UND Hockey: Dave Hakstol Supports the Gentleman's Agreement

Edit: At the current time the video appears to have been taken down. If you watch the video, at the 1:24 mark of the video you will see Dave Hakstol's answer.

Head coach Dave Hakstol was asked by the host Dan Hammer if they will still adhere to the gentleman’s agreement.

“Yes we are,” Hakstol said. “We had probably a fifth of our group leave our meetings in Florida this spring. They spoke on the record that they will not be honoring the gentleman’s agreement. But we have always adhered to that (agreement), and we will continue to as we go through this transition flux period. There are a lot of things that are changing in the recruiting world of college hockey. We are going to be very thoughtful as will go through this transition, and make sure we’re doing things that are smart for the University of North Dakota and the University of North Dakota hockey program.”

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Who's the All-Time Greatest UND Fighting Sioux Hockey Player?

I am conducting a poll. All-Time Greatest UND Hockey Player... http://t.co/SiiSO0V6Nv
— Eric J. Burton THW (@goon48) August 28, 2014

I am conducting a non-scientific poll. Who is the Greatest All-Time Fighting Sioux Hockey Player?  There's multiple ways that you can vote.

1.) Vote at Sioux Sports, there's a link provided in the embedded tweet.
2.) You can post a comment on this blog post.
3.) Tweet my your vote on twitter to  @goon48, if you own a twitter account.
4.) Finally, send me an email at thegoon48@gra.midco.net ...

NCAA Hockey: Six Part Must-See Non-Conference Series

Atlantic Hockey: Five Must-See Non-Conference Series http://t.co/oXAtQNjJFu
— NHLFantasyPlus (@NHLFantasyPlus) August 25, 2014

I just finished up six blog posts: Five Must-See Non-Conference Series. I am in the process of writing a 10 Must-See NCAA Hockey Series. It should come out this week. As we move towards the 2014-15 college hockey season, this has been the most uneventful off-season that I can remember. For those that are wondering, the NCHC CBSSN television schedule is going to come out sometime in the next six weeks.

Hockey East: Five Must-See Non-Conference Series - http://t.co/exzbOdnZOU #hockey #THW pic.twitter.com/ddqwDiGwCx
— The Hockey Writers (@TheHockeyWriter) August 15, 2014

WCHA Hockey: Five Must-See Non-Conference Series - http://t.co/NFnkuFtXDE #NHL pic.twitter.com/5S7jQy2ivf
— THW Hockey (@HockeyLinks) August 13, 2014

Big Ten Hockey: Five Must-See Non-Conference Series http://t.co/PEJLOVDELc #THW
— The Hockey Writers (@TheHockeyWriter) August 9, 2014

ECAC Hockey: Five Must-See Non-Conference Series http://t.co/uZTLyjpxSn #THW
— The Hockey Writers (@TheHockeyWriter) August 7, 2014

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#NHL #Hockey NCHC Hockey: Five Must See Non-Conference Series http://t.co/oa1IDdmeVj
— Hockey Fan (@HockeyFanLV) July 30, 2014

DU Hockey Staff Ice Bucket Challenge

The ice bucket challenge, come to the NCHC...

RT @MikeChambers: @DUCoachMonty and @DU_Hockey staff gets ALS ice bucket challenge from players http://t.co/VgKPiKYBG9…
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) August 18, 2014

ASU to add College Hockey?

English: Lindenwood Univ. vs Univ. of Illinois Ice Hockey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a story that keeps popping up. I sometimes wonder if there will eventually be a few western team added to college hockey. I also think a natural fit would be the NCHC.

College Hockey News --- (Ray) Anderson acknowledged that Arizona State would likely have to go the route of schools like Penn State, which used a large donation to start a men's and women's program together, build a rink, and endow the programs going forward.

"If the financial support is there, you can go field teams and satisfy Title IX equity. I believe that very firmly," Anderson told the blog.

"If somebody comes up and completely wants to fund men's ice hockey, it will be our responsibility as an institution to say, let's figure a way to financially go out and gather the support so that we can satisfy the Title IX and give other opportunities to women."

Other schools, like Bowling Green and Miami, have raised funds to perpetually endow the program. Estimates are that it takes approximately $40 million to do so, with an annual operating budget of approximately $1 million. Then there's the matter of building the new rink.

