Threat Of An Open-Door Meeting Reason For NCAA Cancellation, SBHE Member Says.

Here is the latest relevation in regards to the Fighting Sioux nickname fight. Apparently the NCAA didn't want to come to North Dakota because of the open meeting. I also think such a meeting would have fallen under the North Dakota's open records and open meetings laws... Something to think about as the NCAA and the UND delegation goes to the NCAA headquarters in Indiana to discuss the Fighting Sioux logo and nickname with the NCAA officials.

GRAND FORKS, ND – Top NCAA executives did not want to participate in a meeting that would have been open to the public; that’s “plain and simple,” according to State Board of Higher Education member Grant Shaft.

Appearing on the Scott Hennen Show yesterday, Shaft was disappointed that the NCAA cancelled its scheduled April 22nd meeting with state and school officials, but was hopeful that another conference could still be arranged.

“I don’t think they were looking for a situation where the meeting would be either covered by the press – or there would be any kind of testimony, or anything like that – and for that reason, they pretty clearly indicated that they weren’t going to come. I’m still hopeful we’ll have the opportunity to speak with the NCAA on this – I haven’t lost hope -it’s just that particular meeting on the 22nd fell through” Shaft said.

Although an open-door forum has been widely favored by the public (and some North Dakota legislators, including Governor Dalrymple) Shaft understood the uncomfortable position this would have presented the NCAA. In his experience, negotiations are best played out under the discretion of a “closed private setting”:

Former Sioux T.J. Oshie and St Louis Blues agree on contract extension

Image via WikipediaFormer Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie has agreed to a one year deal with the St Louis Blues. T.J. Oshie would have been a restricted free agent if he had not signed a contract extension. Last season Oshie (12g-22a-34pts) missed 31 games with an ankle injury.

St Louis Today --- the Blues have agreed to a one-year contract extension.

The deal will pay Oshie $2.35 million for the 2011-12 season.

"We're excited to have T.J. in the fold for another season," Blues general manager Doug Armstrong said in a statement. "His energy and versatility make him an integral part of our club."

By agreeing to the deal today, Oshie will not become a restricted free agent tomorrow at 11 a.m., avoiding the possibility of the forward receiving an offer sheet from other teams.

In April, Oshie wrapped up his third season with the Blues, in which he has 44 goals and 121 points in 182 games. Last year, while missing 31 games because of a broken ankle, Oshie totaled 12 goals and 34 points in 49 games and had a plus-minus rating of plus-10.

Boston Bruins 2011 Stanley Cup Champions Montage

This is one of the best Boston Bruins Stanley Cup Champions montage that I have seen out there on the internet... If you're a Boston Bruins fans this video definitely will bring back great memories from a truly a magical season as the Boston Bruins marched through the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Here is a pretty good game seven montage as well. History was made this season during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Ed Schafer: Time For Fighting Sioux Nickname To Go.

Image via WikipediaYou can add former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer to the list of prominent people that are ready to move on and retire the Fighting Sioux nickname. Governor Ed Schafer weighed in on the Fighting Sioux nickname today on Scott Hennen's show.

FARGO, ND – A UND alumnus himself, former Governor and US Ag Secretary Ed Schafer has joined the growing ranks of North Dakotans saying today on the Scott Hennen show that the time has come to put an end to the fight to keep UND’s Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

During his time as Governor, Schafer said he often pushed to keep the name, pointing out the many benefits the name brought both to the Sioux reservations and to the university itself.

Although he did not sign yesterday’s letter, Schafer, himself a past president of both UND’s Alumni Association and Foundation Board, expressed his weariness of the state’s continuing battle with the NCAA.

“I’ve just come to the conclusion that it’s over,” said Schafer. “As much as I would like to keep the name; it’s not going to happen. We’ve spent too much time, resources and effort to fight it. Let’s get it over with, make the transition and move on. I don’t particularly like that, but that’s where it’s at.”

Governor to lead UND nickname delegation to NCAA July 25

Well everyone in their brother is going to this meeting with the NCAA in Indianapolis, Indiana except representatives from the two North Dakota tribes (Standing Rock and Spirit Lake). This slight doesn’t make any sense to me what-so-ever.

So if you going to the NCAA main office in Indianapolis, Indiana to make the case for the University of North Dakota to retain the Fighting Sioux nickname because you don’t think it’s hostile and abusive, wouldn’t you include a few of the people of Native American decent (just to name a few, Archie D. Fool Bear, Eunice Davidson) that broke their backs trying to get their respective tribes to vote on the Fighting Sioux nickname?

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald --- Gov. Jack Dalrymple will lead a North Dakota delegation July 25 to Indianapolis to meet with leaders of the NCAA, hoping to persuade the athletics association to alter its stance regarding UND and the Fighting Sioux nickname.

“Everybody is in,” said Grant Shaft, who as president of the State Board of Higher Education will join Dalrymple, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, and others at the long-anticipated face-to-face meeting.

The group also will include Senate Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem, R-Bismarck, UND President Robert Kelley and Athletic Director Brian Faison, North Dakota University System Chancellor William Goetz and Jody Hodgson, general manager of the Ralph Engelstad Arena.

“The governor will be the leader of the contingent,” Shaft said, “and he and Carlson will be the primary players at the table. The rest of us will be a supporting cast, there if we’re needed to answer questions.”

Kelley’s staff had worked with the NCAA in recent weeks to get possible dates for the meeting, which from the association’s side likely will involve President Mark Emmert and Vice President Bernard Franklin.

They told Kelley they’d be available for a sit-down session July 22 or 25. Shaft took those dates to Dalrymple and the others, and the 25th, a Monday, fit their calendars better.

State leaders had tried to arrange a meeting in Bismarck shortly after the legislative session ended, but the NCAA leaders balked, citing the apparent conflict between the Legislature and the State Board, which had directed UND to drop the name and logo.

The Spirit Lake Tribe in Devils Lake approved the use of the Fighting Sioux nickname, the Standing Rock Tribal Council failed to let their members vote on the issues, probably fearing that the vote at Standing Rock would have shaken out the same way. Something doesn’t smell right here… Anyone want to bet on whether the anti-nickname crowd will have their representatives present at this meeting as well?

Big Ten may mean big issues for hockey...

Image via WikipediaTom Oats has a really good article on Madison.com that has been floating around the internet this past week about the issues surrounding the formation of the Big Ten Hockey Farce Conference. It's a must read if you haven't seen it yet.

I think I have brought up some of the same issues about the Big Ten Hockey Conference and that there was a very good possibility that the BTHC formation would have a  negative effect on the other schools left behind in the CCHA and the WCHA.

It almost appears as if no one from the Big Ten thought about these ramifications until after they went to the NCAA meetings last April and heard from the other conference representatives from the CCHA and the WCHA... In my opinion, this has nothing to do about whats good for college hockey going forward, this is a lot to do about maximizing profits for six teams and they could give a rip about the other conferences and teams they've left behind. You can call me a hater, I don't care, I am calling it as I see it.  

