The Fighting Sioux improved to 11-10-1 on the season and evened their non-conference record 5-5 overall with a series sweep of the gritty and tough Bemidji State University Beavers. Every game from here on out is a playoff game, the guys have gotten themselves into a whole and must claw their way out. Even with losing two games last weekend UND is 6-2 in their last 8 games. Taking it further UND is 7-3 in their last 10 games.
Donna from Runnin With the Dogs got me thinking about this series results with a comment she made about last night's game. Sioux fans; we can't just expect our team to go into the Glas or the REA and blow out the BSU Beavers, our team has to earn it. The Beavers are a good team and they play with emotion and grit. The Beavers are a direct reflection of the coach standing behind their bench. Bemidji should be commended and congratulated on their play this weekend.
Sioux return to WCHA this weekend
This weekend the Fighting Sioux return to league play as they face off against their hated rival the “Dirty Minnesota Golden Gophers”. The Sioux have are currently sitting in 6th place of the league standings and have an unimpressive record of 6-5-1. The Sioux are almost at the half way point; they have 16 games remaining of their WCHA conference schedule. There are eight games at home and eight games on the road. The time to make a move is now.
Another blown call?
I went home after the game to review the goal that was waved off and it appears that the refs blew another call. While Genoway was in the crease he was pushed in the crease by the BSU defender and the goal was incorrectly called off. Sioux7 asked if the WCHA league office still has their forum letter typed up from last season? That is the second legitimate goal that UND has had waived off at home this season.
Bits and pieces
It is no secret that Fighting Sioux forward Ryan Duncan is struggling this season. Dunc has 1 assist in the last 6 games. The Sioux need to have their top forwards clicking going into the last half of the season. While some would say, "see I told you he was overrated". Response to those people is that you don't get to play of top lines and win the Hobey Baker if your a hack. Ryan Ducan is a skilled forward with good offensive skills that will find his way again soon. Mark my words. I thinking that there is no time like the present to break out of the slump.
Positives
The following players have impressed me this season with their play game in game out: Jason Gregoire (5-7-12), Brett Hextall (8-5-13), Matt Frattin (8-5-13), Chay Genoway (2-19-21), Brad Miller (4-17-21). I look for these players to make a bigger contribution the second half of the season.
I told someone that Brad Malone has made some great strides this season. In the face off circle and on the penalty kill Brad Malone has played solid defensive hockey. Malone is also starting to contribute on the score sheet as well.
Vandy breaks out
Fighting Sioux junior forward Chris VandeVelde (7-9-16) aka VV has had what I would call a hot and cold season so far. After this weekend it would appear that Vandy is starting to heat up at the right time as Chris scored three goals and one assist on the weekend. After watching the winning goal I honestly thought that VandeVelde has redirected the puck into the net but they gave the goal to Hextall.
BOX SCORE
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1st Period (20:00)
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BMJ 1 - 0 6x6 Brad Hunt (4) (Tyler Scofield, Matt Read) 0:27
BMJ (+): 29,13,19,17,7,G35 NDK (-): 19,29,2,5,21,G31
BMJ 2 - 0 6x6 Matt Francis (5) (Matt Read) 5:07
BMJ (+): 13,19,17,9,5,G35 NDK (-): 26,18,25,6,22,G31
BMJ-1 Jamie MacQueen (2-Slashing) NDK 1x1 6:05
NDK 1 - 2 6x5 PP Chris VandeVelde (6) (Brad Miller, Jake Marto) 6:54
NDK: 29,14,25,16,26,G31 BMJ: 17,5,23,9,G35
BMJ-2 Darcy Findlay (2-Tripping) NDK 1x2 11:00
BMJ-3 Chris Peluso (2-Tripping) NDK 1x3 11:37
BMJ-4 Travis Winter (2-Holding the Stick) 13:00
NDK-1 Matt Frattin (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) 13:00
NDK-2 Jason Gregoire (2-High-Sticking) BMJ 0x1 17:31
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2nd Period (20:00)
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BMJ-5 Darcy Findlay (2-Interference) NDK 1x4 3:52
NDK-3 Brad Miller (2-Interference) BMJ 0x2 4:36
NDK-4 Darcy Zajac (2-Interference) BMJ 0x3 11:47
NDK 2 - 2 6x6 Chris VandeVelde (7) (Darcy Zajac, Matt Watkins) 14:28
NDK (+): 29,11,20,25,24,G31 BMJ (-): 19,17,13,9,5,G35
BMJ-6 Brandon Marino (2-Boarding) NDK 1x5 15:39
NDK-5 Matt Frattin (2-High-Sticking) BMJ 0x4 18:52
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3rd Period (20:00)
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BMJ-7 Chris McKelvie (2-Interference) NDK 1x6 6:12
NDK-6 Joe Finley (2-Tripping) BMJ 1x5 8:56
NDK 3 - 2 5x6 SH Jason Gregoire (5) (Chay Genoway) 9:55
NDK (+): 17,5,16,6,G31 BMJ (-): 21,22,8,9,29,G35
BMJ 3 - 3 6x5 PP Tyler Scofield (8) (Chris Peluso, Cody Bostock) 10:44
BMJ: 13,9,19,7,17,G35 NDK: 17,16,3,25,G31
BMJ-8 Brad Hunt (2-Checking from Behind) NDK 2x7 19:01
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Overtime (0:31)
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NDK 4 - 3 6x5 PP GW LL Brett Hextall (8) (Brad Miller, Chay Genoway) 0:31
NDK: 26,14,5,29,16,G31 BMJ: 21,13,5,9,G35
BMJ-9 Graham McManamin (2-Roughing) 0:31
BMJ-10 Graham McManamin (2-Roughing) 0:31
BMJ-11 Graham McManamin (10-Misconduct) 0:31
NDK-7 Matt Watkins (2-Roughing) 0:31
NDK-8 Matt Watkins (2-Roughing) 0:31
NDK-9 Matt Watkins (10-Misconduct) 0:31
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End of Game
I don't think Dunc is a hack, but he defintately took advantage of having 1st round draft picks drawing attention and placing pin point accurate passes on his tape. I mean how many times do you see Dunc's undress multiple opponents? (never) How many times do you see Duncs dominate the cornerboards come out to the slot and score unassisted? (never) How many times you see Dunc's roll end to end deke the goalie and score?(never)
ReplyDeleteMy guess is like numerous amounts of Dunc's goals, they were him getting the puck at the top of the left circle, shooting and scoring.. Not taking away from his shot taking abilities, as they are good, just the rest of his game isn't. His Hobey year he was on the best line in college hockey that year, you could've put kozek or miller on that line, and it would've succeeded..
I believe there is a reason he's undrafted, and talking to a scout and an agent about him this year while sitting at the scottrade center, he said his height has nothing to do with that, Gionta, St Louis, and others are shorter, he just doesn't have top notch talent.. unfortunately for him...
He might make it in the ECHL or out in Europe like Brady M, and the rest..