I Don't Like Minnesota State

The Minnesota State University - Mankato Mavericks are the epitome of the Freudian phrase "Penis Envy".  Generally, we tend to think that moniker belongs to North Dakota for lots of reasons.  Grand Forks has little to offer humans except for the hockey team.  So those folks have their personal identities wrapped up in their hockey team in ways unlike virtually any other community in the country.  But I believe Mankato fits the "penis envy" definition better.  Why?  Because UND has been historically successful and Mankato has been comparatively impotent. 

They're about 80 miles from the University of Minnesota.  They split up Gopher rejected recruits with St. Cloud.  That equates to a sort of big brother envy/syndrome.  The town's biggest claim to fame is the largest single mass execution in U.S. history (they hanged 38 aboriginals but were desperate to hang 303 before Abraham Lincoln disallowed that sort of ethnic cleansing).  It actually took them until 1997 to apologize for it when they built a park and made some statues in the name of reconcilliation.  What a joke.

A pretty substantial and persistent rumor has it that the coaches wife had some sort of affair with a player on the team.  And that coach has clear anger management issues.  I can't imagine what he'd do if someone like UND's Brett Hextall (known for talking shit to opposition coaches during the game) were to skate by him asking for Mrs. Jutting's cell phone number.  An enraged repressed cuckold is potentially dangerous doncha know.

Mankato is every bit the match for Grand Forks in terms of level of futility for human entertainment and/or distraction.  There is literally nothing to do in the place.  Unless you consider picking up a venereal disease at one of the local bars something to do which is the commonly accepted state of things according to the knowledgeable travelling hockey fan contingent at USCHO.

There is a large and active theater community in Mankato.  Several groups of thespians ply their acting modalities at the Kato Entertainment Center.  There's an underground winery.  Yes.  They grow grapes underground and turn them into wine.  It is the ONLY underground winery in Minnesota.  Duh ... who else in Minnesota would be dumb enough to do something so futile.  They have a brewery that turns out Grain Belt.  Grain Belt?  OMG ... ever drink Oly?  Pretty much the same low rent shit beer.  Worse than Old Milwaukee and Pabst Blue Ribbon.  So yeah ... all that adds up to me saying they wish they had a penis ... but they're stuck being the taint.

So yeah ... none of that has anything to do with hockey.  It's just that it's more interesting (to me) than anything I can find about their hockey team.  The one ongoing description you'll hear coaches around the WCHA use when talking about the Mavericks is that they're hard working.  Obviously, I haven't seen this years version. 

Of their returning players, I'd rate only Kurt Davis as having top end skills.  They're apparently excited about freshman Tyler Pitlick which makes sense since the verb form of his last name is the #2 hobby in Mankato.  After those two, sophomore Mike Louwerse is the only other known quantity as far as being dangerous.  He really came out of the box fast in his freshman year and ended the season with 13g-13a.  Their defense is experienced with 3 juniors and 1 senior.  As a team they're only marginally smaller overall than the Seawolves.

They've had a frustrating beginning to their season.  Four of their six losses have been by 1 goal.  Both of their losses last weekend to Colorado College had that margin (1-0, 3-2).  Their only WCHA win of the young season came against Wisconsin.  The Badgers dinged them 6-0 on a Friday night before self-destructing (two CFB majors) in the 3rd period the next night giving Mankato a 3-2 win.

Seawolves fans should expect a very hungry and determined opponent this weekend.  Outsiders often remark that a road trip to Anchorage is difficult.  But if you're Mankato this week you're focused on nothing but an opportunity to move up in the standings.  There's obviously not much difference between UAA's two wins and their single win.  Troy Jutting won't be preaching split to his team.  He'll be demanding that they leave town with maximum points.  If he is any kind of motivator then he should be able to overcome whatever difficulties a five and a half hour plane ride on a Thursday  morning might present for his team on a Friday and Saturday night.

If UAA players and staff are in any way telling themselves, "Well at least they're not DU, UND, Minnesota or Wisconsin" then they're making a huge mistake.  The Seawolves recent home-ice history against this supposed "rival" isn't stellar.  And while past season's performance is a very poor indicator of what is likely to happen this weekend, it can't be ignored in this case.  Hosting Mankato isn't some sort of off-week because they aren't one of the big 4.  They'll be in the Seawolves faces all weekend.

Once again though, the Seawolves will have to match their performances from the UND and DU victories up here to come away with wins this weekend.  Anything less and they'll be looking up at Mankato in the standings instead of gaining some separation.  So yeah ... once again we're looking at to date, the most important series of the season.  All the usual necessary high level aspects and execution will be necessary this weekend.  Solid defense, shot blocking, efficient transition, speed, physical play and goaltending will be the keys.  And oh yeah ... the Seawolves will have to bury their chances.  We've seen all too many shots go just wide this season.  Put it on the net and find the rebound chances.  Gritty and greasy is the key this weekend.

