Denver Weekend

The weekend sees the Denver Pioneers lead by George the Dasher Dancer. Last time they were in town George got lost heading to the locker room after getting kicked out of the game. Maybe the elevation difference got to him!

We always get pumped for the Denver series as does the team. They are one of what I think are UND’s top three rivals (Minnesota, Denver and Boston College). I believe after last weekend’s performance that the Sioux are going to come out and take care of business and sweep Denver.

In addition, I predict two fights that cause players to be ejected and at least one dance on the dasher by pretty boy George.

This is an important weekend for the team as it will be the only time these two teams meet during the season and it is the home opening weekend of the WCHA season for UND.

Adding to the weekend is Eddie Belfour’s introduction into UND’s Hall of Fame. Friday night is being billed as Eddie Belfour night. We have been Belfour fans since he played on the 1987 championship team for the Sioux. His replica jersey was one of the first jerseys I owned which I received as a Christmas gift. Many years ago, the entire family traveled to Winnipeg to watch him in goal for the Blackhawks as they downed the Jets on a Sunday afternoon. Great family memories that seen like just yesterday. I am hoping to get my jersey and a Blackhawks style Sioux game puck autographed, we will have to see how that goes.

Sioux Travel East

Last weekend sounded like a train wreck for the UND hockey team. We did not get a chance to listen to or see either game as we were in Las Vegas catching Jimmy Buffett's last concert on the Under the Big Top Tour.

We did go to ESPN Sportszone thinking Friday night's game would be on there but no luck. Maybe we were lucky as from all accounts it would have been depressing to watch.

Saturday night must have been better but still a loss to an eastern team is not going to help in the Pairwise as the season goes on. Hopefully the team learned some lessons that will pay dividends in the rest of the season. If not, last weekend was a disaster.