Nationally, however, the perception of the conference is a bit different. Many in the tight-knit hockey community believe the Big Ten, led by UW, has trampled on tradition and jeopardized the future of the sport by barging ahead without regard to potential ramifications for the programs at many smaller, hockey-first schools.

The Big Ten’s announcement definitely put college hockey in a state of flux, with schools and conferences trying to position themselves in the new landscape. But no matter how it all washes out, there will be consequences — some unexpected, some potentially serious — both in Madison and across the country.

• Much like in football and basketball, non-conference schedules will get weaker.

Word is the Big Ten will backload the schedule with conference games, which means the league slate — 20 games per team — won’t begin until the football season is over in December. That would leave each team to find 14 non-conference games in the first two months of the season.

It appears the Big Ten will reach a scheduling agreement with the WCHA that will account for perhaps eight of those games. However, the remaining six dates could be difficult to fill with quality opponents since other conferences will already be involved in league play.

Even if the Big Ten and WCHA do hook up for four non-conference series per year, established rivalries will take a hit because UW’s opponents won’t always be North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College and Minnesota-Duluth.

No one has any idea how the dominos are going to fall after the formation of the Big Ten Hockey Conference. I don't think it's formation is going to be as good for college hockey as some have suggested, there are probably better ways to add college hockey teams without blowing up an existing structure that has worked for a very long time and has been successful.

Fallout from the Big Ten’s move is being discussed in the back rooms as we speak. Will the WCHA be a 10-team league when UW and Minnesota leave? Will it expand back to 12? Or will it form a six or eight-team “superleague” with its highest-profile teams and maybe two from the outside? All have been discussed.

With Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State leaving the CCHA, word is Notre Dame is quietly looking at a move to the WCHA or Hockey East. Should Notre Dame and, say, Miami (Ohio) join the WCHA, the CCHA would be decimated. Without name schools as lucrative draws, its remaining schools could struggle to field competitive teams and some of them eventually could eliminate hockey. That would be a huge hit for the sport, which is low on numbers as it is.

Here is some good advice for the Big Ten as they go into unchartered waters.

No one knows if the Big Ten will be good or bad for college hockey in the long run, but it is clear so far that the conference is stepping on some toes. It would behoove the leaders of the Big Ten — and especially UW — to tread a little more lightly during this process.

UND and the Big Sky: Who said what, when?



Big Sky Conference logo

 This is beginning to sound a lot like "What did you know and when did you know it?" To me it's also beginning to resemble a Charlie Foxtrot. I wonder what would happen if Al Carlson found out one of the University Presidents from the state of North Dakota had undermined the process?

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald ---- Rep. Al Carlson, R-Fargo, used North Dakota open records law last week to obtain emails between UND President Robert Kelley, the Big Sky Conference and the NCAA since Jan. 1, apparently seeking to learn whether Kelley was working behind the scenes to counter Carlson’s efforts to save the Fighting Sioux nickname.

The Herald also obtained the emails, one of which indicates that Kelley knew about a letter coming from the Big Sky warning that the nickname issue could “destroy” Division I athletics at UND.

Through a spokesman, Kelley denied again Tuesday that he sought the Big Sky statement.

Carlson, the House majority leader and author of a new state law requiring UND to continue using the Fighting Sioux name and logo in defiance of NCAA policy and scheduled sanctions, has raised questions about Kelley’s role in the controversy.

Objecting last week to Kelley’s calling for repeal of the nickname law — while Carlson was trying to arrange a meeting with NCAA officials to press the state’s case for retaining it — the legislative leader said “the well has been poisoned many times by people at the university, setting us up for failure.”

He also suggested last week that Kelley or others at UND encouraged Big Sky leaders to issue their warning about the potentially dire consequences of allowing the conflict with the NCAA to continue.

Carlson, visiting Medora, N.D., with his wife, said Tuesday he has received the emails “but I haven’t had a chance to look at them yet. I’ll do that when I get home.

“I just want to see what the communications were between those folks,” he said. “There might be nothing there. But I’m still convinced a lot of this was set up for failure, and I’m not in favor of that.”

Going forward with President Kelley...

This is beginning to become a friggen side show… To quote Charlie Harper from Two and a Half Men,” I have a bad feeling about this.” It almost appears that nothing good can come out of this fight going forward. On one hand I am sick and tired of being lectured by a Left Coast Liberal that was educated at University of California Berkley (yeah that one, the bastion of liberal thinking)... I also don't need him to tell us what is good for the University North Dakota, it’s like we are a bunch of unwashed rubes.

This is the same University president that has never attended, nor has any emotional attachment to the University of North Dakota or the Fighting Sioux nickname, if anything he has seen the Fighting Sioux nickname as an annoyance or an impediment to UND’s future… I mean think about this; if President Kelley is the university president that's on board, when the Fight Sioux nickname is discarded to the scrap heap of history, President Kelley would immediately be knighted to rock star status among like minded folk (that's the out of touch p.c. do gooders). So I don't really think it’s a stretch to say that President Kelley’s only attachment to the University of North Dakota is a pay check; a very large one I might add, according to the Fargo Forum Kelley makes $330,158 per year.

Unwinnable fight...

On the other hand, I don’t think this is going to be a winnable fight, I am not capitulating, however, I can’t see the NCAA moving one bit on this issue, the NCAA is run by likeminded people that resemble UND President Robert O. Kelley. I have also seen where many of the legal minds say that UND has no standing, nor a snowballs chance in hell of being able to sue the NCAA in court again because they already signed a settlement with the NCAA.

I also think keeping the Fighting Sioux nickname could affect UND’s athletic departments going forward, there is no way in hell that I am going to watch UND and the University of Sioux Falls play in football. I will however attend a football game between UND and any of the Big Sky Schools. I also think that we won’t be able to see the University of North Dakota whoop the Gophers or the Badgers in hockey if the University of North Dakota retains the Fighting Sioux nickname.

I am going to go on record and say I don’t like this one bit and again I am not surrendering but I don’t see a way this works out… I don’t see any other way this ends for the University of North Dakota can keep the Fighting Sioux nickname without facing sanctions from the NCAA… I truly believe that Al Carlson and the UND delegation will go to their meeting with the NCAA and they will tell them that their stance on the nickname is not going to change.

I will also predict that the NCAA doesn’t care what the UND delegation will have to say on this matter, because their minds have already been made up, it doesn't matter to them if them that the Standing Rock Tribal council is “not allowing” their people to have a vote on the measure. In the end it also won’t matter that the Spirit Lake Tribe endorsed UND’s use of the Fighting Sioux nickname, the name thing the NCAA will say is that the University of North Dakota only got one of the two Sioux Tribes to approve the Fighting Sioux nickname. In the end UND will end up changing the Fighting Sioux nickname or risk not being a member in the Big Sky conference.

Two more reasons to hate the Vancouver Canucks.

