Epic fail by ESPNU

Come on espn.... twitter.com/cHRISTIANbRO10…
— Sam Christian (@cHRISTIANbRO10) March 29, 2013

s/t to@cHRISTIANbRO10 ... Epic fail to @ESPNU for this screw up. Unsatisfactory, this is not acceptable. Of course ESPN wouldn't screw up Notre Dame or Boston College or even Cornell for that matter, but it's okay to disrespect North Dakota.

ND and Miami Scrum at the end of the game

Here was the end of the first game of the Hockey City Classic. I watched this scrum numerous times on my television, and it looks like, Notre Dame forward Jeff Costello spears some random Miami RedHawk at the end of the game. There were no penalties called on the play. It will be interesting to see if the CCHA officials review the video from the end of the game, to see if there is anything else that warrants additional supplemental discipline.

Mike Voran hit from behind on Taylor Richart

Watch this hit by Notre Dame forward Mike Voran as he hits Miami defensman Taylor Richart from behind.  This hit is unacceptable and you have to applaud the on ice official for giving Voran a five minute major and a game disqualification.

It would also be disappointing, to be thrown out of such an awesome, high profile event such as the Hockey City Classic for a needless, unnecessary and illegal hit from behind.

There is no way that you can defend this hit. If you watch the video you will see that Richart hit Voran earlier in the shift, but still, there is no reason for Voran to hit Richart while his back is turned to the play.

These are these are the types of hits that the powers that be are trying to eliminate from college hockey. I would be happy if we eliminated them from all levels of hockey.

Video of the Minnesota vs. Notre Dame highlights

Here are the highlights of tonight's game between the number one ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers and the number two ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It's a good win for the Minnesota Gophers because it's bumps their Pairwise ranking up. It's also the fifth win in the last six games for the Minnesota Gophers.

UND seventh in USCHO Poll

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll

December 31, 2012

	Team	(First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Last Poll
1	Minnesota	(35)	13- 3-3	977	4
2	Boston College	( 5)	12- 3-1	922	1
3	Notre Dame	( 9)	14- 4-0	913	3
4	New Hampshire		11- 3-2	843	2
5	Quinnipiac		14- 3-2	769	9
6	Miami		12- 4-4	730	5
7	North Dakota		10- 5-3	720	7
8	Dartmouth	( 1)	8- 2-2	661	10
9	Boston University		10- 6-0	612	6
10	Western Michigan		11- 5-2	513	8
11	Denver		10- 6-3	478	14
12	Cornell		7- 4-2	425	11
13	Union		9- 4-4	375	13
14	Minnesota State		12- 6-2	336	18
15	St. Cloud State		12- 8-0	291	16
16	Nebraska-Omaha		11- 8-1	276	12
17	Yale		7- 4-2	213	15
18	Niagara		10- 3-4	124	17
19	Robert Morris		9- 4-2	120	NR
20	Holy Cross		10- 4-2	65	NR
Others receiving votes: Colgate 50, Ferris State 47, Providence 12, Harvard 10, Michigan Tech 5, Massachusetts 4, Massachusetts-Lowell 4, Northern Michigan 4, Colorado College 1.

Related articles

• NCAA Hockey rankings 2012: Boston College drops to No. 2 (boston.sbnation.com)

UND and ND highlights from Saturday's game

Here are some of the highlights from Saturday's game between UND and Notre Dame. Obviously,  UND lost the game  5-2 and I  am sure that Zane Gothberg would like to have a few of those shots back, especially the two that were from the top of the faceoff circle, but UND did manage to play some pretty good hockey in the third period.

Also, Mark MacMillan's goal in the second period was a thing of beauty. Notice after goal Notre Dame Defenseman Stephen Johns trips up Mark MacMillan who ends up falling into the end boards after he has already scored the goal. Then for good measure the ND defenseman crosschecks Danny Kristo in the face when he comes to confront Johns about the questionable play.

Lucia on the Gophers future schedules

English: Big Ten Conference logo since 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There has been a lot of discussion on the Gophers future hockey schedules with their move to the Big Ten and why they're not playing one team and then playing maybe another team. Here is a quote from Michael Russo's blog today.

