Goon's Takeaways: UND beats, Alaska 6-4

Entering Friday's non-conference game against the University of Alaska, the University of North Dakota hockey changed their lines around to get more offense production out of their lineup. The new line combinations appeared to add a spark.

UND also started freshman goalie Hobie Hedquist after their starting goalie, Ludvig Persson, came down with an illness. Hedquist stopped 23 of 27 shots and recorded his first collegiate win. 

"I found out in our morning meetings that Luds (Ludvig Persson) was around the rink, and he ended up being too sick," Hedquist said. "Karl Goehring (KG) called me over and said that I'd be going in tonight."

UND didn't start out as quickly as they would've liked. The Hawks ended the first period down 1-0. UND took over in the second period, scoring five goals (Owen McLaughlin X2, Riese Gaber, Cameron Berg, and Louis Jamernik) and chased Nanooks goalie Pierce Charleson from the game. That was the most goals UND had scored in a single period since UND scored five goals in the third period on Oct. 12, 2019, vs. Canisius. 

"First period, not how we have to play," UND head coach Brad Berry said. "I got to commend the way they played. We knew through video and watching how they play. They are an older team. Everybody's over 20 years old; they look like it. They play like men. They played a hard, heavy game early, and our puck management wasn't the greatest. We didn't give ourselves a chance consistently to play in their end of the rink. We did a better job of that in the second period of playing more direct and more simple."

On Friday night, UND's power play cashed in twice on six power play chances. 

Sophomore forward Owen McLaughlin is heating up; he notched his fourth game with three points this season. McLaughlin now is tied for second in points with junior forward Cameron Berg. Finally, McLaughlin has five multi-point games. 

UND has gone 12 straight games without losing in regulation; their last regulation loss was on November 3, 2023, at Boston University. 

Tonight, senior forward Riese Gaber broke a three-game scoreless streak when he scored two goals against the Nanooks. It was the first time since November 18, 2023, Gaber had scored two goals in a game. Gaber now has five multi-point games. 

Goon's Takeaways: UND Sweeps BSU 5-0

On Saturday night, the University of North Dakota hockey team beat the Bemidji State Beavers 5-0 to win their seventh game in a row. They also completed their third sweep in a row to improve to 11-2-1 (.821), (4-0-0 NCHC). Next weekend, the Fighting Hawks travel to Denver to take on the Pioneers. 

Barring any unforeseen events, UND will remain the No. 1 ranked team in the nation. Not that it matters. While it's probably too early, UND is ranked 6th in the Pairwise Rankings. No, I will not be doing any silly Bracketology posts. UND has played 10 non-conference games this season and has a 7-2-1 (.750) record. 

Sophomore forward Dane Montgomery scored his first goal of the year. Assists Griffin Ness and Bennett Zmolek. That was Montgomery's second career goal and first one at Ralph Engelstad Arena. On the lineup sheet, Montgomery was listed as the extra forward, but he ended up playing instead of freshman forward Michael Emerson.

First in the Ralph for Dane! #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/QeqEtzv6H0

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 26, 2023

Ludvig Persson was fantastic in the net and made this beautiful save in the first period. Perrson would end the night with a 29-save shutout, his third of the season. Perrson is 11-2-1 with a 1.85 GAA and a .924 save percentage. Persson's three shutouts are tied with Dominic Basse and Freddie Halyk.  

Ludvig with the quick moves!#UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/9c5Kddq9bO

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 26, 2023

At the 5:13 mark of the second period, UND would finally score on the power play with this goal by Jackson Blake. Assists Jake Livanavage and Cameron Berg. That was Blake's 10th goal of the season. 

The banks are open late on Saturday in Grand Forks!#UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/ZShLbeyVHB

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 26, 2023

UND forward Ben Strinden would score an unassisted goal to give UND a 3-0 lead.

Pretty pretty for Ben Strindy! #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/2fqs3KJcs3

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 26, 2023

One minute later, Jackson Kunz would score his first goal of the season to give UND a 4-0 lead. Assists Logan Britt, Ludvig Persson. That was Persson's first point of his collegiate career.

Kunz rips home his own rebound!#UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/MuLSfNStDv

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 26, 2023

Defenseman Garrett Pyke would score his first goal in a UND uniform assists Riese Gaber, and Jackson Blake. 