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My Early Preseason NCAA Men's Hockey Favorite

Ok, I know that the season is still two months away, but I just can't get over how this one ended, and not just for North Dakota either. In general, this past season saw a lot of  parody and I expect this season to be just the same. We saw a team with just one NHL draft pick win it all, a team beat another in .6 seconds to go to the national title game, but lose and lose badly. The end of an era in NCAA Men's Hockey with the end of one conference, and the addition to two new ones. Surprising blow-outs and spectacular overtime thrillers. Most of this could be seen within the North Dakota club alone.

Looking ahead to the season upon us, one must look at who left early, and from where, and who has the best incoming freshman. You have your usual suspects as one might imagine, with Boston College, Minnesota, and North Dakota probably being in the top 10 all season long, barring the typical first half North Dakota funk they always seem to have. Union, the defending national champs, is a team that I don't know what to think about. They proved that if you have a good core of players, and believe in your coach/team, great things can happen.

Michigan looks like they are back on the upswing once again, but their usual Big 10 football rival,

Ohio State, they too look as if they could become a team to look at when it comes to tourney time. The Buckeyes are off of a Big 10 tournament runner-up finish, losing an overtime heartbreaker to Wisconsin.

One also has to wonder about Boston University and if they will crawl back up the rankings again, or if they will stay out of the tournament picture like last season. Only time will tell.

Once again, the NCHC looks to be the powerhouse conference, with the possibility of sending at least five teams to the tournament once again. Miami has their top players returning this season, and are once again among the favorites to win the conference in preseason polls. However, they said that last season too and you saw how that ended up.

Minnesota, the College Hockey News number one team coming into this coming season in their very preseason poll release, looks to gain revenge after their national title game flop against Union. The always tough Golden Gophers

should be in the top five of the rankings for much of, if not the entire season. Being lead by goalie Adam Wilcox, and Kyle Rau, Minnesota is looking for banner number six to hang up in their barn once the season is over.

Finally, a team I know much more about, North Dakota. With three of five incoming freshman being drafted at this years NHL Draft, they return a line-up that has a lot of options.

If you thought last year's freshman class was impressive, wait until you see this one. You have a stud goalie, a first round draft pick, and good core team guys leaving a game day spot hard to come by this year. Between Minnesota and North Dakota this year, you don't find much deeper line-ups in the entire country, and I know UND is looking for revenge after how their, dare I say Cinderella, season ended.

If you asked me to pick a national champion right now, I'd have to flip a coin between North Dakota and Minnesota, but the season is very long and a lot can happen. Ask me this question at the start of the second half and I might have a different answer for you.

2015 Frozen Faceoff tickets renewals to be mailed 8/1

Time to reserve those seats for next year's Frozen Faceoff. I also recommend the Minneapolis Marriott City Center.I stayed there last March and it was an amazing hotel.

2015 #FrozenFaceoff tix renewals to be mailed 8/1! Deadline for seat/loyalty pricing is 9/15. http://t.co/eQcuxc0xzJ pic.twitter.com/koz5CRhnwP
— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) July 30, 2014

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Minnesota Wild Development Camp Roster (College Hockey Connections)

#482705993 / gettyimages.com

The Minnesota Wild are holding their development camp on July 9-14. There will be a scrimmage on the 14th of July.

2014 MINNESOTA WILD DEVELOPMENT CAMP ROSTER

FORWARDS (College Hockey Connections)

40 Tyler Sheehy 5-10 185 Right 11/20/95 Burnsville, Minnesota Minnesota Big 10  

41 Alex Iafallo 6-0 176 Left 12/21/93 Eden, New York U. Minn. Duluth NCHC 

43 Mario Lucia 6-3 195 Left 8/25/93 Fairbanks, Alaska Notre Dame  Hockey East 

50 Vinni Lettieri 5-9 170 Right 2/6/95 Excelsior, Minnesota U. Minnesota Big 10 

52 Alex Tuch 6-3.5 218 Right 5/10/96 Baldwinsville, New York Boston College HE 

57 Adam Gilmour 6-4 192 Right 1/29/94 Albany, New York Boston College HE 

59 Eric Scheid 5-9 163 Left 5/5/92 Coon Rapids, Minnesota Penn State Big 10 

62 Avery Peterson 6-3 200 Left 6/20/95 Grand Rapids, Minnesota Nebraska-Omaha
70 Adam Phillips 6-0 195 Right 8/11/90 Farmington Hills, Michigan UMass- Amherst HE 

71 Brooks Bertsch 5-11 185 Right 5/10/90 Dubuque, Iowa St. Cloud State NCHC 

73 Tanner Kero 5-11 175 Left 7/24/92 Hancock, Michigan Michigan Tech WCHA 

79 Grant Opperman 6-0 185 Right 11/15/93 Wayzata, Minnesota Dartmouth ECAC 

DEFENSEMEN (With College Hockey Connections)

