Notes from the road as Matt Schill travels with the University of North Dakota women's hockey team. The Fighting Sioux play at Minnesota in an NCAA Regional at 4 p.m.
Thursday:
The team practiced at UND and left for Minneapolis in the afternoon. The team's media relation director Derek Koenen reports that it was as routine as trips go. Bus entertainment included We Are Marshall and Parks and Recreation.
The team arrived at the hotel and went to bed, while some of the staff stayed up listening to stories from Dr. William Mann. The doc usually doesn't travel with UND. Maybe he's along to take care of head coach Brian Idalski, who is on the upswing of a nasty cold.
Friday:
8 a.m. -- I depart. Roads are clear.
12:30 p.m. -- The team hits the rink for practice. Pretty much business as usual for this team.
1 p.m. -- I arrive to Ridder Arena and shoot some practice action, interviewing a couple players on their thoughts for tomorrow. Check out the blog videos as they are posted tonight.
2 p.m. -- Michelle Karvinen wins the weekly shootout. It was a three-way battle between Karvinen, Monique Lamoureux-Kolls and student assistant coach Max Markowitz. Lamoureux-Kolls and Karvinen each used a series of nifty moves to get to the final, out-manuevering the quick shot of Markowitz.
5:30 p.m. -- The team heads to dinner, while I continue to work. Business as usual.
Saturday
10:03 a.m. -- UND had a morning skate. A pretty quiet evening, as most of the women's team watched the men's game in the hotel.
We went across the street to a local establishment to watch the game. I know we're in Gopher country, but it's still funny to have the UND game switched back to "regular" programming with .2 left on the clock and the game in hand.
11:50 a.m. -- The team is wrapping its pregame meal as it nears the 4 p.m. start. Not much new to report. A running theme for this weekend, as even though this is a historic moment, it's still business as usual.