Some Don Lucia quotes:

On future schedule? “We have a four-year deal with Northeastern and Boston College [starting next year], so it’s something I want to continue to do – at least every year get out to the east coast. Right now, we’ll have our 20 Big Ten ames, our eight in-state games – that’s 28, we’ll have our tournament, that’s 30, so that’ll leave us four games a year. Right now we’re locked in with Notre Dame, B.C. and Northeastern, and when that drops off, we’ll get North Dakota back on when Notre Dame drops off. When B.C. drops off, that’ll free up another opportunity to go at East to play somebody every other year back and forth. The plan is to try to get out to the east coast every other year.”

Thoughts? Comments? It will be nice to see the rivalry return in four years hopefully.

Related articles

• So is UMN ducking UND in hockey? (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Minnesota hesitant to play North Dakota in hockey for now... (thehockeywriters.com)

The 32 game National College Hockey Schedule - CBS sport announced 18 game schedule

CBS Sports Network (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As the Lockout enters the tenth day with no end in sight – hockey fans have been given even more options to fill the void left by theNHL lockout.

Earlier, I posted a 24 game college hockey schedule for NBC Sports Network. Today, CBS Sports Network announced their 18 game schedule and starting on Thursday November 15, 2012 with a game between Notre Dame and Michigan in Ann Arbor Michigan.

I took the liberty of combining the two schedules and now between the CBS Sports Network and NBC Sports Network schedules hockey fans have 32 game national college hockey schedule that hockey fans can choose from. You can check your local cable companies listings for what channel these sports networks are on. For those fans that have DirecTV, NBCSN is on channel 603 and CBSSN is on channel 613.

Ice Breaker Tourney

Fri. Oct. 12 Notre Dame vs. Maine (7:00 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Fri. Oct. 12 Army vs. Nebraska (TBD.) – NBCSN

Sat. Oct. 13 Final (Teams TBD) (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Nov. 15 Notre Dame at Michigan (7:30 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Nov. 16 Harvard at Cornell (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Nov. 30 Boston College at Boston University (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Nov. 30 Vermont at Maine (8:00 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Nov. 30 Wisconsin at Denver (10:00 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Dec. 1 Boston University at Boston College (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Dec. 7 Michigan State at Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Dec. 8 Maine at Boston University (8:00 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Dec. 14 Western Michigan at Michigan (7:30 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Jan. 4 Colorado College at Nebraska-Omaha (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Jan. 4: Robert Morris at Army (7:30 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Jan. 5 Merrimack at Vermont (7:30 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Jan. 11 Union at Princeton (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Jan. 11 Nebraska-Omaha at Denver (10:00 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Jan. 12 Army at Air Force (6:00 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Jan. 18 Harvard at Yale (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Jan. 19: Alaska at Notre Dame (7:00 p.m. ET)  – CBSSN

Jan. 25 Ferris State at Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Jan. 25 Yale at Cornell (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Feb. 1 Dartmouth at Union (7:30 p.m.ET) – NBCSN

Feb. 8   North Dakota at Nebraska-Omaha (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Feb. 8 Michigan at Notre Dame (7:30 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Feb. 10 Providence at New Hampshire (4:00 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Feb. 15 Notre Dame at Miami (7:30 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Feb. 15 Boston University at Maine (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Feb. 22 Yale at Quinnipiac (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Feb. 22 North Dakota at Denver (10:00 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Feb. 22 Notre Dame at Western Michigan (7:30 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Feb. 23 New Hampshire at Vermont (4:00 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Feb. 24 Boston College at Merrimack (4:00 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

March 1 Wisconsin at Nebraska-Omaha (7:30 p.m.ET) – NBCSN

Mar. 1 Ferris State at Michigan (7:00 p.m. ET) – CBSSN

Mar. 3 UMass-Lowell at Merrimack (4:00 p.m. ET) – CBSS

March 8 Maine at New Hampshire (7:30 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Hockey East Tournament

March 15 Quarterfinals (7:00 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

March 22 Semifinals (4:00 p.m. ET) and (7:00 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

March 23 Final (7:00 p.m. ET) – NBCSN

Originally posted at The Hockey Writers - Combine  

Related articles

• CBS Sports Network 2012-13 college hockey schedule (timesunion.com)

