INCH Power Rankings & Randomness

1. Boston University
2. Notre Dame
3. Michigan
4. Miami
5. Northeastern
6. Vermont
7. North Dakota
8. Denver
9. Yale
10. Princeton
11. Wisconsin
12. Cornell
13. New Hampshire
14. Minnesota
15. Ohio State
16. Minnesota Duluth
17. Colorado College
18. Boston College
19. St. Cloud State
20. St. Lawrence
Dropped out: Air Force, Niagara
Bubble-licious: Air Force, Dartmouth, RIT, Niagara, UMass Lowell

Analysis
First off happy president's day holiday. I guess I am almost shocked that UMD isn't higher in the INCH power rankings. After being out of the top ten most of the season UND has made it back.

I found this great quote in the Wild beat writer's Russo's Rant this morning some good stuff here.

attended the Gophers-Alaska Anchorage game last night. Just a bad hockey game. I was sitting with Senators GM Bryan Murray and assistant GM Tim Murray in the third, and Tim Murray said (and he said I can print this), “If anybody ever says again that the NHL should go to bigger rinks, come watch a bad college game.”

Of course the rodent fans are going to take issue with Russo but I think the big ice sucks because it takes some of the hitting out of the game and actually slows the game down. On a smaller sheet of ice the game comes at you faster. Go to the DECC and watch a game, the action is ussually fast and furious. I like a lot of other NHL fans think the olympic sheet of ice God awful, thank God the 2010 olympics in Vancover will be at GM place which has NHL ice.

Region of Death III.

Jason Moy has his latest Bracket Prediction up at USCHO.COM and talk about another bracket of death much like the 2006 REA regional, but also the 2007 Denver Regional.

West Regional (Minneapolis)

13 North Dakota vs. 3 Michigan (What, again?)
11 Minnesota-Duluth vs. 5 Northeastern

A look at the numbers.

Here are the national stats for penalty minutes, take a look at the WCHA teams. Well, well, well, look who is number two over all nationally. It isn't the big bad Sioux.

Penalty Minutes:-----------Games---PIM----PIM/G
2 Minnesota------------------24-----518------21.6
4 Minnesota State------------29-----597-----20.6
6 Alaska Anchorage----------24-----478------19.9
7 Wisconsin------------------28-----557------19.9
13 North Dakota-------------30-----571------19.0
17 Minnesota Duluth---------28-----507-----18.1
18 Denver--------------------27-----486------18.0
31 Colorado College----------28-----453-----16.2
32 St. Cloud State------------28-----442-----15.8
45 Michigan Tech------------28-----394-----14.1

This post is in response to a point that Archie brought up with week. It would appear that Doug and the Rug need to check their stats. UND was right the top spot for PIMS nationally last season is down around the middle of the pack for the WCHA this season.

Another example of the brainwash was last weekend druing FSN broadcast. They put up a graphic showing the Top 3 penalized teams in the WCHA and MN and Mankato were just behind Wisconsin for the top 3. Woog then says,"Whoa, wait a minute, i can't believe North Dakota isn't in there, we might have to check those stats again."

Scores from 1-31-2009,

Saturday, January 31, 2009

Atlantic Hockey
Bentley 4 at Army 1
Air Force 2 at Mercyhurst 3 ot
Holy Cross 4 at Connecticut 1
Sacred Heart 1 at Canisius 5

CCHA
Michigan State 2 at Lake Superior 4
Nebraska-Omaha 1 at Ferris State 1 ot: Ferris State Wins
Shootout
Bowling Green 2 at Miami 3
Notre Dame 3 at Michigan 2
Northern Michigan 4 at Western Michigan 3
Ohio State 6 at Alaska 2

CHA
Bemidji State 5 at Robert Morris 1
Niagara 5 at Alabama-Huntsville 5 ot

Analysis
BSU sweeps Bob Morris. Niagara takes 3 of 4 points from Huntsville.

ECAC
Princeton 5 at Brown 1
Colgate 2 at St. Lawrence 4
Union 2 at Dartmouth 2 ot
Quinnipiac 0 at Yale 3
Cornell 0 at Clarkson 0 ot

Hockey East
Merrimack 3 at Providence 5

WCHA
Minnesota-Duluth 1 at Wisconsin 0
Alaska-Anchorage 3 at Denver 2 ot
North Dakota 4 at St. Cloud State 2
Minnesota State 3 at Minnesota 1

Analysis
Except for the Gophers split city in the WCHA this weekend. Props to the UAA Seawolves for knocking off the DU Pioneers.

INCH chat

This is one of the most uneventful INCH chats that I have seen for some time. I don't know what to make out of that? No Red meat.

