Wednesday, June 01, 2016

Advertising on Jerseys for World Cup of Hockey?


I think that putting gaudy advertising on hockey jerseys is a horrible idea. I think it would cheapen the team's uniforms. It's a hockey jersey, not a race car.

Is the NHL Taking Canadians for Granted?

This is an interesting read, is the NHL taking their Canadians fans for granted? I don't know, that would be very hard to quantify.

Tony Keller, The Globe and Mail -- Have you heard? The National Hockey League has a problem with its best fans: Canadians. Globe reporter James Bradshaw recently laid out the story, chapter, and verse. Hockey has become extremely expensive to play, fewer kids are taking it up, other sports are challenging the puck’s dominance with viewers, and at least one survey says that basketball, which barely registered in the national consciousness a generation ago, may now be as popular as hockey among young Canadians. Rogers, which paid $5.2-billion for the rights to broadcast NHL hockey until 2026, is facing soft TV ratings, which plunged further during this spring’s playoffs.

Some of this can be explained by one-time disasters, like how zero Canadian NHL teams made the playoffs this season. Others point to long-term demographic trends – namely that most new Canadians are originally from somewhere where hockey is unknown.
Here's your problem, there are no Canadian teams in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. That has to be a big factor in the "soft" television rating in Canada. Second, I don't blame Canadians for the soft ratings.At times, I think the hockey on the ice during the Stanley Cup Playoffs has been boring. I find myself less interested with the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season.

During this year's Stanley Cup Playoffs, I've found myself watching something other than hockey during some of the series. There's not a lot of interesting story lines. Think about this, there's not Montreal Canadiens, no L.A. Kings, no Blackhawks. There are no real villains. Besides the Penguins there's no real team to cheer against.

NHL From On-Ice Officials Point of View



This is a great video from the on-ice officials point of view. There's a lot of stuff going on during a game.

Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Sharks' Patrick Marleau WIll Not Be Suspended for Hit on Bryan Rust



Last night, in the third period of game one, San Jose Sharks forward Patrick Marleau's was given a two-minute minor penalty for an illegal check to the head on Penguins forward Bryan Rust. Following the hit, hockey fans took to Twitter to discuss the hit. Rust briefly returned to the game, before leaving  the game to go to the quite room. Rust is listed at day-to-day.

I think this is the right call by the NHL's Department of Players Safety. I don't think that Marleau was intentionally trying to injure rust.



Monday, May 30, 2016

Howard Bryant: Singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" is staged patriotism,

I don't know if you have seen this. Wow, just wow. Thoughts?
Fox News Insider --- ESPN Magazine's Howard Bryant wrote in a new column that cops singing "The Star-Spangled Banner" is "staged patriotism," arguing that it signals an "authoritarian shift at the ballpark." "Why don’t more athletes speak out on behalf of their communities?" Bryant wrote. "Perhaps more of them would if there wasn’t a chilling force looming over them."

This morning, the "Fox and Friends Weekend" co-hosts took exception with Bryant's column and his assertion that these performances of the national anthem are examples of systemic racism in America. "What is the problem here with expressing some patriotism?" Anna Kooiman asked, pointing out that this comes after recent attacks on the Pledge of Allegiance and the Declaration of Independence.
Liberty UnYielding.
Rather, I mention all of this as context for the latest rant by ESPN commentator Howard Bryant. In his article, titled “The Unspoken Truth,” Bryant laments the racist practice of having police — police, of all people! — sing the National Anthem before sporting events. He writes of what he terms an “authoritarian shift at the ballpark” and “the smothering effect that staged patriotism and cops singing the national anthem in a time of Ferguson have on player expression.”

Friday, May 27, 2016

Former NCAA Players in the Stanley Cup Final

With the help of College Hockey INC. we have our list of former NCAA Division I players in the Stanley Cup Final.

