Jake Marto gets a gig with Winnipeg (RW77)

Image via WikipediaNewly former UND defenseman Jake Marto has earned himself an AHL Contract with the Winnipeg Jets. Here is the story:

Jets agree to terms with Jason DeSantis & Jake Marto on AHL Contracts

Thursday, 04.08.2011 / 10:09 AM / News Articles

The Winnipeg Jets, in conjunction with St. John’s IceCaps, are pleased to announce today they have agreed to terms with Jason DeSantis and Jake Marto on new American Hockey League contracts. As per club policy, terms of the agreements are not disclosed.

DeSantis, 24, split the 2010-11 season between the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and ECHL’s Wheeling Nailers. The defenceman from Oxford, MI played 19 games with the Penguins recording five points (1g, 4a) and eight penalty minutes. He also recorded 27 points (6g, 21a) and 38 penalty minutes in 45 games with the Wheeling Nailers. DeSantis helped the Nailers reach the third round of the 2011 Kelly Cup Playoffs scoring three points (1g, 2a) in 15 games. DeSantis has played in 85 career AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and the Philadelphia Phantoms collecting 27 points (2g, 25a) and 26 penalty minutes. He joined the Phantoms in 2008 after four seasons of college hockey with the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Marto, 23, recently finished his senior season on defence with the University of North Dakota where he played 157 games over four seasons collecting 57 points (21g, 41a) and 48 penalty minutes. The native of Grand Forks, ND helped the Fighting Sioux to consecutive conference titles in the 2010 & 2011 WCHA tournament. Marto played two seasons with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers before joining UND. While with Omaha, Marto played in a total of 114 games and recorded 45 points (6g, 39a) and 54 penalty minutes.

I'm happy he's getting a chance at pro hockey. Not sure where it will lead but it's pretty cool.

As an aside, the date on this article is actually August 4th, not April 8th. They use the European date format.

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UND's Ryan Hill transfers to UW- Superior

UND junior-to-be Ryan Hill is transferring to DIII school University of Wisconsin-Superior (called the Yellowjackets). The defenseman hasn't played much in his time with UND so it is not all that surprising that he'd want to get some playing time. Kevin Pates of the Duluth News Tribute broke the story.

Apparently, Ryan transferred to be closer to family and to get increased playing time. He reminds me a lot of former Sioux Todd Alexander. USHL defenseman, overager, recruited walk on (if not outright walk on). Ryan has good size. But he's 23 years old. I'm sure he's itching to prove he has what it takes to compete at a high level at the collegiate level. The article states he investigated transferring to a DI school, but the year he'd have to sit out would be hard to take.

I wish Ryan the best of luck with the Yellowjackets, beat some heads together and get yourself a great degree.

Big Mike Signs with the Red Wings (RW77)

OOOOooooooooh YEAH!!!!!!

Big Mike Commodore is back with a winning team! The guy known as "Commy" (probably spelled wrong but I refuse to spell it such that I would be confused with calling him a communist) all 6'5" of him (not counting the 3'6" of red hair) is coming to Motown!

He signed a 1 year, $1 million contract, which is about what I expected him to sign after having two disappointing years in Columbus (of 3.. his first year was pretty good with the Jackets).

Here is a nice perspective by Bill Roose.

Big Mike won a National Championship with UND in 2000 and has won a Stanley Cup with Carolina in 2006. He was drafted in the 2nd round by New Jersey. The Wings are his sixth team.

Notable in useless trivia: He was traded to Ottawa for current Wing Patrick Eaves (then to Carolina).

This now gives the Wings a forest of a D line, with 4 of 6 defensemen over 6'4" tall.

What does this mean? I hope it means that the Wings will have a crushing defense. However, what I hope it doesn't mean that the Wings defense will be pylons. Then again, with 41 year old Nicklas Lidstrom still playing effectively (Suck it Chelios) it may not matter. I'm still going to be excited about Kronwall (the best open ice hitting defenseman in the NHL... He reminds me a LOT of Konstantinov but Kronwall is taller), Stuart (meh), Kindl (younger version of meh), and Ericsson (jury's still out) playing with Commodore. Commodore isn't going to score any goals or be as great a puck mover as Stuart, Lidstrom, and perhaps Kindl and Ericsson. Commodore brings grit on the blue line, something I feel Detroit has lacked a bit in recent years.