Mark: Fargo, ND: Alright Jess! Are you ready to jump on the Sioux bandwagon - this is a very balanced team, runnning Four strong lines. Do you now see the Sioux winning the WCHA?

Jess Myers: Absolutely! I just got my green and white boxers back from the dry cleaners and I'm ready for the stretch run! But seriously, I didn't
see the Sioux making this kind of second half rally, which is a failing on my part, because they do so every year. The rapid growth and adjustment to the college game by their talented freshmen has made the biggest difference in the past month. My head says I should pick the Sioux to win the league title based on the way they're playing right now, but something tells me they'll finish just a bit behind Denver. That of course sets up the inevitable rematch in St. Paul in
March.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex (Fargo): What are the chances North Dakota makes the NCAA tourney?

Jess Myers: Right now they look pretty solid for a top four finish in the WCHA, which would make them a near-lock for the field of 16.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avan (Boston): Can you remember a more talented group of defensemen than the one BU has had the luxury of throwing out there every game this season?

Mike Eidelbes: I can remember, if I go all the way back to ... this season. BU has a nice defensive corps, but the Notre Dame group (Kyle Lawson, Ian Cole, Teddy Ruth, Brett Blatchford) is right there with them as is Wisconsin (Jamie McBain, Brendan Smith, Cody Goloubef, Ryan McDonagh, Jake Gardiner). North Dakota's group from last year (Taylor Chorney, Chay Genoway, Rob Bina, Joe Finley, etc.) was a good crew, too.

The Domino's are falling.

Well it's now official. Atlantic Hockey Approves Expansion: Niagara and Robert Morris To Join Affiliate Members Next Season; Full Members in 2010-11. There are now two division one college hockey teams that are without a home, UAH and BSU. It will be interesting to see if both of these two teams end up in the WCHA or will the league poach a team from the CCHA. I would love to see NMU end up in the WCHA then UAH moving to the CCHA. If the WCHA couldn’t get a CCHA team to move I wonder if the WCHA would take both CHA schools.

Jan. 28 — Sources within Atlantic Hockey have confirmed to USCHO.com that Niagara and Robert Morris will join the league as full members beginning with the 2010-2011 season. The schools will be affiliate members of Atlantic Hockey next season, using league officiating crews.

An official announcement from the league detailing the decision will be released within the next few days.

This development will mean the dissolution of College Hockey America, which had been reduced to four teams — Alabama-Huntsville, Bemidji State, Niagara and Robert Morris — after Wayne State dropped hockey last season. The WCHA last week lifted its moratorium on expansion, paving the way for Bemidji State to apply for membership.

Atlantic Hockey had previously voted to increase its scholarship limit from 11 to 12 starting next season. Robert Morris is below that limit, but Niagara has 18 scholarships, the maximum allowed by the NCAA. Niagara will have to eliminate six scholarships by the 2010-2011 season to comply.

What the hell is this?

For those of you that haven't seen it yet. Check out this litte gem from the Denver Post Hockey blogger. This is ridiculous. WTF? OK, I am willing to bet your coach is a great guy but he looked like an absolute buffoon with his antics on Saturday night. Now we are also to believe that it is some how UND's fault? That is really funny.

My thoughts: Gwozdecky is the most mild-mannered coach I know, and in 14 years I’ve only seen his blood boil twice — both times against North Dakota and with referee Todd Anderson blowing the whistle.

See a pattern there? The “Sioux Fighters” and their fans want minor-league entertainment, Anderson is an emotional official who sometimes jaws at players, and Gwozdecky is a class act. At some point those styles clash, big-time, and the mild-mannered coach can’t stomach it. It becomes disgusting, and the coach erupts into what he doesn’t like.

So it's OK to berate an official?

Well the WCHA decided that they will not discipline George Gwozdecky for his unprofessional antics during last Saturday night game. Ok, so I have a question to the league office; did the WCHA just admit that one of their on ice officials has made a mistake by throwing the DU head coach out of the game?

MADISON, Wisc. – The Western Collegiate Hockey Association today (Jan. 26) endorsed the serious tone taken by the University of Denver and acknowledgement of an issue of unsportsmanlike conduct involving head coach George Gwozdecky in a game on January 24 against the University of North Dakota.
“The Association is pleased the University of Denver echoes the WCHA’s concerns regarding unsportsmanlike conduct,” said Bruce M. McLeod, WCHA Commissioner. “We appreciate the rapid response the University took in addressing the issue that occurred on January 24 and now consider this matter closed.”
On it’s official web site, denverpioneers.com, the University of Denver issued the following statement earlier today:

Here is the Whistlers take on the decision.