Pyke with his first in the green and white!#UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/97Quzlkenl

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 26, 2023

• Jackson Blake has made a huge impact in his short time at UND. In 52 games, he's scored (25g-33a--58pts), and he's also a plus-seven. Seven of his 25 goals have been scored on the power play. 
• Blake has five multi-point games that leads UND. Riese Gaber has four. 
• Gaber (7g-6a--13pts) was held to one point on the weekend. 
• UND has a record of 37-5-7 all-time against Bemidji State., The Hawks are 26-3-4 against the Beavers in Grand Forks. 
• UND has won seven straight games for the first time since 2021-22. This is also the best start for UND since the 2019-20 season. 

Goon's Takeaways; Game One: UND Beats BSU 3-2 in OT

The University of North Dakota hockey team kicked off their Thanksgiving weekend with a non-conference tilt with the Bemidji State University Beavers. 

Statistically, entering the weekend, this looked like a series that could be very one-sided. BSU entered Friday's game with the worst penalty kill in college hockey at 65.8 percent. The Beavers goaltending had also played poorly during the first 12 games of the season as they entered the game with the worst save percentage in college hockey. 

 Looking at the stats, you would think the UND hockey team would be licking their lips with the prospect of filling the Beaver goal with pucks. Through two periods, the game played out differently. 

None of this mattered; hockey is played on the ice and not on paper. The Hawks came out of the gates a step slow, looking like they were feeling the effects of a big Thanksgiving hangover. The Beavers beat them to pucks and kept them on their heels. 

Forward Kasper Magnussen gave the Beavers a quick 1-0 lead 1:19 into the first period. Assist Lleyton Roed and Carter Jones.

Kasper Magnussen puts @BSUBeaversMHKY up 1-0 on No. 1 UND!

📺: https://t.co/FUbYbgZoLj #CCHAHockey | #BeaverTerritory pic.twitter.com/ezA6OFHfAw

— CCHA (@CCHAHockey) November 25, 2023

Forward Jackson Jutting would score the Beavers second goal at the 17:30 mark of the first period to give them a 2-0 lead.

Jackson Jutting makes it 2-0 @BSUBeaversMHKY in Grand Forks!

📺: https://t.co/FUbYbgZoLj #CCHAHockey | #BeaverTerritory pic.twitter.com/7u8DOpoWQR

— CCHA (@CCHAHockey) November 25, 2023

Cameron Berg would score UND's first goal of the game with a goal at the 18:05 mark of the first period. 2-1 Beavers.

Good ping. #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/suOyI7xarK

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 25, 2023

Berg would score his second goal of the year to tie the game at 2-2. Berg took a pass from Hunter Johanness and shot from above the right faceoff circle. With his two goals, Berg doubled his season goal total. He now has four goals on the season.

🍔🍔#UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/1I5eCUt4n9

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 25, 2023

Jackson Blake scores the game-winning goal 50 seconds into Overtime to give UND a 3-2 win. Assists Jake Livanavage and Owen McLaughlin. UND has played in three overtime games and has a 2-0-1 record. Blake has scored both of UND's game-winning goals. Both overtimes combined lasted a minute and 10 seconds.

Not bad, not bad at all. #UNDproud | #LGH pic.twitter.com/z6E7786yw3

— North Dakota Hockey (@UNDmhockey) November 25, 2023

Video evidence confirms that the game-winning goal was offside. BSU didn't challenge the play. With the win, UND improved to 10-2-1 (.807), with the loss, BSU dropped to 5-8-0.

Why not challenge? pic.twitter.com/C3WOrWakP2

— Beaver Territory 🦫 (@BeavTerritory) November 25, 2023

My NCAA Bracket

Mine looks the same every year so, go ahead and post your picks as well.

Related articles

• The Brackets are set, UND going to Grand Rapids (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Video of the Minnesota vs. Notre Dame highlights

Here are the highlights of tonight's game between the number one ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers and the number two ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It's a good win for the Minnesota Gophers because it's bumps their Pairwise ranking up. It's also the fifth win in the last six games for the Minnesota Gophers.

Updated College Hockey TV schedule

Originally posted at The Hockey Writers – Combine…

If you have been scanning twitter and the various NHL webpages on the Internet you will realized that the NHL owners and NHL Players Association are nowhere near signing a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.  It’s almost as if the NHL is bound and determined to ruin the NHL in North America for good as they march towards this bizarre form of fratricide.

The two sides look like a bunch of spoiled five year olds fighting over a toy at daycare.
According to Michael Russo of the Star Tribune, the NHL is going to announce today that the league will be cancelling the entire schedule in November.

You see where this is going? The entire season hangs in the balance and is in jeopardy if the two sides don’t get back to the negotiating table.

