The lines have been posted for today's game. Sophomore Joe Gleason is in and Brent Davidson is out of the line up. The WCHA GAA leader Aaron Dell will be in net again this afternoon for the Fighting Sioux. The Purple cows from Mankato will be going with Austin Lee in net.
UND’s lines
19 Evan Trupp–22 Brad Malone–21 Matt Frattin
25 Jake Marto–10 Corban Knight–7 Danny Kristo
11 Derek Rodwell–9 Mario Lamoureux–27 Carter Rowney
8 Mike Cichy–29 Brock Nelson–20 Joe Gleason
24 Ben Blood–5 Chay Genoway
2 Andrew MacWilliam–4 Derek Forbort
3 Derrick LaPoint–18 Dillon Simpson
32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness
[link to the stats]
MSU-Mankato’s lines
23 Michael Dorr–9 Mike Louwerse–25 Eriah Hayes
29 Eli Zuck–12 Rylan Galiardi–11 Corey Leivermann
15 J.P. Burkemper–19 Zach Lehrke–14 Justin Jokinen
24 Adam Mueller–26 Joe Schiller–7 John McInnis
16 Tyler Elbrecht–5 Ben Youds
28 Channing Boe–22 Kurt Davis
3 Cameron Cooper–17 Evan Mosey
1 Austin Lee
30 Phil Cook
35 Evan Karambelas
[link to MSUM stats]
Showing posts with label Analysis - College hockey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Analysis - College hockey. Show all posts
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Sioux 4 Purple Cows 3
Thanks to B2tvNetwork I was able to see the game, for this I am very thankful. Thanks to B2tvNetwork, the broadcast wasn't very good, you really couldn't see the puck or the numbers on the players very well. From what I could deduced from the broadcast it also looked like the ice wasn't very good tonight as well, the puck appeared to be bouncing and the players from both teams looked like they were tripping over the blue lines.
It would be an understatement if I said that the Fighting Sioux came out sluggish to start the first period of tonight's game. The Sioux got behind early as the Mavericks forward Eriah Hayes score just 48 seconds into the first period. Things weren’t looking much better as the Mavericks senior defenseman Kurt Davis followed up the Hayes goal his 5th goal of the year at the 6:47 mark of the first period.
The Mavericks then took three straight untimely penalties and the Sioux finally cashed in on a 6 on 4 power play with a goal by senior defenseman Chay Genoway at 19:16 mark of the first period. From there the Fighting Sioux were out shot and out played in the second period by the Mavericks before the Sioux finally got their feet moving and methodically took over the game and scored three more goals in the third period. Mankato scored late in the game to make it close at 4-3 but couldn't get the game tying goal.
Fast start for the Sioux?
With the win the Fighting Sioux are temporarily in first place in the WCHA standings. Also, with the win the Sioux have one of the best start under head hockey coach Dave Hakstol.
Matt Frattin on Fire
Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin has been on fire since the second game of the Wisconsin series in Madison, Wisconsin on November 13th, 2010. Frattin has scored (8g-7a-15pts) in eight games. Frattin now has (44g-39a-83pts) for his career and has a chance a good chance of cracking the 100 point mark for his career if he keeps playing at this pace.
[Official Box Score]
Goon's three stars of the game
1.) Matt Frattin, UND (1g-2a-3pts)
2.) Brad Malone, UND (0g-2a-2pts)
3.) Corbin Knight, UND (0g-2a-2pts)
Friday, December 03, 2010
Sioux and Huskies
Fighting Sioux beat writer Brad Schlossman has the lines posted for tonight's game and there are some interesting changes, Gregoire and Hextall out this weekend. The word on the street is that Hexy is out till the end of December if you watch the replay of the game Hextall crashed awkwardly into the end board during the second period of Saturday's game and didn't return.
Here are some of the predictions from the pundits.
Brandon is sandbagging again [Sioux Yeah Yeah!] Hey Sioux fans, have some faith in your team...
Goal Gophers has Puckato with him this week and their predictions can be read here... [Goal Gophers]
The WCHA bloggers at USCHO give their spin on the Sioux and SCSU Huskies [USCHO.COM]
The Buffoon from the USCHO EZAC blog has his weekly poll, his top twenty is stuffed with EZAC teams of course... [USCHO ECAC Blog]
The story lines for this game is goaltending; Mike Lee has only finished on game against the Sioux and has been on the receiving end of a a big time pummeling last February. Moving on I do expect Aaron Marvin to be hit and hit often by the Sioux players. I am also wondering if we will here from the Huskies fans about the a fourth line player that was sent out to fight the almighty second line player?
UND’s lines
19 Evan Trupp–22 Brad Malone–21 Matt Frattin
25 Jake Marto–10 Corban Knight–7 Danny Kristo
8 Mike Cichy–29 Brock Nelson–11 Derek Rodwell
9 Mario Lamoureux–27 Carter Rowney–20 Joe Gleason
24 Ben Blood–5 Chay Genoway
2 Andrew MacWilliam–4 Derek Forbort
3 Derrick LaPoint–18 Dillon Simpson
32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness
SCCC Huskies lines
10 Ben Hanowski–17 Aaron Marvin–12 Travis Novak
27 Tony Mosey–9 Garrett Roe–11 Jared Festler
23 Cam Reid–19 Drew LeBlanc–26 Nic Dowd
28 Mitch MacMillan–13 Jordy Christian–16 Nick Oslund
25 Oliver Lauridsen–14 Nick Jensen
4 Taylor Johnson–18 Chris Hepp
7 Kevin Gravel–6 Brett Barta
30 Mike Lee
41 Dan Dunn
Refson ice buffoon's for Tonight's game
Jon Campion and Derek Shepherd
Here are some of the predictions from the pundits.
Brandon is sandbagging again [Sioux Yeah Yeah!] Hey Sioux fans, have some faith in your team...
Goal Gophers has Puckato with him this week and their predictions can be read here... [Goal Gophers]
The WCHA bloggers at USCHO give their spin on the Sioux and SCSU Huskies [USCHO.COM]
The Buffoon from the USCHO EZAC blog has his weekly poll, his top twenty is stuffed with EZAC teams of course... [USCHO ECAC Blog]
The story lines for this game is goaltending; Mike Lee has only finished on game against the Sioux and has been on the receiving end of a a big time pummeling last February. Moving on I do expect Aaron Marvin to be hit and hit often by the Sioux players. I am also wondering if we will here from the Huskies fans about the a fourth line player that was sent out to fight the almighty second line player?
