>If you want hockey info…
>Go here. This guy has got info on the WCHA and CCHA, and he knows who Nico Sacchetti is.
>THE REFERENDUM PASSED, WE ARE GOING TO FINANCE A NEW STADIUM!!!
I want to spend lots and lots of money eating and drinking in Duluth now!
For the final game of the season, I’ll be at the John screaming my lungs out for the ‘Dogs. Last year I nearly flipped over the railing. I know Mike Curry’s going to get a hatty for me.
Sorry for the lack of updates, but due to personal tragedies (besides the only one conference win in 2006, I mean), I haven’t felt very funny lately.
*This was going to be a very short post, but then I went to the stats page and saw 2 new people were linking to me:
Goon, who posts over at siouxsports as well. I take no responsibility for any of his opinions, but the man certainly does have strong ones. I’m jealous of his dog.
This guy, whose name I don’t know yet, is much better at this blogging crap than I am. I especially liked the post when he was blacklisted from USCHO.
Thanks guys, and once again, when the Alleged Webmaster makes me a site that I can be proud of, I’ll be linking to you.
A funny story: while I was waiting for my flight to Denver last Friday, I saw a girl in the waiting area wearing a Fighting Sioux windbreaker. She ended up in the seat directly in front of me, so I asked if she was going to the games. She said yes, I told her I was a Sioux fan, but that my #1 team was the Bulldogs. She said something and turned back around, but then she asked me, “I don’t want to sound like a huge dork, but do you post on Siouxsports.com?” I said yes, and she said “I think I know who you are.” It’s a small world after all.
The last weekend of the regular season’s coming up, and I know I shouldn’t expect anything but a shut-out loss on Friday and a 1 or 2 goal loss on Saturday (extrapolating from recent events), but I really want to see something good happen. The city of Duluth just gave the Bulldogs a gift: tangible, measurable support. Guys, the people of Duluth love you enough to pay a little extra when they eat out. Love them back with a win or two.
Finally, I just wanted to say goodbye to someone I loved, who loved
hockey.
>I Love It When I’m Right (Which, FYI, is constantly)
>I was really excited to post right away about the awesomeness of Saturday night (!), but then Air Bud was on, and I had to watch it. And record it on my DVR and watch it over and over again.
Okay, maybe not.
Business first: A big thanks to the 2 great folks who linked to me. When (if???) I get the new site up and running, I will have actual links, but for now, I’m just going to have to post them here.
Drop The Puck! is the latest news and analysis from way up there in Anchorage, Alaska. Except he calls snowmobiles, “snowmachines.” HAH!
Full DECC sometimes talks about the Bulldogs, but he also discusses high school hockey and random other stuff. Plus, he recently got engaged! Mazel Tov!
Now back to your regularly scheduled hockey talk.
Bad news first: Friday night.
Friday night started out okay. I even got to listen to the game (w00t!), and I made some notes, but they seem to have disappeared amongst the rest of my mixed-up files. Okay, Gergy goes down with the old checking from behind b.s., not very happy about that (but I still love you!!!! I promise!!!!), oh crap, 5 minute major to kill off. But THEN, the BADGERS take a penalty and effectively kill off their power play. Maybe they scored on the 4X4, but that’s okay. WE DIDN’T GIVE UP A POWER PLAY GOAL!!!!!!!! YES!!!!!!! GO PENALTY KILL!!!!!!!! And then Sharpy scored less than 3 minutes later! Later on, after Robbie Earl-Louganis scored (the eventual game winner), Nick Kemp scored! Yeah! Timely goals! Nothing can keep us down! Woo! We left the 2nd period feeling like the game was within reach. And then the third period. The craziness, the weirdness, the scoring of two goals by Ben Street, Jim Jensen and Jack Skille dropping the gloves and not getting fighting majors, a bunch of crap. I thought, “Oh brother, was my prediction wrong? How can we salvage this weekend? Woe is me!”
Why would I ever doubt myself?
And now, the good news: Saturday night. Saturday night I was unable to listen until the postgame show, which UMDDogz turned at the party we were at. It didn’t sound like we had won, so I went back to paying attention to the chocolate fountain (or something), and then all of a sudden, he says, “They won!” What? Won? A game? Against Wisconsin? WOO HOO! Of course the ‘Dogs would come through for me, and get up for Wisconsin. WOOO HOOO!!!! THREE POWER PLAY GOALS!!!! Nick Kemp is on fire!!! Isaac Reichmuth even got a point! I am so excited!!! Why couldn’t I have listened to the game??!!?!?! Curse you, Horrible Job!
