Blake on his days at UND.

Props to the UNH Hockey blogger for giving me a heads up on this story. "Ah yes our college days."

Blake recalls fond days at North Dakota Thursday...
On Campus By James Murphy - NHL.com Correspondent
"You'll never get those years back, that time when it's just you, your teammates and the game. It's all business when you leave." -- Jason Blake

Bring up North Dakota hockey to Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake and watch his face light up. He'll drop whatever he's doing at that moment to talk. Forget the fact that his game has been struggling of late and on more than one occasion this season he's found himself in the press box as a healthy scratch. If you want to chat about his time in Grand Forks (1996-99), Blake is more than willing to travel to a period of his life he still cherishes dearly.

"Oh man, I haven't really sat and thought about that in too long," Blake said recently when asked to reminisce about his college career. "You're bringing tears of joy to my eyes here, yeah, let's talk about that. Man, that was a great time in my life."

As the Toronto equipment manager cleans the Leafs dressing room after a recent practice and screams "bus leaves in 20 minutes," Blake starts to take his equipment off as he utters: "He can wait. I love talking about my days with the Fighting Sioux."

Here is an argument for staying in school and not rushing to the professional ranks.
You will never get those days back. You're a piece of meat once you leave school.

"You'll never get those years back. That time when it's just you, your teammates and the game. It's all business when you leave. Obviously Parise has done great at this level and I'm happy for him. But for others I always let them know that. Nothing can ever take that time away from me."

Here is why I am excited...

Thanks to badgersioux for adding this video, Tim Hennessy the voice of the Fighting Sioux radio on the call of the goal. There were some positives from last night's game this was one of them. Jason Gregoire has one hell of a shot and scored two pretty goals during this weekend's series.

My Prediction is that the Trupp, Gregoire (add one forward) line is going to turn some heads this season.

Sioux players support the shootout.

I would have seen this article a little earlier today if my paper boy from the Grand Forks Herald had delivered my paper on time; I got the last three days papers today. Naturally I am not a happy camper. I actually had to call the Herald office today and ask them why they hadn’t delivered it in the last three days. I wanted to ask the lady to remind me why it is beneficial to pay for a newspaper I can’t read because it didn’t show up at my door.

The only reason that I get the Grand Forks Herald because I like their sports page the rest of it is basically AP stories and garbage. The Herald is a good way to follow Fighting Sioux sports, especially hockey. Incidentally, Brad has a really neat article on the shootout and how the Sioux players are for it.

Sioux would support shootout
Brad Elliott Schlossman --- Grand Forks Herald
Western Collegiate Hockey Association coaches largely have been against the shootout. Minnesota coach Don Lucia and Denver coach George Gwozdecky used the WCHA’s annual media conference call as a platform to voice their opposition to the shootout.

But not everyone feels that way.

UND coach Dave Hakstol said he thinks shootouts would be good for the league. His players agree.

“It’s unfortunate we’re not using the shootout in the WCHA this year,” Hakstol said. “I think it’s going to be a real source of excitement in the other leagues. It is in the NHL. You can debate up and down the subject as to whether it is legitimate or good for the standings. One thing that can’t be debated is that it’s exciting for the fans.”

Hey Lucia we get it, you don't like the shoot out.

Fighting Sioux hockey roster is up...

Fighting Sioux Hockey - 2008-09 Roster
2 Finley, Joe D 6-7 245 Sr. Edina, Minn. (Sioux Falls-USHL)
3 LaPoint, Derrick D 6-3 187 So. Eau Claire, Wis. (Green Bay-USHL)
4 Fienhage, Corey D 6-3 214 Fr. Apple Valley, Minn. (Eastview High School)
5 Genoway, Chay D 5-9 172 Jr. Morden, Manitoba (Vernon-BCHL)
6 Jones, Zach D 5-11 200 Sr. Lisle, Ill. (U.S. National Under-18)
8 Martens, Ryan F 6-0 207 Sr. Selkirk, Manitoba (Quesnel-BCHL)
9 Lamoureux, Mario F 5-9 185 Fr. Grand Forks, N.D. (Tri-City-USHL)
10 Kozek, Andrew F 5-11 200 Sr. Sicamous, British Columbia (Surrey-BCHL)
11 Zajac, Darcy F 6-1 195 Jr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Salmon Arm-BCHL)
14 Miller, Brad F 5-10 174 Sr. Alpharetta, Ga. (Green Bay-USHL)
15 Davidson, Brent F 6-4 212 So. Morden, Manitoba (Neepawa-MJHL)
16 Duncan, Ryan F 5-6 165 Sr. Calgary, Alberta (Salmon Arm-BCHL)
17 Gregoire, Jason F 5-11 185 Fr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Lincoln-USHL)
18 Toews, David F 5-11 185 Fr. Winnipeg, Manitoba (Shattuck-St. Mary's)
19 Trupp, Evan F 5-9 170 So. Anchorage, Alaska (Penticton-BCHL)
20 Watkins, Matt F 5-10 187 Sr. Aylesbury, Saskatchewan (Vernon-BCHL)
21 Frattin, Matt F 6-0 200 So. Edmonton, Alberta (Fort Saskatchewan-AJHL)
22 Malone, Brad F 6-2 205 So. Miramichi, New Brunswick (Sioux Falls-USHL)
24 Blood, Ben D 6-4 212 Fr. Plymouth, Minn. (Indiana-USHL)
25 Marto, Jake D 5-11 170 So. Grand Forks, N.D. (Omaha-USHL)
26 Hextall, Brett F 5-11 188 Fr. Manhattan Beach, Calif. (Penticton-BCHL)
29 VandeVelde, Chris F 6-2 206 Jr. Moorhead, Minn. (Lincoln-USHL)
30 Walski, Aaron G 5-11 176 Sr. Fargo, N.D. (Bismarck-NAHL)
31 Eidsness, Brad G 6-0 173 Fr. Chestermere, Alberta (Okotoks-AJHL)
35 Harrington, Graeme G 5-11 186 Fr. Glenside, Saskatchewan (Dryden-SJHL)

©2008 - University of North Dakota

The Fighting Sioux roster is set (hopefully)

Running with the Dog's favorite Herald hockey beat writer Brad Elliott Schlossman has the UND Fighting Sioux roster up on this blog for this up coming 2008-2009 season. One question was answer today as it was announced that Graeme Harrington is going to be one of the back up goalies and more than likely will compete with Walski for the number two goalie position (JHMO).

