Rock Yale Like a Hurricane

Though most of you might not know it, I am a Scorpions fan, and by Scorpions fan, I mean "I like a few of their songs and know nothing about them." This is totally irrelevant. What's totally relevant is the TOTALLY AWESOME HOTTNESS from last night. That's right, TWO Ts in HOTT.

Wow. Where do I start? Especially since there's more Bulldog awesomeness to come in an hour and a half, and I'm being pestered about getting food.

So the game started off a little strange, running only 3 lines because Stapes, Curry, Isaac, Jensen, and Willy decided to come over and hang out at my house instead. We listened to the game together and had a nice time, we drank some sodas, I drove them home after the game, made sure they got home in time, waited at their doors til they got inside safely.

Additionally, since Shepherd got injured, Shepherd had to replace Shepherd with Shepherd. Got that?

The only "normal" thing about the game was when the pseudo-Bulldogs scored first. I don't like typing all that out so they will just be the bulldogs, in lowercase.

Then the winds of change blew through the house of Bulldogs. It was Goals Gone Wild night! Carroll, McKnight, Gergen, McKnight, Raymond, Raymond, Gergen, McGregor, Davis, OH MY. So sorry that Dad was all the way over in Ireland for this one, because MAN WAS IT EXCITING. My cat was looking at me like "Will you please stop that, I am trying to be cute." My future dog Gorgar would be howling in agony because I was shrieking loudly. Oh, it was so, so glorious.

We had THREE POWER PLAY GOALS. THREE. HOLY CRAP.

and a SHORTHANDER by Mason Raymond. I have to write that really big because it is the first time all year I've seen one attributed to a Bulldog.

I do have to feel sorry for the bulldog goalies though. They faced 28 and 19 shots, respectively. That's like each of them playing a whole hockey game!

In a bizarre twist of fate, Adam Davis was inserted into the game as a forward. One shot, one kill, at 17:38 in the third. 13(!) seconds later, one shot, one kill, except this time, it's not a goal, but rather an ejection for a check from behind. Settle down there, cowboy.

As for "my" guys, Curry was sitting next to me on the couch, Gergy got 2 goals, McKnight got 2 goals and 2 assists, and Nisky got an assist. I have elected a new guy, Mason Raymond. I know that's such a bandwagon approach, but he is just so AWESOME I can't help it. Plus he got a shorthanded goal. Welcome to the fold, Mason!

And finally, all HSWCHA residents have been released!!!! After a 9-1 game, I'm feeling pretty generous.

THANK YOU, BULLDOGS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS GAME. THERE'S NO ONE LIKE YOU!

Thank You, Internet, For This Bounty We Are About To Receive

I'm a little bit stressed, because the feed wasn't going, and now it is, and I don't even know what's going on. Oh, it's 1-1.

We here at the site are certainly thankful for this opportunity to play Yale, a team with fewer wins than we do. Let's get a non-conference win! Or a non-conference s-s-s-sweep! We would be VERY THANKFUL FOR THAT.

I did listen to the games last weekend, and I can't even begin to describe the glorious feeling that comes along with an overtime win on the road in Alaska on a Friday night. But with the manic highs come the depressive lows, like DeCaro shutting us out and Reichmuth giving up 2 goals on 13 shots. How can you only make 11 saves in a game? That is just... well... he's in the Humane Society this week. Joining him is Ryan Swanson, who doesn't understand that you only screen the OPPOSING goaltender. Getting a rare week of freedom is Steve Czech, because how can you keep him kennelled up when he scored the game-tying goal on Friday? WAY TO GO, STEVE. That's right, you heard it here. GOOD JOB.

Back to the hot Bulld0g-on-Bulldog action at the DECC.

The Bulldog Road Trip

I understand that three posts in one day might be a little overwhelming to you people, but I feel this format is superior to one big long post, since the topics are so different. Now you can read them one at a time and really savor the moment.

