Goon's World: November 2011

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Whitney knees Cal Clutterbuck.

This was a blatant knee on knee hit, there is no room in the game for this kind of crap and the NHL should throw the book at Ryan Whitney. There is no way you can defend this hit, and Ryan Whitney should be getting a call from Brendan Shanahan tomorrow morning. Below is the screen shot of what Michael Russo had to say on the hit.

Canucks' Raymond 'will never be the same'

Here is a follow up on former on former UMD Bulldog Mason Raymond, sounds like he had a very long painful struggle to get back to the NHL. This story was in today's Vancouver Sun, the video of the hit in question is included above.

Vancouver Sun --- Run into the boards by Boston Bruins defenceman Johnny Boychuk, who held down Raymond’s head as he rammed the Canuck backwards, Raymond suffered not only a fractured spine but damaged nerves and tissue.

“It’s a serious injury that’s going to take some time,” he said. “Things have changed back there. It will never be the same. I’m not going to get into specifics, but I had some serious damage back there. I’ve got issues back there. I’ve got to deal with them all the time. That’s part of life. Is it going to be perfect? Probably not. But I’m at a stage where it’s very good and I continue to work and do things that are going to make me feel I’m in a good spot.”

Raymond spent most of last summer in a back brace and when training camp began in September the 26-year-old from Cochrane, Alta., was still unsure if he’d play again in the National Hockey League. Sometime in the fall, he crossed the threshold between “if” and “when” and three weeks ago he began practicing with teammates.

Matt Frattin and Adam McQuaid collision

s/t to a Tradition of Excellence Check out this collision between former Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin and Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid, both men are about the 200 pound range.It's like two trains colliding.

Matt Frattin's second career goal.

Check out this goal from former Fighting Sioux all American and current Maple Leaf forward Matt Frattin, this goal closed the score to 4-3 before the Bruins scored two more goals. I have a feeling that Frattin is going to score many more goals in his NHL career.

Edit: On an unrelated note, here are the Bruins games against the Leafs this season. Total domination = the Bruins outscoring the Leafs 19-5.

FINAL TOR (2) - BOS (6)
FINAL BOS (7) - TOR (0)
TSN FINAL BOS (6) - TOR (3)

Addendum: Some people have taken exception with my statement of the Bruins dominating the Leafs in a blog post after last night’s game. Point of clarification; in the three games Boston Bruins have played against the Maple Leafs this season, the Boston Bruins outscored the Leafs 19-5. I don't think it is a stretch to put that in the domination category; I am not sure what else we would call that?

While the Leafs out-shot the Boston Bruins 39-37 during last night’s game, I sometimes think the shots stat is one of the most over used and meaningless stats in hockey. Like my buddy Trin says, “you can beat people over the head with stats but the only one that matters is the final score at the end of the game.”

It's UAA week.

Well in case you haven't noticed, it's UND vs. UAA week. You may or may not see this blog post, based on the site meter, not too many have. This is probably the kind of stuff that that anti-nickname crowd was talking about, especially when they complained about the opposition fans and their misuse of the nickname and imagery.

This beaut, is from the UAA fan blog, written by Donald Dunlop aka Delusions of Grandeur. Not seeing a lot of hilarity in this blog post. Then again we're probably not his audience.

Once you get past all of the bravo sierra and profanity there are a lot of good things on his blog about UAA hockey. Also, let it be known, that UAA hockey doesn't get a lot of positive coverage from the local media.

A few of the topic of discussion we will probably see this week, 1.) Will head coach Dave Hakstol attend the UAA luncheon this year? 2.) Will UND have hot water in the showers in the locker room? 3.) As most of us know, UAA Athletic Director Steve Cobb was less than impressed with the way the NCHC took form. So it will be interesting to see what kind of a reception that UND gets.

According to the Anchorage Daily News, UAA athletic director Steve Cobb said that he blames "everybody for being less than honest with their own league members. ... I'm not offended at all they want to start a conference. I'm very offended at the way it was handled. ... It's going to be very tense and very uncomfortable." [CHN.COM]

Sioux vs. Seawolves series preview

Cross Posted at INSIDE HOCKEY.

The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux travel to Anchorage Alaska to play the UAA Seawolves this weekend

Television: The games against UAA will be on Midcontinent this weekend: channel 323 in North Dakota and South Dakota, channel 413 in International Falls and Fairmont, Minn. Midcontinent will be picking up the broadcast from GCI Cable Television in Anchorage.

Radio: The games can be heard at 96.1 the Fox.

Internet: Webcast from GCI. [Click to view]

Records and Rankings:

UND – 6-7-1 overall, 4-6-0 WCHA; received votes in both national polls. The Fighting Sioux swept the fifth ranked Colorado College in Grand Forks, ND last weekend (7-6 win, 4-3 win).