I love the NHL and I spend hours every winter watching the greatest game on the planet, but as this lockout continues, I have become so disgruntled with the current state of affairs in the NHL, that I have almost stopped entirely looking at my favorite NHL pages. Recently, I have stuck mostly to amateur hockey leagues like the USHL, NAHL, CHL and NCAA hockey webpages.

So now that we have discussed the depressing subject that is the NHL = No Hockey League, you can settle in tonight and watch some college hockey and here is the updated schedule of college hockey games.
You can check your local listing but FCS is on the following DirecTV channels 617, 623, 626. As of right now, Dish Network does not include Fox College Sports. Games with a (C) are also available in Canada.

Fri.	Oct. 26		Anchorage at UND	FSC/Midco	7:37pm	623
Sat.	Oct. 27		Anchorage at UND	FCS/Midco	7:07pm	626
Sun.	Oct. 28		Canisius at Minnesota	FS North	2 p.m.	668/436
Fri.	Nov. 2		BU at UND	FCS/Midco/NESN	7:37pm	TBD/686/434
Fri.	Nov. 2		Minnesota State at Minnesota	FS North	8 p.m.	668 / 436
Sat.	Nov. 3		BU at UND	FCS/Midco/NESN	7:07pm	TBD/628/434
Sat.	Nov. 3		Minnesota at Minnesota State	FS North +	8 p.m.	TBD
Fri.	Nov. 9		Boston University at Merrimack	FOX College	7:30 p.m.	TBD
Thu.	Nov. 15		Notre Dame at Michigan	CBS Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Nov. 15		UMD at UND	FCS/Midco	7:37pm	TBD
Fri	Nov. 16		UMD at UND	FCS/Midco	7:07pm	TBD
Fri.	Nov. 16		Harvard at Cornell	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 pm	603 / 159
Fri.	Nov. 16		Wisconsin at Minnesota	FS North +	8 p.m.	TBD
Fri.	Nov. 16		Denver at Colorado College	Altitude	9:30 p.m.	681 / 410
Sat.	Nov. 17		Colorado College at Denver	ROOT Sports	9 p.m.	683 / 414
Sat.	Nov. 17		Wisconsin at Minnesota	BTN	9 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Fri.	Nov. 23		Minnesota at Vermont	FS North +	7 p.m.	TBD
Fri.	Nov. 23		Colgate at Merrimack	FOX College	7:30 p.m.	TBD
Sat.	Nov. 24		Minnesota at Vermont	FS North	7 p.m.	668 / 436
Fri.	Nov. 30		Boston College at Boston University	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 pm	603 / 159
Fri.	Nov. 30		Ohio State at Michigan State	BTN	8 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Fri.	Nov. 30		Vermont at Maine	CBS Sports Net.	8 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Nov. 30		Nebraska-Omaha at Minnesota	FS North +	8 p.m.	TBD
Sat.	Dec. 1		Boston University at Boston College	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Sat.	Dec. 1		Nebraska-Omaha at Minnesota	FS North +	8 p.m.	TBD
Fri.	Dec. 1		Denver University at UND	FCS/Midco	7:37pm	TBD
Fri.	Dec. 7		Michigan State at Notre Dame	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Fri.	Dec. 7		Harvard at Merrimack	FOX College	7:30 p.m.	TBD
Fri.	Dec 8		Denver University at UND	FCS/MIDCO	7:07pm	TBD
Fri.	Dec. 7		Minnesota at Colorado College	FS North +	9:30 p.m.	TBD
Sat.	Dec. 8		Maine at Boston University	CBS Sports Net.	8 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Sat.	Dec. 8		Minnesota at Colorado College	FS North +	9 p.m.	TBD
Fri.	Dec. 14		Miami at Ohio State	BTN	7 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Fri.	Dec. 14		Western Michigan at Michigan	CBS Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Thu.	Dec. 27		Michigan State vs. Western Michigan	FS Detroit	3:30 p.m.	663 / 430
Thu.	Dec. 27		Michigan vs. Michigan Tech	FS Detroit	7:30 p.m.	663 / 430
Fri.	Dec. 28		GLI Third-Place Game	FS Detroit	3:30 p.m.	663 / 430
Fri.	Dec. 28		GLI Championship Game	FS Detroit	7:30 p.m.	663 / 430
Sat.	Dec. 29		Air Force at Minnesota	FS North +	TBD	TBD
Sat.	Dec. 29		Boston University at Denver	ROOT Sports	9 p.m.	683 / 414
