THE WYMAN WEEKLY

Underemployed. Unattached. Unimpressed.

Issue 45 March 29, 1997

 

 

 

Why have a life when you’ve got others to live it for you?

 

RESURGENT SIOUX CLINCH SIXTH NCAA HOCKEY TITLE

 

At what point did I think that we could pull it off? Was it when that Sioux-supporting gal at work on Thursday (after I had pointed out that I was wearing a green and black flannel shirt) told me that she was wearing green underwear? No. I was still  a nervous wreck after we pounded Colorado College in the semifinal game. (And you try to concentrate on a hockey game after an attractive woman describes her undergarments.)  Did I think we could bring home the bacon after I awoke from a dream at approximately 3:00 a.m. on Friday morning, pumping my fist because in my dream we had defeated Boston University in the title game? No. I didn’t begin my celebration until Adam Calder put that puck in the empty net at the end of the third period to put us up 6-3. I worry, and the six cups of coffee and the two Wild Cherry Diet Pepsis (along with the handful after handful of Dakota Kid sunflower seeds) I consumed before that empty-netter didn’t help my worried condition much.

 

Hats off to the Boston University Terriers. They played the Sioux tough, jumping to a 2-0 lead after one period and didn’t give up after our second-period five goal onslaught. Hell, Parker got his team to beat Michigan in their semifinal game, after almost everyone had conceded the 1997 title to the Wolverines. And in the title game, the Terriers never gave up, scoring a goal late in the third that brought them within one. Although the Terriers are 1-3 in their last four title game appearances, (UND is 4-0) they could be acknowledged as one of the elite college hockey programs in the country. Check out this top fiver:

 

Top Five College Hockey Programs as Based Upon Most National Championships Won:

 

1)  University of Michigan - 8 (1948, 1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1956, 1964, 1996)

2)  University of North Dakota - 6 (1959, 1963, 1980, 1982, 1987, 1997)

3)  Denver University - 5 (1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969)  tied with...

3)  University of Wisconsin - 5 (1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990)

5)  Boston University - 4 (1971, 1972, 1978, 1995)

 

TEN YEARS AFTER

 

With a team full of underclassmen picked to finish fifth in the WCHA preseason poll, the Sioux have won the whole shebang. Fifth in the WCHA? Well, that actually sounds familiar. Check this out:

 

In 1987, the Sioux were predicted to finish fifth (if I remember right, it was definitely in the middle of the pack) in the WCHA, and then went on to win the WCHA regular season title. In 1997, the Sioux were predicted to finish fifth and then went on to win a share of the WCHA regular season title.

 

In 1987, the Sioux went 8-0 (I’m pretty sure, Berg will call me if I’m wrong) to start out the season until being beat by Minnesota on the road to end the streak. In 1997, the Sioux went 6-0 to start out the season until being beat by Minnesota on the road to end the streak.

 

In 1987, Grand Forks Red River defeated Grand Forks Central to win the North Dakota state high school hockey championship. In 1997, Grand Forks Red River defeated Grand Forks Central to win the North Dakota state high school hockey championship. (Hi Kevin!)

 

In 1987, the Sioux defeated Minnesota at home to clinch the WCHA playoff title. In 1997, the Sioux defeated Minnesota on neutral (okay, sure...) ice to clinch the WCHA playoff title and prove themselves to be the true champions of the WCHA.

 

In 1987, the Sioux were sparked by a blonde-haired sophomore player (Tony Hrkac), who had not played college hockey the previous season (he was playing with a national team) and then came back to be a leader with the Sioux and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker award. In 1997, the Sioux were sparked by a blonde-haired sophomore player (Jason Blake), who had not played college hockey the previous season (he had transferred from another school) and then became a leader with the Sioux and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker award. (Note: Hrkac won the Hobey in ‘87.)

 

DEAN BLAIS AND HIS TEAM

 

Dean Blais, in only his third year as head coach, has won the national championship. And you just liked him because he looks like David Letterman. Did UND have the fastest team in college hockey? Well, they didn’t play Michigan head-to-head, so we don’t have a definite answer. (Oh, and I have to mention Red Berenson, the Michigan coach, who while looking over the players in the West Regional said something to the effect that only four or five of the players on the other teams could play for Michigan. That may be true; but I can think of at least one coach in the West Regional, Blais, and at least two coaches in the East Regional, Don Lucia and Jack Parker, who I would take over Berenson.) The Sioux were fast up and down the roster. And, to steal (or paraphrase - take your pick) from Ryan Bakken of the Grand Forks Herald, “the Sioux’s scorers grind and their grinders score.” In other words, this was a Sioux team where every player did whatever it took to win. They played smart, disciplined hockey, not taking many penalties and keeping an even keel throughout their playoff run. Their goalie down the stretch, Aaron Schweitzer, was clutch, coming up with confident save after confident save that made you forget his young age. Their underappreciated defense was solid and steady. I want it to be noted that Curtis Murphy made the all-WCHA first team. It was Murphy that scored the goal that put UND within 2-1 in the second period, not allowing BU to put us away. And when the Sioux score once, it’s hard to keep them off the board ...

 

YOU WANT STATS?

 

UND scored their opponents 18-8 in their three NCAA games this year.

UND has the all-time best winning percentage in NCAA games (.694).

This isn’t a stat, but I just have to say: University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux - all they do is win.

 

SISTER LUCK

 

After the Sioux won their fourth national championship back in ‘82 (smoking favored Wisconsin 5-2 in the final), my way-cool Sioux sister (I was then in high school and a Sioux wannabe) scored me a pin. The pin, in bold green letters on a white background, states “FIGHTING SIOUX - HOCKEY NCAA CHAMPS.” People give me a bad time because the pin doesn’t have a year on it. Well, when you pick up national championships at the pace North Dakota does (only one team has won more in the fifty-year span of NCAA hockey championships), why buy a new pin every time? This pin will do just fine, thank you.