The Vancouver Canucks have resigned Hab’s reject, diver and fraud Maxium Lapierre for two more seasons, so Western Conference fans will have to watch his antics of diving and flailing up and down the ice everytime he is touched. That's all we need in the NHL players that think they are Euro soccer players.

TSN.CA STAFF --- The Vancouver Canucks have signed restricted free agent Maxim Lapierre to a two-year deal worth $2-million.

Lapierre scored six goals and six assists in 78 during the regular season last year. He also provided three goals and two assists during the Canucks playoff run.

Vancouver Canucks bully boy Kevin Bieksa signed to a fat contract so skilled players and non fighters around the league will have to keep their head on a swivel when Bieksa is on the ice... Again I could care less if he played is college hockey at BGSU, not impressed with him at all… Maybe during the off season someone should have Kevin Bieksa familiarize himself with the hockey code.

TSN.CA STAFF --- Defenceman Kevin Bieksa has agreed to terms on a new five-year, $23 million contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

The deal will pay the blueliner $4.6 million per season, and also includes a no-trade clause.

Bieksa was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday. He just completed a three-year, $11.25 million contract with Vancouver.

The 30-year-old Bieksa has spent all six of NHL seasons with the Canucks since entering the league in 2005-06.

Montreal Police plan to meet with Chara for hit on Max Pachioretty

This is moronic, let it go already, there isn't any reason to charge Zdeno Chara criminally, what do they think they are going to do throw Chara in jail for his hit on Max Pacioretty? It's a hockey play not a criminal act. It's time for the city of Montreal and their fan base to move on.

MONTREAL -- Zdeno Chara hoisted the Stanley Cup as captain of the Boston Bruins two weeks ago. Now the big defenceman will have something else on his hands: a meeting with Montreal police.

Montreal cops have announced they intend to question Chara soon -- but they won't say when or where they'll do it.

A probe into Chara's hit last March that sidelined Montreal forward Max Pacioretty and sparked demands for a crackdown on hockey violence is nearing completion.

A police spokesman says Chara is the final person they need to speak with to complete their investigation; after that, the Crown will decide whether to press charges.

"The last person to meet is the person targeted by the investigation and that will be done in the coming weeks or months," Lafreniere said.

"In terms of whether or not it's going to happen in Boston or whether it will happen here (in Montreal), we don't discuss those details and we never publicize the fact that we're meeting a suspect."

Chara's profile and the hockey-mad culture of Montreal have made for an unusual case.

When Chara shoved his rival into a stanchion, breaking a vertebra and ending his season on March 8, he received a game misconduct.

Related articles

• Police to meet with Zdeno Chara about Pacioretty hit (ctv.ca)
• Montreal police to question Bruins' Chara as Pacioretty probe nears end (theglobeandmail.com)
• Montreal police to interview Bruins' Chara (cbc.ca)

Hockey analyst Pierre McGuire to focus work on NBC, Versus

I guess this is one more reason to not watch the NHL on NBC, good God! I have to ask NBC, what the hell were they thinking? Why would you want this buffoon to be one of the faces of your organization? McGuire has already alienated a fair share of your viewing audience. I think this is just another reason to watch the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs on CBC. I guess in this situation, Canada's loss isn't our gain. I wonder if the means we won't have to listen to him during the World Junior Championship anymore? That would be a great trade off that I could accept.

Pat Hickey, The Gazette - Canadian hockey fans will be seeing a lot less of Pierre McGuire in the future.

The ubiquitous analyst, who has been dividing his time between Canada and the United States since NBC regained the U.S. rights for National Hockey League games in 2006, has decided to concentrate on his duties south of the border.

“It’s a chance to spend more time with my family,” said the 50-year-old McGuire, who has an 11-year-old daughter and a 9-year-old. “I’ll be doing two games a week for Versus or NBC and spend one night in the Versus studio.”

McGuire, his wife Melanie and the kids will move in August from Westmount to New Canaan, Conn., which is a hop, step and a jump from the Versus studios in Stamford, Conn.

McGuire said he will continue to appear on TSN’s network of radio stations across Canada, and that includes his daily hit with Mitch Melnick on the Team 990. There have also been suggestions that McGuire may be involved in some special projects for TSN such as contributing to its draft coverage.

“I’ve enjoyed my time with both networks and I’m grateful for the opportunities TSN and NBC have provided for me,” McGuire said. “Concentrating my efforts on the NBC and Versus gives me more family time and there are some interesting professional opportunities.”

McGuire is referring to the fact that NBC recently renewed its contract to cover the Olympic Games.

“I’ll get a chance to work on the next three summer Games and two winter Games,” McGuire said.

NBC and McGuire have been working on a deal for several months and the final negotiations were delayed by the sudden departure of NBC Sports boss Dick Ebersol.

I found this paragraph to be puzzling. If this is the case why does Pierre McQuire come off on TSN as being so anti-Division One College Hockey and so pro Major Junior Hockey, it’s almost as if he is a mouth piece for the CHL? I am not anti Major Junior by any stretch of the imagination and college hockey has a fair share of their top players playing in the NHL and I get it that good share of the best players in the NHL are from the CHL, that being said the Major Junior hockey isn't for everyone but I don't get this guy and his abrasiveness and lack of respect towards Division One College Hockey. Is it because McGuire never played Division One hockey?

McGuire was born in New Jersey and grew up there and in Montreal. He played hockey at a Division III school in the U.S. and later played in Europe. He has his name on the Stanley Cup as an assistant coach with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1992, had a brief head coaching stint with a very bad Hartford Whalers team and was in the Ottawa Senators’ head office before he began his broadcasting career.

Rocco Grimaldi post draft interview...

I am excited that Rocco Grimaldi is going to be a member of the Fighting Sioux to start the 2011-2012 season. I think this highly skilled forward is going to be a great addition to the Fighting Sioux because Grimaldi is going to add much needed speed and skill to the Fighting Sioux line up... I predict that Grimaldi will be a top 6 forward that will play on the first or second line. I also like the fact that Rocco is going to have something to prove when he steps out on the ice as well. It will be nice to see a player like him on the Fighting Sioux side of the ice instead of watching a player of his skill dancing through our defenses scoring goals, Nathan Gerbe is a player that comes to mind.

Corey Hanlon; NESN ---- Rocco Grimaldi, selected by the Florida Panthers with the third pick in the second round of the 2011 NHL draft, stands at 5-foot-6 -- roughly the size of Zdeno Chara's leg. In a rebuilding franchise, Grimaldi could be making a big difference on the ice sooner rather than later and earn the title of shortest player in the league.

"It’s kind of annoying after a while, but it’s also kind of exciting to sit there not knowing what’s going to happen next," Grimaldi told Yahoo. "I still have to go out and prove people wrong, which I’ve done my whole life and I’m going to continue to do."

Grimaldi scored 34 goals in 50 games last season with the U.S. National Development team. He has committed to the University of North Dakota next year.