League office to review incident(s)

The WCHA league office is going look at the video of the Dasher Trolls walk across the ice and the incidents from last Friday's game between the Sioux and Pioneers. If the WCHA is going to start looking at game film to hand out additional penalties and suspensions maybe the league office needs to look inward and start looking more closely to their on ice official's job performance. While Gwozdecky was wrong to show up the officials and walk across the ice and delay the game there is a reason he performed these antics. The fans get it George the officials in the WCHA are sub par and they down right suck. Until the coaches and the league schools complain nothing will change.

While we are looking at film I hope that the league Commish sees the blatant spears by J.P. Testwuide on Sioux forward Chris VandeVelde, that should have been a major penalty.

AWAITING THE JURY: Not that he wouldn't have reviewed the video anyway, but University of Denver's melee against North Dakota on Friday did not go unnoticed by WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod, who watched the fights unfold live on television from the World Arena press box during CC's tie against St. Cloud.

McLeod said any disciplinary action resulting from the episodes, including coach George Gwozdecky's ejection from the game Saturday, wouldn't be determined until he receives a review from Greg Shepherd, the WCHA's supervisor of officials

CCHA investigating incident.

The CCHA is investigating the incident from Saturday night's game. It will be interesting to see how many games Tropp is suspended I think that 2-3 games is about right. Slashing a player while they lay on the ice is unacceptable. Also, I agree with the announcers wanting to fight a guy for a legal hit is bush league and Conboy should get some kind of punishment for his tactics as well.

CCHA investigating incident that landed Michigan hockey player Steve Kampfer in hospital; statement expected this week...
by Kevin Ryan | The Ann Arbor News
Monday January 26, 2009, 11:17 AM
The in-game actions of Michigan State University hockey players Andrew Conboy and Corey Tropp, the two who sucker-punched and slashed Michigan defenseman Steve Kampfer during Saturday's game at Yost Ice Arena, are being reviewed by the Central Collegiate Hockey Assocation, and the league is expected to announce its findings before this weekend's games, associate commissioner Fred Plech said Monday morning.

With 53 seconds remaining in Michigan's 5-3 victory Saturday, Kampfer, a junior, was clothes-lined and sucker-punched from behind by Conboy along the boards. As he lay motionless on the ice, Tropped whacked at Kampfer's neck area with his stick. Moments earlier, Kampfer had knocked Tropp off his feet with what appeared to be a clean open-ice hit.

Tropp was ejected from the game after being assessed a five-minute major penalty for slashing, two 10-minute misconducts and a double game-disqualification, all of which carry a minimum suspension of three games, per CCHA rules. Conboy was given a double minor roughing penalty.

Scores from 1-24-2009

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Atlantic Hockey
Bentley 4 at Sacred Heart 3
Army 2 at Air Force 3
Connecticut 0 at Mercyhurst 6

Analysis
Air Force swept their 2 games series again Army.

CCHA
Michigan State 3 at Michigan 5
Lake Superior 8 at Bowling Green 4
Western Michigan 4 at Ohio State 1
Miami 6 at Nebraska-Omaha 1
Alaska 2 at Northern Michigan 2 ot: NMU wins shootout

Analysis
Michigan sweeps MSU and things got way out of hand last night(video included on top). MSU player Andrew Conboy went Todd Bertuzzi on Steve Kampfer after Kampfer legally checked Corey Tropp. While Kampfer was laying on the ice MSU player/thug Corey Tropp hacked him on the back of the neck with his stick. That folks is my definition of a bush league move. Seriously! Your opponent has been cheap shoted ans is laying on the ice motionless while another player comes and slashes him in the back of the neck. The Michigan State thug Corey Tropp should be gone for the rest of the season, that isn't acceptable in any league.

The blog that Yost Built has a run down of the incident as well as Michigan Victors. The CCHA has to suspend Corey Tropp for a very long time. There will be suspension for both Michigan State players.

CHA
Niagara 1 at Bemidji State 3

Analysis
Beavers and Purples Eagles split this weekend's series.

ECAC
Brown 1 at Cornell 5
Rensselaer 3 at Clarkson 4 ot
Yale 5 at Colgate 4 ot
Union 2 at St. Lawrence 5

Analysis
Clarkson has won 4 games in a row after having a very rough season. Cornell beats Brown, but then everyone has anyways.

Hockey East
Mass.-Lowell 3 at Merrimack 2
Maine 3 at Boston College 6
Massachusetts 1 at Vermont 1 ot
Providence 3 at Northeastern 6
Boston University 3 at New Hampshire 1

Analysis
Since being swept by Vermont, Boston University is 11-1-1, that is a pretty impressive run. Not a good showing by New Hampshire this weekend as they give up 8 goals to the Terrirers and score one.