Sat.	Dec. 30		Boston College at Minnesota	FS North +	TBD	TBD
Fr.	Jan. 4		Holy Cross at UND	FCS/Midco	7:37pm	TBD
Fri.	Jan. 4		Colorado College at Nebraska-Omaha	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Fri.	Jan. 4		Robert Morris at Army	CBS Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Jan. 4		Cornell at Denver	ROOT Sports	9:30 p.m.	683 / 414
Sat.	Jan. 5		Holy Cross at UND	FCS/Midco	7:07	TBD
Sat.	Jan. 5		Merrimack at Vermont	CBS Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Tue.	Jan. 8		Bowling Green at Michigan	BTN	7:30 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Tue.	Jan. 8		Notre Dame at Minnesota	FS North +	8 p.m.	TBD
Fri.	Jan. 11		Colorado College at UND	FCS/Midco	7:37pm	TBD
Fri.	Jan. 11		New Hampshire at Boston College	NESN	7 p.m.	628 / 434
Fri.	Jan. 11		Union at Princeton	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Fri.	Jan. 11		Alaska Anchorage at Minnesota	BTN	9 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Fri.	Jan. 11		Nebraska-Omaha at Denver	NBC Sports Net.	10 p.m.	603 / 159
Sat.	Jan. 12		Army at Air Force	CBS Sports Net.	6 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Sat.	Jan. 12		Colorado College at UND	FCS/Midco	7:07pm	TBD
Sat.	Jan. 12		Alaska at Michigan	FS Detroit +	7:30 p.m.	664 / TBD
Sat.	Jan. 12		Alaska Anchorage at Minnesota	FS North	8 p.m.	668 / 436
Sat.	Jan. 12		Nebraska-Omaha at Denver	ROOT Sports	9 p.m.	683 / 414
Fri.	Jan. 18		Northeastern at Boston University	NESN	7 p.m.	628 / 434
Fri.	Jan. 18		Harvard at Yale	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Fri.	Jan. 18		Ferris State at Michigan State	FS Detroit	7:30 p.m.	663 / 430
Fri.	Jan. 18		North Dakota at Minnesota	FS North	8 p.m.	668 / 436
Sat.	Jan. 19		North Dakota at Minnesota	FS North	6 p.m.	668 / 436
Sat.	Jan. 19		Alaska at Notre Dame	CBS Sports Net	7 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Jan. 25		Maine at Boston College	NESN	7 p.m.	628 / 434
Fri.	Jan. 25		Yale at Cornell	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Fri.	Jan. 25		Ferris State at Notre Dame	CBS Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Jan. 25		Saint Cloud State at UND	FCS/Midco	7:07pm	TBD
Fri.	Jan. 25		Minnesota State at Minnesota	BTN	8 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Sat.	Jan. 26		Penn State at Michigan State	BTN	6 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Sat.	Jan. 26		Saint Cloud State at UND	FCS/Midco	7:07pm	TBD
Sat.	Jan. 26		Providence at Boston University	NESN	7 p.m.	628 / 434
Sat.	Jan. 26		Michigan at Western Michigan	FS Detroit	7:30 p.m.	663 / 430
Sat.	Jan. 26		Minnesota at Minnesota State	FS North	8 p.m.	668 / 436
Fri.	Feb. 1		Michigan State at Michigan	BTN	6:30 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Fri.	Feb. 1		UMass Lowell at Merrimack	NESN	7 p.m.	628 / 434
Fri.	Feb. 1		University of Wisconsin at UND	FCS/Midco	7:07pm	TBD
Fri.	Feb. 1		Dartmouth at Union	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Sat.	Feb. 2		Michigan vs. Michigan State (JLA)	FS Detroit	4 p.m.	663 / 430
Sat.	Feb. 2		University of Wisconsin at UND	FCS/Midco	7:07pm	TBD
Fri.	Feb. 8		North Dakota at Nebraska-Omaha	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Fri.	Feb. 8		Michigan at Notre Dame	CBS Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Feb. 8		Minnesota at St. Cloud State	FS North +	8:30 p.m.	TBD
Fri.	Feb. 8		Colorado College at Denver	ROOT Sports	9:30 p.m.	683 / 414
Sat.	Feb. 9		Massachusetts at Merrimack	NESN	3:30 p.m.	628 / 434
Sat.	Feb. 9		Minnesota at St. Cloud State	FS North +	8 p.m.	TBD
