USA Hockey Development: Stupid is as Stupid does.

@GF_Ballerz American developement is a joke,all the top players are coming from CHL and Sweden. Why do you think americans come to Canada ?
— Tyler Vincent (@TV_Muscle) January 9, 2014

USA Hockey and US college hockey is so bad that it developed 30 plus for the 2014 Olympic games. From College Hockey INC.

Country/Player Pos. Current Team NCAA Team

Austria

Brian Lebler F EHC Linz (AUT) Michigan Thomas Pock D KAC Klagenfurt (AUT)Massachusetts
Mattias Trattnig D Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) Maine
Thomas Vanek F NY Islanders (NHL)Minnesota

Canada
Duncan Keith D Chicago (NHL) Michigan State
Chris Kunitz F Pittsburgh (NHL)Ferris State
Patrick Sharp F Chicago (NHL) Vermont
Jonathan Toews F Chicago (NHL) North Dakota

Latvia
Ralfs Freibergs D Bowling Green

Sweden
Carl Hagelin F NY Rangers (NHL)Michigan

United States
Jimmy Howard G Detroit (NHL) Maine
Ryan Miller G Buffalo (NHL) Michigan State
Jonathan Quick G Los Angeles (NHL)Massachusetts
Justin Faulk D Carolina (NHL) Minnesota Duluth
Paul Martin D Pittsburgh (NHL)Minnesota
Ryan McDonagh D NY Rangers (NHL)Wisconsin
Brooks Orpik D Pittsburgh (NHL)Boston College
Kevin Shattenkirk D St. Louis (NHL)Boston University
Ryan Suter D Minnesota (NHL) Wisconsin
David Backes F St. Louis (NHL) Minnesota State
Ryan Kesler F Vancouver (NHL) Ohio State
Phil Kessel F Toronto (NHL) Minnesota
T.J. Oshie F St. Louis (NHL) North Dakota
Max Pacioretty F Montreal (NHL) Michigan
Zach Parise F Minnesota (NHL) North Dakota
Joe Pavelski F San Jose (NHL) Wisconsin Paul Stastny F Colorado (NHL) Denver
Derek Stepan F NY Rangers (NHL)Wisconsin
James van Riemsdyk F Toronto (NHL)New Hampshire
Blake Wheeler F Winnipeg (NHL) Minnesota

UND Hockey: Is there an outdoor game on the horizon?

This tweet hit Twitter yesterday. It's a great idea. It would be fun to have an outdoor hockey game between UND and UMN. Honestly, outdoor games are for the most part a nice spectacle, to be enjoyed by hockey fans. The Winter Classic was a decent game to watch yesterday.

Some fans think they’re a gimmick. I am on the fence with these things. Seriously, how many of these things are we going to have? I think this year we have hit the over saturation point. What do we have, like 20+ outdoor games this year? At last count, there were something like 23 of them. I might have missed a couple.

Don't plan to wait until 2019. RT@MikeRed22: UND and Minnesota. Target Field. 2019. Make it happen Mr. President.
— Dave St. Peter (@TwinsPrez) January 1, 2014

Related articles

• A New Drinking Game for UND Hockey (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UND Hockey: Dynamic Duo Bright Spot for UND (thehockeywriters.com)
• NCHC Hockey: No Second Thoughts or Regrets (thehockeywriters.com)

USA Hockey: Team USA releases their Olympic roster

Here’s the Team USA Olympic Roster, there's a few head-scratchers on this roster. I am surprised that Bobby Ryan, Jason Pominville and Keith Yandle were left off of the team. The question is, who would/should have been left off of the team to make room for these three guys? I am sure we all have our own suggestions. 