UAA – 5-7-2 overall, 2-7-1 WCHA; unranked in both national polls. The Seawolves took three points from the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks last weekend (5-4 win and 5-5 tie).

Series History:

The Fighting Sioux lead the all-time series with UAA Seawolves, 42-17-4 (27-3-3 at home and 15-14-1 in Anchorage).

The Fighting Sioux have only lost twice in their last 13 meetings against the UAA Seawolves (9-2-2 during that stretch). In the last 10 games, UND leads the series, 7-2-1.

Players to Watch:

For the Fighting Sioux: forwards Danny Kristo (7g-10a—17pts), Corbin Knight (6g-11a—17pts) and Brock Nelson (10g-7a—17pts) are tied for the team lead in scoring. Goaltender Aaron Dell currently holds a .887 save percentage and a 3.27 goals against average.

For the Seawolves: forwards Mickey Spencer (7g-2—9pts), Brett Cameron (2g-5a—7pts) and Daniel Naslund (2g-5a—7pts). Goaltenders Chris Kamal (.890 save percentage, 3.10 goals against average), and Rob Gunderson (.884 save percentage, 3.28 goals against average).

Key Numbers:

1 – The number of gamess the Seawolves and Fighting Sioux have won on the road this season.

2 – The UAA Seawolves are ranked second in Penalty Minutes (15.1).

5 – The number of wins the Seawolves have so far this season.

6 – The Fighting Sioux & the Seawolves are ranked 6^th on the power play (20.8).

7 – The number of losses that the Sioux have so far this season.

7 – The Fighting Sioux are ranked seventh in team defense (3.21).

8 – The number of losses that the Seawolves have for far this season.

9 – The Fighting Sioux are ranked ninth in the WCHA in scoring (2.86).

10 – Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson has 10 goals so far this season.

10 – Fighting Sioux forward Danny Kristo has 10 assists so far this season.

10 – The Seawolves are ranked 10^th on the Penalty Kill (76.7).

11 – The Fighting Sioux have scored 11 goals in the third period this season.

11 – The Seawolves are ranked 11^th in scoring Offense (2.43).

11 – The Seawolves are ranked 11^th in Scoring Defense 11th (3.36)

11 – The Fighting Sioux are ranked 11^th in Penalty Minutes (11.8).

Other games in the WCHA: Minnesota State at Minnesota, Bemidji at Saint Cloud, Nebraska Omaha at University of Alabama Huntsville, Duluth at Michigan Tech, Denver at Colorado College (Friday only). Wisconsin is Idle.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Garrett Clarke released from QMJHL team.

Image via Wikipedias/t to the Wold of Junior Hockey. Seems like this worked out the best for the Fighting Sioux and in retrospect it appears that it was a good thing that Clarke didn't come to the Fighting Sioux.

Press release --- The Acadie-Bathurst Titan announces they have released 19 yr old defenseman Garrett Clarke for disciplinary reasons.

Clarke had been acquired last season from the Shawinigan Cataractes for a 1st round pick, that pick had then been traded back to the Titan during the off season for Vincent Arseneau.

He had played in 24 games this season, collecting 2 goals and 14 assists.

Sabres sign Finley to multi-year deal

Former Fighting Sioux defenseman Joe Finley has been signed by the Buffalo Sabres. If you have lost track of Joe Finley, this is the first year since leaving college that big Joe has been remotely healthy. If you go to Joe Finley Hockey fights page you will see that Joe has been wracking up the fights as well since leaving college. Sounds like Finley is doing what ever it takes to help his team win games.

TheAHL.COM --- Buffalo Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier today announced that the team has signed defenseman Joe Finley to a multi-year contract.

The 6-foot-8, 260-pound Finley has two points (1g, 1a) and a plus-10 rating in 18 games played with the the Rochester Americans and leads the team with 57 penalty minutes. Finley, 24, is in his third professional season out of the University of North Dakota and has totaled one goal, two assists and 79 PIM in 26 career AHL games with Rochester and Hershey.

The Edina, Minn., native was originally selected by the Washington Capitals in the first round (27th overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

He was signed to an AHL contract by the Rochester Americans on Oct. 4, 2011.

Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson garners WCHA weekly honors

Image via WikipediaHere is the official release... After a strong weekend

Brock Nelson garners WCHA honors.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota sophomore forward Brock Nelson has been named Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) co-Offensive Player of the Week for his performance in UND’s sweep of fourth-ranked Colorado College last weekend.

Nelson, a 6-4, 192-pound sophomore forward from Warroad, Minn., produced six scoring points and factored in on both game-winning goals to propel the Fighting Sioux to their first series sweep of the season.

