Goalie Kevin Aldridge Leaves Lake State

Another year, another player leaving their junior program at the semester break. Lake Superior State Freshman goalie Kevin Aldridge has left the Lakers and will return to his former junior team.

Hockey News North --- Lake Superior State University Lakers head coach Damon Whitten has confirmed that freshman goalie Kevin Aldridge has opted to leave the program and return to the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the North American Hockey League.

A 1994 birth-year, Aldridge backstopped Fairbanks to the NAHL’s Robertson Cup championship last spring.

But Aldridge — a recruit of former Laker head coach Jim Roque — struggled in four appearances with LSSU this season. He had an 0-2 record, .833 save percentage and 4.80 goals-against-average.

“We wish Kevin the best on his return to Fairbanks and in his next steps in his career,” Whitten said.

Very sad to see freshman goaltender @kaldridge30 leave Lake State. However, not seeing much play, I can't blame him. He's a good goalie! ⚓️
— Laker Hockey (@LakeStateHockey) December 18, 2014

Apparently, Whitten had driven @kaldridge30 away by not playing him. It would appear he's playing favs by not giving him much ice time.
— Laker Hockey (@LakeStateHockey) December 18, 2014

“@chelszalewski: @LakeStateHockey he is an amazing goalie who was not given the chance he DESERVED.” Agreed!
— Laker Hockey (@LakeStateHockey) December 18, 2014

Zane Gothberg is going Camping with the Bruins

Joe Haggerty of CSNNE had this to say about UND goalie Zane Gothberg who's going to the Boston Bruins development camp. Notice, Haggerty referred to the University of North Dakota as the Fighting Sioux.

Joe Haggerty, CSNNE.Com --- Zane Gothberg – Goaltender, 2010 sixth round pick (165th overall): Gothberg helped lead the University of North Dakota to the Frozen Four, and set a school record with his .926 save percentage last season. The longtime development camp attendee should be one of the standouts after his 1.99 goals against average and three shutouts in 33 games for the Fighting Sioux last season.

B's ready to welcome plenty of hockey promise to development camp. Here's a rundown on 23-player roster http://t.co/aoBGbrxHfO #BruinsTalk
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) July 8, 2014

Related articles

• Z is for Zane (Gothberg)
• A few things - Zane Gothberg goes to camp
• UND Hockey: Zane Gothberg NCHC Goaltender of the Week

UND vs. DU shenanigans

I've had a few video requests for some of these calls from the message boards.  So, I put this video together today.

A tale of two goalies (Ben Bishop and Daren Pang)

Ran into my little buddy @BenBishop30 before they hit the ice this morning in TB. #Padsbiggerthanme pic.twitter.com/hRPoyHhBXF
— Darren R Pang (@Panger40) November 4, 2013

Former Maine goalie "Big" Ben Bishop is 6'7" tall, that's a very tall goalie. Daren Pang is 5'5" tall, and he's very short goaltender. I once met Panger when I was working the check point at the GFK airport after World Juniors in 2005, he's really not a very big man.

NHL Hockey: Goalies to use 'Smaller' Leg Pads in 2013-14 Season

NHL goalies weigh in after trying new, smaller pads for first time: http://t.co/i7wBR9FW0s pic.twitter.com/JJMIYs1zES
— InGoal Magazine (@InGoalMedia) August 24, 2013

This is one of the new NHL rules that I am very excited about. In my opinion, the goalie equipment in hockey has gotten way out of hand. All you have to do is see one of these guys after a game out of their equipment, to see that their goalie equipment makes them much bigger. It's ridiculous. If you look at a goalie from the days of Eddie Belfour and look at the goalies today you will see a big difference.

Arpon Basu, NHL Insider -- The NHL, with the approval of the National Hockey League Players' Association, has changed the rules governing the length of a goaltender's leg pads for the 2013-14 season, making them a bit shorter so they don't block as much of the five hole between a goalie's legs.

