VIRG FOSS

VIRG FOSS: Times of sorrow, times of joy

Virg Foss talks about past memories and the UND Men's Hockey Team.

By Virg Foss , December 14, 2012

VIRG FOSS: Creation of Big Ten Hockey Conference could lead to big changes

I thought of the Big Ten Hockey Conference, which begins play next season as a six-team league. I thought of what the future holds for college hockey, thrown into turmoil by the formation of the Big Ten.

By Virg Foss , December 07, 2012

VIRG FOSS: Where the greats play

In the early 1970s, Bridston invited Ron Absey, Jerry Knutson and myself to join him in Georgia to play the famed course, two weeks or so before the start of the Masters. Let’s be upfront about this. None of us were golfers in the class of Bridston. I might have been the worst of the four. But a chance to play Augusta National? Put me in coach. I’m ready to play, today.

By Virg Foss , November 30, 2012

VIRG FOSS: Continuing UND-Minnesota rivalry seems like no-brainer

Minnesota can schedule a lesser challenge than North Dakota, no doubt. Those empty seats you’ll see for those games won’t look good on TV. Or Minnesota can schedule North Dakota, sell every seat in the building in a heartbeat, and continue a rivalry that both players and fans cherish.

By Virg Foss , November 23, 2012

VIRG FOSS: Jury duty brings back memories

Virg recounts an interesting encounter in the jury pool.

November 17, 2012

VIRG FOSS: Time in Grand Forks leads to important questions

I stayed around Grand Forks all week after the UND hockey series with Boston University, catching up with friends and a few personal details. But the lure of the lake remains strong, even at this time of the year.

By Virg Foss , November 09, 2012

VIRG FOSS: Of pucks and puppies

Maybe it’s because the Boston University Terriers were coming to town for a hockey series that my thoughts turned to puppies. Terriers, puppies, you get the connection, I hope.

By Virg Foss , November 02, 2012

VIRG FOSS: UND hockey sticks around even after retirement

Pucks vs. peace. Peace vs. pucks. What’s a guy to choose? For the 22 years that I both covered hockey for the Grand Forks Herald and owned my lake cabin, there was no choice to make. The job won out every time. I’d be with UND hockey on the weekend, home or away, and never wish to be somewhere else.

By Virg Foss , October 26, 2012

VIRG FOSS: Gophers coach to Gophers fans: We're weak

At Coach Jerry Kill’s request, Minnesota is dropping out of a two-year contract to play North Carolina and forking over $800,000, the penalty for doing so. It’s not like the Gophers are getting rid of someone like Alabama from their schedule, a team that would eat their lunch. North Carolina has had six losing seasons in the last 14 years.

By Virg Foss , October 19, 2012

VIRG FOSS: Tough to find another name

In a way, the unknowns of my flying squirrels remind me of the uncertainty surrounding what to call UND’s athletic teams these days. Officially, the days of the Fighting Sioux athletic teams are past. It will be years before another nickname may be adopted.

By Virg Foss , October 12, 2012

VIRG FOSS: Remembering Ole

Just over a week ago, I held the greatest four-legged athlete I’ve ever seen in my arms as he died from a lifelong eating disorder that finally claimed him.

By Virg Foss , October 06, 2012

VIRG FOSS: With summer comes anticipated peace and quiet

This column marks the end of my seventh “season” of writing on a part-time basis for the Herald since my retirement from full-time work in 2005. I look at my last column in April as the beginning of my summer vacation. Free from worries about what the subject of the next column will be, free to shift the mind into neutral.

By Virg Foss , April 27, 2012

VIRG FOSS: A mother's job never ends

I’ve found myself this week looking inward for answers that I can usually find with a cursory outward search. It’s the time of the year that’s come every April since my retirement seven years ago. My contract with the Grand Forks Herald for a weekly column expires at the end of this month and doesn’t resume until October. In past years, I’ve had enough column ideas that I wished my columns didn’t end when April does.What’s different for me this year, though, is why I had to look inward to examine some deep feelings. As most of you know, my mother died in December, three months shy of her 104th birthday.

By Virg Foss , April 20, 2012

VIRG FOSS: Precision, power leads Boston College

Minnesota drew the short straw this time with the challenge of beating a Boston College team bent on winning its fourth NCAA title since 2001, a remarkable run under coach Jerry York. The Gophers gave a game effort, no doubt, deserving a closer score than the 6-1 licking the scoreboard showed. But the Eagles had the sharpshooters and the far better goaltending this night and that was huge. So once again we were left to marvel at the precision and power Boston College flashes in the NCAA tournament. If there was any doubt the Eagles have a dynasty of sorts going in college hockey, their wipe out of WCHA champion Minnesota took care of that.

By Virg Foss , April 07, 2012

VIRG FOSS: Sioux rally against Gophers rates as one of best ever

"As I watched a true Miracle on Ice — UND’s amazing rally from a 3-0 hole to beat Minnesota 6-3 in the WCHA Final Five semifinals last Friday — I wondered if it was the greatest comeback in Fighting Sioux playoff history," Virg Foss writes. Turns out there was one UND playoff comeback that bettered last week's stunner.

By Virg Foss , March 23, 2012