Goalies (3)

Ryan Miller/Buffalo Sabres – Michigan State

Jonathan Quick/Los Angeles Kings – UMass Amherst  

Jimmy Howard/Detroit Red Wings – Maine

Defensemen (8)

Brooks Orpik/Pittsburgh Penguins – Boston College
Ryan Suter/Minnesota Wild – Wisconsin
John Carlson/Washington Capitals – London Knights
Justin Faulk/Carolina Hurricanes – Minnesota Duluth
Cam Fowler/Anaheim Ducks – Windsor Spitfires
Paul Martin/Pittsburgh Penguins – Minnesota
Ryan McDonagh/New York Rangers – Wisconsin

Kevin Shattenkirk/St. Louis Blues – Boston University

 Forwards (14)

David Backes/St. Louis Blues – Minnesota State
Dustin Brown/Los Angeles Kings -- Guelph Storm
Ryan Callahan/New York Rangers -- Guelph Storm
Patrick Kane/Chicago Blackhawks --  London Knights
Ryan Kesler/Vancouver Canucks – Ohio State
Phil Kessel/Toronto Maple Leafs – Minnesota

Zach Parise/Minnesota Wild – North Dakota
Joe Pavelski/San Jose Sharks – Wisconsin
Paul Stastny/Colorado Avalanche – Denver
T.J. Oshie/St. Louis Blues – North Dakota
Max Pacioretty/Montreal Canadiens – Michigan
Derek Stepan/New York Rangers – Wisconsin
James van Riemsdyk/Toronto Maple Leafs – New Hampshire
Blake Wheeler/Winnipeg Jets – Minnesota

USA Women's Hockey: Here’s the USA Women’s Team Roster

Today, the roster for the USA Women's Olympic team was announced during the second period of the Winter Classic. Here's the roster. Here's the players that are going to Sochi, Russia

Goalies
Jessie Vetter — Wisconsin

Molly Schaus — Boston College
Brianne McLaughlin — Robert Morris University

Defensemen
Kacey Bellamy — New Hampshire
Gigi Marvin — Minnesota
Megan Bozek – Minnesota
Michelle Picard – Harvard
Josephine Pucci – Harvard
Anne Schleper – Minnesota
Lee Stecklein – Minnesota

Forwards
Julie Chu — Harvard

Meghan Duggan — Wisconsin
Hilary Knight — Wisconsin

Jocelyne Lamoureux — North Dakota
Monique Lamoureux — North Dakota
Kelli Stack — Boston College
Alex Carpenter –Boston College
Kendall Coyne – Northeastern
Brianna Decker – Wisconsin
Lyndsey Fry – Harvard
Amanda Kessel – Minnesota 

Related articles

• USA Wins Fourth Straight Against Canada (hockeywilderness.com)
• Fists Fly Again on the Road To Sochi for U.S. and Canadian Women (thehockeywriters.com)
• Womens Hockey: USA beats Canada at the Ralph (insidehockey.com)

Shocked Gopher fan...

Way too funny, I can't believe she was shocked.

Poor Minnesotan friends... RT @CapCareyWDT: “@sportingnews: Welcome to Internet fame, Shocked Minnesota fan pic.twitter.com/AGXKm9vPJX”
— Joshua Kummins (@JoshuaKummins) December 28, 2013

Related articles

• Amanda Kessel Makes THN's Top 10 Players of 2013 (hockeywilderness.com)
• Injury Ninja visits the Minnesota Gophers; Jake Parenteau Breaks Leg (thehockeywriters.com)

Weekend Match-Ups (by Donn)

Here we are the last weekend of play, for most teams anyway, before the Christmas break.  The first half of the season seems to have flown by, before we know it, it will be 2014!

NCHC STANDINGS 2013-2014

Team………………………W-L-T………Points

St. Cloud St……………….6-1-1…………...19
Nebraska-Omaha…………5-2-1…………..17
North Dakota………………5-5-0……….….15
Denver…………………..…4-3-1…………..14
Colorado College……….. 2-5-3…….….….10
Miami………………………3-5-0….…….….9
Minnesota-Duluth…………2-2-0……….….6
Western Michigan………..2-2-0…………...6 

NCHC Games

Western Michigan @ # Minnesota-Duluth

Last weekend Broncos were swept (3-2, 3-2) by NoDak in Kalamazoo and the Bulldogs were swept (4-2, 5-1) by the Huskies in Duluth.

