Redwing77's Frozen Four Breakdown and Prediction (HA!)

Ok, I posted something similar on Siouxsports.com, but I'm going to reiterate it here. I'm going to break down the four remaining teams and give my predictions for each.

University of Wisconsin Badgers

This team is the best overall team coming into Detroit. They have solid defense and an offense that can skate with the best of them. They're lead by Hobey Hat Trick-er Blake Geoffrion. They also have a defensive genius in the coaching ranks in Mike Eaves. Yes, I say genius despite the fact that for years his style of hockey was "put em to sleep then score... THEY'LL NEVER KNOW WHAT HIT'EM!" They face RIT (a team I'll break down next) and will skate easier than the other predicted winner into the National Championship game.

Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers

Well, as Brad Schlossman beat me to it, I'll credit him with it. RIT is DEFINITELY this year's Bemidji State University. They've had a tough road and brought the show to Detroit. I must say that I'm impressed with them. They are the most dangerous team in the Frozen Four. WHY? Not because they've got firepower up front. No, their D and goaltending isn't anywhere near that of Miami or UW's. Because THEY HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS ON THEM. They can go out on the ice and just play and have fun. Of course they're going to try to win. A brainless retard would argue otherwise. But they have not weight of tradition in DI excellence like BC and UW. They have no weight of "this year for sure" like Miami. They've proved that they can compete. They proved they're relevant for a weaker conference team. I thought this would be Air Force, but that's not turned out. They can go out against Wisconsin and get destroyed 115-0 and it won't matter. They've done nearly as much as anyone dreamed. If they win it all...wow.... watch for a lot of crowing from the AHA fanbase of roughly....100 people East of Colorado Springs.

Miami University of Ohio

They come into Detroit having the best goaltender in the Frozen Four...and the second best goaltender in the Frozen Four. They are just as cohesive a team as Wisconsin and have a pretty darn good defense to match. The problem is, they give up a TON of quality scoring chances. This is the team that let a slumping UND team score 5 on them. Michigan had chance after chance after chance after chance in their regional final. Knapp bailed them out once... I don't think he can bail them out a second time. That being said, this is 1 or 1a in terms of the strength of the Frozen Four field as a whole (Wisconsin the other 1). Oh, did I mention that they're coached by the best coach in the CCHA? Or maybe one of the top 5 coaches in DI hockey in Enrico Blasi? OH! And let's not forget they're on a mission. This is a driven team. VERY dangerous.

Boston College

They get the award for "Can you Believe it, mom? I'm here!" as they played what was probably the worst regional final in the last 10 years against YALE and STILL won. Muse looked like an incredible sieve. I still can't believe BC is a 1 seed. Discounting the scores, they had the easiest path thanks to UND's loss, to the Frozen Four. They're main advantage? The media. Their biggest disadvantage? If the media could've chosen, their matchup with Miami would have been for the NC.

The predictions

If I understand it right, the semis feature RIT vs. UW and BC vs. Miami.

I can't see RIT winning. I think the RIT vs UW game will be a better game overall. UW wins 4-2.

I can't see BC sticking around for more than 30 minutes. Miami wins 6-2.

The final then puts Miami vs. UW. A lot of Red and White on the ice. I actually think this would be a great matchup. Defense is great. Offense pretty darn good too. However, I have to say Miami would be favored in net. This will be a game of conversion on mistakes and special teams.

UW ekes it out 3-2.

There ya go folks.

UNO Mavericks extend Blais' contract for two years

For all of those people that think Dean Blais is going to ride into Minneapolis on a white horse and lead Minnesota to the Promised Land think again. Today the University of Omaha Nebraska just locked him up till the 2014-2015 season. That doesn't look like a coach that is looking to go some where else. [Audio of Trev on 1620 AM the Zone ]

We are thrilled by the progress the team made under Dean's leadership in his first season as head coach," said Alberts. "By extending his contract, we hope to bring further stability to the position and give Dean and his staff a better opportunity to put their mark on the program through recruiting and player development."

Blais led the Mavericks to a 20-16-6 record in 2009-10 including a record of 13-12-3-2 in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, good for a sixth-place finish. It was the fourth 20-win season in UNO history and the first since the 2005-06 season. The Mavericks won the opening round of the CCHA playoffs with a 2-0 series win over Bowling Green before losing to Ferris State, 2-0, in the second-round series. Eleven UNO players had career years in 2009-10.

"The university is clearly committed to the success of the hockey program, and I am committed to the job we began here last season," said Blais. "My wife and I have come to enjoy Omaha and with this extension, I anticipate being able to finish my head coaching career here at UNO."

Blais is just the second head coach in UNO hockey history, following Mike Kemp who started the program in 1996 and became an associate athletic director at UNO in 2009. Blais is a two-time winner of the Spencer Penrose Memorial Award given to the top coach in Division I men's college hockey. The native of International Falls, Minn. guided the University of North Dakota to national championships in 1997 and 2000 and Western Collegiate Hockey Association championships in 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001 and 2004. He was named the WCHA Coach of the Year in 1997, 1999 and 2001.

In January of 2010, Blais guided the U.S. National Junior Team to a Gold Medal in the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship, just the second gold medal ever earned by the U.S. squad. During the 2008-09 season, Blais was named 2009 United States Hockey League Coach of the Year after guiding the expansion Fargo Force to the Clark Cup Finals, emblematic of playoff supremacy in the USHL.

Blais worked in the National Hockey League as an assistant coach and Director of Player Development for the Columbus Blue Jackets from 2005-07.

Also today, UNO Chancellor John Christensen announced that Alberts has agreed in principle to a contract extension through the 2014-2015 academic year. Alberts was named to the position on April 29, 2009, succeeding David Miller. In addition to hiring Blais, Alberts is responsible for the move by the hockey team from the CCHA to the WCHA beginning with the 2010-2011 season.

"Trev has done an outstanding job in his relatively short time leading the athletic department," said Dr. Christensen. "He has defined a clear vision for UNO athletics and has worked proactively to achieve that goal.

"By extending his contract to run concurrently with Dean's, we have brought stability to the department and put both men in position to continue to build our hockey program." [Mav Puck] [Omaha.com]

The Pipeline Show - Brock Nelson and Vandy

The Pipeline Show 1260 AM Edmonton with Dean Millard and Guy Flaming is a first class hockey show that hits on many issues surrounding the NHL as well as college and junior hockey.

Listen to what Brock Nelson had to say about his future and when we might see him in a Fighting Sioux hockey jersey.  [Click to listen]

Listen to Chris VandeVelde and his plans for the Future. Also Cornell Big Red Forward and Oiler's first round draft choice Riley Nash discusses his future with the Oilers. [Click to listen]

The Bruins ink two 1st rounders...

The Denver Pioneers have lost Joe Colborne to the Boston Bruins. I don't think anyone is shocked by the decision. It will be interesting to see if Colborne can make the Bruins out of training camp like former Gopher Blake Wheeler did? Here is what Naoko Funayama had of NESN had on her twitter today...

Couple of 1st rounders are signed by the Bruins to entry-level contracts: Joe Colborne (2008, 16th overall) and Jordan Caron (2009, 25th) [NaokoFunayama]

Links to the Story

Bruins Blog; Four prospects in the fold...

Boston Herald; Joe Colborne inks 3-year deal

Denver Post; DU’s Colborne reportedly signs with Bruins

Sophomore forward Joe Colborne has reportedly signed with the Boston Bruins, forgoing his final two years of eligibility at DU. Great kid, great talent, but c’mon, he never really deserved to advance this fast.

Big Joe, the Bruins’ first-round draft pick in 2008 (16th overall), is a very affable young man, and a proven NCAA sniper (team-high 22 goals this season). Problem is, he never learned how to play the tough game that is college hockey. He was fast-tracked, almost cheated, like giving a smart student straight A’s just because he’s smart. Apparently the 6-foot-5, 210-pound Colborne, his family and the B’s think he will become tough in the AHL or turn Gretzky-like in the NHL, and he won’t need to bang. I hope so. But there’s only one Gretzky, and I was hoping to watch the toughness come out next season at DU.