The previous rule, instituted prior to the 2010-11 season, was that a goalie's leg pads could not go higher on his leg than 55 percent of the distance between the center of his knee and his pelvis. So if a goalie's upper-leg measurement was 20 inches, which is roughly the average number in the NHL, the pad could not go higher than 11 inches above the center of his knee.

That number will now be 45 percent, so the same goalie will be able to wear a pad that goes no higher than 9 inches above his knee.

When it comes to closing the five hole, losing approximately 2 inches off each leg pad could result in 4 inches less coverage, depending on the style of the goaltender.

2012 vs 2013 - just some slight changes (per league rules). pic.twitter.com/VH1ahmegdW
— Craig Anderson (@CraigAnderson41) August 22, 2013

Related articles

• Will Craig Anderson's new goalie pads create a bigger five-hole? (nhl.si.com)
• Wilderness Walk 8-25-2013: 38 Days Edition (hockeywilderness.com)
• Top 10 Best Undrafted NHL Goalies (thehockeywriters.com)
• Rules that should be looked at: Goaltender Interference (hockeywilderness.com)

Zane Gothberg to attend Bruins Development Camp

Here is the Boston Bruins Development Camp Roster - future Fighting Sioux goalie Zane Gothberg will be attending as well as Boston College Eagles goalie Parker Milner.

Forwards: Darik Angeli, Anthony Camara, Colin Campbell, Daniel Carr, Justin Courtnall, Brian Ferlin, Justin Florek, Seth Griffith, Colton Hargrove, Alex Khokhlachev, Jared Knight, Cody Payne, Ben Sexton, Wayne Simpson and Ryan Spooner.

Defensemen: Matt Benning, Chris Casto, Tommy Cross, Matthew Grzelcyk, Dougie Hamilton, Torey Krug, Robbie O’Gara and Zach Trotman.

Goaltenders: Zane Gothberg, Parker Milner, Adam Morrison, Malcolm Subban, Niklas Svedberg, Lars Volden.

You Get What You Pay For

Guest post by Rebeca Wilcox.

Hockey goalie equipment tends to be expensive for a couple of reasons. The first reason is that it utilizes a lot more material than the standard set of shoulder pads. The other reason that goalie equipment is expensive involves the technology that goes into creating it. When you are a goalie out to buy hockey equipment, you need to make sure that you purchase only the top name brands. It is a decision that will help to extend your career and protect your health. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

- Armor 

Goalie body armor is constantly changing and evolving. One of the reasons why armor keeps changing is because of the vulnerable spots that the manufacturers keep finding. The top equipment manufacturers use technology that identifies those spots and then puts protection there that does not hinder the goalie's movement. If you spend less on your armor to buy an off brand, you may wind up paying for it with persistent and painful injuries.

- Masks 

Goalie masks and players' helmets have come a long way in a short period of time. Goalie masks absorb a tremendous amount of punishment and require a sophisticated padding system to protect a goalie from long-term injury. If you buy a cheap goalie mask, then you are not giving yourself the full benefit of scientifically placed padding. The top manufacturers spend the time and money to determine the best ways to protect a goalie's head. That is the kind of technology that you want working for you.

- Skates 

Goalie skates have always had toes capable of deflecting even the hardest slapshots, but the arch of the foot and the ankle have always been left exposed. A goalie that turns in such a way that he takes a slapshot off the ankle is probably looking at a painful injury if he does not have the latest technology from the best manufacturers.

- Blockers 

The trapper gloves used by goalies have not changed much over the years, but the blockers have. The top manufacturers are constantly developing new ways to protect a goalie's fingers and wrist from shots and skate blades.

- Pants 

Goalie pants are becoming much different than standard player pants. The top manufacturers appreciate the fact that goalies take shots from a variety of angles and they are working to develop pants that protect and move with the goalie. The off brands, in most cases, do not even offer pants that are specific to the needs of a goalie.

Goalies need all of the protection they can get. When you are shopping for your goalie equipment, be sure to buy name brand products to get the best in protective gear.

Was this goalie interference? Burrow's goal

"They're back!" The most unlikable hockey team in the NHL is up to their antics already. This is the goalie by Canucks punk Alex Burrows, also watch Ryan Kesler throwing his head back and your waiting for him to start flailing about, like he had been shot.