San Jose Sharks (6 former NCAA players)

7 – Paul Martin – Minnesota (2000-03)
(0g-5a—5pts)

8 – Joe Pavelski – Wisconsin (2004-06)
(13g-9a—22pts)

57 – Tommy Wingels – Miami (2007-10)
(2g-0a—2pts)

61 – Justin Braun – Massachusetts (2006-10)
(0g-4a—4pts)

80 – Matt Tennyson – Western Michigan (2009-12)
Hasn’t played yet

83 – Matt Nieto – Boston University (2010-13)
(1g-2a—3pts)

Pittsburgh Penguins (15 former NCAA players)

4 – Justin Schultz, D – Wisconsin (2009-12)
(0g-2a—2pts)

7 – Matt Cullen, F – St. Cloud State (1995-97)
(4g-2a—6pts)

8 – Brian Dumoulin, D – Boston College (2009-12)
(1g-6sa—7pts)

11 – Kevin Porter, F – Michigan (2004-08)
Hasn’t played yet

12 – Ben Lovejoy, D – Dartmouth (2004-07), Boston College (2002-03)
(1g-3a—4pts)

13 – Nick Bonino, F – Boston University (2007-10)
(3g-12a—15pts)

14 – Chris Kunitz, F – Ferris State (1999-2003)
(4g-6a—10pts)

17 – Bryan Rust, F – Notre Dame (2010-14)
(5g-3a—8pts)

19 – Beau Bennett, F – Denver (2010-12)
(0g-0a-0—pts)

23 – Scott Wilson – UMass Lowell (2011-14)
Hasn’t played yet.

28 – Ian Cole, D – Notre Dame (2007-10)
(0g-2a—2pts)

37 – Jeff Zatkof, G – Miami (2005-08)
(1-1, 3.08 GAA, .908 save percentage)

43 – Conor Sheary, F – Massachusetts (2010-14)
(2g-5a—7pts)

62 – Carl Hagelin, F – Michigan (2007-11)
(5g-7a—12pts)

81 – Phil Kessel, F – Minnesota (2006-07)
Penguins leasing scorer (9g-9a—18pts)

More from the Baylor Football Scandal

It's all about money. Win at all costs. We can't kill the cash cow. The more I read about this scandal  the more disgusted I become. Again, would you want your daughter to go to a school like this?
Paul Newberry , USA Today -- This latest case has been brewing since last year, when Starr — best known as the investigator in the Monica Lewinsky scandal — asked a law firm to review Baylor's handling of sexual assault cases following allegations that the school brushed aside several incidents involving football players.

There were plenty of reasons for officials to look the other way, all of them involving dollar signs. Under Briles, the Bears had become a college football powerhouse, a team known for its high-powered offense and winner of two Big 12 championships in the last three seasons. No one wanted to cripple the goose that laid the golden egg.

The cover-up began to fall apart when former football player Sam Ukwuachu, who had transferred to Baylor after being booted out of Boise State, was convicted last August of sexually assaulting a female soccer player. The allegations kept coming: At least seven other women have come forward, claiming the school ignored their rape claims against players.
When I read this report, it almost looks just like the Penn State sex abuse scandal all over again.
Baylor failed to take appropriate action to respond to reports of sexual assault and dating violence reportedly committed by football players. The choices made by football staff and athletics leadership, in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the University. In certain instances, including reports of a sexual assault by multiple football players, athletics and football personnel affirmatively chose not to report sexual violence anddating violence to an appropriate administrator outside of athletics.

In those instances, football coaches or staff met directly with a complainant and/or a parent of a complainant and did not report the misconduct. (Baylor University Findings of fact)

Thursday, May 26, 2016

What the Heck Is Going on at Baylor?


This article will make your head swim and your blood boil. When I read this article, I think of the win at all costs mentality, right?
Dan Wolken, USA Today – The school announced Thursday it has suspended coach Art Briles with intent to terminate him after eight seasons.