Sun.	Feb. 10		Providence at New Hampshire	CBS Sports Net.	4 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Feb. 15		Northern Michigan at Michigan State	BTN	6:30 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Fri.	Feb. 15		Boston University at Maine	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Fri.	Feb. 15		Notre Dame at Miami	CBS Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Feb. 15		Minnesota at Wisconsin	FS North	8 p.m.	668 / 436
Sat.	Feb. 16		Bowling Green at Ferris State	FS Detroit	5 p.m.	663 / 430
Sat.	Feb. 16		Boston University at Maine	NESN	7 p.m.	628 / 434
Sat.	Feb. 16		Northern Michigan at Michigan State	FS Detroit	7:30 p.m.	663 / 430
Sun.	Feb. 17		Minnesota vs. Wisconsin (Soldier Field)	BTN	4:30 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Sun.	Feb. 17		Notre Dame vs. Miami (Soldier Field)	FS Detroit	TBD	663 / 430
Fri.	Feb. 22		New Hampshire at Vermont	NESN	7 p.m.	628 / 434
Fri.	Feb. 22		Yale at Quinnipiac	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Fri.	Feb. 22		Notre Dame at Western Michigan	CBS Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Feb. 22		Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota	FS North +	8 p.m.	TBD
Fri.	Feb. 22		North Dakota at Denver	NBC Sports Net.	10 p.m.	603 / 159
Sat.	Feb. 23		New Hampshire at Vermont	CBS Sports Net.	4 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Sat.	Feb. 23		Minnesota Duluth at Minnesota	BTN	8 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Sat.	Feb. 23		North Dakota at Denver	ROOT Sports	9 p.m.	683 / 414
Sun.	Feb. 24		Boston College at Merrimack	CBS Sports Net.	4 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Mar. 1		Wisconsin at Nebraska-Omaha	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Fri.	Mar. 1		Ferris State at Michigan	CBS Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Mar. 1		Bemidji State at UND	FCS/Midco	7:37pm	TBD
Fri.	Mar. 1		Denver at Minnesota	BTN	8 p.m.	610 / 439 (C)
Sat.	Mar. 2		Hockey East Game TBD	NESN	4 p.m.	628 / 434
Sat.	Mar. 2		Bemidji State at UND	FCS/Midco	7:07pm
Sat.	Mar. 2		Ferris State at Michigan	FS Detroit	7:30 p.m.	663 / 430
Sat.	Mar. 2		Denver at Minnesota	FS North	8 p.m.	668 / 436
Sun.	Mar. 3		UMass Lowell at Merrimack	CBS Sports Net.	4 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Mar. 8		Maine at New Hampshire	NBC Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	603 / 159
Fri.	Mar. 8		Boston University at Northeastern	CBS Sports Net.	7:30 p.m.	613 / 158 (C)
Fri.	Mar. 8		Massachusetts at Merrimack	FOX College	7:30 p.m.	TBD
Fri.	Mar. 8		Minnesota at Bemidji State	FS North	8:30 p.m.	668 / 436
Sat.	Mar. 9		Minnesota at Bemidji State	FS North +	8 p.m.	TBD
Fri.	Mar 15		TBD vs UND	FCS/Midco	7:37pm	TBD
Fri.	Mar. 15		Hockey East Quarterfinal	NBC Sports Net.	7 p.m.	603 / 159
Fri.	Mar. 15		CCHA Second Round	FS Detroit	7 p.m.	663 / 430
Sat.	Mar. 15		TBD vs. UND	FCS/Midco	7:07pm	TBD
Sat.	Mar. 16		Hockey East Quarterfinal	NESN	4 p.m.	628 / 434
Sun.	Mar. 17		Hockey East Quarterfinal	NESN	4:30 p.m.	628 / 434
Thu.	Mar. 21		WCHA Final Five	FSN	2:00/7:07	668/ 436
Thu.	Mar. 22		WCHA Final Five	FSN	2:00/7:07	668/ 436
Fri.	Mar. 22		Hockey East Semifinal	NBC Sports Net.	4 p.m.
Fri.	Mar. 22		Hockey East Semifinal	NBC Sports Net.	7 p.m.	603 / 159
Sat.	Mar. 23		CCHA Semifinal	FS Detroit	1 p.m.	603 / 159
Sat.	Mar. 23		CCHA Semifinal	FS Detroit	4:30 p.m.	663 / 430
Sat.	Mar. 23		Hockey East Championship	NBC Sports Net.	7 p.m.	663 / 430
Sat.	Mar. 23		WCHA Final Five	FSN	7:00pm	668/ 436
Sun.	Mar. 24		CCHA Championship	FS Detroit	2 p.m.	603 / 159
Sun.	Mar. 24		NCAA Selection Show	ESPNU	9 p.m.	663 / 430
			NCAA Regional Coverage	ESPNU	TBD	208 / 141
Thu.	Apr. 11		NCAA Semifinal	TBD	4:30 p.m.	208 / 141
Thu.	Apr. 11		NCAA Semifinal	TBD	8 p.m.
Sat.	Apr. 13		NCAA Championship	TBD	7 p.m.

