Sioux win the Final Five now skate off to the Regionals at the Ralph.

The Fighting Sioux earned an auto bid for the NCAA tourney with a convincing 5-3 win against the pesky SCSU Huskies in the championship game of the Red Baron Final Five in St. Paul. The Huskies Cinderella season came to an end as their lady luck finally ran out. SCSU needed a win to get into the NCAA tourney and the Fighting Sioux were already in but cemented their playoff position by gaining a number 2 seed. This scenario seemed almost doomed a month ago after the Huskies had swept the Sioux in a two game series at the Ralph.

The Sioux will face off against the Michigan Wolverines of the CCHA at 8:30 p.m. on Friday night, on our terms. The Sioux will finally get to play the Wolverines in our barn and not have to play in the unfriendly confines of Yost Ice arena in Ann Arbor. This will be the first time Michigan has come to the REA since it opened. The Fighting Sioux will get a chance to avenge a 1998 NCAA playoff loss to the Wolverines. Look for the Sioux to come out and get in Michigan’s face from the drop of the opening face off.



The Fighting Sioux freshman were the story again as Jonathon Toews had a goal and two assists and Ryan Duncan had an amazing goal as he made SCSU goalie Bobby Goepfert look silly. Duncan waited for the star SCSU goalie to make his move then put the puck behind the SCSU goalie into an empty net.

SCSU had played 6 games in 9 days and didn’t show any rust as they came out of the gate on fire, but the Sioux prevailed in the end by answering the Husky goal by scoring two goals in about 15 seconds. It was the second game in a row where UND went down early only to answer with two quick goals.

Season of Highs for SCSU.
SCSU proved to be a tough opponent as they beat many of the tough teams ahead of them in the WCHA standings. SCSU beat Minnesota twice, UND three times, Colorado College three times, and Denver University once. That is pretty impressive for a team that finished in 6th place during the regular season. It also speaks volumes for the strength of the WCHA. It’s a shame our league only got 4 teams in the NCAA playoffs.

SCSU has nothing to be ashamed of as they beat a good Minnesota Gopher team to get to the championship game. Their coach is a class act and has their program going in the right direction. While watching the Huskies and the Golden Rodents a Gopher fan came up to me and asked me why I was cheering for the Huskies. This rube had told me that he cheered for Sioux against the Badgers earlier today and he couldn’t understand how I could take such comfort in the Huskies dismantling their storied team/program. That comment speaks volumes because I can’t cheer for a team that oozes such arrogance. I took great comfort in watching the Gophers lose two games to peak at the right time for the playoffs. Of course the tDon will tell us that the games meant nothing and they were already in the playoffs. I guess team pride means nothing.

The NCAA pairings
Midwest Regional (Green Bay)
No. 1 Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Bemidji State
No. 2 Cornell vs. No. 3 Colorado College

West Regional (Grand Forks)
No. 1 Minnesota vs. No. 4 Holy Cross
No. 2 North Dakota vs. No. 3 Michigan

East Regional (Albany)
No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 4 New Hampshire
No. 2 Harvard vs. No. 3 Maine

Northeast Regional (Worcester)
No. 1 Boston U. vs. No. 4 Nebraska-Omaha
No. 2 Miami vs. No. 3 Boston College

What a disgrace. North Dakota State goes to the Final Five.

They were handing posters out yesterday at the Final Five in St. Paul. All the fans that entered the game got the free poster. Only problem was that they didn't proof read the teams name. UND was the North Dakota State Univeristy.

Come on really how disrespectful can you get. If this had happened to the Gophers or the Badgers they would have thrown all of the pictures away.

The WCHA Apology Letter

MADISON, Wisc. - The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is aware of the mistake made on the free poster that was given out to the first 5,000 fans who attended last Saturday afternoon's game at the Red Baron™ WCHA Final Five in Saint Paul and is taking steps to remedy the situation as best it can under the circumstances. This includes reprinting a corrected version of the free poster and redistributing them at the regional NCAA hockey tournament in Grand Forks this weekend.

We sincerely apologize for the error and appreciate your understanding.

The WCHA also wants our fans to know that our Final Five title sponsor - Red Baron® - was not responsible for the printing or distribution of the poster.

The 2006 Red Baron™ WCHA Final Five drew a tournament record 87,579 fans, eclipsing the previous mark of 82,564 set in 2004, established a new average per game attendance record of 17,516, and also had sellout crowds of a Final Five record 19,353 on Friday night and 19,282 for the championship game.

Sioux and Huskies for the title. Gophers play meaningless third place game.

Nobody gave the Sioux or the Huskies much of a chance of being in the championship game tonight WCHA Final Five Championship game. In fact, everyone had the Gophers and Badgers penciled in for tonights championship game. The Sioux and the Huskies changed the Gophers and Badgers plans by playing good defense and getting a little luck.

Well the Badgers are still playing the Gophers but it just happens to be a a different time. The border battle between the rodents is set for 235 pm today instead of the prime time 735 pm slot, actually I am surprised that FSN formerly Minnesota Sports Network didn't change the game times and put the third place game at 735 pm to accomdate all of the beligerant Gophers and Badger fans.

During this game Rylan Kaip was amazing as he scored his first two goals of his career it may have took him 60 games to get the first on, but not as long for the second one as he doubled his career total about a period later. Can you say coming out party for Kaip.



The Gophers have their excuses all ready if they lose today:

I found this on Sioux Sports that sums it up pretty well. would now like to perform my best Gopher fan impression.

This game against Wisconsin really doesn't mean anything. We're really looking towards the NCAA tournament and if we win today it would be nice, but if we lose it doesn't matter. We're the number one team in the country and we lost to the 18th ranked team in our backyard, but it doesn't matter. It's just a hockey game and there are more important things.

Final Five Play in game SCSU and UMD the Battle of the Dogs.

UMD and SCSU kick off the first game of the Red Barron Final Five. UMD got there by shocking denver University in three games. SCSU got there by beating a depleted C.C. Tiger team in three.



UMD has to win to keep playing in the playoffs, SCSU is probably done as well if they lose tonight. Neither team will win the WCHA final five. History is against them no team has ever won it all from the play in game on thursday. My prediction is that UMD goalie Nate Ziggleman will out duel the Huskies top goalie Bobby Goephert UMD has more offensive punch and played well against DU scoring four goals in one period to put away DU in the last game of the series.

The Luck of Dakota and the Fighting Sioux hockey record.

People talk about the luck of the Irish, how about the luck of the Yellow Labrador Retriever. My Dog has an amazing gift; he is the luckiest dog in the world, he is also an amazing hunter. (Pheasants, Duck and Geese beware) Whenever I watch a Fighting Sioux hockey game on television with my Dog he has a 75 - 85 winning percent. In other words, more times than not the Sioux win the game. Maybe Fighting Sioux Basketball coach Rich Glas would like to borrow some of his luck. Rich might want to consider buying one from Windsor Kennels in Crookston, Minnesota.

