Thursday, November 08, 2007

WCH Weekend Preview

Thursday Night Pre-Game Movie: The Deer Hunter. This would have been a lot more clever last week when deer hunting season began. What do you call people who are really smart and witty, but it takes them like a week to come up with it. Oh yeah: dumb. Anyway, there's an all-star cast in this film with Robert DeNiro, Christopher Walken, Meryl Streep, and it was the last movie Fredo Corleone did before he died of bone cancer.

Friday Afternoon Pre-Game Song: "Shipping Off to Boston" by the Dropkick Murphys. Again, much more clever if I had come up with this the week North Dakota was actually playing in Boston. Again: dumb. But I drew a blank this week. It was this or that song from the iPhone commerical. Anyway, you may remember this tune from the movie The Departed, which I watch on a near-weekly basis.

Games I'd Want to See If I Had Unlimited Funds Minnesota vs. Minnesota State. The first game at the "Alltel Wireless Center" should draw one of the bigger crowds in arena history on Friday night. It's going to be a great big party with everyone except Jon Campion invited.

Controversial Play That a WCHA Official Will Probably Screw-Up If last year's MSU/UM series is any indication: all of them.

Cliche Arena Song of the Week: Saturday Night's Alright(For Fighting), Elton John or Nickelback. Who could have ever guessed that an Elton John song would be covered by a band more queer than Elton John? Random meaningless trivia, both Nickelback and Elton John are huge hockey fans.

Picks to Click
Last week: Both teams played hard.

Forward: Kevin Porter, Michigan
Defenseman: Drew Dobson, Michigan Tech
Goalie: Reid Ellingson, Northern Michigan

Arena Food of the Week:Cinnamon-roasted Almonds. Roasted almonds are the Sirens of the hockey culinary world. The sweet cinnamon smell is the most delightful smell in any arena, and draws in hockey-goers from all over, and yet I don't think I've ever seen someone eat more than four almonds before they're sick of them.

Pre/Post-Game Meal of the Week: Gigantic Culver's, Edgerton, Wisconsin. I've never actually confirmed that this is the largest fast-food restaurant in the country, but if it isn't, we, as a society, have a very serious problem. Imagine seating at your favorite fast-food restaurant and then double it. This Culver's has two rooms like that, and I can't figure out why, other than that people from Wisconsin hear 'butter' and 'burger' together and just go nuts.

Injury Report
Ryan Stoa-Minnesota-Out for year with knee injury
Zach Pelletier-Ohio State-Out for year with leg injury
Evan Oberg-Minnesota-Duluth-Out with leg injury
Bryan Hogan-Michigan-Questionable due to illness
Nathan Davis-Miami-Questionable with upper body injury
Ben Youds-Minnesota State-Questionable with lower body injury
Juha Uotila-Nebraska-Omaha-Questionable due to academics
Nils Backstrom-Alaska-Anchorage-Questionable with leg injury
Brad Malone-North Dakota-Quiestionable with shoulder injury
Nick Fanto-Nebraska-Omaha-Likely to return from injury
Brandon Scero-Nebraska-Omaha-Likely to return from injury

Funny Joke That Someone Else Wrote:"I've been kind of sad lately, ever since I lost my miniature pet hamster, Bonita. Well actually, she didn't really die. I took her back to the pet store. But she's dead to me." --Duluth's Maria Bamford

Predictions For You Compulsive Gambling-Types That Have to Bet


Gambletron 2000's Pick of the Week: Friday night-Minnesota State 241 Minnesota 0

Smooth Jimmy Apollo's 52% Lock of the Week: Saturday Night: Lake Superior 2 Wayne State 1

The George Costanza Special(A prediction that is the exact opposite of every instinct and inclination I have): St. Cloud sweeps Michigan Tech

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

I think it's safe to put down Jeff Wilkens - Michiagn Tech - Leg injury down in teh injury report, all Tech coaches will say is that he's out for a very long time

FadeToBlack&Gold said...

FYI, it's Jake Wilkens, not Jeff. As far as I know, Tech's coaches have yet to specify what his injury is, but it is serious. He's been out since the first regular-season game, and it seems like he may miss most, if not all, of the season. A pretty big loss of leadership for the defense.

Anonymous said...

That defense will be fine. Teslak is a stud, but not as big of a stud as the Tech Band! They played in our suite last year at the Final Five....priceless!

FadeToBlack&Gold said...

Incidentally, the word from yesterday's Blueline luncheon is that Wilkens' injury is "career-ending".

Teslak did not start last night as expected, or even warm up with the team. Apparently he is suffering from back spasms, and he could be day-to-day for the next few weeks. Robbie Nolan is really going to have to step up his play.

P.S. - Thanks for the compliments on the band, anon @ 6:52. We certainly try to create some atmosphere wherever we go. :)

Anonymous said...

Nice call on the SCSU sweep.