Flyers' hack Carcillo suspended 2 games

Flyers' hack Daniel Carcillo and tough guy want a be has been given a two game suspension by the NHL for his attempted decapitation of Devils tough guy David Clarkson. At first I thought this suspension might have been handed out based on the players past reputation and prior acts (the guy is a hack and a gutless puke) but in looking at the video I don't have a problem with the two game suspension, I think the suspension is just about right, even though the Flyers' GM Paul Holmgren is disappointed and thinks the suspension is not warranted; Of course he does.

If Carcillo really wanted to fight David Clarkson, why did he come high with his stick with his gloves still on? Look at the video again Carcillo is a gutless puke that doesn’t fight the leagues tough guys very often and he didn't want to fight Clarkson either.

The NHL has suspended Flyers forward Daniel Carcillo for two games for a hit on the New Jersey Devils' David Clarkson on Sunday.

At 15:14 of the third period of Sunday's game, Carcillo and Clarkson came together, and during some pushing and shoving, Carcillo high-sticked Clarkson in the face, opening a cut.

Carcillo was assessed a match penalty, which brought automatic League review.

"I am disappointed in this decision by the League office," said Flyers General Manager Paul Holmgren. "This was clearly an accidental high stick and I do not believe a match penalty (for intent to injure) was the call that was warranted."

Carcillo is fourth in the NHL with 196 penalty minutes, but he also has 11 goals and 20 points in 72 games and has played a large portion of the season on the Flyers' top line, with Mike Richards and Simon Gagne. He also leads the team with 181 hits.

Carcillo will miss games Thursday against the Islanders and Saturday against the Canadiens. This is his second suspension of the season, following [NHL.COM]

Weekly Meaningless Polls?

I know it's a little late and I don't see what the point is having a power ranking or a poll after the season is over and there are only four teams left but it does give us something to talk about for the next two weeks.

As always I include the INCH power rankings.

1. Miami
2. Wisconsin
3. Boston College
4. Denver
5. St. Cloud State
6. Yale
7. North Dakota 2 The Sioux lose two key seniors in forwards Chris VandeVelde and Darcy Zajac, but if defenseman Chay Genoway comes back after missing most of the past season due to injury, NoDak should start next season among the top five in the preseason polls.
25-13-5 LAST WEEK: L vs. Yale, 3-2 (NCAA Northeast Regional).
8. Cornell
9. RIT
10. Michigan
11. Northern Michigan
12. Union
13. New Hampshire
14. Bemidji State
15. Ferris State
16. Minnesota Duluth
17. Michigan State
18. Alaska
19. Vermont
20. Maine

Dropped out: None

Bubble-licious: None
-------------------------
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll
[March 29, 2010]
1. Miami
2. Wisconsin
3. Boston College
4. St. Cloud State
5. Denver
6. Yale
7. North Dakota
8. Michigan
9. RIT
10. Cornell
11. New Hampshire
12. Bemidji State
13. Northern Michigan
14. Ferris State
15. Alaska

DU’s Cheverie likely to sign with Panthers

It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Marc Cheverie left DU after the season he had this past season. At the current time Cheverie’s stock couldn't be higher and after his performance this season I would bet willing to bet that Florida doesn't want to risk losing him.

From what I’m hearing, DU has a better chance of losing junior goalie Marc Cheverie than sophomores Joe Colborne and Patrick Wiercioch. In fact, I’ve heard Cheverie will definitely forgo his final year of collegiate eligibility and sign with the Florida Panthers.

Colborne (drafted 16th overall by Boston in 2008) and Wiercioch (42nd by Ottawa in 2008) might not be physically ready for the challenges of the NHL, but Chevy is, and Florida – which drafted him in the seventh round in 2006 – must sign him now or risk losing him to free agency.

That means another 6-foot-3 goalie that prefers No. 1 on his sweater will succeed Chevy, or at least try to succeed Chevy in a platoon system with sophomore-to-be Adam Murray. In coach George Gwozdecky’s 16-year tenure at DU, Murray was the first 18-year-old goalie to join the program as a freshman. Sam Brittian will be the second. [Denver Post hockey blog]

Former Yale forward Sean Backman signed by Stars

Sean Backman has signed a professional contract with the Dallas Stars.

DALLAS—The Dallas Stars have signed former Yale forward Sean Backman to a one-year contract.

The 23-year-old Backman was a three-time all-Ivy League choice at Yale, where he was second on the team and 13th nationally with 21 goals last season. He scored 126 points in 122 games during his four-year Yale career.

Backman led Yale in scoring his first two seasons. He played with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League before playing for Yale. [Boston Globe]

Dean Arsene vs Erik Johnson

The hit that started the fight was Erik Johnson's hit on former Golden Gopher teammate Ryan Potulny. Nice elbow to the face. It's my opinion that Erik Johnson is one of the softest 6'4" 236 pound hockey players in the NHL. I am not sure we can call this anything but a hug feast. This was the third fight that Johnson has been in this season and all of them are about as bad as this one. I would suggest taking some lessons in the off season.

Bobby Butler goal against Cornell...

Check out this blast by Bobby Butler, and then the WCHA officials (buffoonery in action) spent an inordinate amount of time reviewing an obvious goal. The refs seem to be the only ones in the arena that didn’t know it was in. Bobby Bulter also just signed with the Senators and will be a teammate of former Fighting Sioux defenseman Brian Lee.

Butler, 6-0 and 185 pounds, had 53 points in 39 games, including a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1-high 29 goals, this season.

A native of Marlborough, Mass., he was named Hockey East Player of the Year, and is a Top 10 finalist for the Hobey Baker Award as NCAA player of the year.

Lewis Mongelluzzo, the team’s NCAA recruiting co-ordinator, had been watching Butler. In turn, he was watched by the rest of the team’s braintrust.

"When I saw him play in the NCAA playoffs, he was a very good college player,” said Murray. “He’ll need some time, but he’s very definitely a guy that has the potential to be a goal scorer in the NHL.

Johnny Boychuk's elbow on Rene Bourque

This was the hit that facilitated some discussion after the Bruins and Flames game this past weekend. Bruins defenseman Johnny Boychuck laid a vicious elbow on former Wisconsin Badger Rene Bourque, Boychuck was given a five minute major penalty and a game misconduct but he was not suspended by the NHL for his hit, there were some that thought he should have been. What do you think?

No deal cut to move Coyotes to Winnipeg

The more this story stays on the fore front and does not go away, the more I think there is a chance that Winnipeg could be a destination for the Phoenix Coyotes.

WINNIPEG — No deal has been cut to move the Phoenix Coyotes to Winnipeg, even as a back-up plan, but the NHL has the Manitoba capital on its radar.

A Monday story by the Phoenix Business Journal reported that the NHL had a deal in principle with Canadian billionaire David Thomson and True North Sports and Entertainment, which operates the AHL’s Manitoba Moose and the MTS Centre, to be a "Plan C" for a Coyotes relocation in case current negotiations with Ice Edge Holdings and Jerry Reinsdorf don’t result in a sale of the money-losing franchise.

There is no such Coyotes-to-Winnipeg deal, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said, but the league continues to have dialogue with True North.

"In response to the many inquiries we have received in light of the story in the Phoenix Business Journal this morning, we would like to make clear that at this point in time the National Hockey League has no ‘deal’ in place to move the Coyotes’ franchise to Winnipeg -- or to any other city for that matter -- in the event a transaction cannot be timely consummated in Glendale," Dal wrote in an email response to questions. "Our focus continues to be on completing a transaction with local ownership that is committed to operating the team in Glendale.

The hit that injured Joe Thornton.

This was the hit that injured Joe Thornton. No penalty on the call and rightfully so, it's not a hit from behind, it's not a boarding and there is no intent to injure in my opinion.

