March 10, 2026 • 49 mins
This week, Bill and Alex spend time with REA GM Jody Hodgson to discuss what to expect on site ahead of Saturday’s NCHC Frozen Faceoff semifinal in Grand Forks (1:13). The hockey talk continues with a recap of UND’s quarterfinal victory over Omaha, followed by reaction after the Hawks’ thrilling run to the Summit League Tournament men’s final and softball’s impeccable start to March (22:39). On the B-Side (45:06), the World Baseball Classic has captured Bill’s attention – and has him thinking about October already.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to the Bill Shaves Podcast, presented by Mid
Coast Sports. Mid co Sports is the place to watch
the NCAC Semi Finals this Saturday. Get ready for u
n D versus Minnesota l luth with a half hour
pregame show starting against five thirty, followed by sixty minutes
or more of playoff hockey from Ralph Englestat Arena. This
is how we do sports. This is the Bill Shaves Podcast.
(00:23):
Welcome to another edition of the Bill Shaves Podcast. If
you are taping this on a Tuesday morning, bright and early,
the tenth of March. Alex Seiner, Phil Shaves a special
guest that we're going to get to and literally seconds Bill.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Here we go, postseason off and.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Running, lots of postseason, supposed lots of postseason. We saw
each other a couple times, we've crossed, we've crossed over
between it's Ralph Englestat Arena, Sue Falls, who knows, I
mean maybe Sue falls again, would never know.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
It's it's that time of year, right, and it's great
that yes, all these things, all these big events are
happening with in the Dakota is at least for now.
And so we'll talk about yes, the event since he
falls with the semile League tournament and then swoops great
Ryn and we'll talk about the softball team which has
not lost in weeks and weeks, which has been incredible
to see this great run for Jordan Stevens and company.
All that to come first, though, you mentioned hockey and
we talked about the Ralph at the Open. Who better
(01:17):
to discuss what's coming up this weekends and maybe hopefully
possibly next weekend with the NCAC Frozen Faceoff semi finals
coming to the Ria than the general manager of that
beautiful building, Jody Hodgson, who was back on for a
second time this year. And I looked in the archives,
Jody fifth time. Overall, you're in the Chevy Chase zone.
Now look at you moving up the charts.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
When's the when's the house quote coming? When's the When's coming?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
That's right, that's right. Oh, we're happy to have you though, Jode.
And you know what, we figured, what a great week
to have it because a little bit different the way
the playoffs are running this year. So what can you
tell us and what's happened since the final horn went
on Saturday evening? And then where we are right, now
(02:07):
as we're recording on Tuesday morning.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Yeah, thanks for having me, guys. Just a really exciting
time of the year, right for all of us sports
fans and those of us lucky enough to work in
the industry. Kind of the best time of the year
here when everything's coming down to the line, and really
exciting from a business standpoint and a fan standpoint to
have the on campus playoff opportunities in the NCCHC this year. So,
(02:32):
as Bill Bill's question, you know what's happened since the
final horn on Saturday night? So as soon as the
game ended on Saturday night, we initiated all of our
communications with our season ticket holders and suite owners and
club set owners and single game purchasers and und students,
and we really started Saturday night with zero tickets sold
(02:53):
for a semi final, right, you didn't You don't know
if you're going to play it until you win a quarterfinal.
You win a quarter five, I know. Now our challenge
is to try and fill the building and sell all
of our eleven thousand, six hundred tickets before next weekend,
and we're off to a really good start on that.
We've had a busy weekend and a busy early time
here this week. Great group effort by un D athletic
(03:17):
staff and ralp Englstead Arena staff and reaching out to
all of our customers and initiating those sales. And now
we're working on the operational plans with the NCCHC. Little
different model for us, right. NCCHC owns the semi finals
and the championship game, so a little different environment for
us in terms of their desire to create a championship
(03:40):
environment for the student athletes from both of the participating teams,
and for our fans to try to differentiate these home
games from a regular season game. Make sure everybody knows
it's different, it's special, it's the playoffs, it's do or die,
it's one winner, go home, right, all that stuff. So
just really excited to host this weekend. Lots of good
(04:01):
work being done by lots of good people to get
ready for that, and then you know, hoping we're lucky
enough to win this weekend and get to do it
all over again next week, where if we're lucky enough
to win Saturday night, we'll start with zero tickets sold
for the championship game and we'll try and initiate many
of the same things we're doing this week and try
and turn it over and crank it out again to
(04:22):
try and fill the place up for the championship game
March twenty first, if we're lucky enough to play in that.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Yeah, I love that. It'll be old hat next week.
But we just did this.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Yeah, that's really quick. Til that's right. We'll take that
we learn model. We'll take what we learned this week
and implement it next week.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
So I love when you said again the league trying
to help the building and for same thing for the
RAF as for Magnusarena as well. Who's hosting the other
semi to make it difference, make it feel like it
is a semi final. Could you tell us what are
some of those things that fans will experience that will
help them realize, hey, this is not just what we
saw when Minnesota luth came to town in October. This
(04:57):
is a little bit bigger.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Yeah, you know, I'd probably start outside and say, hey,
like all of our fans, make sure you hang on
to your champions Club hangtags, right, same parking plan when
you come in. That's one thing that's going to be
the same as the regular season. But then when you
come in right. We're going with our motto and our
slogan for the playoffs is all green, all in. We're
asking all of our fans to dress in green. Like
(05:18):
we're trying to create that iconic playoff vibe and fan atmosphere.
We want every North Dakota fan covered in green. We
want to create kind of an iconic look in our bowl.
We're doing twelve thousand green pom poms for our fans
this Saturday night, after we did twelve thousand rally towels
(05:39):
for the playoffs last weekend. In our bowl, you're going
to see like a blue vibe when you talk about
the NCCHC and the playoff branding that we're doing. We're
going to have that intermixed with our all green, all
in slogan and vibe that we'll do. So just trying
to create a little different atmosphere when you talk about
(06:00):
pregame videos and introduction of our starter videos, trying to
modify those things to bring new life to it and
put a playoff spin to everything that we're doing.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Yeah, I think our fans, you know, if you look
at FCS football, Jody kind of a similar thing. You know,
once you make the playoffs. It's the NCAA's game. We
just in a sense host it. But you're still you know,
in your bed, you're still obviously at your in your
locker room. There's a lot of familiarity for certainly the team,
(06:33):
but it is good for our fans to know, really,
this one is not our game per se.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Yeah, for sure, it's a little bit different, right as
you say, we're the host. Instead of everybody loading up
to go to Saint Paul to an event that is
owned and operated by the conference, the event is now
going to happen on campus. Event is still quote unquote
owned and operated by the conference. I think most people
are well aware that these conference championship tournaments provide the
(07:03):
significant majority of the revenue conferences need to exist and
need to operate. So you look at things like ticket prices, right,
ticket prices are determined by the conference for both our
game and the game in Denver. Different things that they
want to do during the game, some of the sponsorship
assets that they have to apply to their events, and
(07:25):
some of the game presentation elements come from the conference.
So a little bit different for us. But the great
thing is is that Heather Weims as the Commissioner of
the NCCHC, Shares are desired to make sure that it's
a special, special game environment and fan experience, and then
a special student athlete experience. We're really excited about how
(07:49):
lively and energetic we think these one and done playoff
games can be on campus and we're certainly looking to
prime the pump on all that activity.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I know that's been such a big talking point in
college hockey in recent seasons about potentially the shift back
to on campus sites for a regional and people have
very strong opinions kind of on both sides of the
fences of that. How important do you think and again,
we've seen the Big Ten go to this model. Atlantic
Hockey has this, We've seen this across the country, but
this is the NCCHC.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Now.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I don't want to say there is pressure, but obviously
that this is such a great opportunity to get to
showcase what could it look like And just a reminder
where it's been twenty years since we've had this for
the nc douaa's do you do you kind of view
it a little bit from that lens Jody going into
this weekend?
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Yeah, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I
want this to be an example of what can happen
on campus. We've talked about that as a staff. We
have said we'd seek and desire for the NCCHC on
campus playoffs to be a model or an example of
what an NCAA regional event on campus could be. You know,
(08:56):
when you look at some interesting data here right last
couple of years, looking at win loss records a home
teams and road teams, it's almost five hundred the last
two years in all of college hockey nationally, there doesn't
appear to be a huge, huge impact or a huge
difference between home ice advantage and the visiting team win
(09:19):
loss records. So I think that's kind of a negligible
argument for people who claim that it's too big of
an advantage. But I think both the student athlete experience
and the fan experience I think could be magical in
on campus games, and we hope that our home games
in the playoffs can be an example of that.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
So Jody a last one for me in Alex alluded
to it at the beginning. But you're always going to
have to prep ahead. If you're lucky enough to be
one goal better on Saturday evening, kind of a washrinse
repeat for the following week as well.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
If that were the case, Yeah, we're going to look
to ramp it up a little bit in some of
the internal preparations that we're doing, Like if we're lucky
enough to host, we do seek to have like a
championship happy hour atmosphere in that first hour from the
time doors open through puck drop. We're talking about putting
(10:16):
a drum line, a pep band outside to create a
vibe as people enter the building. We're talking about trying
to do a one hundred thousand dollars shoot to win
opportunity during the second intermission where we'll buy an insurance
policy and give somebody an opportunity to see if they
can see if they can score on some shots from
(10:37):
center ice to win one hundred thousand bucks at the game.
So kind of modeling it a little bit if you
think of, hey, what's different at the SEC Championship game
from other games in the regular season, and we're saying, Okay,
we want to do some crazy intermission stuff, we want
to do some pregame activities, we want to create a
real championship vibe, and we want to crank things up
(11:00):
lucky enough to play at home again next Saturday.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
That's exciting. It's going to make again. The hockey game
itself is enough of a reason to come. And as
you mentioned, it's winner go home. This is a semi final.
This is a big deal. But all the extra stuff
that goes along with it, that you and your staff
and you and the athletics put together is going to
make it just that much more. So I should get
you out on this, Jody. You've watched this team all season.
They're pretty good. What are your take on what is
(11:25):
made maybe this North Dakota team as successful as it's
been throughout the campaign.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Yeah, I think it starts. I think it starts at
the top. I think Bill and Eric and Dane Jackson
and his staff. I think they've done a remarkable job
in today's world with all of the changes that have occurred.
When you talk about roster management putting together a team,
I think they've done a fantastic job of putting together
(11:51):
a group of characters and creating a culture that has
led to their success. I'm lucky enough to kind of
be around the rink most days and see the interactions
with guys and what's going on and I just feel personally,
I feel like it's a pretty special group in terms
of the personalities that are involved and kind of the
(12:14):
team first attitude. You know, when you see, in my opinion,
how much guys appear to care about each other and
care about the team success over their individual success. I
think that is really the core of why they're having success,
is the people in that room. And then I would
also say that I think you mix that with the
(12:35):
skill that we've added to our roster when you talk
about a Keton Verhoff and Nikole Reshni and a Will
Zellers and some of the young guys that have come
in and complemented some of our returners and older guys
that are that have shown them the way and that
are enforcing the culture that the team has. It's its core.