UND’s lines
19 Evan Trupp–22 Brad Malone–21 Matt Frattin
25 Jake Marto–10 Corban Knight–7 Danny Kristo
8 Mike Cichy–29 Brock Nelson–11 Derek Rodwell
9 Mario Lamoureux–27 Carter Rowney–20 Joe Gleason
24 Ben Blood–5 Chay Genoway
2 Andrew MacWilliam–4 Derek Forbort
3 Derrick LaPoint–18 Dillon Simpson
32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness
SCCC Huskies lines
10 Ben Hanowski–17 Aaron Marvin–12 Travis Novak
27 Tony Mosey–9 Garrett Roe–11 Jared Festler
23 Cam Reid–19 Drew LeBlanc–26 Nic Dowd
28 Mitch MacMillan–13 Jordy Christian–16 Nick Oslund
25 Oliver Lauridsen–14 Nick Jensen
4 Taylor Johnson–18 Chris Hepp
7 Kevin Gravel–6 Brett Barta
30 Mike Lee
41 Dan Dunn
Refs
Jon Campion and Derek Shepherd
Monday, November 29, 2010
INCH Power Rankings
As always I include the INCH Power Ranking for a good laugh.
1. Minnesota Duluth
2. Yale
3. Nebraska-Omaha
4. Boston University
5. Maine
6. North Dakota - After a win and tie against Notre Dame at Engelstad Arena, the Sioux are still looking for their first home sweep of the season. With 10 of their next 15 at home, they’ll have plenty of opportunities. 9-5-2 (7-3-0 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Notre Dame, 6-3; T vs. Notre Dame, 2-2 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. St. Cloud State, vs. St. Cloud State
7. New Hampshire
8. Union
9. Miami
10. Michigan
11. Denver
12. Notre Dame
13. Boston College
14. Alaska
15. Wisconsin
16. Rensselaer
17. Merrimack
18. Ferris State
19. Minnesota
20. Western Michigan
Dropped out: None
Bubble-licious: Brown, Dartmouth, Robert Morris
1. Minnesota Duluth
2. Yale
3. Nebraska-Omaha
4. Boston University
5. Maine
6. North Dakota - After a win and tie against Notre Dame at Engelstad Arena, the Sioux are still looking for their first home sweep of the season. With 10 of their next 15 at home, they’ll have plenty of opportunities. 9-5-2 (7-3-0 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Notre Dame, 6-3; T vs. Notre Dame, 2-2 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. St. Cloud State, vs. St. Cloud State
7. New Hampshire
8. Union
9. Miami
10. Michigan
11. Denver
12. Notre Dame
13. Boston College
14. Alaska
15. Wisconsin
16. Rensselaer
17. Merrimack
18. Ferris State
19. Minnesota
20. Western Michigan
Dropped out: None
Bubble-licious: Brown, Dartmouth, Robert Morris
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sunday afternoon pontifications.
After watching great professional and college hockey all weekend long I must say that the Minnesota Viking’s effort this afternoon was a buzz kill. Words like atrocious and brutal come to mind, you can also classify today's effort as an EPIC FAIL. For the life of me I have no Idea why the Vikings owner Ziggy Wilf keeps Brad Childress around. I don’t’ buy the argument that the impending work stoppage has a factor in this.
Vikings fans just think every time the aging and broken down Brent Favre throws another interception (and there have been many this season) that that Viking paid 12+ million dollars for that stiff. What is even more discerning is watching the Viking’s players act like a bunch of spoiled Prima Donnas on the side lines, stop pointing fingers at each other and play some football, your professional athletes start acting like professionals. I am having a hard time believing that the Vikings couldn’t have found a better quarter back for less than 12 million dollars a season. I will take Michael Vick and his antics over this buffoon. I bet Michael Vick isn’t sending raunchy text messages of his member to female employees of the Eagles. I know my dog will never forgive me, but can the Vikes sign Vick and send T-Knuckle and Favre down the road?
Also, the Viking secondary is so poor or porous that it couldn’t cover a receiver from a semi professional league let alone a team from Division III. The Tampa cover 2 defense or what you cant to call it now, is no longer working for the Vikings. The Packers receivers were blowing by the Vikings defenders like they were back pedaling in cement. I am not so sure the Viking secondary could cover me with my blazing speed.
Since I can’t stomach thinking about the Minnesota Vikings football team anymore I thought I would share a few things that I found from the UNO beat writers blog.
Both Blais and UND coach Dave Hakstol downplayed their prior relationship leading up to the series. But you know it was significant for Hakstol to win Friday's opener (there are a good number of North Dakota knuckleheads who are super-critical of Hakstol and refuse to acknowledge how well he's done in succeeding Blais). You also know that Blais, without question, wanted Saturday's series finale to prove his new team could get the better of his old team. Blais' Mavs now are 3-1 in four games against UND and Minnesota. It's a meaningful feat for the coach. And it was no coincidence that Blais, without prompting, offered up this quote -- and said it with purpose -- during Saturday's postgame press conference: “I have a lot of pride in North Dakota. But I have more pride in these guys (at UNO).”
There were rumblings late Saturday night about UNO being offsides on the rush that resulted in Hudson's goal. But when you watch the video, it was way too close to call as it unfolded at game speed. It's the type of play that only becomes apparent when you freeze video or play it in slow motion. By no means was it a glaring blown call (it'd be quite the stretch to call it a blown call at all). The linesman was jumping over the puck as Ambroz moved into the zone along the boards. Most telling, Hakstol and North Dakota's players didn't make an issue of it after the game.
 |
| CHRIS MACHIAN/OMAHA WORLD-HERALD |
If I was one of leaders on the Fighting Sioux hockey team I would put this picture up in the locker room and keep it there to remind them on how this series against the Mavericks ended. The picture was taken in the lobby of the Quest Center in Omaha after the game. "The UNO hockey team sings the UNO fight song in the lobby of the Qwest Center after a thrilling last second 1-0 victory over North Dakota Saturday evening."
Looking at the numbers
1 Minnesota-Duluth 29.6528 10
2 Nebraska-Omaha 46.0139 2
7 North Dakota 64.7059 1
13 Denver 32.8292 7
14 Minnesota 30.4115 9
17 Wisconsin 42.5637 3
26 Colorado College 32.7434 8
31 St Cloud St 33.5745 6
32 Michigan Tech 34.6960 5
38 Alaska Anchorage 25.0449 11
39 Bemidji State 40.3832 4
43 MSU-Mankato 23.8635 12
Here is the strength of schedule from the KRACH, without a doubt the UND Fighting Sioux have played the toughest schedule in Division I so far this season.
While other teams around college hockey are feasting on lesser teams and the weak sisters of the poor and racking up wins by big impressive scores the Fighting Sioux are playing good solid hockey and hold an 8-5-1 record. While that record is not awesome or mind blowing by any stretch of the imagination it’s still a pretty respectable. So to use the old cliché, it is what it is. The Sioux will only get better if they can get their goaltending solidified. Aaron Dell appears to have stolen the show.
So before the Fighting Sioux fan base decided to throw coach Hakstol and his staff under team bus for splitting on the road this weekend; I think we need to grab some perspective here. UND just went 3-1 on the road, swept at Wisconsin and split at Omaha.
Regardless if the play was offsides or not, that’s the breaks, the Sioux didn’t play to the whistle and they lost the game. Go back and watch the video again there were Sioux defenders standing around watching the Maverick forward put the puck in the net, that can’t happen.
