Andy Schneider vs. Justin Soryal

While surfing the net tonight I found this fight over on hockeyfights.com. The fight is between former Fighting Sioux defenseman Andy Schneider and Justin Soryal. Soryal is a goon who has been in an impressive sixteen fights this season while playing in the AHL. In comparison Andy Schneider has only been in two fight this season. Let's just say that Soryal's is probably playing for his fisticuffs.

Blake scores for the Leafs.

It has been pretty well documented that former Fighting Sioux Hockey player Jason Blake has had a tough go of it as of late in Toronto. Some have suggested that Blake should be sent out of Toronto to the first suitor that will take him but his fat contract is keeping him from being moved anytime soon.

On a positive not Jason Blake scored a sweet goal against my Boston Bruins tonight.

More on the Jason Blake saga.

Here is a little more on the former Fighting Sioux Jason Blake's on going troubles in Toronto. Jason Blake signed a big contract and has not met expectations of the Toronto Maple Leaf's management or their fans. You have to wonder if Jason's days in Toronto are numbered, and one has to wonder how long before he is traded to another team.

CALGARY–Having been scratched for two games this season, an upset Jason Blake publicly mused about leaving the Maple Leafs.

"Maybe it's not meant for me to be here," Blake said yesterday after a Leaf practice here before the team headed to Edmonton. "It obviously hasn't worked out in the year and 16 games we played here.

"If it's not going to work out ... I know I can play, and I love to play. I'm not going to quit. If it's not here, I don't know."

The 35-year-old Blake is stuck on two goals this season, his second with the Leafs after signing a five-year, $20 million U.S. contract in the summer of 2007. He was the team's key signing that free-agent period, a 40-goal scorer the year before with the New York Islanders.

"I'm glad he's upset," said coach Ron Wilson, who has coached Blake on Team USA. "You don't want a guy to roll over and die. I want him to step on the ice, and play with piss and vinegar, which he hasn't done consistently.

"That's the Jason Blake I've watched, and coached, and haven't seen enough of this year, or last year in reviewing the tape

Holy cow check out some of the comments to this article they are harsh.

Lamoureux article on NHL.COM

Here is a really nice article on former Fighting Sioux Goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux Lamoureux has made a smooth transition to professional hockey from the colege ranks and is doing quite well with the Alaska of the ECHL.

Jean-Philippe Lamoureux is puzzled, and it's not difficult to understand why.

Despite a stellar four-year collegiate career at the University of North Dakota, he was never drafted by an NHL club and never received any contract offers after putting up big numbers in his senior season, numbers that were so good he was named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award.

Lamoureux, 24, though, has taken everything in stride. After signing a deal with the Alaska Aces in early September, he has won seven of his first 10 games as a professional while posting a 2.26 goals-against average and a .932 save percentage. His efforts are a major reason why Alaska currently sits atop the West Division standings at 7-2-1.

Blake on his way out of Toronto?

Puck Daddy had this story on his blog today. It appears that Former Sioux Jason Blake's miserable stay in Toronto is coming to an end. Blake is having another rough season and was benched last night.

Blake approaching end in Toronto?
TheFourthPeriod.com

Moments after hearing the news that he was to be benched for the second-time this season, Jason Blake erupted into a sequence of profanities, reports the National Post.
Blake sat out of last night's game, a 4-3 loss to the Calgary Flames.

"I don't know what's going on ... we'll try to figure it out sometime today," Blake told the paper.

"It's just extremely frustrating. To be honest, I was very, very upset in Boston [first benching], but I didn't really know what to say because I was caught off guard. It was the first time in nine years that I was a healthy scratch.

Maple Leafs head coach Ron Wilson hasn't been afraid to bench his players. Along with Blake, those who were scratched for a game or more include Matt Stajan, Mike Van Ryn, Jonas Frogren, Ian White and Carlo Colaiacovo.

With a surplus of defensemen, the Leafs have been trying to make a move to free up a spot on the roster.

Blake, whose contract doesn't expire until after the 2011-12 season, could be someone the team tries to trade this season.

"This is twice, now, after never being scratched in nine years," Blake said. "I just don't get it."

Former Sioux star Zach Parise on streak...

Here is a really nice story on former Sioux star Zach Parise and the success he is having with the Devils this season.

NY Post--- It remains the highest pick the Devils owned since 1996, and unlike 10th pick Lance Ward that year, they hit paydirt with this one, selecting Parise.