Nelson recorded three points in each game, a 7-6 victory last Friday (Nov. 25) and a 4-3 win on Saturday (Nov. 26). In Friday’s win, Nelson scored a pair of power-play goals, including the game-winner at 11:54 of the third period, and also added an assist. The following night, he scored another power-play goal and added a pair of assists, helping setting up teammate Danny Kristo’s shorthanded game-winner in the third period to earn first star honors.

In addition, Nelson fired eight shots on goal on the weekend and earned a +2 plus/minus rating. The New York Islanders’ (NHL) draftee shares the scoring lead for North Dakota this season with 17 points (10g, 7a) in 14 games, and is tied for the national lead with six power-play goals.

Nelson shared offensive player of the week honors with CC’s Rylan Schwartz, who netted a hat trick in each game of the series at UND.

Wisconsin junior defenseman Justin Schultz was named defensive player of the week, while Denver freshman goalie Juho Olkinuora earned rookie of the week honors.

UND (6-7-1, 4-6-0 WCHA) travels to Alaska Anchorage (5-7-2, 2-7-1 WCHA) on Friday and Saturday.

The Big Red goal that wasn't

s/t to the BU Hockey Blog. This was the non-goal that others have been talking about from this past weekend of college hockey. It appears that the on ice officials made the correct call, the refs lost sight of the puck; the announcers said that the puck went into the netting behind the goal, ref blew the whistle and waved off the goal and the puck went into the net after the whistle.

I know that some Cornell hockey fans are going to be upset, but the right call was made in this situation. I am puzzled why the on iced officials took so long to make that call?

Sioux hockey games to be on TV this weekend.

Image via WikipediaGood news for Fighting Sioux fans, both game against the UAA Seawolves will be on this weekend. If you don't get Midco you can get both game on the UAA webcast as well.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota Athletics Department announced today that UND’s men’s hockey games at Alaska Anchorage this weekend will be broadcast live on the Fighting Sioux Sports Network (North Dakota and Northwest Minnesota)and MidcoSN3 (channel 323 in North Dakota and South Dakota, channel 413 in International Falls and Fairmont, Minn.).The broadcasts, produced by GCI Cable Television in Anchorage, will begin at 10 p.m. Central on Friday and Saturday.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Pierre-Marc Bouchard

The Wild stopped a two game losing streak with this highlight goal from Wild forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard. For the Wild forward Cal Clutterbuck is starting to get it going offensively and added another shorthanded goal tonight, if anyone is keeping track, that means that two out of last three goals that Clutterbuck has scored have been shorthanded goals. Cal Clutterbuck also has five points in his last five games.

Goon's WCHA Power Rankings for 11/26

Image via Wikipedia

Each week Zach Friedli and I do the WCHA Power Rankings for INSIDE HOCKEY.

1. Minnesota Duluth – (7-2-1 WCHA, 9-3-2) The Bulldogs were idle this past weekend, Travel Houghton, MI to play the Michigan Tech Huskies. The Bulldogs sit one point out of first in the WCHA standings. The Bulldogs have played 10 games 7-3-0 at home and four games 2-0-2 on the road.

2. Minnesota – (8-2-0 WCHA, 11-4-1) The Gophers experienced some rough sledding this past weekend, (3-4 L, 4-4 T) and only came away with a tie in their non-conference series with the Michigan State Spartans, in East Lansing, Michigan. The Mighty Golden Gophers entertain the Minnesota State Mavericks this weekend. The Gophers have split their last two WCHA series and have 2-3-1 record in their last six games.

3. Denver – (4-2-3 WCHA, 6-4-3) The Pioneers beat Princeton 3-0 and lost to Miami University 4-2 in the Denver Cup this past weekend. The Pioneers play a single game in Colorado Springs, CO, on Friday night against their cross-state rivals the Colorado College Tigers. The game will be on CBS College Sports @09:07 p.m. central standard time.

4. Colorado College – (5-4-0 WCHA, 7-4-0) The Tigers were swept the Fighting Sioux in Grand Forks, ND. Entertain their cross-state rivals the Denver Pioneers in a single game on Saturday night. The game will be on CBS College Sports @09:07 p.m. central standard time. Rylan Schwartz had 6g-0a—6 points on the weekend, yet his team was swept by the Fighting Sioux. According to Joe Paisley of the Colorado Spring Gazette, Tiger forward Jaden Schwartz now has a career-best 17-game point streak 9g-22a—31pts during that streak.