2 Nebraska-Omaha 46.0139 2
7 North Dakota 64.7059 1
13 Denver 32.8292 7
14 Minnesota 30.4115 9
17 Wisconsin 42.5637 3
26 Colorado College 32.7434 8
31 St Cloud St 33.5745 6
32 Michigan Tech 34.6960 5
38 Alaska Anchorage 25.0449 11
39 Bemidji State 40.3832 4
43 MSU-Mankato 23.8635 12
Here is the strength of schedule from the KRACH, without a doubt the UND Fighting Sioux have played the toughest schedule in Division I so far this season.
While other teams around college hockey are feasting on lesser teams and the weak sisters of the poor and racking up wins by big impressive scores the Fighting Sioux are playing good solid hockey and hold an 8-5-1 record. While that record is not awesome or mind blowing by any stretch of the imagination it’s still a pretty respectable. So to use the old cliché, it is what it is. The Sioux will only get better if they can get their goaltending solidified. Aaron Dell appears to have stolen the show.
So before the Fighting Sioux fan base decided to throw coach Hakstol and his staff under team bus for splitting on the road this weekend; I think we need to grab some perspective here. UND just went 3-1 on the road, swept at Wisconsin and split at Omaha.
Regardless if the play was offsides or not, that’s the breaks, the Sioux didn’t play to the whistle and they lost the game. Go back and watch the video again there were Sioux defenders standing around watching the Maverick forward put the puck in the net, that can’t happen.
Scores from 11/20/2010
ATLANTIC HOCKEY ASSOCIATION
Air Force 7 at Niagara 4
American Int'l 4 at Connecticut 5
Bentley 5 at Holy Cross 2
Robert Morris 2 at Canisius 3 OT
Sacred Heart 4 at Army 4 OT
ECAC
Dartmouth 3 at Princeton 2
Brown 3 at Cornell 2
Harvard 4 at Quinnipiac 5
St. Lawrence 1 at Clarkson 3
Yale 6 at Colgate 4
CCHA
Michigan State 2 at Notre Dame 4
Miami 3 at Bowling Green 0
Western Michigan 2 at Ferris State 2 OT
HOCKEY EAST
Providence 0 at Northeastern 5
UMass Lowell 2 at Merrimack 3
New Hampshire 2 at Boston University 4
WCHA
Bemidji State 2 at Denver 4
Minnesota 4 at Michigan Tech 1
Minnesota Duluth 3 at Wisconsin 2 OT
North Dakota 0 at Nebraska-Omaha 1
St. Cloud State 4 at Alaska Anchorage 3
Analysis - Denver 4 Bemidji State 2; The BSU Beavers had a 2-1 lead before losing the game 4-2. Denver University goalie Sam Brittain was stellar in net again for the Pioneers. Nick Shore scored the game tying and game winning goal for the Pioneers.
Minnesota 4 Michigan Tech 1 – The Gophers cruised to a series sweep against the MTU Huskies in Houghton, Michigan. Gopher senior Mike Hoeffel scored two more goals giving him four on the weekend as the Gophers beat the Michigan Tech Huskies. Kent Patterson started both games in goal for the Gophers this weekend and was solid in net all weekend as he got his fifth and sixth wins of the season.
Minnesota Duluth 3 Wisconsin 2 OT – The Bulldogs swept in Madison Wisconsin for the first time since 1985. For the season the UMD Bulldogs have a record of 11-1-2/8-1-1 WCHA and have an impressive record of 5-0-2 in the extra session. For the Second week in a row Wisconsin was swept at home. With the loss the Wisconsin Badgers dropped to 6-6-2/3-5-2 WCHA.
Nebraska-Omaha 1 North Dakota 0– The game was tied for 59 minutes and 59 seconds until the Mavericks scored with 0.03 left in the game. I was trying to think back to a game that resembled this one and the NCAA playoff game between UND and UNH comes to mind. This is why you play to the whistle. There was some question if the Mavericks were offside on the goal and from looking at the video I would say yes. Here is what Brad Schlossman had to say about the goal in question.
Statically: Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell has been impressive to say the least; during the road trip Dell had a 1.20 gaa where the Fighting Sioux went an impressive 3-1. Dell was a brick wall and shut out the opposition in seven out of ten periods of hockey. While Matt Frattin didn’t score a goal on Saturday night, scoring 22 goals in 26 games is still an impressive streak.
St. Cloud State 4 Alaska Anchorage 3 – SCSU won the game but 4-3 but in reading the UAA beat writer blog by Doyle Woody there was hit that resulted in an injury to a SCSU player.
Air Force 7 at Niagara 4
American Int'l 4 at Connecticut 5
Bentley 5 at Holy Cross 2
Robert Morris 2 at Canisius 3 OT
Sacred Heart 4 at Army 4 OT
ECAC
Dartmouth 3 at Princeton 2
Brown 3 at Cornell 2
Harvard 4 at Quinnipiac 5
St. Lawrence 1 at Clarkson 3
Yale 6 at Colgate 4
CCHA
Michigan State 2 at Notre Dame 4
Miami 3 at Bowling Green 0
Western Michigan 2 at Ferris State 2 OT
HOCKEY EAST
Providence 0 at Northeastern 5
UMass Lowell 2 at Merrimack 3
New Hampshire 2 at Boston University 4
WCHA
Bemidji State 2 at Denver 4
Minnesota 4 at Michigan Tech 1
Minnesota Duluth 3 at Wisconsin 2 OT
North Dakota 0 at Nebraska-Omaha 1
St. Cloud State 4 at Alaska Anchorage 3
Analysis - Denver 4 Bemidji State 2; The BSU Beavers had a 2-1 lead before losing the game 4-2. Denver University goalie Sam Brittain was stellar in net again for the Pioneers. Nick Shore scored the game tying and game winning goal for the Pioneers.
Minnesota 4 Michigan Tech 1 – The Gophers cruised to a series sweep against the MTU Huskies in Houghton, Michigan. Gopher senior Mike Hoeffel scored two more goals giving him four on the weekend as the Gophers beat the Michigan Tech Huskies. Kent Patterson started both games in goal for the Gophers this weekend and was solid in net all weekend as he got his fifth and sixth wins of the season.
Minnesota Duluth 3 Wisconsin 2 OT – The Bulldogs swept in Madison Wisconsin for the first time since 1985. For the season the UMD Bulldogs have a record of 11-1-2/8-1-1 WCHA and have an impressive record of 5-0-2 in the extra session. For the Second week in a row Wisconsin was swept at home. With the loss the Wisconsin Badgers dropped to 6-6-2/3-5-2 WCHA.
Nebraska-Omaha 1 North Dakota 0– The game was tied for 59 minutes and 59 seconds until the Mavericks scored with 0.03 left in the game. I was trying to think back to a game that resembled this one and the NCAA playoff game between UND and UNH comes to mind. This is why you play to the whistle. There was some question if the Mavericks were offside on the goal and from looking at the video I would say yes. Here is what Brad Schlossman had to say about the goal in question.