Reflecting on the season and looking ahead.

With most of us still feeling the sting of yesterday’s loss I have started to reflect on this past season. There were a lot of up and downs this past season. The biggest downer was the loss our senior captain Chay Genoway to a dirty hit. There was the off season suspension of junior Matt Frattin and his subsequent reinstatement of the Fighting Sioux hockey team at the Christmas vacation break. The unimpressive 5-7-2 record through December and January. The sweep at home to the hands of the Denver Pioneers. That was a very bitter pill to for all of us to swallow, but it also woke up the Fighting Sioux team. That went 12-1 down the stretch (12-2 the last 14 games) to make the NCAA tourney. The UND Fighting Sioux went from 6th place to finishing with one point out of third place.

Season in Retrospect

As with end of every Fighting Sioux the season, there will be some fans that want to question the coaching methodologies of Fighting Sioux head hockey coach Dave Hakstol, most of us will try to put things into perspective, try this on for size, the Fighting Sioux coaching staff took a team of 13 sophomores and freshman and won the Broadmoor Trophy from the Thursday game of the final five.

Most of the teams playing in the Final Five had rosters loaded with juniors and seniors (Wisconsin 6 seniors and 8 juniors – Denver 6 Seniors and 10 juniors – SCSU 5 seniors and 9 juniors). UND had 6 juniors and 3 seniors, one senior Chay Genoway played in 9 games this year before his season was cut short by injury. I am not real good at math but that tells me the Fighting Sioux although young have better days ahead of them. DU, Wisconsin and SCSU are loosing some elite players this off season.

I was always told by Gophers fans that one method of measuring success for a season was if your team won a league playoff title. Well there you go... Some will say that I am trying to spread sunshine on a disaster. So be it, there is a lot to be thankful for and a lot to look forward to next season.

Think about this final thought, the UND Fighting Sioux lost an all American and potential Hobey Baker Memorial Award canidate, maybe final three in Chay Genoway from their line up and still won 25 games, I don't know about you but that is a pretty good coaching job in my opinion. Lastly, I will also miss the two seniors that have played their last game of their Fighting Sioux careers.

Some people need to get a life! (by LGM)

Hello people! It's been a while since you've been subject to my words of wisdom, sometimes otherwise known as rants and ramblings.

As a rule of thumb I'm generally too busy to post on Goon's blog, despite his requests to do so. However, I took time out of my busy Sunday night to do a little ranting.

As you have noticed in a previous post, Goon has chosen to moderate the comments on this blog. Let me tell you, that's a major step. Many people don't know this but Goon and I actually became friends after he came to my blog and disliked my spewings about Sioux hockey and fans and he and I sparred for quite a while. Some of the comments got pretty heated but yet, I never crossed that line where Goon felt the need to moderate comments. Since that time, about 3 years ago, I have seen many, many questionable comments on his blog and he's never insisted on moderating the comments...until now.

So, to me this is a big move and speaks to the patheticness of some people on the internet. I would love it if some force of nature made it impossible for people to write stuff on the internet that they would not say to someone's face. I personally live by that rule. Heck, I live by the rule that I will not say anything behind someone's back that I wouldn't say to their face either. It makes for some interesting situations but that's just how I am.

Am I saying everyone has to be like me? No, but I'm saying some can do MAJOR improvements in the area. Just because you're sitting behind some fake screen name does not mean that you can go onto blogs and message boards and spew total crap. Seriously, get a life. Mr. Southern Minnesota....Redwood Falls, more than likely, yes...I am speaking to you. If you have nothing better to do that troll this blog under various screen names and dig up crap on Goon via the internet than you are a PUSSY. Sorry, I know Goon doesn't use that kind of language on his blog but I'm going to. Straight up wuss that probably doesn't have a backbone in real life. Seriously, what is your issue?!?! Whatever it is, you need to get over it. I'm sure you're so entitled living the life in that area of the state that we can't even comprehend your awesomeness. For the record, I'm allowed to rip on that part of the state because I was born and raised there and still have a bunch of family there. I know the mentality of the people, I know how life is, and trust me buddy....there's more to life than what you're thinking.

So, my suggestion would be to crawl out of your hole, get off the computer and get a life. If you don't have any decent comments to post here then stay the hell away.

Now readers, I'm not saying that people can't speak their minds but there needs to be some level of respect. People can disagree (hello! I do it on a regular basis with some of you...even Goon!) but when you have to drag families and things unrelated to this blog into it then that's pathetic and you need a life. Goon keeps this blog strictly about hockey and not his personal life or even bashing other people really. If you are looking for that, you missed the boat because that would have been over at my blog (basically the Tabloid Magazine of college hockey blogs) but I've shut it down, due to lack of time and too much drama. Drama such as the crap this one pathetic poster is trying to create here.

So there....that's about all I have to say on the subject. I would also like to put out the friendly reminder that internet addresses can be tracked and criminally charged if people feel threatened. Just remember...MN law defines assault by the fear of harm and not actually being assaulted. More and more internet crimes are being charged every day in Minnesota and around the country. So tell me...do YOU want to be the dumbass to wind up in the local paper (perhaps the lovely Redwood Gazette) for committing the stupid crime? If so, I can't wait since my mom has a subscription to it and then I can cut out the article and send it to my buddy Goon.

That is all. Grow up.

Is Chris VandeVelde off to Springfield?

Here is the latest from Coming down the Pipe. I suppose that the Oiler will want to get Vandy into their system since his college career is over.

The upsets continue at the NCAA hockey tournament as UND fell to Yale 3-2. Meanwhile, RIT continues it's improbable run with a 6-2 pasting of Northeastern to earn a spot in the final four. Miami will meet Michigan tomorrow after both teams avoided upsets, while Boston College did the same.

The Fighting Sioux loss means that Chris VandeVelde's college career has come to and end, and should be on his way to Springfield to play out the string with the Falcons.

Meanwhile according to the Edmonton Journal's Jim Matheson, Jeff Petry isn't eligible to play in the NHL this season because his NHL contract doesn't start until next year. [the Pipe Line Show]

Sunday rewind - Goals

Here are the highlights from yesterday's game. I don’t know there wasn’t a lot to be happy about and it was a disappointing end to a pretty good season. I thought UND played good for 20 minutes and that is not a good recipe to advance in a one and done tourney.

What the UND Fighting Sioux didn’t do yesterday

The Fighting Sioux turned the puck over time after time in critical situations and you can’t do that against a speed team like Yale.

The Sioux failed to get pucks deep all game long and it cost them a few times. The Sioux didn't also get a chance to cycle the puck and set up in the offensive zone.

The Fighting Sioux defenders let the man go and the Yale players dance around in the slot all afternoon and that can’t happen if you want to win a hockey game.

The second and third goals were brutal and Brad Eidsness needs to be better and cover his short side post. Also, someone needs to work with him on not over playing pucks coming off the back wall.

Lastly, when the Fighting Sioux were going to go on a 5 on 3 and Jason Gregoire checks the Yale player from behind, that was a horrible move by Gregoire, it cost the Fighting Sioux a 5 on 3 power play and there was no reason to hit that guy from behind. Yeah I do think the Yale player dove.

Comments are on moderation

You might have noticed that comments have been put on moderation until further notice; a couple of trolls have ruined it for everyone. Some trolls have shown up to beat their chest after UND lost to Yale. Most of these trolls that are beating their chest are fans of teams that were eliminated long ago.

No matter how you slice it UND had a decent season, they won the Final Five from the Thursday play in game, a feat only accomplished one other time before, the year before by the UMD Bulldogs. The Fighting Sioux made the NCAA tourney a feat that six other teams in the WCHA didn't accomplish. We could have been a team that was hosting a regional that didn't make the tourney. UND almost got a number one seed after being in 6th place in the WCHA with about a month and a half to go in the season. The Fighting Sioux were one of the youngest teams in the WCHA this season so no matter how you slice it they will be a force to be reckoned with next year. I would say that the Fighting Sioux might have over achieved this year. Does it hurt that our team went out and had another epic fail in the first round to an ECAC team. Sure it does. Losing sucks, in any sport. It sucks even more if your team is from the University of New Hampshire and you are processing the loss to RIT this morning. Good for the Yale Bulldogs good for RIT.

