Dan Kelly's Dirty Hit on Andreas Johnson

There's no excuse for these kinds of hits. No one can give me a reason why this hit should still be happening in the NHL or at any level of hockey. This is unacceptable, it's a barbaric act of thuggery. Boomer Gordon on XM-Radio's NHL Network said, "This hit was bad during the 1980's." And I agree.

Albany Devils defenseman Dan Kelly's Dirty should be suspended longer for this dirty hit on Andreas Johnson Without even looking at the NHL rule book, I can tell you that this is a violation of the NHL's Rule 48.

Vladimir Tarasenko No Goal: Play was Offside

The call on the ice was a good goal scored by St. Louis Blues forward Vladimir Tarasenko. Dallas Stars head coach Lindy Ruff challenged the play, saying the play was offsides at the blue line.

After further review, the play was offsides. This is a perfect example why I like the coaches challenge. Hockey is a fast game and the refs are human and miss penalties and the offsides. In this instance, the on-ice officials got the call right.

Is Jimmy Vesey Headed To the Boston Bruins

Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner and former Harvard All-American forward Jimmy Vesey says that the Boston Bruins are on his list of teams that he would like to sign with. (Boston Herald)

“I think the Bruins will definitely be on my list of teams,” said the 22-year-old Vesey, who will become an unrestricted free agent August 15 – with probably 30 NHL teams salivating at the prospect at getting the Hobey Baker Award winner’s signature on a contract.

Granato's Fat Contract

Recently, former Wisconsin Badgers forward Tony Granato was introduced as head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers. Yesterday, we found out what the Wisconsin Badgers are going to pay him. Let's say that he's going to be compensated very well.

Granato received a five-year contract that will provide for base salary of $400,000 for each year, with each receiving considerable additional compensation from the UW Foundation.

Granato will receive an additional $100,000 the first year, with that amount increasing by $25,000 each year up to $200,000 for the fifth year. That would bring his total compensation to $500,000 this season up to $600,000 by the fifth year.

Granato’s predecessor, Mike Eaves, was paid a base salary of $259,605 in his 14th and final season as UW coach. (Dennis Punzel, Wisconsin State Journal)

Granato's assistant coaches Don Granato and Mark Osiecki are also going to be compensated very well. They're set to make about $200,000.00 a year.

The Polls and a Look Back

@ChrisDilks I voted Qpac 1, but would find it hard to rip anyone voting for an 18-2-2 team that hasn't lost or tied in almost 2 months.

— Brad E. Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) January 11, 2016

A Blue Jay landed on my window and showed me this. Basically, I've said this for years. The weekly polls are fun to look at and discuss, but in the end, the play on the ice is the only thing that matters. Right?

@ChrisDilks @SchlossmanGF they're pretty equal

— Patrick Schneider (@offtheSchneid84) January 11, 2016

Joe Paterno and PSU Knew

They all knew, except for the Cops. Normally, I don't read the Huffpost, but this came across one of the news sites, I clicked on the link. When I read this, my blood boils. Also, I am not sure why Sandusky deserves a new trial, he's not the victim here, the children that he abused are.

HARRISBURG, Penn. — Penn State’s revered former head coach Joe Paterno was told of child sexual abuse by convicted molester Jerry Sandusky as far back as 1976, decades before previously thought, but did not report it to higher authorities, a court document showed.

Paterno, the coach with the most wins in major college football history, died in 2012 after being fired over revelations that Sandusky, his coaching assistant, sexually abused a young boy in the Penn State football showers in 2002.

Paterno told university officials, but not police.

The revelations that Paterno appeared to know about abuse decades earlier come the same day a different judge in Pennsylvania granted Sandusky a hearing later this month to press his case for a new trial.

A Trip Down Memory Lane

I was looking through some of my hockey cards yesterday and found these beauties. As we found out this week, the Florida Panthers have re-signed the tireless wonder Jaromir Jagr for another season. The fact that Jagr is still playing at a high level in the NHL is remarkable.  I would credit his offseason training regime. Next season, Jagr will be 45 years old. Also, check out my Denver Pioneers head coach Jim Montgomery.