NHL prospects represented by many current and former College Hockey players

Originally posted at The Hockey Writers - Combine

As most of us know, the NHL players have been locked out by the NHL owners effective on September 15^th, 2012 – when this lockout ends is anyone’s guess – the prospects of the two sides coming to a quick settlement doesn’t look very good. From everything that I have been reading during the past week does  suggests fans shouldn’t expect any NHL hockey games during the months of October and November and we probably won’t have any games until sometime in  December.

So while the NHL and the NHLPA try to settle their differences – NHL hockey fans are going to have to look for other hockey options.  Much like the 2004-05 lockout that cost us a whole season, hockey fans are going to have a lot of extra free time on their hands that they used to fill by watching NHL Hockey. Personally, I watch at least 3-6 NHL hockey games on NHL Center Ice during the regular season – when my favorite college hockey team is in town during the weekend, I spend those nights at the local hockey arena watching college hockey. Obviously, there are other NHL hockey fans that watch even more NHL hockey than that. That being said, there is going to fill a void that has been caused by the lockout, obviously there won’t be as much watchable hockey on TV.

There are many options when it comes to filling the hockey void left by the NHL lockout – hockey fans in the States can watch NCAA Division I Hockey on the various regional sports networks and or watch games in person at a stadium near you.

The NCAA is filled with many top players that have been drafted by NHL teams  and quite a few of them currently play in the NHL.  Corey Pronman from the Hockey prospectus has ranked the top 100 NHL Prospects and I have posted the players from the list that have played college hockey or are currently playing Division I college hockey.

Looking at the list that Pronman has compiled, you might notice a few familiar names, but also a few familiar universities as well. There might have been a few names that I have omitted and I apologize ahead of time if I have.

 12. Justin Schultz, Defense, Edmonton Oilers – Wisconsin
14. Brendan Smith, Defense, Detroit Red Wings – Wisconsin
21. Jaden Schwartz, Left Wing, St. Louis Blues – Colorado College
24. Nick Bjugstad, Center, Florida Panthers – Minnesota Gophers
26. Gustav Nyquist, Right Wing, Detroit Red Wings – Maine
32. Chris Kreider, Left Wing, New York Rangers – Boston College
36. Rocco Grimaldi, Center, Florida Panthers – North Dakota
37. Jon Merrill, Defense, New Jersey Devils – Michigan
42. Jacob Trouba, Defense, Winnipeg Jets – Michigan
47. Kyle Palmieri, Right Wing, Anaheim Ducks – Notre Dame
48. Charlie Coyle, Center, Minnesota Wild – Boston University
50. Brandon Pirri, Center, Chicago Blackhawks - RPI
56. Joe Colborne, Center, Toronto Maple Leafs – Denver University
58. Brian Dumoulin, Defense, Pittsburgh Penguins - Boston College
61. Torey Krug, Defense, Boston Bruins – Michigan State
67. Brock Nelson, Center, New York Islanders – North Dakota
69. Corban Knight, Right Wing, Florida Panthers – North Dakota
71. Reilly Smith, Right Wing, Dallas Stars - Miami
72. Matt Donovan, Defense, New York Islanders – Denver University
79. Cory Conacher, Left Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning - Canisius
81. Drew Shore, Center, Florida Panthers – Denver University
82. Beau Bennett, Right Wing, Pittsburgh Penguins – Denver University
83. J.T. Brown, Right Wing, Tampa Bay Lightning – Minnesota Duluth
85. Derek Forbort, Defense Los Angeles Kings – North Dakota
86. Scott Mayfield, Defense, New York Islanders – Denver University
94. John Gaudreau, Left Wing, Calgary Flames – Boston College
98. T.J. Tynan, Center, Columbus Blue Jackets – Notre Dame

Related articles

• NHL Fans Do Have Other Options (insidehockey.com)
• NHL Hockey fans, you have options (thehockeywriters.com)
• You have options during an NHL Lockout (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• The NHL Lockout: An Alternative View (insidehockey.com)

Mike Chambers on the new "Super League"

Mike Chambers of the Denver Post has his take on the formation of the new Super League (CHSL). As always Chambers has an interesting take that’s just a little different than the other beat writers from around the league.

