Guest writer Heidi Sioux and her take on The Goons of NCAA Hockey

I was inspired by your name and decided to write a little something about “Sioux Goons”. I have spent the last few days reading articles on hockey web sites and their comments, blogs, and message boards regarding the UND/Denver series this past weekend. For the most part I have found the majority of it quite humorous. The venom, passionate hatred, and hypocrisy that the Sioux are totally at fault for everything that happens on the ice has been absolutely hilarious.

There is an amazing amount of revisionist history. One of the ones I like the best is that the squad this year is somehow “worse” than previous Sioux teams. I especially like the comment in the comment section of the Western College Hockey that insinuated that Blais’ teams were angels.

Color Me Surprised
Anonymous said...
“Hakstol is a far cry from what Dean Blais was at that school. Blais may have had some tough players but they generally didn't act like a bunch of goons.”
3:58 PM

I have been attending UND hockey games since I was a baby (my folks brought me up right) but didn’t really start paying attention to it until the late 70’s when my obsession was born and from that time the teams have consistently stayed the same. The Sioux have always been a “hard hitting, in your face, don’t mess with me or my teammates or you will sorely regret it” team. Gino and Dean’s teams were always that way and Hakstol has just followed the tradition.

Let’s take a little trip down memory lane. Gino’s teams included such notable “goons” as Jim Archibald, Landon Wilson, Marc Chorney, Dean Dachyshyn, Justin Duberman, Craig Ludwig, Russ Parent, Gary Valk, Micky Volcan, Howard Walker, Dixon Ward, Marty Schriner and Chris Jensen. Dean’s teams have also included their fair share of notable “goons” - Mike Commodore, Matt Greene, Matt Jones, Matt Smaby, Andy Schneider, David Hale, Tim O’Connell and Mike Prpich (I know there are more than this for both coaches, but these are the ones I remember off the top of my head). Throughout this period of goonery, the Sioux have amassed 5 National Championships, 9 WCHA Championships and have sent more than 75 players on to actually play in the NHL. Not bad for a bunch of “thugs”.

Two of my favorite “goons” are Jim Archibald and Mike Commodore. Archie, who was a winger, played in 154 games had 248 penalties for 540 minutes and – wait for it – had 75 goals and 69 assists for 144 points. Although he averaged approximately 3.5 minutes of penalty time per game, he also contributed .93 points per game. Mike Commodore, who is one of my other favorite players, contributed 151 penalties for 382 minutes in 106 games. This is the same Mike Commodore who has played in two Stanley Cup Finals, has a Stanley Cup ring and was recently traded to the top NHL team in the East, the Ottawa Senators, as they prepare to make a run at the Stanley Cup.

Puck Swami on the USCHO board had an interesting take on the Sioux physicality ( – post 350), I am not sure I totally agree. The one quote that I did chuckle at though was:

“It starts at Level 1 "check-them-cleanly-but-violently-all-the-way-through-the-boards philosophy (Kris Porter/Matt Smaby/Mike Commodore)" that tries to establish the Sioux as masters of the physical domain.”

This is the same Mike Commodore that took offense to Alex Brooks of Wisconsin taking “liberties” with one of our skilled players and beat him so bad he had to have plastic surgery. I’m pretty sure that it was after this fight that the “Commodore Rule” was established which gives increasing DQs for repeat offenders.

Our current “goon” (according to all the comments on various web sites) Joe Finley has a career total (including this year to date) 87 penalties for 231 minutes in 113 games (he’s got a ways to go to catch up with Commy). For this year his stats are 22 penalties for 63 minutes in 29 games and is a plus +22. He is tied for major penalties with one with several of our other “goons” – Ryan Duncan, TJ Oshie, Rylan Kaip, Kyle Radke and trails the biggest goon on the team Derrick LaPoint who has 2. Boy oh boy, are these guys a bunch of thugs. Would hate to meet any of them in a dark alley – OK, Radke pissed might make me shake in my boots a little.

While I really like the physicality that this years team is playing with and I am tremendously proud that they are willing to stand up for each other and take their punishment like men, these kids couldn’t hold a candle to the “brutes” that came before them. This is by far the least physically intimidating team the Sioux have had in a very long time. What they may lack in size however, they more than make up for it in HEART and PRIDE.

Finley's Hockey's Future player profile

Big Joe's Hockey's Future
Joe Finley
Prospect Grade: 6.0 D (About Prospect Grades)
Profile Contributed By: DJ Powers

History

The Edina, MN native wrapped up the 2004-05 season with 13 points (3 goals, 10 assists) in 55 appearances. Two of his three goals came on the power play. Finley also led the Stampede in penalty minutes with 181. He was a member of Team World in the 2005 USHL Prospects/All-Star game back in February.

2005-06: As a freshman with the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux he quickly established himself as one of the team’s most reliable defenders. Finley appeared in 43 games for UND, but registered just three assists. He did, however, finish the season at +18 defensively and racked up 96 penalty minutes along the way. In the month of December, Finley fractured his arm during a game and even played a few more shifts before finally coming out of the contest. He then went on to miss only two games after the injury.

2006-07: Finley is not going to be a defenseman who puts up points. With one goal and six assists in 38 games, his job is to control the game defensively. His incredible size and aggressiveness have given him the ability to take control of a game from a defensive standpoint.

Talent Analysis

In addition to his enormous frame, Finley has tremendous focus and work ethic. He has steadily improved his overall game (in particular his puck handling and skating) leading into college. Finley is a surprisingly good skater for a 6’7 player. He is very agile, and has a heavy shot, although he rarely gets to use it.

Future

Right now in his development, Finley is still pretty raw and the Caps are likely to allow him to play out his collegiate eligibility before bringing him into the system. He could eventually become one of the most fearsome defenders in the league one day. But for now, Finley is still several years from being an NHL player, and will likely develop in Hershey for a season or two once he does turn pro.

Goon's World Perspective

I can only hope that the "Future" comes true. I would love to see big Joe Finley in a Fighting Sioux jersey for one more year. For the Finley haters it would have another year of listening to them complain about how big a goon Finley is. I only wish he was a Bruin or a Wild Player. League mascot's beware. He, he, he...

Joe Finley Fight card @ Hockey Fights

When I was searching the Hockeyfights.com data base I came across Joe Finley's card and during the 2004-2005 season Finley was in 11 fights, that is impressive in my opinion. Sweet.