Grand Forks Herald: Fighting Hawks Logo development Delayed by Championship

Anna Burleson from the Grand Forks Herald is reporting that we'll have to wait a little longer to get a new logo. I am sure many will be disappointed by the announcement. The nickname fiasco has become a gong show. What's a few more weeks, right? Some of us are interested in seeing what SME Inc. comes up with. If the University blows the design of the new logo, they could have a bigger mess.

The finalization of UND's new Fighting Hawks logo is about two weeks behind schedule.

Director of Brand Strategy and Development Conor O'Flaherty of SME Inc., the company working with the school to create the logo, said the delay is due to UND's men's hockey team competing in and winning the Frozen Four championship last month.

O'Flaherty said this means the logo will be finalized in mid-June instead of late May but the change won't have any impact on the planned rollout for the fall 2016 school year.

"We just slipped off timeline simply for the nice reason of UND going to win a national hockey championship, which tended to distract a lot of people," he said.

(Video) Brian Boyle Check and Game-Winning Goal

This is the game-winning that gave the Tampa Bay Lightning a 5-4 O.T. win against the New York Islanders. First, the hit by former Boston College Eagle Brian Boyle on Thomas Hickey, it is what it is. Then the great effort by Boyle to get to the blue paint and score the game-winning goal. Thoughts on the hit? Some don't like it. I don't think the league will review it.

What about the flying elbow by scumbag Brian Boyle on Hickey that led to that goal??

— Eric Salzillo (@EricSalzillo) May 4, 2016

So Brian Boyle gets game-winning overtime goal. Suspended for next game. Probably.

— Blog of Brotherhood (@MiamiHockeyBlog) May 4, 2016

Hit to the head and a goal. Yep, that's Brian Boyle in a nutshell.

And it's being reviewed?

— George Malik (@georgemalik) May 4, 2016

Penguins' Kris Letang suspended one game

The National Hockey League's Department of Player Safety has suspended Pittsburgh Penguins Kris Letang for one game for interference against Washington Capitals forward Marcus Johansson.

So, is this the right suspension? Is a one-game suspension too much or just about right? You can watch the suspension video right here. I know my friends that are Penguins fans are going to disagree with me, but I think this is the right call.

Kris Letang didn't face an NHL hearing for smashing Viktor Stalberg's mouth. He has one for hit on Johansson https://t.co/efYqyZbBu4

— Justin Tasch (@J_Tasch) May 3, 2016

Penguins' Kris Letang suspended 1 game for 'high, forceful hit' https://t.co/RNeajdg6tx pic.twitter.com/XlitcDSeou

— HockeyNightInCanada (@hockeynight) May 3, 2016

Kris Letang to Have Player Safety Hearing

According to the NHL's Department of Players Safety, Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will have a hearing for his hit on Washington Capitals forward Marcus Johansson

Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Kris Letang will have a hearing with the NHL Department of Player Safety on Tuesday for interference on Washington Capitals forward Marcus Johansson.

The incident occurred 15:41 into the first period of Game 3 of their Eastern Conference Second Round series in Pittsburgh on Monday when Letang hit Johansson near his chest and head. Johansson left the game but returned for the start of the second period.

Letang received a two-minute penalty for interference.

Who many games will Letang get?

William Brotherton Is 5 Years Too Late

William Brotherton has written another letter to the editor and something he said in his letter stuck out.  My question is, where was he five years ago. It's too late now? The cows are out of the barn already. There's no way UND is going to retreat from the Fighting Hawks nickname. Like it or not, it's UND's official nickname.

All UND had to do was listen to alumni and supporters when they appealed in unison that the school simply leave UND/North Dakota as its nickname. Or at a minimum, make that nickname one of the choices in the so-called nickname vote.

UND refused to do so, and now it's suffering the consequences.

What a squandered opportunity when our hockey team won the national championship, and we weren't able to capitalize on it! Just imagine how much Fighting Sioux merchandise would have been sold after the championship victory if the name was still in place. Or even if the name was simply UND/North Dakota.

Instead, we have the hated "Fighting Hawks" name that no one wants. Indeed, when I saw an advertisement for sports gear celebrating the victory, the Hawks name was in tiny print on the merchandise. That says it all.