I stand by anything that I have written on this blog or anyone of the others bloggers that write for this blog. I mean seriously some people need to get a grip. I don’t have to let you post objectionable stuff me or the other writers on this blog. Like Redwing77 said the other day this is a Fighting Sioux fan blog and it’s written for Fighting Sioux fans, there is no God given right to come on here and act like an ass.

Personally I still would love to see round two of the UND and Yale match up, I think 8/10 times the Sioux win that game. Good for Yale they won; congrats to them, however, they still are going to have a very tough time getting past Boston College today. Anything can happen in a one and done hockey tourney. Yale caught a rundown Fighting Sioux hockey team. Also, good for RIT, they finally won two out of conference match after going 0-6 during the regular season.

Mission statement: This blog is dedicated to UND Fighting Sioux hockey, the NHL, NCAA hockey, the Boston Bruins and Minnesota Wild. I will write about the Fighting Sioux hockey from a UND fan perspective. It is what it is. There will be on moderation of comments until further notice. I will take it off moderation at a time of my choosing. I thank all of the people that read this blog and got a lot of positive feed back from fans that read this blog at the Final Five. I want to thank them for reading our blog.

This kind of sums it up.

The NCAA tourney is a one and done tourney, lose and your team goes home... BUZZ Kill - sure, that's the finality of the NCAA hockey tourney, the season for the 2009-2010 Fighting Sioux is over. There is no tomrrow. Thanks for the memories. Go Fighting Sioux...

“It hasn’t 100 percent sunk in yet that our season is done,” UND forward Jason Gregoire said. “When it’s one game and your done, it’s really frustrating to come out like that. It’s tough. A lot of guys know they are coming back, but for the seniors, it’s really unbelievable. I feel so much for them. It’s really a tough thing.”

Chris VandeVelde and Darcy Zajac played in their final game as members of the Sioux. UND’s only other senior, Chay Genoway, could apply for a medical redshirt. Genoway suffered a concussion in November and never returned the rest of the season. [Grand Forks Herald]

Lines for the Yale and UND game.

RWD's favorite college hockey beat writer Brad Schlossman has the lines up for this afternoon's game.

UND's lines

17 Jason Gregoire--29 Chris VandeVelde--26 Brett Hextall
19 Evan Trupp--Brad Malone--21 Matt Frattin
10 Corban Knight--11 Darcy Zajac--7 Danny Kristo
13 Brett Bruneteau--9 Mario Lamoureux--27 Carter Rowney

2 Andrew MacWilliam--24 Ben Blood
3 Derrick LaPoint--25 Jake Marto
15 Brent Davidson--4 Corey Fienhage

31 Brad Eidsness
32 Aaron Dell
[UND stats]

Yale's lines

19 Denny Kearney--10 Kevin Limbert--14 Broc Little
29 Antoine Laganiere--8 Josh Balch--59 Chad Ziegler
9 Brian O'Neill--26 Mark Arcobello--17 Andrew Miller
44 Jeff Anderson--22 Brendan Mason--11 Charles Brockett

21 Colin Dueck--7 Mike Matczak
15 Tim Dignard--5 Nick Jaskowiak
25 Ryan Donald--2 Jimmy Martin

30 Billy Blase
1 Ryan Rondeau
33 Jeff Malcolm
[Yale stats]

Links to the story:

New England Hockey Journal; Yale eager to return to work

NCAA Northeast Regional; [college hockey news]

INCH NCAA: Northeast Region Preview [INCH]

Yesterday's opening round

Friday, March 26, 2010

NCAA East Regional

RIT 2 vs. Denver 1 --- The Denver Pioneers looked listless and uninspired and pathetic against the upstart RIT Tigers from the AHA. The Pioneers body language made them look as if they didn’t want to be there and they looked tight and frustrated all day. Going into the game Denver University was the heavy favorite against an undermanned opponent, some had suggested that there was no way DU would lose this game. RIT made the NCAA Division 1 hockey tourney in their 5th season of existence. this season by winning their league tourney.

Analysis: First off DU was a good team this past season and won the league with relative ease, congrats on a good season. That being said, I was on records as saying the DU pioneers were a one line team their top line of Rakhshani-Ruesgegger-Colborne and they had fourty five percent of the Pioneers offense you have got to have balance to win a NCAA title or at least advance to the Frozen Four. This season the Pioneers had no balance what so ever. Also DU won a lot of games when they had left their goaltender out to dry. It’s no mystery that the Pioneers relied heavily on their goaltender Marc Cheverie.
[Box Score]

New Hampshire 6 vs. Cornell 2 --- UNH and Cornell University had met earlier in the season and the Big Red ran the Wildcats out of their own building 5-2. Last night’s game was a totally different result as the UNH Wild cats made Cornell look like a bunch of pylons and the Big Red didn’t resemble the team that came into the game ranked 2nd defensively in the nation. Coming into the game Cornell hadn’t give up more than 5 goals the whole season.

Analysis: If you would have told me that UNH (University of No Hardware) would have won the game against Cornell I would have told you to put down the pipe. Coming into the game Cornell Senior goalie Ben Scrivens had and impressive record of 21-9-4 and a GAA of 1.87 and Save Percentage of .934 and had an impressive 19 shutouts for his career.
[Box Score]

NCAA West Regional

Vermont 2 vs. Wisconsin 3 --- This game was a bit of a snooze feast and the Badgers really poured it on in the second period but the UVM goalie Rob Madore kept the Catamounts from getting shelled and run out of the half empty building. If Wisconsin has a weakness this season it’s their goaltending and they were lucky that Scott Gudmandson’s questionable play didn’t cost them the game and he will have to be on his game tonight against the now 1-8 for the NCAA tourney the SCSU Huskies. Line for Line Wisconsin was the much better team and even when they went down by a goal you had a feeling they were going to pull it off.

Analysis: This past season I thought that Wisconsin was the better team in the WCHA; even when the Pioneers were wrapping up the regular season title. The Badgers have a very talented blue line that is stocked with first and second round draft choices. I don’t see any weaknesses in this team other than their two questionable goaltenders.
[Box Score]

Northern Michigan 3 vs. St. Cloud State 4 (2ot) --- If I had to bet money on this game I would have lost some money because the smart money said SCSU 0-8 for the NCAA tourney and now they are 1-8. I watched some of this game on delayed broadcast and listened to the overtime periods on the KVSC 88.1 yesterday.

Analysis: I am surprised that Bob Motzko keeps insisting on coming back with Mike Lee in net, from what I can see in my humble opinion that Dan Dunn is the better of the two goalies. I have watched Mike Lee play against the Fighting Sioux 3 times this season and he was God awful and gave up 14 goals in three games. I am just not getting the hype this season I have not been impressed with the freshman goalie. Is Lee a good goaltender? Well yeah, I think he has a lot of potential to be very good; but he is not a world beater. I thought Lee was unimpressive in the WJC tourney as well and had to be pulled from the WJC final.

[Box Score]

WCHA is Heading to Detroit

This is good news for the WCHA after being shutout last season and having none of their teams make the Frozen Four the WCHA will have at least one representive at the NCAA Frozen Four this season in Detroit.

Bruce McLeod had a smile on his face in the lower level of the Xcel Energy Center late Friday night.

The WCHA commissioner had just seen St. Cloud State and Wisconsin advance to Saturday night’s West Regional final, meaning the league would have at least one team in the Frozen Four. North Dakota opens Northeast Regional play against Yale on Saturday; Denver was bounced from the tournament by RIT on Friday.

