Minnesota coach Doug Woog notched his 300th career win as the Gophers
defeated Colorado College 5-2 in NC$$ Regional action, advancing to next
week's Phinal Phour in Providence.  The Gophers scored the game's first
goal (by Dave Larson) but then fell behind CC 2-1.  Co-captain Scott
Bell tallied on a rebound to send it to the first intermission tied 2-2.
Early in the second period Nick Checco made it 3-2 Minnesota, and the
Gophers' Larson scored his second of the game with 1 second remaining in the
second.  (sorry, couldn't resist...)  Brian Bonin put it out of reach
one minute into the third period and the Gophers just held on from there,
as the Tigers got a little frustrated and took a few extra penalties.
 
It was a pleasure for me, a displaced Gopher fan, to be able to watch the
game on ESPN2, and, although the announcers muffed a few names, I was
impressed that they had taken the time to learn a little bit about the
players.  Also, they showed 2 shots of hockey-l-ers Erik and Paula Biever in
their Gopher ears, which the announcer apparently couldn't identify (they
were, I believe, also sitting next to hockey-ler Dave Parter)
 
BTW, it was also a pleasure for me to join the Baltimore-Washington
hockey-l'ers to watch hockey last night, but the drive was just too much to
make again tonight.
 
I was NOT impressed with the Wisconsin fans however.  I certainly have no
trouble with the sportsmanship of the sieve chant, but when the Gophers
were leading 5-2 at the end of the game and their fans gave them a
standing O, the Cheeseheads (having finally arrived, in anticipation of
the upcoming Badgers game) saw fit to boo this.  And then when the Gophers
did their traditional celebration (a raised-stick salute of the
fans at center ice), the fans booed that too.  Now THAT's bad sportsmanship
in my book.   I'm sure the Gophers will remember it, though.  Bonin and
Larson were laughing and waving their sticks at the crowd, probably just
egging on the Gopher supporters.  And I'll certainly remember it before I
post any more kind words about the Badgers.  (The Dane County
fans aren't shaking in their boots about this, I'm sure, but the fact is
I lost any remaining respect I may have had for them.)
-Pam Sweeney
Go Gophers!!!
1995 NC$$ Phinal Phour!!!
Congratulations, Doug Woog!!  300 victories!!!