I think it's a pretty special group that's got a
(12:57):
really unique opportunity here in the postseason, and I think
the sky's the limit for them.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
So I lied, I have one more and this is
going to be I don't know, this might be a
first time on the pod.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Alex.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Let's go flip quickly to the B side with Jody
so that I can ask him a question. What was
your thoughts. So, Jody is a proud Canadian and I
know there was an overtime game a couple of weeks ago.
What was your thought process on three on three overtime?
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Just your thoughts on.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Having the gold medal game end in that way. I
know we can all say that's the rules going in,
but just I'll just be interested to see what your
perspective was.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Yeah, I sat watching the game with my wife that morning,
and she was cheering for the other team. I was
obviously cheering for Canada, and I did say to her
at the end of regulation, I said, in my opinion,
what an absolutely terrible way to end a great hockey game. Like,
(14:05):
in my opinion, hockey's a fantastic team sport, and to
end a game of that magnitude with a gimmick like
three on three, to me, is an absolute fan gimmick
to try and let people go home. I guess in
an entertainment world, instead of a tie, you have some
type of exciting outcome. But before the winner was decided,
(14:28):
I thought it was awful, Like I think they should
have played continued to play five on five and overtime.
It would have been incredibly exciting. And yeah, I'm pretty
old school. There might be old school, and I may
even be older than that, but I hate three on
three in anything other than a regular season I get
it when you're talking TV schedules and you're talking travel
(14:49):
schedules of teams and all those things and fan entertainment.
I get finalizing a regular season game to give somebody
a point and an outcome. But I absolutely hate the
gimmick of three on three in any game that really matters.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Yeah, I would say you could even buy me into this.
Find a way to play five five for a bit.
Could be an extra period, could be it could be
ten minutes, I don't know. Somewhere along the line, I
think I could be bought into even then the going
(15:26):
four on four at some point and then maybe get
to three on three. But at some point when you
start straight with three on three, which literally never happens
during a game, I've never seen it in my life. Now,
someone could say I'm wrong. I watched a lot of
hockey games. I've never seen three on three in a
(15:48):
regular game. Yet that's how we're going to go forward
in finishing off a game. It just seems really odd.
I get it when it's January at one point in time,
you know, in Buffalo, so to speak, and you're watching
Columbus play Buffalo, and you want an outcome, and that
might be your only NHL game. You're going, you see,
I got it, I got it, all right.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
I agree with you.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Well, there you go, Alex.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Sorry, no, no, no, you're fine.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
There will not be three on three this weekend. This
Saturday night at the Ralph. If we are tied after sixty,
we're playing five on five until we get a winner.
And when these two teams have gotten together that sometimes, Yeah,
you can have a lot of five on You're.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Right, Alex, Yeah, thankfully. We'll go full intermission and another
full twenty minute period and repeat it five on five
till somebody scores.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
So it's going to be the best we saw.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
There's enough mustard packets around.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
And a lot of coffee for people. Jody, thanks so
much for being on the pot. And it's a crazy
week for you and your staff. Tremendous job getting things
ready to roll. We can't wait for the semifinals this weekend.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Hey, thanks for having me. Thanks for all you do
for you, Ndy Alex.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Five time guests, Jody Hodson taking some time out of
a busy, busy week for the Ralph Angles set Arena crew.
It's fun to hear what's in store this weekend, both
on the ice from a fan experience perspective.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Now North Dakota has done this before.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
The twenty twenty one Frozen Face Off was held at
the Ralph but under obviously very different circumstances. That was,
of course the entire tournament. It was during COVID. You
only had three thousand people in the building. So it's
almost apples to oranges a little bit, but it is.
It is going to be a tremendous night of hockey
coming up on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Yeah, you know so, so last week was no different
than what we've done previously. We just moved it back
a weekend.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
That was it.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
So the schedule kind of changed or altered in that
in that way, but the two out of three was
very similar. Alex, what will be interesting in the debrief
when when the when the tournament concludes, You know, how
was it for a team such as Western having to
travel to Denver and then should should they beat Denver
(18:05):
and then have to say come here? You know, how
does that how does that look and how does that
feel and what are some of the things we need
to do, because let's face it, if you're in New
England or you're in different regional parts of the country,
might be easier to just jump on a bus, right,
So sometimes you have bus trips, sometimes you don't. So
(18:26):
those things we're going to have to kind of figure
out on the back end. But I agree with Jody.
You know you can only do this semi and final
the first time once and so you're trying to do it.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Well, I should ask.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Next season, the NCC will go to ten with the
addition of Saint Thomas, so you sort of it'll be
the same format kind of, but also not really because
they're gonna get Yeah, there's it'll be some subtle changes.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
The semis and finals.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Will look the same, I believe, correct, but the first round,
so give us the update on what that was like.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
What so actually all ten schools will play in the
first round and then the lowest two remaining seeds will
have to go to the highest seed and that top
that highest remaining seed will get a buy at that
point and not have to play that game. So let's
(19:19):
just make it up. All seeds held and so four
and five would have to play and one would be waiting,
while two and three would be playing on the other side.
So it's interesting. A lot of times you play the
extra game at the beginning of the tournament. In this
(19:39):
case scenario, two winners will have to play an extra
game as the top seed is waiting, so kind of
an interesting way to do it. I mean, it's you know,
Coach Carl was the one that kind of put this
idea out there and we all kind of liked it,
and we all kind of said, you know what, let's
try it. See what happens.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Because is that that's the throwback to the Final five
little bit.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
It is, of course very similar little to the Final five.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Yeah, that's very cool, so a little familiar for people.
So that's what's a bit unique about this is that
we're doing this and this is almost like a one
time only where you had the eight down to four,
down to two, down to one, and next year will
be kind of similar, but ten will play one, nine
will play two, and then you have this second It's
it's just you can see this in the Big Ten,
who are now shifting their postseason model this year to
(20:29):
have a midweek game and then just there's just some
different things that they've tried to do to try and
make it better for the teams to avoid either a
long layoff or quick travel turnarounds and all those things.
It's just everybody's trying some different things. I just give
the league and the member institution's credit for giving this
a shot after so many years, you know, going to
the Twin Cities.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
And I would say, you know, multi guest appearance, Eric Martinson,
who's been on this pod quite a bit. He and
I have had conversations at too. I'll be interested to
see Alex. Regardless of who wins this weekend, whether or
not the coaches, now that you're playing it, would you
(21:11):
rather play that final game on a Friday, just to
give yourself twenty four extra hours as you're potentially heading
to a regional you know, this conference to you know,
look at this weekend for instance, right, it would seem
like the math is going to suggest to you all
four of these teams are going to be in the NCAAs.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
That's what it seemed like, right right at this point.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Yeah, so any one of those teams then moving on
and playing next weekend, just having that extra twenty four
hours could be a big deal, could be, So we'll
see what happens.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Especially if you could play Thursday. I mean some of
these teams will play on a Thursday, a Saturday versus
a Friday and a Sunday. So twenty four hours in
those cases can make a world of difference.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Well then back it up when you get in there
on Thursday, probably leaving on Tuesday probably, you know, And
if I'm playing on the road this year on Saturday,
you know it Just you're gonna have to make decisions
at this point in time, and those those hours do matter.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Well we know this year.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
The semi final is on Saturday night, six o'clock at
Ralph englsat Arena. Fantastic matchup between North Dakota and Minnesota
to luth again. The Bulldogs currently I believe number eight
in the NPI U and d was number one. Then
just it's all so fine between UND Michigan Michigan State.
So because Holy Cross won a game or RPI beat
like that switched it.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
So it's incredible.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
But anyway, regardless, great matchup you and he gets here
after a really strong quarter final performance against Omaha, they
sweeped the Mavericks who needed to win to keep their
season alive five to three, five to one. What stood
out to you about the two games this weekend in
the quarters?
Speaker 3 (22:54):
You know, I thought a pretty business like approach. I
just thought our team has done a really good job
no matter who's in the lineup. Alex, it feels like,
you know, I read this the other day and I
like this quote. It seems like our guys, whoever it is,
they're starring in their role, whatever that is, and they're felt.
(23:16):
You know, you know, we have guys that sometimes are
playing you know, roles that they're either you know, maybe
it's it's a lesser role if you will, or less
ice time, or or you have to come in and
you haven't played for a few few games. That those
are all challenging. But it seems like our guys are
(23:37):
already they're locked, they're they're loaded, and it seems like
when they get put in the lineup, they're producing.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Friday was a great example of that.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
You don't have Ben Stranden, you don't have Will Zeller's
David Clee has become a regular. He was out with
illness as well. Dalton Andrews steps in for the first
time since January and scores a huge goal, huge goal,
and kay Littler gets elevated. You see Jack Curning get elevator. Well,
all of these guys had to just embrace whatever was
out there and made the most of it. And Saturday
(24:06):
Zellers comes back and has a great night. But you
can see that this team just has I thought Jody
touched on it really well. They have a connectivity and
a desire to play for each other and understanding what
the main goal is.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
And they're talented enough.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
To be the best team in the country, and they
work hard enough to be the best team in the country,
and they just continue to check off these boxes. They've
lost one time in regulation in twenty twenty six. This
is Thanksgiving. Sists before Thanksgiving. They've lost one time in regulation,
I know. And it just can't stay enough. Twenty seven wins.
You can't say enough about what this team has done.
(24:41):
It's been incredible and it's going to be awesome to
see them again at home this weekend and then potentially
at home the next weekend with a chance to lift
the trophy. You can't beat that, that's right.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
And then you know, with the opportunity that obviously going
to the regionals will be great and we'll see what happens.
You know, we have some conversations about it, and I
think Brad Schlossman and The Herald has done a very
good job detailing that. You know, Denver's the host in Loveland,
in Omaha's the host in Sioux Falls, and Unions the
host in Albany, and holy Cross as the host in Worcester,
(25:13):
and if you do make the tournament and you're the host,
you will play there. And so that's the one where
as you outlined Alex the NPI former, pair wise, it's
so close among the top three teams right now that
it seems like any result in the country has like
(25:33):
a secondary and a third tier effect on what is
transpiring with North Dakota, Michigan and Michigan State.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
And the appeal of getting the number one overall seed,
of course, is then you have last line change throughout.