But it's not too late to try and fix this mess and save UND.

I don't think that Brotherton realizes that UND did sell a lot of merchandise under the Dacotah Legacy Collection. The Fighting Sioux wear flew off of the shelves at the Sioux Shop.

The Letang Hit from a Pengiuns Fan's Perspective

I don't even know why he got interference. Provably just because it looked like a serious injury. https://t.co/MrLHeCIvsu

— Tough Call (@ToughCallBlog) May 3, 2016

This is a different way of looking at the Penguins defenseman Kris Letang hit on Capitals forward Marcus Johansson. Talk about living in denial. I am not shocked, though. It's tough to look through an objective lens when a player on your favorite team could face a suspension.

Was it a head shot? Nope. He targeted the chest. If anything, Johansson’s head hit Letang’s name bar because it was behind Letang’s shoulder. Was it an elbow? Not a chance. A charge? Less than two strides. Late? .64 seconds? I think the .04 is covered by the two minute penalty by the on ice official. But it was a violent, open ice hit! A guy was hurt! It was so fast! That can’t be allowed! That can’t be a hockey play! The only way to stop hits like his from happening is to ban hitting. Sorry folks. You’ve. Got. Nothing. (Tough Call)

I wonder how the author would feel if Brooks Orpik had laid this hit on Sidney Crosby? I am sure that his perspective would be different. I think the problem in the NHL is there's no respect among the players anymore. Eventually, we're going to get this right.

Letang could face discipline after late hit on Johansson. MORE: https://t.co/g0uxAkSyyK pic.twitter.com/2WZaCabjdt

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) May 3, 2016

Kris Letang's Tough Night

I don't know if the players are not learning their lesson or if they're just losing their minds. They seem to be getting caught up in the moment.

There could be another suspension coming when it's all said and done. In my opinion, this is the type of hockey play that we're trying to eliminate from all levels of hockey. First, Kris Letang laid this high, dangerous hit on Capitals forward Marcus Johansson in the first period of tonight's game. Letang was also on the receiving end of a knee to the head. So, should Letang be suspended? Will be suspended? If so, what would be the appropriate number of games?

Letang hit on Ovechkin; Backstrom with the follow up knee to the back of the head pic.twitter.com/0YcttFssSi

— Stephanie (@myregularface) May 3, 2016

Brooks Orpik Suspended 3 Games For Dirty Hit

You've probably seen it by now. In game 2 of the Eastern Conference semifinals, Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik knocked Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Olli Maatta out of the game with a dirty, high, late hit. Of course, none of us were shocked, Orpik has a history of leveling dirty, borderline hits and then turtling when challenged to fight. This time, no one is defending Orpik's actions.

Finally, this time, Orpik wasn't able to escape justice. For the next three games, the Capitals will be without their rugged defenseman. For those wondering at home, Orpik is a repeat-offender and hopefully, this will straighten him out.

Ron Cook from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has this gem in today's article.

Two things … I couldn’t believe Orpik — one of the great teammates in any sport — letting down his Washington Capitals guys. He will miss the next three games of the Penguins-Capitals playoff series after being suspended for his elbow-to-the-head hit on Maatta early in Game 2. His absence will be a severe blow to the Capitals defense. They are a much lesser team without him.

I also thought about how hypocritical so many of us are. We are outraged that Orpik did that to Maatta, who could miss significant time with an apparent head injury, and wanted the NHL to come down on him even harder. Yet we loved Orpik when he delivered those dangerous hits when he played for the Penguins. It was perfectly fine that he delivered borderline-to-dirty hits to Erik Cole, Derek Stepan and Jonathan Toews — among others — and had been suspended twice. It was good, hard hockey, right? Of course, we loved Ulf Samuelsson and Darius Kasparaitis, too. It didn’t matter to us that they were dirty players. They played for the home team.

Hopefully, next time Orpik decides to hit someone with a dirty, bush league hit the NHL will hand out an even stiffer suspension.  I am all for legal, hard hits. Hockey is a rough sport and hitting is a part of the game. There's no room for hits that leaves the opposition with a traumatic brain injury. Finally, Orpik isn't a victim, justice is finally catching up with him.

