Showing posts with label North Dakota. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Dakota. Show all posts

Monday, June 23, 2014

UND Hockey: Semi-Committed recruits (Ryan Mantha)

Semi-committed recruits, I am going to give a s/t to my buddy Mafia Man for this one. If I was the coaching staff, obviously I am not, I would consider pulling this kids scholarship offer. Frankly I am bored reading his various quotes about how he's going to wait and see.

Does this kid not realize that 31 percent of the NHL is a former college hockey player, that's only going to increase in the future. If this doesn't think he's going to develop at UND, he's crazy. Dave Hakstol and his staff are highly regarded by the NHL coaches and General Managers.

Nate Sager, Buzzing the Net -- (Ryan) Mantha's next port of call could be contingent on which NHL organization takes a chance on him at the NHL draft this weekend in Philadelphia. The big defender is uncommitted to a NCAA school for this season. The Muskegon Lumberjacks have his USHL rights, while the Ontario Hockey League's Niagara IceDogs recently traded two priority selection picks for his rights."

"North Dakota has eight D returning," Mantha says. "I don't want to sit, I want to continue to develop. I'm keeping my options open right now. They haven't told me to go back. That's something I have to decide over the summer.

"I think they're going to decide," he says of a NHL franchise having influence on the decision of where to play as an 18-year-old. "Some teams say they won't but I think if someone has input on what is best for me, I'll really consider it."
If you don't believe me, all you have to do is watch some of the great UND hockey players currently playing in the NHL. The last three Stanley Cups have a former UND hockey players' name on it. After watching what happened with Adam Tambellini last season, I would walk away from anyone that isn't 100 percent all in. Playing time at the University of North Dakota is earned. I have watched enough practices to know that.

Sunday, June 22, 2014

UND recruit Ryan Mantha on the Pipeline show



UND recruit defensmen Ryan Mantha, at least for now, was on the Pipeline show with Guy Flamming. You can listen to the show by clicking on this link. Doesn't sound like he's all in, at least when it comes to going to UND. Where's Mantha going (UND or OHL), it will depend on what team drafts him. He'll decide where he's going after the 2014 NHL Entry Level Draft.




Tuesday, May 27, 2014

UND could end up losing recruit Ryan Mantha, depending on who drafts him

As a fan of the University of North Dakota, none of us are shocked by these revelations. We have seen it numerous times. We will see it again, probably sooner rather than later. 

[From the Hockey WritersRyan Mantha, Sioux City USHL, University of North Dakota, Elite Prospects Page


Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

(Video Highlights) University of North Dakota athletics 2013-14



Check out this sweet video from the University of North Dakota. It's a pretty good video montage.There's some good memories from the past season for UND sports. I like the one with Brewster dancing with the UND first lady. That's classic.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, May 08, 2014

Grimaldi Takes Talents to South Beach



Ok, I know I am a day late on this on, but I needed to figure out how I wanted to word this post. As it was announced yesterday, UND Junior forward, Rocco Grimaldi signed with the Florida Panthers yesterday. The California native would sign a three year entry level deal worth around $3.2 million. Rocco was drafted 32nd overall, which is the second pick of the second round, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in St. Paul, Minnesota.

I myself have some memories in the two full seasons I was able to see him skate at UND, but my favorite memory is probably when he scored his first goal against Minnesota back in November of 2011. It was a game I was fortunate to be attending while back home for a weekend my freshman year, but what made it most memorable was his celebration. Replicating his idol, Tim Tebow, it possibly was the best celebration in college hockey that season. However, Rocco would miss most of this season due to a knee injury, and was forced to take a medical red shirt for the remainder of the 2011-2012 season.

Rocco was by far the fan favorite in his time at North Dakota, and with good reason. He was fast, and would dazzle the crowd with his great hands. However, his likeness to pull the flashy moves would cost UND at times where taking the shot would be the better option. However, when they did work they were all highlight reel goals that would leave the entire crowd speechless.

Grimaldi would lead UND in points this year with 37 and would make a statement in the NCAA tournament as well. His presence was well felt on the ice greatest in the Wisconsin game when he would earn his first collegiate hat trick, leading UND to a 5-2 victory.

It is hard for me to say if Rocco will have success in the NHL, or even make it into the NHL, but we wish him the best of the luck in whatever his career has in store for him.
Enhanced by Zemanta

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.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Three UND Hockey Players Cited for Underage Drinking


Three University of North Dakota hockey players have been cited for Possession/Consumption Of Alcohol By Person Under 21. It would appear that the offenses in question happened on April 12, 2014, after the Frozen Four was over.