5. Nebraska-Omaha – (6-3-3 WCHA, 7-6-2) The Mavericks won 4-3 and tied 2-2, in their series against the SCSU Huskies 4-3. The Red Mavericks travel to Nashville, TN to play University of Alabama Huntsville. The Mavericks hold a 3-1 all-time record against the Chargers and split their season series last season in Omaha.

6. North Dakota – (4-6-0, 6-7-1) The Fighting Sioux swept the 4th ranked Colorado College Tigers 7-6 and 4-3 at home this past weekend. This weekend, the Fighting Sioux head to the last frontier to play the UAA Seawolves, who took three of four points from Minnesota State in Mankato this past weekend. The Sioux have a 9-4-2 record the last 15 games against the Seawolves. With the sweep of the Tigers, the Fighting Sioux now have a 10-4-3 record against C.C. in the last 17 games at home against the Tigers. The Fighting Sioux also have an all-time record of 82-19-6 against the Tigers in Grand Forks, ND.

7. St. Cloud State – (4-4-2 WCHA, 6-7-3) The Huskies took one point 4-3 L, 2-2 T, from the UNO Mavericks this past weekend against the Red Mavericks in Omaha, Nebraska this weekend. This weekend the Huskies entertain the Bemidji State Beavers at the National Hockey Center. The Huskies have an 8-2-0 record against the Beavers in the last 10 games between the two teams.

8. Wisconsin – (4-7-1 WCHA, 7-8-1) The Badgers swept the Mercyhurst Lakers 7-2, 5-2 in Madison, this past weekend. The Badgers are the WCHA’s version of Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, the Badgers are 7-3-0 at home and 0-5-1 on the road this season. After scoring three goals last weekend the Badgers scored 12 against their AHA opponent. The Badgers are idle this weekend.

9. Michigan Tech – (5-4-1 WCHA, 8-5-1) The Tech Huskies split a non-conference series 3-2, 1-3 with the St. Lawrence University this past weekend in Canton, New York. The Huskies entertain the defending NCAA Champion the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs at MacInnes Student Ice Arena this weekend. The Huskies are 6-1-1 at home and 2-4-0 away from the

10. Bemidji State – (3-6-1 WCHA, 5-8-1) The Beavers were idle this past weekend. The Beavers travel to Saint Cloud State to play the Huskies. Since 2002-03 the Beavers have won two games in the last 10 games against the Huskies 2-8-0.

11. Alaska-Anchorage – (2-7-1 WCHA, 5-7-1) The UAA Seawolves who took three points from Minnesota State in Mankato this past weekend. The Seawolves entertain the Fighting Sioux this weekend in Anchorage, Alaska. The Seawolves have a 4-9-2 record the last 15 games against the Fighting Sioux. The Seawovles have had better luck against the Fighting Sioux at home where they are 3-3-1 in the last seven games at home against the Sioux. The Seawolves are 2-3-1 at home and 1-4-1 on the road this season.

12. Minnesota State – (2-7-1 WCHA, 3-10-0) The Minnesota State Mavericks took one point this past weekend against the UAA Seawolves. The Mavericks goaltenders Phil Cook and Evan Karambelas, gave up five goals on 13 shots, that an unimpressive .615 save percentage. The Mavericks travel to Minnesota to play the Minnesota Gophers in Mariucci Arena. In the last eight game against the Gophers the Mavericks have a 5-2-1 record.

Max Pacioretty suspended three games

I am surprised that Max Pacioretty was suspended three games, I was thinking that the league would give him 1-2 game suspension in this case, personally I don’t have a problem with the the length of the suspension, these are the types of hits that the NHL is trying to do without.

I know there are going to be Hab’s fans that are unhappy with the ruling and will want to know why Ryan Malone wasn’t suspended for hitting Chris Campoli in the head, video is embedded below. Inconsistency, I don’t know, but it would appear so. What do you think?

Poll Monday - UND receives votes in both polls.

The Fighting Sioux recieved votes in both polls this week.

Monday morning quarterback

North Dakota Fighting Sioux men's ice hockey

Image via WikipediaHow do these predictions look on Monday morning?

No. 4 Colorado College (7–2–0, 5–2–0 WCHA) at North Dakota (4–7–1, 2–6–0 WCHA)

Tyler: With the exception of Minnesota, I believe CC is the best team in the WCHA, and though the Sioux is sitting in 10th place, this is going to be an entertaining series. UND has to play disciplined because it doesn’t want to put the nation’s sixth-best power play (25.5 percent) on the ice. The Tigers are 8-for-27 on the man advantage in their last five games. This one’s a split. Ralph Engelstad Arena is a difficult place for opposing teams to play, no matter what UND’s record is. But the Tigers are going to show why they’re the better team and leave Grand Forks with one win.

