Dedicated to coverage of UND Hockey; aka the team formerly known as the Fighting Sioux. More specifically, WCHA, NCHC and college hockey news stories in general. I post stories on the NHL, to include my favorite hockey teams, the Boston Bruins and the Minnesota Wild… I will post anything that happens that’s big in NHL hockey, hits, fights and suspensions. This is also an unapologetic UND hockey site. This site has no official connection to UND hockey, but we have been accused of being toadies.
The defending Stanley Cup Playoff champs just got some good news. Former Fighting Sioux defenseman Matt Greene is set to rejoin the L.A. Kings just in time for the Stanley Cup Playoff push. The Kings are currently sitting in fourth place in the Western Conference and are second in the Pacific Division.
NHL.COM --- The Los Angeles Kings have activated defenseman Matt Greene from the injured reserve list.
Greene, 29, missed the last 42 games after suffering a mid-body injury in the season opener Jan. 19 against the Chicago Blackhawks.
The 6-3, 232 pound native of Grand Ledge, Mich., played in all 82 regular season games and 20 postseason contests last season as the Kings won the franchise's first Stanley Cup.
Here is something that has become a weekly occurrence. Fill in your own caption, for former Fighting Sioux defenseman Matt Greene as he barks at the once ice official during the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs.
This would mean that the men’s Division I and Division III “could” take place on the same weekend at the same arena. Let me just say – I am not a fan of this idea at all.
WCHA co-columnist for U.S. College Hockey Brian Halverson has resigned from USCHO and is going to be part of a new hockey web page known as Minnesota Hockey Magazine that is set to kick off this October. You can see their new Facebook page by [clicking on this link].
Here is an interesting article from the Toronto Sun, Unlike in 2004, there is no real threat that hockey is going away. Prepare to be bored. [Click to view]
I know that this is a little old, but you've got to love J.R. for his brashness, Roenick says owners' proposal was 'bullying'.. [SportsNet.CA]
Ryan Durling of Stanley Cup of Chowder has given Tim Thomas a C+ grade for last season’s play. Just for the record, Tim Thomas played in 59 games recorded a GAA of 2.36 and a record of 35-19-1-5 and Save % of. 920 and in my opinion that is hardly worthy of a C+ ranking.
There had been a rumor in the media that Evander Kane has asked for a trade – Kane says that rumor is not true. [Click to view]
There are a lot of story lines from the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs - the defending Stanley Cup Champions went out in the first round with hardly a whimper. The Bruins found out that their all world goalie Tim Thomas had probably played his final game with the Boston Bruins.
The unlikeable team in the NHL the Vancouver Canuncks were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs - that was the second year in a row that the Canucks were beaten by the Stanley Cup Champion during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
An American team captain Dustin Brown accepted the Stanley Cup from the commissioner of the NHL Gary Bettman.
The last three Conn Smythe Trophy winners (Jonathan Towes (UND), Tim Thomas (UVM) and Jonathan Quick (UMASS) all played Division I college hockey.
Matt Greene became the 12th former Fighting Sioux hockey player to get his name on the Stanley Cup, here are the other 11 former Fighting Sioux hockey players to get their name on the Stanley Cup. s/t @UNDSID
UND's Stanley Cup Champions Craig Ludwig, Montreal, 1985-86
Geoff Smith, Edmonton, 1989-90 Jay Caufield, Pittsburgh, 1990-91
Jay Caufield, Pittsburgh, 1991-92
Troy Murray, Colorado, 1995-96 Ed Belfour, Dallas, 1998-99
Tony Hrkac, Dallas, 1998-99 Craig Ludwig, Dallas, 1998-99
Rick Wilson, Dallas, 1998-99 (assistant coach)
Brad Bombardir, New Jersey, 1999-00 Mike Commodore, Carolina, 2005-06 Jonathan Toews, Chicago, 2009-10 (Conn Smythe Trophy winner)
Matt Greene, Los Angeles, 2011-12
The Stanley Cup Finals featured three players that played their college hockey at the University of North Dakota - Matt Greene L.A. Kings, Zach Parise and Travis Zajac New Jersey.
Congratulations to former Fighting Sioux defenseman Matt Greene and the Los Angeles Kings as they won the Stanley Cup four games to two over the New Jersey Devils - with the Kings win tonight Greene became the 12th former Fighting Sioux hockey player to have his name inscribed on the Stanley Cup. Greene was able to put some icing on the cake as he scored an unassisted goal at the 16:30 mark of the third period to push the lead to 6-1.
This was an interesting turn of events - Los Angeles Kings defenseman Matt Greene fails to get the puck deep and the New Jersey Devils break out of the defensive zone with speed.
As the play develops and moves through the defensive zone Kings defenseman Matt Greene absolutely blows up New Jersey Devils forward Patrik Elias - of course Elias is chirped by the Kings bench and the comment after the New Jersey forward returns to the bench was classic. Elias asked Justin Williams, "when did you become a tough guy?"
Big Mike Commodore is back with a winning team! The guy known as "Commy" (probably spelled wrong but I refuse to spell it such that I would be confused with calling him a communist) all 6'5" of him (not counting the 3'6" of red hair) is coming to Motown!
He signed a 1 year, $1 million contract, which is about what I expected him to sign after having two disappointing years in Columbus (of 3.. his first year was pretty good with the Jackets).
Big Mike won a National Championship with UND in 2000 and has won a Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006. He was drafted in the 2nd round by New Jersey. The Wings are his sixth team.
Notable in useless trivia: He was traded to Ottawa for current Wing Patrick Eaves (then to Carolina).
This now gives the Wings a forest of a D line, with 4 of 6 defensemen over 6'4" tall.
What does this mean? I hope it means that the Wings will have a crushing defense. However, what I hope it doesn't mean that the Wings defense will be pylons. Then again, with 41 year old Nicklas Lidstrom still playing effectively (Suck it Chelios) it may not matter. I'm still going to be excited about Kronwall (the best open ice hitting defenseman in the NHL... He reminds me a LOT of Konstantinov but Kronwall is taller), Stuart (meh), Kindl (younger version of meh), and Ericsson (jury's still out) playing with Commodore. Commodore isn't going to score any goals or be as great a puck mover as Stuart, Lidstrom, and perhaps Kindl and Ericsson. Commodore brings grit on the blue line, something I feel Detroit has lacked a bit in recent years.