I hope his career takes off.

Here's Mike Commodore vs. Matt Greene:




Here's Mike Commodore leveling Bruins' forward PJ Axelsson a few years back.

More Moves and More Bad News for Chicago (RW77)

Former Sioux Get Pro Contracts

Former Sioux Alternative Captain Darcy Zajac signed a 2 year deal with the Albany River Rats of the American Hockey League (AHL). Albany is currently the AHL Affiliate of Darcy's older brother's team, the New Jersey Devils. This isn't an NHL deal so it would take another contract for him to play with the Devils, but it does give Darcy some notice by Lamoriello, a GM who has been very favorable to UND and college hockey in general.

Former Sioux Goaltender JP Lamoureaux signed a 1 year agreement with Abbotsford of the AHL. Abbotsford is part of the Calgary Flames organization. I wish the best for JPL but I don't have any expectations that it could develop into an NHL contract. Calgary is run by Brent Sutter, a guy who is almost as notorious as being anti-NCAA as the people who run Moncton of the QMJHL, London of the OHL, and the staff of the Atlanta Thrashers (see the situation with current UML recruit drafted by the Thrashers who are pressuring him to go MJ). Despite this, I hope he does a great job with Abbottsford and that gets him some notice.

Chicago's Situation Gets More Tense

Today Chicago GM Stan Bowman said that they'd match San Jose's offer to Niclas Hjalmarrssen for 4 years $14 million, but that means someone else has to go. The Hawks are dangling Brian Campbell out there but they will probably move Patrick Sharp instead due to contract issues.

This is too bad, but not unexpected. I'm not expecting much from the Hawks next year. The I attrition is simply too high. This is the result of terrible cap management and poor GM decision making, which is tough for me to swallow because I think so highly of Dave Tallon.

I think they had to, but what really hurts now is that they can't get out of Christobal Huet's abomination of a contract. And he's not going to give that money back. And I don't blame him. Stupid is as stupid does and Tallon was retarded.

I just don't see the Hawks being effective without their big guns. Toews and Kane will still be there, but gone will be Versteeg, Ladd, and either Sharp, Campbell, or both. Then there's the mess about Niemi.

I wouldn't be surprised now if Niemi walks if arbitration asks for too much. It'll be too bad that they couldn't get compensatory draft picks when Niemi walks though.

Toews Score his first NHL Goal

I just watched this goal for the first time, man what a move. One could say that this is probably the first of many goals to come during his NHL career. Now I see what everyone was ranting and raving about.

The Last of the Sioux Free Agents Signed.

The List of Fighting Sioux UFA's

Matt Jones Phoenix Coyotes Re-signed with the Coyotes
Jason Blake NY Islanders Signed with Toronto
Matt Greene Resigned with the Edmonton Oilers
Zach Parise New Jersey Devils re-signs with New Jersey
David Hale Re-signed with the Calgary Flames
Brandon Bochenski Re-signed with the Boston Bruins

Zach's contract

Zach Parise signed a 4 year, $12.5 million contract with the New Jersey Devils on August 1st. Now I am not saying that 12.5 million dollars is chump change because it is not, however, I actually kind of shocked because I thought his contract would have been more money based on the season he had this past year Parise had 31 goals and 31 assists.

Only Parise Remains Unsigned.

The List of Former Fighting Sioux Hockey Players that are UFA's got even shorter as
Matt Jones signed a new contract/deal with the Phoenix Coyotes of the national hockey league. Zach Parise is the only Former Sioux UFA (NHL Player) that still needs to sign a new contract. I would imagine that the Devils will do everything in their power to make sure that they sgin

From the Coyotes Site

Jones, 23, played 45 games with the Coyotes last season, registering 1-6-7 and 39 penalty minutes (PIM). The 6-foot, 215-pound defenseman also collected 0-2-2 and 23 PIM in 24 games with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL) last season.

