They say in the WCHA you want sweep at home and split on the road, to quote George "W" Bush, "mission accomplished." Tonight the Fighting Sioux beat a desperate Huskies team 4-2 gaining a split for their weekend series. The Fighting Sioux must keep winning if they want to continue their season past the WCHA playoffs. On the evening Andrew Kozek (1-1-2), Chay Genoway (0-2-2), Mario Lamoureux (1-1-2) and Jason Gregoire (1-1-2) all had big nights for the Fighting Sioux. This season the Sioux have rolled 4 lines getting balanced scoring from all four lines and have 15 players with 11 points or more.
Fighting Sioux freshman goalie Brad Eidsness was solid in net as he stopped 25 of 27 shots coming up big in the later half of the game. With the win tonight Eidsness improves his record to 16-8-3, lowered his goals against average to 2.5050 and improved his save percentage to .909.
Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK-1 Evan Trupp (2-Hooking) STC 0x1 5:32
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 LL Jason Gregoire (10) (Derrick LaPoint, Evan Trupp) 7:47
NDK (+): 17,3,19,29,25,G31 STC (-): 8,14,16,9,5,G33
STC-1 Oliver Lauridsen (2-Hooking) NDK 0x1 8:06
NDK 2 - 0 6x6 Andrew Kozek (6) (Mario Lamoureux, Chay Genoway) 11:26
NDK (+): 10,9,5,22,2,G31 STC (-): 25,28,12,27,17,G33
NDK-2 Mario Lamoureux (2-Holding) STC 0x2 14:20
STC 1 - 2 6x6 Ryan Lasch (13) (unassisted) 17:14
STC (+): 19,11,25,28,17,G33 NDK (-): 16,14,9,5,10,G31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STC-2 BENCH (2-Too Many Players) (Served by Mitch Ryan) NDK 0x2 1:36
NDK 3 - 1 6x6 GW Ryan Duncan (12) (Chay Genoway, Jason Gregoire) 7:23
NDK (+): 16,5,17,2,26,G31 STC (-): 19,17,13,18,3,G33
NDK-3 Brad Miller (2-Hooking) STC 0x3 8:50
NDK-4 Joe Finley (2-Holding) STC 0x4 9:28
NDK-5 Jason Gregoire (2-Tripping) STC 0x5 13:05
STC-3 Garrett Roe (2-Interference) NDK 0x3 14:25
NDK-6 Joe Finley (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) 19:43
STC-4 Garrett Roe (2-Holding) 19:43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STC 2 - 3 6x6 David Carlisle (2) (Ryan Lasch, Jordy Christian) 4:32
STC (+): 28,19,13,17,3,G33 NDK (-): 5,2,16,26,17,G31
NDK 4 - 2 6x6 Mario Lamoureux (2) (Andrew Kozek, Brad Malone) 9:31
NDK (+): 9,10,22,3,11,G31 STC (-): 25,28,12,29,8,G33
Timeout - St. Cloud State 18:42
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
On Line Gaming
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Scores from 1-30-2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Atlantic Hockey
Sacred Heart 3 at Canisius 3 ot
Holy Cross 5 at Connecticut 3
Bentley 6 at Army 0
Air Force 4 at Mercyhurst 4 ot
Analysis
Air Force has a 3-3-1 record in January and is 4-5-2 since December.
CCHA
Nebraska-Omaha 1 at Ferris State 7
Bowling Green 1 at Miami 6
Michigan 2 at Notre Dame 1
Northern Michigan 6 at Western Michigan 5
Ohio State 1 at Alaska 4
Michigan State 0 at Lake Superior 2
Analysis
Michigan put an end to Notre Dame's 20 game unbeaten streak. UNO falling fast and is 4-5-4 in their last thirteen also going 2-2 in shootouts. Miami pounded BGSU, I watched that game on the NHL network and Miami's futures looks promising.
CHA
Bemidji State 5 at Robert Morris 3
Niagara 4 at Alabama-Huntsville 2
Analysis
With four teams in the CHA, BSU and RMU are going to see a lot of each other in the coming weeks. RMU is going to play six of the last twelve games against the Beavers. RMU is also going to spend 11 days in Bemidji.
ECAC
Quinnipiac 5 at Brown 1
Cornell 1 at St. Lawrence 8
Union 1 at Harvard 3
Princeton 1 at Yale 3
Colgate 3 at Clarkson 1
Rensselaer 2 at Dartmouth 5
Analysis
Well, well, well. What do we have here? Princeton loses to Yale and Cornell is pounded by Saint Larry. Princeton drops down to 11th in the pair wise ranking and is 2-4-1 in January beating Harvard and Robert Morris University. Cornell while tied for three right now in the PWR/RPI will drop if it continues to lose due to it's weak strength of schedule.
Hockey East
Boston College 2 at Providence 2 ot
Vermont 2 at New Hampshire 3
Boston University 3 at Merrimack 1
Northeastern 4 at Massachusetts 6
Mass.-Lowell 3 at Maine 2
Analysis
Northeastern loses to UMass. Since December Boston College is 3-5-3, definitely the loss of Nate Gerbe is a big blow to the Eagles.
WCHA
Alaska-Anchorage 2 at Denver 6
North Dakota 0 at St. Cloud State 3
Minnesota 2 at Minnesota State 6
Minnesota-Duluth 1 at Wisconsin 3
Analysis
The home teams all won in the WCHA last night. Split on the road and sweep at home.
I don't see how UAA takes any points from Denver this weekend. It will be interesting to see how Minnesota responds tonight.
Exhibition
US Under-18 Team 6 vs. RIT 3
Atlantic Hockey
Sacred Heart 3 at Canisius 3 ot
Holy Cross 5 at Connecticut 3
Bentley 6 at Army 0
Air Force 4 at Mercyhurst 4 ot
Analysis
Air Force has a 3-3-1 record in January and is 4-5-2 since December.
CCHA
Nebraska-Omaha 1 at Ferris State 7
Bowling Green 1 at Miami 6
Michigan 2 at Notre Dame 1
Northern Michigan 6 at Western Michigan 5
Ohio State 1 at Alaska 4
Michigan State 0 at Lake Superior 2
Analysis
Michigan put an end to Notre Dame's 20 game unbeaten streak. UNO falling fast and is 4-5-4 in their last thirteen also going 2-2 in shootouts. Miami pounded BGSU, I watched that game on the NHL network and Miami's futures looks promising.
CHA
Bemidji State 5 at Robert Morris 3
Niagara 4 at Alabama-Huntsville 2
Analysis
With four teams in the CHA, BSU and RMU are going to see a lot of each other in the coming weeks. RMU is going to play six of the last twelve games against the Beavers. RMU is also going to spend 11 days in Bemidji.
ECAC
Quinnipiac 5 at Brown 1
Cornell 1 at St. Lawrence 8
Union 1 at Harvard 3
Princeton 1 at Yale 3
Colgate 3 at Clarkson 1
Rensselaer 2 at Dartmouth 5
Analysis
Well, well, well. What do we have here? Princeton loses to Yale and Cornell is pounded by Saint Larry. Princeton drops down to 11th in the pair wise ranking and is 2-4-1 in January beating Harvard and Robert Morris University. Cornell while tied for three right now in the PWR/RPI will drop if it continues to lose due to it's weak strength of schedule.
Hockey East
Boston College 2 at Providence 2 ot
Vermont 2 at New Hampshire 3
Boston University 3 at Merrimack 1
Northeastern 4 at Massachusetts 6
Mass.-Lowell 3 at Maine 2
Analysis
Northeastern loses to UMass. Since December Boston College is 3-5-3, definitely the loss of Nate Gerbe is a big blow to the Eagles.
WCHA
Alaska-Anchorage 2 at Denver 6
North Dakota 0 at St. Cloud State 3
Minnesota 2 at Minnesota State 6
Minnesota-Duluth 1 at Wisconsin 3
Analysis
The home teams all won in the WCHA last night. Split on the road and sweep at home.
I don't see how UAA takes any points from Denver this weekend. It will be interesting to see how Minnesota responds tonight.
Exhibition
US Under-18 Team 6 vs. RIT 3
Star Tribune misses major point.
Seems that the Star and Tribune missed the part where Gophers player Brian Schack attacked a player and punched him as he lay on the ice without his helmet on. Now, I am not saying the checking from behind penalty wasn't blatant because it was, however, Boe's actions don't warrant being attacked much like Steve Kampfer was. If Brian Schack wanted to fight Boe, Schack should have challenged him to a fight like the code dictates. I believe that would have been a more appropriate response.
The final period also had a melee in the eighth minute. Six players received penalties and one of them, sophomore defenseman Channing Boe of the Mavericks, was taken off on a stretcher. After the game he was on crutches.
Looking for a positive, Anderson said: "The good thing about getting your butt kicked on Friday is you can come back and try to salvage something [tonight]."
Check out the comments for this article as well. Holy cow! It would appear that not all is well in Minneapolis. Here is a really beauty of a comment, blame the Canadian kids eh? What the hell is that? That we can violence in the WCHA can be blamed on Canadians? Schack is a Minnesotan and just committed one of the most heinous acts I have ever seen in a college hockey game. Schack's act is right up there with Todd Bertuzzi's attack on Steve Moore.
Huh?
Must have a lot of basketball players that comment about Gopher hockey on here...if you can't handle the physical aspect of ice hockey go watch the elementary girls basketball game at your local school! I say it's about time the Gophers start standing up for themselves with the physical play...many times over the years they have been the team that gets pushed around. As far as Schack goes, if you check a kid in the back you better expect you're gonna get yours...and Boe did!! I don't want anyone getting hurt, but its a part of the game. With influx of Canadian kids in college hockey(not the Gophers mind you) you better be ready for more of that type of play! Fire Lucia...if you are one of the people saying that this is to be blamed on the coach...you really don't know much about sports, especially hockey!
Lastly as Siouxweet said not a word on USCHO.COM or College Hockey New about this ugly incident from last night. Why not? If the Fighting Sioux had been involved in this ugly incident it would have been front page news on all of the College Hockey web pages.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Slug feast in Mankato (Schack goes Bertuzzi)
This incident is warrants a 5 game suspension; minimum! It is time for the WCHA to man up and punish Brian Schack as he went Todd Bertuzzi on MSU-M Maverick Player Channing Boe. We get it Brian the CFB was a bad play but it didn't warrant your actions. You're now on par with Tropp and Conboy of MSU.
Wouldn't you know it Todd Anderson is the ref in this game as well. Maybe that is the common denominator? This incident tonight is equal to this incident in my opinion. The league needs to relieve Todd Anderson of his reffing duties before someone gets killed out there on the ice.
SCSU 3 UND 0
I watched tonight's game on B2, I would recommend using that product again if I get the chance, the picture was really pretty good, however, the game didn't go the way I would have liked. The Sioux have to be frustrated with their play and the results tonight. The Huskies won on the backs of Jase Weslosky who was an impenetrable force. Que the cliche; the Sioux ran into a uber hot goalie tonight. The Sioux threw a statically impressive 38 shots against the Husky goalie and couldn’t score. I take my hat off to Jase Weslosky tonight. What the heck can you do? Unfortunately the Sioux don't have a lot of wiggle room to play with based on their horrible record the first half of the season. Losing tomorrow night's game is unacceptable.
Tonight I thought the Sioux carried the play most of the night, however they got burned by the speed of SCSU’s skilled forwards. The Sioux defenseman got caught up ice against Roe and Lasch and paid the piper for their efforts. You cannot leave a goalie to fend for himself against high end talent like Roe and Lasch, they have to be better tomorrow night. Also, the Fighting Sioux forwards need to move their feet more because tonight they didn’t get enough grade “A” opportunities in close to score goals. On the goaltending front Brad Eidsness has to be better covering his angles and the post. The second goal tonight was a SEGA wrap around goal and that cannot happen.
Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK-1 Evan Trupp (2-Hooking) STC 0x1 1:38
NDK-2 Jake Marto (2-Roughing) STC 0x2 9:20
STC-1 Oliver Lauridsen (2-Holding) NDK 0x1 11:58
STC 1 - 0 6x6 GW LL Ryan Lasch (12) (David Carlisle, Michael Olson) 15:17
STC (+): 19,28,8,22,25,G33 NDK (-): 25,3,10,22,18,G31
NDK-3 Ben Blood (2-Interference) STC 0x3 15:44
STC-2 Travis Novak (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x2 19:00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STC-3 Drew LeBlanc (2-Tripping) NDK 0x3 6:30
STC-4 Aaron Marvin (2-IB) NDK 0x4 6:33
NDK-4 Brad Miller (2-Slashing) 6:53
NDK-5 Brad Miller (2-AG) (Served by Andrew Kozek) STC 0x4 6:53
STC-5 Chris Hepp (2-Roughing) 6:53
STC 2 - 0 6x6 Garrett Roe (13) (Travis Novak, Nicholas Rioux) 15:51
STC (+): 9,12,5,11,7,G33 NDK (-): 21,19,3,29,25,G31
STC 3 - 0 6x6 Nicholas Rioux (2) (Aaron Marvin, David Carlisle) 18:21
STC (+): 5,17,13,7,12,G33 NDK (-): 5,2,18,16,17,G31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK-6 Brad Malone (5-Checking from Behind) (Served by David Toews) STC 0x5 5:36
NDK-7 Brad Malone (10-Game Misconduct) 5:36
STC-6 Oliver Lauridsen (2-Roughing) 5:36
STC-7 Sam Zabkowicz (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x5 12:20
STC-8 Chris Hepp (2-Boarding) NDK 0x6 12:43
NDK-8 Joe Finley (2-Charging) STC 0x6 18:30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tonight I thought the Sioux carried the play most of the night, however they got burned by the speed of SCSU’s skilled forwards. The Sioux defenseman got caught up ice against Roe and Lasch and paid the piper for their efforts. You cannot leave a goalie to fend for himself against high end talent like Roe and Lasch, they have to be better tomorrow night. Also, the Fighting Sioux forwards need to move their feet more because tonight they didn’t get enough grade “A” opportunities in close to score goals. On the goaltending front Brad Eidsness has to be better covering his angles and the post. The second goal tonight was a SEGA wrap around goal and that cannot happen.
Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK-1 Evan Trupp (2-Hooking) STC 0x1 1:38
NDK-2 Jake Marto (2-Roughing) STC 0x2 9:20
STC-1 Oliver Lauridsen (2-Holding) NDK 0x1 11:58
STC 1 - 0 6x6 GW LL Ryan Lasch (12) (David Carlisle, Michael Olson) 15:17
STC (+): 19,28,8,22,25,G33 NDK (-): 25,3,10,22,18,G31
NDK-3 Ben Blood (2-Interference) STC 0x3 15:44
STC-2 Travis Novak (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x2 19:00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STC-3 Drew LeBlanc (2-Tripping) NDK 0x3 6:30
STC-4 Aaron Marvin (2-IB) NDK 0x4 6:33
NDK-4 Brad Miller (2-Slashing) 6:53
NDK-5 Brad Miller (2-AG) (Served by Andrew Kozek) STC 0x4 6:53
STC-5 Chris Hepp (2-Roughing) 6:53
STC 2 - 0 6x6 Garrett Roe (13) (Travis Novak, Nicholas Rioux) 15:51
STC (+): 9,12,5,11,7,G33 NDK (-): 21,19,3,29,25,G31
STC 3 - 0 6x6 Nicholas Rioux (2) (Aaron Marvin, David Carlisle) 18:21
STC (+): 5,17,13,7,12,G33 NDK (-): 5,2,18,16,17,G31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK-6 Brad Malone (5-Checking from Behind) (Served by David Toews) STC 0x5 5:36
NDK-7 Brad Malone (10-Game Misconduct) 5:36
STC-6 Oliver Lauridsen (2-Roughing) 5:36
STC-7 Sam Zabkowicz (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x5 12:20
STC-8 Chris Hepp (2-Boarding) NDK 0x6 12:43
NDK-8 Joe Finley (2-Charging) STC 0x6 18:30
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCSU and UND lines (stats included)
Brad Schlossman has posted the lines for tonight's game. I am kind of surprised that Zach Jones is sitting again tonight, it has been a long time since Jones has missed 2 out of 3 games.
UND's lines
17 Jason Gregoire--(9-9-18)16 Ryan Duncan--(11-11-22) 26 Brett Hextall--(8-8-16)
20 Matt Watkins-- (4-7-11)11 Darcy Zajac--(2-10-12) 8 Ryan Martens--(10-9-19)
19 Evan Trupp--(5-12-17) 29 Chris VandeVelde--(9-12-21) 21 Matt Frattin--(12-7-19)
10 Andrew Kozek--(5-7-12) 22 Brad Malone--(2-8-10) 18 David Toews--(5-6-11)
2 Joe Finley--(2-6-8)5 Chay Genoway--(2-23-25)
3 Derrick LaPoint--(1-3-4)25 Jake Marto--(5-6-11)
24 Ben Blood--14 (0-0-0) Brad Miller-- (4-19-23)
31 Brad Eidsness 15-7-3 GAA 2.5048 SV% .910
30 Aaron Walski
SCSU's lines
13 Jordy Christian--(5-6-11) 17 Aaron Marvin-- (8-14-22) 19 Ryan Lasch--(11-19-30)
11 Jared Festler-- (7-10-17) 9 Garrett Roe--(12-24-36)12 Travis Novak--(5-8-13)
26 John Swanson--(8-15-23) 29 Drew LeBlanc--(5-5-10) 21 Brian Volpei--(2-8-10)
22 Brent Borgen--(3-6-9) 8 Michael Olson--(4-7-11)16 Nick Oslund--(4-2-6)
5 Nicholas Rioux--(1-3-4) 7 Garrett Raboin--(8-16-24)
3 Sam Zabkowicz--(3-8-11) 18 Chris Hepp--(2-5-7)
25 Oliver Lauridsen--(0-1-1) 28 David Carlisle--(1-3-4)
33 Jase Weslosky 11-7-1 GAA 2.8659 SV%.912
41 Dan Dunn 2-4-1 GAA 2.6168 SV% .902
36 Nate Hardy
UND's lines
17 Jason Gregoire--(9-9-18)16 Ryan Duncan--(11-11-22) 26 Brett Hextall--(8-8-16)
20 Matt Watkins-- (4-7-11)11 Darcy Zajac--(2-10-12) 8 Ryan Martens--(10-9-19)
19 Evan Trupp--(5-12-17) 29 Chris VandeVelde--(9-12-21) 21 Matt Frattin--(12-7-19)
10 Andrew Kozek--(5-7-12) 22 Brad Malone--(2-8-10) 18 David Toews--(5-6-11)
2 Joe Finley--(2-6-8)5 Chay Genoway--(2-23-25)
3 Derrick LaPoint--(1-3-4)25 Jake Marto--(5-6-11)
24 Ben Blood--14 (0-0-0) Brad Miller-- (4-19-23)
31 Brad Eidsness 15-7-3 GAA 2.5048 SV% .910
30 Aaron Walski
SCSU's lines
13 Jordy Christian--(5-6-11) 17 Aaron Marvin-- (8-14-22) 19 Ryan Lasch--(11-19-30)
11 Jared Festler-- (7-10-17) 9 Garrett Roe--(12-24-36)12 Travis Novak--(5-8-13)
26 John Swanson--(8-15-23) 29 Drew LeBlanc--(5-5-10) 21 Brian Volpei--(2-8-10)
22 Brent Borgen--(3-6-9) 8 Michael Olson--(4-7-11)16 Nick Oslund--(4-2-6)
5 Nicholas Rioux--(1-3-4) 7 Garrett Raboin--(8-16-24)
3 Sam Zabkowicz--(3-8-11) 18 Chris Hepp--(2-5-7)
25 Oliver Lauridsen--(0-1-1) 28 David Carlisle--(1-3-4)
33 Jase Weslosky 11-7-1 GAA 2.8659 SV%.912
41 Dan Dunn 2-4-1 GAA 2.6168 SV% .902
36 Nate Hardy
Goon's World mentioned on Dan Barreiro's show.
Yesterday Goon's World was mentioned on Dan Barreiro show bumper to bumper at about 27:30 of the first hour of the Dan Barreiro's show. They were talking about Conboy's brother when he bit Uber Hack Steve Downie.
More victimology from the DU press
Brad Elliott Schlossman had this gem linked on his blog this morning. You have to wonder if Mike Chambers is being serious? Again we see another theme here, the big bad Sioux with their arena full of rowdy blood thirsty fans. Those awful fans on the internet as well. I guess I am guilty eh?
I think it is kind of funny to see the Denver Pioneers play the victim card. I also think it's funny that the Denver hockey team is refering to taking a point out of last weekend's series as a moral victory. This is the same series where they were destroyed 8-3 the first night. DU is a better team that than that.
I think it is kind of funny to see the Denver Pioneers play the victim card. I also think it's funny that the Denver hockey team is refering to taking a point out of last weekend's series as a moral victory. This is the same series where they were destroyed 8-3 the first night. DU is a better team that than that.
North Dakota nightmare lingering for Pioneers
By Mike Chambers
After all, the DU players could be concentrating more on their bizarre one-point series last weekend at North Dakota than on what might unfold tonight and Saturday.
The Pioneers, however, say the baggage they brought home from Grand Forks — the bumps and bruises, the Internet ridicule and ensuing suspension of coach George Gwozdecky, plus the mental exhaustion — will be keepsake items the rest of the season.
If DU's old mascot, Boone, were around, he wouldn't need any help circling the wagons. Thanks to North Dakota and the nasty environment it promotes, the Pioneers seem to be in a good place to begin their final 10-game, regular-season stretch run.
"Absolutely, there is no doubt we're a better team because of all the crazy stuff last weekend," DU junior center Tyler Ruegsegger said.
Said senior captain J.P. Testwuide: "We dealt with a lot of challenges that will help us down the stretch. The crowd and the testiness of those games was a good experience, and absolutely, we feel great about how we came out of it."
Thursday, January 29, 2009
INCH chat
This is one of the most uneventful INCH chats that I have seen for some time. I don't know what to make out of that? No Red meat.
Mark: Fargo, ND: Alright Jess! Are you ready to jump on the Sioux bandwagon - this is a very balanced team, runnning Four strong lines. Do you now see the Sioux winning the WCHA?
Jess Myers: Absolutely! I just got my green and white boxers back from the dry cleaners and I'm ready for the stretch run! But seriously, I didn't
see the Sioux making this kind of second half rally, which is a failing on my part, because they do so every year. The rapid growth and adjustment to the college game by their talented freshmen has made the biggest difference in the past month. My head says I should pick the Sioux to win the league title based on the way they're playing right now, but something tells me they'll finish just a bit behind Denver. That of course sets up the inevitable rematch in St. Paul in
March.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex (Fargo): What are the chances North Dakota makes the NCAA tourney?
Jess Myers: Right now they look pretty solid for a top four finish in the WCHA, which would make them a near-lock for the field of 16.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avan (Boston): Can you remember a more talented group of defensemen than the one BU has had the luxury of throwing out there every game this season?
Mike Eidelbes: I can remember, if I go all the way back to ... this season. BU has a nice defensive corps, but the Notre Dame group (Kyle Lawson, Ian Cole, Teddy Ruth, Brett Blatchford) is right there with them as is Wisconsin (Jamie McBain, Brendan Smith, Cody Goloubef, Ryan McDonagh, Jake Gardiner). North Dakota's group from last year (Taylor Chorney, Chay Genoway, Rob Bina, Joe Finley, etc.) was a good crew, too.
George Gwozdecky speaks.
Here is an interesting blog post by every Sioux fan's favorite college hockey beat writer Mike Chambers from the Denver Post.
All joking aside, when your children lie there are consequences for their actions, come on now George! Seriously folks, it doesn't take a genius to know if your coach has been kicked out of the hockey game and asked to leave the bench you can not have ANY, ANY communication until after the game is over. The fact that he keeps saying this stuff is insulting to hockey fans and is utterbull shit Bravo Sierra.
MC: What’s the thing that upset you the most in that game? Was it VandeVelde’s hit on Ruegessger against the sidewall? Is that what started the emotion on the bench?
George Gwozdecky: No, it started long before that. I think people know me well enough – officials and the people that have watched me coach this team for 15 years – that I’m not going react to one incident, I’m not going to blow my top and get all worked up over one call. It takes more than that, and there are times I won’t even react. Obviously, that wasn’t the case. Sometimes you really have to fight and battle and stick up for your team, and I felt that was the time it had to be done.
MC: Do you think it’s time for the WCHA to separate certain officials from certain opponents? (It was obvious I was asking about referee Todd Anderson and the DU-UND rivalry. Three years ago, Anderson ejected Gwozdecky in a Sioux game in Denver, after UND’s Mike Prpich speared Geoff Paukovich in the privates off a center-ice faceoff. No call was made, despite the fact the officials had their eyes trained on the neutral zone and Paukovich went straight to the ice in pain).
George Gwozdecky: Nobody’s perfect, whether you’re a coach, player and official. Everybody wants to do their best, and at times because of whatever reason, it’s difficult to do. That’s a very difficult place to play. It’s loud, they’re energetic, great fans, and if you let it, it can be intimidating – including to the officials. I’m not going to blame anybody for what went on. Obviously, I took the actions I felt needed to be taken.
MC: Let’s talk about your suspension for talking to your staff during the third period via headset from the press box.
George Gwozdecky: I certainly didn’t have a thorough understanding of the rules. Obviously, for me walking around the press box, for everyone to see me, and for me to comment afterwards to the media about where I was at the end of the second period and in the third period, it’s pretty obvious I wasn’t trying to hide anything. It certainly was a violation when I found out about it, and there was no question what I felt needed to be done. I support the administration. It’s a rule; it’s in the book.
All joking aside, when your children lie there are consequences for their actions, come on now George! Seriously folks, it doesn't take a genius to know if your coach has been kicked out of the hockey game and asked to leave the bench you can not have ANY, ANY communication until after the game is over. The fact that he keeps saying this stuff is insulting to hockey fans and is utter
The Dasher Dancer.
For those that don't read Sioux sports this is funny. BadgerSioux has posted this gem for you viewing pleasure.
University of Alabama-Huntsville looking for a league
The Dominos keep falling in realignment. It will be interesting to see where UAH ends up.
UAH hockey seeks new league
By BUDD McLAUGHLIN
The UAH hockey program is aiming to join the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, a move that would bring Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan and Notre Dame to the Von Braun Center by the 2010-11 season.