The one redeeming characteristic of Mankato?  It's isn't Biminiji St.

Green&Gold Fridays, Jersey Saturdays: Free Tickets

Don't forget that this weekend (and every home weekend) that UAA is running two ticket promotions that make simple and easy to get your kids into the games for free.  On Friday nights, you just have to wear Green & Gold and you can receive up to two free general admission tickets for kids 12 and under.  On Saturday nights, you wear a hockey jersey and again you can receive up to two free general admission tickets for kids 12 and under.

It's simple.  You go to the northwest ticket office and head to the student desk up to one hour before gametime.  Show them your "Green & Gold" on Friday night or your "Jersey" on Saturday night, buy one adult ticket and they'll give you tickets for the two kids you brought with you.

I've pinned the flyers for each of these promotions in the right hand column.  Tell your friends.  Take the neighbors kids if you don't have any of your own.  Babysitting on Friday or Saturday night?  What better way to let the little ones burn off some energy.  I promise you that when you get them home after the game that they'll crash out big time. 

I can't think of any entertainment option in town that would be anywhere near as inexpensive as this.  Take advantage of it.  UAA Athletics and all it's great volunteers make the hockey games a very family friendly and fun event.  Don't miss out!

Monday Potpourri: Bourno's Road Rinks, Other Stuff

WCHA fans might be interested to read former UAA player Justin Bourne's take on his "favourite" road rinks from his 4 year career as a Seawolves player.  Bourno goes with "The John" @ #1, the Kohl Center in Madison @ #2 and the NHL Jr. Rink in Grand Forks to round out his top 3.  Of note, he says the surface at the Sullivan Arena is...

"the best ice surface I’ve ever stepped foot on.  It’s like playing in fast forward it’s so hard and fast."

I figured Justin would love to hear from the UND faithful on this post.  They generally chime in like a herd of furtive baboons on methamphetamine anytime a "list" pops up on the Internet that has anything to do with their program.

For the Mariucci he makes tradition and Yankees references; the Kohl gets the usual props for it's band and student section, and the Ralph for being "purty".  For any of you Bourne "Noobs", the guy has gone from playing hockey to writing about it and looks to be the future Grantland Rice of the hockey world.  If you didn't see the link above click here to go read Justin's observations.

_________________________

Looking back on the weekend I find a couple of positives.  The first one is that in neither UAA game did another week long controversy raise it's ugly head.  After two weeks in a row of that BS, I can say that I was definitely ready for a break.  Let someone else have all that.  Thank you Aaron Marvin for taking the latest spotlight with this ill-advised concussion-inducing run at Chay Genoway.  The other positive is that since somebody screwed the pooch on Saturday's TV situation that I got to listen to Kurt Haider.

The Gophers looked good on Saturday beating some shitty overrated team from from the hinterlands of their own state (4-1) and then completely pissed down their maroon legs the next night (6-2).  They weren't the only Minnesota team with a big yellow stain down their maroon breezers this weekend though.  Duluth let Michigan Tech win on Friday night (3-2) before emphatically getting a split on Saturday (8-1).  Colorado College went up to Mankato and dispatched our next opponent twice (1-0, 3-2).

_________________________

Winter took it's time getting to Anchorage.  And today when I got up there were NO DEGREES.  Wasn't it like 50 just a couple of weeks ago?  All you Hummer drivers across the world need to burn more gasoline dammit.  Start throwing loads and loads more CO2 into the atmosphere please.  If Anchorage is to become more Seattle-like in my lifetime then I'd like it to happen sooner rather than later.  Quit slacking rich people.  Consume mass quantities of everything exponentially more than you are already.

Buy more bottled water that gets shipped in to Anchorage from Houston, Texas.  You're not eating enough bananas either.  If I see more hybrid vehicles up here I swear I'll scream.  There's this really big field of coal just across the water from Anchorage.  Someone get over there, dig it up and start burning it.  Now please.  Don't listen to all those tree huggers that want us to limit carbon emissions.  I could give a shit if North Dakota turns into a desert or if New York City gets 200 inches of rain a year; I want Anchorage to get Seattles weather.