Here are the results the proof is in the pudding:

Home series against the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks:
After watching the game at the REA without Dakota last weekend UND loses a heart breaker in O.T. obviously Derrick Sheppard had a lot to do with that, based on his non-call at center ice at the end of the game. So being bummed and in a state of deep depression from the lost the previous night I decide (having to get up early the next day to go to work a oh my god its early time of 250 am) to sell my Fighting Sioux hockey tickets to one of my buddies and watch the game from home (a cardinal to some rabid hockey fans).

So my wife and I commit the cardinal sin (the wife doesn’t complain at all) and watch the game at my house, the Fighting Sioux win the game 4-1. So I decide the next night being highly superstitious to keep the line up the same from the previous night and I stay home. The Fighting Sioux win the game 3-0 Jordy with a shutout win, the good news is I didn’t suffer an aneurisms; The Fighting Sioux won the series and I get to see my team play 2 games at the Final Five.

More Proof:

UMD Series in Duluth:
The Fighting Sioux destroy the Bull Dogs from Duluth, I watch the games Dakota at my side.

Game Two Minnesota and UND at the Mary
After watching The Fighting Sioux get dismantled by the Gophers 6-2 at Buffalo Wild Wings in Grand Forks a very painful memory (add in the fact that I had to listen to a Goofer fan mercilessly brag the results of the game the whole friggen night) I stay home and watch the game in the comfort of mine own living room dog at my side. Sioux win 3-2 Travis Zajac with a huge goal to ice it.

UND moves on to St. Paul for the Final Five after Beating Backes and the Mavericks.

Good news for Sioux fans we won't have to see David Backes again or his antics. Backes Signed a pro contrat with the Blues. The Fighitng Sioux closed out the Pesky Mavericks of Minnesota State with a shut out from Jordan Parise who now has 20 wins on the season and a 20-8-1 record. The Sioux also played most of the weekend with out leading scorer Drew Stafford who suffered a lower leg injury in first period of Friday's game 3-2 overtime loss. TJ Oshie and Travis Zajac picked up the slack and UND cruised to victory in the last two games.

By Shane Frederick
The Free Press
MANKATO —
David Backes spent the final two minutes of Sunday’s Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff game in the penalty box.

As the clock was ticking down on Minnesota State’s season, it was also counting off Backes’ final seconds as a Maverick.

“I’d rather been on the ice for those few moments,” he said. “But the penalty came from just trying to get something done in that game. ... I was just trying to make things happen.”

Today, Backes, one of the top players in Minnesota State’s Division I era, will turn professional, forgoing his senior year.

The Mavericks’ captain and co-leading scorer this season confirmed Tuesday that he is set to sign a two-year contract with the St. Louis Blues, the team that drafted him in the 2003 National Hockey League draft.

“(St. Louis) made an offer that was pretty hard to refuse,” Backes said. “And, hockey-wise, I am probably ready to make a step to the next level now.”

Got Banners. 

The Fighting Sioux Hockey Team is a top hockey program in the NCAA. Losing is not an option. 7 > 5 , 13 > 11

UND comes up short against Mavericks

The UND Fighting Sioux came out flat and played uninspired hockey and let Minnesota State take game one in the best of three playoff series in the Fighting Sioux’s building. Minnesota State (17-16-4) has been hot as of late and has now won five games in a row, all against ranked teams (SCSU, UW, UND), however, that is no excuse for the Fighting Sioux not putting up a better effort and making an attempt at winning the hockey game. By losing the first game of the series last night it puts the Sioux behind the eight ball with little room for error, they must win if they want to play in the final five or force a game five. Not to blame the goaltending but Jordan Parise played ok last night, letting in a couple of goals that I would classify as weak.

UND dropped to 23-15-1 overall while Minnesota State improved to 17-16-1 overall. In looking a the PWR numbers (UND is sitting at 14 with the bonus is 6th) It would appear that the Fighting Sioux are still in the NCAA’s, however, there is little room for error, a few upsets and UND could end up being spectators in their own regional. If they don’t get their collective act together and play some hockey. For the Fighting Sioux its time for them to stop talking about what they have and play hockey. Losing to Minnesota State is embarrassing.




Denver Shocked in Overtime by the Bull Dogs
Former Fighting Sioux goalie Nate Ziggleman led UMD to a 3-2 overtime win over the Denver Pioneers. I thought that was a miss print when I first read it, however, MacGregor Sharp scored a goal 1:25 into overtime Friday to lift Minnesota-Duluth to a 3-2 victory over Denver in the opening round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs at Magness Arena.

NHL Trading Deadline; who are the morons that make these deals.

The trading dead line in the NHL came and went with a lot of players moving around to different teams.

Tyler Arneson and Brandon Bochenski traded places on Thursday as Bochenski goes to the Blackhawks and Arnason goes to the Senators. I think the Blackhawks got the best of this deal. I have always considered Tyler Arnason was a soft player that doesn't like to go into the corners and do the dirty work that is necessary to be successful in the NHL. Former Fighting Sioux player Brandon Bochenski is a forward with a big upside that has the ability to score at any time from any place and will only get better as he gets more confortable with the NHL game, I am not sure that Arnason will make much of an impact with the high flying Senators.

The knuckle headed move of the day was Av's trading David Aebischer to the Habs for Jose Theodore, I can't believe that the Av's would have made this deal. Theodore this year has had trouble stopping the puck and this trade makes no sense to me at all. The Av's got worse with this trade.

A sad day for all Twins Fans. Kirby Pucket 1960-2006.

The Goon's Tribute to the Puck
I learned early this week the one of my favorite ball players off all time passed away after a short illness. For most middle age guys like me this hits home because Kirby was only 46 years old. Kirby gave Twins fans a lot of to cheer in his 12 short years he was with the twins. I remember when he and Hrbek broke into the league in the early 1980's back in the days when the Twins were a disgrace to the Twin Cities and MLB. The Twins started winning back the hearts and minds of Minnesota Twins Fans. Winning the 1987 world series didn't hurt but the win 1991 was even sweeter.

I remember during the spring of 1996 discussing the retirement of Kirby Pucket with my good friend Scott and I can remember him telling me Goon, "you just can't replace a Kirby Pucket, their a type of player that only comes around once in a life time.” Scott was right and since he left the twins in 1996 they twins have failed to have a player that even comes close to controlling a game like Kirby could. To take a word from my sports days, know one on the current Twins is worthy of holding Kirby’s jock.

Kirby Pucket took the team on his back and carried the twins to game seven:

Before the game he said, `Get on board, I'm going to carry the load,' " Twins manager Tom Kelly said after Puckett recorded his name boldly in World Series history. "My gosh, that's carrying the load and pulling the truck and everything."

Kirby was clutch at the right moment:

Kirby Puckett's home run in the 11th inning gave the Twins a 4-3 victory over Atlanta in Game 6, setting off a raucous 10-minute ovation that didn't quiet until a post game interview was shown on the Metrodome scoreboard.

