Go Sioux!
A few months ago, a loyal blog reader mentioned that the one thing I had yet to do in my quest to be come Midwestern was to venture North to Sioux country and go to a hockey game. To remedy this problem, he and his wife kindly offered up two of their season tickets to a game of my choosing. Of course I was thrilled, and jumped at a chance to go to my first hockey game. (Side note: I have gone to one other hockey match sort of, women’s ice hockey Slovakia vs. Sweden at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics, but I don’t really count that because I didn’t understand what was going on). We e-mailed back and forth to figure out a date and once it was settled I kindly offered to reimburse for the cost of the tickets. “That wouldn’t be very North Dakotan of me to invite you to a game and then have you pay!” was the reply I received.
A few weeks later I received the tickets in the mail with a parking pass and a sticky note reading something to the extent of: “Here are the tickets to the game. Please be sure to return the parking pass when you get a chance. Enjoy!” I was flabbergasted. First of all, a complete stranger was offering up his season tickets free of charge so that I could experience a part of North Dakota that his family has come to love. Secondly, he and his wife had enough faith in my moral character, without ever meeting me, to not walk off with their parking pass. This solidified it. I love North Dakota.
As soon as word spread via social media that we were headed north, text messages came in directing us to stop off at Blake’s relatives before the game and enjoy a delicious hearty “supper”. If we were in the area, obviously we needed be fed. Mashed potatoes, meatballs and homemade creamed corn stuck to your bones a bit more than nachos and hotdogs anyway. So, after a delicious meal we were off to the game.
As Blake and I entered Ralph Engelstad Arena, or “The Ralph” as I was later told, we were in the midst of stimulus overload. Both of us were gazing off in every direction and of course, I soon bumped into someone. Now, I’ve been raised to apologize if I bump into someone, but I am very aware of what it is like at crowded sporting events and I never expect the same apology in return. Much to my surprise, before my apology had a chance to slip out, I heard, “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry!” I was stunned for a moment and even had to mention to Blake how surprising this was. He too had noticed the same phenomenon.
VICTORY!!!
Once we regained our composure, we continued on to our [AWESOME] seats. It didn’t take long for me to realize I freaking love hockey… especially when they hit each other. It had all the things I like about sports smooshed into one sport: a college atmosphere, die hard fans, a fast pace (I have an extremely short attention span), rules that aren’t too complicated and really fun cheers. To top it all off, it’s all done on ice. Hockey must have brought something out of me because I was soon screaming for the Sioux to smash the other guys into the wall. The only thing that was a little strange were the cheerleaders… or figure skaters… or cheering figure skaters? They were very good at what they were doing, but I didn’t quite understand what they were doing.
Before I knew it the game ended, thankfully in a Sioux victory. Spirits were high in my little blue car during our hour drive back to Fargo, and I realized why a lot of people from North Dakota never leave. It’s because they experience days like today every single day, without even realizing it.
[...] when I had the opportunity to go to a UND Sioux game. You can read about that awesome experience here. For me, my knowledge of hockey consisted of that one game and the movie Mighty Ducks. And if I [...]
As an East Grand Forks native, I grew up with Sioux hockey (Ed Belfour anyone?). As a proud NDSU grad, I had a hard time cheering for the Sioux in any sport in college, but I grudgingly follow them now. Just hearing about “The Ralph” makes me homesick.
Correction … it was Chuck’s comment on the Fargo movie rather than yours. Either way, great response. I will be repeating it.
ND native here … I love your reply to the standard Fargo question in the above comments! Ugh. That question drives me insane. Didn’t Kelsey’s mother ever tell her not to believe everything she sees on TV? Anyway, I thoroughly enjoy the fact that this guy not only gave you his tickets (which didn’t really surprise me) but that they sent you their parking pass and asked for it back! That is hilARious! I love it.
Please tell me you had Taco In A Bag during the game?
You need to actually check out real hockey and go to a Minnesota Gopher game, much more exciting than watching the Sioux play.
I sense a bit of rivalry.
Go Gophers!!!
You went to the right game and team. The goofers have been irrelevant for some time now. Besides we fill our barn up.
who swept the sioux earlier this year?
Like I said who has been irrelevant for the last 3 years. Ya remember that tourney they play at the end of the year? I know it’s been awhile. Cant blame ya if ya forgot about it.
Pardon me! Most gopher fans sit on their hands unless they are playing the Sioux and are winning (rare in recent years). Wait til they bring in the snoozers from the Big 10, the corporate seats will be empty.
Love your blog! Makes me a little homesick… I miss North Dakota so much!
I agree. Cheer for UND hockey. Just like they should cheer for bison football as they don’t have that sport. At least that’s what I teach my nephew who was nearly poisoned by the other side of the family.