In addition, school president Ken Starr has been removed as president and will transitions into role of chancellor; he remains a professor at the Baylor law school. Dr. David Garland has been named interim university president. Athletic director Ian McCaw has been sanctioned and placed on probation.

A report from Pepper Hamilton, an outside law firm hired by Baylor last fall, found the school "failed to take appropriate action to respond to reports of sexual assault and dating violence reportedly committed by football players. The choices made by football staff and athletics leadership, in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the University."
Not only is it unacceptable, but there's no excuse for covering up sexual assaults. I would think it's criminal behavior, too. I would also agree, that sexual assaults and dating violence creates an unhealthy academic environment. Would you want your kid going to Baylor University?

Also, being a member of a team means you're supposed remain eligible to play that sport. Is it that hard to follow the rules that other students have to live by? I would say no. Committing egregious sexual offenses should make that player ineligible to play a collegiate sport.

Here the text that coach Art Briles sent his players.

 

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Evgeni Malkin Gets Elbowed in the Face by Braydon Coburn



If this was the regular season, this hit might get a look by the NHL's Department of Player Safety. During the playoffs, the DPOS tends to overlook unnecessary, dirty hits like this. Unless, the player on the receiving end is injured.

All series long, the Tampa Bay Lightning have been all over the Penguins, especially Evgeni Malkin. This time, the Lightning defenseman Braydon Coburn connected with Malkin's face.  The Pens forward looked like was a bit shaken up on the play. Malkin would return to the ice.

Jonathan Drouin No Goal



I must give credit where credit it due. The on-ice officials got this one right. Tampa Bay Lightning forward Jonatha Drouin thought that he'd scored his fifth goal of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, after further review, it was not a goal. If you look at the video, you will see that Drouin was offsides at the Penguins blue line.

An Example of Comedy Gold

First, I am not a proponent of UND trying to join the Big Ten Conference in Hockey. I see it thrown around from time-to-time as mere speculation. I am of the mindset that it's a pipe dream of some and just not interesting to me. Not one bit.

Outside of UND playing Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan two-to-four times a year, the thought of being a member of the B1G bores me. I wouldn't want to see UND playing MSU or OSU on a regular basis. The games this past year against MSU were at best boring. Sure UND won, but I would rather see UND play someone else.

What I find even more entertaining is watching Gopher fans lecture UND fans on why adding UND to the B1G is really no benefit to the league. Because, they league only cares about football and basketball. Yeah, because UMN is really good in football and basketball, right? Well, maybe basketball. Here's an entertaining example of this mind set.
Sure, North Dakota hockey would improve the BTHC....but that's where the benefit for the conference AS A WHOLE ends. Keep in mind, hockey is (and always will be...) an afterthought for the Big 10. The primary revenue drivers are football and basketball. Hockey is viewed as something mildly interesting that fills the hours of Big 10 network programming that can't otherwise be filled with football, men's basketball, women's basketball, talking about football and basketball, playing reruns of classic football and basketball games, and, recently lacrosse.

North Dakota has NO tradition of success in football or basketball that it can point to as beneficial for the Big 10. Additionally, it doesn't bring a measurable TV market; and, let's be honest here, isn't the "ND" people think of when they are thinking about schools that have a truly national following.

Wild Clean House

With the hiring of 61-year-old All-Star head coach Bruce Boudreau, the Minnesota Wild have decided to do some house cleaning in the coaching department. In essence, the Wild have told assistant coaches Rick Wilson and Darryl Sydor that their services will no longer be needed. They will keep former Bob Mason on a goalie coach. Former interim coach John Torchetti will also be employed somewhere else when the 2016-17 season begins.

In my opinion, that's a great move, it was time to cut ties with Torchetti. Honestly, I don't think the results were much of a difference between him and Mike Yeo.
Michael Russo, Startribune --- Longtime Wild assistants Rick Wilson and Darryl Sydor have been informed they won’t be returning to the bench, multiple sources have said. Both coaches have contracts that expire June 30. It’s unclear as of now if they could potentially stay with the organization in other roles.