In my humble opinion: one of the most significant moments of Twins Baseball was when Kirby hit his most famous Dinger and the TV announcer said “We will see you tomorrow night:”

But that wasn't all. He tripled in the first inning, knocking in the first Twins run and scoring the second. He made the catch of the game in the top of the third. He drove in the Twins third - and, at that point, go ahead - run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly. He singled in the eighth, stole a base, and was in position to score the winning run then.

But, he saved the historical histrionics for that extra inning dinger, a 2-1 Liebrandt high changeup that Puckett rocketed over the left centerfield fence, almost at the same spot where eight innings earlier he robbed Ron Gant of a similar homer with a patented leaping, stretching, home run-nabbing catch.
Reliever Carl Willis was also heroic with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless work. Starter Scott Erickson, who entered the game as a major question mark, survived six innings of adequate pitching.

The final career numbers
Career totals (1984-1995)
G AB H HR RBI SB AVG
1783 7244 2304 207 1085 134 .318

In Closing
Some will bring up the fact that Kirby did some questionable thing at the end of his life after his playing days were over. I heard a co-worker at work the other day talk about what a punk he was. This man even suggested we take his hall of fame award away. I think a wise man once said he who lives with out sin cast the first stone. I think the saying he who lives in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
I don’t agree about taking his hall of fame award away nor in my opinion do I care. Kirby Pucket was acquitted of the charges filed against him and found to be not guilty/innocent. Also, Kirby’s accomplishments speak volumes and I will not let his after baseball life of taint my fond memory of him. May God grant him peace and take care of Kirby Pucket RIP. Below a former team mate reflect on the passing of Kirby.

UND sweeps MTU easily. Time for WCHA playoffs as the Dirty Mavericks come to town.

Last Weekend the Sioux swept the MTU Huskies with relative ease winning 6-0 and 4-0 vaulting into fourth place of the WCHA standings where they finished fourth in the final standing ahead of C.C. Tigers and SCSU Huskies. The Fighting Sioux seem to be peaking at the right time again as they ready for another late season playoff surge. Jordan Parise is 3-1 in his last four games and with two shut outs. Jordan is 18-7-1 on the season. Obviously people are going to say big deal Jordan Parise got two shutouts against a crappy opponent like MTU; but as of late MTU had proved to be no pushover and has played all opponents tough. So, its irrelevant if the shutout wins were against Tech. In looking further into the numbers Tech had not been swept in the second half of the season. In fact not counting the great lakes tourney during Christmas break (Tec played Michigan State University and University of Michigan) the Lowly Tech Huskies haven’t been swept bay any opponents counting even the mighty golden rodents during the new year/second half of the season. Oh by the way the Sioux defense held MTU senior Chris Conner pointless the whole series. In fact Conner was relatively invisible. Also, did I mention that Jordan Parise is ranked 10th over all in the NCAA.



Bring on the Dirty Minnesota State Mavericks

The Fighting Sioux’s reward for winning both games and finishing fourth last weekend is a date with the MSU-M Mavericks. Last time the two teams played in Grand Forks, the Fighting Sioux and the Mavericks racked up an obscene amount of penalty minutes. Both teams at that time were 1st and 2nd in the WCHA in penalty minutes. I am not so sure it’s going to be any different this weekend. Mankato is a hardnosed team that plays with an edge. Also, Mankato has proven to be a dirty team in the past. It’s not secret these two team don’t like each other. I also expect to see Mike Prpich right in the middle of it string things up and making the opposing players mad. Last weekend Mike Prpich was thrown to the ice via his facemask by MTU’s resident thug John Scott. Mike Prpich came up smiling.

Back to the penalties North Dakota is averaging a whopping 24.7 penalty minutes a game, while Minnesota State is averaging a ballooning 23.8 minutes a game. However, North Dakota could take advantage of Mankato States untimely penalties by scoring on the Power Play. The Fighting Sioux are ranked 12th nationally on the power play.

This weekends games
Personally I hate watching MSU-M play hockey, its gross and hard to watch. I would rather watch paint dry or watch much better match up between say a UND and the Goofers or a UND and C.C. Tigers than this cheap team. Every year it is the same thing, MSU usually come in and runs a goon show taking liberities up and down the ice on UND’s more skilled players. I also don't want to see UND skilled players get knocked out of the game or hurt for the rest of the year due to a busch league hit. Yearly MSU-M sits near or at the bottom of the league, that is not forgetting the fact that the Mavericks play hard and talk a lot of smack. Their coach the king of smug oozes and condones cheapness and cockiness. I guess I hate them almost as much as dirty Denver Pioneers.

UND gets ready for MTU. A must win series.

This weekend the UND Fighting Sioux face the hapless MTU Huskies for a playoff positioning. There is no sugar coating this at all the Fighting Sioux must sweep the MTU Huskies no other result is acceptable.

While I think the Fighting Sioux can’t take the MTU Huskies m lightly they are definitely the better team, MTU has one line with some really good players, they drop off drastically after that top line.

Also, the Fighting Sioux need to win and get help from the Dirty BADgers as they face a one-dimensional SCSU Huskies lead by only Bobby Goepfert. I have always said that if you rely almost solely on goaltending to win your going to lose eventually.

The Fighting Sue Redux.

I have to make a correction: This was sent to me by a Sioux fan and not a Gopher Fan. the web address is http://www.fortcollinscolorado.us/fightingsue/index.htm
I guess it is funny.

Sioux get pounded by Pioneers 7-3.

The head line read DENVER: UND freshmen couldn't do it all.
I believe that is the understatement of the century, freshman players score 8 of 9 goals this weekend and only one other goal was scored by an upper classman all weekend and that was resident tough guy senior Mike Prpich. In Mike’s defense he is the only senior that makes a regular contribution on the 2005-2006 version of the UND Fighting Sioux. For the most part I was happy with about 45 minutes of this hockey game. Then the roof came down on the Fighting Sioux and then it became the massacre at the OK coral.

When it is all said and done I think this past weekend series will prove to be a pivotal series in defining UND’s playoff hopes, which don’t look to bad at the moment as they sit in 12th place in the PWR rakings tied with Boston College who is falling like a prom queen’s dress after the prom. The fighting Sioux need a split and got it, they need to win the next two games against MTU and hope the BADgers get at least two points from the pesky SCSU Huskies who are doing it with mirrors being lead by basically only a top notch goaltender Bobby Goeperft. This may prove to be a huge order for the BADgers who seem to be flailing away right now with no hope of turning it around at all, that Badgers are returning to playoff form just in time for the playoffs, who wouldn’t want to play them right now. It appears that once hot goaltender Brian Elliot can stop a beach ball now.

Back to the pivotal series part: The Sioux in the second half of the season have split with each of the teams ahead of them except Wisconsin (who they didn’t play) on the road with. Minnesota, C.C. and now Denver. They say split on the road and sweep at home.
The Fighting Sioux are now 11-5-1 on the road, which is pretty darn good compared to their less than impressive home record of 9-8-0.