Mike Chamber; Denver Post ---- “There is no secret that many institutions, including ours, are looking at the intercollegiate hockey landscape and considering different options and opportunities for the future. It is our intent to continue to be a strong and proud partner with the other members of the WCHA while this process continues. The future of our program and the competitive alternatives for student-athletes attending our school in the future are decisions that need to be investigated, and weighed, and discussed.”

I wrote last winter that DU, CC and North Dakota, among others, should quit complaining about the UM and UW departures and recruit Notre Dame and Miami to the WCHA. The aforementioned stories in the Herald and elsewhere basically said the same thing, although I was surprised to see that a “new” conference would be a start-up league, not a “new-look” WCHA.

Hey, I’m all for an eight-team league that features DU, CC, UND, Notre Dame, Miami, Nebraska-Omaha, Minnesota-Duluth and Western Michigan … but why not keep it under the WCHA banner? If they do go to a start-up league, would St. Cloud State, Minnesota State, Bemidji State, Alaska-Anchorage and Michigan Tech just move to the CCHA, or if they remained in the “skinned” WCHA, who would join to make it a necessary six-team league?

Regardless, any league with DU, CC, UND, ND, Miami, UNO and UMD would be an excellent loop and make a fine non-conference scheduling partner with the Big Ten. Private schools DU and CC would UNDOUBTEDLY LOVE to be a hockey partner with Notre Dame, arguably the most recognized private school in the country.

Yikes!!! I think this is a scarey time in college hockey and there is a lot of uncertainty, like I told a friend of mine today, this makes my chest hurt. I don't think anyone really knows how this is going to play out. I do understand why these 6-8 schools are starting a "Super Conference" and I think that they are trying to do what is best for their universities

Fred Pletsch hired as CCHA commissioner

The CCHA now has a new commissioner to replace Tom Anastos who was hired as the head coach of Michigan State.

USCHO.COM ---- CCHA schools have picked Fred Pletsch to lead the conference through a key period in its history.

Pletsch, who has been serving as interim commissioner since March 23 after Tom Anastos became Michigan State’s coach, had the interim tag removed from the title on Monday.

He joined the league in 2001 as director of communications, then became associate commissioner in 2008.

The CCHA lost Nebraska-Omaha to the WCHA in 2010 and will lose three more members — Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State — when the Big Ten Conference starts sponsoring men’s hockey in 2013.

“Fred steps into the commissioner’s role at an important time for the CCHA,” Greg Christopher, chair of the CCHA Council and athletic director at Bowling Green, said in a statement.

“He has been integrally involved in the direction of the conference for nearly a decade, and understands the details of the position along with the broader vision necessary to lead the CCHA. All 11 institutions have confidence in Fred and believe that he is the right person to help us navigate the future.”

The vote was taken last week at league meetings in Naples, Fla.

The hiring of Anastos is an interesting turn of events

I have been reading this story all day and into the night and my Bravo Sierra detector is in full force... The more I read this story the more it doesn't smell right. Who the hell hires a league commissioner to coach a high profile division one college hockey program? Especially, when the coach hasn't coached a hockey game in 20 years? This hiring makes no sense what-so-ever. I would think the game has changed in the last twenty years as well.

USCHO.COM --- In the press conference Wednesday announcing his hiring, Anastos said it himself: “It’s not every day a commissioner’s hired to come coach a team.”

I’d take that one step further. It’s not every day that someone whose last college coaching experience was nearly 20 years ago is hired as a head coach at a high-profile university.

That’s one question I have. Why did Michigan State choose someone with no recent direct college hockey coaching experience?

MSU athletic director Mark Hollis took everyone through his hiring process at the press conference. “I’ve had the opportunity to meet with so many people — people from the hockey world, people from the athletic world, and people from the business world, talking about what it takes to be a great leader, what it takes to be a great coach, and frankly what it takes to be a great Spartan. Through it all we started with 20-plus names.”

Twenty? Really?

“In the end,” said Hollis, “Tom Anastos jumped to the forefront on all the characteristics I believe take a true leader. I think when I step back and I look, any time I hire a coach I step back and look at my three children, and I think, ‘Who would I entrust my three children with to be a mentor?’ And that was a big factor in hiring Tom Anastos.”

Okay.

“I believe that we have to create a culture here,” said Hollis, “where folks in the NHL — scouts, general managers — believe that we’re giving our kids everything possible to train, develop not only to play in the NHL but for a life beyond, and that’s what Tom Anastos believes in.”

I am on board with this. There’s no question that NCAA hockey needs to compete harder with major junior Canadian hockey for college-eligible players. No question. From what Anastos has said on several occasions, I know that he’s passionate about keeping college-eligible players in college.