Parise led the Devils with 32 and 31 goals the past two seasons, and he's threatening to make those figures look like preludes. Parise is among the league-leaders with seven goals in the Devils' nine games, and the five-game goal streak he'll bring into tomorrow's game against Atlanta in Newark is the longest in the league this year.

Now 24, Parise kept that streak running by forcing overtime for New Jersey's charity point in Wednesday's 6-5 shootout loss to the Leafs. It was clutch in more ways than one. It probably averted a punishment practice of stops-and-starts yesterday, after the Devils pedaled stationary bikes following that loss.

Parise is an example of Devils' development. They could have tried him during their 2004 playoff loss to the Flyers, but kept him idle as a 19-year-old. He played for their farm team during the lockout and broke in slowly as a rookie in 2005-06, going only 14-16-30.

It was nothing like Mike Bossy, before his first IslandersNew York Islanders camp, walking into Gallagher's Steakhouse in Manhattan, proclaiming that he could score 50 as a rookie, before doing it.

Drew Stafford goal against the Wild...

The Buffalo Sabres won a second game in a row where they had to come from behind to get the win. This time the Sabres late game heroics came at the expense of the Minnesota Wild, this in over time. How ironic that the Sabres beat both my favorite teams in back to back games and get a goal from a Gopher Thomas Vanek as well as a Former Fighting Sioux hockey Drew Stafford.

Here is the video of the first goal of the game scored by Former Sioux Drew Stafford.

The Thomas Vanek goal was also assisted on by Drew Stafford, this was the goal that tied the game, sending it to over time.

Blake a healthy scratch for tonight's game.

Former Sioux star and current Toronto Maple Leaf Jason Blake will be sitting in the press box for tonight's game against the Boston Bruins. This seems to be the beginning of the Toronto coach sending messages to star players.

TSN --- 10-23/2008: Toronto Maple Leafs forward Jason Blake will find himself in an unusual place when the team faces the Boston Bruins tonight on TSN, the press box.

For the first time in his Leafs' career, Blake will be a healthy scratch for the game. Blake, played in all 82-games last season despite under-going cancer treatment.

The 35-year old, who leads the Leafs with 24 shots on goal, but only has one goal and two assists in six games this season, was demoted to the fourth line during the second and third period of the Leafs 3-2 shootout loss the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday.

"I have to break through some of the mindset that's been here after three seasons of not making the playoffs," coach Ron Wilson said on Wednesday. "It might be unorthodox, but the players will start to understand that I'm serious about entitlement.

Lee out of the line up in Ottawa...

The Sens have changed their line up a bit. Former Fighting Sioux Defenseman will sit in tonights game.

Notes from the morning skate
Well, make that "note" from the morning skate. Ottawa Senators coach Craig Hartsburg announced a couple small lineup changes this morning. Christoph Schubert draws in after sitting the last two games as a healthy scratch. Luke Richardson will see his first game action this season.

Sitting tonight are Shean Donovan up front and Brian Lee on defence.

More on the Commodore picture...

Apparently this picture that was over on Puck Daddy yesterday cause quite a stir. Puck Daddy interviewed Mike Commodore on the matter and the picture in question was not after Commie signed the fat contract in the off season with the Columbus Blue Jackets. I wish I had a football pool that pays like that one, LOL.

By Greg Wyshynski --- Tue Oct 21, 2008 3:05 pm EDT
So we grabbed a few minutes of phone time with the former Carolina Hurricanes defenseman to chat about the photo, the fallout and what it feels like to be the first professional athlete to make it rain on himself.

"My mom almost had a heart attack when she saw it on the Columbus Dispatch blog," said Commodore, after a morning practice. "But I called her and explained to her what the scenario was, and she's fine."

So in the immortal words of A Tribe Called Quest and/or Leaders of the New School: What's the scenario?

"That picture is probably from about three weeks after the Super Bowl party last year that I had in Carolina. We had a team pool, and I ended up winning the pool," said Commodore, who said he pocketed $3,000 in winnings. "So that money was from the Super Bowl. I won the money, I had the cash, I went home, I was lying in bed ... I was just clowning around and kind of threw the money up. My buddy took a picture, and that was the end of it."

Well, not exactly the end. While the photo generated mostly good-natured ribbing, some believed it was a picture taken after Commodore had signed a massive five-year free-agent deal worth $18.75 million with the Jackets.

"That's totally not the case. That picture's from before I was traded to the Ottawa Senators," he said.