Elliot's Hobey Baker Campaign? Kessels Revenge?

Found the following picture on Satnu's blog. http://goldennation.blogspot.com/ Very interesting picture. Actually its supposed to be a Brian Elliot's hobey campaign which is going up in smoke just like the BADgers Mcnaughten Cup hopes. I would actually post the link to his page on my blog but I haven't been able to figure out how to do it. The picture is kind of funny and ironic. It should show the rest of the league chasing the BADgers down and killing their title hopes.

UND pastes DU in 6-2 win. Gwozdecky Snaps and gets tossed from the game.

Jonathan Toews, Mike Prpich and T.J. Oshie all scored first period goals and the Fighting Sioux went on to pound Denver University 6-2. Ryan Duncan, Toews and Kozek score goals in the third period as UND cruised to a big victory in the WCHA standings. Jordan Parise proved that he was the man again as he held the fort for the Fighting Sioux. The win upped his record to 16-6-1 on the season.
As a Fighting Sioux fan it was very fulfilling watching the Sioux dismantle the Denver Pioneers. The last few years DU has take it to the UND Fighting Sioux but again the tide is starting to turn back to UND favor. Last night UND said enough is a enough. Gwozdecky went to the well one too many times with Peter Manino and UND made them pay with the 6-2 thumping. I thought even better that the Peter Manino finally got some pay back/medicine for his cocky attitude during the playoffs last season. Last season he did a lot of talking in the DU cage and finally he got some it back.

Ironically through all of the thumping UND took from Denver Pioneers none of them were on DU home ice where UND is 9-1-1 in its last 11 games. Thats pretty significant, lets hope that UND can make it 10-1-1 tonight with another trashing of the Dirty Denver Pioneers. As a rabid Sioux hockey fan I think I hate the Pioneers more that I hate the Minnesota Golden Gophers or the Wisconsin BADgers. The Pioneers are by far on of the dirtiest and chippiest teams I have seen play in many years of being a college hockey fan.

The game say a interesting turn of events as DU coach George Gwozdecky was ejected with 11:02 to play, not a common occurrence in college hockey (I wonder if George coached baseball). Apparently Gwozdecky didn’t like the fact that Sioux choir boy Mike Prpich cup checked Jeff Paukovich at center ice during the face off, of course Gwozdecky snaps and starts going nuts, getting tossed from the game by Todd Anderson. The bad blood continues as later Jeff Paukovich tries to decapitate TJ Oshie and was promptly is sent to the penalty box.

This is taken from www.Siouxsports.com as Petey 23 sums up the Mike Prpich spear on Jeff Paukovich pretty well.
It didn't seem to effect him too much. He was able to come back on the ice and run Oshie from behind(should have been 5), then headlock him and drive him to the ice face first(Bertuzzi style) which should have got him a season ending suspension. Bad news for him, he still has more coming to him...it's called karma.

UND and DU this weekend.

UND and DU face off this weekend in a crucial weekend series in Denver. Denver has proved to be a good place for UND to play as of late. The Pioneers are just 1-8-1 against North Dakota in their last 10 games in Denver. The losing team has been held to two goals or less in the last 15 games between the teams.

Most Sioux fans are anxiously awaiting this weekend series because many of us are wondering if there will be any lingering affects of the Jeff Paukovich’s dirty checking from behind play on popular Fighting Sioux defenseman Robbie Bina during last season’s semifinal game at the Final Five in St. Paul Minnesota. WCHA referee Don Adam blew the ensuing call giving Paukovich only a two-minute penalty, a horrible response to one of the dirtiest plays I have ever witnessed in college hockey. In fact as I said on siouxsports.com The Punkovich hit on Bina last season was one of the cheapest, dirtiest hits I have ever seen period, I was right across from it and it was bad.

Many Sioux fans including myself were furious over the non-call by referee Don Adam. Rightfully so, Paukovich was later given an additional game suspension by the WCHA, making up for Adam’s horrible interpretation of the checking from behind rule. In addition to the WCHA suspension Denver Coach George Gwozdecky later suspended Paukovich an additional game during the NCAA playoffs.

While I hold Paukovich (referred to as Punkovich by many Fighting Sioux fans) I am not so sure the Fighting Sioux hockey team will be looking for retribution this weekend, there are more pressing concerns mainly securing home ice for the WCHA playoffs as well as moving up the power rankings so they can play in the NCAA West Regional they are hosting.

While I would love to see this issue settled on the ice with Paukovich dropping the gloves and getting his ass handed to him, finally seeing Paukovich repaid for his horrible act against Robbie Bina, I would rather see UND playing in the post season. While these things in hockey usually seem to work them selves out eventually. My advice to the Fighting Sioux player’s this weekend is pick the time at your choosing, do it without hurting the team and your final goal, no selfish knuckleheaded penalties. If the opportunity presents itself by all means take your shot make it count. My last word of advice is; take action the first game and not at the end of the final game on Saturday night, UND needs all their players for the final series in the REA against the MTU Huskies.

Lastly, I do think Paukovich will chose to do his talking in the media instead of on the ice like he did when he was here in Grand Forks, he will not take his medicine he will turtle and hid behind the referees.

Jordan Parise is the man.

No one should be confused who the UND Fighting Sioux’s starting goalie is. Junior goalie Jordan Parise is putting the finishing touches on another very nice season. If it weren’t for Jordan this season the UND Fighting Sioux could very well been stuck in the bottom of the WCHA standing just like MTU and UMD. Lets take a look at the numbers further.



No one should be confused who the UND Fighting Sioux’s starting goalie is. Junior goalie Jordan Parise is putting the finishing touches on another very nice season. If it weren’t for Jordan this season the UND Fighting Sioux could very well been stuck in the bottom of the WCHA standing just like MTU and UMD. Lets take a look at the numbers further.

Here is the look at the numbers on the two UND goalies

Jordan Parise: for the season he has played in 22 games posting a 15-6-1 record with a .931 save percentage and a GAA of 2.17. For his career Jordan has posted gaudy numbers. He has played in 71 games has .921 save percentage and GAA of 2.12 and a record of 46-17-7

Philippe Lamoureux: has played in13 games this season posting a 5-7 record has a .910 saver percentage and 2.62 GAA. On his career Phil has played in 31 games has a .913 save percentage a GAA of 2.37 and a 12-15-2 career record.

Breaking down the numbers further: When Jordan Parise gets to the playoffs he turns up the intensity another notch. I am convinced that Jordan Parise was one of the main reasons the Fighting Sioux went all the way to the Frozen Four last season. I also feel he is one of the reason UND is where it is today as far as the standings go. Last season after a loss on February 26th Jordan Parise lead the Sioux to a 9-2-1 record (Phil had one of the loses in the Final Five against Denver). In the East Regional game against the BU terriers Jordan Parise stopped 29 of 29 shots as BU was up ended Worchester by the Fighting Sioux 4-0.