EDIT: CBS Sports Network releases 18 game hockey schedule

2012-13 COLLEGE HOCKEY SCHEDULE

(ALL TIMES EASTERN)

Nov. 15 (Thurs)	Notre Dame at Michigan Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, MI	7:30 PM
Nov. 30 (Fri)	Vermont at Maine Harold Alfond Sports Arena, Orono, ME	8:00 PM
Dec. 8 (Sat)	Maine at Boston University Agganis Arena, Boston, MA	8:00 PM
Dec. 14 (Fri)	Western Michigan at Michigan Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, MI	7:30 PM
Jan. 4 (Fri)	Robert Morris at Army Tate Rink. West Point, NY	7:30 PM
Jan. 5 (Sat)	Merrimack At Vermont Gutterson Fieldhouse, Burlington, VT	7:30 PM
Jan. 12 (Sat)	Army at Air Force Cadet Ice Arena, Colorado Springs, CO	6:00 PM
Jan. 19 (Sat)	Alaska at Notre Dame Compton Family Center, South Bend, IN	7:00 PM
Jan. 25 (Fri)	Ferris State at Notre Dame Compton Family Center, South Bend, IN	7:30 PM
Feb. 8 (Fri)	Michigan at Notre Dame Compton Family Center, South Bend, IN	7:30 PM
Feb. 10 (Sun)	Providence at New Hampshire The Whittemore Center, Durham, NH	4:00 PM
Feb. 15 (Fri)	Notre Dame at Miami Goggin Ice Center, Oxford, OH	7:30 PM
Feb. 22 (Fri)	Notre Dame at Western Michigan Lawson Arena, Kalamazoo, MI	7:30 PM
Feb. 23 (Sat)	New Hampshire at Vermont Gutterson Fieldhouse, Burlington, VT	4:00 PM
Feb. 24 (Sun)	Boston College at Merrimack J. Thom Lawler Arena, North Andover, MA	4:00 PM
Mar.1 (Fri)	Ferris State at Michigan Yost Ice Arena, Ann Arbor, MI	7:30 PM
Mar. 3 (Sun)	UMass-Lowell At Merrimack J. Thom Lawler Arena, North Andover, MA	4:00 PM
Mar. 8 (Fri)	Boston University at Northeastern Matthews Arena, Boston, MA	7:30 PM

* * * * *

The CBS Sports Network released its 2012-13 Television schedule today and you will see that the WCHA schools were shutout for this season and for the most part CBSSN is showing only Hockey East and CCHA games.

Per Dan Sabreen of CBS - "CBSSN does not have a deal with the WCHA."

Is the NCHC lacking name-recognition?

Chris Peters of the United States of Hockey has this little blurb on his blog today – it’s worth a look. I sure there will be NCHC fans will take issue with some of the things that he said. Or not!

In all honesty, the league didn’t have to do terribly much to seemingly come out ahead on realignment. By just letting things play out and adding Notre Dame, largely due to the league thanks to the National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s (seriously, that’s as hard to type as it is to say) lack of foresight and possibly arrogance, Hockey East took another significant step forward by attracting UConn.

Meanwhile the NCHC has very little name-recognition, and therefore a second-rate TV deal, a second-rate tournament venue, but a high level of on-ice competition. From a hockey standpoint, it’s a fantastic league, but that’s where it ends. That might be enough for you as a fan, but it’s not enough to lead me or anyone else to believe it’s going to be a great business long term.

The Big Ten Hockey Conference will have good exposure on the Big Ten Network, but it’s still merely a six-team league. Until a few more Big Ten schools step up for hockey, and there’s nothing to indicate that will happen anytime soon, the conference’s size doesn’t make for a lot of variety and excitement, though the rivalries should remain intense. Still, the exposure and brand recognition resonates with the casual fan.

First off, is Chris Right? For disclosure – Chris was not a big fan of the re-alignment that took place last summer, he isn’t alone there are a lot of people that weren’t fans of last summer's re-alignment plan as well. It's not like we had a choice in the matter, said schools pursued this venture without any input from the fans.

That being said, do you agree with what he said? Right now, I am more concerned with what NCHC fans think than the B1G fans. It's obvious that the B1G has name-recognition.