Brian: North Dakota holds and impressive 135–76–10 (.633) advantage over Colorado College in the all-time series but are a staggering 80–19–6 (.790) against CC in Grand Forks. Despite the Sioux’s scoring troubles and the emergence of Josh Thorimbert in goal for the Tigers, I’m having a hard time betting against history and feel like North Dakota steals one this weekend. Split. USCHO.COM

Here is what the Roman Empire had to say on this past week's series.

* Colorado College at North Dakota. CC, with its high-powered offense, could gain on two leaders with a big weekend. Fighting Sioux are mired in a tie for 10th with Minnesota State Mankato. With smooth freshman Rocco Grimaldi out with a lower body injury, UND will have trouble staying with their visitors, so this is hard to write but ... CC sweeps

Who would have thought? The experts really didn't give the Fighting Sioux much of a chance this past weekend. The Fighting Sioux gutted out two wins against a offensive juggernaut. What a difference a week makes.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

INCH Power Rankings

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings because they are ussually good for a chuckle or two. I find this week's just as amusing as some of the other additions of the INCH Power Rankings. Really 4 ECAC teams in the top 20?

1. Merrimack
2. Notre Dame
3. Boston College
4. Minnesota
5. Minnesota Duluth
6. Colorado College
7. Ferris State
8. Ohio State
9. Union
10. Colgate
11. Denver
12. Yale
13. Western Michigan
14. Lake Superior State
15. Boston University
16. Miami
17. Cornell
18. Michigan State
19. Michigan Tech
20. Nebraska-Omaha

Dropped out: Michigan
Bubble-licious: Clarkson, UMass Lowell, Michigan

Max Pacioretty hits Kris Letang in the head.

Montreal Canadians forward Max Pacioretty has a phone call from Brendan Shanahan on Monday, I am going to say that Pacioretty gets a one - two game suspension for this hit on Letang. This is the type of hits that the NHL is trying to eliminate. The impressive fact was that Letang went to the locker room and had his nose set and then returned to the game to score the game winning goal in overtime.

Montreal forward Max Pacioretty will have a phone hearing with the NHL Monday morning for his hit on Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang during the third period of the Penguins' overtime win in Montreal Saturday night.[NHL.COM]

Here is what the Montreal Gazette has to say on the matter. Notice how the Montreal paper had to mention the Chara hit when bringing up this issue. I don't think that fact is going to help Pacioretty in this instance.

— Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty faces a phone hearing with NHL disciplinarian for a head hit that broke the nose of Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang, according to NHL.com.

Letang, hurt in the third period, returned in overtime and scored the winning goal. He said after afterward that Pacioretty apologized to him.

Pacioretty returned this season after breaking a neck vertebra when Boston Bruins captain Zdeno Chara checked him into the end of a glass partition in March. That play didn’t draw a suspension.

Official Derek Boogaard tribute...

As a rabid hockey fan, but also a fan of the NHL, I must say that I have always appreciated the efforts of the NHL tough guys, the “Goon’s” or the enforcers. These are the character guys that with their very presence on the ice keep the game honest and they are also an insurance policy to help protect their teammates. These are the guys that keep the Matt Cookes of the world honest.

In my opinion Derek Boogaard was one of the most feared fighters in the NHL and I don’t know if there will ever be another character quite like him. This is one of my favorite Derek Boogaard moments against the hated Ducks during in the NHL playoffs, the Ducks announcers are some of the biggest homers in all of hockey.

Shot Charts from 11/26 Tigers and Sioux game

From time to time I have read and heard fan comments about Aaron Dell being an over rated goalie or not worthy of the hype. If you look at the shot charts from Saturday night’s game you will see the Aaron Dell made some big saves and kept the Fighting Sioux in the game.

You will see that both goalies stopped some grade “A” opportunities down low from the slot. The Fighting Sioux defense also blocked 15 shots during Saturday night’s game.

The Fighting Sioux had to kill a 5 on 3 power play in the third period and Aaron Dell said that, “it [penalty kill] was huge, we have had a hard time with five on threes this year, and that was the biggest kill of the game, it was a huge momentum swing there.”

s/t @StatsOnCrack

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Sioux hold to sweep Tigers, win 4-3.

Cross posted at INSIDE HOCKEY.

Grand Forks, ND – Looking at the stats this year, there seems to be a reoccurring theme, the Fighting Sioux get scored on first in most of their games, and after getting the first goal in Friday night’s game, the Fighting Sioux again added to their streak of having the first goal scored against them; after tonight's first Tiger goal, the Fighting Sioux have now been scored on first in 10 of 14 games.