2 Joe Finley, sr, d
3 Derrick LaPoint, so, d
4 Corey Fienhage, fr, d
5 Chay Genoway, jr, d
6 Zach Jones, sr, d
8 Ryan Martens, sr, f
9 Mario Lamoureux, fr, f
10 Andrew Kozek, sr, f
11 Darcy Zajac, jr, f
14 Brad Miller, sr, f
15 Brent Davidson, so, f
16 Ryan Duncan, sr, f
17 Jason Gregoire, fr, f
18 David Toews, fr, f
19 Evan Trupp, so, f
20 Matt Watkins, sr, f
21 Matt Frattin, so, f
22 Brad Malone, so, f
24 Ben Blood, fr, d
25 Jake Marto, so, d
26 Brett Hextall, fr, f
29 Chris VandeVelde, jr, f
30 Aaron Walski, sr, g
31 Brad Eidsness, fr, g
35 Graeme Harrington, fr, g

Vandy and Chorney at the Oilers Development Camp

Here is a nice story and video of North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey players defenseman Taylor Chorney (former) and forward Chris Vande Velde (current). The story is a nice read and portrays both kids in a positive light. Both kids class acts in my opinion. It's too bad the Fighting Sioux are losing Taylor Chorney and I imagine that the Sioux will probably lose Chris Vande Velde after next season. That seems to be the modus operandi for most higher draft choices now.

It was particularly memorable considering Chorney’s father Marc suited up for the Sioux from 1978 through 1981.

“I grew up a Fighting Sioux fan my whole life and for me to be able to play a couple seasons there and get to know the people around the town of Grand Forks was a great experience.

“Everything I did up there was a positive experience. If I could spend another five years there I probably would. College is a fun time but it's probably best for me that I get everything squared away here, move on and start my career as a professional.”
-----snip-----
For Chorney, this is his second year at Development Camp but first with fellow Fighting Sioux teammate Chris Vande Velde.

“Having Vandy around is big. He's a good guy, I got to know him a lot this year. He's a good hockey player, too and I think he'll be a part of this organization down the road too.”

Vande Velde made huge strides at UND putting up career numbers with 15 goals and 32 points in 43 games to rank third on the team in his sophomore season.

“I played with more confidence and was put on better lines,” said Vande Velde of his success. “I was playing with TJ Oshie and Ryan Duncan who are elite players. That helped as well. I was playing with more confidence, got more points, scored more goals. It was a fun year. “

Vande Velde also played on the first power play unit and killed penalties as part of his added responsibilities. He had three goals and nine points in 38 games in his freshman season the year before.
(Read the whold article here)

Q&A with Joe Finley on Hockey Futures.

He might not be the most popular player around Grand Forks, ND right now but Joe Finley sat down for an interview with hockeyfutures.com before the recently completed Frozen Four.

Q&A with Joe Finley
Written by: DJ Powers on 04/10/2008
Towering junior defenseman Joe Finley is enjoying a career season with North Dakota. Coming into the Frozen Four he has more than doubled his entire point production from last season having posted 15 points (four goals, 11 assists). The Edina, MN native currently leads the Fighting Sioux in plus/minus (plus-27) and penalty minutes (92). One of his most memorable games came back on Jan. 5 when he posted an assist and was a plus-5 in North Dakota’s 6-2 win over St. Cloud State.

Hockey’s Future caught up with Finley after practice on Wednesday at the Pepsi Center in Denver.

Lee answers Senators' call and makes the Play of the Day

Here is an interesting article on Brian Lee's NHL debut and he saved a goal in his first game. Nice got to love a former Sioux player taking a goal away from a former Gophers player. Here is a better link to the video here from ESPN.

Rookie defenceman makes NHL debut on eve of 21st birthday.
by Rob Brodie
Lee One day early, Brian Lee is getting quite the birthday gift. The young defenceman from Moorhead, Minn., will make his National Hockey League debut tonight –hours before he celebrates his 21st birthday – when the Ottawa Senators face off against the Buffalo Sabres at HSBC Arena (7 p.m., Rogers Sportsnet, Team 1200).

While Lee’s callup is related to the hip injury suffered by veteran blueliner Wade Redden during the Senators’ 7-5 loss Monday night in Montreal, head coach/general manager Bryan Murray said the 6-foot-2, 205-pound rookie will be in the lineup regardless of whether Redden is a go tonight or not. His status and that of forward Dean McAmmond (bruised thigh) won’t likely be determined until game time, Murray added.

What can the Senators expect tonight out of Lee, who’ll wear No. 55?

“He’s a rookie,” Murray said Tuesday morning. “He handles the puck and he skates (well), but he’s a young player and we have to know that going in. He’s going to be an NHL player and I think a real good NHL player.

“We know what he brings to the table when he has a little time under his belt. What can he do tonight? I hope play like he plays in the minors, where he does a lot with the puck… He retrieves the puck, he makes the first pass real good. He’s an all-star in the American Hockey League.”