The primary purpose of this road trip was to make a coaching visit to the DECC, but it quickly turned into a scenic tour through the hometowns of many Bulldogs. We also stopped off at the US Hockey Hall of Fame, scoping out the future corner of the Runninwiththedogs Tribute. Corner? you say, You don't belong in a corner! Well, I appreciate the sentiment, but once the initial exhibition is over with, a corner is good enough for me. I'm not conceited or anything. Anyway, from the hallowed streets of Mountain Iron, MN to the tough back-alleys of Bovey Minnesota, we visited no less than 16 hometowns of 21 once and current Bulldogs.

Hermantown, MN, home of Nick Kemp and Jon Francisco
Mountain Iron, MN, home of Matt Niskanen
Vadnais Heights, MN, home of Matt Greer
Plymouth, MN, home of Jeff McFarland
Bovey, MN, home of Marco Peluso
Pengilly, MN, home of Josh Miskovich
Proctor, MN, home of Nick Anderson
Maple Grove, MN, home of Ryan Swanson
Coleraine, MN, home of Beau Geisler
Duluth, MN, home of Matt Mathias, Mark Gunderson, Ryan Coole and Adam Coole
Minnetonka, MN, home of Drew Otten (and current RWD world headquarters!)
Twig, MN, home of Steve Rodberg
Grand Rapids, MN, home of Michael Miskovich and Craig Pierce
Hibbing, MN, home of Chad Kolar
Ramsey, MN, home of Jerrid Reinholz
Elk River, MN, home of Richie Anderson

*we were pretty close to Esko, MN, which is home for Josh Johnson, but we didn't actually go by it since we didn't travel that stretch of 53.

Still waiting on the pilgrimage to Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.

A Few Minutes With...

On the recent road trip, the crack reporting team here at RWD managed to get in a few interviews.

First off, in the Radisson hotel, we encountered one dapperly dressed Dave Hakstol, checking out of the hotel or something. No words passed between us, but I could tell he knew I was there. While I was thinking "Wow, it's Dave Hakstol," he was thinking "Wow, it's RunninwiththeDogs."

Then I saw Ratislav Spirko, and while I know it's considered consorting with the enemy and I feel cheap and dirty about it, I think he is just so cute I want to fold him up in my pocket and take him home with me. He was pretty excited, too, I could tell by the way he turned his back to me and pretended not to notice at all.

At the game, I had a sit-down with Todd Anderson, Zebra Extraordinaire. It was a sit-down in the sense that I was sitting, although he was standing on the ice. Here is the interview.

Anderson calls yet another penalty on the 'Dogs.

RWD: Hey Anderson, just how badly do you want the Sioux to win??

Anderson: ...

Excuse me, the phone is ringing. It's FSN, calling to offer me a reporting job.

The Humane Society of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association

We here at the Runnin' With the 'Dogs world headquarters have had, since, well, forever, an unofficial feature that we shall now refer to, forever and always, as the Humane Society of the WCHA. It is a place for those Bulldogs who have done something to anger The Powers That Be Runnin' This Website. Once in the HSWCHA, these 'Dogs are still treated well, fed, walked, petted, and so on. However, a Bulldog can only stay in the HSWCHA for so long, and there are only two ways out. 1. Making a positive contribution to the team, or 2. Euthanasia. I understand that the latter option opens up a moral can of worms, but the staff here does everything it can to prevent exercize of the policy.

There are some rules about this Humane Society, or at least some largely accepted truths. First of all, there are certain players that have immunity from the HSWCHA. These players are special favorites of RWD, coach's pets, if you will: Matt Niskanen, Matt McKnight, Mike Curry, and Michael Gergen hold Get Out Of the Humane Society Free cards. Then there are players that have their own special kennels there, because they are perpetually (or nearly perpetually) in Hot Water with us. Steve Czech is on that short list. Referees are not even discussed here because there is really no point in harping, week after week, about the referees and how much they suck.

Now, let's talk about who's been left on the doorstep in a basket after this weekend:

Isaac Reichmuth: That 7th goal made me want to sprout wings and swoop down from the stands and throttle him. My travelling companion wanted to yank him after the 6th goal, but he is not a coach, and I am not a goaltending coach, and in the goal he remained, and let the puck trickle ever so slowly into the net. I mean, seriously, I could have taken the time to go to the locker room, suit up, skate onto the ice, do a little dance, and then flop into the crease and STILL stop the puck from going in. It is things like this that will give me a heart attack by the time I'm 25.