You get the benefit of having sort of quote unquote
the worst team in the tournament, who obviously is still
going to be a really good team, but you'd have
the sixteen seed, you'd certainly get match up with them,
and then unless that sixteen seed is holy Cross, that
game would likely for North Dakota take place just four
hours to the south, with likely a very large fan
(26:04):
base making the trip to Sue Falls, but a lot
to be determined between now and selection Sunday. On the
twenty second, all eyes focused on the semi final coming
up this weekend against the Bulldogs, which should be a
great game. We mentioned at the top Mid Code will
have a thirty minute pregame show coming up before that
semi final and.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
The game you would know.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
It's being produced by the NCCHC and Ross Productions. The
game will air live on Mid Coast Sports as well,
so and not on HDTV of course, so lots of
options if you can't get there in person to take
this in, and it will be the same story for
the final should North Dakota make it. So it's all
sets up for a really fun couple of weeks of
hockey coming up.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
He should be home. Portion's not just done.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Yet awesome, so hockey very much in the teeth of
the postseason. Men's basketball, women's basketball wrapping up their Smile
League tournament efforts this past week in Sue Falls. We
just talked about how the men's hockey team was built
on this group of guys that played for each other
and played hard and found a way to get the
job done. You could absolutely say this same thing for
(27:00):
Paul Sather and this men's basketball team who make the
final after a couple of gritty way really kind of
taking care of business handily against the Denver team that
everybody expected to be the one of the toughest outs
in the quarterfinals, North Dakota wins by sixteen, and then
just a gutsy effort to get by a really talented
deep veterans Saint Thomas team by one in the Semi
(27:23):
Googa with the free throw heard around the world to
send North Dakota to the championship game. And then I'll
be again, great, great game against North Dakota State. It's
just one of those things. Just tough to win three
games in a row, and obviously having a great Bison
team against you was a tough hill to climb.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
So they lose by eight in the title.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
But your thoughts on a just a tremendous three days
in suit falls for this team and really a fantastic season.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Yeah, you know, let me first say, you know, thank
you to the Summit League and their staff in everyone
really in suite falls who just put on a tremendous turn.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
They you know, the.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Community cares about it, and you know, folks show up,
and I think even if you know, when you saw,
I thought it was a good, good display good fans
for a North Kota, North Kota State game, so to speak,
in the championship, and I thought it was just a
phenomenal experience for our student athletes. So let me just
get that out there. Yeah, our men's team, I think,
(28:24):
you know, interestingly, I think coach Sailor and the coaching
staff squeezed everything out of this team to some degree.
I feel like, you know, what was I'll call it disappointing.
And I'll say this disappointing is that we had a
couple couple injuries in the you know, a couple of
months ago or about six weeks ago, when the team's
(28:47):
identity really was forming at that point in time. So unfortunately,
Garrett Anderson had to step out for a little bit,
and then Josh Jones had to step out for a
little bit. So when we played the Bison the two times,
we didn't have Josh, and if you watch how North
Dakota State plays, got two bigs and one thing. Josh
does a lot of things you don't see in the
(29:07):
box score, a lot of things. I mean, he walls
people up, alex See. He just there's things that he does.
He gets us into our sets. He there's things that
he does that when we missed him, that was that
was hard. That really was a that really because we
really didn't have another Josh on the team. So so
I thought our team, you know, played to their identity.
(29:29):
They knew their roles and it was it was fun
to watch and you know, you know, you're forty minutes away.
You kind of want to get it done and go
to March Madness, you know, so you know, it's it's exciting,
and you know, I know our women, you know. I
talked to coach Hutter afterwards. It was a rough year,
tough year, and yeah, he was ready to to you know,
(29:50):
let's let's go, let's try to figure this thing out
and get get in the fray, get into the mix,
get into the fight next year. And so so he's
excited about that as well. And a lot of our
young young kids on that team, you know, experienced suit falls,
which was good, and so that's important. And so but
I thought the tournament itself is a jewel, and you
(30:13):
know it's it's probably, in my opinion, the best mid
major conference tournament in the country. And honestly, I think
it's on the level of just being one of the
best tournaments in the country period, end of story.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Yeah, I think if you had a chance to be
in Sioue Falls, or if you had a chance to
watch on television, either on mid CO or on CBS,
like I think, the the way that you see the
people in this region embrace this tournament and regardless of
who's playing. I know it's a little different when it
is a quote unquote local school and you get a
little more blue or more red in the building. But
(30:47):
I thought the men's championship game, like you said, was
a great example. These are two teams that are not
right next door, not too far of a drive, but
it's not a local school, and you still had this great,
great group of fans who would come to support those
two teams, and a great group of neutral fans that
were there ready to cheer and enjoy a great basketball game.
And you just don't get that everywhere. And obviously the
(31:08):
women's game was incredible. You've got eight thousand whatever many.
It was eight thousand and seven thousand people there on
a Sunday afternoon, and the building was just on fire
the whole game, and it just that's you don't get
that everywhere. So I would agree with you that it was.
It is special that it's in our region, that this
is where our student athletes get to go and try
and punch their ticket to the big dance.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
What better way to.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Prepare you if you do leave there, that's right, with
that ticket, You're going to be ready for those types
of environments when you get in some march madness.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
It's it's awesome.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Well, I know, Mindy K. Larson, it's her baby for sure,
with a lot of help from everybody else on that staff.
And so Commissioner Fenton and everybody else on down should
take a bow and probably take a little bit of
an exhale this week.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
That crew in the Summer League who were missing a
couple of their key members through a maternal leave, a
couple of babies born in that office just a couple
of weeks ago, the likes of Ryan Powell and Emmy
Wolf and Tyler Schultz and like that group just went
above and beyond. I don't think I don't think Ryan
Powell slept more than like two hours a night for
the last five days, and yet it just because that's
(32:17):
what needed to be done and it went off without
a hitch. So you just a applaud those efforts and
all the work that they do. Yeah, but you can
go there's a lot of people we could talk about,
but yeah, well done on a fantastic tournament. Onto the
next As you said, offseason begins and now you can
start building towards what comes next year. We can obviously
concrats to Paul on a phenomenal job and best of
luck to Dennis again putting that team together and moving
(32:38):
forward for next year. That's right, from the postseason to
the middle of the season softball. We mentioned a little
bit at the beginning eight wins in a row bill.
This team is seventeen and eight in the non con
as they continue just to find the groove and pick
off these wherever they are in the country, whether it's
west or east or south, they've found something. What is
(33:01):
what is working for this softball team this spring?
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Yeah, good question. I think a couple things. Well. In honestly,
fourteen out of fifteen, which is amazing really, you know,
I would say, I'm going to be really candid with you.
You know, I think Jordan has done an amazing job
from a scheduling perspective, and I think who you play
(33:27):
obviously matters, and there's been there's been years where we
would go. Of course, you've got to go to either
warm climates or you know, understanding that you want to play.
But as we record this today, our team is going
to play two games with Drexel today in Philly. It's
spring break, so obviously we're still on the East Coast.
(33:50):
But I think he's really thinking through, hey, how can
we play teams within let's call it our weight class,
if you will, so to give us a better opportunity
to hopefully win some games or certainly be competitive. It
is great to go to Arizona. It's great to go
to Florida. It's great to go to southern California. But
(34:10):
when you go there, sometimes you go to these tournaments,
Alex and you don't know who you're going to be
matched up with, and you could find yourself playing three
you know, make it up right, like SEC teams, or
you could be playing you know, whatever that is. And
you know, I'm not sure, that's awesome for the confidence,
especially if you haven't been outside as the most northern
(34:32):
tier team in the country. So I think Jordan's done
a phenomenal job and now you have to execute too.
And we've been on a little bit of a role
and I think confidence begets confidence. So here we are.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Yeah, Well, the team had so much success last year
and it just feels even though it's kind of a
different cast again, different pictures, they've got some different people
in key roles, it feels like that is almost carried
over into this spring. And as you mentioned again, they
have done a good job of finding a formula that
works both.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
In the circle and at the plate.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
And yes, as you said, they're in Philadelphia now for
the next couple of days, three games out there. Then
they'll go to the West coast, big big one against
Washington coming up on the eighteenth, and a doubleheader at
Portland State. And then again March twenty fifth, weather permitting,
as long as it's not too cold, you and d
will be hosting a game against Dakota State at all
Brick Field. So it's incredible to think this wild month
(35:22):
and a half, two months sojourn around the country almost
coming to an end. Home games not that far off
in the future for this team.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
Yeah, no doubt about it. And you know, knock on wood,
you know, I guess if temps are good, I mean,
we can push snow and maybe not on wood too.
Mother nature will be kind to us and we won't
have any of that white stuff anymore. So so hopefully,
you know, it should it should work out great. I mean,
so we're excited about it. Yeah, come on out, come
out to all work field and go watch these this
(35:49):
team play. They're they're playing well.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Softball is rolling.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
We just got to see indoor track and fields complete
their conference championships. By the way, just a quick shout
out to the un D athletics crew and again so
the summer week were putting on a really great indoor competition.
Just a week ago, the U and D women finishing
third in a nail bier. The men with some really
good individual success team wise, they end up finishing seventh
in the team race. Jaden Keeler does the triple crown
(36:15):
again and would have gone four for four if not
for just a little issue on in exchange they got
their DMR disqualified. But great meet for her of course,
the women's distance team again we saw them win the
cross country team championship. They really came to play that weekends,
sweeping the podium I believe in the three thousand, I
think they went one three four five or one two
(36:36):
four five. They had like four of the top five
in the five k, like just consistently doing great things.
Louis Fanucci having a great week. He was the most
outstanding track performer of the championships. I don't know, I
mean it was it was so much fun to be
there and to see Jim Barren Camp and Tom Scott
and the un D crew do their thing against some
really good competition. I feel like you obviously you had
(36:57):
there are a ton of stuff going on me with
these one of the penros of that week. There was
a huge basketball Geam doubleheader in Fargo, and you're hosting
a championships, but you have to be again just I think,
very proud of what this track team, this track program
continues to do both as a host and then on
the track itself.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
Well, the hosting piece was phenomenal. And again back to
the Summit League, Brian Miller and Ryan Powell did a
fantastic job coming up and no stone on turn there,
and you know they were just off the you know,
the week before they had the swimming championships, so it's
championship season for them for sure. You know, you were here,
(37:34):
you know, broadcasting and you so you had a really
good feel, you had a really good perch, right, and
and so you were able to see everything, and I
thought everything went really really really really good, and it's
just great. You know, the economic impact that can bring
for Grand Forks is tremendous. I guarantee you every bed
(37:55):
was filled here in Grand Forks because there are a
lot of athletes here in their family friends. I mean really,
I mean it was crazy and what a great facility.
I mean, you know, kudos to my predecessors, the donors
that that made that happen. And then you know, we've
kind of tried to do our part during my little
chapter here, and we've added on to it a little bit.