The next night: Jordan Parise back stopped the Fighting Sioux to a regional championship against the B.C. Eagles out performing over rated Eagles goalie Corey Schnieder 6-3. Rant on: I know I would take Parise over Schnieder any day. I think he is hands down the most over rated USA goalie in the NCAA well except for Al Montoya. After two dismal WJC tourney appearances I am ready for a change in net for team USA. Off my soapbox.

Lastly during the 2005 Frozen Four Jordan Parise back stopped the Fighting Sioux to a impressive 4-2 score over the high flying University of Minnesota Golden Gophers. The was same exact score that UND beat Minnesota by in the third place game of the Final Five. Frankly, I don’t care what Donny Lucia says about that game, according to Lucia the game didn’t matter and UMN bagged the game and didn’t care about winning. I am telling you it mattered to the players and Jordan just flat outplayed over rated University of Minnesota Golden Gophers goalie Kellen Briggs. I am in an on going debate with many Gopher fans how good or not good Kellen Briggs is. Frankly you couldn’t convince me that he is that good. If there is a weak link on Minnesota WCHA McNaughten Cup team its their young defense and the sieve that have in between the pipes. Kellen Briggs has a .906 career save percentage and a GAA of 2.48, definitely Jordan caliber and has been known to fold in important games.

UMD gets Dogged by the Sioux.

After a well deserved two weeks off The Fighting Sioux righted the ship at a home as they crushed the hapless UMD Bull Dogs 5-1 to take the two game series 2-0 and the season series 4-0. In the series the Fighting Sioux outscored UMD 9-1. The Fighting Sioux are 11-1 in their last 12 games against UMD. The Sioux lit up UMD goalie Isaac Reichmuth for 5 goals a night after the Fighting Sioux victimized former UND and Red River goalie Nate Ziggleman for 4 goals, two of the goals were very weak.

On the other end of the ice Jordan Parise stopped 50-51 shots this weekend solidifying himself as the go to guy going into the playoffs. In my opinion Jordan should be the defensive player of the weekend, however, I am sure the political WCHA will some how end up giving it to some hack like Kellen Briggs. Because we all know a University of Minnesota victory is much more significant than a UND victory. Also, hobby Baker Memorial trophies are more important than NCAA titles.

Saturday night ended up being another night where the freshman came up big, again as two newcomers scored three points each on the night: Jonathan Toews had a two goals and an assist also, Ryan Duncan who had a goal and two assists. In looking at the numbers UND fans can only be excited, as the Sioux’s future looks very bright. Jonathan Toews was amazing last night scoring two goals of the high light variety most of his thirteen goals this season have been of the high light variety. There are so many great young first year players putting up big numbers for the Fighting Sioux this season. With their three point nights Duncan and Toews both have 21 points on the 2005-2006 season.

Freshman Scoring


## Player POS YR | GP G A PTS PEN/MIN
7 T.J. Oshie (STL) F FR | 32 17 15 32 10/ 31
9 Jonathan Toews F FR | 30 13 8 21 7/ 14
16 Ryan Duncan F FR | 34 9 12 21 12/ 24
22 Brian Lee (OTT) D FR | 32 2 13 15 18/ 36
4 Taylor Chorney (EDM) D FR | 32 2 9 11 16/ 40
10 Andrew Kozek (ATL) F FR | 34 4 6 10 7/ 14
20 Matt Watkins (DAL) F FR | 34 3 1 4 12/ 43
6 Zach Jones D FR | 34 0 4 4 25/ 69
2 Joe Finley (WSH) D FR | 31 0 3 3 24/ 67

121 Points on the Year.

UND and the Bull Dawgs. Lets slap some Dog ass.

No offense to my Labrador Retriever, however, now is the time for the UND Fighting Sioux to slap some Bull Dawg ass this weekend. Period, there is no sugar coating it, time to do or die. Must win game for UND. The room for error is so small. If UND has any aspirations of making their NCAA regional and hosting a first round WCHA playoff series they need to win hockey games.

Also if the Fighting Sioux wants avoid traveling down to the Concrete Center and playing the SCSU Huskies they need to win and hope that SCSU loses and loses often. Maybe the last weekend UND fans will even have to become Wisconsin fans (YUCK that makes my skin crawl to say that). Reason being, UND does not match up well with the Huskies and their top goalie, for what ever reason the Sioux have sucked against the SCSU Huskies, however, this is for another discussion we may revisit later on if the Sioux faulter and SCSU keeps winning. In other words The Fighting Sioux needs to stop talking about what they have to do and just sweep these remaining homes games against second divsion teams: UMD and MTU (this is possible because both teams suck very bad, their horrible, UND also holds a 4-0 record against them). Add to the equation the Sioux also need to split with the DU Pioneers next weekend in Denver. This is might be a tall order because DU has come on strong as of late but UND has proven to be a good team on the road going 10-4-1 while they are 7-8 at home (unacceptable).

Goon’s Game Plan:

The Sioux must start Jordan Parise from now on out. Sure Phil is a good goalie but he isn’t on the same level as Jordy. Unless Jordy fail and falls on his head: enough with the playing of Phil he has proven he can’t win a big games when the Sioux need them, Phil also has let in some weak goals this season, especially against SCSU. Lets go with the horse that brought us here. The kid can play is probably one of the top five Goalies in UND history. Well top 10. On a side note Jordy is making history: With 44 career victories, North Dakota goaltender Jordan Parise is two behind Darren Jensen for sixth place on the UND all-time list.

The Fighitng Sioux must crash the UMD net. Get in the Bull Dog player’s face, make it tough to play against us, turn Finley and Smaby lose. Play nasty pound them in the corners, smack them at the blue line.

Clear out the front of the net and let Jordy see the puck. If someone is standing in your crease deck them hard. Time to get nasty. Get some dirty goals. They count just as much as pretty goals.

Western College Hockey: College Hockey Roundtable Discussion #1

Western College Hockey: College Hockey Roundtable Discussion #1


As the end of the year comes to a close in the WCHA: Its Wisconsin, Denver and Minnesota are neck and neck for the top spot in the WCHA something has got to give. Gophers or BADgers probably will finish in first or second. If the Gophers finish first that is fine me, let them have the the Cup. Doug Woog mentioned on FSN a few weeks ago that the Gophers might be peaking too fast, we can only hope. In my opinion I believe the Wisconsin BADgers have peaked already and are starting their late season swoon.

As UND fans know winning the Mcnaughten Cup has been known in the past to be a anchor and the team that wins the cup puts a lot of energy into winning the league. As far as the final top 6: positions 3,4,5,6 in the WCHA are officially up for grabs. I say how these teams finish could be anyone's guess after that, its just too close to call. I think UND and DU will emerge as the better teams in the end when it counts the most. But hey I am biased too.

Bagdad Cindy. The face of the left?