The Chargers today will formally apply to join the CCHA, a jump made necessary by the imminent demise of UAH's current league, College Hockey America. We have the official application letter and fee ready to be sent to the CCHA," University of Alabama-Huntsville athletic director Jim Harris said Wednesday.
--------------(snip)--------------
We have the official application letter and fee ready to be sent to the CCHA," University of Alabama-Huntsville athletic director Jim Harris said Wednesday.
The four-team CHA appears certain to fold after this season, with Niagara and Robert Morris gaining admittance Tuesday into the Atlantic Hockey conference.
That follows Bemidji State's announcement last week that it was seeking to join the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The WCHA is expected to vote on Bemidji State and other expansion candidates in April.
Harris said UAH also will send a "letter of intent" seeking application to the WCHA, though "economically, the CCHA makes sense (regarding) travel costs."
Chorney to the Senators?
While most of the time Ek's rumors don't come true this one involves former Sioux Taylor Chorney.
From a source today...
"The Sens are very interested in Erik Cole and the Oilers feel that Jason Spezza is a great fit with the current speedy young line-up. Of course Cole is a pending UFA and an extension would have to be first worked out. Also, the Sens would like a prospect d-man in the deal as well."
Another source agreed adding, "The Sens have made it known that they love Taylor Chorney."
Chorney is the Redden Replacement that the Sens could use. He is a heck of a prospect who many feel will be as good as Redden if not better. He is another member of that killer University of North Dakota team from the last few years, although this year he has been in the AHL for Springfield.
Fighting Sioux coaches show.
Check out the latest Fighting Sioux coaches show.
Notes from the coaches show.
Tim Hennessy: We discussed it this afternoon DU is one of the best teams the Sioux has played. Coach Hakstol agreed with Tim, maybe because Minnesota didn’t give their best effort when they were in Grand Forks a few weeks back. Hakstol said, “DU is a very good especially their forwards like Rhett Rakhsani who had a great weekend for the Pioneers.”
Tim Hennessy: Denver University Freshman Joel Colborne who was picked to be the preseason ROY in the WCHA was almost invisible this past weekend and that isn’t a knock on him. Coach Hakstol said that they had watched Colborne develop over the years in the AJHL and if Colborne is given time to develop in the WCHA by the team that drafted him, Colborne is going to be a great player in the WCHA. Coach Hakstol said that the WCHA is a tough league even for juniors and seniors. Tim and Coach Hakstol were also wondering who Colborne was drafted by, for the record Joel Colborne was drafted by the Boston Bruins.
Tim and Coach Hakstol discussed Tyler Bozek playing with Salazar and Colborne before the injury. Coach Hakstol said that, “Tyler Bozek is one of the players in the WCHA that could be playing in the NHL this season.”
Tim Hennessy mentioned the Walk: Coach Hakstol believes at a minimum that they should have gotten a 5-3 power play for the walk. The rest of that stuff is the league’s business. Coach Hakstol didn’t really want to make any moral judgments on the incident and he doesn’t have time to. George set out to affect the officiating and to motivate his team probably accomplished that. Coach Hakstol said that basically we should move on, the incident is over and we are playing SCSU this weekend.
Tim Hennessy: How much better is SCSU now then when you played them. Coach Hakstol, “I don’t know.” When SCSU was here in December he thought that the Sioux got the jump on them and they didn’t have a chance to recover. They are a very dangerous team, at all times you have to be very sharp, their forwards are like Denver.
Tim Hennessy: You got a few of their guys frustrated Roe because he didn’t get any (points) and Lasch who didn’t have much either. Coach Hakstol: We didn’t really match anyone with their guys? We had a couple of lines prepared to play to against them and two defenses paring to play them. Coach Hakstol was very complementary of Husky players Roe and Lasch. Hakstol compared Roe to Denver forward Rhett Rakhshani.
Tim Hennessy: your team has played well for some time your play on Saturday was an aberration. Coach Hakstol said they didn’t have it till the third period we got back where we wanted to be then we took three penalties.
Tim Hennessy: How good was Brad Eidsness. Hakstol he was that good as you thought after the game, he was very good throughout the game.
The Standing in the WCHA is close; there is a jam up at the top. Your guys are energized because they are back in it. Hakstol thought the team got back into it at Christmas time. We stumbled a bit when the team had a brutal weekend in Detroit. I honestly think we have fought out way back into this thing and battled back into this thing. There are 6-7 teams looking at the standings and the Sioux just have to play their game and not standings watch.
Tim Hennessy: Why was Matt Jones was not playing on Friday night? Coach Hakstol said that he would discuss it a little bit but not get into a lot of the details. Coach Hakstol said at the beginning of the season he said that he likes the character of this team. Ben Blood has made great strides in his development. Hakstol is not just going to pull a healthy player out of the line up without talking to him. Jones agreed with Hakstol and told him it was the right move. That takes a man to do that. There are a lot of unselfish players on this team, guys like Harrington, Lammy, Davidson. Hakstol thinks there is a lot of glue on this team and he likes their chances. All 25 guys are committed to the goals.
Coach Hakstol said the environment in the REA the last two weekends have been amazing. The environment was maybe a factor where maybe it helped UND get a point.
Notes from the coaches show.
Tim Hennessy: We discussed it this afternoon DU is one of the best teams the Sioux has played. Coach Hakstol agreed with Tim, maybe because Minnesota didn’t give their best effort when they were in Grand Forks a few weeks back. Hakstol said, “DU is a very good especially their forwards like Rhett Rakhsani who had a great weekend for the Pioneers.”
Tim Hennessy: Denver University Freshman Joel Colborne who was picked to be the preseason ROY in the WCHA was almost invisible this past weekend and that isn’t a knock on him. Coach Hakstol said that they had watched Colborne develop over the years in the AJHL and if Colborne is given time to develop in the WCHA by the team that drafted him, Colborne is going to be a great player in the WCHA. Coach Hakstol said that the WCHA is a tough league even for juniors and seniors. Tim and Coach Hakstol were also wondering who Colborne was drafted by, for the record Joel Colborne was drafted by the Boston Bruins.
Tim and Coach Hakstol discussed Tyler Bozek playing with Salazar and Colborne before the injury. Coach Hakstol said that, “Tyler Bozek is one of the players in the WCHA that could be playing in the NHL this season.”
Tim Hennessy mentioned the Walk: Coach Hakstol believes at a minimum that they should have gotten a 5-3 power play for the walk. The rest of that stuff is the league’s business. Coach Hakstol didn’t really want to make any moral judgments on the incident and he doesn’t have time to. George set out to affect the officiating and to motivate his team probably accomplished that. Coach Hakstol said that basically we should move on, the incident is over and we are playing SCSU this weekend.
Tim Hennessy: How much better is SCSU now then when you played them. Coach Hakstol, “I don’t know.” When SCSU was here in December he thought that the Sioux got the jump on them and they didn’t have a chance to recover. They are a very dangerous team, at all times you have to be very sharp, their forwards are like Denver.
Tim Hennessy: You got a few of their guys frustrated Roe because he didn’t get any (points) and Lasch who didn’t have much either. Coach Hakstol: We didn’t really match anyone with their guys? We had a couple of lines prepared to play to against them and two defenses paring to play them. Coach Hakstol was very complementary of Husky players Roe and Lasch. Hakstol compared Roe to Denver forward Rhett Rakhshani.
Tim Hennessy: your team has played well for some time your play on Saturday was an aberration. Coach Hakstol said they didn’t have it till the third period we got back where we wanted to be then we took three penalties.
Tim Hennessy: How good was Brad Eidsness. Hakstol he was that good as you thought after the game, he was very good throughout the game.
The Standing in the WCHA is close; there is a jam up at the top. Your guys are energized because they are back in it. Hakstol thought the team got back into it at Christmas time. We stumbled a bit when the team had a brutal weekend in Detroit. I honestly think we have fought out way back into this thing and battled back into this thing. There are 6-7 teams looking at the standings and the Sioux just have to play their game and not standings watch.
Tim Hennessy: Why was Matt Jones was not playing on Friday night? Coach Hakstol said that he would discuss it a little bit but not get into a lot of the details. Coach Hakstol said at the beginning of the season he said that he likes the character of this team. Ben Blood has made great strides in his development. Hakstol is not just going to pull a healthy player out of the line up without talking to him. Jones agreed with Hakstol and told him it was the right move. That takes a man to do that. There are a lot of unselfish players on this team, guys like Harrington, Lammy, Davidson. Hakstol thinks there is a lot of glue on this team and he likes their chances. All 25 guys are committed to the goals.
Coach Hakstol said the environment in the REA the last two weekends have been amazing. The environment was maybe a factor where maybe it helped UND get a point.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
January's Last games (Sioux 7)
Last weekend we saw UMD sweep MSUM, UND and SCSU each earn 3pts each at the expense of DU and CC respectively, and MTU-UAA tie TWICE, you don't see that too often. So much for predictions of splits last weekend.
WCHA Standings
1 Denver...................11-5-2...24
2 North Dakota.........10-5-3...23
3 Wisconsin...............10-6-2...22
4 Minnesota...............9-4-3...21
4 Colorado College......9-8-3...21
6 Minnesota-Duluth......7-6-5...19
7 St. Cloud State.........8-9-1...17
8 Minnesota State......7-11-2...16
9 Alaska-Anchorage....5-9-4...14
10 Michigan Tech........1-14-5...7
NOTE - MTU and CC have played 20-games, UM 16 games, and everyone else 18 games.
#5 Minnesota at/home Minnesota State
Have the Gophers sprung a leak? They have let in 6, 6, 1, and 6 goals the last 4-games, and all but one of them was let in by Kangas. The Mavericks are 3-4-0 since the start of 2009. If the Purple want to avoid ending up black & blue, they need points every weekend. MSUM needs points if they want to avoid a 8th or 9th place finish, considering after this weekend they will have played 22 out of 28 league games, the most of any team (MSUM is on a bye next weekend). The Gophers on the other hand have played the fewest league games and are in the thick of the race for the WCHA title, so points this weekend keep them in the race and will edge them closer to securing a top 5 finish. SCSU and UND have exposed the Gophers defense and goal tending, now is Mankato's chance to take advantage of it. The home team wins, Mankato Friday, UM Saturday, SPLITSVILLE.
#12 North Dakota at St. Cloud State
The Huskies have been and up and down team to say the least, the just took 3pts from CC last weekend, but got swept by the UM the week before. The early meeting between the Sioux and Huskies resulted in a sweep for the Sioux in Grand Forks. With a quick look at the numbers, is appears that if a team scores 3 goals on the Huskies, they can bet SCSU, less than 3, ahhh. UND has been lighting up the score board recently, in fact, they are the first team in the country to score 100 goals this year. I see the Sioux continuing on with their traditional second half run and taking some points from the Huskies. Sioux 3pts.
#16 Minnesota-Duluth at #15 Wisconsin
This series has all sorts of ramifications, not just in the league, but in the Pairwise rankings as well. A sweep gives the victor a position to get home ice in the first round of the WCHA playoffs and the inside track for an NCAA tourney birth.
The Bulldogs are on a 4-game winning streak, at the expense of Bemidji St and MSUM, so they are looking to keep the barking and biting. The Badgers are coming off a bye week, and back in mid November took 3-pts from the Bulldogs in Duluth. UMD is hoping to return the favor this weekend in Mad-town. UW looks to have the toughest schedule to close out the season, so they need to get wins to stay in the hunt. I hope I can find the games on TV somewhere, cause these could be some barn burners. I'm going the wimpy way out on this series, SPLIT.
Alaska-Anchorage at #7 Denver
The Pioneers need to get over last weekends events at Grand Forks and start focusing on UAA. DU will be without head coach George Gwozdecky for Friday nights game, do to a rules violation from Saturday's game in Grand Forks. Both teams come in riding ties, UAA could get home ice for the play-offs, but they needs points and some help. The wheels would have to come off Boone's wagon for DU to not get home ice. Pioneers players and fans better be ready for UAA on Friday, if not they could suffer a loss. I see Saturday as a DU win. I'm going to call a SPLIT, but a DU sweep is not out of the question.
The #17 Colorado College Tigers and Michigan Tech Huskies are off this weekend.
WCHA Standings
1 Denver...................11-5-2...24
2 North Dakota.........10-5-3...23
3 Wisconsin...............10-6-2...22
4 Minnesota...............9-4-3...21
4 Colorado College......9-8-3...21
6 Minnesota-Duluth......7-6-5...19
7 St. Cloud State.........8-9-1...17
8 Minnesota State......7-11-2...16
9 Alaska-Anchorage....5-9-4...14
10 Michigan Tech........1-14-5...7
NOTE - MTU and CC have played 20-games, UM 16 games, and everyone else 18 games.
#5 Minnesota at/home Minnesota State
Have the Gophers sprung a leak? They have let in 6, 6, 1, and 6 goals the last 4-games, and all but one of them was let in by Kangas. The Mavericks are 3-4-0 since the start of 2009. If the Purple want to avoid ending up black & blue, they need points every weekend. MSUM needs points if they want to avoid a 8th or 9th place finish, considering after this weekend they will have played 22 out of 28 league games, the most of any team (MSUM is on a bye next weekend). The Gophers on the other hand have played the fewest league games and are in the thick of the race for the WCHA title, so points this weekend keep them in the race and will edge them closer to securing a top 5 finish. SCSU and UND have exposed the Gophers defense and goal tending, now is Mankato's chance to take advantage of it. The home team wins, Mankato Friday, UM Saturday, SPLITSVILLE.
