King Kong
There is a monkey on the St. Cloud State University Men's Hockey Team's back. With the approach of March, this monkey gets larger and larger and looms over the entire fan-base. We may try to deny its presence. We may try to joke and make light of it. Hell, we may even try to forget about it.
We cannot.
No matter how hard we try to forget, deny, joke about, or even avoid the subject, it's there. It is unavoidable. It is undeniable. And, during this time of year, it's no laughing matter.
St. Cloud State is not an upper-echelon school when it comes to Men's Ice Hockey. We've been contenders, though. Generally, we're the underdogs. But we've had some mighty fine hockey teams. One team even had 6 players that have seen NHL ice-time this year. They didn't rid us of the gorilla on our backs. In fact, because they didn't, they probably fed that gorilla. We've been good enough, though. We just have never done it. Heartwrenching heartache has always been the theme of late March for our fans. It's very hard to describe. The collection of other fan-bases continually uses this gorilla as a basis of insult, mockery, and oppression.
Last season, we didn't get a chance to shake off the ape. We made a great run at the end but fell one game short. This year, there is no question that we will have a chance to rid ourselves of it. It's mathematically impossible for us to not be there and have our chance. There are games between here and there. A weekend series with the University of North Dakota. The first round of the WCHA playoffs against either the University of Alaska-Anchorage, or (more than likely) the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Then there is the possibility of the WCHA Final Five.
To the program, to the fans, to me...these games are trivial. I am, however, nervous for them. Not because I wonder if we'll win the MacNaughton Cup on the last weekend of play. Or whether or not we will win the Broadmoor Trophy once again. I'm nervous because that King Kong on our backs is growing and looming. It's right behind us. I try to not think about it but the closer we get to the end of March the harder for me to pretend it's not there.
We cannot.
No matter how hard we try to forget, deny, joke about, or even avoid the subject, it's there. It is unavoidable. It is undeniable. And, during this time of year, it's no laughing matter.
St. Cloud State is not an upper-echelon school when it comes to Men's Ice Hockey. We've been contenders, though. Generally, we're the underdogs. But we've had some mighty fine hockey teams. One team even had 6 players that have seen NHL ice-time this year. They didn't rid us of the gorilla on our backs. In fact, because they didn't, they probably fed that gorilla. We've been good enough, though. We just have never done it. Heartwrenching heartache has always been the theme of late March for our fans. It's very hard to describe. The collection of other fan-bases continually uses this gorilla as a basis of insult, mockery, and oppression.
Last season, we didn't get a chance to shake off the ape. We made a great run at the end but fell one game short. This year, there is no question that we will have a chance to rid ourselves of it. It's mathematically impossible for us to not be there and have our chance. There are games between here and there. A weekend series with the University of North Dakota. The first round of the WCHA playoffs against either the University of Alaska-Anchorage, or (more than likely) the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Then there is the possibility of the WCHA Final Five.
To the program, to the fans, to me...these games are trivial. I am, however, nervous for them. Not because I wonder if we'll win the MacNaughton Cup on the last weekend of play. Or whether or not we will win the Broadmoor Trophy once again. I'm nervous because that King Kong on our backs is growing and looming. It's right behind us. I try to not think about it but the closer we get to the end of March the harder for me to pretend it's not there.