William Brotherton's Go Fund Me Page

I don't know, I just don't think that Willam Brotherton will be able to stop the vote, that begins next Monday. It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I predict it will fail. 

WHKY: North Dakota opens season against the Rensselaer Engineers

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -

The University of North Dakota women's hockey team will open its regular season on the road in upstate New York. North Dakota will face RPI in an ever-important non-conference game right out of the gate.

When playing in the WCHA, non-conference games can make or break a team's post-season hopes. This weekend is no exception and North Dakota hopes to win its first game in Troy, N.Y. this weekend. Veterans returning to this ice for the green and white understand that importance of this weekend. "We know what it's like to drop games early and, I guess, be punished for it at the end of the season," senior, forward Layla Marvin said.

Head coach Brian Idalski said that the focus is to win hockey games, but that the team needs to be patient with where its at at this stage in the season.

The last time the teams met at the Houston Field House, RPI swept North Dakota. Last season, the Engineers traveled to The Ralph for the season opener where North Dakota took the game 7-1.

Last weekend North Dakota struggled offensively in their exhibition against the University of Manitoba Bisons. The lone goal credited in the second to Anna Kiponen. The puck came off the skate of a Bisons player before entering their net. North Dakota gave all three goaltenders a workout during the exhibition.

Live stats will be available for tomorrow's game (5:00 p.m. CST) and Saturday (1:00 p.m. CST) match-up at RPI Athletics. You can also follow @UNDWHockey on Twitter for updates.

North Dakota will continue its caravan on the road through October 16th. The first home game of the season will be a Saturday afternoon match-up against the gritty, Bemidji State Beavers on October 17th.

North Dakota Wins.... Developing

So, were told by some folks that simply being "North Dakota" isn't a popular option, and should be squashed.

Apparently, that's not the truth, at least with current UND students. Based on the results, I think that President Robert O. Kelley has no choice but to include the option North Dakota as a choice for UND's new nickname.

Per the Grand Forks Herald and Say Anything Blog:

Results released by Student Body President Matt Kopp show when asked if they wanted UND/North Dakota included in the vote, 68 percent said yes, 24 percent said no and 7 percent said they were “not sure.”

The survey was sent out Tuesday and drew 3,262 responses over the two days it was open which, using enrollment data from the 2014-2015 school year, is 22 percent of the student body.

Since the NCAA threatened sanctions and the old Fighting Sioux nickname was retired at UND in late 2012, the school has played simply using an interlocking “UND” logo, going by either UND or North Dakota.

It will be interesting to see how this turns out. Thoughts?

Students want 'North Dakota' as UND nickname option, survey says http://t.co/jrDqNEq2pH #UNDnickname @myUND pic.twitter.com/jQEZRw2UdC

— Grand Forks Herald (@gfherald) August 13, 2015

Grand Forks Herald Letter: Roosevelt's racism puts 'Roughriders' off-limits

I honestly don't know what to make of this Letter to the editor, but it seems we're reaching here or that we are quick to find something that offends us. 

First, I love the Fighting Sioux nickname and wore it with pride this past week in Michigan. That being said, the Fighting Sioux nickname isn't coming back. I see no way that it does. Here's the latest letter from Tom Anderson from Fargo, ND. What do you think of this? 

 

As a UND alumnus, I find it interesting how much faith and money UND has placed in an outside consultant. After seeing the final list of names, I conclude that the consultants should be fired for incompetence.

To forward the name "Roughriders" and any connection to Teddy Roosevelt would be a greater travesty than removing the 85-plus year tradition of the Fighting Sioux name.

Doesn't this highly paid consultant know that Roosevelt was a self-admitted white supremacist? Just look at his writings to see glaring examples; such as, "I don't go so far as to think that the only good Indian is the dead Indian, but I believe nine out of every 10 are, and I shouldn't like to inquire too closely into the case of the tenth. The most vicious cowboy has more moral principle than the average Indian."

Further examples of his racism are found in Vol. 3 of "The Winning of the West," in which he viewed American Indians as savages, unworthy of citizenship. In Roosevelt's letter known as the "race suicide letter," he wrote, any white person who did not have children was "in effect a criminal against the race." His thinking was that reproduction was the only way the white race could conquer colored races.

We can't rewrite history. We can't ignore these facts about Roosevelt—or the historical fact that in a Sacred Religious Pipe Ceremony, the Sioux Tribe gave UND the use of the name Fighting Sioux forever.