#12 North Dakota at St. Cloud State
The Huskies have been and up and down team to say the least, the just took 3pts from CC last weekend, but got swept by the UM the week before. The early meeting between the Sioux and Huskies resulted in a sweep for the Sioux in Grand Forks. With a quick look at the numbers, is appears that if a team scores 3 goals on the Huskies, they can bet SCSU, less than 3, ahhh. UND has been lighting up the score board recently, in fact, they are the first team in the country to score 100 goals this year. I see the Sioux continuing on with their traditional second half run and taking some points from the Huskies. Sioux 3pts.
#16 Minnesota-Duluth at #15 Wisconsin
This series has all sorts of ramifications, not just in the league, but in the Pairwise rankings as well. A sweep gives the victor a position to get home ice in the first round of the WCHA playoffs and the inside track for an NCAA tourney birth.
The Bulldogs are on a 4-game winning streak, at the expense of Bemidji St and MSUM, so they are looking to keep the barking and biting. The Badgers are coming off a bye week, and back in mid November took 3-pts from the Bulldogs in Duluth. UMD is hoping to return the favor this weekend in Mad-town. UW looks to have the toughest schedule to close out the season, so they need to get wins to stay in the hunt. I hope I can find the games on TV somewhere, cause these could be some barn burners. I'm going the wimpy way out on this series, SPLIT.
Alaska-Anchorage at #7 Denver
The Pioneers need to get over last weekends events at Grand Forks and start focusing on UAA. DU will be without head coach George Gwozdecky for Friday nights game, do to a rules violation from Saturday's game in Grand Forks. Both teams come in riding ties, UAA could get home ice for the play-offs, but they needs points and some help. The wheels would have to come off Boone's wagon for DU to not get home ice. Pioneers players and fans better be ready for UAA on Friday, if not they could suffer a loss. I see Saturday as a DU win. I'm going to call a SPLIT, but a DU sweep is not out of the question.
The #17 Colorado College Tigers and Michigan Tech Huskies are off this weekend.
Ovechkin scare.
I think the Washington Capitals held their collective breath on this play last night. Yikes! When I first saw this play it didn't look good but he came back and played in the third period.
In the second period, Ovechkin hit the boards behind the Bruins goal with his head and right shoulder, then remained motionless on the ice for about 15 seconds before rolling over and rubbing his face with his glove. Although he left the ice a few minutes later, he was doubled over and flexing his right arm.
Ovechkin, who leads the NHL with 31 goals, sat on the bench just a few minutes before walking off through the tunnel and slamming his gloves and helmet to the ground.
Team spokesman Paul Rovnak said Ovechkin had a "stinger" that felt better after about 15 minutes. Ovechkin missed the last 5:35 of the second period but came back for the third.
Kessel Cleared to play.
Bruins forward Phil Kessel, has been cleared to play tomorrow against the New Jersey Devils after being on the injured reserve list for mononucleosis. Kessel hadn't played since January 10th and missed 6 games; during that time the Bruins went 4-1-1.
This is very good news for the Boston Bruins who now seen most of their injured players return to the Bruin's line up; Manny Fernandez is still out. In last nights game Andrew Ference (31 games), Patrice Bergeron (15 games) and Milan Lucic(7 games) all returned to the Bruins line up after being out with injuries. The return of these players makes the Bruins that much deadlier.
On to the Huskies.
Well! We have beaten the DU series after math to death and now it’s time to move on to another series against another WCHA school that hates the Fighting Sioux. I actually think it is a badge of honor. Let's take a trip down memory lane. Going back to the year 2006; this is what St Cloud Times beat writer Kevin Allenspach said about the Sioux after a home series druing the 2005-2006 season between the Huskies and the Fighting Sioux at the REA. Just for the record UND was swept by the Huskies in the series.
Seems after that same series in 2006 the SCSU coach wasn't thrilled with the style of play of the Fighting Sioux either.
I actually wrote Kevin Allenspach a letter after that series taking issue with what he said. This is the response that Mr Allenspach sent me. As you can see from the letter, Kevin is pretty solid stand up guy.
Despite a dozen rookies, North Dakota has lived up to its long reputation as a rough-and-tumble bunch. The Sioux have been sentenced to more penalty minutes than any team in college hockey this season, and lead the WCHA with an average of more than 28 PIM per game. The Huskies, by comparison, are downright angels on skates. They've never exceeded 29, and average approximately 14. Their self-restraint will be tested this weekend at Engelstad Arena, where they know it will be paramount to maintaining a hot streak that has St. Cloud State surprisingly in sixth place.
"It's just a normal game against North Dakota if there's a lot of stuff going on," said Huskies junior Justin Fletcher, who has a team-best six-game point streak. "You know they're going to take some penalties. Your power play has to be on top of its game and you can't lose your composure. You have to be ready to play them 5-on-5 or 4-on-4."
Seems after that same series in 2006 the SCSU coach wasn't thrilled with the style of play of the Fighting Sioux either.
"We talk about it — I tell (the players) every week that we can't take foolish, selfish penalties," said Motzko, 12-9-3 overall in his first season as head coach. "North Dakota, they're notorious for roughing it up. If you see a fight in our league, chances are they're involved. It's a source of pride for them. They try to get nasty and get in your face. That's the way they like to play, aggressive. We've got to be ready for that."
I actually wrote Kevin Allenspach a letter after that series taking issue with what he said. This is the response that Mr Allenspach sent me. As you can see from the letter, Kevin is pretty solid stand up guy.
Goon:
I apologize for not getting back to you sooner. My response time is generally a lot quicker than one week, however I was out of the office for a few days and the rest has been busy getting stories done in advance of this weekend's series with Anchorage.
I appreciate your feedback on last week's preview story. I'll be the first to admit that the disparity in penalty minutes before last weekend's series with North Dakota had pretty much zero impact on the 2-1 SCSU wins. That's a risk you take in choosing a topic for a preview. I could easily have written about UND's offense (at the time, best in WCHA games) and that also would've proved way off base.
I'm glad you still thought it was more impartial than the FSN telecasts. That would've been too much if you didn't. Believe it or not, I consider myself very impartial in my coverage. I could care less whether SCSU wins or loses. I'm just after what makes the best story and serves the readers the most.
You have a good point that I did not see the Mankato infractions. However, I have been covering the WCHA for nearly a decade. And if you think anyone around the league is going to say another team is tougher to play against, from a standpoint of getting hit hard, beat on and intimidated than North Dakota, you're wrong. I've also seen Dean Blais send guys over the boards to take revenge for what he thought was a bad hit. I saw Brian Canady spear Jon Cullen in the groin toward the end of an SCSU victory. Dave Hakstol doesn't shirk the image of a tough team because it serves the Sioux. They are intimidating to play against.
As for the Sioux nickname controversy, I'm only glad I don't have to chronicle that soap opera. The Times won't let me use the word "Fighting," which I disagree with. I don't have a problem with the nickname, but I'm not a Native American, either. The one thing I can say is that I don't see the controversy ever going away unless the name changes. At some point, no matter how much school pride I felt, I'd get tired of fighting that same old battle. And you are correct, though, that SCSU should stay out of it and let the matter rest between UND and the NCAA.
I don't know if you regularly read the Times or just did so because the Huskies were UND's opponent. I appreciate your feedback and am always willing to hear more. You're also welcome to write a letter to the editor (To Sports Mailbag at: sports@stcloudtimes.com).
Hope to hear from you again,
Kevin Allenspach
St. Cloud Times
The Domino's are falling.
Well it's now official. Atlantic Hockey Approves Expansion: Niagara and Robert Morris To Join Affiliate Members Next Season; Full Members in 2010-11. There are now two division one college hockey teams that are without a home, UAH and BSU. It will be interesting to see if both of these two teams end up in the WCHA or will the league poach a team from the CCHA. I would love to see NMU end up in the WCHA then UAH moving to the CCHA. If the WCHA couldn’t get a CCHA team to move I wonder if the WCHA would take both CHA schools.
Jan. 28 — Sources within Atlantic Hockey have confirmed to USCHO.com that Niagara and Robert Morris will join the league as full members beginning with the 2010-2011 season. The schools will be affiliate members of Atlantic Hockey next season, using league officiating crews.
An official announcement from the league detailing the decision will be released within the next few days.
This development will mean the dissolution of College Hockey America, which had been reduced to four teams — Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji State, Niagara and Robert Morris — after Wayne State dropped hockey last season. The WCHA last week lifted its moratorium on expansion, paving the way for Bemidji State to apply for membership.
Atlantic Hockey had previously voted to increase its scholarship limit from 11 to 12 starting next season. Robert Morris is below that limit, but Niagara has 18 scholarships, the maximum allowed by the NCAA. Niagara will have to eliminate six scholarships by the 2010-2011 season to comply.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Gwoz caught cheating.
Developing on going saga. Seems that the George "the Dasher Troll" Gwozdecky cheated by communicating with the DU bench after he was kicked out of the game.
Also just in. Alanna Rizzo from Rockey Mountain FSN wasn't impressed with the UND fans. Now before you point your fingers at the students she wasn't really talking students. Ms Rizzo was talking about the adults that sit behind the players bench. Stay tuned folks this gets better by the minute.
DENVER (Jan. 27) — Denver has suspended head hockey coach George Gwozdecky one game for violating an NCAA rule that does not allow an ejected coach to communicate with or contact team personnel in any manner until a game is completed.
The university made the announcement Tuesday evening.
Gwozdecky was ejected at the 9:30 mark of the second period during Denver’s 2-2 overtime tie at North Dakota on Jan. 24. Gwozdecky watched the second period on a television in the media room, but communicated via headset to coaches on the bench during the third period and overtime from the press box.
Also just in. Alanna Rizzo from Rockey Mountain FSN wasn't impressed with the UND fans. Now before you point your fingers at the students she wasn't really talking students. Ms Rizzo was talking about the adults that sit behind the players bench. Stay tuned folks this gets better by the minute.
Rizzo’s angst stems from obnoxious and seemingly uncontrollable Fighting Sioux fans particularly adults.
“It was a little too much for too long,” Rizzo said. “It wasn’t the student section as much as the older crowd, right on top of the DU bench, and I stood in the hallway going into their locker room.
“There were a lot of derogatory comments . . . from men and women, young and old, asking me about Coach Gwozdecky’s behavior, calling him a ‘Little Man,’ asking me ‘Why are you really here?’ and ‘I vote for last night’s outfit.’ It’s one thing to cheer for your own team, I’m all for that, but to constantly berate college athletes that are not being paid to play a sport for the constant length of the game was a little much.”
------------------(snip)------------------
“It’s definitely a home-ice advantage, it’s an amazing building, they are very passionate about Sioux hockey, but enough is enough,” she said. “Maybe I’m a little sensitive, but I think the (DU) players responded like champions. It was extremely emotional and there was a lot on the line with the WCHA. I thought Denver played with great professionalism despite all the stuff that was being said to them.”
National Hockey Center to get a face lift.
Props to Amanda Kosior for sending me the pictures for the new improvements to the National Hockey Center. I have to admit that these are some sweet improvements that will add to the fan's hockey experience at SCSU. Hockey fans from around the WCHA affectionately call the National Hockey Center the Concrete Center for it's bland and some what generic appearance, these improvements will really spruce up the place.
Bergeron and Lucic to play tonight.
Here is the Bruins lineup for tonights game.
Forward
Milan Lucic----Marc Savard----Chuck Kobasew
Blake Wheeler----David Krejci---- Patrice Bergeron
P.J. Axelsson----Stephane Yelle----Shawn Thornton
Matt Hunwick----Petteri Nokelainen----Byron Bitz
Defense
Zdeno Chara----Aaron Ward
Andrew Ference----Dennis Wideman
Mark Stuart---- Shane Hnidy
Goaltenders
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
Notice Bergeron and Lucic return to the line up after missing time with injuries.
Also with the return of Andrew Ference defenseman Matt Hunwick is playing forward.
Forward
Milan Lucic----Marc Savard----Chuck Kobasew
Blake Wheeler----David Krejci---- Patrice Bergeron
P.J. Axelsson----Stephane Yelle----Shawn Thornton
Matt Hunwick----Petteri Nokelainen----Byron Bitz
Defense
Zdeno Chara----Aaron Ward
Andrew Ference----Dennis Wideman
Mark Stuart---- Shane Hnidy
Goaltenders
Tim Thomas
Tuukka Rask
Notice Bergeron and Lucic return to the line up after missing time with injuries.
Also with the return of Andrew Ference defenseman Matt Hunwick is playing forward.
Tropp and Conboy suspended for the rest of the year.
Rick Comley is definitely a man of his word, the Michigan State has suspended the two players Corey Tropp and Andrew Conboy for the rest of the season for their acts of thuggery during the end of last Saturday’s game against Michigan.
Talk about skippys; check out this article that was run in the State News You have to be kidding me?
MSU head coach Rick Comley issued season-ending suspensions to two players following an incident Saturday when the MSU hockey team faced off against Michigan at Yost Ice Arena.
