Shot charts from Friday's game UND vs USNDT U18

s/t Stats on Crack

One of the topics that popped up on last night’s game discussion was he shot total. While UND was outshot 2-1 by the USNDT 38-19 at no time did I think that UND was in danger of being beat nor did I think that they were being out played a lot of the shots were from the perimeter. UND did get into penalty trouble and was penalized eight times and gave up three power play goals.

UND goalie Clarke Saunders was very good last and made some great saves - Saunders made 20 saves in the first period.

I thought the past two weeks that Zane Gothberg has been a little shaky and has over played the puck at times. I also think that he will get better with practice. I do think that Saunders is the better of the two goalies right now and he will probably get the start on Friday.

My Three Stars of the game.

Rocco Grimaldi (2g-0a—2pts) showed us why he was worth the wait.

Corbin Knight (1g-2a—3pts) was very good in the faceoff circle 18-4.  

Danny Kristo (1g-2a—3pts) played like a man possessed.

Roco Grimaldi and Jordan Schmaltz make the USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp Roster

Here is the Roster for the 2012 USA Hockey National Junior Evaluation Camp Participants. As expected, Fighting Sioux freshman Rocco Grimaldi and Jordan Schmaltz are on the roster.

GOALIES (4)

John Gibson, Pittsburgh, Pa. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Jon Gillies, Concord, N.H. Indiana Ice (USHL)
Garret Sparks, Elmhurst, Ill. Guelph Storm (OHL)
Anthony Stolarz, Edison, N.J. Corpus Christi (NAHL)

DEFENSEMEN (17)

Connor Carrick, Orland Park, Ill. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Brian Cooper, Anchorage, Alaska Fargo Force (USHL)
Shayne Gostisbehere, Margate, Fla. Union College (ECACH)
Matt Grzelcyk, Charlestown, Mass. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Garrett Haar, Huntington Beach, Calif. Western Michigan Univ. (CCHA)
Seth Jones, Plano, Texas U.S. National Under-18 Team
Jake McCabe, Eau Claire, Wis. Univ. of Wisconsin (WCHA)
Connor Murphy, Boston, Mass. Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Mike Paliotta, Westport, Conn. Univ. of Vermont (HEA)
Mike Reilly, Chanhassen, Minn. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Robbie Russo, Westmount, Ill. Univ. of Notre Dame (CCHA)
Joakim Ryan, Rumson, N.J. Cornell Univ. (ECACH)
Jordan Schmaltz, Verona, Wis. Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Patrick Sieloff, Ann Arbor, Mich. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Brady Skjei, Lakeville, Minn. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Jacob Trouba, Rochester, Mich. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Andrew Welinski, Duluth, Minn. Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)

FORWARDS (25)

Cole Bardreau, Fairport, N.Y. Cornell Univ. (ECACH)
Tyler Biggs, Binghamton, N.Y. Miami Univ. (CCHA)
Colin Blackwell, North Andover, Mass. Harvard Univ. (ECACH)
Reid Boucher, Grand Ledge, Mich. Sarnia Sting (OHL)
Travis Boyd, Hopkins, Minn. Uiv. of Minnesota (WCHA)
Alex Broadhurst, Orland Park, Ill. Geen Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Thomas DiPauli, Woodbridge, Ill. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Steve Fogarty, Chambersburg, Pa. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Alex Galchenyuk, Milwaukee, Wis. Srnia Sting (OHL)
John Gaudreau, Carneys Point, N.J. Bston College (HEA)
Rocco Grimaldi, Rossmoor, Calif. Univ. of North Dakota (WCHA)
Brian Hart, Cumberland, Maine Phillips-Exeter (HS)
Ryan Hartman, West Dundee, Ill. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Nicolas Kerdiles, Irvine, Calif. U.S. National Under-18 Team
Sean Kuraly, Dublin, Ohio Indiana Ice (USHL)
Mario Lucia, Plymouth, Minn. Penticton Vees (BCHL)
Stefan Matteau Chicago, Ill. U.S. National Under-18 Team
J.T. Miller, East Palestine, Ohio Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Logan Nelson, Coon Rapids, Minn. Victoria Royals
Stefan Noesen, Plano, Texas Plymouth Whalers (OHL)
Blake Pietila, Brighton, Mich. Michigan Tech Univ. (WCHA)
Adam Reid, Chino Hills, Calif. Northeastern Univ. (HEA)
Henrik Samuelsson, Scottsdale, Ariz. Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Vince Trocheck, Pittsburgh, Pa. Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Jim Vesey, North Reading, Mass. South Shore Kings (EJHL)

More bad news for UND, Roco Grimaldi out for 6-8 weeks.