(38:16):
And I don't know, you probably had a better read
on what the what the feedback was from others, but
certainly I heard nothing but really positive remarks regarding you know,
their experience, and that's all that matters that you know,
for them, they train all year round to try to
get to that pinnacle moment to try to have their
(38:38):
best performance. And it was awesome to see not only
our student athletes but everybody else as well. And you know,
doctor Armacost was awesome with his time and generous, and
he and I spent a good chunk of Saturday afternoon
putting metals around folks and we got our stuff down.
We figured it out pretty well. And it's just awesome
(39:00):
because you know what, it's a lifelong experience that they'll
remember the rest of their lives.
Speaker 1 (39:06):
Yeah, it was really special, and yeah, it was so
great that the President could be there. Every every response
I got, whether it was from a student athlete or
a coach or just a fan who you talked to,
had a great experience. I think the fact that it
is a three hundred meter track. The kids love that
there's a lot of space in the pollard. The kids
love that there's beautiful there's seating. You're not like wedged in.
(39:26):
You have a nice seat to sit in and a
great site line to watch everything. The fans love that.
The parents love that the huge video board that was
put in so people could watch if you maybe didn't
have if you were over by the high jump, but
you wanted to see what was happening over in the
shot put round the track. You could just turn around
and see with results what was going on, see the
live video. So it was it was an incredibly well
(39:48):
put on meets and you could see that honestly from
a performance standpoint. Kids, we always talk about this. You
tape her up to these championships and try and be
performing your best. But I don't know how many person
best seasons bests that we saw, Like a lot of
times you would see six kids, seven kids pr and
and that's what you in a particular heat or in
(40:09):
it going into a final, that's what you want. My
kids are performing their best. So it was an awesome
two days. Awesome, awesome two days.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
So let me let me talk to you about this.
And I know we're gonna have a kind of a
heart out here in a in a couple of minutes.
So it's not necessarily a B side topic, but maybe
it's a hybrid A and B side topic, so we
can half flip to some degree.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
But but I love a hybrid.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
Let's get yeah, let's do it. So one of the
conversations I had that afternoon with one of our student
athletes that has been obviously unbelievable here the last several years,
Jaden Keeler and so you know, she got her three
medals and uh, you know then she also was you know,
(40:54):
decorated as you know, the track athlete of of the
of the actual event. So in talking with her, I
asked her because she's Canadian as well, and I just said, hey,
do you have a shot at some point in two
years to represent Canada? And she said, well, I hope
(41:14):
for sure that's the goal. And I said, well, what event?
And I don't know if you have you had this
conversation with her, I mean, I have nuestion. What do
you think her response was?
Speaker 2 (41:28):
My guess is I mean she's obviously she's a little
more of a longer.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Than a shorter when it comes to the distances. I
would say that she either told you ten k or marathon.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
That she said marathon?
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Did she say marathon? That doesn't that doesn't totally surprise.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
Doesn't surprise you, huh. And you know what's interesting too,
just I don't know, this is interesting insight to me
when you talk to an elite athlete or someone that
it kind of knows who they are. And he knows
maybe where their best perform rich could lie to some degree.
So what was my follow up question? Well, my follow
up question was I felt like I was we were
(42:06):
on the pod, but we were, but now we are
is Hey, how many marathons have you run?
Speaker 2 (42:14):
That'd be zero? Yeah, I was gonna say she.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
Hasn't done what because she doesn't need to at this
point in time until she needs to. And I could
see that. I mean, she seems like she's one of
those humans that boy, they just go, Alex, they just go.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
She has the ability to put it into a gear
and that gear is a lot faster than most if
you're going to run a distance as far as you
are going, and she can stay in that year and
that's that's pretty special, whether that's in the fifteen hundred
to three thousand, the five thousand to ten thousand, or
perhaps a little bit further twenty six points two. She's
(42:55):
a very very special kid. We interviewed the kids after
they win, and we had talked to her. I think
after she won the three thousand, we're talking to her again.
We've talked to her three different times and she finishes
and she's she's won her three medals again and we
say congratulations on that. I now go get ready for
the four by four because that was the last verse
of the day, knowing she's not going to run a
(43:16):
four hundred, and she laughs and says, I don't think
so well.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
And it was just it was just priceless. But but yeah,
I just I love that. That was her response.
Speaker 3 (43:28):
So last Jaden Keeler story is this is I think
doctor Armacost's favorite one is so as as it goes.
She also works at our dining comments Wilkerson, and so
she she puts in a two hour shift making omelets,
(43:49):
and she's got the record for making omelets one hundred
and seven and two hours. But then I got a
text from doctor Armacass that apparently last it's now one
twenty seven. So you wonder, you wonder how competitive athletes
are wired. That's otherwired.
Speaker 1 (44:11):
That's a little window into that mindset. That's now now
we need to look into this. If she's she must
have two pans. I mean that's an omelet a minute.
If you're making one hundred and twenty seven omelets in
two hours, you got to have the double pan going on.
I'm assuming, but man, I.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
Almost wanted to have Jaden on to talk Omelets at
some point we can talk. We can possibly talk a
lot of other things, but that might be a tease
for us because we're clearly on the B side now.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
We have clearly shifted. Yes, I love that.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
I was not aware of her prowess on the omelet range.
That's awesome. She she she's a special kid. Yeah, yeah,
obviously very very talented in kind of whatever area. So
been a blessing to get a chance to watch her perform.
We are very much on the B side. By the way, obviously,
tennis men's and women's are still going. They started conference,
played this West weekend. Gall is very much active as well.
(45:01):
There's a lot going on. Anything else that stands out
before we officially flip it all.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
No, let's let's flip for sure, and you know we'll
flip with this, so a couple of things we won't
go too much into soccer. Champions League are going, and
we can talk Spurs. We can talk relegation a later time.
Speaker 2 (45:18):
There will probably be time for that.
Speaker 3 (45:20):
I know Tottenham does play Liverpool coming up on the weekends.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
Next time.
Speaker 3 (45:24):
It will be more of a robust B side on
where where my Spurs are at some point as we're
getting ready to go to Charlton Athletic next year, so
there's a lot going on there. World Baseball Classic. Have
you had a chance to watch any of that at all.
Speaker 2 (45:41):
Alex I have.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
I have been able to just follow just by the
a little bit, just a little bit.
Speaker 2 (45:48):
But now I've not been able to watch anything.
Speaker 3 (45:49):
Like I watched a little bit last night. I was
lucky enough to watch a couple of these games. You know,
coming off the Olympics, Boy, it is a in as
much as we watch our soccer guys play for their country,
there's nothing there's nothing like putting on that jersey. And
I'll tell you what it's It's been great. It's been great.
(46:10):
So Roman Anthony hit a big three run homer yesterday.
He's been really good. Jared Duran had two home runs
for Mexico against US. And actually Yoshida, he's like a
WBC legend in Japan. I mean, he's just been unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (46:27):
So not so Man.
Speaker 3 (46:30):
So a lot of performers going on, but it should
be fun when it gets to the knockout stage, it'll
be amazing.
Speaker 2 (46:37):
You mentioned the Olympics.
Speaker 1 (46:39):
I believe it was Bryce Harper right who had that
quote sort of going into the World Baseball Classic, really
pushing for baseball to be back at the LA Games
in twenty eight and he kind.
Speaker 2 (46:48):
Of said, this is this is great.
Speaker 1 (46:50):
We love that we're competing for our countries here at
this event, awesome event. We want to be in the Olympics, like,
we know that's different. Everybody's watching that we have a
chance to really elevate baseball if we're in the Olympics. Again,
I thought that was an interesting take that I think, I.
Speaker 3 (47:07):
Think you're right, and uh, there's there's something to be
said for that. The crowds have been amazing and they
have soccer ish crowds right, like just the way it
goes and uh, you know.
Speaker 2 (47:19):
There's chances, there's songs.
Speaker 3 (47:20):
Yeah, yeah, and you know for its for a sport
that is trying to move games along a little bit
and it just you know, there's no clock, right so
but there they but they have put a clock in,
but there's no ultimate clock. But they've tried to move
things along and it's been awesome. It's been awesome. Even
Scooball of course, two time Cy Young Award winner, had
(47:42):
his plan just to pitch the one game and then
go to camp. He was so taken with the whole
experience he wanted to stay there, but he stuck to
his plan, which I totally get, even like Crochet for
the Red Sox. It's a tough time of year. You
have to think through do you want to go play
leverage baseball right now?
Speaker 2 (48:00):
How much has this gotten you excited for the regular season?
Speaker 3 (48:03):
Not as much as I have already was.
Speaker 1 (48:09):
You were already there, Yes, yes, this is just a bonus.
Speaker 3 (48:12):
To the World Series this year. You heard it here.
Speaker 2 (48:14):
First Hope springs its turnal here on March.
Speaker 3 (48:18):
We have not lost Jeed Alex. We are zero and zero.
Speaker 1 (48:24):
Well, if Roman Anthony keeps sitting bombs and if Jared
Durant is going to hit two runones a game, I
sign me up.
Speaker 2 (48:29):
This is going to be a great season.
Speaker 3 (48:31):
It's awesome. Well, this was This has been awesome, And
it was awesome to have Jody on too.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
That was great, And we had discussed we had a
couple of different guests options and it worked out for
Jody to do it this week.
Speaker 2 (48:42):
In two weeks we get another great.
Speaker 1 (48:43):
Hockey guest on with Jason Hashtu right after a selection Sunday,
we'll have a chance to get his thoughts on the
season and you and these plays in the postseason. So
some really good guests that we have in our wheelhouse
this current stretch.
Speaker 2 (48:55):
Awesowes well who books those. It's all good.
Speaker 1 (48:58):
It's all about the pod, all about the pod, which
is now going to come to a close. So, as
you said, Jody Hunchin fabulous, best look to him and
his crew and your staff as well hosting the semi
finals this weekends.
Speaker 2 (49:11):
Enjoy enjoy that you and everybody else. It's gonna be
awesome hockey.
Speaker 1 (49:15):
He is, Bill Shaves, Paul Ralston, Alex Stocker, Johnson on
the back end.
Speaker 2 (49:19):
Thanks to them.
Speaker 1 (49:20):
I'm Alex Hyder again, thank you for listening, Have a
blessed week and enjoy March Badness, baby,
You're listening to the Bill Shaves Podcast, presented by Mid
Coast Sports. Mid co Sports is the place to watch
the NCAC Semi Finals this Saturday. Get ready for u
n D versus Minnesota l luth with a half hour
pregame show starting against five thirty, followed by sixty minutes
or more of playoff hockey from Ralph Englestat Arena. This
is how we do sports. This is the Bill Shaves Podcast.
(00:23):
Welcome to another edition of the Bill Shaves Podcast. If
you are taping this on a Tuesday morning, bright and early,
the tenth of March. Alex Seiner, Phil Shaves a special
guest that we're going to get to and literally seconds Bill.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Here we go, postseason off and.