After the league failed to send a team to the Frozen Four last season, there was some pretty good reason for relief for McLeod, who confirmed that, yes, he would sleep better Friday night knowing that his league would have a team in Detroit. [USCHO.COM]

NHL; Legal versus illegal...

If you haven't seen this video that describes what is a legal hit and what is consider an illegal hit, here is the Video from the NHL. This video is pretty straight forward on what types of hits are allowed and not allowed. If I interpreted this right the bush-leaguer hit by thug/had Matt Cooke on Marc Savard would now be a illegal hit.

Brackets busted and check list ripped up.

It's no mystery I am not a fan of Mike Chambers or his journalism style, here is his check list that he had on his blog. Epic fail... In fact DU just embarrassed the WCHA with their loss to a team that didn't even win an out of conference game this season until their regional game against the Denver University Pioneers and was sitting at 25th in the Pairwise.

In my opinion this is a bigger upset than the Holy Cross win at the Ralph over the Gophers. As a WCHA fan I am actually disappointed, I am trying to find the humor in it and I can't. How does a number one seed like not get up for this game? I watched the game the players weren't interested in playing. The last three winners of the MacNaughton Cup have each went 0-3 in the playoffs (WCHA and NCAA) that is a cumulative record 0-9 after winning their WCHA home series and moving on in the playoffs. Maybe WCHA should send that MacNaughton cup back to Houghton, Michigan and moth ball it, because there seems to be a curse in that cup.

Denver Cup trophy CHECK

MacNaughton Cup trophy CHECK

Gold Pan trophy CHECK

Clinch NCAA Tournament while CC is eliminated (not mine) CHECK

Secure No. 1 NCAA seed CHECK, unofficially

Broadmoor Trophy - Fighting Sioux

Win NCAA regional [EPIC FAIL]

Win Frozen Four - [Golfing]
[link to post]

ALBANY, N.Y. — Promising, no more. There is no tomorrow for the University of Denver hockey team.

After beginning and ending the regular-season ranked No. 1 nationally, the Pioneers folded their already damaged tent Friday at the NCAA Tournament East Regional.

Top-seeded DU came out flat and was eliminated by fourth-seeded Rochester Institute of Technology 2-1 at the Times Union Center.

The Tigers, who won their 11th consecutive game, scored 5:02 into the game and withstood several outstanding DU chances behind senior goalie Jared DeMichiel. With 7:24 remaining in regulation, RIT went ahead 2-0 with a power-play goal from leading scorer Cameron Burt.

Sophomore wing Joe Colborne finally solved DeMichiel with 5:25 to play, slapping in his own rebound for his team-leading 22nd goal of the season. It came on the power play and gave the Pioneers momentum, but they couldn't get another puck past DeMichiel in the final minute, when Cheverie was pulled for an extra attacker.

It was the third consecutive loss for DU, which hadn't lost two straight until last weekend's poor showing at the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff finals in St. Paul, Minn.

The Pioneers have now lost their NCAA Tournament opener for three consecutive years, including the latter two as a No. 1 regional seed
Read more:

NCAA Hockey Links

Here are a few stories on line that might be of interest.

Balanced Boston College Team Ready for NCAA Opener Against Alaska-Fairbanks [NESN]

New Hampshire Ready to Start 'New Season' When it Faces Off Against Cornell [NESN]

Catamounts Seek Return Appearance in Frozen Four, Face Wisconsin in NCAA West Regional [NESN]

2010 Men's Ice Hockey Frozen Four Bracket: Four New England Schools Ready to Hit the Ice [NESN]

NCAA Northeast Regional Preview [College Hockey News]

UND coach Dave Hakstol's features talented scorers, but the latest edition of the Sioux demonstrate a depth that makes them an especially strong contender for a trip to Detroit two weeks from now. In their remarkable run trough the WCHA Tournament, several different players score timely goals for the Sioux, meanwhile junior Evan Trupp scored three goals and assisted on three others in their three wins in the Final Five.

"On any given night it's going to be a different player that steps forward and makes a great play to help us win," UND coach Dave Hakstol said. "That's the kind of team we have, and it hasn't just been that way over the last few weeks - that's the way it's been all year. Any time we've had a chance to win, it's been with everybody playing well."

Scouting the New Hampshire men's hockey team [the Ithaca journal]

The other side of the East Regional hockey bracket [the Ithaca journal]

RIT turns to Tyler Mazzei for answers to Denver goalie [Democrat and Chronicle]

Ringwald's decision to stay at RIT paying off [Democrat and Chronicle]

DU and East Regional notes [Denver Post Hockey blog]

Title central. With a combined five conference championships, the East Regional is the beast of the NCAA Tournament.

DU is the Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season champion. Second-seeded Cornell is the Eastern College Athletic Conference playoff champion. Third-seeded New Hampshire is Hockey East’s regular-season champion, and fourth-seeded RIT won the Atlantic Hockey Association regular-season and playoff titles.

No teams from other regionals combined to win as many conference championships

Sioux fan tournament prediction bias [Sioux Sports]

Bracket Break Down: North East regional [the college hockey blog]

Yale has rotated goaltenders for much of the season, with 4 different netminders getting time in net. Senior Billy Blase (10 gp, 2.37, .901) will likely get the start against North Dakota, but don’t be surprised to see Freshman Nick Maricic (14 gp, 2.95, .888) as well.

M. HOCKEY: David vs. Goliath [Yale Daily News]

Second-seeded North Dakota is bigger: Its top three goal scorers are 6 foot 2, 5 foot 11 and 5 foot 11. The Bulldogs are 5 foot 9, 5 foot 9 and 5 foot 8.

North Dakota is more experienced: It has been to the NCAA Tournament for eight consecutive years. The Elis are making their fourth trip in their program’s history.

And, of course, North Dakota is the favorite: The Las Vegas Hilton gives the Fighting Sioux 8-1 odds to win the entire NCAA Tournament. Yale? A distant 40-1.

The Bulldogs know all this, and they’re fine with it.

“They’re obviously the favorites,” left winger Denny Kearney ’11 said. “But we’re embracing the underdog title.”

Traditional Powers Headline NCAA Northeast Regional [Fan House]

Yale’s Allain seeks to lead his Bulldogs to NCAA win in hometown [Telegram]

Check out this letter to the editor...

Bitter much? Yawn! Virg Foss was a sports writer for over 30 years I think I am going to respect his word, he has earned that credibility. So what fan base do you think this genius come from?

GATZKE, Minn. —- Virg Foss’ Herald column, as inane and rambling as it is, could be excused as the rantings of someone who is losing it, except that there has been no change throughout Foss’ career.

UND’s last game of its three-game series with the University of Minnesota is a prime example. Hard-hitting, yes, many of which were good, clean hits. Many more were of the cheap, head-hunting variety. The hit by UND’s Matt Frattin, which both Foss and Herald staff writer Brad Schlossman seek to excuse, was just the worst of many.

Had this hit been delivered by a U of M player against UND, those writers, the UND coaching staff and other Herald sportswriters would have screamed to high heaven. They certainly would have demanded that the hitter be ejected from the game (he should have been), suspended for at least three games and quite probably boiled in oil and drawn and quartered.

Where is the writer’s righteous indignation now?

Be careful what you wish for, Mr Foss. We agree that the officiating should get much stricter. But your beloved UND would suffer more than any team in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association from such a change.

I believe Foss missed his true calling. He chooses to see only what he wants to see and to remember only what he chooses to remember. In other words, he would have made a terrific politician.

By the way, given that a name change at UND now is long overdue, until permanent changes are made in the conduct of UND hockey, it would so appropriate to wear “UND Goons” jerseys.

Howard Lunsetter

The Rug is out at FSN...

Slap of the stick to Sioux7NationalTitles. One of the faces to Golden Gopher Hockey is no longer, Frank "the Rug" Mazzocco Will no longer be doing play by play for Gopher Hockey on Fox Sports Net.