Does the new NCHC has very little name-recognition? In my opinion; no! I am also not so sure how you can say that there is little name recognition with the teams that make up the NCHC. Teams like UND, DU, C.C. UMD have all won NCAA titles and have storied histories.

Add to the mix up and coming teams like Miami University and Western Michigan from the soon to be defunct CCHA and UNO and SCSU and you have the making of a very well balanced hockey league. The NCHC brings to the table 16 NCAA titles, only the B1G will have more NCAA titles (20), so were not talking about a second rate bunch of pathetic cupcakes here. We already know the title counts of all three leagues involved.

Let's take a look at the financials. Historically, the NCHC teams have been successful on the ice as well as financially; if you look you will see that five of the future NCHC teams make about 3.2 million off of their Division I hockey programs as opposed to the reconfigured Hockey East which loses about $395,000 a year of their hockey programs. Only Denver and Western Michigan have lost money with their hockey programs.

I am not here to disrespect Hockey East or (Chris for that matter) because Hockey East is a very good hockey league and has piled up an impressive four NCAA titles during the 2000’s, however, it’s only been two teams that have won the NCAA titles during that time period ( BU and B.C.) – besides the three power schools currently in the Hockey East no other really stands out in that conference, except maybe the University of New Hampshire.

If anything I think that the two leagues are on equal footing as far as name recognition goes in college hockey.

I think historically speaking people are just as familiar with BU and B.C. as they are with DU, UND when it comes to college hockey.

Adding Notre Dame to the Hockey East was a good move but what exactly have they accomplished during their hockey existence? Yep! You will be able to watch your team play Notre Dame when they play their Hockey East foes, but the rest of the league is not going to benefit financially from that television deal.

Breaking it down further – outside of the power schools Boston College, Boston University, Maine and UNH who else in the current Hockey East stands out and packs fans in the stands? Maybe Notre Dame when they get to Hockey East in 2013-14.

Are University of Connecticut hockey fans going to suddenly realize that they have a college hockey team and fill the XL center when it’s 30 miles from their campus? This isn’t the UCONN Men’s or Women’s Basketball teams.

This is a very different animal, the UCONN Huskies hockey team with very little history that is currently a member of the AHA conference, that’s not to say that they can’t evolve into a power house hockey team. Let’s call UCONN a work in progress.

Here is the part that I do agree with Chris with. If the Target Center which is exclusively a Basketball venue doesn’t improve after the 100-150 million dollars improvements Target Center is going to be a second rate tournament venue. That’s really not debatable; the Target Center has its work cut out for it.

The central location of the Target Center does make it an attractive venue and the majority of the fans that have the most rabid fan bases are all driving distance away.

Finally, I am not so sure we can call the deal with CBS Sports a second-rate TV deal, before we even see how it turns out.

Besides the Notre Dame TV deal with NBC Sports Net, how is the rest of Hockey East doing when it comes to games being televised? I have watched a few of the games on NESN via my DirecTV Satellite Dish but I don’t see a lot of UMASS Lowell or Amherst games on the dish.

There are a lot of unknowns going forward – no one knows how this deal is going to shake out – I would say at least give the NCHC a chance before we bury them and kick dirt on a conference that hasn’t even played a collegiate hockey game as of yet.

I also think that it’s too early to declare winners and losers – with college athletics none of this stuff stays static – things change constantly. Who knows, maybe there are more moves in the re-alignment phase before the 2013-14 season kicks off.

Lastly, I know there are a lot of unhappy people with the NCHC Television deal, I gathered this by reading the reactions of the fans over on Brad Schlossman’s blog. Due to the size of UND’s fan base there are a lot of fans that live outside of the Midco.net foot print and watch UND hockey on DirecTV or FTA Satellite dishes. After the upcoming season, many of them are worried that they will no longer be able to watch all of UND’s home games. I too wonder if I need to re-subscribe to Midco.net myself?

In conclusion, there is also no reason to panic just yet because there is a whole year left to work out the details. As we get closer to the kickoff of the NCHC more details will emerge and we will get a better idea what is going to transpire. I also don't think that the NCHC will lack name-recognition.