Both the Broncos and the Bulldogs are sitting at .500 in the league standings, so neither team has any reason to play desperate this weekend.  However, a sweep by one team would vault them up the standings.  Looking at overall records I have to give the nod to the home team this weekend.  BULLDOGS 3-pts

Non-Conference Games

#20 Denver (8-6-2) @ #18 Rensselaer (8-5-3)

Last weekend the Pioneers split (3-1W, 4-2L) with the RedHawks in Oxford and Engineers tied Quinnipiac (3-3ot) and beat Princeton (5-3) at home in Troy, NY.

The Engineers are playing well at home, with a 4-1-3 record at Houston Fieldhouse this season (NHL size).  The Pioneers are decent on the road with a 1-2-2 record away from Denver.  With these teams having almost identical records, I’m say they stay that way with each team getting a win.  SPLIT – RPI wins Friday, DU wins Saturday

#10 Union (10-3-2) @ #1 St. Cloud St. (11-1-2)

Last weekend the Huskies swept  (4-2, 5-1) the Bulldogs in Duluth and the Dutchmen beat Princeton (3-0) and Quinnipiac (6-4) at home in Schenectady, NY.

This should be a good series in St. Cloud with both teams ranked in the top 10.  The Huskies only loss this this season was to Miami.  The Dutchmen have only lost to Colgate, and dropped a series to Lake Superior State.  With that in mind, Union has had a softer schedule then the Huskies.  SCSU has too much talent and depth for the Dutchmen to handle over a weekend of play.  HUSKIES SWEEP 

Colorado College (2-10-3) @ #15 Wisconsin (6-5-1)

Last weekend the Tigers took 3-pts (4-2, 3-3ot) from the Mavericks in Colorado Springs and the Badgers

The Tigers went winless in the month of November, but have started off December on the right skate.  The Badgers are undefeated in Madison this year and with CC coming to town this weekend (and UAH next weekend), they might be able to keep that record intact until 2014.  I said might; I think CC will steal a game from the former WCHA rival.  SPLIT – CC wins Friday, UW wins Saturday 

Northern Michigan (6-8-2) @ North Dakota (7-7-2)

Last weekend the Wildcats were swept by Minnesota State (3-2, 3-0) in Mankato and NoDak swept the Broncos (3-2, 3-2) in Kalamazoo.

Has NoDak finally found their stride, it is closing in on Christmas and we all know they seem to win more games around and especially after Christmas.  If you are old enough you know that NMU was a WCHA member for many years and has a history with UND.  Thus the guys from Marquette are no strangers to the guys in Grand Forks.  The Wildcats are winless in their last four games and NoDak is on a three game winning streak.  I say they keep on their streaks.  NODAK SWEEP

Denver (8-6-2) @ Massachusetts (4-11-2) (Tuesday)

The Pioneers go a little farther East to Amherst, MA after their weekend in Troy, NY.
The Minutemen play at Colgate this weekend.

I’m going with the Pioneers here, just on a hunch, since this will be both teams third game in five days.

BYE

#12  Miami

#19  Nebraska-Omaha

Related articles

• Weekend Match-Ups (by Donn) (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• NCHC Hockey: Breaking Down the Numbers (thehockeywriters.com)
• Minnesota Gophers vs. Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs: Series Preview (hockeywilderness.com)
• NCAA Hockey: There Has to Be a Better Way (thehockeywriters.com)

A Couple of Nice College Hockey Goals

Former Grafton North Dakota product and current Air Force Academy Cadet forward Chad Demers, scores the game-tying goal against Bentley on a nice rebound. That's goal number seven on the year for Demers. Demers is a junior and spent last summer training at Moody Air Force Base in Georgia.



Gophers forward Seth Ambroz scores the game winning goal with 26-seconds left in the game to give Minnesota the victory. That's also goal number seven on the year for Ambroz.

Minnesota Vikings Humor?

I couldn't resist, it would actually be funny, if I wasn't a Minnesota Vikings fan/apologist. They absolutely suck, they're horrible. First Leslie Frasier should be fired and sent packing. Blow the team up.