It's official John Hill out at UMN

Here is the official announcement. The word on the streets in the Twin Cities newspapers is that former Gophers assistant coach Mike Guentzel will take over for the now departed John Hill. Mike Guentzel was the assistant coach under Dean Blais for the UNO Mavericks last season. From looking at this from the outside this move smacks of desperation of a man trying to save his job, looks like Hill was the fall guy in this scenario.

Official Courtesy: University of Minnesota ----- University of Minnesota men's hockey coach Don Lucia announced today that assistant coach John Hill will not return for the 2011-12 season.
"I appreciate all the hard work John gave to Gopher Hockey," said Lucia. "I wish John nothing but success in the future and thank him for his commitment to Gopher Hockey."

Hill was a member of the Gopher coaching staff since 2005. He was also an assistant coach at Minnesota from 1999-2001 before serving as the head coach at his alma mater Alaska Anchorage from 2001-05.

A search for Hill's replacement will begin immediately.

While I am not really going out on a limb here, you can almost bet there will be more personnel changes in Rodenville if the not so Golden Gophers don’t make the NCAA tourney and Final Five… The unlikable John Hill was probably a scape goat.

Fighting Sioux forward and New York Rangers Draft Pick JT Miller.

s/t to Western College Hockey. Also, for the speculators and talking heads like Pierre McQuire that immediately said after J.T. Miller might be going to the Plymouth Whalers instead of the Fighting Sioux doesn't sound like it's going to happen.

Brad Schlossman; Grand Forks Herald ---- Miller, who conducted interviews with the New York media with Stafford watching from a distance, is a 6-foot-1, 198-pound power forward who finishes hits and goes to the net hard. He said he plans on bringing that game to UND this fall.

“I’d like to be a top guy that can be relied on to produce,” Miller said. “I’ll be a guy who works hard, just like the Sioux do. I’m excited to play there. It will be a great experience for me.”

I've had it with Pierre McQuire...

I can understand why a lot of American Division I College hockey fans don't like TSN hockey analyst/blow hard buffoon Pierre McQuire...  I am sure that many of them would love to reach through their television sets and strangle him or pop him in his bald fore head.

Almost as if on key; as future Fighting Sioux forward J.T. Miller was announced as the 15th over all draft pick of the New York Rangers; McQuire immediately mentions that Miller could go to the OHL and play for the Plymouth Whalers. How can a former Division I and III hockey coach come off as so anti-college hockey? My advice to TSN hockey analyst Pierre McQuire; would you please STFU, the University of North Dakota has historically produced many great NHL players and J.T. Miller would be no better off if he went and played against younger players in the OHL.

Related articles

• Rangers snag American-born center at No. 15 (nypost.com)
• Rangers Take American Forward J.T. Miller With 15th Pick (newyork.cbslocal.com)

Redwing77's Draft Roundup and perhaps other stuff

UND's Draftees:

JT Miller - 1st Round (15th Overall) - NY Rangers
Rocco Grimaldi - 2nd Round (33rd Overall) - Florida Panthers
Dillon Simpson - 4th Round (92nd Overall) - Edmonton Oilers

Not Drafted but Eligible:
Colton St. Clair

WCHA Draft Standings:

Minnesota - 5
UW - 4
DU - 4
UND - 3
UNO - 3
CC - 1
MTU -1

Draft Grades:

It's hard not to give Minnesota, UW, and DU high marks on the draft. They beat the field with numbers. Minnesota leads all NCAA schools with 5. UW and DU are tied with Miami and, incredibly, Harvard for second most.

Most of the drafted players in this year's NCAA crop were drafted in the 5th to 7th rounds, though it is only a slight majority. 28 NCAA players went in rounds 1-4 while 33 went in the 5th to 7th Rounds. The school that got the most top 3 round draft picks is Miami, with 3 of their 4 drafted players going in these rounds (2 were first rounders).

Overall, 75% of UND's draft eligible players (not counting the overagers, of which UND has 3) got drafted and all of them before the 5th round. Not bad. I thought Simpson would have gone higher, though. Perhaps Anaheim or even Winnipeg would've used their 3rd round picks on Dillon.

In any case, Colton St. Clair had a disappointing weekend, but that's alright. I hope he uses it as incentive to work hard. I'm sure he'll get invited to a prospect camp somewhere, maybe Winnipeg or Minnesota would give a regional player a look-see.

Miller's Status

It's widely published that JT Miller hasn't cast aside the Major Junior route (Plymouth of the OHL owns his rights). I would say there is a higher than average chance that Miller reports. The chance would be higher if the trifecta of evil (Moncton of the QMJHL, Red Deer of the WHL, or London of the OHL) owned Miller's rights. It's hard to say what Rangers GM Glen Sather will want JT to do. I don't know which camp he sits in, be it Pro-NCAA (such as Lamoriello of the Devils) or Pro-MJ (Yzerman of TB Lightning... or if any of the Sutters are still GMing), but here's my prediction:

I predict Miller attends UND in the fall. After his freshman season, however, all bets are off. He has stated that he wants to give UND a shot for a year and reevaluate after his freshman season. Because of the financial freedom the OHL has over the NCAA, it's going to be hard to ignore. We're just lucky Miller's rights aren't owned by a more aggressive OHL team.

NHL Draft Coverage --- Live chat

I am just watching the Draft on TV come join me if you want. Comments are welcome from all...

Here the pick-by-pick break down of the first round of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

1  EDM Ryan Nugent-Hopkins C CA 6' 0" 171 WHL Red Deer
2 COL Gabriel Landeskog LW SE 6' 1" 204 OHL Kitchener 
3 FLA Jonathan Huberdeau C CA 6' 1" 171 QMJHL Saint John 
4 NJD Adam Larsson D SE 6' 3" 197 SWEDEN Skelleftea 
5 NYI Ryan Strome C CA 6' 0" 177 OHL Niagara 
6 OTT Mika Zibanejad C SE 6' 2" 195 SWEDEN Djurgarden 
7 WPG Mark Scheifele C CA 6' 2" 184 OHL Barrie
8 PHI Sean Couturier C US 6' 3" 197 QMJHL Drummondville 
9 BOS Dougie Hamilton D CA 6' 5" 193 OHL Niagara
10 MIN Jonas Brodin D SE 6' 1" 166 SWEDEN Farjestad 
11 COL Duncan Siemens D CA 6' 3" 196 WHL Saskatoon 
12 CAR Ryan Murphy D CA 5' 11" 170 OHL Kitchener 
13 CGY Sven Baertschi LW CH 5' 10" 181 WHL Portland 
14 DAL Jamieson Oleksiak D CA/US  6' 7" 241 Northeastern University
15 NYR Jonathan Miller C US 6' 1" 189 USHL USA U-18/UND
16 BUF Joel Armia RW FI 6' 3" 192 FINLAND Assat 
17 MTL Nathan Beulieu D CA 6' 1" 179 QMJHL Saint John
18 CHI Mark McNeill C CA 6' 1" 211 WHL Prince Albert 
19 EDM Oscar Klefdom D SE 6' 3" 204 SWEDEN Farjestad 
20 PHX Connor Murphy D US 6' 3" 190 USHL USA U-18
21 OTT Stefan Noesen RW US 6' 0" 187 OHL Plymouth 
22 TOR Tyler Biggs BIGGS RW US 6' 2" 205 USHL USA U-18
23 PIT Joesph Morrow D CA 6' 0" 199 WHL Portland 
24 OTT Matt Puempel LW CA 6' 0" 198 OHL Peterborough 
25 TOR Stuart Percy D CA 6' 1" 187 OHL Mississauga St. Michael's 
26 CHI Phillip Danault LW CA 6' 0" 181 QMJHL Victoriaville 
27 TBL Vladislav Namestnikov C RU 5' 11" 171 OHL London 
28 MIN Zack Phillips S C CA 6' 0" 175 QMJHL Saint John
29 VAN Nicklas Jensen LW/RW DK 6' 2" 202 OHL Oshawa 
30 ANA Rickard Rakell RW SE 6' 0" 199 OHL Plymouth