Screenshots show that Matt Ambroz was offsides by about an inch on the rush on the game-winning goal. Tough call to make when you can’t really tell at live speed. The linesman doesn’t have the luxury of slowing it down frame-by-frame (he was actually jumping over the puck when Ambroz entered the zone). The Sioux didn’t make an issue of it after the game.According to an eye witness account and a friend of mine who was at the game last night, said that Fighting Sioux assistant hockey coach Dane Jackson was giving it to the linesman at the end of the game and was very unhappy.
Statically: Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell has been impressive to say the least; during the road trip Dell had a 1.20 gaa where the Fighting Sioux went an impressive 3-1. Dell was a brick wall and shut out the opposition in seven out of ten periods of hockey. While Matt Frattin didn’t score a goal on Saturday night, scoring 22 goals in 26 games is still an impressive streak.
St. Cloud State 4 Alaska Anchorage 3 – SCSU won the game but 4-3 but in reading the UAA beat writer blog by Doyle Woody there was hit that resulted in an injury to a SCSU player.
Novak, 22, was injured on a seemingly harmless play. As the horn was about to blow to end the second period, he had the puck in his zone and pivoted toward the boards. UAA defenseman Brad Gorham came from behind and rubbed out Novak -- it was not by any means a malicious hit. Novak appeared to dip his head a split-second before Gorham arrived and Novak went into the boards head-first.Our thoughts and prayers are with Travis Novak of the SCSU Huskies.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Live thoughts: Game 1 vs. UNO
Ok, I went to the Qwest Center for my first live Sioux game since I moved to Omaha and I can say... well... we won....
Goaltending
Goon hit it right on. Eidsness isn't a bad goaltender when he's on... but the man's got a self-confidence problem the size of North America. The first goal happened right in front of me. Genoway "sorta" dives and the puck deflects off of his leg right onto the blade of a UNO player and it goes in. Yes, it was weak, but it would have been avoided had Genoway simply dove traditionally instead of the kind of slide one usually sees baserunners do going into second base. Oops! Sorry. Eidsness' fault. Sorry to pick on a fan favorite who can do no wrong. {/off soapbox}
The goals as I saw it? I already spoke about the first goal. The second and fourth goals were weak on Eidsness' fault. The third goal was simply sniped in. There wasn't much of an angle for Montpetit to shoot at and he threaded the needle (at least from my angle it looked like it did). Doesn't excuse Eidsness but... I was lenient on that one. Eidsness' second goal and Dell's lone goal he gave up have one thing in common though: If you had your stick square to the shooter, neither pucks would have gone in.
Funny thing..... UNO's goaltender started to imitate Eidsness as the game wore on. He played ok in the First Period (though UND only managed 6 shots on goal of which 2 were really genuine scoring chances). Genoway's wraparound was a complete joke. Yeah, it counts, but what Faulkner was doing while Genoway was going around the net was anyone's guess. If I were Blais, I would have called a time out right after that goal and yanked him. Seriously, Genoway had an open net to tuck the puck into.
I'd play Dell tomorrow (obviously going to happen but just in case anyone was wondering) and I'd actually play Faulkner's backup as well.
Defense
Andrej Sustr is big. Like, Joe Finley big.... And had he wore UND green, people would hate him. He wasn't physical.... at all.
In any case, UND's bread and butter was supposed to be their defense. Yeah well.... unless we can count on scoring 6 goals per game, defensive "performances" like this won't win us many games. Though goaltending was rather subpar tonight, UNO scored on rebounds. We didn't protect the front of the net and they beat us to the rebounds. The first period was just embarrassing.
Special Teams
Our powerplay sucked. Sorry guys. I don't recall if we ever scored on the powerplay, but I told my friend I went with that we should go down a man more often to produce more offense rather than up a man.
Our shorty was a great goal but it was a greater lapse by UNO's powerplay that made it possible. They simply looked so put out by our PK unit that, when the rush started, they simply seemed to sit back and watch. Boom. Goal.
Our PK was dominant. Funny how well we play defensively when we were down a man but we couldn't handle 5 on 5 defense... or maybe UNO's powerplay simply sucks.
Offense
We played VERY well offensively.... for the last half of the game. The first half of the game we were so squeamish and worried about UNO that, even if there was a slight possibility of UNO taking possession, UND would fall back. We seemed preoccupied rather than confident. Hiccups offensively happen and defense usually picks up the slack. No defense was there to be had so all that was there to pick up the slack was our goaltender and he had no confidence. I guess that's what went down.
Oh, Frattin is great and I'm SUPER happy Kristo finally gets his goal.
UNO was fast... very fast. I actually thought at times they were faster than we were. The UNO fans that sat behind me stated that UNO is typically a Saturday team and...well... Name a Dean Blais team that didn't seem to be better on Saturday than on Friday.
The Experience
Though I was supposedly on the UND side of the arena, I wasn't around many Sioux fans. However, I did get to see the dark side of UND fandom. I witnessed a very passionate UNO fan sitting one row in front of me get verbally abused (albeit very briefly so) by a UND fan after UNO got called for a penalty that shouldn't have been called (more on this later). He was right. He was angry. But his verbal outcry was against the refs, not UND or its fans. It was embarrassing to me. The UNO fans I was sitting around were very nice to me. It didn't seem warranted. Look, I know we've a right to speak our feelings and defend our team, but do it with class... and know your place. We're in Omaha right now and this isn't our home territory. Remember we are guests in the Qwest Center and, though we're not here to cheer UNO to victory, nor should be we expected to be happy if things don't go our way, we need to act with some level of class and civility in our host's "house."
I'm not lucky enough to be sitting with those nice people (UNO fans they may be) tomorrow, but I can't wait to go again.
By the way, no way there was almost 11,500 people there. No way. And their intermission entertainment was mostly good. The No Frills "Let's Make a Deal" spinoff was lame. The races they had were actually kindof fun. The video before the third period was SPECTACULAR. I wish UND had that instead of the stupid Tostito/Cloverdale Meats/Altru commercials... which, by the way, there were NO ads on the Jumbotron pretty much all game.
Getting out of the Qwest sucked though.
The Officiating
I don't know who these bums were but.... They sucked. BIG TIME. The AR's seemed to be out of shape and sluggish. They seemed to always get in the way. They also factored into some pretty bad officiating calls. First, the penalty that shouldn't have been. Yes, UNO's #12 elbowed a UND player (I didn't catch who). Yes, it was a penalty... or was it? No, it wasn't. Why? Because UND was WAY THE HELL offsides. No Call. UND also got a gift icing called when UNO actually had the inside track on the puck (though he was about a half step behind the UND player). There were some BS calls that actually went UND's way (for once). I couldn't believe it. The officiating had the Mavs fan in front of me almost in the state of cardiac arrest. He looked so darned mad it was amazing. Still can't help but wonder what the WCHA would be like if we had quality officiating.
My Three Stars
First Star: Matt Frattin
Second Star: Brad Malone
Third Star: Alex Hudson
UNO had our number and nearly beat us. Tomorrow's game will come down to adjustments. Whoever makes the better adjustments tomorrow will win the game. At this point, I don't know who will win.