_________________________

There's only three more WCHA series before the mid-season break.  Mankato this weekend here, then down to Colorado Springs before finishing up the 1st half here with SCSU.  Remember back in September I told everyone that the first four series were going to be very very challenging?  I figured the team would get a couple of more points out of those games than just the 4 they've earned.  The next three series aren't exactly going to be easy.  Allow me to be the first to say it ... if the Seawolves don't come away from the next six games with more than an additional 6 points then they're in a big hole to start the 2nd half.  The closer to 12 points they can earn out of those games the better.  And yes, that's an incredibly obvious thing to type.

The fall signing period for hockey is winding up and it shouldn't be too long before we start to hear some new recruits for UAA as well as which existing recruits have actually inked their name as a promise to come here.  Shortly after the SCSU series, I'll have a comprehensive recruit update.  I'll be focusing primarily on players coming in 2010-2011 but will supply something about everyone currently listed.  I'll also write up some sort of mid-season report cards for the team.

That's all I've got for today.  I don't know if I'll have more than one Mankato-related preview this week.  That team and that place really bore me so finding some inspiration isn't an easy thing.  So with lack of inspiration as an excuse I present for your viewing pleasure ...

Seawolves 2 - Badgers 6: Cop Out Recap

The big news for the night was that a game we all thought would be on TV didn't pan out.  I could speculate on the exact nature of the problem but I won't.  Dr. Cobb stopped by the chat room and apologized and indicated GCI told them it wasn't a problem on their end.  So since I didn't see the game and it didn't come on at 7PM as I'd hoped I'm not going to bother with any analysis.  What the hell could I really know about a game I didn't see.

Instead, I'm going to give you a cut/paste job of the most excellent recap that UAA's Assistant SID Dallas Baldwin supplies for the GoSeawolves.com website.  If you don't go over there for all the particulars that I seemingly never provide then you're not getting the full picture.  Educated sports journalists know exactly how to present the relevant information and quite honestly Dallas does a great job.  It's not "fun" to write up a recap and give all the details.  What she does makes me look like the dilettante that I really am.

MADISON, Wis. - A pair of goals by senior forward Josh Lunden wasn’t enough to lift Alaska Anchorage over Wisconsin, dropping the Western Collegiate Hockey Association series with a 6-2 loss on Saturday at the Kohl Center.

The Badgers (6-3-1, 4-3-1 WCHA) swept the Seawolves (4-8-0, 2-6-0 WCHA) for the third time in two seasons with three Wisconsin goals following both of Lunden’s tallies.

The Seawolves were on the board first with Lunden’s strike at 15:32 on the second shot of the game. Junior defenseman Luka Vidmar and junior forward Tommy Grant were credited with the assists on Lunden’s fourth goal of the season.

Celebration was cut short as the Badgers retaliated with a goal just 11 seconds later by senior forward Ben Street, tying the game 1-1. Wisconsin took the lead at 12:37 of the second period with a goal by senior forward Blake Geoffrion, followed by the game-winner at 2:32 (Patrick Johnson).

With UW on the power play, Lunden added his second tally of the evening and 5th of the season at 6:36 of the third - the first shorthanded goal of his career - bringing the Seawolves within one at 3-2. Senior forward Kevin Clark - current UAA point leader with nine - registered the helper.

A minute later, UM added their fourth goal at 7:42 off the stick of freshman Craig Smith - his second in the series. The final two goals for the Badgers were on the empty net.

The Badgers placed a season-high 42 shots on net after hitting UAA with a season-high 37 shots on Friday night. The Seawolves were held to a season-low 13 shots on net. Junior goaltender Bryce Christianson (2-4-0) posted a season-high 36 saves in the loss - just two shy of his career best. Junior Scott Gudmandson (2-1-1) picked up the win with 11 saves.

Both teams were scoreless on the man advantage - UAA (0-3) UW (0-7). The Seawolves were sent to the penalty box 10 times, serving 20 minutes, while the Badgers were 6-12.

The Seawolves failed to receive any points this weekend, maintaining their 8th place ranking in the league with Michigan Tech with four points apiece.

Lunden's tallies mark the first two-goal game for him since March 6, 2009 against Minnesota-Duluth. Lunden leads all current UAA scorers with 44 goals - breaking him into the top 20 on the all-time career list.

The Seawolves will return to the Sullivan Arena on Nov. 20-21 for a conference series with Minnesota State. The puck is scheduled to drop at 7:07 p.m. AST both nights.

Normally, it would be inappropriate to copy an entire article that someone else published even when it's been properly attributed; copying just a part of the article and linking readers to the remaining text is the accepted best practice.  Since I see this as an attempt to promote the excellent work from Dallas, I hope UAA won't sue me (even if I also admitted I'm doing this as a sort of "cop out").

So take a moment sometime and send Dallas an email and tell her how much you appreciate all the hard work she does for the program.  All the UAA contact email addresses are here.

Here's the boxscore.