5 Christian Folin 6-3 210 Right 2/9/91 Gothenburg, Sweden UMass-Lowell HE 

44 Gustav Olofsson 6-4 191 Left 12/1/94 Boras, Sweden Colorado College NCHC

60 Carson Soucy 6-5 200 Left 7/27/94 Viking, Alberta U. Minn. Duluth NCHC

72 Hunter Warner 6-2 202 Right 9/21/95 Eden Prairie, Minnesota Minn. State Mankato 

75 Zach Palmquist 5-11 175 Left 12/9/90 South St. Paul, Minnesota Minn. State Mankato WCHA 

80 Louie Belpedio 5-10 190 Right 5/14/96 Skokie, Illinois Miami U. NCHC 

GOALTENDER
86 Michael Shibrowski 6-1 199 Left 11/15/90 Andover, Minnesota U. Minnesota Big 10

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NCHC Players Drafted in the 2014 NHL Draft

North Dakota freshman forward Nick Schmaltz was the highest incoming NCHC player drafted in the 2014 NHL Entry Level Draft.  There were no incoming NCHC players taken in the second round of the 2014 NHL Draft. Nebraska-Omaha and North Dakota had the most players taken in this years draft.

10 future NCHC players were selected in the #NHLDraft, including 9 on day 2 Saturday. Read about all 10: http://t.co/hH6J7EqSs1 #NCHCHockey
— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) June 29, 2014

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10 future NCHC players were selected in the #NHLDraft, including 9 on day 2 Saturday. Read about all 10: http://t.co/hH6J7EqSs1 #NCHCHockey
— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) June 29, 2014

Commissoner Fenton at CBS today

Now before we get our hopes up, UND hockey won't be on FCS anytime soon. At least not for another two seasons. CBSSN won't let it happen because of the exclusivity deal the NCHC has with the network.

A day in #NYC for meetings with conference partners. One of the meetings is with @CBSSportsNet #proudpartnership pic.twitter.com/Zizh0fcb1c
— Josh Fenton (@Fenton_JC) June 11, 2014

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Z is for Zane (Gothberg)

What a really nice story by WDAZ's Dan Corey on UND sophomore goalie Zane Gothberg. I think this really shows how the younger kids look up to the UND hockey players as well.

Z Is For Zane: The story of Zane Gothberg and his incredible friendship with a Thief River Falls second grade class. http://t.co/EUDdZJIV5K
— Dan Corey (@DanCorey8) May 8, 2014

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UND Hockey: Schmaltz, Gothberg and Parks to return to UND for the 2014-15 season

RT @UNDSID: Sophomore defenseman Jordan Schmaltz and junior forward Michael Parks have both confirmed that they'll return to UND next year.
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDMHockey) April 16, 2014

Can also now confirm that goalie Zane Gothberg will be back for his junior season. @UNDMHockey
— Jayson Hajdu (@UNDSID) April 16, 2014

Some good news for UND... I would imagine that Jordan Schmaltz would like to play with his brother Nick. Nice to see the staring goalie Zane Gothberg return as well. Now, we wait on Rocco Grimaldi's decision.

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UND Season over.... Much to be thankful for

Seal of the University of North Dakota (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of my friend on facebook posted this... I think this sums it up best. 

I'm so proud of University of North Dakota Men's Hockey. For how the season was going by Christmas break, did **ANY** UND fan think they'd even make the big tourney? Or even the 2nd round of the NCHCs? No way. Nobody saw this coming. I'll forever be as big of a fan as I've ever been. To the four Seniors, thank you so much. Clarke Saunders, Mitch Mac, Derek Rodwell, and Dillon Simpson... Thank you so, so much, and I wish you the best of luck in your future careers off and on ice careers. To the coaches and the rest of the team, thank you for being such great student athletes. I wish I could shake every single one of your hands.

Man... it's going to be a long 5 months and 3 weeks without Tim Hennessy and Steve Olsen echoing through my house. SIOUX FOREVER.

All in all, it was a good season, and I don't think we should hang our heads about this. #rolltribe and go UNION...

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Edit: UND 5 UW 2 (Video)

Tonight, UND beat a very good Wisconsin team 5-2. Wisconsin came into tonight's game with nine seniors on their roster. UND played tonight's game with two seniors in their lineup captain Dillon Simpson and Derek Rodwell. Senior goalie Clark Saunders was the backup goalie and Mitch MacMillan was a healthy scratch. To put it in perspective, UND beat a very good veteran team. The Badgers were built to go deep into the NCAA playoffs and their season was cut short. 