Speaker 3 (00:39):
Running, lots of postseason, supposed lots of postseason. We saw
each other a couple times, we've crossed, we've crossed over
between it's Ralph Englestat Arena, Sue Falls, who knows, I
mean maybe Sue falls again, would never know.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
It's it's that time of year, right, and it's great
that yes, all these things, all these big events are
happening with in the Dakota is at least for now.
And so we'll talk about yes, the event since he
falls with the semile League tournament and then swoops great
Ryn and we'll talk about the softball team which has
not lost in weeks and weeks, which has been incredible
to see this great run for Jordan Stevens and company.
All that to come first, though, you mentioned hockey and
we talked about the Ralph at the Open. Who better
(01:17):
to discuss what's coming up this weekends and maybe hopefully
possibly next weekend with the NCAC Frozen Faceoff semi finals
coming to the Ria than the general manager of that
beautiful building, Jody Hodgson, who was back on for a
second time this year. And I looked in the archives,
Jody fifth time. Overall, you're in the Chevy Chase zone.
Now look at you moving up the charts.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
When's the when's the house quote coming? When's the When's coming?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
That's right, that's right. Oh, we're happy to have you though, Jode.
And you know what, we figured, what a great week
to have it because a little bit different the way
the playoffs are running this year. So what can you
tell us and what's happened since the final horn went
on Saturday evening? And then where we are right, now
(02:07):
as we're recording on Tuesday morning.
Speaker 4 (02:10):
Yeah, thanks for having me, guys. Just a really exciting
time of the year, right for all of us sports
fans and those of us lucky enough to work in
the industry. Kind of the best time of the year
here when everything's coming down to the line, and really
exciting from a business standpoint and a fan standpoint to
have the on campus playoff opportunities in the NCCHC this year. So,
(02:32):
as Bill Bill's question, you know what's happened since the
final horn on Saturday night? So as soon as the
game ended on Saturday night, we initiated all of our
communications with our season ticket holders and suite owners and
club set owners and single game purchasers and und students,
and we really started Saturday night with zero tickets sold
(02:53):
for a semi final, right, you didn't You don't know
if you're going to play it until you win a quarterfinal.
You win a quarter five, I know. Now our challenge
is to try and fill the building and sell all
of our eleven thousand, six hundred tickets before next weekend,
and we're off to a really good start on that.
We've had a busy weekend and a busy early time
here this week. Great group effort by un D athletic
(03:17):
staff and ralp Englstead Arena staff and reaching out to
all of our customers and initiating those sales. And now
we're working on the operational plans with the NCCHC. Little
different model for us, right. NCCHC owns the semi finals
and the championship game, so a little different environment for
us in terms of their desire to create a championship
(03:40):
environment for the student athletes from both of the participating teams,
and for our fans to try to differentiate these home
games from a regular season game. Make sure everybody knows
it's different, it's special, it's the playoffs, it's do or die,
it's one winner, go home, right, all that stuff. So
just really excited to host this weekend. Lots of good
(04:01):
work being done by lots of good people to get
ready for that, and then you know, hoping we're lucky
enough to win this weekend and get to do it
all over again next week, where if we're lucky enough
to win Saturday night, we'll start with zero tickets sold
for the championship game and we'll try and initiate many
of the same things we're doing this week and try
and turn it over and crank it out again to
(04:22):
try and fill the place up for the championship game
March twenty first, if we're lucky enough to play in that.
Speaker 2 (04:28):
Yeah, I love that. It'll be old hat next week.
But we just did this.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
Yeah, that's really quick. Til that's right. We'll take that
we learn model. We'll take what we learned this week
and implement it next week.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
So I love when you said again the league trying
to help the building and for same thing for the
RAF as for Magnusarena as well. Who's hosting the other
semi to make it difference, make it feel like it
is a semi final. Could you tell us what are
some of those things that fans will experience that will
help them realize, hey, this is not just what we
saw when Minnesota luth came to town in October. This
(04:57):
is a little bit bigger.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Yeah, you know, I'd probably start outside and say, hey,
like all of our fans, make sure you hang on
to your champions Club hangtags, right, same parking plan when
you come in. That's one thing that's going to be
the same as the regular season. But then when you
come in right. We're going with our motto and our
slogan for the playoffs is all green, all in. We're
asking all of our fans to dress in green. Like
(05:18):
we're trying to create that iconic playoff vibe and fan atmosphere.
We want every North Dakota fan covered in green. We
want to create kind of an iconic look in our bowl.
We're doing twelve thousand green pom poms for our fans
this Saturday night, after we did twelve thousand rally towels
(05:39):
for the playoffs last weekend. In our bowl, you're going
to see like a blue vibe when you talk about
the NCCHC and the playoff branding that we're doing. We're
going to have that intermixed with our all green, all
in slogan and vibe that we'll do. So just trying
to create a little different atmosphere when you talk about
(06:00):
pregame videos and introduction of our starter videos, trying to
modify those things to bring new life to it and
put a playoff spin to everything that we're doing.
Speaker 3 (06:11):
Yeah, I think our fans, you know, if you look
at FCS football, Jody kind of a similar thing. You know,
once you make the playoffs. It's the NCAA's game. We
just in a sense host it. But you're still you know,
in your bed, you're still obviously at your in your
locker room. There's a lot of familiarity for certainly the team,
(06:33):
but it is good for our fans to know, really,
this one is not our game per se.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
Yeah, for sure, it's a little bit different, right as
you say, we're the host. Instead of everybody loading up
to go to Saint Paul to an event that is
owned and operated by the conference, the event is now
going to happen on campus. Event is still quote unquote
owned and operated by the conference. I think most people
are well aware that these conference championship tournaments provide the
(07:03):
significant majority of the revenue conferences need to exist and
need to operate. So you look at things like ticket prices, right,
ticket prices are determined by the conference for both our
game and the game in Denver. Different things that they
want to do during the game, some of the sponsorship
assets that they have to apply to their events, and
(07:25):
some of the game presentation elements come from the conference.
So a little bit different for us. But the great
thing is is that Heather Weims as the Commissioner of
the NCCHC, Shares are desired to make sure that it's
a special, special game environment and fan experience, and then
a special student athlete experience. We're really excited about how
(07:49):
lively and energetic we think these one and done playoff
games can be on campus and we're certainly looking to
prime the pump on all that activity.
Speaker 1 (08:00):
I know that's been such a big talking point in
college hockey in recent seasons about potentially the shift back
to on campus sites for a regional and people have
very strong opinions kind of on both sides of the
fences of that. How important do you think and again,
we've seen the Big Ten go to this model. Atlantic
Hockey has this, We've seen this across the country, but
this is the NCCHC.
Speaker 4 (08:20):
Now.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
I don't want to say there is pressure, but obviously
that this is such a great opportunity to get to
showcase what could it look like And just a reminder
where it's been twenty years since we've had this for
the nc douaa's do you do you kind of view
it a little bit from that lens Jody going into
this weekend?
Speaker 4 (08:34):
Yeah, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I
want this to be an example of what can happen
on campus. We've talked about that as a staff. We
have said we'd seek and desire for the NCCHC on
campus playoffs to be a model or an example of
what an NCAA regional event on campus could be. You know,
(08:56):
when you look at some interesting data here right last
couple of years, looking at win loss records a home
teams and road teams, it's almost five hundred the last
two years in all of college hockey nationally, there doesn't
appear to be a huge, huge impact or a huge
difference between home ice advantage and the visiting team win
(09:19):
loss records. So I think that's kind of a negligible
argument for people who claim that it's too big of
an advantage. But I think both the student athlete experience
and the fan experience I think could be magical in
on campus games, and we hope that our home games
in the playoffs can be an example of that.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
So Jody a last one for me in Alex alluded
to it at the beginning. But you're always going to
have to prep ahead. If you're lucky enough to be
one goal better on Saturday evening, kind of a washrinse
repeat for the following week as well.
Speaker 4 (09:55):
If that were the case, Yeah, we're going to look
to ramp it up a little bit in some of
the internal preparations that we're doing, Like if we're lucky
enough to host, we do seek to have like a
championship happy hour atmosphere in that first hour from the
time doors open through puck drop. We're talking about putting
(10:16):
a drum line, a pep band outside to create a
vibe as people enter the building. We're talking about trying
to do a one hundred thousand dollars shoot to win
opportunity during the second intermission where we'll buy an insurance
policy and give somebody an opportunity to see if they
can see if they can score on some shots from
(10:37):
center ice to win one hundred thousand bucks at the game.
So kind of modeling it a little bit if you
think of, hey, what's different at the SEC Championship game
from other games in the regular season, and we're saying, Okay,
we want to do some crazy intermission stuff, we want
to do some pregame activities, we want to create a
real championship vibe, and we want to crank things up
(11:00):
lucky enough to play at home again next Saturday.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
That's exciting. It's going to make again. The hockey game
itself is enough of a reason to come. And as
you mentioned, it's winner go home. This is a semi final.
This is a big deal. But all the extra stuff
that goes along with it, that you and your staff
and you and the athletics put together is going to
make it just that much more. So I should get
you out on this, Jody. You've watched this team all season.
They're pretty good. What are your take on what is
(11:25):
made maybe this North Dakota team as successful as it's
been throughout the campaign.
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Yeah, I think it starts. I think it starts at
the top. I think Bill and Eric and Dane Jackson
and his staff. I think they've done a remarkable job
in today's world with all of the changes that have occurred.
When you talk about roster management putting together a team,
I think they've done a fantastic job of putting together
(11:51):
a group of characters and creating a culture that has
led to their success. I'm lucky enough to kind of
be around the rink most days and see the interactions
with guys and what's going on and I just feel personally,
I feel like it's a pretty special group in terms
of the personalities that are involved and kind of the
(12:14):
team first attitude. You know, when you see, in my opinion,
how much guys appear to care about each other and
care about the team success over their individual success. I
think that is really the core of why they're having success,
is the people in that room. And then I would
also say that I think you mix that with the
(12:35):
skill that we've added to our roster when you talk
about a Keton Verhoff and Nikole Reshni and a Will
Zellers and some of the young guys that have come
in and complemented some of our returners and older guys
that are that have shown them the way and that
are enforcing the culture that the team has. It's its core.
I think it's a pretty special group that's got a
(12:57):
really unique opportunity here in the postseason, and I think
the sky's the limit for them.
Speaker 3 (13:05):
So I lied, I have one more and this is
going to be I don't know, this might be a
first time on the pod.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Alex.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
Let's go flip quickly to the B side with Jody
so that I can ask him a question. What was
your thoughts. So, Jody is a proud Canadian and I
know there was an overtime game a couple of weeks ago.
What was your thought process on three on three overtime?
Speaker 2 (13:32):
Just your thoughts on.
Speaker 3 (13:35):
Having the gold medal game end in that way. I
know we can all say that's the rules going in,
but just I'll just be interested to see what your
perspective was.
