Nine Men out, UND heads north to Alaska

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine...

I mentioned last Friday night after the exhibition game against US National Development Under 18 team that UND was going to face some self-created adversity, during their first weekend series of the 2012-13 season.

In their game against the UAA Seawolves, UND will play with bare bones lineup of 16 skaters – that’s two less than the number allowed by the rules when they take the ice in their first game.

Last season, UND played most of the last month of the 2011-12 campaign with 17 players or less due to injuries, so this really isn't anything new for the team from North Dakota.

Also, this will not be used as an excuse by the North Dakota coaching staff.

UND will be without senior forward Danny Kristo (19g-26a—45pts), who is suspended for the first two games of the season, due to an infraction of team rules.

Kristo will not make the trip with the team to Fairbanks, Alaska and he will not be back until the first home series of the season the following weekend against the University of Alaska Anchorage Seawolves, on October 26 and 27 at Ralph Englestad Arena.

Also missing from the lineup, for “at least” the next two weeks is sophomore forward Michael Parks (12g-10a—22pts), who suffered an undisclosed lower body injury in the exhibition game against the University of Manitoba Bison.

Head coach Dave Hakstol was asked about the status of sophomore forward Michael Parks.

“Probably, I am guessing a few weeks for Michael Parks,” Hakstol said. “That is about as close I can come to narrowing it down. It certainly won’t be with the next one to two weeks, but I hope with the next few weeks we will be able to get him on the ice. It will all depend on how his rehab progresses and how he reacts.”

UND will also miss sophomore forward Brendan O’Donnell (5g-1a—6pts) , senior defenseman Andrew MacWilliam (2g-5a—7pts), senior forward Carter Rowney (18g-15—33pts) and senior forward Corbin Knight (16g-24a—40pts) who will all serve a one game suspension during first game against the University of Alaska Anchorage at the Brice Alaska Goal Rush tourney for a violation of team rules.

With Knight, Kirsto, Rowney and Parks absent for the first game of the season because of suspensions and the injury  – based on last season numbers – UND will be missing some high end talent that scored 140 points last season – that doesn’t take a mathematical guru to figure out that’s a lot of offensive fire power missing from the UND line.

On the following night of the Brice Alaska Goal Rush tourney, sophomore forwards Connor Gaarder (4g-6a—10pts), Stephane Pattyn (4g-3a—7pts) and sophomore defenseman Andrew Panzarella (0g-4a—4pts) will all sit out due to an infraction of team rules...

This is the list of UND hockey players that will miss the game for UND against Anchorage Alaska.

1.       Danny Kristo – Suspension

2.       Corbin Knight – Suspension

3.       Andrew MacWilliam – Suspension

4.       Carter Rowney – Suspension

5.       Brendan O'Donnell – Suspension

6.       Michael Parks – Injury

This is the list of UND hockey players that will miss the game for UND against Alaska game

1.       Danny Kristo – Suspension

2.       Connor Gaarder– Suspension

3.       Andrew Panzarella– Suspension

4.       Stephane Pattyn– Suspension

5.       Michael Parks – Injury

Related articles

• UND Squeaks Past USNDT U-18 Team (insidehockey.com)
• ND Shakes Off Rust to Beat Manitoba Bison (insidehockey.com)
• Wednesday press update for UND Men's hockey (thehockeywriters.com)

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UND games to be shown on-line this weekend.

Here is the link to the Broadcasts

Upcoming UND Hockey Broadcasts

Friday, October 19, 2012

College Hockey Home

AK-Anchorage v. North Dakota @ AK-Fairbanks

Time 8:05PM CST Price $7.00.

Saturday, October 20, 2012
College Hockey Home
University of Alaska Fairbanks Versus University of North Dakota
Time 10:05 PM CST
Price$7.00.

University of Alaska Fairbanks (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Eight men out - UND players to miss some time...

UND Hockey Arena (Photo credit: jimmywayne)

It would appear that the University of North Dakota Hockey team is experiencing what I would call a rough start to their season. Now the Athletic Department has suspended eight players to start the season – most of which seems to be due to a team party that appears to have gotten a bit out of hand.

If Coach Hakstol doesn’t have his player’s attention now – he will never get their attention. As a person that follows the UND Hockey program closely – I am disappointed in the players because there off ice behavior shows a lack of focus. Obviously, we’re talking about young adults and college students do party from time-to-time, it’s a fact of life.

That being said, I don’t think that their offseason activities will have much of an effect on their season if they can get their act together. I can’t imagine what kind of consequences that will levied if someone gets into more trouble, especially after all that has happened in the last week.

It sounds like some players need to grow up and concentrate on playing hockey and need to spend less time having team parties. 

So if anyone is keeping track at home – the roster for the Brice Alaska Goal Rush tourney in Fairbanks Alaska is going to have a depleted roster both nights of the tourney.

Players that are suspended for the Anchorage Alaska game

1.       Danny Kristo

2.       Corbin Knight

3.       Andrew MacWilliam

4.       Carter Rowney

5.       Brendan O'Donnell

Players that are suspended for the Suspended for Alaska game

1.       Danny Kristo

2.       Connor Gaarder

3.       Andrew Panzarella

4.       Stephane Pattyn

EDIT: More comes out about UND Hockey party

More and more information is beginning to come out about the suspension of the four UND Hockey captains - the suspension are a result of a team party that took place this past weekend in Grand Forks, ND. It would appear that the University of North Dakota is being proactive and sending a message to it's players that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.

I have seen suggestions from some fans that this party from this past weekend resembles what some classify as hazing which the NCAA takes seriously - personally I am going to wait for more information to come out before I jump to that conclusion.