This past week, I read a lot of blog posts and newspaper articles, and no one gave UND much of a chance of winning this game. Big night for UND sophomore forward Rocco Grimaldi, who scored (3g-0a—3pts). According to UNDSID Jayson Hajdu, Grimaldi had played in 83 games and never scored two goals in a game. Looks like he saved his best effort for one of the most important games of his UND hockey career.

The following players also had a big night for UND, junior forwards Mike Parks (1g-1a—2pts), Mark MacMillan (1g-2a—3pts). UND will play Ferris State tomorrow night for a chance to go to the Frozen Four.

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General Pattyn 'Play Sioux Hockey'

@GeneralPattyn28 your intuition and spirit are correct...SIOUX hockey. https://t.co/c1d42NPCID
— Katie O'Keefe-Hale (@KOKeefeHale) March 28, 2014

Got to love the General. The guys solid and will probably be your team captain next season.

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North Dakota's Drake Caggiula blasts Miami's Sean Kuraly

Thoughts on this hit... UND forward Drake Caggiula absolutely blasts Miami's Sean Kuraly with a clean hard, legal check. There is not elbow to the head. I don't buy it, the guy had the puck, before he was checked. Caggiula didn't charge him. It's another example of blown call. At the end of the press conference. WMU head coach Andy Murray said, "The league needs better officiating." I think it's a bad call by the official.

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UND shuts out WMU, Probably Makes tourney with Wisconsin Win

Minneapolis, MN – The University of North Dakota Hockey team came into the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s Frozen Faceoff third place game with their NCAA playoffs hopes on life support. First, they needed to win the third place game, if they had any chance of getting an at large NCAA bid. UND also needed help to make the NCAA tourney.

UND took care of their own end of the deal by shutting out the Western Michigan Broncos 5-0.

Leading the way for UND, was sophomore goalie Zane Gothberg and junior forward Connor Gaarder. Gothberg was rock solid between the pipes, stopping 25-of-25 shots, to earn his third shutout of the season. That was also the second time Gothberg had shutout Broncos in the last month.

A day after being shut out by the Miami RedHawks, UND came out of the gates with a lot of energy. UND was a buzz saw, they came out and pushed the pace. Gaarder scored the first of his two goals at the 01:42 mark of the first period. Gaarder would score his second marker 10:00 minutes later. With his two goals, Gaarder pushed his season total to seven goals, a career high for the junior from Edina, Minnesota.

UND would never let Western Michigan into the game.

After scoring goals in bunches during the month of February, UND had trouble scoring goals in the month of March. Today, UND would erupt for five goals.

UND head coach Dave Hakstol reflected on his team's win today and the situation that his team was in.

“We fought hard for our 23rd win of the year today,” Hakstol said. “That puts us in a situation where although we don’t control our destiny, we gave ourselves a chance. We did what we had to do today. We played a good hockey game. It’s going to be a long three, four hours, sitting, waiting and watching."

Hakstol continued. “Waking up on November the 30th, with five wins, as a staff, I couldn’t be prouder of this group. The type of team they have become. Working hard continuing to build and grow. This win gives us a chance to wake up tomorrow morning to prepare for a regional tourney. We will see where the cards fall.”

“I think the biggest thing after the game yesterday, we were kind of disappointed in our locker room,” assistant captain Stephane Pattyn. “We knew we had to win a game this weekend. We really wanted it to be that first one, then we would have a chance at a championship tonight. Right after the game, we had to turn the page and make sure we won that one today. I think our team did a good job at doing that.”

WMU head coach Andy Murray was the only representative from his team to speak to the media after the game.

“They’re (UND) a quality group and a solid coaching staff, certainly deserving of the win today,” Murray said. “Our kids competed. Maybe it’s my Canadian background, but I have never been very good playing for third place. Not normally used to it.”

Western Michigan ends their season with (19-16-5) record. UND improves to (23-13-3) and with the Wisconsin Badgers winning the Big Ten Hockey Conference tournament, UND “should”  make the NCAA tourney.

(Box Score)

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Frozen Faceoff Match-Ups (by Donn)

We have arrived at the final weekend of the inaugural NCHC games.  SCSU was the first winner of the first ever Penrose Cup, and then became the first ever 1^st seed to lose to the 8^th seed in the first round of the playoffs.  This could be a blessing for the Huskies; it will give them a week off to rest up for the NCAA tournament, and refocus their efforts.

