Jeff Kennedy wrote:
> What was up with the attendance at the WCHA tournament?  I would guess that
> HE and the ECAC may have each drawn more fans.
 
Good question.
On Thursday night you have the University of Minnesota vs St. Cloud State
University. Both schools within an hour of the Target Center and the
attendance was just over 10,000. Half was in red and black and the other half
in white and urine. I have no sympathy for Gopher fans who complain about not
being able to get tickets at Mariucci, because they sure were not at the
Target Center. Was there a basketball game on? Or maybe everyone was studying
(doing papers and all).
On Friday night it looked like a St. Patrick's Day parade in the Target
Center. Nothing but green and black. Maybe Gopher fans do not like watching
executions, but they missed a good game.
 
Overall, I felt embarrassed by the turnout. This is a hockey state? No proof
of that in the Target Center. The scoreboard had categories such as TOL and
FLSRMG (Basketballese for time outs left, and fouls remaining, I guess). Where
was everybody? Here is the playoff tournament for arguably the best hockey
conference in the nation, and people decide to pass it up? Well, shoot people,
you're not going to get a better shot at live college hockey. The more I think
about it, my embarrassment turns to anger. When college hockey gets put down
by basketball fans and fans of other major sports, we leave ourselves with no
defenses if we do not show up at the games. Now I'm mad (if I had a heart, it
would be on my sleeve and boy what a mess that would be to clean up).
 
Nathan Eric Hampton
 
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