Comley suspended sophomore forward Corey Tropp and freshman forward Andrew Conboy after the two attacked U-M’s Steve Kampfer in the final minutes of U-M’s 5-3 win. Conboy tackled Kampfer to the ice from behind, and Tropp slashed Kampfer near the head and neck with his stick after Kampfer went down.
“What happened near the end of the game this weekend is not the way in which we want our hockey program represented,” Comley said in a prepared statement released Monday evening. Comley is scheduled to host his weekly press conference Tuesday afternoon.
“We cannot condone their actions. We felt that we had to send a strong message that this behavior will not be tolerated.”
(Read the whole article here)
Talk about skippys; check out this article that was run in the State News You have to be kidding me?
As expected, there were numerous scrums — 15 players served time in the box for pretty much everything.
With the game all but over, U-M’s Steve Kampfer took a run at MSU sophomore forward Corey Tropp at center ice.
In an attempt to stick up for his teammate, MSU freshman Andrew Conboy went after Kampfer to try and teach him a lesson.
It was in these mere seconds when both Conboy and Tropp completely lost control.
Conboy punched and threw Kampfer to the ice and Tropp came in and struck Kampfer across the head with his stick.
A moment after Tropp committed the violent act, you could see him look down at Kampfer and come to the realization of what had just occurred.
Monday, January 26, 2009
What the hell is this?
For those of you that haven't seen it yet. Check out this litte gem from the Denver Post Hockey blogger. This is ridiculous. WTF? OK, I am willing to bet your coach is a great guy but he looked like an absolute buffoon with his antics on Saturday night. Now we are also to believe that it is some how UND's fault? That is really funny.
My thoughts: Gwozdecky is the most mild-mannered coach I know, and in 14 years I’ve only seen his blood boil twice — both times against North Dakota and with referee Todd Anderson blowing the whistle.
See a pattern there? The “Sioux Fighters” and their fans want minor-league entertainment, Anderson is an emotional official who sometimes jaws at players, and Gwozdecky is a class act. At some point those styles clash, big-time, and the mild-mannered coach can’t stomach it. It becomes disgusting, and the coach erupts into what he doesn’t like.
So it's OK to berate an official?
Well the WCHA decided that they will not discipline George Gwozdecky for his unprofessional antics during last Saturday night game. Ok, so I have a question to the league office; did the WCHA just admit that one of their on ice officials has made a mistake by throwing the DU head coach out of the game?
Here is the Whistlers take on the decision.
MADISON, Wisc. – The Western Collegiate Hockey Association today (Jan. 26) endorsed the serious tone taken by the University of Denver and acknowledgement of an issue of unsportsmanlike conduct involving head coach George Gwozdecky in a game on January 24 against the University of North Dakota.
“The Association is pleased the University of Denver echoes the WCHA’s concerns regarding unsportsmanlike conduct,” said Bruce M. McLeod, WCHA Commissioner. “We appreciate the rapid response the University took in addressing the issue that occurred on January 24 and now consider this matter closed.”
On it’s official web site, denverpioneers.com, the University of Denver issued the following statement earlier today:
Here is the Whistlers take on the decision.
DU does not approve of coaches actions.
Apparently Denver University was not impressed or amused with the George "the Dasher Troll" Gwozdecky's antics this past weekend in Grand Forks, ND.
DENVER – The University of Denver does not condone the actions of head hockey coach George Gwozdecky at the 9:30 mark of the second period during the Pioneers’ 2-2 overtime tie against North Dakota on Saturday, Jan. 24 at Ralph Engelstad Arena.
Gwozdecky received a two-minute unsportsmanlike misconduct and 10-minute game misconduct penalty because of his actions.
“We have discussed the incident with George, and he understands that his behavior was unacceptable,” DU Senior Associate Director of Athletics Ron Grahame said. “George’s action were very much out of character. We respect the integrity of not only the University of Denver, but the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as well.”
Phil Kessel back skating.
I would hope that this means that the Bruin forward is going to be playing for the Boston Bruins soon. The Bruins will need his offensive imagination in the second half as the Bruins make their run to the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Kessel skates for 35 minutes
Kevin Paul Dupont --- Globe Staff
Phil Kessel skated for approximately 35 minutes under the watchful eye assistant coach Doug Houda, but based on coach Claude Julien's summation, it did not sound as if the third-year forward is on the verge of returning to the lineup.
''He can't take any contact,'' said Julien, noting standard practice for someone recovering from mononucleosis. ''That's why he stayed on after [the rest of the group worked out]. His condition can change, day-to-day. But he is obviously feeling much better.''
Gabby to Vancouver?
Props to the illegal curve for this find. I could see the Wild and the Canucks being up for this trade. Maybe the Minnesota Wild could get something of value in return? The Wild need to get players that can put the puck in the net. Getting something is better than just having Gabby walk after the end of the season.
In Minnesota, the oft-injured Marian Gaborik is set to become an unrestricted free agent next summer and it's believed the Wild would like to jettison him by the deadline rather than get nothing back in the summer.
The Vancouver Canucks definitely have the cap room to add a forward like Gaborik, and it's a good bet GM Mike Gillis would like to add more offensive punch to go up against Western Conference powerhouses San Jose and Detroit.
League office to review incident(s)
The WCHA league office is going look at the video of the Dasher Trolls walk across the ice and the incidents from last Friday's game between the Sioux and Pioneers. If the WCHA is going to start looking at game film to hand out additional penalties and suspensions maybe the league office needs to look inward and start looking more closely to their on ice official's job performance. While Gwozdecky was wrong to show up the officials and walk across the ice and delay the game there is a reason he performed these antics. The fans get it George the officials in the WCHA are sub par and they down right suck. Until the coaches and the league schools complain nothing will change.
While we are looking at film I hope that the league Commish sees the blatant spears by J.P. Testwuide on Sioux forward Chris VandeVelde, that should have been a major penalty.
While we are looking at film I hope that the league Commish sees the blatant spears by J.P. Testwuide on Sioux forward Chris VandeVelde, that should have been a major penalty.
AWAITING THE JURY: Not that he wouldn't have reviewed the video anyway, but University of Denver's melee against North Dakota on Friday did not go unnoticed by WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod, who watched the fights unfold live on television from the World Arena press box during CC's tie against St. Cloud.
McLeod said any disciplinary action resulting from the episodes, including coach George Gwozdecky's ejection from the game Saturday, wouldn't be determined until he receives a review from Greg Shepherd, the WCHA's supervisor of officials
CCHA investigating incident.
The CCHA is investigating the incident from Saturday night's game. It will be interesting to see how many games Tropp is suspended I think that 2-3 games is about right. Slashing a player while they lay on the ice is unacceptable. Also, I agree with the announcers wanting to fight a guy for a legal hit is bush league and Conboy should get some kind of punishment for his tactics as well.
CCHA investigating incident that landed Michigan hockey player Steve Kampfer in hospital; statement expected this week...
by Kevin Ryan | The Ann Arbor News
Monday January 26, 2009, 11:17 AM
The in-game actions of Michigan State University hockey players Andrew Conboy and Corey Tropp, the two who sucker-punched and slashed Michigan defenseman Steve Kampfer during Saturday's game at Yost Ice Arena, are being reviewed by the Central Collegiate Hockey Assocation, and the league is expected to announce its findings before this weekend's games, associate commissioner Fred Plech said Monday morning.
With 53 seconds remaining in Michigan's 5-3 victory Saturday, Kampfer, a junior, was clothes-lined and sucker-punched from behind by Conboy along the boards. As he lay motionless on the ice, Tropped whacked at Kampfer's neck area with his stick. Moments earlier, Kampfer had knocked Tropp off his feet with what appeared to be a clean open-ice hit.
Tropp was ejected from the game after being assessed a five-minute major penalty for slashing, two 10-minute misconducts and a double game-disqualification, all of which carry a minimum suspension of three games, per CCHA rules. Conboy was given a double minor roughing penalty.
Poll Monday.
USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
January 26, 2009
Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Notre Dame (37) 19-3-3 987 1
2 Boston University (13) 18-5-1 963 2
3 Northeastern 17-5-2 867 5
4 Cornell 14-2-3 831 3
5 Minnesota 12-5-5 791 6
6 Vermont 14-5-4 716 7
7 Denver 15-7-3 696 4
8 Michigan 18-8-0 692 8
9 Princeton 13-5-0 582 9
10 Miami 14-8-4 553 10
11 Boston College 11-8-3 450 14
12 North Dakota 15-10-3 432 15
13 New Hampshire 11-8-4 353 11
14 Ohio State 16-7-3 347 12
15 Wisconsin 13-10-3 279 16
16 Minnesota-Duluth 13-7-6 271 17
17 Colorado College 13-9-6 244 13
18 Yale 13-5-1 158 NR
19 Air Force 17-6-1 97 20
20 Dartmouth 10-7-2 67 18
Others Receiving Votes: St. Cloud State 42, Nebraska-Omaha 24, RIT 23, Alaska 17, Minnesota State 5,
Massachusetts 4, Quinnipiac 4, St. Lawrence 4, Niagara 1
----------------------------
Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Notre Dame (37) 19-3-3 987 1
2 Boston University (13) 18-5-1 963 2
3 Northeastern 17-5-2 867 5
4 Cornell 14-2-3 831 3
5 Minnesota 12-5-5 791 6
6 Vermont 14-5-4 716 7
7 Denver 15-7-3 696 4
8 Michigan 18-8-0 692 8
9 Princeton 13-5-0 582 9
10 Miami 14-8-4 553 10
11 Boston College 11-8-3 450 14
12 North Dakota 15-10-3 432 15
13 New Hampshire 11-8-4 353 11
14 Ohio State 16-7-3 347 12
15 Wisconsin 13-10-3 279 16
16 Minnesota-Duluth 13-7-6 271 17
17 Colorado College 13-9-6 244 13
18 Yale 13-5-1 158 NR
19 Air Force 17-6-1 97 20
20 Dartmouth 10-7-2 67 18
Others Receiving Votes: St. Cloud State 42, Nebraska-Omaha 24, RIT 23, Alaska 17, Minnesota State 5,
Massachusetts 4, Quinnipiac 4, St. Lawrence 4, Niagara 1
----------------------------
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
Jan. 19, 2009
Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week
1 Notre Dame (22) 19-3-3 496 1
2 Boston University (6) 16-5-1 464 2
3 Cornell (6) 13-1-3 434 4
4 Denver 15-6-2 394 7
5 Northeastern 15-5-2 386 6
6 Minnesota 12-5-5 336 8
7 Vermont 13-5-3 304 7
8 Michigan 16-8-0 280 6
9 Princeton 13-5-0 222 10
10 Miami (Ohio) 13-8-3 188 9
11 Ohio State 16-6-2 156 14
12 New Hampshire 11-6-4 154 13
13 Colorado College 13-8-5 132 11
14 Boston College 9-8-3 46 12
15 North Dakota 15-10-3 45 NR
Others receiving votes:
Wisconsin 17, Alaska 9, Nebraska-Omaha 9,
Air Force 2, Michigan State 2, Quinnipiac 2, Yale 2.
----------------------------
INCH Power Rankings
1. Notre Dame
2. Boston University
3. Cornell
4. Northeastern
5. Vermont
6. Denver
7. Michigan
8. Minnesota
9. Princeton
10. Miami
11. North Dakota
12. Ohio State
13. Boston College
14. Wisconsin
15. New Hampshire
16. Colorado College
17. Air Force
18. Minnesota Duluth
19. Yale
20. RIT
Dropped out: Dartmouth, Alaska
Bubble-licious: St. Cloud State, Dartmouth, Nebraska-Omaha
In the INCH power ranking UMD could be higher. USA Today didn't even have UND's record right the Fighting Sioux are 15-10-3.
2. Boston University
3. Cornell
4. Northeastern
5. Vermont
6. Denver
7. Michigan
8. Minnesota
9. Princeton
10. Miami
11. North Dakota
12. Ohio State
13. Boston College
14. Wisconsin
15. New Hampshire
16. Colorado College
17. Air Force
18. Minnesota Duluth
19. Yale
20. RIT
Dropped out: Dartmouth, Alaska
Bubble-licious: St. Cloud State, Dartmouth, Nebraska-Omaha
In the INCH power ranking UMD could be higher. USA Today didn't even have UND's record right the Fighting Sioux are 15-10-3.
Internet Trolls.
There are a few people that take themselves way, way, way too serious. When I started this blog it was to have fun. At this current time I am still having fun. Most of us write blogs because it is a hobby. Now we have these self appointed narcissistic experts that think they are the hockey blog police. You know these people; they are people that are insecure in their skin that need to cut others down to feel better about their pathetic self. These are the people that sit in their mother’s basement with oatmeal on their shirt parsing every word and phrase that bloggers write. They also comment on every misspelled word and punctuation mark that is missed, then when you go to their blog they have misspelled words and pictures that of woman’s hockey players when the article is about a men’s hockey team. Sorry but you really need to get a life, I am not quitting because you take issue with what I write.