Now, riddle me this? What do you get when you combine getting off work at 5 on Friday, and having Saturday off?
A bye weekend. I can actually listen to both games, and there are no games to listen to! And after that… well, 1 win does not a win streak make.
Bah. Time for laundry. And more Air Bud!
>Been Down So Long, It Looks Like Up To Me
>So, it’s Bucky time again. My favorite time of year! Why? Because even when we’re sucking harder than a black hole, we can gut it out against the Badgers. For example, last year, we were in a tailspin, and we still took 3 points from them on 4 & 5 March. Two years ago, we went to their house and secured ourselves as the #2 spot in the WCHA. Three years ago, we split, and four years ago… well, let’s not go back that far. So I feel good about this weekend. I feel FANTASTIC about this weekend, actually, because I’ll actually be able to listen to the game. Therefore, there had better not be any of this 7-1 crap this weekend. BRETT HULL is going to be there, ‘Dogs. Don’t look like jackasses in front of someone whose jersey the school is going to retire.
I don’t wish any ill will toward Brian Elliott, I hope he recovers well and returns to form. However, I feel no shame in telling the ‘Dogs to exploit the gift the Badgers are giving us (the gift being Shane Connelly) to the fullest extent. Kick ’em while they’re down? Heck yeah! But we’re down? So what? This is our chance, we can claw our way out of the basement on the backs of the Badgers. We can humiliate them! One of the top teams in the country being taken down by a team on the verge of a total breakdown? They would lose their collective jock. Shane Connelly can not stop shots the way a Bobby G. or a Tormey can (although we’ve let some pretty weak goaltenders get away with wins this season, so I guess I shouldn’t talk), plus NO ONE has confidence in him (his team’s actions when finding out Elliott was hurt spoke loud and clear, plus he’s 0-4 for a team that only had 2 prior losses), so we could do this, people. I mean, these are the BADGERS we’re talking about. The DIRTY, DIRTY Badgers! From Robbie Earl and his mentor to the Bush League play of Ryan “Boarding” MacMurchy, they are dirty. And did I mention they were dirty?
I have fond, fond memories of Wisconsin the last few years.
Two years ago, on the final weekend of the season, I drove from Champaign, IL up to Madison for the weekend, sat in the Madison student section, and screamed “Hobey F-ing Baker” every time Lucien, Jr. touched the puck. We of course tied (would have won, but a goal was waved off) and then won, and there were a lot of red fans unhappy with me. Oh, and then I ran my car into the ground on the way back, I ended up on the side of the road in I-39 with a dead transmission. That was fun!
Last year, I drove from here to Madison for the Saturday night game, and even though we lost, I did make a girl look stupid when we pulled our goalie during a delayed penalty. It’s so easy to make Bucky fans look stupid, they don’t know anything about hockey. Okay, maybe some of them do, but I have never met them. If you are a knowledgable Wisconsin hockey fan, please come see me, I’ll shake your hand. Then I’ll give you a short quiz.*
I’m losing steam here, so I would like to say, let’s get a win this weekend! Even a split would be fine! Let’s Go Dogs!!!!
*I’m using the definition of “short quiz” my plasma and fusion professor used. It turned out to be a long midterm. We were unprepared. So even this footnote is putting you in a better spot than we were. I hated that class.
>FAQ
>This is probably the most hits I’ve had EVER in one day, what are you people doing here? Morbid curiosity, I suppose. Now I have to respond to the Frequently Asked Questions I can sense in your mind.
Do you actually think you’re funny? Because this is so lame.
Well, I do get a good chuckle out of some of the things I write, so yes, I think I’m funny. There isn’t a whole lot to laugh about this season, unfortunately. The better question would be, “Do you think other people think you’re funny?” Probably not, no, so don’t worry.
Why are there so many gaps between posts?
I’m lazy, for one. Lack of inspiration doesn’t help. I don’t always get to listen to the games because I’m working, so it’s hard to write “recaps” when you don’t know how the game went. (It is very easy to write a recap when you lose 7-1, because you know the only think that could have happened is hardcore sucking, but losing 3-2 could be a good game, a game we let slip away, or a game we almost came back in.) Plus, when I’m writing a site essentially for my own amusement, I don’t have a deadline.