The three players that were cited are freshman forwards Wade Murphy and Lucas Johnson, aka Luke Johnson and freshman defenseman Keaton Thompson. In addition, Thompson and Murphy were also cited for Failing to Halt.

All charges are Class B Misdemeanors. Checking the court records, no other players have any charges pending at this time. You can search the records using this search engine.


From theGrand Forks Herald. "We are aware of the situation and it has been dealt with internally," UND athletic director Brian Faison said.


Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, April 10, 2014

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

Seal of the University of North Dakota
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...
Enhanced by Zemanta

Blast from the past: UND vs UMN



Who can forget this goal. Rastislav Spirko shorthanded goal against the Gophers.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Frozen Four: A few tweets from Philly








Enhanced by Zemanta

Saturday, April 05, 2014

Couple of NCAA tweets




Enhanced by Zemanta

Thursday, April 03, 2014

Blast from the Past: UND 4 UMN 4



UND had a 3-1 lead  in this game and let it slip away. The Minnesota Golden Gophers would charge back and score two unanswered goals to get the tie. This was the last series that UND played against the Gophers. One of those games that was fun to watch.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, March 31, 2014

UMN vs. UND (throwing out a few numbers)

The University of North Dakota (25-13-3) meets the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers (27-6-6) in the 2014 NCAA Frozen Four semifinal game.

Date: April 10 2014, at 7:30 p.m.


Location: Wells Fargo Center Philadelphia, Pa.

Breaking down the historic series: The two teams haven’t met on the ice this season. Minnesota had a 1-0-1 record against North Dakota last season.  Minnesota is 6-3-1 in the last 10 games against North Dakota. In his 10 seasons, UND head coach Dave Hakstol has a 17-14-4 record against Don Lucia’s Golden Gophers. All-time playoff record against Minnesota: UND has a 22-19 record against Minnesota in the NCAA and WCHA playoffs.


Common opponents: UND (6-4-1), UMN (7-3-0)

UND vs. Bemidji State 1-0-1, Minnesota-Duluth 3-1-0, SCSU 1-3-0, Wisconsin 1-0-0

UMN vs. Bemidji State 2-0-0, Minnesota-Duluth 1-1-0, SCSU 2-0-0, Wisconsin 2-2-0

There is some discrepancy in the records

According the Minnesota: Minnesota leads the all-time series 145-130-15

According to North Dakota: Minnesota leads the all-time series 130-138-15

Enhanced by Zemanta

Sunday, March 30, 2014

UND vs UMN a trip down memory lane



The storied feud continues, Hatfield's and McCoy's. After taking a year off during the regular season, the hockey gods are going to allow this game to happen. UMN and UND will renew their rivalry at the Frozen Four in Philly. The city of Brotherly love. Oh the Irony.



I had actually forgot this game.

Who can forget the Evan Trupp goal in overtime.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Saturday, March 29, 2014

UND vs. FSU Lines (NCAA Midwest Regional)

North Dakota Forward Lines
9 Drake Caggiula–16 Mark MacMillan–15 Michael Parks
28 Stephane Pattyn–19 Rocco Grimaldi–27 Luke Johnson
21 Brendan O’Donnell–13 Connor Gaarder–11 Derek Rodwell
29 Bryn Chyzyk–17 Colten St. Clair–22 Andrew Panzarella

North Dakota Defense Pairings
18 Dillon Simpson–24 Jordan Schmaltz
5 Nick Mattson–6 Paul LaDue
4 Keaton Thompson–2 Troy Stecher

UND Goalies
31 Zane Gothberg
33 Clarke Saunders

Ferris Forward Lines
21 Justin Buzzeo–6 Kyle Schempp–16 Garrett Thompson
18 Andy Huff–8 Cory Kane–20 Gerald Mayhew
17 Jared VanWormer–11 Kenny Babinski–9 Chad McDonald
22 Matt Robertson–19 Justin DeMartino–28 Seth Adams
Ferris Defense Pairings
2 Scott Czarnowczan–3 Travis White
23 Brandon Anselmini–10 Ryan Lowney
25 Sean O’Rourke–7 Jason Binkley

Ferris Goalies

30 C.J. Motte
29 Charles Williams
31 Trace Pennoc
Enhanced by Zemanta

Friday, March 28, 2014

UND vs. UW Lines (NCAA Midwest Regional Semi Finals)