Matt Jones Phoenix Coyotes; recently resigned with the Coyotes
Jason Blake NY Islanders; signed a new contract with the Leafs
Matt Greene resigned with the Edmonton Oilers
Zach Parise New Jersey Devils; (remains unsigned)
David Hale Resigned with his current team the Calgary Flames
Brandon Bochenski Resigned with his current team the Boston Bruins

Jason Blake Photo

Waiting for Stanley had this Blake Picture I must agree with what he had to say. While Blake brings offense to the Maple Leafs in the end it will not translate into the Leafs getting into the playoffs.

Ooo, look at Jason Blake posing in front of a collage of Leaf greats. Toronto sure has a grandiose way of introducing players. Too bad that doesn't translate into playoff success.

Great News to start the day off.

UND Signs another Toews

It wouldn't be a stretch to say that Sioux fans have been waiting for this announcement for most of the summer, that day finally came as Brad Schlossman, Herald Staff Writer is reporting that UND has signed Jonathan Toew's younger brother, David Toews. David joins a long list of brothers to play for the University of North Dakota. Welcome aboard David.

Lets break down the Brother Teams to play at UND:

1.) Johnson Brothers (Corey, Greg and Ryan)
2.) Jones Brothers
3.) Parise Brothers
4.) Murphy Brothers
5.) Panzer "Division" Brothers
6.) Hoogstein Brothers
7.) Zajac Brothers
8.) Hale Brothers
9.) Johnsons (Chad and Steve)
10.) Now the Toews Brothers
11.) Cristian Brothers (Dave and Eddie)
12.) Marvins (thanks Brian)
13.) Genoway's (thanks RWD's)
14.) David and Bryan Lundbohm
15.) Ulmers, Jeff and Jason (thanks Sioux7)

I have only really watched UND since about 1991 so if I missed someone its not on purpose. (Edit)More have been added.

Off Line playing Golf.


The Goons is taking a well deserved golf vacation as I will be decompressing on the golf course playing in a tourney my buddies hold every year. I should be getting a great look at the woods and long grass as I have not idea what it is like the hit the ball from the fairway.

Team Canada Wins the Gold in the World Championship

This was the IIHF World Hockey championship that no one got to see in the USA, which in my opinion is a disgrace. Current Fighting Sioux Johnathon Toews and former Fighting Sioux Mike Commodore were on the championship team.

Matt Green and Brandon Bochenski Make the USA

Sioux Land Two on Team USA

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.– USA Hockey today named the first 18 players to its U.S. Men’s National Team that will compete at the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Moscow, Russia, April 27-May 13.

2007 United States Men’s National Ice Hockey Team
GOALTENDERS (3)
42 Robert Esche Whitesboro, N.Y. Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
47 John Grahame Denver, Colo. Carolina Hurricanes (NHL) LSSU
1 Cory Schneider Marblehead, Mass. Boston College (NCAA)BC

DEFENSEMEN (5)
41 Andrew Alberts Boston Bruins (NHL) BC
44 Keith Ballard Phoenix Coyotes (NHL) UofM
5 Matt Greene Edmonton Oilers (NHL) UND
3 Jack Johnson Los Angeles Kings (NHL) Michigan
2 Brian Pothier Washington Capitals (NHL) RPI

FORWARDS (10)
39 Tyler Arnason Colorado Avalanche (NHL) SCSU
10 Brandon Bochenski Boston Bruins (NHL) UND
17 Chris Clark Washington Capitals (NHL)Clarkson
26 Erik Cole Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)Clarkson
16 Nathan Davis Miami (Ohio) University (NCAA)
8 Phil Kessel Boston Bruins (NHL) UofM
59 Chad LaRose Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
20 Toby Petersen Edmonton Oilers (NHL) CC
11 Paul Stastny Colorado Avalanche (NHL)DU
12 Lee Stempniak St. Louis Blues (NHL) Dartmouth

A Nice Break down from the WCHA. 2 Sioux, 2 Gophers, 1 Tigers, 1 Huskie, 1 Pioneer. It's good to see our league get that kind of notice.