Always brave when hiding behind a fake name on the net
These trolls are always brave when they can hide behind a moniker or fake name using multiple email addresses and log in names. It is pretty easy to figure out who they are because use the same phrases and say the same things. These trolls have multiple login names on college hockey message boards and are an administrator’s night mare, one name is deleted and banned another name will sprout up almost instantly. These guys are real brave when they are anonymous and write anything; nothing is out of bounds because they know they don’t have to pay for their comments. Yet in public they wouldn’t dare say this stuff to you because they are gutless punks.
Now we have a few morons that have dedicated a blog to Brandon, BrettB and my blog (I will not link their blog because it isn’t worth mentioning plus they are just trolling for hits) they are going to focus on every article and point that we make. Now! Talk about your basic losers. If that isn’t a text book definition of loser I don’t know what is? Let’s review; you think our bogs are that bad, so you’re going to waste your time pointing out how bad you think these blogs are? WTF is that? So let me get this right; your life is really that pathetic and that bad that you have to focus on us? If that isn’t pathetic I don’t know what is? If you think our blogs are that bad don’t read it. Why lower yourself?
Sioux7 not going anywhere
Now to some house cleaning issues. Our friend from RWD's suggested that I give Sioux7 his pink slip. Come on now! that is not going to happen. Sioux7 is a great friend of mine and I personally hired him to jinx the other teams around the WCHA. Unfortunately the Badgers have thrived under Sioux7's predictions
Profanity
From time to time posts have been removed for objectionable content. I have many family and friends that read my blog and I am not having them wade through vile filthy, horrible, objectionable comments. If you can't use the language you're posting in a letter to a business colleague or your mother it shouldn't be posted. If you can't comment without being respectful and with out cussing don't comment. Again, its the common courtesy thing. Notice how people are really brave while hiding behind a fake name. These are people from the same ilk that caused Brad to have to moderate his hockey blog. The lack of class that some people ooze is mind boggling.
Always brave when hiding behind a fake name on the net
These trolls are always brave when they can hide behind a moniker or fake name using multiple email addresses and log in names. It is pretty easy to figure out who they are because use the same phrases and say the same things. These trolls have multiple login names on college hockey message boards and are an administrator’s night mare, one name is deleted and banned another name will sprout up almost instantly. These guys are real brave when they are anonymous and write anything; nothing is out of bounds because they know they don’t have to pay for their comments. Yet in public they wouldn’t dare say this stuff to you because they are gutless punks.
Now we have a few morons that have dedicated a blog to Brandon, BrettB and my blog (I will not link their blog because it isn’t worth mentioning plus they are just trolling for hits) they are going to focus on every article and point that we make. Now! Talk about your basic losers. If that isn’t a text book definition of loser I don’t know what is? Let’s review; you think our bogs are that bad, so you’re going to waste your time pointing out how bad you think these blogs are? WTF is that? So let me get this right; your life is really that pathetic and that bad that you have to focus on us? If that isn’t pathetic I don’t know what is? If you think our blogs are that bad don’t read it. Why lower yourself?
Sioux7 not going anywhere
Now to some house cleaning issues. Our friend from RWD's suggested that I give Sioux7 his pink slip. Come on now! that is not going to happen. Sioux7 is a great friend of mine and I personally hired him to jinx the other teams around the WCHA. Unfortunately the Badgers have thrived under Sioux7's predictions
Profanity
From time to time posts have been removed for objectionable content. I have many family and friends that read my blog and I am not having them wade through vile filthy, horrible, objectionable comments. If you can't use the language you're posting in a letter to a business colleague or your mother it shouldn't be posted. If you can't comment without being respectful and with out cussing don't comment. Again, its the common courtesy thing. Notice how people are really brave while hiding behind a fake name. These are people from the same ilk that caused Brad to have to moderate his hockey blog. The lack of class that some people ooze is mind boggling.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
There should be a suspension
Props to LetsGoDu. This is why Sioux fans affectionately call Denver Coach George Gwozdecky the Dasher Troll. While this Gwozdecky meltdown added some good theater to Saturday's game, the leauge must suspend Gwozdecky for this antics during the game, this is unacceptable and can't be tolerated. There should have also been another penalty when Gwoz walked out on the ice. Hey George we get it, Todd Anderson is a horrible hockey ref, no disagreement there.
Scores from 1-24-2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Atlantic Hockey
Bentley 4 at Sacred Heart 3
Army 2 at Air Force 3
Connecticut 0 at Mercyhurst 6
Analysis
Air Force swept their 2 games series again Army.
CCHA
Michigan State 3 at Michigan 5
Lake Superior 8 at Bowling Green 4
Western Michigan 4 at Ohio State 1
Miami 6 at Nebraska-Omaha 1
Alaska 2 at Northern Michigan 2 ot: NMU wins shootout
Analysis
Michigan sweeps MSU and things got way out of hand last night(video included on top). MSU player Andrew Conboy went Todd Bertuzzi on Steve Kampfer after Kampfer legally checked Corey Tropp. While Kampfer was laying on the ice MSU player/thug Corey Tropp hacked him on the back of the neck with his stick. That folks is my definition of a bush league move. Seriously! Your opponent has been cheap shoted ans is laying on the ice motionless while another player comes and slashes him in the back of the neck. The Michigan State thug Corey Tropp should be gone for the rest of the season, that isn't acceptable in any league.
The blog that Yost Built has a run down of the incident as well as Michigan Victors. The CCHA has to suspend Corey Tropp for a very long time. There will be suspension for both Michigan State players.
CHA
Niagara 1 at Bemidji State 3
Analysis
Beavers and Purples Eagles split this weekend's series.
ECAC
Brown 1 at Cornell 5
Rensselaer 3 at Clarkson 4 ot
Yale 5 at Colgate 4 ot
Union 2 at St. Lawrence 5
Analysis
Clarkson has won 4 games in a row after having a very rough season. Cornell beats Brown, but then everyone has anyways.
Hockey East
Mass.-Lowell 3 at Merrimack 2
Maine 3 at Boston College 6
Massachusetts 1 at Vermont 1 ot
Providence 3 at Northeastern 6
Boston University 3 at New Hampshire 1
Analysis
Since being swept by Vermont, Boston University is 11-1-1, that is a pretty impressive run. Not a good showing by New Hampshire this weekend as they give up 8 goals to the Terrirers and score one.
WCHA
Minnesota State 4 at Minnesota-Duluth 7
St. Cloud State 6 at Colorado College 1
Denver 2 at North Dakota 2 ot
Michigan Tech 3 at Alaska-Anchorage 3 ot
Analysis
Two sister kissings in Anchorage this weekend. Like I told someone MTU is better than their record. The real Huskies play tough and clog up the neutral zone. MSUM is going through a very rough stretch right now they have 3-10-0 record since the December.
Non-Conference
Robert Morris 8 at Quinnipiac 5
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Eidsness saves UND: UND 2 DU 2
Tonight the Fighting Sioux escaped with a point and took three out of four points from the WCHA leading Denver Pioneers. Last night the Fighting Sioux ran the Pioneers out of the building. Tonight's game the tables were turned and the ice seem to be slanted in the Pioneers direction. The Fighting Sioux's young goaltender kept them in the game and allowed them to gain a point in the game.
After last night game you expected the Pioneers to have a better effort and the Pioneers were the better of the two teams. To say that the Sioux were flat tonight would be an understatement, Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness played his best game of the season and kept the Fighting Sioux in the game, this very well could have been a10-3 game. Brad Eidsness made many point blank saves throughout the game and got lucky as a few of his rebounds were of the juicy variety. The Sioux cannot win games against good teams like DU if they don’t move their feet. Tonight the Sioux didn’t move their feet, they were a step slow and beat to the puck all night. It was obvious that DU made the proper adjustments in tonight’s’ game. When this team moves it feet and plays an up-tempo game they can skate with anyone and out skate most teams in the country.
Observations
After watching this weekend's series Denver and UND are the two best skating teams in the WCHA in my opinion. I predict they will meet again.
With his play on the weekend Brad Eidsness improves to 15-7-3 GAA 2.5048 Sv% .910.
The dasher Troll George Gwozdecky was back tonight. Coach Gwozdecky should be suspended from the next two games for his unprofessional behavior in tonight's game. Walking across the ice was unacceptable. I mean we get it George the refs in the WCHA suck but coaches are expected to be professionals. After jumpinig up on the dasher and making a walk across the ice the Pioneers got the next 5 power plays in a row. The WCHA officials and their supervisor should be sanctioned/disciplined. This season the NCAA mandated that the officials focus on the obstruction and clean the game up. They league officials are in violation of that mandate and are back to calling game like they did in the past.
I think from reading the article in the Rocky Mountain News you can tell that Gwoz was not the only one that was upset with the officating of tonight's game. Here is coach Hakstol on the Denver Coach's antics.
BOX SCORE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 Matt Frattin (12) (Chris VandeVelde) 4:44
NDK (+): 21,29,14,6,19,G31 DEN (-): 6,8,28,22,17,G1
DEN-1 Dustin Jackson (2-Hooking) 6:34
NDK-1 Mario Lamoureux (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 6:34
DEN 1 - 1 6x6 Anthony Maiani (8) (Chris Nutini, Brandon Vossberg) 11:21
DEN (+): 6,27,24,14,16,G1 NDK (-): 5,11,20,14,8,G31
DEN-2 Brandon Vossberg (2-Hooking) NDK 0x1 16:18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEN-3 Dustin Jackson (2-Hooking) NDK 0x2 1:31
DEN-4 Joe Colborne (2-Roughing) 6:37
NDK-2 Chay Genoway (2-Roughing) 6:37
DEN-5 Tyler Ruegsegger (2-Hooking) NDK 0x3 7:03
DEN-6 BENCH (10-Game Misconduct) 9:30
DEN-7 BENCH (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Served by Matt Glasser) NDK 0x4 9:30
NDK-3 Brett Hextall (2-Cross-Checking) DEN 0x1 14:49
NDK 2 - 1 6x6 Evan Trupp (5) (Darcy Zajac) 16:52
NDK (+): 19,11,25,3,26,G31 DEN (-): 28,9,15,12,16,G1
NDK-4 Chay Genoway (2-Interference) DEN 1x2 18:27
DEN 2 - 2 6x5 PP GT Patrick Wiercioch (8) (Anthony Maiani, Rhett Rakhshani) 19:00
DEN: 28,16,9,12,15,G1 NDK: 25,20,11,3,G31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK-5 Joe Finley (2-Interference) DEN 1x3 1:56
NDK-6 Matt Frattin (2-Roughing) DEN 1x4 5:58
NDK-7 Ryan Duncan (2-Tripping) DEN 1x5 8:51
Timeout - Denver 19:43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overtime (5:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO SCORING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
After last night game you expected the Pioneers to have a better effort and the Pioneers were the better of the two teams. To say that the Sioux were flat tonight would be an understatement, Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness played his best game of the season and kept the Fighting Sioux in the game, this very well could have been a10-3 game. Brad Eidsness made many point blank saves throughout the game and got lucky as a few of his rebounds were of the juicy variety. The Sioux cannot win games against good teams like DU if they don’t move their feet. Tonight the Sioux didn’t move their feet, they were a step slow and beat to the puck all night. It was obvious that DU made the proper adjustments in tonight’s’ game. When this team moves it feet and plays an up-tempo game they can skate with anyone and out skate most teams in the country.
Observations
After watching this weekend's series Denver and UND are the two best skating teams in the WCHA in my opinion. I predict they will meet again.
With his play on the weekend Brad Eidsness improves to 15-7-3 GAA 2.5048 Sv% .910.
The dasher Troll George Gwozdecky was back tonight. Coach Gwozdecky should be suspended from the next two games for his unprofessional behavior in tonight's game. Walking across the ice was unacceptable. I mean we get it George the refs in the WCHA suck but coaches are expected to be professionals. After jumpinig up on the dasher and making a walk across the ice the Pioneers got the next 5 power plays in a row. The WCHA officials and their supervisor should be sanctioned/disciplined. This season the NCAA mandated that the officials focus on the obstruction and clean the game up. They league officials are in violation of that mandate and are back to calling game like they did in the past.
I think from reading the article in the Rocky Mountain News you can tell that Gwoz was not the only one that was upset with the officating of tonight's game. Here is coach Hakstol on the Denver Coach's antics.
UND coach Dave Hakstol wouldn’t comment about Gwozdecky’s ejection or the possibility of further punishment by the league.
But, he said, “My question is why he didn’t get another penalty (for going on the ice). A 5-on-3 would have been key for us.”
There was no scoring in the third period or five-minute overtime, although the Pioneers had the majority of the chances.
That was due in part to Denver having five power plays and UND none after Gwozdecky’s ejection.
“We have to take some responsibility for some of the penalties,” Hakstol said. “But five in a row?”