WCHA
Minnesota State 4 at Minnesota-Duluth 7
St. Cloud State 6 at Colorado College 1
Denver 2 at North Dakota 2 ot
Michigan Tech 3 at Alaska-Anchorage 3 ot

Analysis
Two sister kissings in Anchorage this weekend. Like I told someone MTU is better than their record. The real Huskies play tough and clog up the neutral zone. MSUM is going through a very rough stretch right now they have 3-10-0 record since the December.

Non-Conference
Robert Morris 8 at Quinnipiac 5

Weekend Tilts (Sioux 7)

Last weekend saw the WCHA standings get a little tighter in the top half, with now only 3-points separating 1st from 5th. Depending on this weekends out comes their could be more separation among the top 5 OR some teams might move up on their tales...


WCHA STANDINGS
1 Denver............11-4-1...23
2 Wisconsin.........10-6-2...22
3 Minnesota..........9-4-3...21
4 North Dakota.......9-5-2...20
4 Colorado College...9-7-2...20
6 Minnesota State....7-9-2...16
7 Minnesota-Duluth...5-6-5...15
8 St. Cloud State....7-9-0...14
9 Alaska-Anchorage...5-9-2...12
10 Michigan Tech.....1-14-3...5


Lets take a look at this weekends match ups. We will start from the bottom and work our way up.


Michigan Tech at Alaska-Anchorage
When looking at the standings we have the bottom 2 teams here. A pair of wins UAA puts themselves in a position to make a run at the top 5. A pair of losses by the Huskies and they pretty much secure the bottom rung on the ladder. These teams split their series earlier this season in Houghton. MTU has had some problems scoring goals this season, they have been shut-out in 7-games, while UAA has not been shut-out this year. I don't think either of these teams wants to be last, so I going to call this one a SPLIT.


St. Cloud State at #13 Colorado College
CC has not sweep an opponent since MTU back in October, in the goal department CC has scored 48 goals and given up 51 in league play. SCSU has been more the sweep and get swept type of team this season, they have scored 49 goals and given up 52.
Looking at those numbers and their records, SCSU is just one sweep away from getting both clubs to the .500 mark,. But remember the Huskies have 2-games in hand on CC. The other thing is, SCSU is 2-6-0 on the road and CC is 9-3-2 at home overall. I'm calling this classic cat vs. dog series as a SPLIT.


Minnesota State at #17 Minnesota-Duluth
The Mavericks can't be happy, they are ahead of UMD in the standing, but UMD is ranked and they are not. Duluth has been suprising good at home this year, with a record of 7-1-3. The Mavericks have been a good road team this year, posting a 5-4-3record away from the Alltell Center. Both teams are on the edge of getting into the top 5 for home ice. I don't see either of these teams getting swept this weekend, another SPLIT.


#4 Denver at #15 North Dakota
It has been good start to the second half for the Sioux again, who are 5-0-1 since the start of 2009, and DU is 2-1-1 in that time. DU is averaging 3.65 gf and 2.21 gaa, while UND has 3.46 gf and 2.77 gaa. Those numbers favor DU, but DU is coming off a bye, which might make a difference, also DU is with out one of their top players, Tyler Bozak (knee surgery). I'm thinking this going to be fun to watch these teams battle it out for the top spot in the WCHA. I'm going with the theme of the week, SPLIT.


#6 Minnesota and #16 Wisconsin are off this week.

SIOUX 4 BEAVERS 3

The Fighting Sioux improved to 11-10-1 on the season and evened their non-conference record 5-5 overall with a series sweep of the gritty and tough Bemidji State University Beavers. Every game from here on out is a playoff game, the guys have gotten themselves into a whole and must claw their way out. Even with losing two games last weekend UND is 6-2 in their last 8 games. Taking it further UND is 7-3 in their last 10 games.

Donna from Runnin With the Dogs got me thinking about this series results with a comment she made about last night's game. Sioux fans; we can't just expect our team to go into the Glas or the REA and blow out the BSU Beavers, our team has to earn it. The Beavers are a good team and they play with emotion and grit. The Beavers are a direct reflection of the coach standing behind their bench. Bemidji should be commended and congratulated on their play this weekend.

Sioux return to WCHA this weekend

This weekend the Fighting Sioux return to league play as they face off against their hated rival the “Dirty Minnesota Golden Gophers”. The Sioux have are currently sitting in 6th place of the league standings and have an unimpressive record of 6-5-1. The Sioux are almost at the half way point; they have 16 games remaining of their WCHA conference schedule. There are eight games at home and eight games on the road. The time to make a move is now.

