Game One Of WCHA Final Five: A Preview

I have mentally struggled today to gain a handle on writing this preview; for a number of reasons.  The first being that every regular reader here has pretty much got to be up to speed on tomorrow's opponent.  There really isn't much that I can offer in the way of new information.  Secondly, nobody really needs me to say that this game is a big deal.  

Also, what more needs to be said about the tactics and strategy that the Seawolves will utilize tomorrow?   Even less than full time readers here should know what's up with that.  And I'm not going to go out of my way to write something for the 400 extra people reading this who've suddenly become fascinated with the Seawolves.  And yeah, the audience here is double this week what it might otherwise be.  But, I'm writing for you guys that have been here all year.

So this will just be what it is.

College Hockey News has a feature on Chris Kamal.  Had I not seen, linked to and posted the vastly superior one from SI last week then I would have made an explicit entry regarding it.  As "White Beard" mentioned in the previous comment string.  Chris' story is a natural for media outlets.  Too bad CHN writer Joshua Berhow didn't read the SI piece though; if he had then a couple of errors might have been avoided.  Otherwise, it's good press of course for the program.

USCHO "writer" (loosely used term) Tyler Buckentine has for the first time this season strung together more than 3 sentences in a row regarding the Seawolves in this preview.  I can't imagine I'm wrong in assuming this dude is as much a Mankato fan as I am a Seawolves fan.  Not only did Mankato get an excessive amount of play in his column this year, note the complete exclusion of that recent and crucial series in the current entry describing UAA's run to this tournament.

I'm trying to not be too critical here.  But some cursory familiarity with this program at times other than when they've become some sort of "media darling" should be expected from these alleged "national" outlets.  Well, I suppose it shouldn't be a big surprise to me when we can't even get the local media guy to get behind the program.  That all said, here's a another submission from Kurt "on-the-spot" Haider who's knowledge of, perspective about and dedication to the program exceeds mine. 

Hi Donald-
Day-before-the-game-update:

After an upbeat, spirited practice this afternoon at the Ridder, the Seawolves are now in St. Paul at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, just a few blocks from the Xcel Energy Center.
 
After practice, it was a short bus ride from the UM campus, then the team dropped off their equipment at the Xcel and had a look around.  Lots of picture-taking from the benches.  I told some of them the story of the 2004 team...the upset of Wisconsin in the first round, then knocking off Colorado College in the Thursday play-in game.
 
Curtis Glencross, Chris King, Chris Fournier and the gang.  Told them about the Glencross goal against Duluth that pretty much sealed the deal for his departure to the pros. (Remember?  Deep slot, turn-around clapper that went top-shelf and left the crowd with dropped jaws!  At least I think I remember it happening that way...?!)
 
The crowd here in St. Paul kinda adopted the Seawolves...and it was fun.  Hope they do again this time.
 
Anyway, good to be here.  Running into familiar people already as this is "tournament central".  Big game tomorrow...boys are narrowing the focus, and I have a good feeling about this.  We are playing so well as a team.
 
They'll get 45 minutes of pre-game ice at noon (MN time) tomorrow...gametime 7:07pm. (4:07pm AK)
That's it for now-
Kurt

Kurt's memory of Glencross' jaw dropping ripper from the high slot is also mine.  I'm dead curious to hear/see the exact mix of the crowd tomorrow in terms of adopting our boys.  I'm quite sure though that it will be sufficient to keep them energized.  Maybe we'll even hear a U-A-A, U-A-A, U-A-A chant or two eh?  Should be exciting.  My deep appreciation to Kurt for the submission.  I say he'd be the perfect addition to the blog and that we should draft him to become a regular here.

In closing today, I am managing to keep my keel even as best as possible here.  I'm dying to write some flowery inspired piece about being a fan of this program and how this group of players is this and that to me and all of the other dedicated UAA fans.  I'm tempering such a thing though in quiet hopeful expectation that it will be more appropriate next week.

So give em hell guys.  Play with the maturity and confidence we've already seen.  Give it up for the guy next to you and stay focused.  Support each other and be the "TEAM" that you have become and I have every reason to expect to see you playing UND on Friday night.

Go Seawolves!!!