What is the point of this site?
When I started it, I had grandiose visions of it becoming the next Batgirl!, but I’m just not that clever, nor am I that dedicated. Ultimately, it’s just another way for a hockey dork like me to enjoy the game.
Why is the design of the site so lame?
That’s something that actually can’t be blamed on me. I don’t know advanced web design, but I do know someone who can design a site. I asked this person to design me a site that actually looked decent, and he agreed. The site looks the same as the day I launched it. Thus, he is the Alleged Webmaster. He can be blamed for the lame Blogger template of this site.
I could write a better site than this.
Well, that isn’t a question, homeslice. But maybe you could. You might write something that has more to do with actual hockey (or actual reality). You might write something with many grammatical mistakes and spelling errors. However, if you wanted to write something funny, about the Bulldogs, or about WCHA hockey in general, you could certainly use this site as a home for your little column. All you have to do is ask politely. I would love to have you elevate the level of this site. Make sure that you spell- and grammar-check first.
Why do you like Mike Curry so much, even though his offensive output this year has been totally pathetic?
I have no explanation for that, but I also have no apologies.
If I leave mean comments on this blog, will it hurt your feelings?
No, in fact, mean comments actually inflate my ego. I mean, not only do people who love me (i.e. my grandparents) read this, but now people who hate me do, too! Hatred is the highest form of flattery. *Kisses!*
So, please, enjoy the site if you can, and never come back if you can’t. Salut!
>Re: Mocking Me In A "Laughing With Me" Way
>I feel obligated to post now that I have “outed” myself at The Penalty Box, even though I really don’t have the energy. I mean, the only thing that got me in the mood to post last time was my secret love for Mike Curry, because it certainly wasn’t the play of a certain team I may have referred to as “The WCHA’s finest hockey team.”
So, let’s resurrect a long-dead tradition over here at RWD: The Humane Society of the WCHA. I feel like it might be full after this weekend.
I recall the first entry into the WCHA fondly… “Isaac Reichmuth: That 7th goal made me want to sprout wings and swoop down from the stands and throttle him.” It’s interesting that we would come full circle here, as we reflect on a 7-1 loss to MANKATO STATE. It’s MANKATO STATE, PEOPLE. I say that for two reasons, one because you will never catch me calling it Minnesota State (that is the home of the Screaming Eagles, duh), and two because we should never, ever be swept at home by MANKATO STATE.
I hope the following people are comfortable in their cages at the HSWCHA:
ISAAC REICHMUTH: A save percentage should never be .563, EVER. And you should never let DAN KRONICK score. You could, however, get your goalie stick all up in his grill and stuff, but you didn’t do that. And why not? You wouldn’t have to sit in the box, Mike Curry would have to do that for you.
RYAN SWANSON: I guess I could blame Sandelin here, because I would NEVER IN H-E-DOUBLE-HOCKEY-STICKS PLAY YOU, but since he’s giving you the chance (why, oh why?), you could at least ATTEMPT not to blow it.
STEVE CZECH: You should be benched if I have to drive up to Duluth and sit on you in order to accomplish it.
I would probably have more people to lock up if I’d been able to listen to either game this weekend (although I might not have been able to survive listening to the Saturday night game), but remember that job that I always complain about? Well, it hasn’t gotten any better.
Mason Raymond, you rock my socks off. Continue to rock my socks off for three more years, and I will be a happy person. I love our freshman class. And Matt McKnight. And I even love Jeff McFarland right now, although he’s been a resident of the HSWCHA in the past (see, I’m a forgiving person), because he dropped the gloves this weekend. I never thought someone who goes mostly unnoticed in games would have so much rage built up. You and “Kemper the Wrecker” are awesome!
Some days, you eat the cow, and some days, the cow eats you.
>Where Have You Gone, Mike Curry?
>Un(?)fortunately, I didn’t get to listen to the game AGAIN nor will I be listening to it to(morrow?) night. However, I do feel like I need to have a little chat with one of our players.