Another blown call?

I went home after the game to review the goal that was waved off and it appears that the refs blew another call. While Genoway was in the crease he was pushed in the crease by the BSU defender and the goal was incorrectly called off. Sioux7 asked if the WCHA league office still has their forum letter typed up from last season? That is the second legitimate goal that UND has had waived off at home this season.

Bits and pieces

It is no secret that Fighting Sioux forward Ryan Duncan is struggling this season. Dunc has 1 assist in the last 6 games. The Sioux need to have their top forwards clicking going into the last half of the season. While some would say, "see I told you he was overrated". Response to those people is that you don't get to play of top lines and win the Hobey Baker if your a hack. Ryan Ducan is a skilled forward with good offensive skills that will find his way again soon. Mark my words. I thinking that there is no time like the present to break out of the slump.

Positives

The following players have impressed me this season with their play game in game out: Jason Gregoire (5-7-12), Brett Hextall (8-5-13), Matt Frattin (8-5-13), Chay Genoway (2-19-21), Brad Miller (4-17-21). I look for these players to make a bigger contribution the second half of the season.

I told someone that Brad Malone has made some great strides this season. In the face off circle and on the penalty kill Brad Malone has played solid defensive hockey. Malone is also starting to contribute on the score sheet as well.

Vandy breaks out

Fighting Sioux junior forward Chris VandeVelde (7-9-16) aka VV has had what I would call a hot and cold season so far. After this weekend it would appear that Vandy is starting to heat up at the right time as Chris scored three goals and one assist on the weekend. After watching the winning goal I honestly thought that VandeVelde has redirected the puck into the net but they gave the goal to Hextall.

BOX SCORE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BMJ 1 - 0 6x6 Brad Hunt (4) (Tyler Scofield, Matt Read) 0:27
BMJ (+): 29,13,19,17,7,G35 NDK (-): 19,29,2,5,21,G31
BMJ 2 - 0 6x6 Matt Francis (5) (Matt Read) 5:07
BMJ (+): 13,19,17,9,5,G35 NDK (-): 26,18,25,6,22,G31
BMJ-1 Jamie MacQueen (2-Slashing) NDK 1x1 6:05
NDK 1 - 2 6x5 PP Chris VandeVelde (6) (Brad Miller, Jake Marto) 6:54
NDK: 29,14,25,16,26,G31 BMJ: 17,5,23,9,G35
BMJ-2 Darcy Findlay (2-Tripping) NDK 1x2 11:00
BMJ-3 Chris Peluso (2-Tripping) NDK 1x3 11:37
BMJ-4 Travis Winter (2-Holding the Stick) 13:00
NDK-1 Matt Frattin (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) 13:00
NDK-2 Jason Gregoire (2-High-Sticking) BMJ 0x1 17:31

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BMJ-5 Darcy Findlay (2-Interference) NDK 1x4 3:52
NDK-3 Brad Miller (2-Interference) BMJ 0x2 4:36
NDK-4 Darcy Zajac (2-Interference) BMJ 0x3 11:47
NDK 2 - 2 6x6 Chris VandeVelde (7) (Darcy Zajac, Matt Watkins) 14:28
NDK (+): 29,11,20,25,24,G31 BMJ (-): 19,17,13,9,5,G35
BMJ-6 Brandon Marino (2-Boarding) NDK 1x5 15:39
NDK-5 Matt Frattin (2-High-Sticking) BMJ 0x4 18:52

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

BMJ-7 Chris McKelvie (2-Interference) NDK 1x6 6:12
NDK-6 Joe Finley (2-Tripping) BMJ 1x5 8:56
NDK 3 - 2 5x6 SH Jason Gregoire (5) (Chay Genoway) 9:55
NDK (+): 17,5,16,6,G31 BMJ (-): 21,22,8,9,29,G35
BMJ 3 - 3 6x5 PP Tyler Scofield (8) (Chris Peluso, Cody Bostock) 10:44
BMJ: 13,9,19,7,17,G35 NDK: 17,16,3,25,G31
BMJ-8 Brad Hunt (2-Checking from Behind) NDK 2x7 19:01

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overtime (0:31)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK 4 - 3 6x5 PP GW LL Brett Hextall (8) (Brad Miller, Chay Genoway) 0:31
NDK: 26,14,5,29,16,G31 BMJ: 21,13,5,9,G35
BMJ-9 Graham McManamin (2-Roughing) 0:31
BMJ-10 Graham McManamin (2-Roughing) 0:31
BMJ-11 Graham McManamin (10-Misconduct) 0:31
NDK-7 Matt Watkins (2-Roughing) 0:31
NDK-8 Matt Watkins (2-Roughing) 0:31
NDK-9 Matt Watkins (10-Misconduct) 0:31

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game

UND GLI game on Webcast.