Goaltending
Goon hit it right on. Eidsness isn't a bad goaltender when he's on... but the man's got a self-confidence problem the size of North America. The first goal happened right in front of me. Genoway "sorta" dives and the puck deflects off of his leg right onto the blade of a UNO player and it goes in. Yes, it was weak, but it would have been avoided had Genoway simply dove traditionally instead of the kind of slide one usually sees baserunners do going into second base. Oops! Sorry. Eidsness' fault. Sorry to pick on a fan favorite who can do no wrong. {/off soapbox}
The goals as I saw it? I already spoke about the first goal. The second and fourth goals were weak on Eidsness' fault. The third goal was simply sniped in. There wasn't much of an angle for Montpetit to shoot at and he threaded the needle (at least from my angle it looked like it did). Doesn't excuse Eidsness but... I was lenient on that one. Eidsness' second goal and Dell's lone goal he gave up have one thing in common though: If you had your stick square to the shooter, neither pucks would have gone in.
Funny thing..... UNO's goaltender started to imitate Eidsness as the game wore on. He played ok in the First Period (though UND only managed 6 shots on goal of which 2 were really genuine scoring chances). Genoway's wraparound was a complete joke. Yeah, it counts, but what Faulkner was doing while Genoway was going around the net was anyone's guess. If I were Blais, I would have called a time out right after that goal and yanked him. Seriously, Genoway had an open net to tuck the puck into.
I'd play Dell tomorrow (obviously going to happen but just in case anyone was wondering) and I'd actually play Faulkner's backup as well.
Defense
Andrej Sustr is big. Like, Joe Finley big.... And had he wore UND green, people would hate him. He wasn't physical.... at all.
In any case, UND's bread and butter was supposed to be their defense. Yeah well.... unless we can count on scoring 6 goals per game, defensive "performances" like this won't win us many games. Though goaltending was rather subpar tonight, UNO scored on rebounds. We didn't protect the front of the net and they beat us to the rebounds. The first period was just embarrassing.
Special Teams
Our powerplay sucked. Sorry guys. I don't recall if we ever scored on the powerplay, but I told my friend I went with that we should go down a man more often to produce more offense rather than up a man.
Our shorty was a great goal but it was a greater lapse by UNO's powerplay that made it possible. They simply looked so put out by our PK unit that, when the rush started, they simply seemed to sit back and watch. Boom. Goal.
Our PK was dominant. Funny how well we play defensively when we were down a man but we couldn't handle 5 on 5 defense... or maybe UNO's powerplay simply sucks.
Offense
We played VERY well offensively.... for the last half of the game. The first half of the game we were so squeamish and worried about UNO that, even if there was a slight possibility of UNO taking possession, UND would fall back. We seemed preoccupied rather than confident. Hiccups offensively happen and defense usually picks up the slack. No defense was there to be had so all that was there to pick up the slack was our goaltender and he had no confidence. I guess that's what went down.
Oh, Frattin is great and I'm SUPER happy Kristo finally gets his goal.
UNO was fast... very fast. I actually thought at times they were faster than we were. The UNO fans that sat behind me stated that UNO is typically a Saturday team and...well... Name a Dean Blais team that didn't seem to be better on Saturday than on Friday.
The Experience
Though I was supposedly on the UND side of the arena, I wasn't around many Sioux fans. However, I did get to see the dark side of UND fandom. I witnessed a very passionate UNO fan sitting one row in front of me get verbally abused (albeit very briefly so) by a UND fan after UNO got called for a penalty that shouldn't have been called (more on this later). He was right. He was angry. But his verbal outcry was against the refs, not UND or its fans. It was embarrassing to me. The UNO fans I was sitting around were very nice to me. It didn't seem warranted. Look, I know we've a right to speak our feelings and defend our team, but do it with class... and know your place. We're in Omaha right now and this isn't our home territory. Remember we are guests in the Qwest Center and, though we're not here to cheer UNO to victory, nor should be we expected to be happy if things don't go our way, we need to act with some level of class and civility in our host's "house."
I'm not lucky enough to be sitting with those nice people (UNO fans they may be) tomorrow, but I can't wait to go again.
By the way, no way there was almost 11,500 people there. No way. And their intermission entertainment was mostly good. The No Frills "Let's Make a Deal" spinoff was lame. The races they had were actually kindof fun. The video before the third period was SPECTACULAR. I wish UND had that instead of the stupid Tostito/Cloverdale Meats/Altru commercials... which, by the way, there were NO ads on the Jumbotron pretty much all game.
Getting out of the Qwest sucked though.
The Officiating
I don't know who these bums were but.... They sucked. BIG TIME. The AR's seemed to be out of shape and sluggish. They seemed to always get in the way. They also factored into some pretty bad officiating calls. First, the penalty that shouldn't have been. Yes, UNO's #12 elbowed a UND player (I didn't catch who). Yes, it was a penalty... or was it? No, it wasn't. Why? Because UND was WAY THE HELL offsides. No Call. UND also got a gift icing called when UNO actually had the inside track on the puck (though he was about a half step behind the UND player). There were some BS calls that actually went UND's way (for once). I couldn't believe it. The officiating had the Mavs fan in front of me almost in the state of cardiac arrest. He looked so darned mad it was amazing. Still can't help but wonder what the WCHA would be like if we had quality officiating.
My Three Stars
First Star: Matt Frattin
Second Star: Brad Malone
Third Star: Alex Hudson
UNO had our number and nearly beat us. Tomorrow's game will come down to adjustments. Whoever makes the better adjustments tomorrow will win the game. At this point, I don't know who will win.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Should I stay or should I go...
There is an ongoing and continuous discussion about division one college hockey players leaving their college hockey early before they have used up their college eligibility to chase the dream of a professional hockey career. It would appear that those who leave early, very few actually move right from the NCAA to the NHL. In fact the numbers are against them. While the promise of big money and the glitz and glamour of the NHL might be very persuasive to a young m an/player, there are very few Jonathan Toews or Derek Stephan’s in Division one college hockey. If you’re still not convinced, check out these posts from Brad Schlossman’s twitter page. I was actually surprised with the numbers.
Summer of discontent
Every spring and summer college hockey fans cringe as they wait for fall to come, past experience has told them that some of the better players on their team or on other teams in the NCAA will lose players before they have played their four years of college.
The teams that suffer the most early departures are the teams that recruit blue chip hockey players. I would rather my favorite team recruit these types of players and take the risk that they play 2 or 3 seasons, than to not have them at all. Not many NCAA fans can saw that I enjoyed the likes of Zach Parise, Drew Stafford, T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews.
The NCAA coaches are trying to work out a deal with the NHL but I am not all that positive that they will be able to get the NHL to back off stealing their prized players. [Pioneer Press]
According to the @inch list of guys who left early, 7 of 36 are in the NHL now. Only Stepan went straight from college to NHL.According to a Denver Post article Former all-WCHA and DU goalie Marc Cheverie is struggling at the next level of his hockey career. As a matter of fact I was really shocked and surprised to read that Marc Cheverie's save percentage isn’t even above .850. Why am I shocked; in college Cheverie wasn't just a good goalie, he was a dominating goalie during his junior year in the WCHA (24-6-3, 2.08 GAA, .932 SV% 6 shutouts). We are talking about a goalie that was near the top in the NCAA for shutouts, wins, save percentage and goals against average. Cheverie was dominating in all facets of the NCAA statistics, now that all star goalie is struggling in the ECHL.