This doesn’t come as a surprise because Frank is one of the most grating biased play by play announcers to ever step into a broadcast booth for college hockey, I would also say that he does do a good job fanning the flames of discontent between the Gophers and various WCHA fans bases around the league. When the Gophers were winning Frank became more unbearable and irritating. The only play by play announcer that I can find any more irritating or obnoxious is Hockey East homer Bob Norton.

I am disappointed because I do like Woog’s analysis and he was a balance to the obnoxious Frank "the Rug" Mazzocco so it does come as a bit of a shock. Anthony LaPanta is a decent play by play announcer and will be more objective and less of a homer. We won't hear about the opposition team getting lucky, the refs blowing calls nor will we hear about any more bow tie cross checks. Glad about the move, it was long time and and today is a good day for hockey in the Midwest.

Longtime Gophers men’s hockey announcers Frank Mazzocco and Doug Woog no longer will be paired in the booth come next season.

Mike Dimond, the senior vice president and general manager of Fox Sports North, said Friday that Mazzocco’s contract won’t be renewed and Woog will have a new role on the telecasts in 2010-11.

"Doug's a valuable member of our team and has been an instrumental part of Gophers hockey for a long, long time," Dimond said. "We are working with Doug to try to identify the best role for him and don’t have it determined yet. Sometimes we may have a three-man booth [with Woog in it] and sometimes he may be on the pregame.”

Dimond said that Anthony LaPanta will take over the play-by-play duties but that no decision has been made on an analyst. Dimond called LaPanta “the face,” of Fox Sports North, adding, “he’s ready to take on the next step of his career and do a great job as the play-by-play announcer for Gophers hockey."
[Red Star and Sickle]

Another disappointing season for David Fischer

This zinger was on the Minnesota Gopher's beat writers Roman Augustoviz's twitter. Holy cow! Check out this article the author of this article really dusted the Minnesota Golden Gopher's head coach Donny Lucia, and his coaching methodologies, in a way I feel sorry for him after reading this defiling. This wasn’t a hit piece this was a drive by colonoscopy. Look at the schools that they say are good in the NCAA.

What future Canadian Reserve does its first-round pick in 2006, defenseman David Fischer?

The right arm of Pierre Gauthier and DG Hamilton Bulldogs, Julien Brisebois, not ruling last week can see Fischer joined the Bulldogs since his season with the Gophers at the University of Minnesota has concluded there are seven days.

But Pierre Gauthier has awarded PressThrough the VP Communications team Donald Beauchamp, the organization had until August 15 to sign a professional contract with Fischer, and that there was no hurry for now. Wait do we see what he can do at the camp's development team in July?

One could understand the Canadiens want to take his time. Fischer and the Gophers had another regular season. Offensively, the defender of 22 years has been poor as the rest of his team. He has amassed just six points in 39 games, seven points below the previous season, when he had yet played eight games less.

And if one relies on the analysis of two recruiters NHL teams interviewed in recent days, there is little hope for Fischer access to the NHL.

"It's not safe," says the first man who, like all scouts called to analyze the performance expectations of other clubs, asked not to be identified because their organization prohibits them from commenting publicly on players who not theirs.

"According to reports from our scouts, I do not think he can go to the NHL, he said. It is an AHL player. It lacks too many things: hockey sense, fighting, not to mention he has no great impact at the college. His talent is average, it has no dominant quality. There has been no progress over the years, or almost not. And it's very rare that a player can unlock after stagnating in the NCAA. There are exceptions. As Ryan Stoa, Avalanche, who just played in Minnesota. "

The second scout abounds in the same direction. "From what I saw of him and all the reports of scouts at our house - for I am informed regularly of his progress - for years, there is not much hope in his case. David Fischer is like a flat tire. It lacks a little of everything. It happens to all teams make mistakes. But we resumed elsewhere. The Canadiens are certainly pleased to be able to recover PK Subban who himself, is unanimity among all NHL scouts. "

Defending Fischer, the former scout says that the quality of education is poor in the Gophers. The future of coach Don Lucia is also questioned in the region. He is accused of not having been able to harness the potential of some of its best players, like Fischer, Patrick White (first choice of the Canucks, 25th overall in 2007) or Jordan Schroeder, another first-round pick of the Canucks (in 2009), whose performance rose from 45 to 28 points since last year.

"There's always a chance that more progress Fischer Hamilton Guy Boucher, a good coach, said the recruiter first. Coaching at the University of Minnesota is rotten. The head coach there is atrocious. "

The Gophers have still produced good players for the NHL over the years. Defensemen Keith Ballard, Paul Martin and Alex Goligoski stayed several years and they have progressed. Erik Johnson was not there when the Blues have drafted in the first place in 2006, and there remained only one year after the draft. Ditto for Phil Kessel. Kyle Okposo has left the club early in his second season, as Jim O'Brien, the first choice of Senators in 2007. Thomas Vanek remained there two years before making his professional debut in the organization of the Buffalo Sabers. Blake Wheeler has spent four years and its growth was slow before taking his place with the Boston Bruins.

"This is not only in Minnesota, said second recruiter. I recently attended a game between Notre Dame and Michigan State, it was terrible. There was no talent. No markers, no guards. I'm not saying it never comes out, but nobody was impressive. There are still good programs in the NCAA: Michigan, Boston University, Boston College, Wisconsin, North Dakota. But the best place for a young person who wants access to the NHL, it is the junior leagues. It's professional. Unless the young player is not ready physically, as is the case with Louis Leblanc. He decided to study and grow. Ultimately, it will not prevent him from making his way. It will perhaps take him a year older. But physically, he is so not ready. "

[French Version of this article]

Jaroslav Spacek takes out David Booth

I would have to say that David Booth is going to have to learn to keep his head up or he is going to get killed out there. Never, never, never skate over the blue line with your head down. To me in reviewing the video it looks like a head on legal check.

[Props to KuklasKorner]

INCH Chat...

Here is the transcripts of the INCH chat from ESPN. Joe Gladiziszewski picks the Fighting Sioux to win the NCAA tourney.

-------------------------
Eric J (Grand Forks, ND )


Gladdy, do you think the Fighting Sioux can make a run to the Frozen Four and win with their goaltending?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:33 PM)


Yes and yes. Eidsness was good enough last weekend at the WCHA Final Five is as tough a tournament as the NCAAs. I think North Dakota is a good pick to come out of that region, despite it being closer to home for Boston College. Both teams are playing so well right now that it's tough to make a call.
-------------------------
Scott (California)

Two questions: Is Michigan the team you would least like to face if you were a #1 seed and are you going to do a podcast on the Wish List Draft to elaborate on the picks you made?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:36 PM)


I think Cornell, St. Cloud State and North Dakota are the most dangerous teams of the non-number ones, but Michigan just beat Miami last weekend, so that has to be fresh. It's the team that No. 1-seed Miami would probably least like to face.There is a podcast for the Wish List draft. Link is on the Wish List Draft page, INCH front, and in our iTunes feed. Thanks for listening.
-------------------------
scott (minot north dakota)


North Dakota plays a extremely physical game. Will the teams in that region be able to handle that kind of play, will speed neutralize North Dakota's style, or will tighter officiating from non WCHA refs force North Dakota to change its style of play.