In a season where the Fighting Sioux have failed to get any puck luck; got some more bad news today. Super freshman Roco Grimaldi will be out for 6-8 weeks.

Grand Forks Herald --- UND men's hockey coach Dave Hakstol said Friday that freshman forward Rocco Grimaldi will be sidelined approximately six to eight weeks with a knee injury.

Grimaldi, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association Preseason Rookie of the Year, has appeared in only four of UND’s first 10 games this season due to the injury and has one goal and one assist.

This is horrible news for the Fighting Sioux because they have struggled to score goals this season and have scored a measly 12 goals in six games, that's good for 10th place in scoring in the WCHA. You’re not going to win many games only scoring two goals per game.  I guess we can chalk it up as another challenge for the Fighting Sioux. Not to mince words but its gut check time for the Fighting Sioux; it’s time for someone to step up and contribute on the ice for the Fighting Sioux.

Yesterday while listening to the INCH podcast Jess Meyers said, I am paraphrasing, that the Fighting Sioux are a bunch of guys standing around watching Danny Kristo make plays. I think to a certain degree that is true. After Danny Kristo, Corbin Knight and Brock Nelson no one is putting points on the board.  This weekend begins a very big stretch for the Fighting Sioux as they will attempt to get points and not get buried in the standings.

Who will be the players to step up offensively for the Fighting Sioux? Only time will tell.

Minister of Offense Still Out!!! Grimaldi and O'Donnell out

This just is not good news for the Fighting Sioux hockey team.

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Slightly Chilled on Sioux recruit Rocco Grimaldi

USHL Photo

Ryan Clark from the Fargo Forum has a really nice article on Fighting Sioux recruit Rocco Grimaldi who is coming to UND this fall. Some have compared Roco Grimaldi to players like Brian Gionta or a Nate Gerbie because of the type of game that he plays. Roco coach on the U-18 team has already compared him to Brian Gionta. Personally, I hope Roco is half a good as the two aforementioned players.

Slightly Chill ---- Just about anyone following sports or even pop culture knows that Tebow is a God-first athlete that’s just about as devout as it gets. He did mission trips to the Philippines where he was born and during spring break at Florida, he did ministry with inmates in the Florida prison system.


Has Grimaldi done that? No. Should he? No. But can he leave a mark on college hockey like Tebow did with college football? Absolutely. It has come out that Grimaldi is an extremely devout young man. Sit down and hear the kid talk and you know this isn’t an act. He has his favorite Bible verses, he understands the stories in the Bible and furthermore, you know he’s the kind of kid that’s grateful for everything.

Every sport has its knuckleheads and its good guys. Hockey, whether it be pro or college, has its good guys but there’s a chance Grimaldi could become that shining example. He’s going to a school where hockey is religion and at that place, if you’re good enough, people will treat you as if you are larger than life.

That’s a lot for a 18-year-old to handle. Really, it is a lot for many people to handle. The pressure of a fan base can cripple anyone but this is what makes kids like Grimaldi so different. His faith, he feels, can lift that burden and make him stronger for it.

Grimaldi might not give “The Speech” like Tebow but he can certainly have an impact on a locker room and his infectious attitude and views can spread further. Colten St. Clair, who’ll also be at UND next year, said he was impressed with the way Grimaldi handles himself and how he is strong in his faith.

His faith could also be the other thing that really impresses people. We all have heard the jokes regarding Tebow and his faith and we saw the way he dealt with it. Of course, Grimaldi won’t get nearly the national attention Tebow got, but we all know whether it be in the stands or through a message board, people can be pretty vocal. Just ask Todd Reynolds about it.

EDIT: This blog post was lost in hyperspace and reappeared today.