Some are playing well in AHL and might make it up by the end of the year, but still an interesting stat.
12 WCHA players gave up eligibility to sign pro contracts this summer. Only UW's Derek Stepan is in the NHL right now.
The Denver Post - It wasn't at all shocking when Cheverie decided to skip his senior season at DU and sign with the Florida Panthers last summer. He already was 23 years old and had been the WCHA player of the year as a junior.
The Panthers, who claimed him in the sixth round of the 2006 draft, could sell the notion that he had little left to accomplish — at least on the personal level — in the college game.
But this is a bit jarring: While, in theory, the native of Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, could have been in the net for the Pioneers in the weekend series against Colorado College, Cheverie instead was fighting through a horrible start to his pro career. He's not even in the American Hockey League, but with the Panthers' lower-level affiliate, the Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL. And going into the weekend games, he had a 5.04 goals-against average, an .848 save percentage and a 1-2-1 record for the struggling Cyclones, who had won only once in eight games to open the season.
"It's a learning process I have to go through," Cheverie said on the phone last week. "It's not one of my goals to be here, but if this is how I have to get there, this is how I have to get there. I want to be in the NHL someday, but I have some work to do at this level to move up. If I had my way, I'd be in the NHL right now, but obviously, I'm not ready yet, so that's the way it is."
There are worse places to play below the AHL level than Cincinnati, so that's one of the positives.
"I've struggled a bit," Cheverie conceded. "It's been tough mentally, but that's part of the learning experience, part of getting in your comfort zone. You just want to be in a place where you're going to get better, and I think I have that here."
Summer of discontent
Every spring and summer college hockey fans cringe as they wait for fall to come, past experience has told them that some of the better players on their team or on other teams in the NCAA will lose players before they have played their four years of college.
The teams that suffer the most early departures are the teams that recruit blue chip hockey players. I would rather my favorite team recruit these types of players and take the risk that they play 2 or 3 seasons, than to not have them at all. Not many NCAA fans can saw that I enjoyed the likes of Zach Parise, Drew Stafford, T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews.
The NCAA coaches are trying to work out a deal with the NHL but I am not all that positive that they will be able to get the NHL to back off stealing their prized players. [Pioneer Press]
Monday, November 01, 2010
Poll Monday - Sioux drop to 9th
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[November 1, 2010]
1 Miami (33) 5-1-2 977 1
2 Minnesota-Duluth ( 8) 6-0-2 926 3
3 Boston University ( 7) 6-0-1 836 6
4 Boston College ( 1) 4-2-0 835 2
5 Yale ( 1) 2-0-0 790 5
6 Michigan 4-1-3 762 4
7 Maine 4-1-2 707 7
8 Nebraska-Omaha 5-1-0 597 9
9 North Dakota 4-3-1 565 8
10 New Hampshire 2-1-2 555 10
11 Notre Dame 5-1-1 488 13
12 Michigan State 3-0-3 481 11
13 Denver 3-3-2 389 12
14 Alaska 5-2-1 358 15
15 Union 5-1-2 286 16
15 Wisconsin 5-2-1 286 18
17 Minnesota 5-3-0 191 20
18 Rensselaer 3-1-3 104 20
19 Cornell 0-2-0 91 14
20 St. Cloud State 3-4-1 88 17
Others Receiving Votes: Merrimack 44, Quinnipiac 38, Robert Morris 34, Colorado College 18, Michigan Tech 13, Ferris State 12, Western Michigan 12, Clarkson 7, Rochester Institute of Technology 6, Bemidji State 2, Canisius 1, Vermont 1
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[November 1, 2010]
1Miami University, 494 (23)15-1-25
2University of Minnesota Duluth, 469 (7)36-0-25
3Boston University, 407 (4)56-0-15
4Boston College, 40324-2-05
5University of Michigan, 36144-1-35
6Yale University, 35972-0-05
7University of Maine, 322 64-1-25
8University of Nebraska Omaha, 23595-1-03
9University of North Dakota, 208 84-3-15
10University of New Hampshire, 200102-1-25
11University of Notre Dame, 163115-1-12
12Michigan State University, 152143-0-32
13University of Denver, 94123-3-25
14Union College, 88135-1-22
15University of Alaska, 70NR5-2-14
[November 1, 2010]
1 Miami (33) 5-1-2 977 1
2 Minnesota-Duluth ( 8) 6-0-2 926 3
3 Boston University ( 7) 6-0-1 836 6
4 Boston College ( 1) 4-2-0 835 2
5 Yale ( 1) 2-0-0 790 5
6 Michigan 4-1-3 762 4
7 Maine 4-1-2 707 7
8 Nebraska-Omaha 5-1-0 597 9
9 North Dakota 4-3-1 565 8
10 New Hampshire 2-1-2 555 10
11 Notre Dame 5-1-1 488 13
12 Michigan State 3-0-3 481 11
13 Denver 3-3-2 389 12
14 Alaska 5-2-1 358 15
15 Union 5-1-2 286 16
15 Wisconsin 5-2-1 286 18
17 Minnesota 5-3-0 191 20
18 Rensselaer 3-1-3 104 20
19 Cornell 0-2-0 91 14
20 St. Cloud State 3-4-1 88 17
Others Receiving Votes: Merrimack 44, Quinnipiac 38, Robert Morris 34, Colorado College 18, Michigan Tech 13, Ferris State 12, Western Michigan 12, Clarkson 7, Rochester Institute of Technology 6, Bemidji State 2, Canisius 1, Vermont 1
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[November 1, 2010]
1Miami University, 494 (23)15-1-25
2University of Minnesota Duluth, 469 (7)36-0-25
3Boston University, 407 (4)56-0-15
4Boston College, 40324-2-05
5University of Michigan, 36144-1-35
6Yale University, 35972-0-05
7University of Maine, 322 64-1-25
8University of Nebraska Omaha, 23595-1-03
9University of North Dakota, 208 84-3-15
10University of New Hampshire, 200102-1-25
11University of Notre Dame, 163115-1-12
12Michigan State University, 152143-0-32
13University of Denver, 94123-3-25
14Union College, 88135-1-22
15University of Alaska, 70NR5-2-14
Get Well Jessie Martin
Vizoroo quote from USCHO: For those of us who "live and die" for our favorite college hockey team, there comes a time when that is secondary. And that time came to Pioneer fans this weekend.
First off; I don’t think there are truer words. That being said; I don’t think anyone in the Fighting Sioux fan base is happy that an opposition player was carted off of the ice during Saturday’s game, if they are they need to have their heads examined because they aren’t wired right. Personally, I have also been on the sideline and in the stands for football players that were carted off of the playing surface for a catastrophic injury, it ruins the whole game and puts a dark cloud over the event, this kid may never play hockey again. I have also been to auto races that ended with a driver being taken to the hospital for a bad crash; again the race/event becomes secondary. In the end we are all just human being.