Joe Gladziszewski (2:45 PM)


If you change your style of play at this time of the year, you've got bigger problems than killing off a few extra penalties (if necessary). I don't think Yale will be intimidated by a physical presence. That's the scouting report they play against all season in ECAC Hockey. Teams try to play them tough, and they still led the nation in scoring average. Same goes with Boston College or Alaska (potentially) in the second round, should North Dakota advance
-------------------------
Mark (St. Paul)

You're Hakstol and Genoway tells you he's healthy enough to go. Do you put him out there and hope he adds offense at the blue line, or do you tell him to sit out since the team is playing so well without him and he may be rusty

Jess Myers (2:47 PM)


I usually shy away from hypotheticals, but this is an outstanding question. There is not a team in the nation that would not be helped by having a healthy Chay Genoway in uniform, but I guess if I were Coach Hakostol I'd have to keep him out at this point in the season for two reasons. First, as you said, he'd be rusty and the Sioux are doing fine as-is right now, but secondly, to insert him into the lineup now would mean he cannot apply for a hardship and come back next year, so I think the promise of a full 2010-11 season makes more sense than up to four more games this year.
-------------------------
Fred (Boston)

Which program do you believe has the top line in the nation?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:53 PM)

Fantastic question because it's so difficult to answer. Denver's group of Colborne, Rakhshani and Ruegsegger is the best in my opinion. There are a lot to choose from. North Dakota's group with VandeVelde, Gregoire and Hextall is playing great right now, as are BC's bunch with Gibbons-Whitney-Atkinson and Nash-Greening-Kennedy at Cornell.
-------------------------
Mark (Fargo, ND)

Are you guys going to rock-out the East Coast Bias.... Who wins between UND and BC if they meet in the Regional Finals?

Joe Gladziszewski (3:11 PM)

Well, as an upstate NY lifer who primarily covers ECAC Hockey, I lean toward North Dakota to win that game. But Mike Eidelbes, a WCHA/CCHA guy from Northern Minnesota leans toward Boston College. You can decide on which way we're biased.
-------------------------
Joe Gladziszewski (3:31 PM)

I'll take North Dakota over Miami in one semifinal, Cornell over Wisconsin in the other semi, and North Dakota beats Cornell for the title -- potential third game of the year between those teams after they split a series in the regular season.
-------------------------

Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and Redwing77

Ok, a quick blurb on my dislike of the hype surrounding "the Legend" and "Alexander the Great."

Yes, the main stuff has been documented beyond the need for this post, so I'll skip it. But check this out:

Today I watched the NHL Network and they were doing a program on Wayne Gretzky. Yes, Wayne Gretzky. Watching his goal clips, he wasn't as much of a showboater as Alexander Ovechkin. He was just a super solid, ultra consistent, point machine that always used to exploit weaknesses in opponents' games to perfection. Oh yeah, and even by his admission, the fact that goaltender equipment was "half the size" they are today (his quote not mine) might mean something.

Now, I'm not going to slight Gretzky, but I will say this: When Gretzky was on the ice, there was always seemingly the impression that the fans and media was watching greatness. There wasn't any need to say it... It..Just..Was. With Crosby and Ovechkin...is that they case?

Nope. The NHL CONSTANTLY needs to TELL US that we're watching greatness. So, what do you think is truly great? Watching it and knowing or having it told to you?

Let's key this on another note: I could tell you that Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the game. Then I could show you footage of Walter Payton or Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith. Would I have to say ANYTHING about those three to let you know how great they were? If the answer is "Yes" then congrats, you defeated my point. If the answer is "No" even if there is a "But" after it, then my point is made. Thank you very much.

Sidney Crosby is a good hockey player. Alexander Ovechkin is a good hockey player (and would be greater if he stopped with the cheap hits). But Crosby is FAR from "the Legend" status and neither can be called "the greatest." Hey, Gretzky had 200+ points in a season 3 times, maybe more. THAT's legend status. 50 goals in 39 games. LEGEND STATUS. Sorry, Crosby isn't there yet.

And I promise this is the first and last post about this topic (unless of course cheap shots come out or Crosby or Ovechkin do something simply "legendary")

Another Test to the New Rule (Redwing77)

I'm not going to spend as much time on this post than the previous ones now that the new rule has passed. But...

St. Louis Blue forward (and former MSUM Maverick) David Backes will test the waters again on the disciplinary discussion about lateral blindside hits on vulnerable unsuspecting players. In this case, star Red Wing Defenseman and former Badger Brian Rafalski.

I shouldn't trivialize this because this hit was rough. Backes comes up behind and to the right of Rafalski passing through center ice and absolutely crushes him shoulder to jaw right above the Blues blue line. The camera barely caught it.

Here it is:



You can just barely see it at the far right of the screen. There was no replay of the hit until NHL on the Fly pointed it out. In fact, I didn't even notice it because I was too busy watching Fippula undress the Blues D.

Again, no call. Again, not a penalty as Rafalski was playing the puck at the time. Again, should've been a penalty...and now will be under the new rule.

No idea if Rafalski was injured on the play. It is identical to the Cooke-Savard tragedy except the force of impact was less (imo) and Backes is known for big hits, but not cheap shots, so the intent, as far as I'm concerned, wasn't to try to knock Rafalski into next season (see Cooke, Matt on Savard and Ovechkin, Alex on Campbell) (NHL analysts call it "letting him know you're on the ice"). I do not consider Backes to be a cheap shot artist. To my knowledge, this is an isolated incident.

However, the question is: Will we see any supplementary action?

UAH; getting you up to speed.

Picture from Save UAH Hockey Last summer and last fall I wrote a few articles about UAH Chargers and their not being accepted to the CCHA. Since UAH has made the NCAA tourney I thought maybe I would bring up a few of the blog posts that I wrote last summer on the issue, Goon's World is a fan UAH and wants only the best for this program. I also think people have short memories or are revisionists when it comes to history and this should refresh people's memories. I have said it more than once that the reason they were snubbed were flimsy at best and stunk of elitism. Like I said before when UAH was rejected that I smelled bullshit and I still do. Ironically UAH begins the season with Notre Dame (which isn’t in the tourney ) and draws Miami University which is 0-3-0 against the CHA teams this season.

The CHA argument.

I was thinking about the CHA and its 11 years of existence. Unfortunately the CHA will disband after 11 seasons of play. With the CHA disbanding, BSU will head to the WCHA, Niagara University and Robert Morris University will head to the AHA, and the University of Alabama Huntsville will head to the independent ranks after being snubbed by the CCHA with what appears to be some flimsy reasoning.

To show the CCHA they made a horrible mistake, the Chargers went out and beat the Fighting Irish to open the season...
[Illegal Curve]

College hockey trips itself again... [Click to read here]

Here is another great article by Tim Schmitt of the Niagara Gazette. I think there are some really good points to this article. It’s funny that after almost one week we still really have only have on record UAF A.D. Forrest Karr comments about ‘some of the CCHA schools having concerns about UAH’s lack of commitment, location and wanting to shore up the other CCHA schools first’ Yeah! A week later it still sounds pretty weak to me and I know I am not alone.

Finally, I am not sure that college hockey is to this point though, when Schmitt says that "the NCAA needs to step in and reorganize the sport’s governing board and insist that the game is bigger than any one school’s financial well-being." While I do agree with that philosophy, I doubt the NCAA would ever step in and do that. For the most part the NC$$ kind of takes a laissez-faire approach when dealing with member schools. Nor would I want the NCAA to step in.

Check out this post [Click to read]

More UAH. [Click to read]

I still smell B.S. [Click to read]

I still smell B.S. [Click to read]

UAH officials stunned by CCHA decision [Click to read]

This was an article that I wrote last summer that refuted the driving/flying distance argument.

Flying driving to Omaha Nebraska? There isn't much of a difference in mileage. One could make the argument that UNO is a lot closer to the schools in the WCHA than the CCHA. I checked the mileage on a few of the distances of travel and this is what I came up with for distances to UAH. I don't buy that argument. That isn't the reason for not allowing UAH or it's not a very good one.

UM - UAH 651 miles
BGSU - UAH 585 miles
OSU - UAH 510 miles
MSU - UAH 672 miles
NMU - UAH 990 miles
ND - UAH 560 miles
LSSU - UAH 951 miles
NMU - UAH 657 miles
MU - UAH 442 miles
UAF - UAH 4137 miles
FSU - UAH 768 miles

Here is the distances from UNO to the various schools in the CCHA.

