Can we put this Wisconsin/Clarkson thing to rest once and
for all. What follows is the text of a message I sent Kyle
(aumellK@Clarkson...) the Friday of the UW/Clarkson series.
If you don't believe me, ask Kyle, he'll confirm it. I think
it answers the following questions:
1) do we respect Clarkson
2) do we think we will "roll" clarkson
3) do we view our team as being cheap (sean hill practically
paralyuzed a guy with a cheap shot - do I have to say
any more)
4) did all UW fans purchase tickets to LSSU in advance
Get the idea??
By the way, if you need a second opinion, I wrote mike_m a
message in which I detailed the same information.
> Hi Kyle,
>
> my name's cliff and i'm wisconsin born and raised, and have been
> a badger hockey fan for as long as i can remember. i just
> subscribed to the listings and read your latest message concerning
> the UW/Clarkson matchup and thought I'd write a little to you
> personnaly to let you know what people back here are thinking.
>
> 1. I can guarantee you that nobody back here, unless they are
> foolish, thinks Wisconsin will easily defeat Clarkson.
> UW has looked very tentative and inconsistent this season,
> particularly against good competition. The ECAC champion,
> on their home ice where they are 16-0-1 definitely
> qualifys as good competition.
>
> 2. There is some talk about the fans in Walker Arena, and the
> "big bell" that I've been told rings a hell of a lot.
> The team doesn't seem to be very concerned with this,
> although we all know that the bell seems to ring a lot
> more when Clarkson is winning - I guess what I'm saying is
> that we'll have to wait until monday to see if the team
> considers the fans a problem.
>
> 3. There has been infinite talk concerning the small size
> of Walker Arena. Wisconsin's coah, Jeff Sauer, seems to
> think that having played well at Colorado College and
> UMD, both with rinks almost exaclty the size of Walker,
> the team should adapt fairly well. To this I say,
> CC was dead last in the league, and UMD finished below .500 -
> I think that had a lot more to do with the badgers playing
> well. The smaller rink WILL be a problem.
>
> 4. Something that hasn't been mentioned back here that often
> is the penalty complication. Wisconsin takes stupid penalties -
> Clarkson's PP unit is lethal. I won't insult your
> intelligence by elaborating any further - if Wisconsin
> takes penalties, they're dead.
>
> 5. My prediction - I won't try to cheerlead and pick
> Wisconsin for no reason. I think the series will go
> 3 games. I think whoever gets better goaltending will
> win the series. I look for very low scoring games - it
> sounds as though both teams are perfectly content to play
> their game, regardless if they're 1 goal ahead, or 1 goal
> behind. To be completely honest with you, I don't feel
> any vibes for this weekend - I think Clarkson will win.
I also wrote Kyle a congrtulatory note on monday morning
wishing his team the best of luck against LSSU. I dare
say that people from wisconsin understand the good feeling
that comes from having won an NCAA tournament game/series.
good luck to all the fans that still have hope.
cliff
ps - message sent on behalf of the NCAA Division I Ice Hockey
Champion University of Wisconsin Badgers.
pps - Jesus saves....... badgers score on the rebound !!!
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