If L.A. Kings goalie Jonathan Quick's stick made contact with Ryan Kesler, it was because Kesler made contact with Quick who was in the blue paint and the goalie was trying to make a save and or trying to find the puck. To me this appears to be a text book goalie interference and the goal should have been waived off. What do you think?

Related articles

• Quest for the Cup: Bergeron, Lidstrom, Kesler, Richards Weigh In (insidehockey.com)
• Canucks Meet Defensive Kings in Round One (insidehockey.com)

SCSU 3 UND 1

Not much you can say about last night’s game other than former Bismarck Bobcat goalie Ryan Faragher was solid in net again for the SCSU Huskies as Saint Cloud State University beat the University of North Dakota 3-1.

I thought UND played pretty well and had some decent chances and showed great speed through the neutral zone. Defensively, I thought they played well in the back end. The forwards just couldn't bury their opportunities when they had them; you're not going to win many games scoring only one goal per game.

The UND forwards are also going to have to catch Faragher who is 6'2" moving because he can stop most of what he sees.

I thought that last night's game was a decent game to watch. I must admit that I am not a big fan of the B2 broadcasts, and I hope when the NCHC start play in 2013-14, that we will be able to see most, if not all of the games on television.

Back to the game, let's give credit where credit is due. Faragher was definitely the difference in the game. Every time UND put a decent shot on net, Faragher was able to see the puck and was in position to make the save. UND didn't get as many chances down low as they could've as well. They are going to need to get a body to the net to cause some confusion in front of Faragher.

The "big story" coming out of Saint Cloud is that Mike Lee is healing nicely and due to return. I don't know how Faragher isn't going to keep getting starts for the SCSU Huskies when Mike Lee returns to the line up for the Huskies. 

Quickly the young Freshman goalie Ryan Faragher is becoming a nemesis for UND. In his first season at SCSU, he is now 2-1 against UND. Faragher has been impressive in both wins against UND this season as he made more than 84 saves and gave up only one goal in the two wins.

Injured starting goalie Mike Lee has never beaten UND and is 0-4-1 during his career at SCSU against UND, but it doesn't seem to matter for the Huskies because they have Faragher waiting in the wings.

Box Score 

Cross Posted at INSIDE HOCKEY...

Related articles

• RW77′s Take on Conference Realignment Part 2 (mvn.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - December 5 (insidehockey.com)
• TV Contract coming for the NCHC? (mvn.com)
• The Gloves are off - UND and UMN (mvn.com)
• WCHA Power Rankings - January 15 (insidehockey.com)

Bryon Paulazzo - Winning Shootout Goal vs Michigan

s/t to Ryan Schaefer for giving me a heads up on this amazing shootout goal. First off, I know a lot of hockey purists are not big fans of the shootout, during the regular season I think it's a great way to settle a hockey game, but I would never want to see game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals settled this way. That being said, nothing pleases me more than watching Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick give up a goal, especially one like this.

KYPOST.COM --- Miami sophomore forward Bryon Paulazzo scored the lone goal in the shootout as the RedHawks picked up the extra point after tying the Wolverines, 3-3 at Cady Arena on Saturday.

Paulazzo skated to the top of the crease and appeared ready to fire a wrist shot to the right of Michigan goalie Shawn Hunwick. Instead he pivoted, went to his backhand and lifted the puck over Hunwick for the shootout-winning top shelf goal.

Paulazzo’s goal came in the fourth round after all three skaters for both teams failed to find the net. After his acrobatic tally, Miami senior goalie Cody Reichard turned aside his fourth straight shot to end the game.

Milan Lucic runs over Ryan Miller

Wow!!! Boston Bruins forward Milan Lucic absolutely mowed over the Sabres all-world goalie Ryan Miller. To quote Andy Brickley, "just because the goaltender is out of net doesn't make him fair game." Brick also said, "that's a penalty you don't mind killing as a player." What concerns me more is the reaction from Ryan Miller, if he had made contact with that big goalie stick he could have been looking at a suspension.