With UND President Robert Kelley leaving, this is the perfect time to take a deep breath and wait for the name change until a new president is selected. "North Dakota" is the most popular choice by the general public. Don't throw salt in our wounds by selecting a name no one wants or will support.

Tom Anderson

Fargo

Mark Schuttenhelm: Tackling the nickname dilemma

My friend Mark Schuttenhelm wrote this article for today's Jamestown Sun. For those to don't know Mark, he's a great hockey mind and writes a weekly column about college hockey during the regular season. I have sat next to him in the REA press box for the last three seasons. Mark and I have had many great discussions about college hockey and about life in general.

I like what he wrote here. I think he's right, the UND nickname committee has needlessly spent a lot of money to end with these six not so great nickname choices. I don't really like any of these choices. I could tolerate one of the Hawks and Rough Riders. Like Schuttenhelm, I would rather just stay North Dakota, too.

Mark Schuttenhelmm, Jamestown Sun -- The UND nickname committee has narrowed it down to six possibilities — Green Hawks, Fighting Hawks, Nodaks, Roughriders, Sundogs, North Stars.

They're kidding us with these names, right? Unfortunately — no. Sadly, this group is said to be the cream of the crop amongst all the names submitted by the folks.

Now look, I know the nickname committee members are not being paid for this work, so I'm hesitant to rip them. And besides, they have taken on an impossible task. This is a fact I pointed out two years ago when I came out in favor of foregoing a nickname and logo and simply using North Dakota, or UND for short, and thankfully, that option does remain on the table as well.

Back in 2013, I said it was unlikely that anyone could come up with a nickname that would even approach "Fighting Sioux" on any number of levels. Likewise, creating a logo to replace the beautiful Sioux Indian head was also an impossible task.

And seriously, he's right, Sundogs sounds ridiculous, moronic and should have been removed from the nickname list a long time ago. Yet, it's still there. I hope we never have to see Home of the Sundogs.

North Dakota Hockey is succinct, dignified, and gets right to the point, namely, that we are serious about our hockey up here. Substitute any other sport at UND in place of "hockey" and the phrase works equally well. Can you imagine if the side of the Ralph said "Home of the Sundogs?"

Related articles

• Weston Dressler Wouldn't Mind UND Being Named the Roughriders
• North Dakota is getting closer to actually having a nickname

Mike Commodore goes off on Pierre McGuire

Former NHLer and University of North Dakota defenseman Mike Commodore took to twitter to express his displeasure with Pierre McGuire. He's not alone, there are many fans that can't stand McGuire. I see a lot of NHL fans expressing their thoughts about McGuire on social media often, many of them aren't very flattering. So, what do you think of big Mike's thoughts?

Good morning folks! Can I turn the tv back on yet or is #ShitStain still stinking it up?

— Mike Commodore (@commie22) June 28, 2015

What's up folks! Today's news..charleston rocks, ocean course is legit, and #Shitstain still stinks.

— Mike Commodore (@commie22) June 27, 2015

Hey #ShitStain, the blue jackets didn't draft Jack Johnson. Wake up.

— Mike Commodore (@commie22) June 27, 2015

I can't watch this. Off button. #ShitStain ruins it. Again.

— Mike Commodore (@commie22) June 27, 2015

Pierre? Oh you mean #ShitStain ? RT @railfan514: @commie22 Please tell me you are talking about Pierre.

— Mike Commodore (@commie22) June 27, 2015

Hey #ShitStain, the blue jackets didn't draft Jack Johnson. Wake up.

— Mike Commodore (@commie22) June 27, 2015

HERALD LETTER: No greatness lost as Kelley leaves (Nickname Related)

I will let this one speak for itself. 

FORT TOTTEN, N.D. — I disagree with Mike Jacobs’ assertion that UND President Robert Kelley was cheated out of greatness. You can’t “cheat” anyone out of greatness. Greatness may be ignored and/or not acknowledged, as may be the case with Kelley.

And anyone who manages to get rid of 80-year-old racist college nickname is great in most people’s books. If anyone was cheated out of greatness it was the university by the people who opposed Kelley by attempting to obstruct him from doing his job. Furthermore, UND can be great if many people there shed their 19th-century way of thinking and follow leaders like Kelley.

Erich Longie

Herald Letter: LETTER: Keep UND’s identity by choosing North Dakota

Here's a letter from a read of the Grand Forks Herald. Thoughts? 

Grand Forks Herald -- The recent poll in the Herald said that people would rather stay North Dakota by a 2 to 1 margin.