According to the FightingSioux.com the game between MSU and UND will be on Webcast. If the Sioux beat MSU the championship game will be on FCS Atlantic. For 9.99 a month you can subscribe to the premium version and get the games on video. I watched the Harvard and SCSU series and the video was pretty good. I recommend spending the 9.99 a month because there are all kinds of great Fighting Sioux events you can watch via you computer.

Press release from FightingSioux.com
Media Information: All Fighting Sioux men’s hockey games - home and away - can be heard on 96.1 FM (The Fox) and on stations across the Fighting Sioux hockey network, with veteran broadcaster Tim Hennessy calling the action.

A video webcast of this weekend’s games will be available at FightingSioux.com. FREE
audio is also available at FightingSioux.com.

Sunday’s GLI championship game will be broadcast live on FSN Detroit.

GLI Press release.

Here is the press release for the GLI from CCHA.COM. Noticed the television schedule.
GREAT LAKES INVITATIONAL
Michigan vs. Michigan Tech (Saturday, 3:05 p.m.)
Michigan State vs. North Dakota (Saturday, 6:35 p.m.)
Third-Place Game (Sunday, 3:05 p.m.)
Championship Game (Sunday, 6:35 p.m. FSN)

*The Wolverines, playing without forward Aaron Palushaj and Matt Rust who are with the U.S. at the World Junior Championships, head to Detroit as the defending Great Lakes Invitational champions after defeating Providence and Michigan Tech a year ago.

*Michigan Senior goaltender Billy Sauer earned the GLI’s John MacInnes Trophy as the Most Valuable Player last year. Sauer did not allow a goal in over 144 minutes of action.

*Michigan’s dozen GLI titles are the most by any team, however, before winning the 2007 GLI the Wolverines had not won the tournament since 1996. Michigan’s overall record at the GLI is 45-30-1.

*The Wolverines are 25-13-0 in semifinal contests and 12-13 in championship games.

*Against Michigan Tech, U-M is 19-10-0 all-time, including a 11-4-0 mark in semifinal games.

*U-M is 1-1-0 at the GLI against North Dakota.

*Michigan and Michigan State are an even 7-7-1 in the GLI, including a 5-5-0 ledger in championship games.

*Wolverine junior defenseman Steve Kampfer is expected to return to the Michigan lineup for the first time since Oct. 11 – the second game of the regular season.

*Michigan State and North Dakota’s Saturday meeting at the 44th annual GLI will
serve as the 100th meeting between the teams. UND holds a 61-36-2 advantage in the series.

*The Sioux hold a 6-3-0 record against MSU in neutral-site contests. The squads also met in the title game of the 2005-06 Lefty McFadden Invitational, with MSU prevailing, 3-0, for its first shutout of the Sioux in 47 years. Prior to that win, MSU had dropped 11 straight contests with North Dakota. The teams have met five times in the NCAA Tournament - including twice in the national title game, with North Dakota prevailing in both 1959 and 1987.

A look at the numbers nationally (Sioux Hockey)

I was checking out the numbers and how UND measures up against the other 57 teams in division one hockey. Most of the numbers don't look too bad for the Sioux other than two of our defensemen are leading scorers for this team.

->Here is the web page with the NCAA stats.

Points Per Game: (over all)
32 Brad Miller North Dakota SR D/F 16 4-14-18 1.12
42 Chay Genoway North Dakota JR D 17 2-16-18 1.06
71 Ryan Martens North Dakota SR F 15 7- 7-14 0.93

Points Per Game (Defensemen):
3 Brad Miller North Dakota SR D/F 16 4-14-18 1.12
4 Chay Genoway North Dakota JR D 17 2-16-18 1.06

GAA
49 Brad Eidsness (BUF) North Dakota FR 926:05 42 2.72
56 Mike Zacharias Minnesota State SR 1081:56 53 2.94
59 Jon Olthuis Alaska Anchorage JR 519:24 27 3.12
-----------------
Save Percentage:
43 Brad Eidsness (BUF) North Dakota FR 420 42 .909
44 Alec Richards Yale SR 127 13 .907
45 John Muse Boston College SO 409 42 .907
49 Mike Zacharias Minnesota State SR 511 53 .906

Scoring offense:
2 Denver 19 74 3.89
4 St. Cloud State 18 65 3.61
10 North Dakota 18 60 3.33
10 Wisconsin 18 60 3.33
17 Minnesota State 18 57 3.17
18 Minnesota 16 50 3.12
23 Minnesota Duluth 18 55 3.06
30 Alaska Anchorage 16 46 2.88
33 Colorado College 22 59 2.68
58 Michigan Tech 20 27 1.35