Here is what UND Sports Information Director Jayson Hajdu had to say on the matter, when asked by the UND Hockey beat writer Brad Elliot Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald, asked him if this might be a case of hazing.

“UND is continuing to gather information. If hazing has been involved, the university will take strong action.”

Kristo confirm that he got cut in an initiation party that involved -21 yrs old players. That's why he and 3 teammates are suspended. #habs
— Jonathan Bernier (@JoBern) September 19, 2012

Obviously, Kristo was caught and not cut from the team and which the writer later corrected himself.

Of course, Kristo got caught and not cut. Sorry.
— Jonathan Bernier (@JoBern) September 19, 2012

Here is a press release on the incident from CBC Radio - I translated the article with Google translate.

Hope Canadian Danny Kristo is suspended by the University of North Dakota for the first game of the season.

The team made ​​the announcement Tuesday.

Kristo and three other teammates were suspended for "unacceptable conduct" during a team party Saturday, said Brian Faison, director of sports programs at the school.

"The behavior of our players is not the role model they should play in the community, said the head coach of the team, Dave Hakstol. We rely on several players of character, but they must be accountable for their actions. '

Kristo is assistant captain this season. The other three players are also suspended two other assistants (Corban Knight, hope the Panthers, and Carter Rowney, undrafted) and the captain, Andrew MacWilliam, 7th round selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008.

In addition to the suspension, the players of the team should lend itself to such workshops weekly alcohol education. Any future violation of team rules lead to other consequences, ranging from reducing scholarships to expulsion from the hockey program.

Kristo, second-round pick of the Canadiens in 2008, will play in his fourth and final 2012-2013 academic year.

The team formerly known as the Fighting Sioux will begin its season Oct. 19 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Goon’s WCHA Power Rankings 1/29/2012

Here is this weeks WCHA Power Rankings, Zack Friedli has a previous engagement this week, so here is this week's Inside Hockey WCHA Power Rankings.

1.  Minnesota – (15-5-0 WCHA, 19-9-1) Minnesota swept the Saint Cloud State Huskies in a home and home series (2-1 W, 3-2 W) this past weekend. The Minnesota Gophers limited the SCSU Huskies to 25 shots on net for the weekend. This weekend the Gophers are idle.

2. Minnesota Duluth – (11-4-3 WCHA, 17-5-4) The Bulldogs tied and lost (4-4 T, 0-5 L) against Michigan Tech University this past weekend at Amsoil Arena in Duluth, Minnesota. This weekend the Bulldogs travel to Anchorage, Alaska to play the UAA Seawolves.

3.  Colorado College – (11-7-0 WCHA, 14-9-1) The Tigers were idle this past weekend. This weekend the Tigers have a home and home series with their cross state rivals the Denver Pioneers.

4. Denver – (10-5-3 WCHA, 15-8-3). The Pioneers swept the Seawolves this past weekend in Anchorage Alaska (4-2 W, 6-3 W). Saturday, sophomore goalie Sam Brittain returned from a knee injury; started in goal and got the win in net for the Pioneers. This weekend the Pioneers have a home and home series with their cross state rivals the Colorado College Tigers.

4.  North Dakota – (11-9-0, 15-10-2) The University of North Dakota swept the Badgers at the Ralph Englestad Area this past weekend (5-3 W, 4-2 W). UND is idle this weekend. The University of North Dakota has been hit by the Injury Ninja and the following players are currently out of the lineup for UND.  Here is the list, Rocco Grimaldi (knee, season), Brendan O’Donnell (shoulder) and Derek Rodwell (shoulder, season).

6.  Nebraska-Omaha – (9-6-3 WCHA, 12-10-4) The Mavericks were idle this past weekend. This weekend the Mavericks entertain the Bemidji State Beavers.

7.  Michigan Tech – (9-7-2 WCHA, 12-12-2) The Michigan Tech Huskies look three of four points (4-4 T, 5-0 W) against the Bulldogs at Amsoil arena in Duluth, Minnesota. This weekend Michigan Tech travels to Mankato to play the Minnesota State Mavericks.

 8. Bemidji State – (6-10-2 WCHA, 12-12-2) The Beavers split their weekend series with the Minnesota State Mavericks (2-1 W, 2-5 L) at the Sanford Center. This weekend the Beavers travel to Omaha to play the University of Nebraska Omaha Mavericks.

9. Wisconsin – (7-10-2 WCHA, 12-12-2) The Wisconsin Badgers have an impressive 11-4-1 record at Kohl Center. After being swept by University of North Dakota this past weekend (2-5 L, 2-4 L) in Grand Forks, the Badgers have an unimpressive 1-8-1 record away from the Kohl Center. This weekend the Badgers look to improve on their home record against the depleted Saint Cloud State Huskies.

10. St. Cloud State – (7-10-3 WCHA, 10-14-4) The Huskies were swept by the Gophers (1-2 L, 2-3 L) this past weekend.  This weekend the Huskies travel to Wisconsin to take on the Badgers. Huskies junior goalie Mike Lee returned from injury and played Friday night for the Huskies. The Huskies has been hit by the Injury Ninja as they have lost forward Travis Novak to a lower body injury on Friday night and are still without their top forward Drew LeBlanc (broken leg).

11. Minnesota State – (5-14-1 WCHA, 9-18-1) The Minnesota State Mavericks split their series with the Bemidji State Beavers (1-2, L, 5-2 W). The Mavericks entertain the Michigan Tech Huskies in Mankato, Minnesota.

12.  Alaska-Anchorage – (3-16-1 WCHA, 6-16-2) The Seawolves were swept (2-4 L, 3-6 L) by the  Denver Pioneers in Anchorage Alaska this past weekend. This weekend the Seawolves entertain Minnesota Duluth. Anchorage has lost seven games in a row and has not won since December 9, 2011.