 I can be included in that group and the following is the reasoning for doing so:

UND’s identity was unique with the Fighting Sioux, it was never  a mascot but an identity.   Now people are in the process of finding a new something for a mascot which UND never had.  The closest was for years the fan group “The Farce”  had Kermit the Frog, which never appeared on UND letterheads.

Why on earth would UND want to become a re-tread of:

   1.  Another member of the animal kingdom (husky, bear, cougar, colt, a rodent, etc.)

   2. A bird of some type (eagle, cardinal, hawk)

   3. A person (cowboy, minutemen, pirate)

The list of things with which UND could identify was once, in the Herald’s April 4 edition, a thousand names long, now it’s not.  Why would we want to be a “just another” something like  every other university  with overlapping identities for their entire existence. UND was unique with its former identity, keep that uniqueness by not becoming a university with a mascot just like everybody else.

UND represents the entire state of North Dakota, which includes all people of your state.  

UND has the best aerospace studies in the U.S., a four-year med school, and other great academic programs. Why not be the leader in the entire U.S. in this regard by not having a mascot like we have not had?  UND never had a guy riding a horse with  spear like Florida State or Illinois with the guy who danced wildly at their athletic contests, so why start now with some cartoon-like representation.  Be who you are, which is a very proud population represented by the University of North Dakota.

Steve Molvig

Lovelock, Nev.

Weston Dressler Wouldn't Mind UND Being Named the Roughriders

Kim Thue from the Global News had some remarks from former Fighting Sioux football player Weston Dressler. Apparently, Drexler wouldn't mind UND being called the Roughriders.

Dressler said today it would be "pretty interesting to see if the 'Roughrider' name went through'.

— Kim Thue (@GlobalThue) June 16, 2015

Weston Dressler - the star of the Saskatchewan Roughriders and former star of the North Dakota Roughriders. #gold

— Kim Thue (@GlobalThue) June 16, 2015

UND is of course Weston Dressler's alma mater.

— Kim Thue (@GlobalThue) June 16, 2015

Get this: the leading candidate for the University's new nickname? Roughriders

— Kim Thue (@GlobalThue) June 16, 2015

The University of North Dakota is still in search of a new nickname after dropping 'Fighting Sioux' a few years ago....

— Kim Thue (@GlobalThue) June 16, 2015

Tweets from the Nickname Committee Meeting

Carla Christofferson notes majority of public wanted North Dakota as nickname but says many are just mad about Sioux logo retirement.

— Anna Burleson (@AnnagatorB) June 16, 2015

First, woof. I think that is a broad statement that's a bit shortsighted. There are some, yes. I think some of the nicknames that have emerged are so bad, they would rather stay "North Dakota" instead of adopting a really bad, God awful nickname like Sundogs, Pride or Spirit. I find those nicknames to be unacceptable.

"I think North Dakota is distinctly UND," - #newnickname committee member Adedayo Idowu, who is middle of the road with the name.

— Anna Burleson (@AnnagatorB) June 16, 2015

"Saying we're going to be North Dakota to me means saying we're going to stay the #FightingSioux."-#newnickname committee, Chelsea Moser

— Anna Burleson (@AnnagatorB) June 16, 2015

If you want to read her tweets, Anna Burleson from the Grand Forks Herald is at the Nickname Committee Meeting tonight. She's been on top the story from the start.

A couple of things have caught my eye tonight. Also after reading some of the tweets, I am convinced UND is going to get he nickname that Lowell Schweigert wants.

#Newnickname committee member Jazmyn Friesz talks developing different logo & mascot to accompany staying "North Dakota."

— Anna Burleson (@AnnagatorB) June 15, 2015

On keeping North Dakota, Lowell Schweigert says "what is popular is not always right." Encourages group to "have courage." #newnickname

— Anna Burleson (@AnnagatorB) June 15, 2015

#Newnickname committee chairman Karl Goehring isn't in favor of any "hawk" name while Lowell Schweigert likes them.

— Anna Burleson (@AnnagatorB) June 15, 2015

Nickname Committee Cuts List of Names to 64

The UND Nickname committee has cut the list of names to 64. One of the names under consideration is "North Dakota". Below is the list of names that are moving forward. Unfortunately, Sundogs and Sundog is on the list. I am disappointed that Green Machine is not on the list.

