The Siouxper Series

Finally, it is here, a weekend series that I have been looking forward to since I found out about it back in July. BU will travel to North Dakota (undoubtably, my second favorite team) and take on the no longer politically correct North Dakota (I'm still calling them) Sioux starting tomorrow at 8:30 on NESN.

For a while now, I have been following the Sioux pretty closely. I try to watch as many games as I can, as my TV for some strange reason, picks up the broadcasts from the Sioux Sports Network. Last year, I was really hoping BU and NoDak would meet in the NCAA tournament in the West Regional Final,  but it was not to be, as Minnesota beat BU in the first round and then went on to take out the Sioux in round two. I have only seen North Dakota play a handful of games in person, two of which were out in St Paul last March. The other was the 2009 Icebreaker Invitational at BU.

Unfortunately, that is where the list will stay because I can't make it to Grand Forks this weekend. There were several attempts to go on a "college visit" but that was quickly shot down. I guess the Ralph will have to stay on the Hockey Bucket-list for another day.

As far as I know, this will be BU's first trip to the new Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Scouting the Sioux
So far this year, UND is 2-1-1, playing only the Alaska schools through the first two weeks of the season. NoDak blanked Alaska-Anchorage 5-0 in the opening round of the Alaska Goal Rush Tournament. The following night, tournament host Alaska-Fairbainks, dropped the Sioux 2-1 in the finals. Last weekend, North Dakota took three points from Anchorage at home. A 4-1 win lead to a team that looked almost bored tying 3-3 the following night.

Currently, Rocco Grimaldi, who if I'm not mistaken is a red-shirt freshman after he missed almost all of last year with a lower body injury, leads the Sioux with two goals and two assists through four games. Senior Danny Kristo, who is a serious stud up front, has four assists already. Derek Forbort (who's hockey stick I use in games) and Andrew MacWilliam are undoubtably the team's best two defenseman. MacWilliam is one the team's Assistant Captains despite being suspended for the first game of the year for a drinking incident. MacWilliam has two points in the three games he has played. Forbort is more of an offensive defenseman, scoring two goals last weekend.

Other players to watch include Mark MacMillan, Corban Knight, Carter Rowney, Stephane Pattyn, Joe Gleason and Colton St. Clair. In goal, like BU, the Sioux will likely start two goalies. According to some goon, Clark Saunders, former University of Alabama Huntsville goalie will get the start Friday night. Saunders has played three games, posting a .940 save percentage with five goals allowed and a goals against at 1.64. Freshman Zane Gothberg, a Bruins draft pick, has played one game with a .994 save percentage and a 1.00 goals against.

The Last Time They Met...
was in the 2009 Icebreaker Invitational. BU won convincingly 5-1. Nick Bonino had a three point game, posting two goals and an assist. Brad "Miller Time" scored the lone goal for UND.