There were two major trades tonight...

The Minnesota Wild traded their top defenseman Brent Burns and second-round pick next year to the San Jose Sharks for Devin Setoguchi and the 2010 first-round pick Charlie Coyle and their first-round pick this year (No. 28).

Also, the Washington Capitals acquired forward Troy Brouwer via trade from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for a first-round pick.

John Hill out at UMN - Mike Guentzel back in at UMN.

There is some surprising news surfacing down in Rodentville. It would appear that the powers that be at the University of Minnesota have finally seen enough of John Hill’s antics; I am surprised Hill stayed on as long as he did. Seriously folks when Mike Guentzel left the University of Minnesota after the 2007 – 2008 season, I was shocked that the Gophers parted ways with a great coach like Guentzel and kept John Hill.

Jeff Oftos of Gopher Puck Live is reporting that Minnesota Golden Gopher assistant hockey coach John Hill is out as assistant coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers and former Minnesota Assistant hockey coach Mike Guentzel is back in for the Minnesota Golden Gophers. I have found in the past that Gopher Puck Live is in tune and spot on in most of their predictions and stories so I have no reason to doubt it.

Had anyone out there predicted this scenario unfolding?

While no official announcement has been made, several sources, including @hammyhockey and @quickfacts via Twitter have reported a somewhat surprising change on the Gopher hockey staff. It appears as though Coach John Hill will not return for the 2011 – 2012 season, and a familiar face will be back in.

The first piece of this news is not surprising. For at least a couple of seasons now, there have been a lot of rumblings about what effectiveness Coach Hill was having on the team. Due to the theories that there was nobody on staff with any true defensive coaching experience, the team was losing some players early to the pro ranks and even losing out on some higher profile recruits, Coach Hill took the brunt of the blame not directly fired at Lucia.


Mike Guentzel In?
The surprise is coming in the return of former Gopher defenseman, captain and (long-time) assistant coach Mike Guentzel. Rumored to have been let-go by Coach Lucia after the 2007 – 2008 season, most figured the only way Guentzel would have returned was either as a head coach or with a different head coach/staff altogether.

Long known for his loyalty to the ‘M’, Guentzel, of course, the staunch assistant coach from 1994 – 2008 returns to, assumingly, take the reigns of a defense that has struggled in one aspect or another from time to time since he left. Be it puck movement on the power play, or tying up defenders in front of their own net, this is an area that should improve now that Guentzel is back.

First I want to preface this with; I don’t know John Hill nor do I have any idea what kind of person John Hill is in person, however, in what I have witnessed as a fan in his role as assistant coach of the University of Minnesota, John Hill comes off as a half cocked buffoon, or as a guy that has one caught in the chamber, especially when he is being interviewed during the Sioux and Gopher series. A few seasons a go when the Gophers were playing the Fighting Sioux, Hill made some puzzling statements on how he hated the Fighting Sioux hockey team. Not something you would expect an assistant coach to say.

To on lookers out side of the UMN hockey program; the fact that Mike Guentzel left the Gophers and John Hill got to stay was a puzzling move to many that I have talked to… I can also remember Johnny Pohl telling Paul Allen on KFAN 1130 that losing assistant coach Mike Guentzel was a major loss for the Gopher hockey program.

Looking back at the results of the last three season, it’s apparent that the loss of Mike Guentzel was a major loss for the Golden Gophers hockey program, the Gophers defense has looked like a bunch of orange road cones or pylons since; as the opposition teams have pretty much skated around the Gophers like a hot knife going through butter. Since Guentzel left the Gopher hockey team the have been mediocre at best going an unimpressive 51-46-15 missing the Final Five the last two years and the NCAA tourney the last three seasons in a row.

Winnipeg Expected to announce 'Jets' name before draft pick...

Image via WikipediaTSN.CA is reporting that the Winnipeg team will now be called the Jets. I believe that this is the right move, nice to see the Jets back in Winnipeg, Manitoba where they belong. Claude Noel has also been name head coach of the Winnipeg Jets, Noel was the head coach of the Manitoba Moose.

It looks like the Winnipeg Jets are cleared for landing.

The team, which is expected to officially announce their name before making the 7th overall pick in tonight's NHL Entry Draft, is reportedly going to go with the very popular Jets nickname.

You can watch the Draft live on TSN, TSN.ca and TSN Mobile TV tonight at 7pm et/4pm pt. Make sure to check out TSN.ca for a live hockey blog with TSN Analyst Craig Button, beginning at 6:30 pm et/3:30 pm pt.

After an explosive Thursday that watched big name players get moved, Friday could be just as volatile as the NHL Entry Draft goes tonight in Minnesota.

Boston Bruins spend $156,679.74 on bar tab...

Wow! Check out these mind blowing numbers from the Boston Bruins Stanley Cup champion party that was held at Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. I mean the common person can’t even phantom spending money like this, the numbers are mind blowing, can you imagine spending and then drinking a $100,000.00 bottle of champagne, nor can I imagine a 24,000.00 tip to the bar maid. Hey, I don't blame them for blowing off steam one bit.

Steve Silva, Boston.com --- When all was said and done, the Black and Gold racked up a four-hour bar tab that according to Shrine totaled $156,679.74, and included the now-famous $100,000.00 bottle of Ace of Spades "Midas" champagne, which was a gift according to Bruins players Shawn Thornton and Zdeno Chara.

The tab also lists a built-in tip of $24,869.80 for Danielle (the server whose name is on top of the tab below), which we imagine she had to split up with a few other servers at Shrine.

Related articles

• Cup champion Bruins party like bears, run up $157K bar tab (windsorstar.com)
• Boston Bruins x MGM Foxwoods ... just partying like champions... (theoriginalwinger.com)
• Bruins: Play Hard, Party Harder (bostonist.com)

Bruins set up to repeat?