BOX SCORE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 Matt Frattin (12) (Chris VandeVelde) 4:44
NDK (+): 21,29,14,6,19,G31 DEN (-): 6,8,28,22,17,G1
DEN-1 Dustin Jackson (2-Hooking) 6:34
NDK-1 Mario Lamoureux (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 6:34
DEN 1 - 1 6x6 Anthony Maiani (8) (Chris Nutini, Brandon Vossberg) 11:21
DEN (+): 6,27,24,14,16,G1 NDK (-): 5,11,20,14,8,G31
DEN-2 Brandon Vossberg (2-Hooking) NDK 0x1 16:18
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEN-3 Dustin Jackson (2-Hooking) NDK 0x2 1:31
DEN-4 Joe Colborne (2-Roughing) 6:37
NDK-2 Chay Genoway (2-Roughing) 6:37
DEN-5 Tyler Ruegsegger (2-Hooking) NDK 0x3 7:03
DEN-6 BENCH (10-Game Misconduct) 9:30
DEN-7 BENCH (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Served by Matt Glasser) NDK 0x4 9:30
NDK-3 Brett Hextall (2-Cross-Checking) DEN 0x1 14:49
NDK 2 - 1 6x6 Evan Trupp (5) (Darcy Zajac) 16:52
NDK (+): 19,11,25,3,26,G31 DEN (-): 28,9,15,12,16,G1
NDK-4 Chay Genoway (2-Interference) DEN 1x2 18:27
DEN 2 - 2 6x5 PP GT Patrick Wiercioch (8) (Anthony Maiani, Rhett Rakhshani) 19:00
DEN: 28,16,9,12,15,G1 NDK: 25,20,11,3,G31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK-5 Joe Finley (2-Interference) DEN 1x3 1:56
NDK-6 Matt Frattin (2-Roughing) DEN 1x4 5:58
NDK-7 Ryan Duncan (2-Tripping) DEN 1x5 8:51
Timeout - Denver 19:43
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overtime (5:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO SCORING
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Watkins on the breakaway.
SIoux fans are smiling ear to ear today after last night's game. This goal should get Sioux fans in the mood for tonights game. This the Matt Watkins many of us were expecting when he arrived at UND from the BCHL, this was a pretty goal.
Check out the beginning of the clip as Denver
Friday night at the REA.
Since 2005-2006 the Fighting Sioux have a 7-5 record against DU. The 8-3 score means nothing today. This has become one of the most contested series that UND plays in. While I don't expect a full out donny brook I think there will be some high emotions in tonights game. I watched this video a few times and J.P. Testwuide speared Vandy.
I am surprised the refs didn't give him a five minute major for it.
Check out PCM's write up in the Rocky Mountain News. Wow, he has gone from being a pseudo reporter to the big time. :)
North Dakota scored four goals in the first period and three in the second en route to the victory, handing the Pioneers their biggest defeat in Grand Forks since 2000 and their worst defeat in more than four years.
Going 12-3-1 since late December, 15th-ranked North Dakota followed a familiar formula to down the fourth-ranked Pioneers, getting goals from eight players.
“They’ve got good depth and good balance. They played with good speed tonight,” Denver coach George Gwozdecky said of North Dakota. “I thought we practiced well, but it’s very difficult to spend as much time away from games as we have since mid-December and try to simulate the speed and especially the intensity of game in practice.”
DU’s Marc Cheverie, who entered the contest as the WCHA’s top goalie, was pulled from the game not once, but twice.
This season the Sioux have chased some great goaltenders from the game; let's review the line up; Marc Cheverie, Ben Scrivens, Jase Weslosky and Alex Kangas.
Scores from 01-23-2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Atlantic Hockey
Army 1 at Air Force 5
Connecticut 2 at Mercyhurst 7
Bentley 5 at Sacred Heart 6 ot
Analysis
Air Force beats Army after losing three games in a row.
CCHA
Miami 2 at Nebraska-Omaha 2 ot: UNO wins shootout
Alaska 0 at Northern Michigan 2
Michigan State 2 vs. Michigan 6
Lake Superior 3 at Bowling Green 4
Western Michigan 2 at Ohio State 2 ot: Ohio State wins shootout
Analysis
A couple of more shootouts in the CCHA. Michigan continues to dominate Michigan State University.
CHA
Niagara 4 at Bemidji State 3
ECAC
Union 3 at Clarkson 4 ot
Yale 4 at Cornell 3
Rensselaer 7 at St. Lawrence 6 ot
Brown 4 at Colgate 1
Analysis
Well, well, well, what do we have here? Cornell loses to Yale and drops from 1st to 5th in the pairwise. As Jason Moy said: "We saw last night just how volatile and fragile Cornell’s top position in the PWR was. We also saw how volatile a position Yale was in too."
Hockey East
Northeastern 3 at Providence 1
Massachusetts 1 at Vermont 2
New Hampshire 0 at Boston University 5
Analysis
Boston University continues to play tough shutting out the Wild Cats 5-0.
Northeastern remains hot right now.
WCHA
Denver 3 at North Dakota 8
Michigan Tech 3 at Alaska-Anchorage 3 ot
Minnesota State 0 at Minnesota-Duluth 4
St. Cloud State 4 at Colorado College 4 ot
Analysis
Colorado College continues to struggle on Friday night 3-5-5 in thirteen games.
UAA finds out that MTU is tough to play.
Non-Conference
Robert Morris 4 at Quinnipiac 5
Mike Check:
I guess some might need to rescind their predictions/statements that North Dakota is going to is going to finish seventh in the WCHA. — Eric, Grand Forks, N.D.
Nice wins this past weekend for the Fighting Sioux. Of course, they are just three weeks removed from scoring a total of two goals in consecutive losses to the 11th-place team in the CCHA (Michigan State) and the last place team in the WCHA (Michigan Tech). Just something to bear in mind.
Atlantic Hockey
Army 1 at Air Force 5
Connecticut 2 at Mercyhurst 7
Bentley 5 at Sacred Heart 6 ot
Analysis
Air Force beats Army after losing three games in a row.
CCHA
Miami 2 at Nebraska-Omaha 2 ot: UNO wins shootout
Alaska 0 at Northern Michigan 2
Michigan State 2 vs. Michigan 6
Lake Superior 3 at Bowling Green 4
Western Michigan 2 at Ohio State 2 ot: Ohio State wins shootout
Analysis
A couple of more shootouts in the CCHA. Michigan continues to dominate Michigan State University.
CHA
Niagara 4 at Bemidji State 3
ECAC
Union 3 at Clarkson 4 ot
Yale 4 at Cornell 3
Rensselaer 7 at St. Lawrence 6 ot
Brown 4 at Colgate 1
Analysis
Well, well, well, what do we have here? Cornell loses to Yale and drops from 1st to 5th in the pairwise. As Jason Moy said: "We saw last night just how volatile and fragile Cornell’s top position in the PWR was. We also saw how volatile a position Yale was in too."
Hockey East
Northeastern 3 at Providence 1
Massachusetts 1 at Vermont 2
New Hampshire 0 at Boston University 5
Analysis
Boston University continues to play tough shutting out the Wild Cats 5-0.
Northeastern remains hot right now.
WCHA
Denver 3 at North Dakota 8
Michigan Tech 3 at Alaska-Anchorage 3 ot
Minnesota State 0 at Minnesota-Duluth 4
St. Cloud State 4 at Colorado College 4 ot
Analysis
Colorado College continues to struggle on Friday night 3-5-5 in thirteen games.
UAA finds out that MTU is tough to play.
Non-Conference
Robert Morris 4 at Quinnipiac 5
Mike Check:
I guess some might need to rescind their predictions/statements that North Dakota is going to is going to finish seventh in the WCHA. — Eric, Grand Forks, N.D.
Nice wins this past weekend for the Fighting Sioux. Of course, they are just three weeks removed from scoring a total of two goals in consecutive losses to the 11th-place team in the CCHA (Michigan State) and the last place team in the WCHA (Michigan Tech). Just something to bear in mind.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Sioux 8 DU 3
If I had to describe the game in two words it would be; total domination. The Sioux out worked, out hustled and out scored the first place Denver Pioneers. The Fighting Sioux needed to come out strong and set the tone early, they did and scored four goals in the first period and never looked back.
No power outage for the Sioux
At the beginning of the season the Fighting Sioux were having trouble scoring goals, in their last 5 games the Sioux have scored; 6, 6, 3, 5, 8 the Sioux are averaging over 5.6 goals per game. There isn't just one line scoring like Sioux teams of years past. On this year's team there are four lines contributing and scoring goals. Everyone seems to be buying into their role. There are 15 guys on the Sioux roster with double figures in points. That folks is balanced scoring. When we say the Sioux are winning games, the Sioux aren't winning close games they are beating good teams and great goaltenders by big margins. The Fighting Sioux are jumping on teams early and often. The Fighting Sioux remind me of the piranas with their current play.
How big is the return of Big Joe Finley? Finely 1g-3a-4pts on the night was a major offensive force to be reckoned with. Ryan Duncan continues to contribute at a high level as he had 1g-2a-3pts. Jake Marto continues his torrid pace 1g-2a-3 pts and has six points in three games.
BOX SCORE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEN-1 Jesse Martin (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) NDK 0x1 2:25
DEN-2 J.P. Testwuide (2-Hooking) NDK 1x2 6:35
NDK 1 - 0 6x5 PP LL Chris VandeVelde (9) (Jake Marto, Ryan Duncan) 7:29
NDK: 29,25,19,8,21,G31 DEN: 19,25,9,5,G1
NDK 2 - 0 6x6 Ryan Martens (10) (Matt Watkins, Joe Finley) 8:35
NDK (+): 20,8,11,25,3,G31 DEN (-): 8,25,22,28,19,G1
NDK-1 Brett Hextall (2-Slashing) DEN 0x1 9:46
NDK 3 - 0 6x6 Jake Marto (5) (Brad Malone, Evan Trupp) 11:52
NDK (+): 25,22,19,26,14,G31 DEN (-): 18,19,14,7,11,G1
NDK 4 - 0 6x6 GW Ryan Duncan (11) (Joe Finley, Matt Watkins) 13:37
NDK (+): 16,2,17,5,18,G31 DEN (-): 12,7,14,18,11,G1
DEN-3 John Lee (2-Tripping) NDK 1x3 14:07
DEN 1 - 4 6x6 Rhett Rakhshani (11) (Patrick Wiercioch, Tyler Ruegsegger) 19:57
DEN (+): 9,28,15,25,16,G35 NDK (-): 2,8,11,20,5,G31
DEN-4 Stephen Cunningham (2-Slashing) NDK 1x4 20:00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK-2 Ryan Martens (2-Hooking) DEN 0x2 2:39
NDK-3 Matt Watkins (2-Hooking) DEN 0x3 6:02
DEN-5 Rhett Rakhshani (2-Slashing) 10:16
NDK-4 Ben Blood (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 10:16
NDK 5 - 1 5x5 Matt Watkins (4) (Darcy Zajac, Joe Finley) 10:41
NDK (+): 20,11,2,5,G31 DEN (-): 7,28,12,14,G1
NDK-5 Ryan Duncan (2-Slashing) DEN 1x4 12:13
DEN 2 - 5 6x5 PP Tyler Ruegsegger (9) (Rhett Rakhshani, Anthony Maiani) 12:28
DEN: 15,9,16,12,28,G1 NDK: 20,3,25,11,G31
NDK-6 Jake Marto (2-High-Sticking) DEN 1x5 12:28
DEN 3 - 5 6x6 Luke Salazar (12) (Jesse Martin, Joe Colborne) 19:20
DEN (+): 18,14,12,28,11,G1 NDK (-): 8,11,5,2,20,G31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK 6 - 3 6x6 David Toews (5) (Andrew Kozek) 2:19
NDK (+): 18,10,22,25,3,G31 DEN (-): 18,12,7,25,14,G1
NDK-7 Matt Frattin (2-Hooking) DEN 1x6 2:52
DEN-6 Dustin Jackson (2-Slashing) NDK 1x5 5:06
DEN-7 John Lee (2-Roughing) 6:01
NDK-8 Chris VandeVelde (2-Roughing) 6:01
NDK 7 - 3 6x6 Matt Frattin (11) (Evan Trupp, Chris VandeVelde) 8:20
NDK (+): 21,19,29,2,5,G31 DEN (-): 7,12,6,25,18,G1
DEN-8 Rhett Rakhshani (2-Elbowing) NDK 2x6 9:59
DEN-9 Anthony Maiani (10-Misconduct) 9:59
DEN-10 Dustin Jackson (2-Slashing) NDK 2x7 9:59
DEN-11 Dustin Jackson (10-Misconduct) (Served by Matt Glasser) 9:59
DEN-12 Patrick Mullen (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-13 J.P. Testwuide (10-Misconduct) 10:14
DEN-14 Brandon Vossberg (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-15 Brandon Vossberg (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-16 J.P. Testwuide (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-17 J.P. Testwuide (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-18 J.P. Testwuide (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 2x8 10:14
NDK-9 Brad Miller (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-10 Chris VandeVelde (10-Misconduct) 10:14
NDK-11 Chris VandeVelde (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-12 Chris VandeVelde (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-13 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-14 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK 8 - 3 6x4 PP Joe Finley (2) (Ryan Duncan, Jake Marto) 11:18
NDK: 2,16,25,22,11,G31 DEN: 19,6,28,G35
DEN-19 Joe Colborne (2-Roughing) 18:29
DEN-20 Chris Nutini (2-Roughing) 18:29
DEN-21 Brandon Vossberg (2-Roughing) 18:29
DEN-22 Jesse Martin (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-15 Chay Genoway (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-16 Joe Finley (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-17 Darcy Zajac (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-18 Ryan Martens (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-19 Darcy Zajac (2-Cross-Checking) DEN 1x7 18:29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
No power outage for the Sioux
At the beginning of the season the Fighting Sioux were having trouble scoring goals, in their last 5 games the Sioux have scored; 6, 6, 3, 5, 8 the Sioux are averaging over 5.6 goals per game. There isn't just one line scoring like Sioux teams of years past. On this year's team there are four lines contributing and scoring goals. Everyone seems to be buying into their role. There are 15 guys on the Sioux roster with double figures in points. That folks is balanced scoring. When we say the Sioux are winning games, the Sioux aren't winning close games they are beating good teams and great goaltenders by big margins. The Fighting Sioux are jumping on teams early and often. The Fighting Sioux remind me of the piranas with their current play.