Edit; MSU plucks Anastos from the CCHA.

This has turned into a crazy story; apparently MSU went after Tom Anastos and he had no clue they were interested in hiring him as the head coach of the MSU Spartans. Personally, I can see how when this story first broke that some including me would look at this cynically… Look the CCHA isn’t a very attractive league minus Michigan State and Michigan. I could personally care less about tOSU because they have done nothing notable during their college hockey existence. I wouldn't have blamed him if he did in fact bail on the CCHA. I still wonder how the fans over at Save UAH Hockey  feel about this move; are they cheering Tom Anastos leaving the CCHA leadership post?

The State News --- MSU’s new hockey coach will be former Spartan and current CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos.

Anastos said in a release he is excited about returning to MSU.

“The expectations I have for our program will be to compete annually for conference and national championships,” Anastos said. “That was the expectation when I was here as a player and as an assistant coach, and I don’t believe it should be any different in my role as head coach. … I am excited to get started, to hire a staff, and to get myself re-acclimated within the MSU community.”

MSU has been looking for a new coach since Rick Comley announced his retirement on Jan. 25.

MSU Athletics Director Mark Hollis said in a release Anastos brings the passion needed to coach a hockey program like MSU.

“He can attract high-caliber talent and develop those players into those who are attractive to the National Hockey League. He places a premium on education, and the drive and desire to compete for championships,” Hollis said. “Hockey is important in the state of Michigan, and it is also important to Michigan State. We will continue to provide the resources to appropriately support this program, and to best prepare our student-athletes for their personal future … in the NHL and the business world.”

CCHA to Continue Shootouts in League Play

It would be interesting to see what the breakdown of the vote for the shootout was. Personally, I am a fan of the shootout and find them entertaining in the NHL games that I watch. I know there are a lot of college hockey fans and hockey purists that DON’T like the shootout and to many fans it’s a person preference whether they like it or not.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - The Central Collegiate Hockey Association will continue to use shootouts and a three-point system in league play, as determined by a vote at the CCHA Council Meeting in Dearborn, Mich., Aug. 16-17.

In addition, the council voted for the CCHA to begin using standardized media timeouts in all league games and non-conference games hosted by CCHA teams. In 2008 the CCHA became the first Division I men’s ice hockey conference to institute the shootout in league play. For the 2009-10 season, the CCHA adopted a standings format for league play where a team that wins in regulation or overtime receives three points, a team that wins a shootout is awarded two points, a team that loses a shootout gets one point, and a team that loses in regulation or overtime earns no points. This past season 25 CCHA games went to a shootout, with Alaska being the most frequent participant at eight shootouts.

Penn State is good enough for the CCHA but UAH isn't

When I read this bravo sierra it makes my blood boil that the CCHA will let an established team like UAH twist in the wind but will extend an invitation to a team that doesn't even have a program yet. Hey Anastos; how can Penn State who doesn't an arena or an existing program be an attractive choice to the CCHA?

When Central Collegiate Hockey Association officials gather next week in Dearborn for annual meetings, they are expected to discuss the possibility of adding a 12th team to the league.

The target: Penn State.

"They are a very attractive choice -- very attractive," CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos told The Detroit News on Tuesday. "They're in a different market than we're in, more and more U.S. players are on college rosters, and there's tremendous growth of the sport in Pennsylvania."


The CCHA includes Michigan, Michigan State, Ferris State, Lake Superior, Northern Michigan and Western Michigan.

Anastos confirmed Tuesday the CCHA's interest in Penn State less than a week after the Altoona (Pa.) Mirror reported that the school is on the verge of making men's and women's hockey Division I programs. The newspaper attributed the information to a source.

Men's and women's hockey currently are club teams at Penn State.

Anastos said there is no timeline for extending an invitation to Penn State, but confirmed he has exchanged e-mails with Penn State president Graham Spanier on the topic. Anastos also said Penn State officials recently toured hockey facilities at CCHA member schools.

"Obviously there's some interesting dynamics," Anastos said. "Certainly there's some commonality."

Attempts Tuesday to reach Penn State athletic director Tim Curley were unsuccessful. Members of the school's board of trustees have not discussed the issue publicly in meetings. The trustees' next meeting is Sept. 16. [From The Detroit News]

This kind of stuff pisses me off, it's the CCHA commissioner acting like an elitist snob again. So lets make sure that I get this right; UAH not good enough, Penn State no existing program; but Penn State is good enough and an attractive option. I think college hockey owes it to UAH to find a home for the Chargers if an existing league is going to snub a team that needs a home for a team that isn't even on line yet.