Locker Smash

In looking at the Boston Bruins roster for next season, one could make the argument that the Boston Bruins are set up to make another run at the Stanley Cup... The Boston Bruins are going to have most of their team back from this past season. Also, unlike the Chicago Blackhawks the Boston Bruins don’t “salary cap” issues. There will not be a fire sale to start the season off.

Scott Cullen; TSN --- After winning their first Stanley Cup since 1972, the Boston Bruins don't need a whole lot more good news, but they have some nevertheless.

Off-Season Game Plan looks at the Bruins' roster and what GM Peter Chiarelli might do to give the Bruins a shot at back-to-back titles.

The good news for the Bruins, unlike the 2010-champion Chicago Blackhawks, is that the Bruins are in a favourable financial position with respect to the salary cap.

Through Chiarelli's savvy, the Bruins should not only have the room to bring back any or all of the players from their championship team, they should still have the wherewithal to address some needs.

Of course, coming off a Stanley Cup win, it's not like the Bruins have massive holes to fill.

They could use more skilled offensive players, whether on the wing or on defence, in the hopes that might help fix a power play that was an albatross down the stretch and throughout the playoffs. It's almost unbelievable that the Bruins could win the Stanley Cup tournament while struggling for so long with the man advantage, yet that actually happened.

A factor that is already in the Bruins' favour is that they have room for internal improvement, with young players like Brad Marchand and Tyler Seguin the most likely to play more significant roles going forward

Bismarck Tribune - Drop the 'Fighting Sioux'

Image via WikipediaThe Bismarck Tribune editorial board came out with this stance on the Fighting Sioux logo. Can't say that I was shocked by their response, seems to be popular to pile on now.

I want to address one point in this editorial; you don't just pick "a new nickname and logo," the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo has been part of UND's history for 80+ years you can't just go Willy Nilly and pick a new nickname and logo without putting some serious thought into the process.  This is how you end up with a really stupid replacement nickname and logo.

Bismarck Tribune - Robert Kelley, University of North Dakota president, said Monday it's time for the school to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

He is right.

But here's the big question. Does he have the wherewithal to get the job done? We think he does, we support his efforts and we wish him success.

Personal preference to keep or drop those two words and image - Fighting Sioux - pales in comparison with what is best for UND students. The protracted controversy from polarized camps has gone on far too long. Damage has been done. More will follow. But it shouldn't be hard to weigh the options.

Pick a new nickname and logo, deal with some angst for an undetermined period of time and create an atmosphere ultimately conducive to university and student athletic success.

Continue use of the nickname and logo, deal with everlasting angst from the NCAA, and create an atmosphere that severely impacts the university and student athletic success.

Forget about "who" makes the decision. It's time to put egos aside and do the right thing - and UND President Kelley should be the point man.

It's time for Native Americans in support of the name and logo to defer to their brothers and sisters who have been, and are, offended by what they believe to be a hostile environment. Indians can lead by continuing a long tradition of love, understanding and service to one another, by focusing on the greater good.

It's time for arrogant legislators to stop controlling and micro-managing. They are not leading by continuing to ask for meetings with the NCAA to defend their silly and defiant actions, pomp-and-circumstance votes commanding continued use of the nickname and logo.

It's time for those legislators to show leadership by admitting their mistake and committing to lightening the heavy burden they wrongfully placed on UND and its students - and November's special redistricting session isn't soon enough.

It's time for the Board of Higher Education to lead by backing President Kelley, at whatever cost, at restarting the transition process that had begun, making it possible to move past the nickname and logo conflict.

And, it's time for the NCAA, and Big Sky Conference, to acknowledge those efforts by then showing leadership by welcoming and helping UND move forward to university and student athletic success.

Consider what is best for students and it isn't an ongoing controversy over a nickname.

Now is the time for leadership - not showmanship.

NHL realignment for the 2012-13 season

Image via WikipediaWith the Atlanta Thrashers moving to Winnipeg Manitoba, it appears that the Detroit Redwings will be moving to the Eastern Conference like many of the hockey pundits had suggested. I also like the idea of having a home-and-home against teams outside their division.

Bruce Garrioch ,Ottawa Sun - The NHL could be ready to make drastic changes with a major realignment for the 2012-13 season.

Two league executives told QMI Agency Wednesday that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman presented a proposal during Tuesday’s board of governors meetings in New York to scrap the current format used by the league.

Sources say under Bettman’s proposal, the league will have four divisions: Pacific, Midwest, East and South. It’s believed the Detroit Red Wings and Columbus Blue Jackets would both get their wish to move to the East conference.

Changes need to be made with the Atlanta Thrashers’ move to Winnipeg now official. The two conferences and six divisions will be kept this year, but Bettman is pushing for a major change.

The realignment is by no means final. It’s still in the discussion stages.

Teams would play a balanced 82-game schedule with home-and-home against teams outside their division.

The top four teams in each division would make the playoffs. The first round would be divisonal play, the teams would then re-seed for conference play. Bettman’s idea would not affect a East-West Stanley Cup final matchup.

Winnipeg NHL team to play Les Habitants to open 2011- 2012 season

Image by Jordon via FlickrThe Winnipeg NHL team _________ ( the what-evers) are going to open with Les Habitants on Sunday, October 9th at 4 p.m. at the MTS Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Go ________...

ST. PAUL, MINN. - Break out the tuxedos folks, the Montreal Canadiens will serve as the first regular-season opponent for Winnipeg’s new NHL franchise.

Although the full NHL schedule will be released on Thursday afternoon, True North confirmed Wednesday evening that they’ll host the fabled Habs on Sunday, Oct. 9 at 4 p.m. at the MTS Centre in a game that will serve as the season and home opener for Winnipeg.

“To be honest, I could care less about who we’re playing,” Winnipeg captain Andrew Ladd said in a text message. “It’s going to be more about the first game back in Winnipeg and how crazy the fans will be!”

Manitobans will get a double dose of scheduling pleasure on Thursday.

In the morning, the preseason schedule for Winnipeg’s NHL team will be unveiled.

Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff revealed on Wednesday that Winnipeg has simply picked up the preseason schedule the Atlanta Thrashers planned to play.

Winnipeg will play seven preseason tilts, three at home, three on the road and one neutral site game against the Ottawa Senators on Sept. 26 in Conception Bay South in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Having a game in the same province as their American Hockey League affiliate is a bonus.

“It was very fortuitous that the exhibition schedule for Atlanta already had a game already scheduled out there,” said Cheveldayoff. “For us, it’s great. It’s an exciting time for the fans of Newfoundland to really get to see a lot of players that could be there way, but certainly a lot of players who will be in Winnipeg as well.”

