HOME OF THE FIGHTING SIOUX

(The Ralph Engelstad Arena "The Ralph" is the home of the UND Fighting Sioux)

At the end of November, the Winkler Flyers had the great opportunity to take a break from their hectic schedule and visit the home of the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux. The Sioux are highly regarded as one of the best NCAA Div I hockey programs in the nation and has been the home of many current NHL players including Jonathon Toews, Mike Commadore and TJ Oshie. It is also the alma mater of former Winkler Flyer goaltender and future NHL Hall of Famer Ed Belfour. Kevin McKinnon and Dane Litke are also some former Flyers that have made their way to UND.

For the majority of Junior A hockey players, getting the call from UND would be a dream come true. The program is excellant, the facilities are even better, and the level of education that is available to you is great. The Flyers and many other MJHL teams annually make the trip to Grand Forks, North Dakota to let their players see one of the things they are competing for on a nightly basis. Talking to Head Coach John Marks (who is a former Sioux himself....more on that later) he said that not only are these kids playing for wins or for MJHL championships but they are, in a lot of cases, playing for an education and a better life for themselves down the road.

As you will see in the following pictures, the facilities that the Fighting Sioux have are quite amazing. If walking through the dressing room, gym, meeting room, and underwater treadmill isn't incentive enough to put in the extra work or time needed to increase your game to the next level then I don't know what is. These trips are a great way to give the players a little bit of a carrot to follow or a look ahead as to what their life could be like if they are the fortunate ones to get a chance to go to the University of North Dakota or any other Division I school.

I was able to tag along with the guys and snapped a few photo's....enjoy!

(Pretty cool experiece. The team got to practice at "The Ralph")

(In the halls beneath the stands sits the dressing room, gym, offices, and a lot of memorabelia. The above and below pictures are of all the NHL draft picks that played at UND. In the above picture, look at the player who was the first every College player ever drafted in the first round of the NHL entry draft.....pretty cool)

(NHL Award winners....mostly Ed Belfour)

(The above and below pictures are of the plaques of all the former Sioux players that have played in the NHL and which team they played for)

(Stanley Cup Champions)

(Stick Room)

(Fighting Sioux Dressing Room)

(above...this is the first thing the players see when they step out of their dressing room and head for the ice. "Expect To Win")

(Players lounge)

(video meeting room)

(This is the gym for the Men's and Women's hockey teams)

(dry land training area in the gym)

(great motto)

(above....who is this handsome devil.....psst, it's John Marks)

(here are a few shots of the game we got to go to...UND vs Notre Dame)

(Fighting Sioux logo designed right into the marble floor)

That's it folks. If you are ever in Grand Forks I strongly encourage you to check out the Ralph Engelstad Arena. You won't be disappointed.

Until next time.....