This game puts another dark cloud over a great rivalry between two great programs, whether you like the DU hockey or their head coach, the Denver University Pioneers are a class organization; evidence of this was when their players stood still and slapped their sticks on the ice for the Ed Belfour presentation on Friday night. The last thing we need is more ugliness between the two programs and their great fans.
Personally, while I enjoy the back and forth between the two programs, now is not the time for that, let’s have some empathy for the DU fans as they go through this trying time. I would imagine that Sioux forward Brad Malone also feels bad as well, the big screen caught a glimpse of Malone after the incident and the expression on his face was one of concern. Rember to keep Jesse Martin in thoughts and prayers as he goes through medical treatments.
Denver Post photo.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
The Zucker Spear on Genoway - Update on Martin
Here is another illustration of why I think the officiating in the WCHA is so poor; this was at the end of the first period as Denver Pioneer and Wild draftee forward Jason Zucker blatantly spears Chay Genoway in the midsection. I mean seriously, I don’t have a problem with the refs calling major penalties that’s fine but then when the other team commits an obvious major penalty in front of the referees the same standard needs to apply to the other teams as well.
Also, according to a Denver Post article Denver Pioneers forward Jesse Martin, is going to Minneapolis to have surgery on his fractured neck. Remember to keep him in your thoughts and prayers.
Grand Forks, N.D. — Most members of the DU hockey team flew to Denver out of Fargo this morning, but a handful of them went to Minneapolis with senior center Jesse Martin.
Martin sustained three neck fractures in Saturday night’s hockey game at North Dakota and was scheduled to have emergency surgery today in Minneapolis to relieve swelling of the spinal cord. He was taken off the ice Saturday in a stretcher midway through the second period after being checked by Fighting Sioux senior forward Brad Malone.
Malone, an Avalanche draft pick, crushed Martin parallel to the boards, as Martin was trying to skate the puck up ice, out of the defensive zone. He had his head down.
No penalty was immediately called, but while medical crews prepped Martin for the stretcher, officials gave Malone a five-minute major for charging and a game misconduct.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Denver athletic department is losing 7 million a year.
The Denver Post --- Despite having one of the country's premier hockey programs, the University of Denver athletic department is operating on an annual budget deficit of more than $7 million. The massive shortfall is the result of the school's pledge to remain in NCAA Division I in all sports, as well as its effort to upgrade its struggling men's basketball program.
Athletic director Peg Bradley-Doppes said there has been no discussion about Denver returning to Division II in its core sports.
"I believe the chancellor and the board feel very, very, very good about the direction of our program, and confident in the direction of the program," she said in a recent interview. "This university takes pride in that we educate student-athletes. . . . There is no quick fix here."
According to documents obtained by The Denver Post, the DU athletic program lost more than $22 million during a three-year period ending June 30, 2007, the deficits growing from $7.1 million to $7.8 million in the third year. DU is a private school and would not make its recent budgets available.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Six games into the season the Gophers haven't traveled anywhere.
Six games into the 2010-2011 season and the Gophers haven't left the friendly confines of the Mariucci Arena. It will be interesting to see how they respond against the C.C. Tigers this weekend.
Roman Augustoviz --- The Gophers will practice Thursday morning at Mariucci Arena before flying to Denver, then they will bus to Colorado Springs. "Our guys like if we can practice at home before we head on the road," Lucia said. "Usually it is a much more productive practice. Flying, you are sluggish, and coaches get upset because you don't have a good practice. It's just the way it works."
Flying into and out of Denver, Lucia said, also means the Gophers can avoid an early morning flight back on Sunday from Colorado Springs.
Up to eight freshmen will be on the Gophers' trip to Colorado College this weekend, Lucia said. Doing the math, that means only one healthy freshman may stay home. There are 10 freshmen on the roster and center Nick Bjugstad is out for a month with mono.
DU’s John Lee and Sam Brittain honored by WCHA
The Fighting Sioux hockey team’s favorite punching bag the Denver Pioneers, have a couple of players that won weekly awards from the WCHA this past week. One of the least popular Denver Pioneers amongst Sioux fans is University of Denver junior defenseman John Lee.
The Denver Post ---- The WCHA on Tuesday tabbed University of Denver junior John Lee and freshman goaltender Sam Brittain with weekly awards, after the Pioneers got through the weekend with a victory and a tie against Wisconsin.
Lee was named defensive player of the week after posting a plus-2 rating over the two games. He also had four blocked shots and an assist on the game-winning goal Friday.
Brittain was named rookied of the week after stopping 51 of 55 shots over the two games. His compiled a .927 saves percentage over the weekend in relief of starter Adam Murray.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Lamoureux, Falcons respond to coach's scolding
Here is an interesting story that is worth a look from Sioux_Yeah_Yeah's favorite college hockey beat writer Mike Chambers.
The Denver Post - Last Saturday, the morning after Air Force fell to 0-4 with a shocking home-opening loss to downtrodden American International, Falcons coach Frank Serratore took the Herb Brooks approach of teaching.
"I lit into these guys like you couldn't believe," the emotional coach said Monday, two days after the Falcons crushed American International 12-0 in the finale of the two-game series. "I had had it with these guys. We needed to become a team."
Serratore was furious at his seven seniors for failing to lead and earn respect from seven freshmen.
"There was a generation gap, and I blame the older guys for not closing it," he said.
He was particularly critical of senior center and co-captain Jacques Lamoureux and senior linemate and assistant captain Derrick Burnett. Lamoureux was an All-American and Hobey Baker Award finalist as a sophomore but went into Saturday without a goal.
"I told them we had too many coaches and not enough players. We need one coach and one villain, and that's me. That's my job," Serratore said. "I want guys that love each other and want to go to war together. There's nothing worse than having an 'ununified' room. That was torturing me. I want a team that faces the Denver Pioneers and fights their tails off for each other. We're Air Force, and that's why I love this place. We have to have the chemistry-brotherhood thing on our side, because without that we don't have a chance."
Sunday, October 24, 2010
A Look at the numbers.
Here are the Fighting Sioux goalie stats after six games, one could make the argument that the Fighting Sioux record is a mediocre 3-2-1 for team that is this talented. On the flip side of that argument, UND has gone 3-2-1 on the road and has yet to play any home games. The defensive and goaltending numbers are frightening so far and the Fighting Sioux have to get better if they are going to do anything in the up coming season and post season. The poor goaltending numbers are also a direct reflection of the team defense in front of them. UND which traditionally has been know for its strong defense in the past, has been giving up turnovers at crucial times in the games.