1. Aeronauts
2. Aeros
3. Arctic Blaze
4. Arctic Force
5. Aurora
6. Aviators
7. Badlanders
8. Big Green
9. Bison Slayers
10. Blackhawks
11. BLAZE
12. BLAZING STARS
13. BLIZZARD
14. Blizzard Dogs
15. Bombardiers
16. Bombers
17. Cavalry
18. Charging Nokota
19. Drillers
20. ENERGY
21. Explorers
22. Fighting Green
23. Fighting Greens
24. Fighting Green Hawks
25. Fighting Hawks
26. Fighting Sundogs
27. Fire
28. Flame
29. Flames
30. Flickertails
31. Fliers
32. Force
33. Force of North
34. Global Hawks
35. Green Bombers
36. GREEN HAWKS
37. GREEN PRIDE
38. 'Grey Hawks'
39. Night Hawks
40. Night Riders
41. Nighthawks
42. Nodak
43. Nodaks
44. North Dakota
45. North Force
46. North Stars
47. Northern Lights
48. Prarie Hawks
49. Pride
50. Riders
51. roughhriders
52. SNOW DOGS
53. Snow Leopards
54. Spirit
55. STORM
56. Sundog
57. Sundogs
58. Thunder Hawks
59. Warhawks
60. Warriors
61. Warriors of the North
62. Wings
63. Wooly Mammoth

(UPDATED) Herald Poll: Vote for the Two "No Nickname" Options

The Grand Forks Herald has an on-line poll where you can vote for the two no nickname options. North Dakota is winning by a large margin. Update: the vote tally keeps going up. Don't forget to vote.

POLL: Of the two "no nickname" options, which would you choose for UND? VOTE HERE: http://t.co/Y3UMa9hVN6 pic.twitter.com/SstxRrYUtM

— Grand Forks Herald (@gfherald) May 7, 2015

UND Nickname Suggestion Released

The UND Nick Name Committee has released its names of that will be up for consideration.

Here are the more popular choices. There are some creative nickname suggestions. 

Here's the link to the nicknames under considerations. 

Aviators

BLIZZARD

Cavalry

Explorers

Flames

Nodaks

North Dakota (by far the most popular)

North Stars

Tsunami

Warriors

Here’s the list of nicknames that aren’t going to be suggested 

Speaking of Bad Nickname Ideas; Las Vegas Flamingos?

The University of North Dakota is going through the process of picking a new nickname, and many of us are worried that the university is going to pick a really bad nickname.

Looking at this suggestion by Craig Custance, Flamingos would take the cake for a horrible nickname. I can't imagine that anyone would allow this to happen.

That being said, I do like the Outlaws nickname that Tim Kavanaugh included in the linked article.

What would a team in Las Vegas be called? We've got suggestions. @CraigCustance http://t.co/LWjD0gQbuJ pic.twitter.com/q1Eu6q1loy
— ESPN NHL coverage (@ESPN_NHL) April 8, 2015

UND Gets a Commitment from Grant Mismash

Another great pickup for the University of North Dakota on the recruiting front. Today, Grant Mismash from Shattuck St. Mary's committed to the University of North Dakota. Here's the link to his Elite Prospects page.

Proud to announce my commitment to play college hockey at the University of North Dakota. Thank you to all my friends and family #Nodak #UND
— Grant Mismash (@GMISH16) March 31, 2015

Wall Street Journal: North Dakota Needs a Nickname

 like many UND fans know that the nickname is gone and never coming back. I also didn't know that UND could become the first Division I team to win a title without a nickname.

Matthew Futterman, Wall Street Journal -- In 2012, North Dakota dropped its old nickname, the Fighting Sioux, after a long legislative and legal battle. The NCAA had threatened to not allow North Dakota to host postseason games if it continued to use the name and display its Native American head logo. In a statewide referendum, 67% of voters supported getting rid of them.

But in the process, a cooling-off period was imposed until 2015 before the school could pick a new name. So as North Dakota begins play Friday in the 16-team hockey tournament—it is hosting the West regional in Fargo, about 80 miles from its Grand Forks campus—there is another crucial piece of business at hand: replacing the beloved Fighting Sioux name.

“It is a very emotional issue,” said Lowell Schweigert, a North Dakota alumnus and booster who was a quarterback and a pitcher for the Fighting Sioux in the 1970s.

n January, Schweigert began serving on a committee charged with facilitating the selection of a new nickname this year. The committee only came into being as the end of the cooling-off period loomed. “Our charge now is to have something done by May,” said Schweigert, a financial consultant in Grand Forks. “That is a pretty ambitious goal.”