I can't stand this woman and she is about as stupid as they come. Moveon.org has tried to make her the new face of the Democratic National Convention. Nah, they changed their mind they are running away from this whack job faster than they are running away from Looney man Howard Dean. Baghdad Cindy kind of reminds me of Hanoi Jane Fonda This piece posted below really sums it up well. I found this on a web page. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1466889/posts

Vietnam had Hanoi Jane, Iraq has Baghdad Cindy! At least Hanoi Jane. didn't have a son who gave his life for his country and she bashed as the murder of thousands of innocent Iraqi's like Baghdad Cindy is doing when she accuses our soldiers of this in her insane statements. The peril in which our brave and honorable troops have been placed because of the stupidity coming out of this woman's mouth is just as treasonous as it was when Hanoi Jane placed our POW's lives at higher risk by her actions during Vietnam. I strongly suggest that signs start going up in counter protests in Crawford and across the Nation labeling her "BAGHDAD CINDY" which would be a just and true label for her. I have read the emails sent to you after your Crawford appearance and I am shocked and appalled. Not only are they degrading themselves by using this type of language in their uneducated and falsely informed points of view, but they are degrading our troops who are serving in Iraq. These soldiers are serving in order to help develop and protect the freedoms in Iraq that we are so privileged to enjoy in America. How can they overlook all of the hundreds of thousands of innocent Iraqi men, women, and children who were murdered in cold blood by Hussein and his government and still say that Americans are the murderers? In Baghdad Cindy and her follower’s cases, the old saying " better to be thought stupid than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt" seems to fit quite well.

Check this out: http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1123992232.shtml

Response to my Letter to the SCSU Sports Editor.

Last week I wrote an email to Kevin Allenspack a sports writer from the St. Cloud Times about an article that he had written on UND. I thought the article he wrote was one sided and off the mark. Kevin was nice enough to write me back here was his letter.

Goon:

I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. My response time is generally a lot quicker than one week, however I was out of the office for a few days and the rest has been busy getting stories done in advance of this weekend's series with Anchorage.

I appreciate your feedback on last week's preview story. I'll be the first to admit that the disparity in penalty minutes before last weekend's series with North Dakota had pretty much zero impact on the 2-1 SCSU wins. That's a risk you take in choosing a topic for a preview. I could easily have written about UND's offense (at the time, best in WCHA games) and that also would've proved way off base.

I'm glad you still thought it was more impartial than the FSN telecasts. That would've been too much if you didn't. Believe it or not, I consider myself very impartial in my coverage. I could care less whether SCSU wins or loses. I'm just after what makes the best story and serves the readers the most.

You have a good point that I did not see the Mankato infractions. However, I have been covering the WCHA for nearly a decade. And if you think anyone around the league is going to say another team is tougher to play against, from a standpoint of getting hit hard, beat on and intimidated than North Dakota, you're wrong. I've also seen Dean Blais send guys over the boards to take revenge for what he thought was a bad hit. I saw Brian Canady spear Jon Cullen in the groin toward the end of an SCSU victory. Dave Hakstol doesn't shirk the image of a tough team because it serves the Sioux. They are intimidating to play against.

As for the Sioux nickname controversy, I'm only glad I don't have to chronicle that soap opera. The Times won't let me use the word "Fighting," which I disagree with. I don't have a problem with the nickname, but I'm not a Native American, either. The one thing I can say is that I don't see the controversy ever going away unless the name changes. At some point, no matter how much school pride I felt, I'd get tired of fighting that same old battle. And you are correct, though, that SCSU should stay out of it and let the matter rest between UND and the NCAA.

I don't know if you regularly read the Times or just did so because the Huskies were UND's opponent. I appreciate your feedback and am always willing to hear more. You're also welcome to write a letter to the editor (To Sports Mailbag at: sports@stcloudtimes.com).

Hope to hear from you again,

Kevin Allenspach
St. Cloud Times

Goon's Challenge to the Sioux hockey team.

1.) Just win: if not for anyone else do it for self-pride. Some one please step up and show some leadership.

2.) Time to stop reading your press clippings and play some hockey. The opposition is not impressed that 11 of you have been drafted by NHL teams. As fans we were impressed at the beginning of the season, however, a lot of you haven't lived up to the hype and frankly I feel cheated.

3.) Show some pride and win in your own building. The old REA was tough for the opposition to play in The new REA is too hospitable to the opposition. Opposing teams should fear this building and they are not. Your record is 9-3-1 on the road time to win 4 more games against C.C. and DU. Have some faith. Believe in yourself. Go to war for the guy next to you.

4.) Check out the banners hanging in the rafters of the REA this program is one of the most storied programs in college hockey. Losing is not an option if you want to play on a team that doesn’t care about winning go to UAA, UMD, MSU-Mankato, or MTU. Wear your Fighting Sioux uniform with pride, wearing it is a privilege not a right there are no free rides. If your confused and you need a lesson on pride talk to coach Cary Eades. The man oozes Grit, Determination and Sioux Pride.

5.) Winning is the only thing that matters.

Sioux Hockey team running out of time. Likely will miss playoffs this season.

In crunching the numbers for the UND Fighting Sioux hockey team chances of making their own regional are looking really bleak. The Sioux are on life support and the medics are pulling out the paddles to see if they can get their heart beating again. It’s almost time for the Doctor to make the call on the Fighting Sioux hockey team. The Doctor says, “There is nothing we can do for the Sioux their dead.”

I can hardly wait to watch the games and have to listen to a bunch of pompous Gopher fans/rubes lecture us on how bad UND sucks. I also can’t wait to hear a bunch of classless hockey fans from Minneapolis and points east tell us, “wow its sure fun to go to a game in Marriucci West.” I am sick of hearing it. I suppose I could sell our tickets at an over inflated price and watch the games in the comforts of our own home, devoid of Gopher Fans. Or maybe I will go, suck it up and watch the regional, it would be fun and I have never been to one before.

The Fighting Sioux chances of going any further than the first round of the WCHA playoffs seems far fetched and a pipe dream. In running the numbers on Fighting Sioux Sports.com I figured that UND almost has to go 6-1-1 or 7-1 to get a slim chance to host a first round series in the REA. That draw would probably be a team like SCSU. Their chances of making to St. Paul seem even slimmer.

There is no sugar coating this, the Fighting Sioux ruined their chances last weekend by being swept by a second rate SCSU Huskies. When you play with little effort or heart your going to get beat. On paper this series seemed to say sweep for UND. I mean really who would have thought, SCSU has no first round draft choices and basically are lead by a very good goalie. One could say that the cupboard is bare and there really isn’t anything there as far as star power goes, to boot their top players was out with a leg injury.

Last weekend UND laid an egg, again. The UND fighting Sioux have laid many eggs this winter. Here is a break down of the eggs laid this season: (1) Losing 1-0 to a week Harvard team. This was the Fighting Sioux first lost to a EZAC team in 20+ years-unacceptable. (2) Losing against a weak and crappy UAA team that happens to be a last place team in the WCHA-unacceptable. (3) Getting Swept by a second rate team SCSU-unacceptable. This past weekend the Fighting Sioux hockey sucked, period end of excuses, there are none for poor play. This past weekend the Fighting Sioux hockey team showed little heart and no grit. They played like a woman’s hockey team. For this bad effort they are now probably going to suffer for it in the post season by sitting home while other teams are playing in the regional in their building. I beg the leadership on this hockey team to stand up and make a stand, hold your fellow team mates accountable. Please take some ownership for the way this team has played. We can’t blame the coaches on this one.