How big is the return of Big Joe Finley? Finely 1g-3a-4pts on the night was a major offensive force to be reckoned with. Ryan Duncan continues to contribute at a high level as he had 1g-2a-3pts. Jake Marto continues his torrid pace 1g-2a-3 pts and has six points in three games.
BOX SCORE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEN-1 Jesse Martin (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) NDK 0x1 2:25
DEN-2 J.P. Testwuide (2-Hooking) NDK 1x2 6:35
NDK 1 - 0 6x5 PP LL Chris VandeVelde (9) (Jake Marto, Ryan Duncan) 7:29
NDK: 29,25,19,8,21,G31 DEN: 19,25,9,5,G1
NDK 2 - 0 6x6 Ryan Martens (10) (Matt Watkins, Joe Finley) 8:35
NDK (+): 20,8,11,25,3,G31 DEN (-): 8,25,22,28,19,G1
NDK-1 Brett Hextall (2-Slashing) DEN 0x1 9:46
NDK 3 - 0 6x6 Jake Marto (5) (Brad Malone, Evan Trupp) 11:52
NDK (+): 25,22,19,26,14,G31 DEN (-): 18,19,14,7,11,G1
NDK 4 - 0 6x6 GW Ryan Duncan (11) (Joe Finley, Matt Watkins) 13:37
NDK (+): 16,2,17,5,18,G31 DEN (-): 12,7,14,18,11,G1
DEN-3 John Lee (2-Tripping) NDK 1x3 14:07
DEN 1 - 4 6x6 Rhett Rakhshani (11) (Patrick Wiercioch, Tyler Ruegsegger) 19:57
DEN (+): 9,28,15,25,16,G35 NDK (-): 2,8,11,20,5,G31
DEN-4 Stephen Cunningham (2-Slashing) NDK 1x4 20:00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK-2 Ryan Martens (2-Hooking) DEN 0x2 2:39
NDK-3 Matt Watkins (2-Hooking) DEN 0x3 6:02
DEN-5 Rhett Rakhshani (2-Slashing) 10:16
NDK-4 Ben Blood (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 10:16
NDK 5 - 1 5x5 Matt Watkins (4) (Darcy Zajac, Joe Finley) 10:41
NDK (+): 20,11,2,5,G31 DEN (-): 7,28,12,14,G1
NDK-5 Ryan Duncan (2-Slashing) DEN 1x4 12:13
DEN 2 - 5 6x5 PP Tyler Ruegsegger (9) (Rhett Rakhshani, Anthony Maiani) 12:28
DEN: 15,9,16,12,28,G1 NDK: 20,3,25,11,G31
NDK-6 Jake Marto (2-High-Sticking) DEN 1x5 12:28
DEN 3 - 5 6x6 Luke Salazar (12) (Jesse Martin, Joe Colborne) 19:20
DEN (+): 18,14,12,28,11,G1 NDK (-): 8,11,5,2,20,G31
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NDK 6 - 3 6x6 David Toews (5) (Andrew Kozek) 2:19
NDK (+): 18,10,22,25,3,G31 DEN (-): 18,12,7,25,14,G1
NDK-7 Matt Frattin (2-Hooking) DEN 1x6 2:52
DEN-6 Dustin Jackson (2-Slashing) NDK 1x5 5:06
DEN-7 John Lee (2-Roughing) 6:01
NDK-8 Chris VandeVelde (2-Roughing) 6:01
NDK 7 - 3 6x6 Matt Frattin (11) (Evan Trupp, Chris VandeVelde) 8:20
NDK (+): 21,19,29,2,5,G31 DEN (-): 7,12,6,25,18,G1
DEN-8 Rhett Rakhshani (2-Elbowing) NDK 2x6 9:59
DEN-9 Anthony Maiani (10-Misconduct) 9:59
DEN-10 Dustin Jackson (2-Slashing) NDK 2x7 9:59
DEN-11 Dustin Jackson (10-Misconduct) (Served by Matt Glasser) 9:59
DEN-12 Patrick Mullen (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-13 J.P. Testwuide (10-Misconduct) 10:14
DEN-14 Brandon Vossberg (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-15 Brandon Vossberg (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-16 J.P. Testwuide (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-17 J.P. Testwuide (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-18 J.P. Testwuide (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 2x8 10:14
NDK-9 Brad Miller (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-10 Chris VandeVelde (10-Misconduct) 10:14
NDK-11 Chris VandeVelde (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-12 Chris VandeVelde (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-13 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-14 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK 8 - 3 6x4 PP Joe Finley (2) (Ryan Duncan, Jake Marto) 11:18
NDK: 2,16,25,22,11,G31 DEN: 19,6,28,G35
DEN-19 Joe Colborne (2-Roughing) 18:29
DEN-20 Chris Nutini (2-Roughing) 18:29
DEN-21 Brandon Vossberg (2-Roughing) 18:29
DEN-22 Jesse Martin (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-15 Chay Genoway (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-16 Joe Finley (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-17 Darcy Zajac (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-18 Ryan Martens (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-19 Darcy Zajac (2-Cross-Checking) DEN 1x7 18:29
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
Last time DU and UND faced off.
Last time UND and DU got together Kyle Radke was one of the few people I have ever seen in the modern era of college hockey get into two fights in the same game. That feat was accomplished last year during the DU and UND series at Ralph Englestad Arena. I expect to see more of this kind of action, lots of goals and up and down the ice action.
Here are some interesting points going into this week.
Power Surge: UND has scored at least one power-play in each of the last six games. The Sioux power-play is converting at 19.4 percent this season to rank fourth in the WCHA.
Record:---- Overall---- Home---- Away---- Neutral
ALL GAMES--- 14-10-2---- 8-3-0--- 6-4-2--- 0-3-0
CONFERENCE-- 9-5-2------ 6-2-0--- 3-3-2--- 0-0-0
NON-CONFERENCE 5-5-0---- 2-1-0--- 3-1-0--- 0-3-0
Did DU's Cody Brookwell predict a fight this weekend?
In reading the Denver Post article on the Sioux and Pioneers; is the Denver defenseman Cody Brookwell predicting a fight this weekend when the Sioux and Pioneers meet on the ice? In watching the Sioux play this season they are not the type of team that is going to goon it up.
Check it out --- Last season in Grand Forks, the Sioux swept DU in a chippy series that included three full-fledged fights in the finale. In the final brawl between North Dakota's Kyle Radke and Brandon Vossberg, Gwozdecky was furious his players remained spectators when Radke took Vossberg down to the ice and pummeled him in defenseless fashion.
Radke has since graduated, but the Sioux still like to fight, an illegal NCAA tactic that complements their legal physical play. Two weeks ago in Grand Forks, North Dakota and Minnesota combined for 98 penalty minutes to cap the Sioux's two-game sweep. Afterward, Gophers defenseman R.J. Anderson said North Dakota "came to a war with guns and we came with butter knives."
"We've talked about it, that we're going to take the physical play to them right away, to let them know we're not intimidated," DU junior defenseman Cody Brookwell said. "There is a time and place (to fight), and there are guys on this team willing to go with a guy. That's part of the game, and sometimes it needs to be dealt with."
The Rocky Mountain News seems to be expecting some shenanigans as well. I highly doubt we are going to see a lot of after the whistle stuff nor do I expect to see a donny brook this weekend. UND is hardly a team full of goons the Sioux are ranked 18th over all in penalty minutes when in years past they had been ranked number one.
The University of Denver hockey team has left its balmy hometown for frigid North Dakota, where Brandon Vossberg and the rest of the Pioneers know their reception will be even more chilling.
DU opens a series against its Western Collegiate Hockey Association rival Friday night at the Fighting Sioux's Engelstad Arena, returning to the venue for the first time since a brawl almost one year ago led to foul moods and suspensions.
DU coach George Gwozdecky, though, said the chaos paled when compared with the encounters his college teams with Wisconsin endured against the Fighting Sioux three decades ago.
-----Snip------
As in past years, most notably in the seasons after former DU forward Geoff Paukovich delivered a hit on North Dakota's Robbie Bina in 2005 that left Bina with a neck injury that kept him sidelined for more than a year, the Pioneers are bracing for a rude welcome from the Fighting Sioux faithful.
"I think that's what we like about the game," Vossberg said. "We understand the history, and to be honest, I think that motivates us even more. That's part of the game - the physical aspects, the rough-and-tough stuff. For some reason with them it definitely tends to come out a little more, but we like that. We've been preparing all week for it."
Interesting perspective on head shots.
Here is an interesting article about head shots and the league and the players association going after the offenders that are committing these fowls. Mike Peca has an interesting perspective on head shots. You change your opinion of them once it happens to you a few times. Peca is almost saying, "I was for them before I was against them."
I think one of the biggest issues in the NHL is a players lack of respecting for their opponents when they are in a vulnerable positions. The Jones hit on Bergeron last year concerns me, Jones could have let up in that situation instead of hammering his opponent into the boards. Jones got a 2 game suspension, Bergeron was out for the rest of the season.
I think the NHL league office should start hammering the players harder in the wallet and suspending the players that don't back off the head shots before they get way out of hand. There is also the old saying live by the sword and die by the sword eventually a dirty player gets what is coming to him. You just hope that guy doesn't ruin a couple of players careers on the way.
Hunting the headhunters- Mike Peca will admit it: Early in his NHL career, when it came to hitting and concussions, he was the one who played hard and fast and wasn't overly worried if the opponent he'd just hammered in the head needed help getting off the ice.
Then it started happening to him — the head shots, concussions and all those lingering effects — and now he has a different view on what has become the primary safety issue among the NHL's more than 800 players.
"Once you receive a couple [of concussions], it kind of changes your perspective on what the rules should be in the game," the veteran Columbus Blue Jacket said. "In our game, a lot of stuff is reactionary, but there are a lot of hits where guys have plenty of time to make a decision … should I check the puck back or should I pulverize this guy regardless of the position he's in? And far too often, it's the latter."
While many in and around the game vigorously debate the merits of fighting after the death of senior hockey defenceman Don Sanderson, the majority of NHL players are concerned with how to reduce the number of head shots that have crumpled the likes of Patrice Bergeron, Simon Gagné and Andrei Kostitsyn, to name just a few.
I think one of the biggest issues in the NHL is a players lack of respecting for their opponents when they are in a vulnerable positions. The Jones hit on Bergeron last year concerns me, Jones could have let up in that situation instead of hammering his opponent into the boards. Jones got a 2 game suspension, Bergeron was out for the rest of the season.
I think the NHL league office should start hammering the players harder in the wallet and suspending the players that don't back off the head shots before they get way out of hand. There is also the old saying live by the sword and die by the sword eventually a dirty player gets what is coming to him. You just hope that guy doesn't ruin a couple of players careers on the way.
Some guys intentionally go for the head shot, but I think its bad karma," Vancouver Canucks forward Darcy Hordichuk said. "You know, what goes around comes around. I try not to hit anybody when they're in a vulnerable position, and I'd hope that guys respect that with me if I'm ever in a vulnerable situation."
"There's no place for it," Eric Nystrom of the Calgary Flames added. "You've got to put yourself in the other guy's position."
We Are North Dakota
I think Mr. Lang nails it today in his letter to the Grand Forks Herald. Why do we need rush to immediately replace the Fighting Sioux name? There is no logical reason in my opinion. Why not drop the name and have a dialog on its replacement? Is there is any reason why the University of North Dakota's sports teams can just simply be "North Dakota" during the transition period? When the University, students and Alumni find a suitable name then we can make the transition to that nick name and logo. I like most Sioux fans know that political correctness will not allow us to keep our nick name and logo, however there are 60+ years of history connected to the Fighting Sioux name and a replacement may take time. I have seen a few nice replacements that I like but we shouldn't make a rash decision.
GRAND FORKS — I agree with the Herald’s Jan. 11 editorial, “It’s time to drop the Sioux nickname and logo” (Page D1), and with its suggestion that the Fighting Sioux nickname should be dropped but not changed. Deciding on a new nickname so soon after dropping “Sioux” would create hard feelings for everyone who cares about the matter (which, based on the sheer volume of letters-to-the-editor over the past few years, is a lot of people), with the exception of the one person or group whose idea for a new nickname gets chosen.
Once the legal aspects of the matter have been finished up, UND can concentrate on the things it needs to focus on — things such as seeking admittance to a Division I athletic conference and recruiting, both athletically and scholarly.
Also, maybe we fans need to change our views of what dropping the nickname means. It does not mean that we lose the constitutional right of freedom of speech. We can still wear the old gear on which we’ve spent so much money. They can still be “Sioux” athletes in our hearts, if not in law.
Plus, who knows? After a generation of no nickname representation, the state’s Sioux tribes may want the name reinstated.
For now, we are North Dakota.
Dustin Lang
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)