This time that stat didn’t matter, as the Fighting Sioux won the game in a gritty team effort, led by Fighting Sioux sophomore forward Brock Nelson (1g-2—3pts). The Fighting Sioux also survived a late surge by the Tigers in the closing seconds of the game, to hold on to win 4-3. Tonight's win, allowed the Fighting Sioux to get their first sweep of the 2011-12 season.

Much like Friday’s game, the score remained 0-0 for a very short time, this time it was the Colorado College Tigers that got on the scoreboard first as they scored .40 seconds into the game. Tiger junior forward Rylan Schwartz scored on the first shot of the game, as he took a snap shot from the right circle that beat Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell.

That would be the first of three goals on the night for the junior forward from Wilcox, Saskatchewan. Schwartz also had a hat trick in Friday’s game for the Tigers. It’s not very often that a team can have a player that gets a hat trick in back to back games, only to see his team lose both games.

Anyone that has watched the Colorado Tigers play, know that the Schwartz brothers are very good hockey players, dating back to last season, Rylan's younger brother Jaden Schwartz has scored (9g-22a—31pts) in the last 17 games he has played.

The Sioux would go on the power play at the 05:02 mark of the first period, with Tiger defenseman Aaron Harstad in the penalty box for roughing, the Fighting Sioux wasted little time cashing in on the man advantage; Brock Nelson took a pass from Corbin Knight and scored at the 05:07 mark of the first period, just five second into the power play.

The Tigers would get their first shot on the power play, when Dillon Simpson was assessed a minor penalty for delay of game, at the 15:28 mark of the first period. The Tigers not to be outdone by the Fighting Sioux, scored eight seconds into their man advantage as Rylan Schwartz scored at 15:36 mark of the first period to give the Tigers a brief 2-1 lead.

The Sioux would tie the game four minutes and six second later at the 19:42 mark of the first period. Sioux forward Derek Rodwell, who was camped in front of the Tiger net, tipped a Ben Blood blast from the point past Tiger goalie Joe Howe. The Fighting Sioux outshot the Tigers 11-6 in the first period.

Going into the second period of tonight’s game, Tiger forward Rylan Schwartz had scored seven goals in seven periods of hockey against the Fighting Sioux dating back to last season’s semi final game at the WCHA Final Five. That streak would end during the second period of tonight’s game as Schwartz was held off of the score sheet during the second period.

The Fighting Sioux scored in the waning minutes of the second period, this time with 34.3 seconds remaining in the period. Sioux forward Brock Nelson took the puck, raced into the into the offensive zone, passed the puck to Danny Kristo, who attempted a wrap around shot on the Tiger goal, that shot was saved by Tiger goalie Joe Howe, Knight picked up the rebound and shot the puck into the Tiger net, giving the Fighting Sioux a 3-2 lead. The Fighting Sioux outshot the Tigers 11-4 in the third period.

The Fighting Sioux got into penalty trouble in the early minutes of the third period and started a parade to the penalty box; with Mario Lamoureux already in the box for a hooking, Ben Blood was assess a two minute minor for boarding. The Sioux would kill the two man advantage, that penalty kill seemed to give the Fighting Sioux momentum.

Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell was asked about killing the Tiger two man advantage in the third period, Dell said, “it was huge, we have had a hard time with five on threes this year, and that was the biggest kill of the game, it was a huge momentum swing there.”

The Sioux extended their lead to 4-2 at the 06:09 of the third period with a shorthanded goal from Danny Kristo. The Tigers would close the gap to 4-3 at the 13:25 mark of the third period with another goal from Rylan Schwartz.

The Fighting Sioux would survive a frantic finish by the Tigers at the end of the game to hang on for a 4-3 win to sweep the Tigers. After the game Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol said, “that his team took a step forward tonight.” Coach Hakstol said, “that he liked the overall play of his team.”

Box Score

How SIOUX-eep it is! (RW77)

Well, call me impressed!

We came into this series a defensive, low scoring team and we leave Thanksgiving weekend as a goal scoring not so defensive team. Ok, that's a bit harsh but...

This weekend we saw huge weekends from Danny Kristo, Derek Forbert, Corbin Knight, Brock Nelson, and Nick Mattson on the UND side.

Danny Kristo is something else. Brock Nelson is right behind him. Corbin Knight is pretty much unbeatable in the faceoff circle.

My 3 stars for tonight's game:

3rd Star: Corbin Knight
2nd Star: Danny Kristo
1st Star: Rylan Schwartz

My 3 stars for the weekend:

3rd Star: Brock Nelson
2nd Star: Danny Kristo
1st Star: Rylan Schwartz

May the Schwartz be with CC... until UND faces them again.

