This weekend the 20th ranked Fighting Sioux face the upstart UAA Sea Wolves in an important WCHA match up. One could say that this is the first of many defining moments for the second half the WCHA season, getting points is a must, losing any games at home is UNACCEPTABLE. Earlier this season UAA swept the Fighting Sioux in the series up in Anchorage Alaska. I would imagine that the past series will be on the minds of Sioux hockey players. Hopefully this weekend results will be a little different than the last time we played UAA. One could even say that this series might be about payback. UAA plays an uptempo game and the Sioux will have to have their feet moving this weekend if they want to be successful.
A look at the Numbers:
Offensively Ryan Duncan is ranked 70th nationally in points per game
Defensively Brian Lee is ranked 20th nationally in points per game
Defensively Taylor Chorney is ranked 38th nationally in points per game
In Goaltending Philippe Lamoureux is ranked 24th nationally in GAA
In Goaltending Philippe Lamoureux is ranked 39th nationally in Save %
The Fighting Sioux are ranked 29th nationally in goals per game
The Fighting Sioux are ranked 17th nationally on the Power Play at 19.8%
The Fighting Sioux are ranked 45th nationally on the Penalty Kill at 80%
While the numbers aren’t great they have improved and there is only one way to go but up.
Linkorama:UAA Blog
If you want to see the UAA perspective on the UAA hockey team go to Donald’s UAA fan blog. I think Donald has an interesting perspective of what is going on up in the last frontier. One would say that UAA is much improved this season and has played the WCHA tough, and could make some serious noise in the WCHA playoffs. I would bet teams aren't looking past them this season. Just ask the Fighting Sioux
Donald chimed in on his view of penalty shots:
begin rant
Deciding any team sporting event by using a single element of the game in some sort of last resort attempt to appease "the mob" is an affront on many levels. A tie is a valid result. It says two teams were equal. I'm well aware there are players that like it. I'm already well aware that "the mob" likes it. Implementing shootouts may be inevitable with the prevailing fan attitude much more akin to Goon's than mine but that doesn't mean it won't lessen the game. Lessen? No ... It invalidates the rest of the game. You take 65 minutes of hockey where neither team deserves to lose and condense it to 10 one-on-ones? There's no reason for the actual game at all. Let's just have 2 hours of shootouts. Let's eliminate the teams who played one game 150% better than they've ever played from going home with a well-earned tie against a 43 time National Champion with 5 future NHL snipers. Those programs should just all fold. That'll leave the NCAA with about 15 - 20 teams full of shootout experts.
I'm so far beyond disgust with the prospect that ultimately it could affect my status as a fan of the game. College Hockey is the last sport that I follow regularly (English Premerie League intermittently). I gave up on Baseball as a teen, I stopped watching all Basketball in the mid 80's, and pro Football is a steriod-ridden joke. I guess I could start a Fulham FC Blog? At least the EPL understands the relevance of ties. I honestly don't know how enthusiastic I could be about being a fan when/if that crap comes to be. It's time for a last stand I say. Whoever is in charge of drawing a line and saying, "NO! we will not let you cross this line!" ... needs to get to drawing the damn line and rallying the troops with a stirring "But it will not be this day ..." battle speech. No to the Shootout? Not just No ... fuck no. There must be someone in a position of authority somewhere who can at least be given the opportunity to express that "purists" don't want this crap in the game they love. Adam Wodon better be right when he thinks they'll be an outcry.
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