That game against the Senators will be part of the Kraft Hockeyville promotion

Related articles

• True North and MTS Allstream agree on 10-year naming rights deal for MTS Centre in Winnipeg (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• NHL To Vote On Winnipeg Relocation Of Atlanta Thrashers Tuesday (sbnation.com)
• Winnipeg GM Kevin Cheveldayoff prepares staff for first NHL draft (thehockeynews.com)
• NHL approves Atlanta sale to Winnipeg (cbc.ca)

Former Sioux Toews on Vancouver riots: 'I kind of expected that'

Web Pro News

This was just too good to not pass on. Former Fighting Sioux star and current Blackhawk forward Jonathan Toews wasn't surprised by the Rioting in Vancouver. Seriously, I can't say that I am all that shocked either; especially after there was a riot in the city of Vancouver after the Vancouver Canucks lost in 1994 Stanley Cup Finals to the New York Rangers. What a bunch of morons, they tore up their city after the lost in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Chris Kuc; Tribune reporter --- After getting up close and personal with Canucks fans the past three seasons, Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews wasn't surprised at the rioting in Vancouver after Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Shortly after the Canucks fell to the Bruins last week to give Boston its first Stanley Cup since 1972, the British Columbia city erupted in violence, causing multiple injuries and extensive damage.

"I kind of expected that," said Toews, who was scheduled to leave Chicago on Tuesday to head to Las Vegas for the NHL Awards. "Those fans are crazy. When we beat them the last couple of years they were throwing stuff on the ice. They're crazy fans and obviously passionate about their team. I kind of expected a reaction one way or another."

NHL Awards 2011

The 2010-2011 NHL hockey season is officially over after the NHL awards were handed out in Las Vegas. Two Boston Bruins won awards, no surprise to anyone that Tim Thomas won his second Vezina Trophy in three seasons. Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara won the Messier Award. Former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews finished second in the voting for the Selke Trophy. I do have a question; how's Peter Chiarelli General Manager of the Boston Bruins not a Candidate for the GM award?

Norris (Outstanding Defenseman): Nicklas Lidstrom, Detroit Red Wings

Art Ross (Regular-Season Scoring Leader): Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Mark Messier Leadership Award: Zdeno Chara, Boston Bruins

Selke (Outstanding Defensive Forward): Ryan Kesler, Vancouver Canucks

Jack Adams (Coach of the Year): Dan Bylsma, Pittsburgh Penguins

Calder (Top Rookie): Jeff Skinner, Carolina Hurricanes

Jennings (Fewest Goals Allowed): Roberto Luongo and Cory Schneider, Vancouver Canucks

General Manager: Mike Gillis, Vancouver Canucks

Rocket Richard (Most Regular-Season Goals): Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks

Ted Lindsay (MVP as Voted by Players): Daniel Sedin, Vancouver Canucks

Masterton (Perseverance and Dedication to Hockey): Ian Laperriere, Philadelphia Flyers

King Clancy (Leadership and Humanitarian Contributions): Doug Weight, New York Islanders

Lady Byng (Skillful and Gentlemanly Play): Martin St. Louis, Tampa Bay Lightning

Vezina (Top Goaltender): Tim Thomas, Boston Bruins

Hart (MVP): Corey Perry, Anaheim Ducks

HOCKEY: ‘A real, living Paul Bunyan’

Image via WikipediaFighting Sioux beat writer Brad Schlossman has an awesome article on former Bemidji Lumber Jack star George Pelawa. I had the pleasure of meeting George when I moved to Bemidji, Minnesota in 1984.

I transferred my senior year of high school from International Falls, Minnesota to Bemidji, Minnesota, where I met George Pelawa who was also playing football for the Bemidji Lumber Jacks. I can tell you everything that they said about George Pelawa was true, George was an amazing athlete, and an awesome person, I don't think that you could meet a nicer guy and I can't ever remember anyone ever saying anything negative about him.

Brad Elliott Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald --- George Pelawa was 6 feet, 4 inches and about 240 pounds.

“The biggest hockey player I ever saw,” UND associate coach Cary Eades said. “He was a real, living Paul Bunyan.”

He could skate, puck-handle, shoot and hit, too.

The rare skill set made the Bemidji native one of the most coveted players that northern Minnesota has ever seen.

Eades recalls rejoicing in the Sioux hockey office 25 years ago when Pelawa committed to UND, then watching the power forward dominate at the 1986 state hockey tournament.

Three months later, the Calgary Flames selected Pelawa in the first round with the No. 16 overall pick. At the time, no Minnesota-born forward had ever been drafted higher.

“He had the total package,” said Eades, an assistant coach who helped recruit Pelawa. “The sky was the limit for him. There was an unbelievable amount of potential for him. . . just never realized.”

A week after moving into the dorms at UND, Pelawa was killed in a car accident just north of Bemidji.

An estimated 2,000 people attended the funeral at the high school auditorium.

Among those in attendance: UND head coach Gino Gasparini, U.S. Olympic head coach Dave Peterson, Miracle on Ice coach Herb Brooks and Calgary Flames general manager Cliff Fletcher, whose son Chuck will make the home state team’s draft pick Friday night in Xcel Energy Center as the general manager of the Minnesota Wild.

Pelawa’s parents, Frank and Winnie, are considering making the trip to St. Paul for the event. It will certainly conjure up many memories of the guy who was affectionately known as “Big George.”

Board of Governors approves changes to two rules

Associated Press

There were two changes to the NHL  rule book;  Rule 48 which covers hits to the head and Rule 41 which covers the penalty for boarding. Some in the past have complained that Rule 48 is too vague and confusing. Now the rule has been changed, to take away the confusion and vagueness, now it doesn't matter hat direction a player comes from to hit an opposition player in the head. On the boarding rule tweak; it now doesn't matter if you check or push a defenseless player into the boards.

Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer   ---- The NHL's Board of Governors on Tuesday approved changes to the wording of Rule 48 that were initially passed by the League's general managers and then the Competition Committee at meetings in Boston during the Stanley Cup Final.

Rule 48 previously provided the on-ice officials with the ability to call a major penalty for any targeted head hit from the lateral or blind side, but the re-written rule no longer includes the words lateral or blind side, and the major penalty provision has been replaced by the minor penalty provision.

"Now, the confusion some of the players have expressed in the past as to what direction they're approaching a player, what direction a player is facing, east, west, north, south, that has all been taken out," said Brendan Shanahan, NHL Senior V.P. of Player Safety and Hockey Operations. "Anywhere on the ice, coming from any direction, you target the head and make it a principle point of contact, you'll be subject to a two-minute penalty on the ice for Rule 48. You'll also be -- as with all two-minute penalties or non-calls -- subject to supplementary discipline."

In addition, Rule 41, which covers boarding, was also changed to read, "A boarding penalty shall be imposed on any player who checks or pushes a defenseless opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to hit or impact the boards violently or dangerously."

The words "pushes" and "defenseless" were previously not included in the definition of the boarding rule. Defenseless replaced the word vulnerable.