Mike, you’re my buddy, although we’ve never actually met. I feel this connection to you that I only feel to very special players. It was so hot when you got 2 goals in 30 seconds. The earth stood still. UMDDogz even picked up his phone and called me, and if you only knew how rare that was, then maybe you would understand. The world is a better place when you score in it. But there’s a disturbing pattern here.
vs. MSU-M: 0g 0a 0sog
vs. SCSU: 0g 0a 1sog
vs. Michigan Tech: 0g 0a 0sog (DNP Friday)
vs. USA U18: DNP
vs. Cornell: 0g 0a 0sog
vs. Maine: 0g 0a 3sog
I could continue, but I won’t. I think, since we know the reason you sat for a little while, that maybe it’s not clear, but if you do not shoot, you will not score. I know that you do not have to score goals, you can be a playmaker, set them up, but all those zeroes are starting to look like the score sheet from the time in grade school when I asked my dad to chaperone a field trip to a bowling alley and I bowled a 7.
Let’s remember the good times, like when you came over to my house and had sodas and cuddled on the couch. I really enjoyed that, probably as much as you enjoyed whatever you did in Alaska. I want to see you turn your game around. My buddy TheBizzle over at The Penalty Box agrees. Anyone else, I might have given up on, but not you. You know I could never have the heart to put you in the Humane Society of the WCHA (although I haven’t even had the energy to put anyone in there), but any relationship requires some give and take. I can’t listen to the game tomorrow night, and I know that always makes the team feel neglected, but I’ve gotta make a buck. Imagine how I would feel if I came home from a hard day in the dog-eat-dog world of retail and saw you scored another game-winning goal. Or a goal. Or had an assist. Or a good game.
Where have you gone, Mike Curry? The Bulldog Nation turns its lonely eyes to you. Woo woo woo.
>Chutes and Ladders
>This slide is really hard on me. I don’t really like losing, but I can deal with it. However, it wears on me.
Though you might not believe it, I’m not that upset, because this last game had some fun things.
1. A power play goal, which we haven’t had since… well, I seem to have forgotten.
2. A GOAL FROM JEFF MCFARLAND, HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I almost died. I’m always thinking “What if McFarland got a goal?” and then he did and it was so glorious.
3. We were losing 5-0 at one point and still came back to a point where I actually thought we could win it.
4. Exciting fighting action at the end, with Nick Kemp getting a game DQ. If they can get FIRED UP and PISSED OFF about losing, well, that’s more than they’ve done in the past.
oh my, they just took the goal away from McFarland. That is so depressing. At least he got an assist, but holy crap.
Um, Dan Kronick. Ugh.
Please win, please please please, win next weekend. Then maybe I will have more energy to write a better post. I was all pumped to write a long one, and then they announced they were changing the McFarland goal and it just deflated me.
Rik Jordan will be there!!! Awesome!!!
Okay, that’s all for now. I don’t want to get negative about this team, although CERTAIN PEOPLE need to STAY OUT OF THE DAMN PENALTY BOX when they are CAPTAIN OF THE TEAM.
>Regular posting to Runnin’ With The Dogs will resume when the staff recovers from the mental and physical strain of working retail during the holiday season and then getting really sick immediately after things returned to normal.
A back massage would speed things up a bit, FYI.
Thanks,
The Management
>The Point
>I was composing this post while I was driving home from work (which is slowly sucking my soul out through my pores) and so I have to tell this story first. I do appreciate the irony of the title, though. I was driving along and I needed to switch lanes, so I put on my blinker, checked the car that was behind me, and got over. Little did I know, the car behind me wanted to go even faster than they were already going, and so it “appeared” that I cut this person off, intead of what actually happened, which was this person decided to zoom up and close the gap before I could get over. So they decided to flash their high beams at me, and I waved back (but due to crippling arthritis, only one finger actually made it up), so they did it a few more times. Good lord. What is wrong with people?
Anyway, I have so many points to make.
I understand not every freshmen comes in ready for the game, and not every player is destined to be a star. However, I do expect that those freshmen will learn and grow and mature, escalating their level of play, and as juniors and seniors they should be major contributors.
We have four goalies and one is drastically underused. Guess which one?
This weekend is a must-win. It is also a must-have-the-feed-tonight.
Dad should be out of the country every weekend since they just killed last weekend.
I was PMed by someone with the screen name of one of the Bulldog players. I don’t know if this actually means it was him or someone pretending to be him. I erased it without reading it, because on a message board, you can’t trust if people who are they say they are, but I was a little curious. It was someone I have heavily criticized (not Steve Czech), so I’m curious about what they had to say, if it really was him, but oh well.
Game is 25 min away, I’m watching the Gopher-Bucky pregame and listening to the Sioux-Tech game. Lots of hockey tonight! Better go.
Runnin' With the Dogs 