Huskies beat Sioux in boring game.

The Fighting Sioux lost a boring uneventful game to SCUS (JBSU) last night at the REA dropping UND home record to 7-7 at home. I have one word for last night loss- UNACCEPTABLE in my opinion. Losing to a second rate team like SCSU is not an option late in the season when your in the playoff hunt for a top 5 finish in the WCHA standings. Hakstal needs to take control of his team and start sending messages to players that put up second rate efforts. Have them sit in the stands or on the bench next to the coaches.

Drew Stafford is a million dollar talent that fails to show up in big games. Missing three (3)goalmouth shots with a wide-open net waiting for him. All three shots went wide of the goal. Rastislav Spirko has no points in three games. Time for Sparky to grow a pair and skate through the hooking and holdings.

Fighting Sioux Goalie Phil Lamoureux is has proved to be untrustworthy goaltender giving up a weak goals at the end of the game being a goalie that the team can’t count on. Jordan Parise needs to play the rest of the way with Phil sitting on the bench.

If I have to watch another effort like last night to night I am going to scream. Let go Sioux, stop F#(king around and play hockey. Your more talented than most teams in the NCAA, start acting like it.

UND plays SCSU; Angels against the Bully Boys.

Check out the crap that St Cloud Times Kevin Allenspach writer wrote about the Fighting Sioux hockey team in his weekly article. This is article in my opinion a hatchet job, a tabloid fish wrapper article. If this doesn’t get Sioux fans and the player blood boiling you have to be dead. This clown just called your team a bunch of goons. The UND Fighting Sioux are a tough team not a bunch of goons and thugs. I hope UND goes out and kicked SCSU ass tonight (on the score board). I wouldn't want UND proving me wrong.

Despite a dozen rookies, North Dakota has lived up to its long reputation as a rough-and-tumble bunch. The Sioux have been sentenced to more penalty minutes than any team in college hockey this season, and lead the WCHA with an average of more than 28 PIM per game.

The Huskies, by comparison, are downright angels on skates. They've never exceeded 29, and average approximately 14. Their self-restraint will be tested this weekend at Engelstad Arena, where they know it will be paramount to maintaining a hot streak that has St. Cloud State surprisingly in sixth place. "It's just a normal game against North Dakota if there's a lot of stuff going on," said Huskies junior Justin Fletcher, who has a team-best six-game point streak. "You know they're going to take some penalties. Your power play has to be on top of its game and you can't lose your composure. You have to be ready to play them 5-on-5 or 4-on-4."

Head Coach Bob Motzko is no better: I have lost what little respect I had for this clown with his quote on UND. Sounds like he has drank the Don Lucia Kool Aid also. Same old tired crap UND is a bunch of hacks and goons. I just miss hearing we have a bunch of 25 year old Canadians.

"We talk about it — I tell (the players) every week that we can't take foolish, selfish penalties," said Motzko, 12-9-3 overall in his first season as head coach. "North Dakota, they're notorious for roughing it up. If you see a fight in our league, chances are they're involved. It's a source of pride for them. They try to get nasty and get in your face. That's the way they like to play, aggressive. We've got to be ready for that."

I hope UND goes out and takes it to the SCSU= Jan Brady State University. A program dedicated to playing mediocre hockey.

Jan Brady State University is up next after UND sweeps Dirty Mavericks

Last weekend the Fighting Sioux swept a very important hard fought two games series at the Ralph Engelstad Arena against the dirty Mavericks of Mankato State University. UND now sits in 4th place of the WCHA with a 10-8 record one point ahead of the Colorado College Tigers who are idle this weekend. Next weekend the Fighting travel to Colorado Springs to play the Tigers next weekend who were swept on the road by the youthful Golden Gophers last weekend at Marriucci Arena in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

After this weekend's series I am convinced that Mankato is by far the dirtiest team UND has seen all season, to take a phrase from my book I would call them a goon squad. They continuously run their mouths and spend more time cross-checking, haching and cheap shooting their opponents up and down the ice than they do playing hockey. This style of play is also reflected by their Coach “head goon” Troy Jutting who is the king of smug thugs as he sits on the players bench coaching his gang of merry thugs on to their next egregious act.

Mankato brings to the ice a repatriate of dirty tactics and bush league moves. It was none more obvious from the start of the two game series that Mankato couldn’t keep up with the much more skilled and fleet footed Fighting Sioux. From the Start Mankato was dirty skating up and down the ice taking their runs at UND highly skilled players. Friday Night they almost started a brawl at the end of game by running one of UND skilled players.

Saturday night with UND up 3-1 in game two with 8:59 left in the game Mankato State University goon Joel Hanson jumped Spirko from behind staring a melee involving three players from each team. As a result of the scrum two fighting disqualifications were originally called on Kyle Radke and Ratislav Spirko. Ratislav Spirko has the Fighting Sioux record for most games without ever having a penalty called on him and to this point only has had two penalties his whole career initially received his first fighting major for his career. After Greg Sheppard reviewed the game tapes it was later ruled that Big Joe Finely was the guilty culprit instead. Radke and Finely will sit out Friday’s game against SCSU.

Hakstal was pleased with the Fighting Sioux’s effort after the game.
But, after the game, Hakstol didn't seem as upset with the fighting on the ice. Rather, he was more pleased with the hockey his team played. Guys are sticking together, and sticking up for each other," Hakstol said. "What the repercussions are, we have a week to regroup and get ready to deal with that. As a team, we want to make good decisions and smart decisions. But the bottom line is that it's a team game and you stick together as a team."


Now up next is SCSU aka Jan Brady State University also known as Sterns County Community College. The college hockey team known for its late season swoons, I believe the swoon starts this weekend at the Ralph. If UND plays it game and takes the puck to the net it should be another home sweep for the Fighting Sioux

Its Fighting Sioux not Sue.

College hockey fans around the globe like to make fun of the Fighting Sioux nick name by calling them Sue. One of my buddies (A BSU alumni, a power house in division one hockey, I am rolling my eyes) sent me above questionable picture. Most rabid Sioux fans have heard it many times before, so it is nothing new, however, I didn’t know that Dora the explorer was our new moniker, I hope we aren’t stepping on their copy right.

These uninformed rubes also like to think its funny to ref to the Fighting Sioux as Sue because of the connotation that women are weak or of the lesser sex. My opinion is let them have their fun and make fun of us. Maybe we should do a run down of the numbers in case any of the cretins are confused. They may want to take a trip up to REA and take a look at the banners hanging in the Rafters of the beautiful REA, I believe one look into the rafters says it all: 7 NCAA titles, 13 WCHA titles, over 300+ current and former professional hockey players. That’s pretty impressive in my opinion. Who cares if the rubes from Minnesota want to make fun of us? In case they are having problems with math, 7 > 5.

