But I digress.
Jess Myers has the latest - INCH A-Z: and UND’s Brendan O’Donnell makes the cut… Also, last week Jess Myers revealed on twitter that he will for the most part only be covering two teams for ESPN 1500, the Minnesota Gophers and the Minnesota Wild. Myers said that he would write an occasional article for INCH but will not be doing it on a full time basis.
The WCHA pre-season ballots have been mailed out and it's getting to be that time of the year again. The third annual blogger poll should come out in a few weeks.
Joe Paisley has his Wednesday links up on his Paisley’s hockey blog.
Apparently a few of the Golden Rodents were interviewed at the Minnesota State Fair and Senior forward Zach “riding mopeds are dangerous" Budish’s said that his favorite game last was the one against the Fighting Sioux at the Midwest Regional at the Xcel Energy Center. From the looks of it - it appears that UND hockey team needs to refresh Mr. Budish’s memory that most games against UND are not all fun and games.
"Definitely the regional final against North Dakota. They kind of embarrassed us a week before, and it was nice to get back at them. It was just a great game for us...so much fun and such a great atmosphere." [Gopher Sports]A Tradition of Excellence has it's Wednesday links up as well Toews, Freshmen, & Recruits By the Numbers
Here are my pre-poll rankings - feel free to cut them to pieces if you want. These might also change a bit... I will be putting up a WCHA season preview on INSIDE HOCKEY later this month.
1. Minnesota
2. UND
3. Wisconsin
4. Denver
5. UMD
6. C.C.
6. MTU
8. UNO
9. SCSU
10. BSU
11. Mankato
12. UAA
Andrew Weisss of the Hockey Guys, had the UND incoming freshman ranked 8th and I think personally that is a little low. Then again titles are won on paper they're won on the ice so these rankings will be meaningless once the season starts.
The No Hockey League - CBA
The NHLPA wants to return to the bargaining table and kick start talks – stay strong boys – don ‘t let the NHL Owners take you to the cleaners again this time around.
James Mirtle breaks down the numbers on what a NHL player can make if they decide to play overseas. Mirtle says that a fair number of players are looking at playing overseas including Alex Ovechkin.
This is what Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings had to say about the current state of the NHL CBA talks. In reading Henrik’s comments, one really can’t remain positive any more. This could be a very long work stoppage.
“There's no two-way street in their proposal," Zetterberg said. “We're trying to find a way to partner up with them. We have problems in the league. We have to find a solution, players and the league together, and both help out.This is the day that none of us want to see – the 13th of September is D-Day for the NHL and the NHLPA – this is the day that condescending, pompous, little Jerk Gary Bettman is going to ask the owners if they want to lock the NHL player out for a third time since 1994 and I am sure the owners will agree with Bettman. #FIREBETTMAN
“But in their proposal, they want us to (sacrifice) everything. [Mlive.COM]
Tim Panaccio, CNSPHILLY.COM --- On Sept. 13, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will address the league’s Board of Governors in New York City.Tort's favorite New York Rangers beat writer Larry Brooks tells us that the lines of communication are open but there isn't much going on right now.
According to governors, who spoke anonymously with CSNPhilly.com, Bettman will outline where both sides are in the collective bargaining process.
He will then ask them – via a vote – whether they are supportive of his strategy to lock the players out on Sept. 15 if there is no agreement on a new, long-term – not short-term – CBA.
Alex Ovechkin is pretty clear where he wants to play hockey this season. “But I don’t want to be there; I want to be here,” Ovechkin said in a conversation with beat reporters Tuesday. “But, again, my contract is here and I hope the NHL and NHLPA are going to sign a deal before the 15th.” [Washington Times]
Here are a few familiar names of few NHL players that are just now turning 25 or will soon be 25 years old. It’s seems like a long time ago – eight years – when a 17 year old Jonathan Toews showed up to play for the University of North Dakota.
Roy MacGregor, the Globe and Mail --- It was also the season in which he was 25 years of age.Hopefully, next month we are talking about something other than player and owner squabbles and just hopefully, we will have an NHL season. #FIREBETTMANNOW
And what of Claude Giroux. Last year, the young Philadelphia Flyers forward scored 93 points and soared to the highest echelons of the game. Giroux will turn 25 – perhaps his greatest season, who knows? – on Jan. 12, 2013. He has no idea where he might be playing at that moment.
Jonathan Toews, the brilliant captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, who won the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy and an Olympic gold medal at 22, will turn 25 on April 29, when normally he would expect to be well into the 2013 playoffs.
And then, of course, there is Sidney Crosby, whose contract and number both salute the day, month and year of his birthday: August 7, 1987.
He turned 25 this summer.
