I don't want to get too flowery and sensitive right before everyone is gearing
up for the biggest games of the year (so far), but I thought I'd mention an
incident that impressed me at the Final Five in Milwaukee last weekend (I was
there because the WCHA brings in all of the league's SIDs to work the
tournament -- a classy move in itself).  Anyway, after Minnesota scored the OT
goal to defeat St. Cloud State in the championship game, the expected on-ice
celebration (by the Gophers) and dejection (by the Huskies) took place.  The
crowd of Minnesota players were celebrating to the left of St. Cloud State
goalie Grant Sjerven and the Minnesota bench was at the opposite end of the ice
from where Sjerven and the Gophers were.  Gophers coach Doug Woog left the
Minnesota bench area to go join his players on the ice.  However, instead of
heading to the crowd of Gopher players, Woog went straight to Sjerven, leaned
over, said a few words to him and patted him on the helmet (Sjerven had not
really moved since the goal and had been standing in the crease, hunched over,
staring at the ice).  Woog then went over to his own players.
 
I know it's just a little thing, but St. Cloud and Minnesota have become rather
bitter rivals lately and Woog could just as easily have jumped on the pile with
his players and not given the Huskies another thought.  I really felt it was
quite a sportsmanlike thing to do.  Good luck to all the teams this weekend.  I
am looking forward to being in St. Paul next weekend.
 
Justin