"What we did is we took the onus off the violence of the hit itself and added the word 'push' in there," Shanahan said. "It really has more to do with the violence in the collision with the boards. We don't necessarily think it has to be a violent hit to cause a violent crash, so we broadened the rule by putting in the word 'push.' "

Related articles

• NHL Competition Committee Approves Expansion Of Rule 48 (sbnation.com)
• NHL's competition committee to recommend changes to Rule 48 (theglobeandmail.com)
• NHL's competition committee to recommend changes to head hitting rule (thehockeynews.com)
• Winnipeg NHL approval vote on tap in New York (cbc.ca)

It's official Thrashers to Winnipeg

Illegal Curve

The NHL will officially will now only be about 150 miles from Grand Forks, ND. I believe one reader told me I was out of touch and delusional if I thought that the NHL would make it's return to Winnipeg, Manitoba. I guess I wasn't delusional after all. The vote to move the Thrashers to Winnipeg was unanimous as well. For all of you're Jets news visit the Illegal Curve blog.

NEW YORK (AP) —Don Waddell has been through it all with the Atlanta Thrashers since they entered the NHL in 1999.

From general manager to coach to team president, Waddell endured the ups and downs—mostly downs—as the franchise struggled on and off the ice.

After 13 years and only one playoff appearance that produced no wins, Tuesday was the day for Waddell and Atlanta to finally say goodbye to its second hockey team.

The NHL board of governors unanimously approved the sale and relocation of the Thrashers to Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Tuesday, clearing the final big hurdle in the process.

“We’ve been through the emotions and the frustrations the last few weeks, but when I look back and being there 13 years, it’s been a great run,” said Waddell, who served as general manager from the start until the 2009-10 season. “Since ’98 when I got hired, there are only four general managers that are currently with their teams.

“You’ve got to look at the positives. To be able to stay in one place for so long, it’s been tremendous for me.”

The same can’t be said of the team that once featured star players such as Dany Heatley(notes) and Ilya Kovalchuk(notes) and Marian Hossa(notes), but couldn’t keep them for one reason or another.

True North Sports and Entertainment bought the team last month and announced it was bringing the Thrashers to Winnipeg, which lost the Jets to Phoenix after the 1995-96 season.

“Obviously, everybody is sorry and distressed and unhappy that we found ourselves in the circumstance where our franchise was leaving Atlanta,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We’re particularly sorry for the fans that are there, but obviously based on the reception that we’ve gotten, everybody is extremely excited about the opportunities in Winnipeg for our return.”

NCAA Ice hockey panel clarifies rules

Image via WikipediaThis was tweeted over on twitter. The NCAA Ice Hockey Committee looked to clarify the rule regarding head shots. It’s good that the NCAA is going to look at this rule more closely. I do see one problem with this clarification though; it’s going to take more legal hitting out of the college hockey game. This could in essence take a lot of the open ice hits out of the game of college hockey, I would be willing to bet we will see shoulder to shoulder contact penalized.

Ty Halpin; NCAA.org ---- The committee did approve several items of guidance for officials to build on the successful implementation of its rules for contact to the head.

“Progress was certainly made this season,” said Ed McLaughlin, athletics director at Niagara University and chair of the committee. “We are adding some additional guidance to support what is already in our rules in the hope that players, coaches and officials can better understand expectations with this rule.”

In some cases, officials were hesitant to enforce the contact to the head because they were unsure if a player had clearly “targeted” an opponent. The committee reinforced that targeting is not a prerequisite for this rule to be used.

Added to the examples of the type of play the committee hopes to remove are players who are reckless, players who are about to receive a pass and direct contact to the head or neck area from any direction. This additional guidance joins several other bullet points already printed in the rules book.

The committee also points the hockey community to language that already appears in the rules book: “A player delivering a check to an unsuspecting and vulnerable player puts themselves in jeopardy of being penalized under this rule.”

“We believe our rule is the most robust and aggressive in ice hockey,” McLaughlin said. “What we saw this year was a good start. We’re trying to take any doubt out of this call and help officials who have only one game-speed view of a play to determine how to officiate this play. We realize this is a big penalty and a serious one, but this approach has worked with hitting from behind and we believe it will work here to adjust player behavior.”

Also from the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Comittee, elbellishmet is also going to be another area of emphasis, I applaud that decision, “Diving and embellishment erode the integrity of our game and must be eliminated.” I say right on! Hockey in North America is starting to look like European Soccer with all of the diving, if you think I am off the mark, go back and re-watch the 2011 Stanley Cup playoffs again, there was so much diving in the games that the refs got to a point where they couldn’t tell if a player was diving or not and many times failed to call a penalty. Also, not to points fingers but the players of Garrett Roe and Jacob Cepis' ilk, you're on notice, the refs are going to be watching you… Diving is ruining hockey of all levels. Seriously, real hockey players aren't frauds and they don't dive.

Embellishment/diving

In addition to the contact to the head and general emphasis on player safety, the committee received feedback from the coaching community that embellishment/diving seems to be a growing issue. The committee voted to make this a point of emphasis for the upcoming season and plans to include several video examples during preseason clinics.

“Diving and embellishment erode the integrity of our game and must be eliminated,” McLaughlin said. “Trying to deceive officials is unethical and unsporting. This has to be a collaborative effort to make progress.”

The committee decided to provide guidance regarding obstruction along the boards, where the defensive tactic of pressing and releasing an opponent should be allowed, but impeding is not. Again, additional video examples will be used to encourage consistent application of these rules.

Finally, the group points attention again to rules that deal with facewashing, which typically occurs after a stoppage in play. Continued and stringent enforcement of these rules is needed to improve the image of the game.

In case you’re one of the ten people that hasn’t seen it, here is the official press release from the NC$$ on the Fighting Sioux nickname. As you can see the NCAA is not budging and they will probably not change their mind.

NCAA statement on North Dakota mascot issueThe NCAA’s Native American mascot policy remains in effect, and we stand ready to assist the University of North Dakota with its implementation of the policy.

The Big Sky Conference’s position related to the university's Fighting Sioux nickname and logo is consistent with the spirit and intent of the settlement agreement the NCAA reached with the university to retire the nickname and logo.

We have made clear to both the conference and the university that the NCAA has no intention of changing its position.

If the University of North Dakota continues to use the nickname and logo past the August 15 deadline due to state law, it will be subject to the parameters of the policy. This means the university could not host any championships or use the nickname and logo at any championship events.

If you have read this blog for any length of time you will know that I am a big time supporter of the Fighting Sioux nickname. In the future, I plan on getting a Fighting Sioux logo permanently tattooed to my body… It’s the opinion of this writer that the University of North Dakota will never be able to replace this great logo with anything remotely cool. I also believe that we are destined to replace the Fighting Sioux logo with some stupid moniker that will be in essence a capitulation to the people that were offended by the Fighting Sioux logo and nickname.

Moving forward, I also don’t have any faith in the current president of the University of North Dakota, President Robert Kelley is part of the problem, he is a hand wringing liberal elite from the University of Berkley in California who wants to shove his political correctness and beliefs down our throat. That being said I do believe this is the end of the Fighting Sioux nickname, I see no way that it stays past this season.

Related articles

• NCAA: No policy change on Indian nicknames (sports.espn.go.com)
• NCAA: No change in policy against Indian nicknames (cbssports.com)