Speaker 4 (13:43):
Yeah, I sat watching the game with my wife that morning,
and she was cheering for the other team. I was
obviously cheering for Canada, and I did say to her
at the end of regulation, I said, in my opinion,
what an absolutely terrible way to end a great hockey game. Like,
(14:05):
in my opinion, hockey's a fantastic team sport, and to
end a game of that magnitude with a gimmick like
three on three, to me, is an absolute fan gimmick
to try and let people go home. I guess in
an entertainment world, instead of a tie, you have some
type of exciting outcome. But before the winner was decided,
(14:28):
I thought it was awful, Like I think they should
have played continued to play five on five and overtime.
It would have been incredibly exciting. And yeah, I'm pretty
old school. There might be old school, and I may
even be older than that, but I hate three on
three in anything other than a regular season I get
it when you're talking TV schedules and you're talking travel
(14:49):
schedules of teams and all those things and fan entertainment.
I get finalizing a regular season game to give somebody
a point and an outcome. But I absolutely hate the
gimmick of three on three in any game that really matters.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
Yeah, I would say you could even buy me into this.
Find a way to play five five for a bit.
Could be an extra period, could be it could be
ten minutes, I don't know. Somewhere along the line, I
think I could be bought into even then the going
(15:26):
four on four at some point and then maybe get
to three on three. But at some point when you
start straight with three on three, which literally never happens
during a game, I've never seen it in my life. Now,
someone could say I'm wrong. I watched a lot of
hockey games. I've never seen three on three in a
(15:48):
regular game. Yet that's how we're going to go forward
in finishing off a game. It just seems really odd.
I get it when it's January at one point in time,
you know, in Buffalo, so to speak, and you're watching
Columbus play Buffalo, and you want an outcome, and that
might be your only NHL game. You're going, you see,
I got it, I got it, all right.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
I agree with you.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Well, there you go, Alex.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
Sorry, no, no, no, you're fine.
Speaker 1 (16:13):
There will not be three on three this weekend. This
Saturday night at the Ralph. If we are tied after sixty,
we're playing five on five until we get a winner.
And when these two teams have gotten together that sometimes, Yeah,
you can have a lot of five on You're.
Speaker 4 (16:29):
Right, Alex, Yeah, thankfully. We'll go full intermission and another
full twenty minute period and repeat it five on five
till somebody scores.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
So it's going to be the best we saw.
Speaker 3 (16:40):
There's enough mustard packets around.
Speaker 1 (16:45):
And a lot of coffee for people. Jody, thanks so
much for being on the pot. And it's a crazy
week for you and your staff. Tremendous job getting things
ready to roll. We can't wait for the semifinals this weekend.
Speaker 4 (16:54):
Hey, thanks for having me. Thanks for all you do
for you, Ndy Alex.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Five time guests, Jody Hodson taking some time out of
a busy, busy week for the Ralph Angles set Arena crew.
It's fun to hear what's in store this weekend, both
on the ice from a fan experience perspective.
Speaker 2 (17:12):
Now North Dakota has done this before.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
The twenty twenty one Frozen Face Off was held at
the Ralph but under obviously very different circumstances. That was,
of course the entire tournament. It was during COVID. You
only had three thousand people in the building. So it's
almost apples to oranges a little bit, but it is.
It is going to be a tremendous night of hockey
coming up on Saturday.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Yeah, you know so, so last week was no different
than what we've done previously. We just moved it back
a weekend.
Speaker 4 (17:39):
That was it.
Speaker 3 (17:40):
So the schedule kind of changed or altered in that
in that way, but the two out of three was
very similar. Alex, what will be interesting in the debrief
when when the when the tournament concludes, You know, how
was it for a team such as Western having to
travel to Denver and then should should they beat Denver
(18:05):
and then have to say come here? You know, how
does that how does that look and how does that
feel and what are some of the things we need
to do, because let's face it, if you're in New
England or you're in different regional parts of the country,
might be easier to just jump on a bus, right,
So sometimes you have bus trips, sometimes you don't. So
(18:26):
those things we're going to have to kind of figure
out on the back end. But I agree with Jody.
You know you can only do this semi and final
the first time once and so you're trying to do it.
Speaker 2 (18:38):
Well, I should ask.
Speaker 1 (18:40):
Next season, the NCC will go to ten with the
addition of Saint Thomas, so you sort of it'll be
the same format kind of, but also not really because
they're gonna get Yeah, there's it'll be some subtle changes.
Speaker 2 (18:53):
The semis and finals.
Speaker 1 (18:54):
Will look the same, I believe, correct, but the first round,
so give us the update on what that was like.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
What so actually all ten schools will play in the
first round and then the lowest two remaining seeds will
have to go to the highest seed and that top
that highest remaining seed will get a buy at that
point and not have to play that game. So let's
(19:19):
just make it up. All seeds held and so four
and five would have to play and one would be waiting,
while two and three would be playing on the other side.
So it's interesting. A lot of times you play the
extra game at the beginning of the tournament. In this
(19:39):
case scenario, two winners will have to play an extra
game as the top seed is waiting, so kind of
an interesting way to do it. I mean, it's you know,
Coach Carl was the one that kind of put this
idea out there and we all kind of liked it,
and we all kind of said, you know what, let's
try it. See what happens.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Because is that that's the throwback to the Final five
little bit.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
It is, of course very similar little to the Final five.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
Yeah, that's very cool, so a little familiar for people.
So that's what's a bit unique about this is that
we're doing this and this is almost like a one
time only where you had the eight down to four,
down to two, down to one, and next year will
be kind of similar, but ten will play one, nine
will play two, and then you have this second It's
it's just you can see this in the Big Ten,
who are now shifting their postseason model this year to
(20:29):
have a midweek game and then just there's just some
different things that they've tried to do to try and
make it better for the teams to avoid either a
long layoff or quick travel turnarounds and all those things.
It's just everybody's trying some different things. I just give
the league and the member institution's credit for giving this
a shot after so many years, you know, going to
the Twin Cities.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
And I would say, you know, multi guest appearance, Eric Martinson,
who's been on this pod quite a bit. He and
I have had conversations at too. I'll be interested to
see Alex. Regardless of who wins this weekend, whether or
not the coaches, now that you're playing it, would you
(21:11):
rather play that final game on a Friday, just to
give yourself twenty four extra hours as you're potentially heading
to a regional you know, this conference to you know,
look at this weekend for instance, right, it would seem
like the math is going to suggest to you all
four of these teams are going to be in the NCAAs.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
That's what it seemed like, right right at this point.
Speaker 3 (21:32):
Yeah, so any one of those teams then moving on
and playing next weekend, just having that extra twenty four
hours could be a big deal, could be, So we'll
see what happens.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
Especially if you could play Thursday. I mean some of
these teams will play on a Thursday, a Saturday versus
a Friday and a Sunday. So twenty four hours in
those cases can make a world of difference.
Speaker 3 (21:55):
Well then back it up when you get in there
on Thursday, probably leaving on Tuesday probably, you know, And
if I'm playing on the road this year on Saturday,
you know it Just you're gonna have to make decisions
at this point in time, and those those hours do matter.
Speaker 2 (22:15):
Well we know this year.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
The semi final is on Saturday night, six o'clock at
Ralph englsat Arena. Fantastic matchup between North Dakota and Minnesota
to luth again. The Bulldogs currently I believe number eight
in the NPI U and d was number one. Then
just it's all so fine between UND Michigan Michigan State.
So because Holy Cross won a game or RPI beat
like that switched it.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
So it's incredible.
Speaker 1 (22:37):
But anyway, regardless, great matchup you and he gets here
after a really strong quarter final performance against Omaha, they
sweeped the Mavericks who needed to win to keep their
season alive five to three, five to one. What stood
out to you about the two games this weekend in
the quarters?
Speaker 3 (22:54):
You know, I thought a pretty business like approach. I
just thought our team has done a really good job
no matter who's in the lineup. Alex, it feels like,
you know, I read this the other day and I
like this quote. It seems like our guys, whoever it is,
they're starring in their role, whatever that is, and they're felt.
(23:16):
You know, you know, we have guys that sometimes are
playing you know, roles that they're either you know, maybe
it's it's a lesser role if you will, or less
ice time, or or you have to come in and
you haven't played for a few few games. That those
are all challenging. But it seems like our guys are
(23:37):
already they're locked, they're they're loaded, and it seems like
when they get put in the lineup, they're producing.
Speaker 2 (23:44):
Friday was a great example of that.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
You don't have Ben Stranden, you don't have Will Zeller's
David Clee has become a regular. He was out with
illness as well. Dalton Andrews steps in for the first
time since January and scores a huge goal, huge goal,
and kay Littler gets elevated. You see Jack Curning get elevator. Well,
all of these guys had to just embrace whatever was
out there and made the most of it. And Saturday
(24:06):
Zellers comes back and has a great night. But you
can see that this team just has I thought Jody
touched on it really well. They have a connectivity and
a desire to play for each other and understanding what
the main goal is.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
And they're talented enough.
Speaker 1 (24:19):
To be the best team in the country, and they
work hard enough to be the best team in the country,
and they just continue to check off these boxes. They've
lost one time in regulation in twenty twenty six. This
is Thanksgiving. Sists before Thanksgiving. They've lost one time in regulation,
I know. And it just can't stay enough. Twenty seven wins.
You can't say enough about what this team has done.
(24:41):
It's been incredible and it's going to be awesome to
see them again at home this weekend and then potentially
at home the next weekend with a chance to lift
the trophy. You can't beat that, that's right.
Speaker 3 (24:50):
And then you know, with the opportunity that obviously going
to the regionals will be great and we'll see what happens.
You know, we have some conversations about it, and I
think Brad Schlossman and The Herald has done a very
good job detailing that. You know, Denver's the host in Loveland,
in Omaha's the host in Sioux Falls, and Unions the
host in Albany, and holy Cross as the host in Worcester,
(25:13):
and if you do make the tournament and you're the host,
you will play there. And so that's the one where
as you outlined Alex the NPI former, pair wise, it's
so close among the top three teams right now that
it seems like any result in the country has like
(25:33):
a secondary and a third tier effect on what is
transpiring with North Dakota, Michigan and Michigan State.
Speaker 1 (25:42):
And the appeal of getting the number one overall seed,
of course, is then you have last line change throughout.
You get the benefit of having sort of quote unquote
the worst team in the tournament, who obviously is still
going to be a really good team, but you'd have
the sixteen seed, you'd certainly get match up with them,
and then unless that sixteen seed is holy Cross, that
game would likely for North Dakota take place just four
hours to the south, with likely a very large fan
(26:04):
base making the trip to Sue Falls, but a lot
to be determined between now and selection Sunday. On the
twenty second, all eyes focused on the semi final coming
up this weekend against the Bulldogs, which should be a
great game. We mentioned at the top Mid Code will
have a thirty minute pregame show coming up before that
semi final and.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
The game you would know.
