What "Needs" To Happen? A Sweep ...

Allow me to properly set some expectations for action here on the blog this week. There won't be much if any. Colorado College doesn't have a rabid fanbase of mostly vapid Internet chest-thumpers. You see ... there is stuff to do in Colorado Springs versus say a place like um ... Grand Forks. It's only 60 miles away from a real city so when the residents get out of one of the billions of fundamentalist churches, they can go live it up in Denver. I could bash the town and it's inhabitants all day without any concern that someone is going to show up and threaten to beat me up. I know because I did my best hatchet job on the joint last year before the UAA/CC playoff series. Only 3 people showed up to tell me what an asshole I was. But Adam Wodon at College Hockey News seemed to like it (or at least it cracked him up anyway). It also spurred a lifetime acheivement award for me.

This week only two words come to mind when thinking about this series: Seawolves sweep. Take care to note here that I'm not predicting that the Seawolves will sweep. Instead, those two words come to mind because it is what needs to happen. Why does it need to happen? Because the Seawolves are 2-3-2 in their last 7 games. Because the Seawolves are equidistant between 1st place and 10th place (5 points each way) tied with two other teams for 5th. And those two teams (UND and Mankato) are playing the 9th and 10th place teams (UMD and MTU) this weekend.

Once again the words "most important series of the season" are valid. It's been a while since the Seawolves swept Si Si. I remember the series but can't say exactly when it was because ... um ... like I said ... it's been a while. Last year Si Si beat the Seawolves six frigging times. But thankfully, this is a whole new year. This week the players definitely shouldn't think about the past at all. Of course, that isn't really possible is it? Our brains are wired with memory so that we can learn from past mistakes. However, nothing that already happened really matters. I know ... I know. I say that shit all the time.

But the focus has to be on the task at hand. And the task at hand is to earn as many WCHA points as possible THIS weekend. Failure is not an option. A sweep is not only necessary; it is crucial. Players can't go out half-assed on Friday thinking that it's ok because they'll come back and play better on Saturday. Friday night should be played like the season depends on it. Every Seawolf needs to believe that a failure to get all the available points this weekend creates a tougher road for the rest of the season. Because it does.

Yes. When coaches and players say they have to take things one game at a time they are right. You can't think about Saturday (or two weeks ahead) when you're playing on Friday. You have to focus on the task at hand. So all my ranting here about the need to sweep this weekend is perhaps misguided. But damnit. It really really needs to happen. Me, you, the team, the staff and anyone else familiar with this year's Seawolf team knows their potential. This weekend is all about living up to that potential by sweeping the #3 ranked Si Si team.

Freshmen need to play over their heads. Sophomores need to contibute mightily. Juniors need to bang it home. Seniors need to lead the way. Goaltenders need to be walls. Coaches need to motivate. And fans need to SHOW UP!

So every regular Seawolf fan needs to spend this week finding as many people as they can and get them to come to the games this weekend. There's no stupid holiday to keep people away with other social obligations. There's no shopping that can't wait for post Thanksgiving sales. Hockey fans in this city have NO excuse for not showing up this weekend. Don't go to the stupid Alaska Avalanche game at the Subway Center on Friday ... there's not enough seats there anyway. There's no good movies out that you can't wait to see on a Saturday matinee. Get 10 people to come. Get 20 people to come. Run around your office all week, talk up the team and twist arms to get people to come. Do whatever you have to do. If you're a rich alumnus then buy a shitload of tickets and give them to your friends and/or minions. If you're a middle class working guy then round up 4 kids to take with you ... they get in FREE if you wear Green and Gold on Friday. The team deserves better support and a bigger home-ice advantage.

Even the Anchorage Daily News is doing it's bit in a way with this nugget today. They didn't have to print that. It isn't really particularly newsworthy. Why did they do it? I think because they understand that sometimes it is their job to promote a community asset. Good on them. Now let's all do our part too, eh? BRING PEOPLE damnit ... even if they're clueless knobs who'd rather be at some artsy-fartsy dance recital. No Palins though ... ok? Unless you just want to bug me.