UND Forward lines
9 Drake Caggiula–16 Mark MacMillan–15 Michael Parks (A)
28 Stephane Pattyn(A) –19 Rocco Grimaldi–27 Luke Johnson21 Brendan O’Donnell –13 Connor Gaarder–11 Derek Rodwell
29 Bryn Chyzyk–17 Colten St. Clair – 22 Andrew Panzarella

North Dakota Defense Pairings
5 Nick Mattson–6 Paul LaDue
18 Dillon Simpson ©–24 Jordan Schmaltz
4 Keaton Thompson–2 Troy Stecher

UND Goalies
31 Zane Gothberg
33 Clarke Saunders
Out: 7-Wade Murphy (Fr., F), 20-Gage Ausmus (Fr., D), 25 Mitch MacMillan (Sr F), 26-Coltyn Sanderson (So., F), 30-Matt Hrynkiw (Fr., G)
Wisconsin Badgers Forward Lines
17 Nic Kerdiles – 9 Mark Zengerle – 7 Tyler Barnes
15 Morgan Zulinick – 14 Jefferson Dahl – 25 Michael Mersch
21 Grant Besse – 16 Joseph LaBate – 18 Sean Little
26 Brad Navin – 12 Keegan Meuer – 22 Jed Soleway

Wisconsin Badgers Defense Pairings
19 Jake McCabe – 24 Joe Faust
28 Kevin Schulze – 27 Frankie Simonelli
20 Eddie Wittchow – 5 Chase Drake

Badger Goalies
33 Joel Rumple
30 Landon Peterson
Enhanced by Zemanta

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

NCAA Hockey: Under the old Pairwise Rankings

Jim Dahl has what the old Pairwise rankings would have looked like, if the NCAA used the Pairwise Ranking from last season. To be honest with you, I don't like the new Pairwise formula. I think it was an over reaction to the smaller schools whining about the big schools not traveling to the smaller schools home arenas. 
West (St Paul)
1. Minnesota vs 16. Robert Morris
8. Wisconsin vs 9. Ferris St
Northeast (Worcester)
3. Boston College vs 14. Cornell
6. Providence vs 11. Notre Dame
East (Bridgeport)
2. Union vs 15. Denver
7. St Cloud St vs 10. North Dakota
Midwest (Cincinnati)
4. Mass-Lowell vs 13. Mankato
5. Quinnipiac vs 12. Colgate
Enhanced by Zemanta

Monday, March 24, 2014

Mens NCAA Tourney is Set

After a crazy weekend of conference tournaments, the 2014 men's ice hockey field was set on Sunday morning. The NCAA looks at the Pairwise rankings, along with auto bids from winning conference tournaments to determine the 16 team field of play.

Lets take a look at this years tournament, first starting with the West Regional in St. Paul working our way east. In the region's first game, we have the number one overall seed Minnesota Golden Gophers facing off against auto bid Robert Morris. This match up seems to have everything made for an easy Minnesota victory, but so did their opening round game against Yale last year. Do we need to even mention the Holy Cross game in 2006 in Grand Forks? What I am trying to get at here is that the Gophers better not take this game too lightly or they could be golfing early once again. One thing they do have on their side is the home ice advantage of playing at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul. In the last West Regional hosted here, the Gophers would skate to a regional championship with a 5-2 victory over the University of North Dakota.

For the second game in this regional we have another Minnesota team in St. Cloud State facing off against the always tough Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This opening round game has everything in store for it to be a classic. It has all of the tools to be set up as a classic goaltending duel. Between SCSU's Ryan Faragher and Notre Dame's Steven Summerhays, I would say this is going to be a very low scoring contest. However, one must look at the end of season disaster in the first round of NCHC play against Miami, is one to think that the confidence will be down after getting swept, or will the extra week of no games have them primed and ready to go? Notre Dame, on the other hand, is coming into this tournament knocking off the number two overall seed Boston College, to get to their conference tournament, but would lose 4-0 in the semifinal to the surging UMass Lowell.

I have Notre Dame and Minnesota winning in the first round of this region with Notre Dame advancing to the Frozen Four. I know this is bold, but much like Michigan did in 2011, Summerhays is a goalie who is hot and can carry this Notre Dame team far in this tournament.

