The last game in the old Barn was a corker. The Sioux were really determined to try and win on Saturday night and force a third game on Sunday. The Gophers were even more inspired to get an extra day's rest and time to prepare for their exams this week. The Gophers came out with more intensity on Saturday, than they did on Friday. Woog started sophomore Jeff Callinan in goal, which had been what I thought he would do. There had been some discussion about who *should* start between the gropup that met for a pre-game meal and tour of the NEW Mariucci Arena still under construction. I can't remember who said that they thought that senior Tom Newman should start Saturday night, even though that would screw up the rotation. Because HE was the senior and it might be the last game in Mariucci. Woog has been very unpredictable about his choice of goalies so either of us could have been correct. The NEW Mariucci Arena, was pretty amazing, even in it's rough state. They are still pouring concrete and the windows aren't in yet, but it's beautiful. A state of the art facility that will seat 8,600 it's first season with room to expand to 9,600. There will also be ample "reserved" standing room spots along the perimeter of seats at the top of the arena. All concessions will be at the top of the seating area also. There are ample locker room facilities for the Gophers, visitors and public patrons. There will be year-round ice. It should be just as imposing to visiting teams as the old Barn was also. (Especially since we expect to be sold out for every game next season with thanks to the North Stars leaving town.) Back to the game. As they did Friday night the Gophers had to play catch-up hockey in the first period. North Dakota was leading 2-1 at the end of the first, but the Gophers made it 3-2 after the second. In the third, the Sioux scored twice and the Gophers once which took us to overtime! The zamboni had already been put away in it's private garage for the season, and they had to get it out to resurface after the third period ended. They sent the teams downstairs and resurfaced and put 20:00 on the clock to start the overtime. As it turns out a 5:00 minute overtime would have been sufficient, but it looked like it was going to be a long night. At 4:48 of the overtime Craig Johnson who was flat on the ice with a Sioux defender on top of him, swung his stick and swept in a rebound to give the Gophers the 5-4 win and sent North Dakota home to Grand Forks. The game was too close to call and although it was a GREAT game, the added tension made some of us close to crazy!! The Gophers who scored were: Travis Richards, John Brill, Brandon Steege, Jeff Nielsen, and Craig Johnson. The Sioux who scored were: Greg Johnson, Marty Schriner, and Darcy Mitani. Greg Johnson also had one assist. The "Northern Exposure" line got two more goals on Saturday night too. I sure hope Woog keeps these lines together in St Paul. The Gophers expect to have Brian Bonin back for the trip to the Civic Center this weekend. At the end of the game, after the handshakes the Gophers gave the crowd their traditional stick salute from center ice. As they prepared to leave the ice, one of the assistant coaches sent them on a circuit around the boards with sticks held high. It was very touching and I am sure that they will all remember it for a long time. It was a final tribute to the 7,449 fans that witnessed the final game at old Mariucci Arena. Then they saluted the fans from center ice one more time and left the ice. This game didn't seem to have the same effect on the fans as the one from last weekend when the closing ceremonies were held. I think that everybody was SO glad that the Gophers had pulled it out, that that overshadowed the fact that we would never see hockey in the building again. The security staff was watching for looters, although some signs were missing from the arena when we got there on Saturday night. I told one of the guards that if anyone came in with a saw, I'd like a piece of bench with the # 9 on it. ;-) I understand that some folks stayed quite a while after the game and took photos and just walked around. We stayed for a while and then headed over to Stub's for celebration purposes. Attending the last Gopher game in Mariucci were Lisa Sweeney and her fiance William Sangrey who were visiting from Cornell. Perhaps they will give a report when they get back to their computers this week. So now the Gophers who should be starting to peak (finally at the RIGHT time) head to St Paul to take on the Badgers on Friday afternoon. Let's GO GOPHERS!!! -Carol