I guess the moral to the story is be careful what your friends post on their face book, my space or personal blogs, it may come back to haunt your buddy later. I am also glad to know that big Mike has since stopped chewing tobacco.

Astute Puck Daddy readers used CSI-like analysis to break down aspects of the photo, and we wanted Commodore to address some of them. Like, for example, the tin of chewing tobacco found, conveniently, on his nightstand.

"That's a habit that I've since dropped. It was an occasional thing to pass the time."

Check out this Mike Commodore picture.

I found this over on Puck Daddy today.

Mike Commodore rocks Sean Avery...

I saw this hit last night as I was watching sports center in the bar. Check out this monster hit by former Fighting Sioux hockey player Mike Commodore as he lights up Dallas punk Sean Avery. Nice... You wonder if the people in Columbus are going to be questioning the acquistion of Mike Commodore anymore?

T.J. Oshie will keep 74.

According to a the St. Louis Post-Dispatch article it looks like Sioux fans can buy the Blues jersey with the "74" on the back of it because Oshie has decided to stick with the number he had in training camp. I look to see them popping up in the Sioux shop at REA soon.

Young Blues getting new numerals on jerseys
By Jeremy Rutherford ---ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Interestingly, one of the most asked questions about the Blues’ young prospects this year is which jersey number they’ll wear.

Players like David Perron, T.J. Oshie, Patrik Berglund and Alex Pietrangelo are given unconventional numbers when they arrive at training camp, and often want to change those numbers once they’ve made the roster. But as rookies, they don’t want to make waves or bring any attention to themselves.

In the meantime, however, Blues fans hold off purchasing the expensive jerseys until the player has settled on a number. That stops fans from wearing their favorite player’s jersey, and it also prevents the Blues from capitalizing on merchandising sales.

Oshie, however, has decided to stick with No. 74 and Perron will continue to wear No. 57, the number he wore last season...
<-Read the whole article here->

Greene will wear the "A" for the Kings

Boosh gave me a heads up on this story. Former Fighting Matt Greene was name assistant captain for the L.A. Kings.
Nice to see Greene awarded with the honor.

LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Kings right wing Dustin Brown will serve as Kings captain for the 2008-09 season, Kings head coach Terry Murray announced Wednesday. Murray has also named center Anze Kopitar and defenseman Matt Greene as assistant captains. The announcement was made exclusively on LAKings.com

Greene, 25, is in his first season with the Kings after playing the last three seasons with the Edmonton Oilers. He was acquired by the Kings on June 29 with center Jarret Stoll for Lubomir Visnovsky.

Greene in 2007-08 recorded one point (an assist) and 53 penalty minutes in 46 games with Edmonton. In 2006-07 he played in 78 games and recorded 10 points (1-9=10) and 109 penalty minutes. In 151 career games, all with the Oilers, the 6-3, 233-pound native of Grand Ledge, Michigan, has 13 points (1-12=13) and 205 penalty minutes. He has also played in 18 playoff games, including the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006, recording one point (an assist) and 34 penalty minutes.

More on the shootout. (Oshie)

I don't get the logic when people say that shootouts are gimmick and or are boring check out this video from a preseason NHL hockey game. If a sport like the NHL can institute a shootout then NCAA division one hockey can as well even with some of the leadership in various division one leagues.

A tip of the hat to Cedarbrewsioux for giving me a heads up on this video. At the end of the shootout former Sioux T.J. Oshie has a chance to win the shootout, has the goalie beat but lose the puck. Oh the drama.

Landon Wilson fighting for a spot on the Stars roster.

I have to admit that I am pulling for this guy. I loved watching Landon Wilson play for the Sioux back in the 1990's. It would appear that Landon has a good attitude and that Landon is taking nothing for granted coming into training camp and knows that he has to give it his all if he is going to play a role in the 2008-2009 Dallas Stars.

Landon Wilson might be a coach someday, just like his dad.
But today is not that day. No, the 33-year-old right wing and son of Stars associate coach Rick Wilson says he still has some good hockey left, and that's why he's fighting for a roster spot with the Stars.

"Right now, my only focus is making this team," Wilson said. "If that doesn't happen, then my focus will be helping this team at some point during the season. That's the drive for me."

And that drive is one of the reasons the Stars signed Wilson this summer.

The 19th overall selection (by Toronto) in the 1993 entry draft, Wilson has had an up-and-down career that included a serious eye injury in 2002. He has spent the last three seasons in Europe.
->Read the rest of the story here<-

Going Five Holes reviews the rookies to watch (Oshie)

Sean Leahy reviews the 08-09 NHL rookies to Watch and Former Sioux T.J. Oshie has been included on his list.