In addition, assistant coach Darby Hendrickson, the Wild’s eye in the sky during games, and goalie coach Bob Mason will sign new contracts and return to the club in their same roles.
It will be interesting to see what kind of moves the Wild make this summer. In my humble opinion, they do need to cut ties with some dead weight. There are a few players, young and old that need to go. And no, I am not talking about Thomas Vanek. Also, I am interested in seeing if the Wild make any big-time trades. Based on their cap status, there's not a lot they can do. They also have four picks during the 2016 NHL draft.

Finally, in the 2016 Stanley Cup Playoffs, with some key players hurt, some of the younger Wild players proved that they were ready to play a larger role.

Slate: Internet Trolls Really Are Horrible People

I know this isn't hockey or really sports related, but I thought this article was worth a look. Next time you're on your favorite hockey message board or website, think about this. Are the anonymous, nameless posters that attack other posters, horrible people? I am sure that you have someone in mind. No, I don't normally read Slate.
Chris Mooney, Slate -- In the past few years, the science of Internet trollology has made some strides. Last year, for instance, we learned that by hurling insults and inciting discord in online comment sections, so-called Internet trolls (who are frequently anonymous) have a polarizing effect on audiences, leading to politicization, rather than deeper understanding of scientific topics.

That’s bad, but it’s nothing compared with what a new psychology paper has to say about the personalities of trolls themselves. The research, conducted by Erin Buckels of the University of Manitoba and two colleagues, sought to directly investigate whether people who engage in trolling are characterized by personality traits that fall in the so-called Dark Tetrad: Machiavellianism (willingness to manipulate and deceive others), narcissism (egotism and self-obsession), psychopathy (the lack of remorse and empathy), and sadism (pleasure in the suffering of others).

It is hard to overplay the results: The study found correlations, sometimes quite significant, between these traits and trolling behavior. What’s more, it also found a relationship between all Dark Tetrad traits (except for narcissism) and the overall time that an individual spent, per day, commenting on the Internet.
Thoughts? What do you think?

Thursday, May 19, 2016

After Further Review: Phil Kessel is Funny


Yes, it's true, former Golden Gophers and current Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel is a funny guy. Seriously, this is by far the funniest thing that I have seen this post season. So, if you having a bad day, this should give you a good chuckle.

Shock Poll: Washington Post poll shows Native Americans unbothered by Redskins name

Hmmm. Well, well, well. What do we have here? There will be some folks that will challenge the results of this poll. Thoughts?
John Keim, ESPN -- A new Washington Post poll found that 90 percent of Native Americans aren't offended by the Washington Redskins' nickname and an overwhelming majority consider it an unimportant issue.

The Post polled 504 people who identify primarily as Native American from across the country, including those who lived on reservations and those who were not part of a tribe.

The general population appears to care more about the name than Native Americans. A 2014 ESPN poll found that 23 percent of the population favored a name change.

Thursday's findings by the Post match an Annenberg Center survey taken in 2004. The Post poll also found that 78 percent deemed the Redskins' name an issue that is either "not too" or "not at all" important.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Twins Fans Sound off About UND Hockey Being Honored at Sunday's Game

Yesterday, the UND hockey team announced that the Minnesota Twins will honor the 2015-16 UND Hockey team with a pre-game ceremony that will begin at approximately 12:45 p.m. CT on Sunday, May 22, 2016.

The event in question will feature a video celebrating the Fighting Hawks’ national championship run. Each player will be introduced on the stadium video board and UND head coach Brad Berry will throw the ceremonial first pitch.

Apparently, some Twins fans are butt hurt about UND Hockey team being honored at a Twins games. God forbid that happen right. Twins president and UND Alum Dave St. Peter took to Twitter to retort their tweets. Let's say, St. Peter is good at Twitter.




Some Gopher fans just don't get it. A fair number of UND's hockey team comes from Minnesota. Last time I checked, Minnesota was just across the Red River. Also, the Twins aren't just Minnesota's team.