Yeah, by the end of the first period tonight, I was hoping that Rylan Schwartz's NHL team would sign him before the second period began... Now I look it up and... He's a free agent! It's JADEN who is the "star." Well.... Jaden did do a stellar job this weekend but Rylan... WOW. I think there's a team about 5 hours drive SE of Grand Forks that could use some more offense.... just sayin'.

To put it bluntly: I don't want any more of Rylan Schwartz.

Here are some more thoughts:

1. Again, the ice was crap tonight. The puck didn't sit well at all, skaters slipping and sliding without being touched, and more whiffs.

2. The officials were meh. UND finally benefitted from the refs. I felt at times, UND did definitely get away with a few. The refs didn't call everything, but I felt that there were times where CC was held by tighter regs than we were. In an unethical way, I'm happy we finally got the benefit of it. In an ethical manner, once again: I'll be happy to be rid of the WCHA officials.

3. O'Donnell was the unsung hero tonight. He SERIOUSLY looked GREAT out there. The only thing missing was a goal. His poise, patience, aggressiveness... I loved it all.

4. I noticed Gaarder but Hennessey had to tell me Pattyn and Panzarella were on the ice. I guess that's a good thing for Panzarella but we are seriously shallow in forward depth (but that's just beating a dead horse).

5. If Rylan Schwartz goes cold, CC is in trouble. This weekend, CC scored 9 goals. All but 3 were scored by Rylan Schwartz. He's fantastic and, if he continues lighting it up like this, will surely be the WCHA MVP. However, if he goes cold, they may be in the same trouble as UND.

6. Defensively, tonight's game was a much better game than last night's game (at least through the first half of the game)

7. Our Powerplay looks A LOT A LOT A LOT Better. I finally saw us moving the puck down low and trying to work the puck in close for the tap in. There were still a lot of perimeter bombs but we were now in the right position to use it and we didn't rely solely upon it.

8. Garbage Goals? THERE YOU ARE!!! Unlike last night, only one of our goals (Kristo's shortie) was of the non-garbage goal variety. Highlight reel goals are highlight reel goes because not every goal is a highlight reel goal. Games are won through garbage goals. We won this game because we owned the front of the CC net.

9. I'm not sure, but... I think we may be better in the faceoff circle now than we were with Vandevelde...and crew.

Hennessey suggests that this series might be the turning point for UND. Maybe it will be, but we won't know until later in the season. Even so, I do hope it is.

11/26 CC vs. UND Lines

Image via WikipediaUND goes again with Dell in net. CC goes with Howe. A lot of line changes for UND. The only other note is that CC Defenseman Eamon McDermitt is out tonight. Ian Young, a freshman, is in.
(per Brad Schlossman's blog located here)

UND’s lines
29 Brock Nelson–10 Corban Knight–7 Danny Kristo
11 Derek Rodwell–9 Mario Lamoureux–27 Carter Rowney
21 Brendan O’Donnell–16 Mark MacMillan–15 Michael Parks
28 Stephane Pattyn–13 Connor Gaarder–20 Joe Gleason

Fighting Sioux Defensive Paring

4 Derek Forbort–24 Ben Blood
2 Andrew MacWilliam–5 Nick Mattson
18 Dillon Simpson–22 Andrew Panzarella

Fighting Sioux Goalies

32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness
35 Tate Maris

UND Player Stats

Colorado College’s lines
8 Jaden Schwartz–13 Rylan Schwartz–27 William Rapuzzi
16 Alex Krushelnyski–22 Nick Dineen–25 Scott Winkler
9 Dakota Eveland–11 David Civitarese–21 Jeff Collett
12 Archie Skalbeck–23 Tim Hall–15 Andrew Hamburg

Tiger Defense Pairings

10 Gabe Guentzel–4 Joe Marciano
20 Ian Young–6 Peter Stoykewych
5 Aaron Harstad–28 Mike Boivin

Tiger Goalies

31 Joe Howe
39 Josh Thorimbert

Tiger Player stats

Zach Parise's waved off goal.

So did former Fighting Sioux forward Zach Parise score a legitimate goal or not? In reviewing the video it looks like the refs "may" have made the right call. What do you think? Did the ref make the right call, or not? Why?

Shot charts from 11/25

If you look at the shot chart from the first period you will see that Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell was under attack and had to make many saves from shot taken down low in the slots.

s/t to stats on crack for the shot charts. After losing Sunday’s game to the Bemidji State Beavers, Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol talked about his team not getting to the dirty area to score goals. Fast forward to Friday night, the Fighting Sioux scored five of six goals from the slot.

Sioux goals versus Colorado College

Stick tap to BadgerSioux for recording the videos from tonight's game between the Colorado College Tigers and the Fighting Sioux.