Zach Parise goal versus Chicago

s/t Fell0096 Minnesota Wild Forward Zach Parise scores his sixth goal of the season to give the Minnesota Wild a 1-0 lead in the first period of tonight's game against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Gophers no-goal during the overtime versus B.C.

Gophers fans thought forward Taylor Cammarata had scored the game winning goal against Boston College Eagles during the overtime period of Friday’s game. After further review, video confirmed that the puck has stayed out of the net when Eagles defenseman Ian McCoshen grabbed the rebound off Eagles goalie Thatcher Demko and threw the puck down the ice. If anything, the play should dead because of the hand pass.

USCHO Poll: UND seventh in first poll

No problem with the first USCHO Poll, seventh place is fine with me.

2013-14 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Hockey Pre-Season Coaches Poll

2013-14 Mankato Free Press WCHA Men's Hockey Pre-Season Coaches Poll

Rank Team First Place Votes Points
1 Minnesota State 9 81
2 Ferris State – 65
3 Michigan Tech 1 64
4 Bowling Green – 58
5 Alaska – 54
6 Northern Michigan – 40
7 Bemidji State – 35
8 Lake Superior State – 25
9 Alaska Anchorage – 18
10 Alabama Huntsville – 10

Predicted order of finish (first-place votes in parenthesis). Based on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 scale; coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team.

NCAA Hockey: USA Today Poll; UND 6th

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Poll
				2012-13
		2011-12		Final
Rk.	School (1st place)	Record	Pts.	Rank
1	Massachusetts-Lowell (20)	28-11-2	484	3
2	Miami (9)	25-12-5	444	6
3	Wisconsin (1)	22-13-7	364	13
4	Boston College	22-12-4	359	8
5	Minnesota	26-9-5	347	5
6	North Dakota	22-13-7	300	7
7	Notre Dame	25-13-3	285	9
8	Yale (4)	22-12-3	269	1
9	St. Cloud State	25-16-1	230	4
10	Michigan	18-19-3	197	NR
11	Quinnipiac	30-8-5	135	2
12	Union	22-13-5	124	10
13	New Hampshire	20-12-7	116	11
14	Minnesota State	24-14-3	110	12
15	Providence	17-14-7	103	NR

Sunday Pontifications: What ails you

Follow today's action live with @wobby and #Vikings fans at http://t.co/uCv2SRCT2V pic.twitter.com/1QfeCrGbWF
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 15, 2013

Thoughts on the UND Football team getting run out of the building 55-17 by the Montana Griz. Vikings defense looks brutal today as well. Is it time for a change? Does UND football need to fire the head coach?  UND nation is not happy today after UND's loss last night.

“@UNDfootball: Watch the highlights of UND's Saturday night loss to Montana" Was there a contractual obligation to tweet this?
— Josh DeMorrett (@joshdemorrett) September 15, 2013

Hockey Buzz: Is Thomas Vanek Minnesota Bound?

Minnesota Wild (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I found this article over on Hockey Buzz. I wonder if this unconfirmed rumor is an e3 or an e5? Look, I like many Wild fans would like to see this happen, but you have to consider the source. If the news pertains to the Wild and it doesn’t come from Michael Russo, I am going to be skeptical.

Josh Rimer, Hockey Buzz -- Last night a solid source informed me that If Thomas Vanek is moved prior to the Trade Deadline, his destination of choice would be Minnesota Wild. Fitting since he played for the Gophers in 2004, Vanek has had his off-season home in Minneapolis and trains in Edina, Minnesota. His wife is from Minnesota and he has always wanted to play in Minny, especially having good friend Jason Pominville there increases his desire to be there.

Related articles

• Reiterating the Case for Thomas Vanek to the Wild (hockeywilderness.com)
• Feeling Minnesota: Why not Phil Kessel? (hockeywilderness.com)
• Vanek Keeping Options Open Entering Camp (wkbw.com)
• Rumors: Vanek hasn't asked Sabres for a trade (cbssports.com)

Breakaway Academy pioneers hockey-focused schooling in Chaska

KMSP-TV

Here’s a nice story about my brother-in-law Andy Brink and the school where he’s the hockey coach.