Speaker 1 (26:21):
It's being produced by the NCCHC and Ross Productions. The
game will air live on Mid Coast Sports as well,
so and not on HDTV of course, so lots of
options if you can't get there in person to take
this in, and it will be the same story for
the final should North Dakota make it. So it's all
sets up for a really fun couple of weeks of
hockey coming up.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
He should be home. Portion's not just done.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
Yet awesome, so hockey very much in the teeth of
the postseason. Men's basketball, women's basketball wrapping up their Smile
League tournament efforts this past week in Sue Falls. We
just talked about how the men's hockey team was built
on this group of guys that played for each other
and played hard and found a way to get the
job done. You could absolutely say this same thing for
(27:00):
Paul Sather and this men's basketball team who make the
final after a couple of gritty way really kind of
taking care of business handily against the Denver team that
everybody expected to be the one of the toughest outs
in the quarterfinals, North Dakota wins by sixteen, and then
just a gutsy effort to get by a really talented
deep veterans Saint Thomas team by one in the Semi
(27:23):
Googa with the free throw heard around the world to
send North Dakota to the championship game. And then I'll
be again, great, great game against North Dakota State. It's
just one of those things. Just tough to win three
games in a row, and obviously having a great Bison
team against you was a tough hill to climb.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
So they lose by eight in the title.
Speaker 1 (27:40):
But your thoughts on a just a tremendous three days
in suit falls for this team and really a fantastic season.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Yeah, you know, let me first say, you know, thank
you to the Summit League and their staff in everyone
really in suite falls who just put on a tremendous turn.
Speaker 2 (28:00):
They you know, the.
Speaker 3 (28:01):
Community cares about it, and you know, folks show up,
and I think even if you know, when you saw,
I thought it was a good, good display good fans
for a North Kota, North Kota State game, so to speak,
in the championship, and I thought it was just a
phenomenal experience for our student athletes. So let me just
get that out there. Yeah, our men's team, I think,
(28:24):
you know, interestingly, I think coach Sailor and the coaching
staff squeezed everything out of this team to some degree.
I feel like, you know, what was I'll call it disappointing.
And I'll say this disappointing is that we had a
couple couple injuries in the you know, a couple of
months ago or about six weeks ago, when the team's
(28:47):
identity really was forming at that point in time. So unfortunately,
Garrett Anderson had to step out for a little bit,
and then Josh Jones had to step out for a
little bit. So when we played the Bison the two times,
we didn't have Josh, and if you watch how North
Dakota State plays, got two bigs and one thing. Josh
does a lot of things you don't see in the
(29:07):
box score, a lot of things. I mean, he walls
people up, alex See. He just there's things that he does.
He gets us into our sets. He there's things that
he does that when we missed him, that was that
was hard. That really was a that really because we
really didn't have another Josh on the team. So so
I thought our team, you know, played to their identity.
(29:29):
They knew their roles and it was it was fun
to watch and you know, you know, you're forty minutes away.
You kind of want to get it done and go
to March Madness, you know, so you know, it's it's exciting,
and you know, I know our women, you know. I
talked to coach Hutter afterwards. It was a rough year,
tough year, and yeah, he was ready to to you know,
(29:50):
let's let's go, let's try to figure this thing out
and get get in the fray, get into the mix,
get into the fight next year. And so so he's
excited about that as well. And a lot of our
young young kids on that team, you know, experienced suit falls,
which was good, and so that's important. And so but
I thought the tournament itself is a jewel, and you
(30:13):
know it's it's probably, in my opinion, the best mid
major conference tournament in the country. And honestly, I think
it's on the level of just being one of the
best tournaments in the country period, end of story.
Speaker 1 (30:26):
Yeah, I think if you had a chance to be
in Sioue Falls, or if you had a chance to
watch on television, either on mid CO or on CBS,
like I think, the the way that you see the
people in this region embrace this tournament and regardless of
who's playing. I know it's a little different when it
is a quote unquote local school and you get a
little more blue or more red in the building. But
(30:47):
I thought the men's championship game, like you said, was
a great example. These are two teams that are not
right next door, not too far of a drive, but
it's not a local school, and you still had this great,
great group of fans who would come to support those
two teams, and a great group of neutral fans that
were there ready to cheer and enjoy a great basketball game.
And you just don't get that everywhere. And obviously the
(31:08):
women's game was incredible. You've got eight thousand whatever many.
It was eight thousand and seven thousand people there on
a Sunday afternoon, and the building was just on fire
the whole game, and it just that's you don't get
that everywhere. So I would agree with you that it was.
It is special that it's in our region, that this
is where our student athletes get to go and try
and punch their ticket to the big dance.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
What better way to.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Prepare you if you do leave there, that's right, with
that ticket, You're going to be ready for those types
of environments when you get in some march madness.
Speaker 2 (31:37):
It's it's awesome.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Well, I know, Mindy K. Larson, it's her baby for sure,
with a lot of help from everybody else on that staff.
And so Commissioner Fenton and everybody else on down should
take a bow and probably take a little bit of
an exhale this week.
Speaker 1 (31:55):
That crew in the Summer League who were missing a
couple of their key members through a maternal leave, a
couple of babies born in that office just a couple
of weeks ago, the likes of Ryan Powell and Emmy
Wolf and Tyler Schultz and like that group just went
above and beyond. I don't think I don't think Ryan
Powell slept more than like two hours a night for
the last five days, and yet it just because that's
(32:17):
what needed to be done and it went off without
a hitch. So you just a applaud those efforts and
all the work that they do. Yeah, but you can
go there's a lot of people we could talk about,
but yeah, well done on a fantastic tournament. Onto the
next As you said, offseason begins and now you can
start building towards what comes next year. We can obviously
concrats to Paul on a phenomenal job and best of
luck to Dennis again putting that team together and moving
(32:38):
forward for next year. That's right, from the postseason to
the middle of the season softball. We mentioned a little
bit at the beginning eight wins in a row bill.
This team is seventeen and eight in the non con
as they continue just to find the groove and pick
off these wherever they are in the country, whether it's
west or east or south, they've found something. What is
(33:01):
what is working for this softball team this spring?
Speaker 3 (33:04):
Yeah, good question. I think a couple things. Well. In honestly,
fourteen out of fifteen, which is amazing really, you know,
I would say, I'm going to be really candid with you.
You know, I think Jordan has done an amazing job
from a scheduling perspective, and I think who you play
(33:27):
obviously matters, and there's been there's been years where we
would go. Of course, you've got to go to either
warm climates or you know, understanding that you want to play.
But as we record this today, our team is going
to play two games with Drexel today in Philly. It's
spring break, so obviously we're still on the East Coast.
(33:50):
But I think he's really thinking through, hey, how can
we play teams within let's call it our weight class,
if you will, so to give us a better opportunity
to hopefully win some games or certainly be competitive. It
is great to go to Arizona. It's great to go
to Florida. It's great to go to southern California. But
(34:10):
when you go there, sometimes you go to these tournaments,
Alex and you don't know who you're going to be
matched up with, and you could find yourself playing three
you know, make it up right, like SEC teams, or
you could be playing you know, whatever that is. And
you know, I'm not sure, that's awesome for the confidence,
especially if you haven't been outside as the most northern
(34:32):
tier team in the country. So I think Jordan's done
a phenomenal job and now you have to execute too.
And we've been on a little bit of a role
and I think confidence begets confidence. So here we are.
Speaker 1 (34:44):
Yeah, Well, the team had so much success last year
and it just feels even though it's kind of a
different cast again, different pictures, they've got some different people
in key roles, it feels like that is almost carried
over into this spring. And as you mentioned again, they
have done a good job of finding a formula that
works both.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
In the circle and at the plate.
Speaker 1 (35:01):
And yes, as you said, they're in Philadelphia now for
the next couple of days, three games out there. Then
they'll go to the West coast, big big one against
Washington coming up on the eighteenth, and a doubleheader at
Portland State. And then again March twenty fifth, weather permitting,
as long as it's not too cold, you and d
will be hosting a game against Dakota State at all
Brick Field. So it's incredible to think this wild month
(35:22):
and a half, two months sojourn around the country almost
coming to an end. Home games not that far off
in the future for this team.
Speaker 3 (35:28):
Yeah, no doubt about it. And you know, knock on wood,
you know, I guess if temps are good, I mean,
we can push snow and maybe not on wood too.
Mother nature will be kind to us and we won't
have any of that white stuff anymore. So so hopefully,
you know, it should it should work out great. I mean,
so we're excited about it. Yeah, come on out, come
out to all work field and go watch these this
(35:49):
team play. They're they're playing well.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Softball is rolling.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
We just got to see indoor track and fields complete
their conference championships. By the way, just a quick shout
out to the un D athletics crew and again so
the summer week were putting on a really great indoor competition.
Just a week ago, the U and D women finishing
third in a nail bier. The men with some really
good individual success team wise, they end up finishing seventh
in the team race. Jaden Keeler does the triple crown
(36:15):
again and would have gone four for four if not
for just a little issue on in exchange they got
their DMR disqualified. But great meet for her of course,
the women's distance team again we saw them win the
cross country team championship. They really came to play that weekends,
sweeping the podium I believe in the three thousand, I
think they went one three four five or one two
(36:36):
four five. They had like four of the top five
in the five k, like just consistently doing great things.
Louis Fanucci having a great week. He was the most
outstanding track performer of the championships. I don't know, I
mean it was it was so much fun to be
there and to see Jim Barren Camp and Tom Scott
and the un D crew do their thing against some
really good competition. I feel like you obviously you had
(36:57):
there are a ton of stuff going on me with
these one of the penros of that week. There was
a huge basketball Geam doubleheader in Fargo, and you're hosting
a championships, but you have to be again just I think,
very proud of what this track team, this track program
continues to do both as a host and then on
the track itself.
Speaker 3 (37:14):
Well, the hosting piece was phenomenal. And again back to
the Summit League, Brian Miller and Ryan Powell did a
fantastic job coming up and no stone on turn there,
and you know they were just off the you know,
the week before they had the swimming championships, so it's
championship season for them for sure. You know, you were here,
(37:34):
you know, broadcasting and you so you had a really
good feel, you had a really good perch, right, and
and so you were able to see everything, and I
thought everything went really really really really good, and it's
just great. You know, the economic impact that can bring
for Grand Forks is tremendous. I guarantee you every bed
(37:55):
was filled here in Grand Forks because there are a
lot of athletes here in their family friends. I mean really,
I mean it was crazy and what a great facility.
I mean, you know, kudos to my predecessors, the donors
that that made that happen. And then you know, we've
kind of tried to do our part during my little
chapter here, and we've added on to it a little bit.