I just found your blog two weeks ago through a link on inforum.com. I absolutely love it! It is so much fun reading the perspective of this area from someone who wasn’t raised here. I have been trying to go back and read your past posts. This one about Sioux Hockey has to be my favorite so far! I love that the couple also gave you their parking pass….perfect ‘North Dakota nice’ example! I am an alum of UND and its very true that once you go to a game – you are instantly a fan. While I live in Fargo and am still a Sioux true and true, I definitely believe people can be NDSU fans and still love Sioux Hockey. Keep up the great work on the blog! I have shared your blog with friends and will continue to do so. You are talented! Now you just need to score tickets to the Sioux/Gopher series in January….
I don’t know first you wear JM gear to a NDSU football game now you are wearing UND clothes, when are you going to sport some Bison attire. And also make sure to refer to them and University of North Dakota not the Sioux since its suppose to be retired.
Apparently I am just a very confused fan. I’m not good and picking sides.
In North Dakota, you pick a side. UND or NDSU, you have to pick one.
They are currently still the Fighting Sioux so she was right call them that.
It isn’t retired yet. Read more about #4 referendum on the June ballot and the inititated measure coming up on the November ballot…
Sioux hockey is the main reason many UND grads are hockey fans well past their school years. Many students go there not knowing a darn thing about hockey and are forever hooked once you see a game and are part of the game atmosphere and parties that lead up to games and parties after games. When I went there moons ago, hockey was an integral part of weekend planning. I’m sure that is still the case. To this day, I could not care less about any pro team in any sport. UND is all I care about in terms of team affiliation and with the power of the internet, I watch and listen to many of the sports from Colorado.
Couldn’t agree more….
Yay for you! Hockey is a blast! And I speak from experience…you can cheer for both the Sioux and the Bison! Can’t we all get along. After all it’s North Dakota nice, right?
MOST NDSU fans can not stomach the idea of cheering for UND hockey (regardless of the fact that ndsu doesn’t have that sport). I don’t blame you for going but if you want to be “Midwestern” you are really going to have to draw a line in the sand. Us Midwesterners really believe in right and wrong black and white. Whether you are NDSU or UND you are going to have to choose.
I grew up in Tennessee so hockey basically hockey only existed as some sort of dim notion in another dimension. But, after I moved here, I went to an FM Jets game (that was before the Force came to town of course) and I liked it. Fast-paced, lots of energy, physical play. It’s sorta like football on ice with stick and a puck … okay it’s not really like football, I guess.
What surprised me was how much I enjoyed when they hit each other. With football, I always cringe when there is a big tackle. With hockey, well, for some reason I was cheering every time a Sioux player hit a University of Nebraska Omaha player. Strange.
I also cheer very hard at the games, especially when someone gets hit. Except if it is our player, then you feel it with them. I’m glad you enjoyed your game at the Ralph and I hope the band added to the experience!
Yeah Sioux Sioux!
Now you’re truly getting it! Sioux Hockey is quintessential ND. LOL
I find it fascinating that North Dakota State students cheer for a University of North Dakoata sports team. Now THAT’S friendly!
As a current NDSU student, I cheer for the Sioux Hockey purely because NDSU doesn’t have a hockey team to represent this state. However, every other sport I’m 110% pure NDSU, especially since the semifinal against GSU is this weekend! I can almost smell Frisco!
Hailey
I have to say that I truly enjoy reading your blog. I’m a natural “North Dakotan”, lived here all 49 years of my life. What you are experiencing here is exactly why I have chosen to stay in this lovely area. My work gives me the opportunity to travel the country and I always get “the look” when I say I’m from ND…you know the one I’m talking about….
Keep up the great work and keep experiencing this great State! So much to see and do and so little time! I get a big smile on my face every time I see you’ve posted something new to your blog. It’s fun to read an outsider’s view of our “little world” up here! Thanks so much for sharing this with us.
Thanks so much for reading, Jeff! I truly have loved my time in North Dakota and can’t wait for what’s to come!
Every time I read your blog I have a burning urge to leave Oregon and move to North Dakota. Also, we watched ‘Fargo’ last night and it got me thinking that you should address that movie in your blog, being that is how many outsiders (like myself, and now, Ladkiss) perceive North Dakotans. Is that movie what it is really like? Do a lot of people really have wood chippers? Just curious.
That movie is like North Dakota as much as Deliverence is just like Atlanta.
Now that’s funny. Perfect comparison.
Note: The movie Fargo actually took place in Brainerd, MN; the characters were Minnesotans. The opening scene, which sets up the plot line, took place in Fargo.
Actually, I think the opening scene takes place at the King of Clubs bar, which is in Minneapolis. I don’t believe one scene was actually shot in Fargo. But the housewife kidnapee grew up in Fargo, so that’s something.
It was so great to experience this through your eyes! I grew up in Grand Forks and went to hockey games every weekend that the Sioux were in town. I had pins on my pillow of Jensen #14 and Archibald #15 (who now coached high school hockey in Brainerd, MN). Talk about hitters! Archibald held a record – still might – for penalties back in the late 80s.
I am so glad that someone reached out and gave you this experience.
Go, Sioux!
ps: Thanks to my awesome dad, I get to be at the Ralph for the last game under the Sioux logo. An experience that I will likely blog about – for sure.
I never really understood what all the fuss was about with hockey, but now I completely understand. So much fun! Thanks for reading!