UND guts out win against Hated WCHA Rival the Golden Gophers.

Saturday night the Sioux took a much needed win and critical two point from the Minnesota Golden Gophers. The Sioux killed off a 5 minute major for checking from behind and never let the Gophers retake the lead after killing the critical mistake by junior forward Erik Fabian. Fabian was kicked out of the game in the second period when he took a run at Gopher forward Danny Irmen.

UND snapped Minnesota's seven (7) game winning streak by scoring a timely 3rd period by super sophomore Travis Zajac with one minute and twenty two seconds left in the third period. The win was good news for the Fighting Sioux who rebounded nicely from a miserable showing on Friday night to split the important WCHA series. The Fighting Sioux played the weekend series without the services of Junior goalie Jordan Parise who stayed home after suffering a concussion a week earlier in practice.

Pathetic effort, Gophers spank Sioux.

After watching last night's game I feel cheated, the effort displayed from the UND hockey team not worth a trip out of the house or down the highway to see, explained in one word pathetic. Thank God I didn’t travel to Minneapolis to see this. With Gas $2.29 a gallon this is worth going across town to see. What a horrible effort on the ice. Most of us could put more heart into the game than this team.

I watched the game with a Gopher fan at BWW and whomever’s team was behind at the end of the period had to buy the beer, in two games watching with him I have yet to have a round of beer bought for me. I not here to complain about buying a few beers, that’s not the point.

I am sick and tired of watching UND play uninspired hockey with no heart or emotion. I am tired of watching goal tending efforts go by the way side. Phil was shelled last night and he stopped 42 of 48 shot for a .913 save percentage. That is a lot of shots taken towards the Sioux net. Now I know how the duck and pheasnts fell opening weekend. Maybe the Sioux goaltenders should sue for lack of support. Where was the defense? I suppose some of them are still reading their press releases and WJC articles that were written about them. Actually like the Canadian fans I was booing them too last night.

Does anyone on the Fighting Sioux Hockey team understand the pride they should be displaying by being fortunate enough to wear that jersey. Wearing the UND jersey is a privilege not a right.Maybe Reg Morelli needs to give them a pep talk. Has someone shown these rookies the banners and the pictures or talked about the history? The three coach behind the bench know what it takes. This type of hockey/play is unacceptable at UND. This isn’t UAA, Mankato, Merrimack or MTU for that matter. I am sick and tired of people saying their young give them some time; these are talented players laying eggs in important games.

Scott Foyt should never touch the ice again this season. I am not sure why this kid is even wearing a UND uniform, talk about being out of his league. What a horrible play. The Gopher play is was obviously facing the boards, don’t touch him tie him up and get a whistle. People would say you never played hockey, but ok I will give you that. Checking from behind is the equivalent of hitting a QB while he is lying on the field. Its not needed. Now I am not talking about the questionable checking from behind calls that UND has had called against them. This was a blatant and a legitimate call and shouldn’t happen. It cost UND the game in my opinion. UND finally gets a shorthanded goal about 30 minutes into the game and then Minnesota races up the ice twice and its 4-1 game over.

Thanks for playing UND, you looked horrible again. Oh by the way Gopher fans quit calling me to tell me what you think about the game. I don't care. 7>5.

Lets get it on. Sioux and Gophers.

The Golden Gophers and Your UND Fighting Sioux begin a two game set tonight. I predict a split and so does Wooger (I suppose Gopher fans are hoping Woog doesn’t jinx the home team this time around, last time Woog predicted a Sioux sweep and we ended up getting swept), Split is a good call as UND and U of MN have split all the games in Mpls since Donny Lucia took control of the Gophers. I would however love to see the Sioux go into the John and sweep the prim Donnas from UMTC. Nothing would please me more than this, except a triple hunting ducks or a hole in one on a par four at Kings walk. I expect the Gophers to underestimate the Sioux and lay an egg tonight, I do however, expect the Dirty Gophers to come back tomorrow night and win. I am hoping (I have my fingers crossed) that Parise can play and I expect at the last moment that when it counts Jordy will be ready to go, he will dig down deep and find the strength to play this weekend.

I was quoted this week on KFAN's Rube Chat: Big shock right? (I slightly edited it for content mistakes).

We might want to look at this series through green and white sunglasses, because I think UofMN is prime for the picking and UND only needs to split and hope for a few bounces and get a sweep. Personally I think the later is possible. I have one word for you Gophers fans Briggs, in my opinion I feel Briggs is not worthy of sniffing Parise’s jock/cup. When the games counted last season, Jordan shined brighter than Briggs.

Natalie Gulbis, the Face of the LPGA? She is one heck of a golfer too.

Some one said that I didn't include golf on my blog, I guess it might have been an over site. Well here you have it. Check out Natalie's offical web page at http://www.nataliegulbis.com/10.html I forgot to mention she is one of the most attractive golfers on the LPGA tour (ok she is by far the hotest golfer on the LPGA, come on guys its true, she is some serious eye candy), but that being said she can play and is a legitimate golfer. Natalie has a 2006 calender that is now for sale. When she is not posing for pictures she either golfing or on the practice range with Butch Harmen.

The Sioux and the Gophers Revenge Tour.

It is only fitting that On Friday the 13th the UND Fighting Sioux head to down Marriucci arena to begin an important two game series with their hated WCHA arch rival the "Golden Gophers" . This is a pivotal series and the Sioux need to win at least one game to put them in position for a second half playoff run (the old adage sweep at home and win on the road). UND has an 8-2-1 record on the road and 5-6 record on home ice (yikes that’s pathetic).

The brutal reality is that the Fighting Sioux needs conference points in a desperate way, four points would be very nice and is very much a possibility if the Fighting Sioux play their game and don’t get caught up in the extra bull S#!t. In other words they need to cycle the puck, crash the Golden Gopher net, keep the front of the UND net clear without getting a lot of unnecessary penalties. Also the Fighting Sioux hockey team need to let Jordy and Phil see the puck. Did I mention the Fighting Sioux need to stay out of the penalty box? Minnesota has the number one rated power play in the WCHA and they love to set up in the opponent’s zone and let their power play go to work. Make the Gophers pay when they go into the Fighting Sioux end. The Gopher hockey players don't like to hit or be hit.

This is a crucial series because UND as I mention earlier needs points to finish in the top five of the WCHA standings so they can host a WCHA home playoff series and then hopefully earn a spot in the Final Five in March. Another reason it’s important for UND to have a good showing this weekend is that frankly the Fighting Sioux laid an egg last time the two teams played up in Grand Forks. It seemed like the UND players was more worried about Ryan Stoa and his antics and less about keeping the opponents puck out of their net.

The Goon’s prediction on the weekend is I say split but I wouldn’t be surprise if UND takes 3 of 4 points. Hak will have them ready to kick some Gopher Ass this weekend.