(38:16):
And I don't know, you probably had a better read
on what the what the feedback was from others, but
certainly I heard nothing but really positive remarks regarding you know,
their experience, and that's all that matters that you know,
for them, they train all year round to try to
get to that pinnacle moment to try to have their
(38:38):
best performance. And it was awesome to see not only
our student athletes but everybody else as well. And you know,
doctor Armacost was awesome with his time and generous, and
he and I spent a good chunk of Saturday afternoon
putting metals around folks and we got our stuff down.
We figured it out pretty well. And it's just awesome
(39:00):
because you know what, it's a lifelong experience that they'll
remember the rest of their lives.
Speaker 1 (39:06):
Yeah, it was really special, and yeah, it was so
great that the President could be there. Every every response
I got, whether it was from a student athlete or
a coach or just a fan who you talked to,
had a great experience. I think the fact that it
is a three hundred meter track. The kids love that
there's a lot of space in the pollard. The kids
love that there's beautiful there's seating. You're not like wedged in.
(39:26):
You have a nice seat to sit in and a
great site line to watch everything. The fans love that.
The parents love that the huge video board that was
put in so people could watch if you maybe didn't
have if you were over by the high jump, but
you wanted to see what was happening over in the
shot put round the track. You could just turn around
and see with results what was going on, see the
live video. So it was it was an incredibly well
(39:48):
put on meets and you could see that honestly from
a performance standpoint. Kids, we always talk about this. You
tape her up to these championships and try and be
performing your best. But I don't know how many person
best seasons bests that we saw, Like a lot of
times you would see six kids, seven kids pr and
and that's what you in a particular heat or in
(40:09):
it going into a final, that's what you want. My
kids are performing their best. So it was an awesome
two days. Awesome, awesome two days.
Speaker 3 (40:16):
So let me let me talk to you about this.
And I know we're gonna have a kind of a
heart out here in a in a couple of minutes.
So it's not necessarily a B side topic, but maybe
it's a hybrid A and B side topic, so we
can half flip to some degree.
Speaker 2 (40:32):
But but I love a hybrid.
Speaker 3 (40:33):
Let's get yeah, let's do it. So one of the
conversations I had that afternoon with one of our student
athletes that has been obviously unbelievable here the last several years,
Jaden Keeler and so you know, she got her three
medals and uh, you know then she also was you know,
(40:54):
decorated as you know, the track athlete of of the
of the actual event. So in talking with her, I
asked her because she's Canadian as well, and I just said, hey,
do you have a shot at some point in two
years to represent Canada? And she said, well, I hope
(41:14):
for sure that's the goal. And I said, well, what event?
And I don't know if you have you had this
conversation with her, I mean, I have nuestion. What do
you think her response was?
Speaker 2 (41:28):
My guess is I mean she's obviously she's a little
more of a longer.
Speaker 1 (41:35):
Than a shorter when it comes to the distances. I
would say that she either told you ten k or marathon.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
That she said marathon?
Speaker 2 (41:42):
Did she say marathon? That doesn't that doesn't totally surprise.
Speaker 3 (41:45):
Doesn't surprise you, huh. And you know what's interesting too,
just I don't know, this is interesting insight to me
when you talk to an elite athlete or someone that
it kind of knows who they are. And he knows
maybe where their best perform rich could lie to some degree.
So what was my follow up question? Well, my follow
up question was I felt like I was we were
(42:06):
on the pod, but we were, but now we are
is Hey, how many marathons have you run?
Speaker 2 (42:14):
That'd be zero? Yeah, I was gonna say she.
Speaker 3 (42:17):
Hasn't done what because she doesn't need to at this
point in time until she needs to. And I could
see that. I mean, she seems like she's one of
those humans that boy, they just go, Alex, they just go.
Speaker 1 (42:34):
She has the ability to put it into a gear
and that gear is a lot faster than most if
you're going to run a distance as far as you
are going, and she can stay in that year and
that's that's pretty special, whether that's in the fifteen hundred
to three thousand, the five thousand to ten thousand, or
perhaps a little bit further twenty six points two. She's
(42:55):
a very very special kid. We interviewed the kids after
they win, and we had talked to her. I think
after she won the three thousand, we're talking to her again.
We've talked to her three different times and she finishes
and she's she's won her three medals again and we
say congratulations on that. I now go get ready for
the four by four because that was the last verse
of the day, knowing she's not going to run a
(43:16):
four hundred, and she laughs and says, I don't think
so well.
Speaker 2 (43:23):
And it was just it was just priceless. But but yeah,
I just I love that. That was her response.
Speaker 3 (43:28):
So last Jaden Keeler story is this is I think
doctor Armacost's favorite one is so as as it goes.
She also works at our dining comments Wilkerson, and so
she she puts in a two hour shift making omelets,
(43:49):
and she's got the record for making omelets one hundred
and seven and two hours. But then I got a
text from doctor Armacass that apparently last it's now one
twenty seven. So you wonder, you wonder how competitive athletes
are wired. That's otherwired.
Speaker 1 (44:11):
That's a little window into that mindset. That's now now
we need to look into this. If she's she must
have two pans. I mean that's an omelet a minute.
If you're making one hundred and twenty seven omelets in
two hours, you got to have the double pan going on.
I'm assuming, but man, I.
Speaker 3 (44:25):
Almost wanted to have Jaden on to talk Omelets at
some point we can talk. We can possibly talk a
lot of other things, but that might be a tease
for us because we're clearly on the B side now.
Speaker 2 (44:38):
We have clearly shifted. Yes, I love that.
Speaker 1 (44:40):
I was not aware of her prowess on the omelet range.
That's awesome. She she she's a special kid. Yeah, yeah,
obviously very very talented in kind of whatever area. So
been a blessing to get a chance to watch her perform.
We are very much on the B side. By the way, obviously,
tennis men's and women's are still going. They started conference,
played this West weekend. Gall is very much active as well.
(45:01):
There's a lot going on. Anything else that stands out
before we officially flip it all.
Speaker 3 (45:06):
No, let's let's flip for sure, and you know we'll
flip with this, so a couple of things we won't
go too much into soccer. Champions League are going, and
we can talk Spurs. We can talk relegation a later time.
Speaker 2 (45:18):
There will probably be time for that.
Speaker 3 (45:20):
I know Tottenham does play Liverpool coming up on the weekends.
Speaker 2 (45:24):
Next time.
Speaker 3 (45:24):
It will be more of a robust B side on
where where my Spurs are at some point as we're
getting ready to go to Charlton Athletic next year, so
there's a lot going on there. World Baseball Classic. Have
you had a chance to watch any of that at all.
Speaker 2 (45:41):
Alex I have.
Speaker 1 (45:42):
I have been able to just follow just by the
a little bit, just a little bit.
Speaker 2 (45:48):
But now I've not been able to watch anything.
Speaker 3 (45:49):
Like I watched a little bit last night. I was
lucky enough to watch a couple of these games. You know,
coming off the Olympics, Boy, it is a in as
much as we watch our soccer guys play for their country,
there's nothing there's nothing like putting on that jersey. And
I'll tell you what it's It's been great. It's been great.
(46:10):
So Roman Anthony hit a big three run homer yesterday.
He's been really good. Jared Duran had two home runs
for Mexico against US. And actually Yoshida, he's like a
WBC legend in Japan. I mean, he's just been unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (46:27):
So not so Man.
Speaker 3 (46:30):
So a lot of performers going on, but it should
be fun when it gets to the knockout stage, it'll
be amazing.
Speaker 2 (46:37):
You mentioned the Olympics.
Speaker 1 (46:39):
I believe it was Bryce Harper right who had that
quote sort of going into the World Baseball Classic, really
pushing for baseball to be back at the LA Games
in twenty eight and he kind.
Speaker 2 (46:48):
Of said, this is this is great.
Speaker 1 (46:50):
We love that we're competing for our countries here at
this event, awesome event. We want to be in the Olympics, like,
we know that's different. Everybody's watching that we have a
chance to really elevate baseball if we're in the Olympics. Again,
I thought that was an interesting take that I think, I.
Speaker 3 (47:07):
Think you're right, and uh, there's there's something to be
said for that. The crowds have been amazing and they
have soccer ish crowds right, like just the way it
goes and uh, you know.
Speaker 2 (47:19):
There's chances, there's songs.
Speaker 3 (47:20):
Yeah, yeah, and you know for its for a sport
that is trying to move games along a little bit
and it just you know, there's no clock, right so
but there they but they have put a clock in,
but there's no ultimate clock. But they've tried to move
things along and it's been awesome. It's been awesome. Even
Scooball of course, two time Cy Young Award winner, had
(47:42):
his plan just to pitch the one game and then
go to camp. He was so taken with the whole
experience he wanted to stay there, but he stuck to
his plan, which I totally get, even like Crochet for
the Red Sox. It's a tough time of year. You
have to think through do you want to go play
leverage baseball right now?
Speaker 2 (48:00):
How much has this gotten you excited for the regular season?
Speaker 3 (48:03):
Not as much as I have already was.
Speaker 1 (48:09):
You were already there, Yes, yes, this is just a bonus.
Speaker 3 (48:12):
To the World Series this year. You heard it here.
Speaker 2 (48:14):
First Hope springs its turnal here on March.
Speaker 3 (48:18):
We have not lost Jeed Alex. We are zero and zero.
Speaker 1 (48:24):
Well, if Roman Anthony keeps sitting bombs and if Jared
Durant is going to hit two runones a game, I
sign me up.
Speaker 2 (48:29):
This is going to be a great season.
Speaker 3 (48:31):
It's awesome. Well, this was This has been awesome, And
it was awesome to have Jody on too.
Speaker 1 (48:36):
That was great, And we had discussed we had a
couple of different guests options and it worked out for
Jody to do it this week.
Speaker 2 (48:42):
In two weeks we get another great.
Speaker 1 (48:43):
Hockey guest on with Jason Hashtu right after a selection Sunday,
we'll have a chance to get his thoughts on the
season and you and these plays in the postseason. So
some really good guests that we have in our wheelhouse
this current stretch.
Speaker 2 (48:55):
Awesowes well who books those. It's all good.
Speaker 1 (48:58):
It's all about the pod, all about the pod, which
is now going to come to a close. So, as
you said, Jody Hunchin fabulous, best look to him and
his crew and your staff as well hosting the semi
finals this weekends.
Speaker 2 (49:11):
Enjoy enjoy that you and everybody else. It's gonna be
awesome hockey.
Speaker 1 (49:15):
He is, Bill Shaves, Paul Ralston, Alex Stocker, Johnson on
the back end.
Speaker 2 (49:19):
Thanks to them.
Speaker 1 (49:20):
I'm Alex Hyder again, thank you for listening, Have a
blessed week and enjoy March Badness, baby,
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