Saturday, February 02, 2008

How Soft Can The Gophers Get?

Sioux and Gophers play to a 1-1 tie tonight.

Idiot Of The Weekend Award goes to the overrated Blake Wheeler, a prototype soft Gopher forward. Not only did he (as always) not play the body all weekend, he negated two Gopher power plays by being goaded by Sioux players into taking offsetting penalties after the Sioux had drawn a penalty. Fittingly, Blake (with a name like that, I'm amazed he's not a figure skater) refused to square off with Joe Finley - from Edina! - after the game. Blake, you're a wuss - have fun in the NHL, I'm sure they'll take it easy on a softie like you.

After the game, Don (Boy, He Sure Can Coach 'Em Up) Lucia said something about no punches being thrown. He obviously wasn't watching when Derek "Free" Peltier (6-0 195 lbs) of the Gophers had Sioux player Evan Trup (5-10 155 lbs) on the ice and threw two punches at him for apparently no reason (aside that the Gophers only take their shots when they easily can.) Trupp took exception and then so did the much bigger Brad Malone. Two on one ... and the rest of the Gophers stood on the ice and did nothing to help their teammate. S-O-F-T.

After the post-handshake mixup, reputed Gopher tough guy Stu Bickel was pointing his finger at the Sioux and talking trash. Funny - Bickel had nothing to show when players were going at it tonight and did not take up Finley's challenge to him to go at it at any time from earlier in the game. Stu: You're from Chanhassen. Next time you think you're a tough guy, pretend you're at the dinner theater and sing some show tunes. You are obviously more fitted to that than actually squaring off against a similar-sized Sioux player who will destroy you.

Final Note: The folks on FSN were whining about the lack of an "intimidation" penalty being called on UND in overtime. Along with the Gopher coaching staff whining about the Sioux playing tough-guy hockey, it just reaffirms that not only is Gopher hockey soft, their TV affiliate buys into that wear-the-skirt mentality. All I can say is: Golly people, I hope you don't get too intimidated in the future.