Brian Idalskiis the current head coach for the University of North Dakota women's ice hockey team... (wikipedia)
We're going to enjoy this one. Any time you can win a championship, it's special. It's even more special to bring the first one (O'Brien Cup) home that is a tribute to Frank O'Brien.
We're just happy to be playing in the championship game. This was just what you would expect in a high-intensity postseason game.
We knew they would be a strength, but I didn't anticipate them being as good as they have been. They take a lot of pride in playing well and doing things the right way. And all of them are self-motivated. As a group they keep getting better.
Obviously, I get to see the kids every day and see how hard they work, so I would like to see them get a little more recognition. If it came down to individual awards or a chance to keep playing, everyone would choose to keep playing.
I don't think a lot of people expected us to have the kind of season we've had. For this young group to grow up as quickly as they have says a lot for them as well as the seniors and juniors who have helped pull them along all season.
We talked about the importance of scoring playoff type goals. Creating traffic in front of the net, moving into the slot and finding the open area. Tonight it happened to be higher in the slot.
Katy has really stepped up as a leader. As a sophomore, to be that much of a leader is something. She is on her way to becoming something special.
I think we're getting a little better offensively. There's better chemistry on the ice, and we seem to be doing a better job of getting to the net.
Lauren has had a great year. Her decision making is so good and she skates so well.
That was cool. It sure made it a lot more fun knowing all those guys.
We hope the experience of hosting last year helps a little this year. It's a different atmosphere and a different week leading up to the game.
We have to have the confidence that if we outwork people good things will happen. This is our playoff drive and I think our young team was feeling the pressure. This was good for them.
We know that we have to go out and try to win the playoff championship. The rest of it is out of our control.
There has been some growth over the past couple weeks. I think the young kids get it and now things are clicking pretty well, so I'm happy about that.
We knew Nicole was naturally-gifted, but I thought it might take a little while for her to get some recognition. She deserves it and she is going to get better and better. The sky is the limit.
We have a chance to win the league and playoffs, and that's something that is special. We want to put more banners up in here.
This is special because it's my alma mater and being to be a part and have that success here. We didn't get here because I'm a genius. This is a players' accomplishment and a testament to the kids we've had play here.
A lot of times the kids would rather have to make a trip somewhere they haven't been or played. Being on the road gives them a chance to make memories together.
It's pretty late in the year to be changing your stripes. We need to continue to do the things that have worked, and we'll change the things we have not done so well.
Derek told us how great it was there and it sounded like a better deal than the places we were at. We all figured we might as well play where we could be playing golf or at the swimming pool by noon.
It's starting to come together. The younger players are starting to understand the little things we've talked about being important to tournament teams and how it all fits into the big picture.
It's crazy, but we've talked about how the special teams all of a sudden turned the corner.
Not much has changed over the last few years. All our games have been highly competitive and I'm looking forward to another. When you play a team that many times, it comes down to focus and how you react to adversity.
I'm hoping it doesn't come down to that, but if that happens, I'll take that. Hockey is a game where a goalie that is feeling it can change the outcome of a game. Amy has that kind of talent.
For our team, with all our young kids, that was amazing. They've put it together at the right time.