Moving to the Midwest Regional where we have number four overall seed Wisconsin playing the team they helped get in by beating Ohio State Saturday, North Dakota. The team formerly known as the Fighting Sioux is coming into this tournament off of a 5-0 victory over Western Michigan in the NCHC third place game. However, their Friday night game against Miami was by far one of the worst games that this UND squad had played all season. Not cashing in on opportunities when in front of them and giving up goals that were not North Dakota like goals to give up. However, if the UND team that played on Saturday shows up in this tournament, watch out. There could possibly be an eighth banner being hung up at the beginning of next season. As for Wisconsin, they are coming off of a dramatic 5-4 overtime victory in the Big Ten championship game against Ohio State. In their last 10 games, the Badgers are an amazing 8-2-0 and if you go back to 12 games, you will find a home ice sweep of Minnesota. These former WCHA rivals are going to beat each other up in this game. Look for a lot of physicality and a very low scoring contest.

For the other game in the Midwest Region, we have Ferris State playing Colgate. Colgate is coming off a 5-2 loss to Union, who is this week's USCHO poll number one team, in the ECAC championship game. Before that, Colgate is 6-2-2 in their last 10 games, including a 4-4 stand-off against Union. As for one of the new WCHA members, Ferris State, they are also coming off a conference championship loss to Minnesota State Mankato of a score of 4-1. Both teams are coming in with something to prove, and have a very tough road to get to the Frozen Four, but never count out a team who just was recently in a Frozen Four with Ferris State.

I have North Dakota and Ferris State winning their opening round match ups with North Dakota advancing to the Frozen Four.

Moving east, we have Union skating into Bridgeport, Connecticut to play the Vermont Catamounts, who is coming off of a very impressive season. However, the Catamounts are coming off of a 3 game Hockey East playoff series loss to UMass Lowell so they also are coming into the tournament on a losing note. However, maybe the extra rest will give them all of the tools for an upset against this very tough Union team. Union is coming into the tournament winning the ECAC championship and as the number one ranked team in the USCHO.com poll. I just can't see Vermont coming out on top in this game, but in this tournament, you can't count anyone out.

For the second game in the East Regional we have Providence playing Quinnipiac. Quinnipiac is looking for a second straight trip to the Frozen Four, but hoping for better results then last season. They also are coming off of a heartbreaking double overtime loss in the ECAC semi finals to Colgate so they come in with a little extra weight on their shoulders. As for Providence, they also are coming off their conference semi final to a loss 3-1 against UNH. going 11-7-2 in a very tough Hockey East, Providence looks to prove that they are deserving on making this tournament by advancing past the first round.

I have Union facing Quinnipiac in the regional final, in what could be another tournament classic if the game actually does happen, with Union advancing to the Frozen Four.

Finally we move to the Northeast Regional in Worchester, Mass. Both opening round games look to be classics with UMass Lowell playing Minnesota State Mankato in the regions first game. MSUM is coming off of a very successful season, only missing out on the WCHA regular season crown to Ferris State by just a single point. However, Mankato would get their revenge in the conference tournament by beating the Bulldogs and win their first WCHA tournament crown. As for Lowell, they probably are coming into this tournaments as one of the hottest teams in the country and will be a tough opponent for anybody in this tournament.

For the second game, we have auto bid Denver facing off against number two Boston College. After a lot of people were skeptical about Denver this season, especially with the departure of George Gwozdecky, but this Pioneer squad never gave up and won the first ever NCHC Frozen Face-Off. As for BC, the Eagles took an early exit from their conference tournament, losing to Notre Dame, Hockey East's newest member. However, the Eagles to play home to the NCAA's likely Hobey Baker winner in Johnny Gaudreau. BC is always a tough opponent this time of year and if they keep up their pattern since 2008, it is their year to win the NCAA title.

I have BC and UMass winning their first round games with UMass advancing to the Frozen Four. The choice for this region wasn't that easy, but I had to go with the hotter team.

Finally for my Frozen Four picks. I have Notre Dame advancing over North Dakota to the title game, with UND having nightmares once again with another hot goalie, much like in 2011. I also Have Union advancing over UMass. UMass can only ride the hot streak for so long and Union is going to put the fire out. Finally for this year's national championship game, I have Union beating Notre Dame.

Now I know some of you are probably thinking I am crazy for picking these two schools to advance to my title game, but that's the power of opinion. Feel free to share what you think with me on twitter at the handle of @siouxhockey33.
Enhanced by Zemanta

Sunday, March 23, 2014

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.
Enhanced by Zemanta