Relief is on the way. On Wednesday, the committee on the new nickname announced it will accept suggestions from the public through April. Suggestions must be 25 characters or less. The committee will choose three finalists for a public vote as soon as May.

Friday before the Storm Links

It's crunch time, the final push to the NCAA playoffs. Selection Sunday, the regionals... Some college hockey teams are fighting for their playoff lives. This is is the best time o the year.

UND vs. WMU, A Series Preview http://t.co/12v2VI0O0p pic.twitter.com/V9WR96FANc
— The Hockey Writers (@TheHockeyWriter) February 20, 2015

NCHC Hockey: Officiating Has to Be Better http://t.co/QFZJ4W5DPf pic.twitter.com/8YOCdXQukO
— The Hockey Writers (@TheHockeyWriter) February 18, 2015

@davidlukeramsey opines on #GoldPan series: http://t.co/xYCbBqq8KV #DUvsCC @csgazette @TheNCHC #collegehockey #NCAAHockey #NCHCHockey
— Joe Paisley (@Paisleyhockey) February 20, 2015

As part of #HWAA, today is #HockeyJerseyDay. Here's our favorite jerseys! Whose sweater are you sporting today? pic.twitter.com/HXqtqQXJDF
— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) February 20, 2015

.@DUCoachMonty and the Pios are on the ice at Magness Arena for today's morning skate! #DUGameDay #DU1NATION #DUvsCC pic.twitter.com/pem6aI4rgz
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) February 20, 2015

Andrew MacWilliam on the ice at morning skate after his first NHL recall. #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/gccpVpqveI
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 20, 2015

Details on MacWilliam's recall are available here → http://t.co/imCAlk0vzA #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/47lQGgMxDC
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 19, 2015

Includes F Luke Johnson. #Blackhawks RT @SBNCollegePuck: The second installment of our Top NHL Prospects list: #81-90 http://t.co/cgqmh4wC42
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDmhockey) February 20, 2015

UND Gets Highly Sought Recruit Brock Boeser

Today, the University of North Dakota got some very good news on the recruiting front. Brock Boeser from Minnesota has committed to UND. Boeser is a highly sought recruit and was also considering Wisconsin, Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota. (Elite Prospects)

“@BBoeser16: Really excited to play college hockey at the University of North Dakota." Huge get for NoDak; great 2015 draft prospect
— Ryan Kennedy (@THNRyanKennedy) February 13, 2015

Really excited to play college hockey at the University of North Dakota. Can't wait to call this place home! #sioux pic.twitter.com/TaSgLypiiW
— Brock Boeser (@BBoeser16) February 13, 2015

UND WHKY: Border battle

Grand Forks, N.D. -- Rewind to Nov. 21 of last year and the North Dakota women's hockey was on a eight-game winless skid. The team was swept by the Minnesota Gopher powerhouse and the newly revitalized Bemidji State program. They had a loss and a tie against Wisconsin.

Nothing seemed to be going right at that point in the season. But since Dec. 12, the team has gone 8-1-1. Most recently tallying back-to-back sweeps of Ohio State and BSU. Last weekend North Dakota was able to pull off a in and tie against the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs.

The games that North Dakota has won as of late haven't been high scoring or glamorous, but the program has done enough of the right things to claw themselves back from sixth place in the WCHA to fourth.

The keys to UND's success have been the defense and being backstopped by junior goaltender Shelby Amsley-Benzie. Amsley-Benzie has allowed only four goals in the last six games and has three shutouts against nationally ranked opponents. She has also been named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week twice since the beginning of 2015.

Currently North Dakota trails Minnesota Duluth in the WCHA standings by three points and is ranked 10th in the Pairwise with only six games remaining in the regular season.

This weekend North Dakota will face rival Minnesota on Friday at 7:07 p.m. and Saturday at 4:07 p.m.. The Gophers are 17-1-4 with the lone loss to Bemidji in Nov. of last year. If UND plans to be successful this weekend against the Gophers they will need carry momentum from the past three weeks and have exceptional goaltending and defense.

UND is hoping to pack The Ralph and break last year's attendance record. Attendees will receive one of these ridiculously fun(ny) foam stick hats. Tickets are available for $1 at The Ralph box office.

Collin Adams Committs to UND

Collin Adams a 16-year old forward from Brighton, MI, has committed to play for UND. Below, is his Elite Prospects page.

Very honored and excited to announce my commitment to the University of North Dakota. Thanks to everyone for the help along the way #GoSioux
— Collin Adams (@sniper4398) January 29, 2015