NCHC Frozen Faceoff

Miami vs North Dakota

How they got here -

The RedHawks swept the Huskies a dramatic two game set.  Friday the Huskies scored with 1 second left to force overtime, and then Miami wins in OT.  Saturday night the RedHawks untied the score with 3 seconds left to punch their ticket to Minneapolis.

NoDak won the opener, forced OT in the second only to fall short, and the rebounded for the game three winner.

Season series – NoDak wins 3-1-0 – split in Oxford and swept in Grand Forks

These teams met about a month ago in GF, with UND beating MU 3-2 on Valentine’s Day and then crushing them 9-2 the next evening.  I don’t UND will hang another 9-spot on MU, but I don’t see UND losing on Friday either.  UND hasn’t lost on a Friday since November 29.  NODAK WINS

Denver vs Western Michigan

How they got here -

The Pioneers dropped the opener to Omaha and then won the next two games (4-3L, 5-1W, 2-0W) to advance to Minneapolis.

The Broncos swept the playoff series in Duluth (3-2, 4-3) to advance to the Frozen Faceoff.

Season series – Denver wins 3-1-0 – sweep in Denver and split in Kalamazoo

These teams played just three weeks ago in Kalamazoo, with Denver winning the opener 4-2 and the Broncos taking the next game 3-1.  WMU has now won three of their last four games and five of seven.  The Pioneers have won three of their last five and four of the last seven.  I think this game comes down to defense and goal tending and who’s on their A-game.  I’m giving this match up to the “away” team.  PIONEERS WIN

So if my predictions are right, UND v DU, will be the championship game and MU v WMU for third place.  Thus, I will pick UND to win the championship and WMU to take third.

NCHC Frozen Faceoff tickets on sale today to Champions Club, general public

(Official UND Release)

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – A select number of Inaugural NCHC Frozen Faceoff tournament ticket packages will go on sale to members of the North Dakota Champions Club and the general public today.

Champions Club members have until 5 p.m. CT  today to make their requests by e-mail. If there are any ticket packages still remaining after fulfilling the Champions Club requests, general public requests will then be granted.

Requests should be e-mailed to tickets@theralph.com.

E-mail requests should have the words “NCHC Tickets” in the subject line, and Champions Club members should include the number of tickets requested in the body of the e-mail. Priority for ticket purchasing is based on Champions Club Priority Points as of March 1, 2014. General public requests need only to include the number of tickets requested and a phone contact. All e-mails will receive a confirmation.

Inaugural NCHC Tournament ticket packages cost $130 and are good for all four games in the tournament. The UND Box Office does not sell single-game tickets. For more tournament ticket info, visit NCHCHockey.com.

NCHC Tournament Official UND Pre-Game Celebrations

UND Fans attending the NCHC Tournament are invited to join the UND Alumni Association & Foundation and UND Athletics for pregame festivities beginning three hours prior to any game that UND is playing. The pregame events will be held at the Pourhouse (10 South 5^th Street, Minneapolis, MN), within walking distance of the Target Center and area hotels. 

All UND alumni, family and friends are invited to this free event with cash bars, a full restaurant, DJs and more! The Pourhouse invites all UND fans back to the venue after each hockey game. The usual cover charge will be FREE to UND fans or anyone with a game ticket. On-site and nearby parking are available.

We hope to see you this weekend as we flood the streets of Minneapolis in UND Kelly green!

Miami's game-winning goal against SCSU

Miami University RedHawks forward Justin Greenberg scored with 2.6 seconds remaining in regulation, securing the win against the Saint Cloud State Huskies. I don't know if it's Karma or what,  but all of the higher seeds have been knocked out of the NCHC tourney, so far. North Dakota is the highest seed left. If UND get's to Minneapolis, they will be the top seed at the NCHC tourney.

Congratulations to @DU_Hockey @MiamiOH_Hockey and @WMUHockey for punching the first 3 tickets to @TheNCHC #FrozenFaceoff
— Josh Fenton (@Fenton_JC) March 16, 2014

RedHawks Sweep Huskies with 4-3 Win: Justin Greenberg's goal with 2.6 seconds left won it for Miami. http://t.co/CK7p05w0ws #MUStandAs1
— Miami Athletics (@MiamiRedHawks) March 16, 2014

big props to @MiamiOH_Hockey @WMUHockey @DU_Hockey for winning series on the road tonight, looking forward to next week's #FrozenFaceoff gms
— ben holden (@benholdenpxp) March 16, 2014