Aaron Dell, G, So, 2-2-0, 2.88 GAA, .883 Save Percentage
Brad Eidsness, G, Jr, 1-0-1, GAA 4.46., Save Percentage .762
The UND Fighting Sioux power play and penalty kill has been ok so far this season. [Click for national stats]
(Combined special teams)14 North Dakota 37/ 68 54.4
(Penalty Kill) 34 North Dakota 29/ 37 2 78.4
(Power Play) 10 North Dakota 8/ 31 1 25.8
(Penalty Minutes) 7 North Dakota 6 120 20.0
(Scoring Defense)33 North Dakota 6 21 3.50 (not good)
(Scoring Offense) 12 North Dakota 6 23 3.83
20 - Matt Frattin (TOR)North Dakota, SR F 6 7-2-9 1.50
2 - Goals per game - Matt Frattin(TOR)North Dakota 7 1.17
48 - Assists per game - Corban Knight and Derek Forbort 5 0.83
Power Play goals 1 Matt Frattin 6 0.67
Aaron Dell, G, So, 2-2-0, 2.88 GAA, .883 Save Percentage
Brad Eidsness, G, Jr, 1-0-1, GAA 4.46., Save Percentage .762
The UND Fighting Sioux power play and penalty kill has been ok so far this season. [Click for national stats]
(Combined special teams)14 North Dakota 37/ 68 54.4
(Penalty Kill) 34 North Dakota 29/ 37 2 78.4
(Power Play) 10 North Dakota 8/ 31 1 25.8
(Penalty Minutes) 7 North Dakota 6 120 20.0
(Scoring Defense)33 North Dakota 6 21 3.50 (not good)
(Scoring Offense) 12 North Dakota 6 23 3.83
20 - Matt Frattin (TOR)North Dakota, SR F 6 7-2-9 1.50
2 - Goals per game - Matt Frattin(TOR)North Dakota 7 1.17
48 - Assists per game - Corban Knight and Derek Forbort 5 0.83
Power Play goals 1 Matt Frattin 6 0.67
Scores from October 23rd
Holy Cross 1 at Quinnipiac 3
Morrisville 1 at Princeton 7
Alaska 1 at Michigan State 4
Colgate 4 at Lake Superior 5
North Dakota 2 at Maine 4
Niagara 3 at Rensselaer 4 OT
Northeastern 3 at UMass Lowell 1
Providence 1 at Boston University 2
RIT 2 at Union 7
USA Under-18 Team 0 at Cornell 6
Western Michigan 3 at St. Lawrence 3 OT
American Int'l 0 at Air Force 12
Alab-Huntsville 2 at Bowling Green 4
Boston College 1 at Notre Dame 2
Canisius 3 at Sacred Heart 3 OT
Connecticut 3 at Army 2
Merrimack 2 at Vermont 2 OT
Ohio State 5 at Ferris State 3
Alaska Anchorage 0 at Minnesota Duluth 6
Colorado College 1 at Minnesota State 0
Wisconsin 2 at Denver 2 OT
Bentley 3 at Clarkson 3 OT
Northern Michigan 1 at Miami 9
Nebraska-Omaha 1 at Michigan 6
Analysis – The University of Omaha Nebraska lost it’s first game of the season against the Wolverines. Dean Blais’ team got the split, they had won only once in Ann Arbor before this weekend.
The UND Fighting Sioux swept in Maine by the Black Bears. To quote College Hockey news; the Sioux go back to Grand Forks humbled. Humbled yes, but there is a lot of season left. No mention of the disparity in the number of penalties called against the Sioux on the weekend, Maine Black Bears 19 Power Plays and UND Fighting Sioux 10, officials have been fired and or suspended in the WCHA for bravo sierra like this. Letter sent to Hockey East Commissioner, I doubt that I will get a response from him. Told him it was one of the most one sided officiating jobs I have ever seen in my years of watching college hockey, this one even topped the debacle in Denver last November. I am serious when I say that I think head hockey coach Dave Hakstol and the UND administration should think twice about going east again until the officiating is discussed with the Hockey East commissioner. Imagine if Maine had come to UND and gone through the same thing, seriously, it would be considered an incident.
The UMD Bulldogs swept the big slow lumbering team from Alaska Anchorage with a 6-0 shutout win on Saturday night. A nondescript no name goaltender (Aaron Crandall 2-0-0, .50 GAA and .977 SV%) gets the win and the shutout for the Bulldogs. Seems like some coaches can recruit legit goaltenders.
Colorado College and Minnesota State University Mankato (MSU-M sporting some ugly uniforms I might add) lost a tight checking game to the C.C., the game got ugly at the end as Rylan Schwartz was given a five minute major and a game disqualification for a dirty leg check on Chase Grant. Before someone jumps down my throat, yes I did watch the end of the game it was on channel 27 Midco Sports in Grand Forks, ND. Schwatz will sit out the next game the Tigers play for his efforts.
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish show that that Boston College Eagles are human as the Fighting Irish win 2-1 in South Bend on a goal from Calle Ridderwall.
Picture was taken by the Bangor Daily News.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
View from the other side - UMaine and UND
Something's Bruin --- The crowd was not held in suspense long as the Black Bears struck early and never looked back. Joey Diamond executed a perfect behind the net pass to set up Robbie Dee for the first goal. This was followed up when a Black Bear power play was about to expire but not before Adam Shemansky fed Brian Flynn to make it 2-0. When asked about the importance of getting on the board first, Dee shared, “It definitely got the crowd into it. It was a great atmosphere. [North Dakota] has never been here before so it's probably a little intimidating.”On MacWilliam's penalty I don't know if it warranted a five minute major and a game misconduct, I would thought a 2 minute penalty would have been enough, but who knows, from the perspective of someone wearing Columbia Blue they are going to say it’s a penalty and from a fan wearing green we are going to see it a little differently. The Flynn was falling down and I suppose Mac could have pulled back. Hey Hockey East has played well against the WCHA as of late so they can beat their chest if they want but I predict that the worm is going to turn pretty soon.
The Fighting Sioux appeared aptly named tonight as their style was extremely chippy with lots of activity after the whistle and trailing the play. North Dakota starting defenseman Andrew MacWilliam was given a game misconduct after head hunting Flynn who was down on the ice for an extended period. After the game when asked what he thought of the hit Brian said “ I don't remember what happened. I'm not sure if it was dirty.” Undeterred the Fighting Sioux kept up a bullying style but it was no match for Maine's superior skating, passing, forechecking, and netminding.
While Shawn Sirman's performance likely cemented him as the top goalie for Umaine, North Dakota was forced to pull their starter in goal Brad Eidness in favor of Aaron Dell. Unfortunately for the Sioux, Dell fared no better. There was a brief period of suspense as a sloppy Maine turnover on the power play led to a break away, short handed goal by North Dakota Freshman Derek Rodwell but it didn't last long.
On an ensuing Black Bear power play Will O'Neill took a pass at the point, faked a slap shot and then snapped a wrister into the back of the net to make it 4-1 Black Bears. Next, Gustav Nyquist potted his first goal of the year on a hustle play losing a race to a loose puck in the ND defensive zone. Nyquist stuck with it, forced a turnover and easily beat Sioux Goalie Aaron Dell who had come out of net just short of the blue line moments before. Asked to reflect on his first goal of the year Nyquist commented “ It felt great, the team played great. We really wanted to make a statement.”
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