Scoring Defense
12 Denver 19 41 2.16
16 Minnesota Duluth 18 40 2.22
18 Minnesota 16 37 2.31
19 Colorado College 22 51 2.32
29 St. Cloud State 18 48 2.67
33 Wisconsin 18 52 2.89
36 Alaska Anchorage 16 48 3.00
36 Michigan Tech 20 60 3.00
36 Minnesota State 18 54 3.00
41 North Dakota 18 55 3.06

Penalty Minutes:
2 Wisconsin 18 409 22.7
6 Alaska Anchorage 16 328 20.5
7 Minnesota State 18 359 19.9
12 Minnesota Duluth 18 343 19.1
18 Minnesota 16 281 17.6
19 North Dakota 18 316 17.6
24 St. Cloud State 18 310 17.2
26 Denver 19 322 16.9
37 Colorado College 22 341 15.5
48 Michigan Tech 20 278 13.9

Power Play:
4 Minnesota 21/ 92 2 22.8
5 Minnesota Duluth 27/123 2 22.0
10 North Dakota 26/132 5 19.7
13 Wisconsin 23/122 5 18.9
16 St. Cloud State 21/117 2 17.9
17 Minnesota State 20/112 2 17.9
27 Denver 21/134 1 15.7
31 Alaska Anchorage 14/ 91 1 15.4
38 Colorado College 21/150 5 14.0
56 Michigan Tech 11/126 3 8.7

Penalty Kill:
2 Minnesota 90/ 96 3 93.8
12 Wisconsin 118/131 3 90.1
14 Colorado College 118/132 2 89.4
16 Denver 98/111 4 88.3
37 North Dakota 85/103 3 82.5
39 Minnesota State 110/134 3 82.1
45 Minnesota Duluth 87/108 3 80.6
46 St. Cloud State 78/ 97 2 80.4
49 Alaska Anchorage 95/120 2 79.2
53 Michigan Tech 83/107 2 77.6

Fighting Irish Number one

USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
1 Notre Dame (40) 10-3-2 961 2
2 Boston College ( 1) 9-4-1 886 5
3 Minnesota ( 2) 7-2-5 881 1
4 Miami ( 2) 8-3-3 773 6
5 Colorado College 9-4-3 732 3
6 Northeastern 10-3-2 717 4
7 Boston University ( 1) 9-4-0 707 8
8 Denver ( 1) 9-5-1 697 9
9 Princeton ( 2) 9-2-0 650 7
10 Air Force ( 1) 13-1-0 625 11
11 Minnesota State 8-3-3 531 10
12 Vermont 9-3-2 488 13
13 Cornell 5-1-2 414 12
14 Michigan 9-7-0 338 14
15 Alaska-Anchorage 7-5-2 131 19
16 Dartmouth 6-4-0 124 20
17 Mass.-Lowell 8-5-0 123 NR
18 Nebraska-Omaha 9-4-1 115 16
19 New Hampshire 5-6-3 113 15
20 Alaska 8-4-2 85 NR
Others Receiving Votes: St. Cloud State 78, Wisconsin 72, Massachusetts 65, Ohio State 54, Maine 40, North Dakota 39, Minnesota-Duluth 36, Yale 13, Harvard 7, Ferris State 3, Niagara 1, Quinnipiac 1

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll
Dec. 1, 2008

Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week
1 Notre Dame (33) 10-3-2 508 2
2 Minnesota (1) 7-2-5 447 1
3 Boston College 9-4-1 420 6
4 Miami (Ohio) 8-3-3 380 5
5 Boston University 9-4-0 342 8
6 Colorado College 9-4-3 318 3
7 Denver 9-5-1 306 10
8 Northeastern 10-3-2 298 4
9 Princeton 9-2-0 253 7
10 Air Force 13-1-0 209 11
11 Minnesota State 8-3-3 188 9
12 Vermont 9-3-2 181 13
13 Cornell 5-1-2 105 12
14 Michigan 9-7-0 72 15
15 New Hampshire 5-6-3 16 NR
Others receiving votes: University of Massachusetts Lowell, 10; University of Alaska Anchorage, 9; Dartmouth College, 6; University of Nebraska Omaha, 6; St. Cloud State University, 4; University of Alaska, 1; University of Wisconsin, 1.