TJ Oshie, St. Louis, F
Blues fans expect big things from the former North Dakota Fighting Sioux star. He plays a physical game using his 6'4 frame and with low expectations in St. Louis, he could find himself a part of the Calder Trophy race. There's not many scouts who don't believe Oshie won't be a top player in the NHL. Despite a probable high draft pick ahead of them, a productive rookie campaign from Oshie could bring some hope back to the Blues.

Jonathan Toews' two power-play goals lift Blackhawks over Stars 4-3

I have former Fighting Sioux star Jonathan Toews on one of four my fantasy hockey teams. I just hope that he keeps scoring at this pace during the regular season.

CHICAGO - Jonathan Toews scored two power-play goals, and newcomer Brian Campbell had four assists in the Chicago Blackhawks' 4-3 pre-season victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday night.

Patrick Sharp and Jack Skille also scored for Chicago, which improved to 3-0 in exhibition play. Sharp's goal was his fourth in three pre-season games.

Toews opened the scoring on a power play just 32 seconds in, when his centring pass deflected in off the skate of Dallas defenceman Garrett Stafford.

Niskanen tied it at one at 5:41 of the first on a bouncing shot from the right point that slipped between Niemi's pads.

Sharp's power-play score later in the first period, on a screened shot from the left circle, gave Chicago a 2-1 lead.

Toews' second goal, also on the power play, made it 3-1 less than two minutes into the second. He deflected in Campbell's drive from the top of the slot.

Smaby and Bochenski don' t make the cut.

Tampa Bay Lightning blogger Jon Jordan from hockey buzz is reporting that former Fighting Sioux player Brandon Bochenski has been put on waivers and former Fighting Sioux Matt Smaby has been sent to the Admirals.

Lightning Cuts --- September 25, 2008.
With Bochenski and Konopka on waivers, in hopes that they clear and head to Norfolk, and Smaby headed directly to the Admirals.

It appears that Smaby and Bochenski were on the bubble to make the Lightning
roster.

Your bubble guys, as I identified earlier, that are in tonight's lineup? Bochenski, Koci, Konopka, Ouellet, Hutchinson and Smaby. Defensemen Vladimir Mihalik and Mike Lundin will not dress, nor will forwards Ryan Craig or Jason Ward. Does this mean decisions, one way or another, on those four have already been made? That, my friends, is what they call a definite maybe.

Commodore feels big deal is justified.

Here is a nice article on former Sioux Mike Commodore. The Blue Jackets have taken some heat on the size of Big Mike's contract. I personally feel that Commodore is worth the money he is being paid. I have seen worse players in the league that are being paid just as much or more. I also think Commodore is a better defenseman that Jeff Finger; just my my humble opinion.

He's worth the 'fro
By ERIC FRANCIS

Mike Commodore has always stood out from the crowd.

For years it revolved largely around his 6-foot-4 frame, his orange afro and his engaging personality.

However, shortly after the free agency free-for-all opened this summer, he distanced himself even further from the masses with a contract signing that was the talk of the hockey world.

Four years after making a name for himself in Calgary during the playoffs as a useful, if not one dimensional, spare part, the 28-year-old defenceman signed a five-year, $18.75 million deal with Columbus.

Often mentioned alongside the four-year/$14 million deal Jeff Finger signed in Toronto, many have cited Commodore's pact as the perfect example of how reckless and insane NHL GMs have once again become.

Not only did it shine a rare spotlight on a stay-at-home blueliner who has, in fact, come a long way the last three years, but it put the two-time Stanley Cup finalist in an odd position where he will almost undoubtedly have to defend the deal at every turn.

"To be honest, I really don't care what the public thinks," said the local folk hero who spent the latter half of his summer in Calgary where he bought a condo overlooking the 'Dome at which his NHL career started.

"My buddies told me (TSN's) Pierre McGuire was running his mouth off and I couldn't care less. Whether I deserve it or not is not up to guys like Pierre McGuire. I've worked hard to get where I am. The market is at where it's at. It's not like I was going to say, 'no I'll just take one-and-a-half.' "

Fact is, after being traded by Calgary to Carolina four years ago, Commodore not only won a Stanley Cup with the 'Canes but has developed into a player that had seven teams interested in him July 1, including two that drove his price right up. And while he feels extremely privileged, he said the $3.75 million he'll make annually is close to the number he was expecting and is not out of whack