Time to Throw the Book at Brooks Orpik

Washington Capitals defenseman Brooks Orpik should sit for the rest of the series against the Penguins. This is a dirty, late, high,and unnecessary hit.

In my opinion, this hit is a violation of NHL rule 48. Orpik has a history of making questionable hits and escaping suspension. This time, I don't think that Orpik will get off scot-free. I think that he's going to feel the burn. I hope the NHL throws the book at him.

There will be some that will defend Orpik's play and say that Olli Maatta was crouched down. That doesn't give a player the right to blow them up.

Washington’s Brooks Orpik will have a hearing today for interference on Pittsburgh’s Olli Maatta.

— NHL Player Safety (@NHLPlayerSafety) May 1, 2016

Saw Brooks Orpik throw those kinds of despicable hits countless times in a Penguins uni. Little different to see him do it to Pittsburgh now

— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) May 1, 2016

Tom Wilson's Knee-on-Knee Hit on Conor Sheary

The big question of the night, will Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson be suspended for this knee-on-knee hit on Penguins forward Conor Sheary. There was no penalty called on the play. Also, keep in mind that Wilson has never been suspended.

Dan Boyle Cusses Out Larry Brooks

This isn't the first time that New York Post writer Larry Brooks has had a tough time with someone from the New York Rangers. Former Rangers head coach John Tortorella, on more than one occasion, told Brooks to go EF himself.

Former NDSU AD Gene Taylor is a Candidate for UMN AD

According to the Startribune, former NDSU AD Gene Taylor is one of the candidates for the University of Minnesota Athletic Director position. Another name that sticks out is Bill Robertson, the Commissioner of the WCHA. It will be interesting to see who gets the job.

Here's the list of the candidates.

Phil Esten, Penn State deputy AD
Sean Frazier, Northern Illinois AD
Beth Goetz, Gophers interim AD
David Gutzke, U.S. Bank senior VP
Pete Najarian, CNBC stock analyst
Bill Robertson, WCHA commissioner
Bob Stein, Minneapolis attorney
Gene Taylor, Iowa deputy AD

Taylor spent 13 years as North Dakota State’s AD, leading the transition from Division II to Division I, where almost every sport there has succeeded, with the exception of women’s basketball. The football team has won five consecutive Football Championship Subdivision titles. Taylor, 58, who hails from Safford, Ariz., also worked for the Naval Academy. He has made no secret that his goal is to become a Power Five conference AD.

Craig Thompson, Mountain West commissioner

No One Should be Shocked

April Baumgarten, news editor of the Grand Forks Herald has this interesting blog post. I find it interesting that some are just starting to realize that UND hockey fans aren't getting behind the new nickname. No one should be shocked by this. I am not so sure that it's ever going to happen. Seriously, it also doesn't matter if the John Lipp's of the world are offended by the fact that UND fans still use the Fighting Sioux nickname.

No one should be shocked by this. You can't force people to accept something that they don't want to get behind. Obviously, the old nickname isn't coming back. It won't ever.

But it wouldn’t surprise me if in the back of their minds UND officials were thinking an NCAA win under the Fighting Hawks name would cement the idea that it’s time to move on and embrace the change. After all, the Hawks are 1-0 for winning the Frozen Four, and what better way to start out the nickname legacy with a championship?

If that’s what they thought, they were probably disappointed.

The chants of “Sioux Forever” and “Let’s Go Sioux” probably have never been so loud. Fans wore their Sioux gear proudly as they cheered on the hockey team. Even UND’s former head coach Dave Hakstol, who had his own playoffs to focus on as he led the Philadelphia Flyers against the Washington Capitals, rooted for his old hockey team with a “Go Sioux.” (Baums Away)

I've been saying this for a long time. You can't expect 80 years of history to change overnight. Also,  the more people tell the Sioux Forever people to move on, the more they will resist.

No matter what side you are on — whether you want the retired nickname back or if you think it’s time to move on — there is one thing no one can’t deny. The Fighting Sioux name isn’t going anywhere for a long time.

Finally, to the people that are making a big deal about the hockey fans not embracing  the new nickname. You're wasting your time.