Tuesday, May 17, 2016

Wayne Nelson: Is the Big Sky the right conference for UND?

My answer is one word, "yes."

I think the rivalry with Montana Schools is one of the bigger draws of the Big Sky Conference. UND and the Montana schools should be playing each other every season. Obviously, that won't happen with there being 11 teams in the BSC. Let's not forget, UND has made great strides in football under coach Bubba Schweigert.

Also, I don't see UND getting invited to the Summit League or the Missouri Valley Football Conference. So, the Big Sky Football is the best fit for UND's sports teams. Actually, I am not sure where UND would go if they weren't in the BSC?  Contrary to some on Sioux Sports, UND isn't going to FBS Football. UND isn't getting invited to a power 5 conference. Finally, I don't see UND dropping back down to DII sports. Do you? Nope!
Wayne Nelson, Grand Forks Herald --- Since joining the league, UND has been competitive in Big Sky football, men's basketball, volleyball and women's basketball. The same can't be said for the rest of the school's sports.

There is no question the UND athletic department is doing everything it can to position each of its programs for the best chance of succeeding.

It just hasn't happened yet.

And, in these uncertain economic times, UND's struggles in the Big Sky—perceived or real—leads to another question:

Is the Big Sky the right conference for UND?
What do you think?  Mr. Nelson does ask some pressing questions that need to be answered. UND is going to have to find some additional funding streams to insure that UND is successful in the future.

Monday, May 16, 2016

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins to the Wild?

Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe had this little news nugget in Saturday's Boston Globe. While it sounds interesting, what would the Wild have to give up in return?
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins might be a player of interest for Bruce Boudreau and the Wild.

The Wild were already in the market for a center. Their search will amplify following the arrival of Bruce Boudreau. The ex-Anaheim coach got results with the Ducks, partly because of his team’s 1-2 center punch of Ryan Getzlaf and Ryan Kesler. Boudreau would like a similar setup in Minnesota, where Mikko Koivu is becoming more suited for matchup play than offensive production. The Wild have depth on defense. The Oilers do not. Ryan Nugent-Hopkins might be a player of interest for Boudreau and Wild GM Chuck Fletcher. In turn, with Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl in place, Edmonton is in a position of strength at center. This may be the time for the Oilers to deploy Nugent-Hopkins as trade collateral to improve their defense.

Sunday, May 15, 2016

WDAZ says Goodbye to Phil Neumann

Over the years, you contact with and meet great, professional people. Some of these people leave a lasting impression on you. Over time, some of these people end up being your acquaintances and or friends. Behind the scenes, these are hard working, solid people. I would put Phil Neumann as one of those solid, professional people.

While Neumann came to Grand Forks as a young television reporter, you could tell that he was very gifted and energetic. Some television people have a knack, and it appeared to me Neumann had all the tools to be very successful. I figured his stay at WDAZ would be pretty short. He quickly made his way to sports anchor after Pat Sweeny took a job at UND. It will be interesting to see who steps up and fills that role. Sports reporter Maddie Saddler is new, but also very good.

This past year, I really liked the coverage Phil did for WDAZ at the Frozen Four and the Cincinnati Regional. The reports from the two events were very well done. Also, a really nice touch was the post game video Brad Schlossman and Neumann did after UND won the Frozen Four. I going to miss that.

This past weekend, Neuman announced that he'd taken a job in New York, his home state. I like many others are saddened today that Phil will no longer be part of the hometown team.

Again, we were very lucky to have Neumann here in Grand Forks.  I wish him good luck in the next step.


St. Louis Blues No Goal



You can see by the video that the refs got the call right. The Blues even burned a coaches callenge on this one and lost.



The St. Louis Blues thought Patrick Berglund had scored the first goal of the series between the Blues and the Sharks. However, after further review, the goal was waved off because of goalie interference. Again, this was the right call.