CHASKA, Minn. (KMSP) - Education has evolved over the past few decades with charter schools and others that focus intensively on music, theater and the arts -- but a new school in Chaska may be the first to cater to the hockey set.

The middle school students who spoke with FOX 9 News about the new school did so with enthusiasm, and their parents say the focus on hockey has their kids are highly-motivated to learn.

Even though it's not unusual for kids to hit the ice after school this time of year, there are a lot of questions being directed toward a teaching institution that puts a priority on a single sport.

"We're a private school, licensed teachers, small classroom sizes combined with specific hockey training," explained coach and co-founder Andy Brink. "There's nothing else like it in the Twin Cities."

Combining hockey with academics has been a five-year vision for Brink, and practice is a part of the daily school curriculum at the new Breakaway Academy in Chaska -- but that doesn't mean students get a pass on grades if they have skill on the ice.

In case anyone is interested, here’s the link to Breakaway Academy and Breakaway Hockey...

Gophers Freshman Gabe Guertler arrested for DUI on a Moped

Minnesota Golden Gophers women's ice hockey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Minnesota Gophers hockey team is going to have to ban Mopeds for their athletes. You can bet, that Gopher head coach Don Lucia didn’t want to deal with this issue to start the season. Our friends to the south, at the NDSU, in the football program, could learn a lesson from the Gophers Hockey program on how to deal with off of the field issues.

Jason Gonzalez, Star Tribune – Hennepin County public records show that [Gabe] Guertler was arrested early Saturday morning by the University of Minnesota Police Department and charged with drunken driving. He was released later that morning. He is scheduled to make a court appearance on Oct. 11.

He faces up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

A university representative confirmed that Guertler was driving a moped when he was pulled over.

No other details about the incident were immediately available. University police said more details should be available after the holiday weekend

For those that were asking for a link, here’s the links to this story...

Western College Hockey: Minnesota Freshman Gabe Guertler Suspended Following DWI Arrest

CBS Minnesota: Gopher Hockey Player Suspended After DWI

Arrest Nation: University of Minnesota Forward Gabe Guertler Arrested

The College Daily: Freshman University of Minnesota Hockey Player Arrested For DWI

USCHO: Minnesota Suspends Guertler indefinitely: incoming freshman faces DWI charge

Bring me the news: Lucia suspends incoming freshman Guertler indefinitely

Sunday Evening Dustin Brown Humor

#Gatorade to make new water bottle specifically for Dustin Brown. pic.twitter.com/xB5r0YaDCe
— Wild About Minnesota (@WildAboutMinny) August 5, 2013

I couldn't resist, it was a funny picture. At least he's not elbowing someone.

Related articles

• Steve Rosenbloom on the Boychuk hit (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Hockey News: Dustin Brown Extension; The ESPY'S (thehockeywriters.com)

Hockey: Pain is Temporary

Amen..... pic.twitter.com/7n92hYQQ42
— HockeyPerks® (@HockeyPerks) July 22, 2013

This is so true!

Related articles

• UND hockey to play UBC in January 2014 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Time to name the #MNCollegeHockey Tourney (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Predicting who wins the Inaugural 2014 B1G Title: Good Question

@THNRyanKennedy How dare you suggest that anyone other than the Minnesota Gophers win the inaugural B1G 2014 title. #sarcasm.
— Eric J. Burton (@goon48) July 19, 2013

That is a very good question. It does bring up an interesting conversation, who is the favorite to win the 2014 Big Ten Hockey Conference Title. I would have to say that Wisconsin, based on who they return, would be one of the favorites. I think that Minnesota lost way too much high-end talent to make much of a impact next season.

. @THNRyanKennedy says Wisconsin looks like a safe bet to win B1G title right now. I’ll take Minnesota as a safer bet at this point.
— Andrew Weiss (@WeissFC) July 19, 2013