Scores from 11-29-2008

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Atlantic Hockey
Holy Cross 4 at Sacred Heart 2

CCHA
Western Michigan 3 at Notre Dame 3 ot Notre Dame Wins
Shootout
Ferris State 2 at Northern Michigan 1
Nebraska-Omaha 2 at Ohio State 3
Lake Superior 1 at Alaska 1 ot Alaska Wins Shootout

Analysis
UNO finally comes crashing back down to earth as they are swept on the weekend by tOSU.

Hockey East
Merrimack 4 at New Hampshire 3
Maine 2 at Vermont 3

Analysis
Vermont continues their strong season so far. New Hampshire is struggling.

WCHA
St. Cloud State 1 at Minnesota-Duluth 5

Analysis
Thank God Sioux7 didn't make any predictions this weekend. I am sure he would have picked the Huskies. :)

Non-Conference
Connecticut 4 at Brown 1
Michigan Tech 1 at Bemidji State 2
Minnesota State 5 at Bowling Green 2
Colgate 2 at Colorado College 3
Providence 2 at Union 4
St. Lawrence 1 at Boston University 4
RIT 3 at Mass.-Lowell 6
Canisius 2 at Clarkson 2 ot
Cornell 2 at North Dakota 1
Air Force 1 at Denver 4

Analysis
BSU sweeps the REAL Huskies. MSU-M doesn't let BGSU back in this game after blowing a 2 goal lead the night before. Boston U finally rights the ship. C.C., beats Colgate barely. DU shows some WCHA pride.

College Hockey Showcase
Michigan State 4 at Minnesota 4 ot
Michigan 0 at Wisconsin 3

Analysis
Wisconsin perfect on the weekend. Minnesota salvages a tie.

RPI Holiday Tournament
Northeastern 5 at Rensselaer 1
Princeton 4 vs. Mercyhurst 6

Analysis
Princeton beat Northeastern one night and loses to Mercyhurst the next night, what gives?

Who is "1"?

Who the hech is going to be the number one team this week?
Any clue?

They're here...

I was reading the Cornell hockey blog (nice read) and has some interesting stuff. I read somewhere that the Cornell players will be in awe of the building the first game. Don't count on it. It is too bad it isn't -40 thought, that would make their trip to Grand Forks, ND complete.

November 27, 2008
9:30 a.m. CDT - It's Thanksgiving morning here in Grand Forks, and we've got a pretty low-key day in store. The team will head over to Ralph Engelstad Arena this afternoon for practice this afternoon, but other than that, there's not much on the itinerary.

We got in late last night and swung by The Ralph to drop off our gear, and massive doesn't even begin to describe the place, prompting a few jokes of, "yeah, this is just like Lynah!" I definitely didn't get the impression that anyone was in awe of the place, which, given that we'd just played in Madison Square Garden last year, is pretty much understandable. Locke Jillson mentioned he'd been there before, playing a Midget tournament there about a week before he officially committed to Cornell. Locke even remarked that he went to Ithaca a week or so later, and remembered that it was somewhere in the -15 to -20 range in Grand Forks and a balmy 15 or so in Ithaca and thought, "this is warm!" I never thought I'd ever hear an Ithaca winter described as warm, and especially from a kid from Texas.

Here is something to chew on.

I was reading this morning's Grand Forks Herald and this couple of paragraphs really stick out like a soar thumb. This is utterly unacceptable folks. Time for some the upper class men to step it up and be leaders. Enough with the excuses, we are tired of hearing them.

You're a hockey player in one of the top division one hockey programs in the country start playing like it. I would be willing to bet that a lot of the players from the other teams in the league would love to have the opportunity you have been given, stop stinking up the Ralph and acting like a bunch of spoiled prima donnas.

Enough of the stupid sports cliches and saying we are all most there, you are not play like it. It's time to stop talking and it is time step up and get results. I am sick and tired of watching this crap for the last 5 season. This isn't Sioux hockey, you're pissing your season away right now. If you lose your next four non-conference game your going to be hard pressed to make the NCAA tourney. How you guys like to be the first Fighting Sioux Hockey team to miss the NCAA tourney since 2001-2002? The answer is start playing with some pride. There isn't any other answer.

***Sioux seek answers*** The Sioux are three games under .500 at 4-7-1, which ties the lowest point since Dave Hakstol became coach in 2004.

The 2006-07 squad started the season 7-10-1 and rallied in the second half to reach the Frozen Four behind a dynamic top line of Ryan Duncan, T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews.

This year’s squad doesn’t have the luxury of having two first-round NHL draft picks up front, though. They must find scoring throughout the lineup, but it hasn’t been happening recently.

(Edit)
"Coaches" its time to take it up an notch you share some of the blame for this horrible start to the season. The Sioux can salvage the season, but it must start now.