Jeff McFarland: It is my firm belief that if you are not going to contribute to the team in any sort of a positive manner, you should not be hindering the team anyway. Like if you are a center and you have three assists and that matches a CAREER HIGH then you should not be in the penalty box, virtually erasing a 5 min major power play for the 'Dogs.

Not too many people in trouble after the weekend. Now we have to start awarding the glory. Raise your glasses, ladies and gentlemen, to:

Nick Kemp, for grinding it out the whole game, and delivering some bang-on checks that were completely legal, so that Anderson could not possibly call a penalty. Shortly after I requested someone put Mike Prpich, the Spearing King, in his place, Nick levelled him directly in front of the Sioux bench. I have never been prouder of Nick, even if he didn't have any points that night.

Mason Raymond, who is going to be a thorn in North Dakota's side for the next four years.

Adam Davis, for stepping up his defensive play. I didn't expect much from him but I was pleasantly surprised this weekend. For someone who doesn't play very many games, he had a lot of poise and made some good passes. He's not the best d-man (hello, we all know it's Matty N.), but he is improving rapidly.

Justin May, for being an absolute stud of a strength and conditioning coach. I didn't see very many tired legs out there.

The Bulldog freshmen, for having the work ethic, the hustle, and the talent to play their hearts out every minute of the weekend, and for having that energy and spirit infuse the rest of the team. Thank you, thank you, from everyone who remembers the 'Dogs from last year.

And finally, Tim Stapleton, who was the only Bulldog last year who seemed to give a crap towards the end of the season, and who is leading the team by example. I know you play your heart out, too, Tim, thanks for giving the new boys someone to look up to. In my eyes, you're the captain.

Cheers!

A Teaching Moment

Well, you can't win them all. After last weekend, maybe I got a little excited, maybe a little ahead of myself. However, I knew that something like this could happen.
And yet, I am darn proud of the 'Dogs tonight. 2 Power Play goals? Coming back to within 1 with a chance to tie, when they were down 2-0 2:14 into the game? Killing off 7 of 8 penalties? This was a team that started out totally disorganized and then found themselves midway through the game. Only a few weeks ago, this team was starting out disorganized and then deteriorating as they got behind. They have matured, they're pulling it together, and playing hard. I am pleased with the effort tonight (although the defensive effort could have been better...)
I tend to believe the 'Dogs are one of the best conditioned teams around, and they will be able to skate with, or even outskate the Fighting Sioux tomorrow night. And I'll be there to see it!

LET'S GO 'DOGS!!!

Dinner With the Legends

For those of you who were previously unaware, Runnin' with the 'Dogs has correspondents from all over the country, nay, the world. You might be surprised, but it's true. We have top-of-the-line hockey analysts here, here, here, here, and even here. Anyway, RWD sat down with three other legendary Bulldog fans, our combined Bulldog fan-dom spanning over 150 years. Bulldog hockey hasn't even been around for 150 years, so that's pretty great. We discussed a myriad of topics, including:

-my new job as assistant coach (great start, 3 points against the Gophers! However, some were skeptical of the legitimacy of the "article")

-Kerry Rodd getting the axe (I was, shamefully, unaware, but apparently since he had "no idea where the puck was," it's a good thing to some of the crew)

-the recap of the game in the Star Tribune (no one gives the 'Dogs credit, either they get replaced with superhuman robots or the Gophers get injected with sedatives and can't skate, it's never just that the 'Dogs are better)

-Harrington's skate in the face of Reichmuth (horrifying, and one of the crew even thought it was intentional. However, that person sometimes makes claims even more outrageous than I do.)

-Friday night's game (I was the only one who saw it. I had to explain quite a bit, and do some reenacting)

-This website (most had never read it, one was complaining about the slowness of the updates, but for crying out loud, I'm coaching a team and working another grueling and irritating job!)

-Deer hunting (one-time contributer UMDDogz shot one)

This weekend, the RWD team is taking a road trip up to Duluth for the Saturday game of the North Dakota series. Next week's posting will probably be even later, but might be accompanied by pictures.