakstol line out of Sioux fans just absurd,” Moose said.   “You look over the body of work. Yes there is no national championship in there, but how many Frozen Fours, nine straight final five appearances. It’s just…Yeah you would like the win the big one. But don’t you like being there every year?
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