NMU - UNO 684 miles
UNO - MSU 672 miles
UNO - UM 692 miles
UNO - UMiami 707 miles
UNO - UAF 3270 miles
UNO - NMU 765 miles
UNO - FSU 684 Miles
UNO - ND 545 miles
UNO - OSU 781 miles
UNO - LSSU 903 miles
UNO - WMU 597 miles
[Goon's World - UAH travel distances]

Kristo makes the CHN rookie team

UND Fighting Sioux forward Danny Kristo has made the College Hockey News All Rookie team.

All-CHN First Team
F Gustav Nyquist, So., Maine
F Rhett Rakhshani, Sr., Denver
F Blake Geoffrion, Sr., Wisconsin
D Brendan Smith, Jr., Wisconsin
D Carl Sneep, Sr., Boston College
G Marc Cheverie, Jr., Denver

All-CHN Second Team
F Chase Polacek, Jr., Rensselaer
F Jarod Palmer, Sr., Miami
F Bobby Butler, Sr., New Hampshire
D Erik Gustafsson, Jr., Northern Michigan
D Cameron Schilling, So., Miami
G Ben Scrivens, Sr., Cornell

All-CHN Rookie Team
G Joe Howe, Colorado College
F Stephane Da Costa, Merrimack
F Danny Kristo, North Dakota
F Andy Taranto, Alaska
D Matt Donovan, Denver
D Brian Dumoulin, Boston College

RIT hockey team can beat Denver, says Air Force coach

I always love these feel good articles, however, there is no way in hell that DU is going to lose to RIT. Mark it down we will come back to this subject later. DU is a very good hockey team and while they didn’t have their best showing during the Final Five, RIT is no match for the DU Pioneers. I can say this with confidence that Denver University is too good of a hockey team to lose to some second rate hockey program from the Atlantic Hockey Association. Put down the Pipe Frank.

Seriously, Air Force Academy Sacred Heart and RIT were something like 3-16-1 during their non conference schedule (their out of conference wins came against the ECAC); so to breaking it down further the AHA was good awful against teams outside of their league someone is on the pipe if they think RIT is going to take down DU. Yeah I would paint this as David with no chance versus Goliath the number one seed and thanks for showing up RIT.

“I wouldn’t paint this as a David vs. Goliath, no way, no way,” Serratore said. “Denver has a really good team but so does RIT.”

Atlantic Hockey is always dismissed as a lesser league by the long-established power leagues of collegiate hockey.

“We’re from a league that doesn’t get much attention,” RIT defenseman Dan Ringwald admits.

But Air Force and Holy Cross have done the AHA proud in the previous four NCAA tournaments.

Holy Cross upset Minnesota in a regional semifinal in 2006. Air Force has never not given an opponent a scare, or worse. The Falcons lost regional semifinals by one goal in both 2007 and 2008, 4-3 to Minnesota in 2007 and 3-2 in overtime to Miami in 2008. Last spring, Air Force defeated Michigan 2-0 in the opener before losing 3-2 in double overtime to Vermont in the regional finale.

“We were one double-overtime goal away from going to the Frozen Four,” Serratore said. “I think in college hockey the top is down and the bottom is up. The top programs aren’t as dominant as they once were because the NHL comes in and takes their top kids.”

Serratore also said RIT’s AHA championship and 10-game winning streak should give them extreme confidence.

“RIT is going into the tournament through the front door, not the back door,” he said. “You have a big advantage going in by winning your conference tournament as opposed to going in on a loss (but earning an at-large berth).

“When you win your way in, you go in with a lot of mojo.”

Air Force lost to Denver 2-1 in overtime on Feb. 6, but outshot the Pioneers 46-35. “Granted, I don’t think we got one of Denver’s better games but we should have won 4-1, 5-1, we just couldn’t beat (goalie Marc) Cheverie,” Serratore said.

No RIT player has been drafted by an NHL team. Denver’s roster includes 14 drafted players, including center Joe Colborne, a first-round pick by the Boston Bruins in 2008. Cheverie, a Hobey Baker finalist and the WCHA player of the year, is considered one of the Panthers’ rising prospects.

“Cheverie is a great goalie but he’s coming off a couple not-so-good games, so you know you can get to him,” Serratore said.
[rocnow.com]

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

The WCHA Final 5 is over, with North Dakota prevailing as the champions. Up until last year, no team had ever played the play-in game and won the Broadmoor. Now it has been accomplished two years in a row, last year by UMD and this year by UND.

My predictions last weekend turned out really good, the only thing I really missed was SCSU beating UW in the first semi-final game. To go along with that, the Goon and I witnessed SCSU’s Roe’s going head first into the boards. The stadium was awfully quite when that happened. When he was being taken off the ice on a stretcher, he gave the fans a thumbs-up. So we all wish him a speedy recover, from a very, very stiff neck.

Here is a quote from over at INCH, that I loved reading.

“We’ve noted it before, but it bears repeating: North Dakota’s green road sweaters are the sweetest-looking in the WCHA, and possibly all of college hockey. And if that logo on the front is forced to go away someday, it will be a shame.”

I just hope this isn't the last NCAA tournament feature the Fighting Sioux from North Dakota. (There is still the November deadline to get the issue resolved.)

Here are the NCAA first round match-ups featuring our WCHA teams.


FRIDAY (East Regional 2pm CT)

RIT (26-11-1) vs Denver (27-9-4)
Last weekend the Pioneers lost to the Sioux and the Badgers, which was the first time they dropped back to back games all season. The RIT Tigers won the Atlantic hockey tournament to qualify for the tourney.

RIT has not won a game outside of its conference all season, which doesn’t bode well this time of year. This is also RIT’s first appearance in the tournament, and it will be Denver’s 20th trip to the NCAA’s. The only thing I can think of that might allow RIT to win this, is if DU is not mentally ready, after losing twice last weekend. PIONEERS WIN.


FRIDAY (West Regional 4:30pm CT)

Northern Michigan (20-12-8) vs. St. Cloud State (23-15-5)
Last weekend the Huskies beat the Badgers and then lost to the Sioux in the Final 5 championship game in St. Paul.

The Wildcats of NMU use to be in the WCHA many years ago, I believe their last in the WCHA was the 1990-91 season, the year they won a national title. This will be the 8th appearance in the NCAA tournament for both teams. The Huskies have never won a game in all their previous trips to the tourney, could this be their year? If Roe can heal and play in the game, I think the Huskies can win, if not, the Wildcats. HUSKIES WIN.


FRIDAY (West Regional 8pm CT)

Vermont (17-14-7) vs Wisconsin (25-10-4)
Last weekend the Badgers lost to the SCSU Huskies and then rebounded and beat the Denver Pioneers, to capture 3rd place at the Final 5 in St. Paul. (With next year’s new format, no 3rd place game, Wisconsin will hold the distinction as the last team to capture a 3rd place playoff trophy in the WCHA.)

This will be Bucky’s 23rd and the Catamounts 5th appearance in the NCAA tournament. I’ve said it all year; the Badgers have a good deep team, which makes them hard to beat. The only thing is UW has yet to win more than 3 games in a row. The Badgers offensive was missing last Friday, but returned big time on Saturday, they’re back. BADGERS WIN.


SATURDAY (Northeast Regional 4pm CT)

Yale (20-9-3) vs North Dakota (25-12-5)
Last weekend the Sioux defeated UMD, DU, and SCSU to win the WCHA Broadmoor Championship. The Bulldogs had last week off.

This will be Yale’s 4th and UND’s 25th appearance in the NCAA tournament. In the all time series UND leads 5-0-0 and the results are as follows:

Date........Score......Site
01/01/60---15-0--at RPI Tournament
11/30/86----6-4--at Grand Forks
11/02/02----7-3--at New Haven
10/31/03----8-4--at Grand Forks
11/01/03---10-0--at Grand Forks

Both teams were in the tourney last year, so experience is awash in this game. UND is still hot going 12-1-0 in their last 13 games. I’m going to have to go with my boys in this tilt. SIOUX WIN