Here is the video of Sioux forward Carter Rowney's goal. It was the second goal of the game for the Fighting Sioux on the power play [Click to view]

Here is the second goal of the season for Fighting Sioux forward Michael Parks [click to view]

Here is the video of Fighting Sioux forward Danny Kristo and his second goal of the game, but also his post game press conference. [Click to view]

Friday, November 25, 2011

Sioux outlast Tigers 7-6

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athl...

Image via Wikipedia

Cross Posted at INSIDEHOCKEY.COM

Grand Forks, ND – The Fighting Sioux have had the first goal scored on them in nine of 12 games they have played this season; the Fighting Sioux finally changed their fortunes tonight by scoring the first goal of the game on their first shift of the game.

After being held scoreless the weekend before, Fighting Sioux junior forward Danny Kristo wasted no time getting the first of his two goals for Fighting Sioux. At the 0:36 mark of the first period, Kristo took a pass from Corbin Knight at the right faceoff circle, Kristo skated towards the Tiger net and shot the puck through Tiger goalie Josh Thorimber’s pads to give the Fighting Sioux an early 1-0 lead.

The Fighting Sioux weren’t done in the first period as they went on the power play at the 06:24 mark of the first period when Tigers forward Nick Dineen was assessed a two minute minor for tripping.

The Fighting Sioux wasted little time on the ensuing power play, extending their lead to 2-0. Corbin Knight fed Carter Rowney a nice pass from behind the net and Rowney shot the puck into an open net as the Tiger goalie Thorimber was looking the other way. After the game Colorado College Tigers coach Scott Owens said, “he wasn’t happy with his defensemen’s play down low near their net.”

The Colorado College Tigers didn’t go away quietly and cut the score to 2-1 at the 12:04 mark of the first period with a goal from Tiger forward Rylan Schwartz.

The Fighting Sioux answered the Tiger goal and extended their lead to two again at the 14:40 mark of the first period when Sioux freshman forward Michael Parks scored his second goal of the year.

The Tigers didn’t take long to answer the Fighting Sioux’s third goal and at the 17:31 mark of the first period, Scott Winkler picked up a loose puck and scored a off of a wild scramble in front of the Sioux net, to make the score 3-2 Sioux. The Tigers outshot the Sioux 13-12 in the first period.

The second period was as exciting as the first period and the Tigers scored the game tying goal at the 0:29 mark of the second period, Tiger defenseman Gabe Guentzel took shot from the left point that appeared to surprise Dell. On the replay, it looked as if the Guentzel’s shot from the point might have hit something in front of the Sioux net.

The Sioux scored again at the 05:38 mark of the second period; Ben Blood took a hard shot that caromed off the post, the rebound shot out the point and Nick Mattson blasted the puck past the Tiger goalie Thorimber.

The Fighting Sioux fans didn’t get a chance to sit down from celebrating Mattson’s goal before Brock Nelson gave the home town fans something else to cheer about, when Nelson scored his first of two goals a minute and 10 seconds later.

The Tigers then scored three goals in a little over three minutes and chased Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell from the net with a goal from Nick Dineen and two goals from Tiger forward Rylan Schwartz to make the score 6-5 Tigers. That ended a less than impressive night for the Dell and he was replaced by senior goalie Brad Eidsness.

Neither starting goaltender was very sharp tonight and both starting goalies would watch the rest of the game from their respective benches, as both starting goalies were pulled midway through the second period.

Fighting Sioux forward Danny Kristo stopped the string of three unanswered Tiger goals, by taking a Tiger turnover in the slot and shooting the puck past Tiger goalie Joe Howe to tie the game at 6-6. That was all of the scoring in the second period and the Tigers would outshot the Sioux 16-13.

After scoring 12 goals through two periods of hockey, both teams settled down and played more conservatively in the third period. The Sioux would go on the power play at the 11:19 mark of the third period, Tiger forward Jeff Collett was assessed a two minute minor for cross-checking. Brock Nelson scored the game winning power play goal for the Fighting Sioux at the 11:54 mark of the third period.

The Fighting Sioux would hang on for the win, and Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness would finish the game picking up the win for the Fighting Sioux. Eidsness stopped all 13 shots that faced. The Sioux also had to kill a Tiger penalty when Ben Blood was called for cross-checking at the 15:54 mark of the third period.

Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol had this to say after the game when asked about pulling his starting goalie Aaron Dell and replacing him with Brad Eidsness in the second period. Hakstol said, “he needed to make a change for our team and try to dam things up a little bit and Brad [Eidsness] did a great job going in and gave us a chance to win.”

Tonight’s game was the highest scoring game between the two teams since November 24, 1995 game where the Tigers won 9-5.

Box Score

Goon's World Extras

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

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