Flawed Logic: Take Checking out of High School Hockey

In yesterday's StarTribune letters to the editor, one writer from Minneapolis suggested that they take checking out of high school hockey. How about no. People watch hockey for the contact and collisions on the ice.

Another great Minnesota boys’ hockey tournament is behind us. I celebrate the effort of the players, the strategy of the coaching and the unshakable spirit of the loyal fans.

I wonder, however, if it isn’t time to eliminate checking from the game. With growing evidence of the disabling effects of concussions, sensitivity to the damage that violence inflicts across our society and several highly publicized injuries of late, I submit that the Great State of Hockey would be better for this civilizing change.

As a longtime supporter of girls’ and women’s hockey — as a fan, a parent and a former player — I assure you that the game can be fast, thrilling and just as spectator-friendly without potentially paralyzing blows. Along with the score, the shots on goal and the time remaining on the clock, boys’ hockey still includes one chilling statistic: hits. As one TV announcer boasted during the Wayzata-Eden Prairie game: “If you’re on the ice, you either hit, or you’re gonna be hit.”

Let’s let these athletes’ explosive speed, puck-handling finesse, and undeniable grace and power under pressure be their lasting legacy. Let’s leave the roughneck bashing behind. These boys are too good not to be able to walk off the ice with their heads high and their bodies and futures intact.

Tracy Nordstrom, Minneapolis

First, to suggest that there's no hitting in women's hockey is short sighted and just wrong. I have covered women's college hockey for the last five season and I would say that the women's game is physical and at times rough. Go back and watch the Olympic games between the USA and Canada. Then come back and talk to me.

Apparently, this author has a short term memory loss. If you've watched a Women's College Hockey game between UMN vs. UND game you will know that there's a lot of body contact. You just can't cream the opponent in the open ice. The refs let a lot of contact around the net go as well as along the boards.

I think the biggest problem facing hockey today some coaches and trainers aren't as proactive as they should be with the concussion protocol. There are risks in life, even for our children.

So, I am going to say no. Let's not remove checking from high school hockey. Maybe the author should find another sport to watch if she's so concerned about it.

Grand Forks Central Knights begin quest for title.

The Grand Fork Central Knights 21-3-0 begin their quest for a state title tonight at 6:00 pm at the Ralph Englestad Arena; their first hurdle will be the Bottineau Braves 15-8-1. Goon’s World would like to wish the Central Knights good luck and hope that they achieve the goal that they have been working for all season long – a North Dakota state hockey title. This Central Hockey team is deep and not many teams can match it's stretch through the forward lines or defensively.

Defense is Key

This past season the Central Knights limited their opponent’s goals and outscored their opponents an impressive 148-21. In addition, the Central Knights shut out their opponents 13times in 24 games. The blue line is paced by senior Danny Ray (10g-23a-33pts) and junior Paul Ladue (9g-23a-32pts). Seth Lang is the top starting goalie in the State of North Dakota with a 18-3-0 record, GAA .089 SV % of .936. The Central Knights have been limiting their oppostion to about 14 shots on goal a game. During the season the Central Knights never game up more than 4 goals a game and and only had 4 goals scored on them twice, during the course of the season the Central Knight's defense game up about 0.913 goals per game.

Paul LaDue (10g-23a-33pts), Danny Ray (9g-23a-32pts)
David Nelson (5g-12a-17pts), Jeremy O’Keefe (8g-12a-20pts)
Corey Zimmerman (1g-2a-3pts), Matt Walters (0g-2a-2pts)


Forwards

Luke Johnson (16g-28a-44pts), Casey Purpur (33g-27a-60pts), Johnny Simonson (14g-28a-44pts)
Aaron Hatt (9g-18a-27pts), Justin Moody (5g-15a-20pts), David Sayler (7p-8a-15pts)
Jordy Aamot (5g-15-a-20pts), Jared Sorlien (5g-4a-9pts), Brenden Gust (14g-17a-21pts)
Tyler Haug (2g-2a-4pts), Caleb Folson (4g-10a-14pts), Alec Lazur (1g-2a-3pts)

As you can see that Central is well balanced through the forward lines and you will not be able to just shut down one line. Central's top line has three players in the top ten of the North Dakota state scoring leaders.

[Central High Player Stats]

[Bottineau High Player Stats]

North Dakota High School All State

Here is the list for the North Dakota High School All State Hockey Team:

2009 Boy's All-State Team Announced:
F-Casey Purpur [G.F. Central]
F-Jake LaDouceur [G.F. Red River]
F-Patrick Anderson [Bismarck High]
F-Peter Orson [Fargo South]
F-Tyler Richter [Bismarck High]
F-Justin Moody [G.F. Central]
F-Riley Olson [Hazen/Beulah]
F-Russel Crary [G.F. Red River]
F-Bryce Schmitt [Minot]
D-Jake Axtman [Williston]
D-Danny Ray [G.F. Central]
D-Nick Romanick [Bismarck High]
D-Ryan Hills [Grafton/Park River]
D-Tyler Peterson [Bismarck High]
D-Dan Kovar [Bismarck Century]
D-Josh Hooey [Fargo South]
G-Scott Buchholz [Fargo South]
G-Darren Medler [Minot]
G-Seth Lang [G.F. Central]

Where has this kid been all season?

Seth Lang's play Monday night should make his case in solidifying his hold on the starting goaltending position for Central High School. Seth Lang a sophomore until recently had been wafting in the wings for his opportunity to show what he can do. That opportunity finally presented itself on Monday night as Lang and the Central Knights put up blue collar effort to beat the Fargo South Bruins 2-1 in overtime. It would appear that the questions to the goaltending situation at Central High School have been answered!

Central grabs third seed
By Brad Schlossman, Herald Staff Writer

After a 5-19 finish last season, Tony Bina set the lofty goal of a third-place finish for his Grand Forks Central boys hockey team.

It took until the final second of the regular season, but the Knights fulfilled their coach's wish.

Joel Riopelle scored an overtime goal to lift Central to a 2-1 win over Fargo South on Monday in a game that decided the East Region's third seed.

“It's so big for us to get the win, especially going into the playoffs,” said Bina, whose team finished the regular season 12-8-1 overall and 8-5-1 in region play. “We thought that we could finish in the top three in the (East Region), and we did it through hard work.”

The Knights used strong goaltending from sophomore Seth Lang and timely goals by Riopelle and Klockmann to beat the Bruins in overtime for the second time this season.

Lang stopped 24 shots to lead a strong defensive effort by the Knights, who had allowed 17 goals in the last two games.

“We had to bounce back from those games,” said Lang, who made 11 saves in the third period. “It's good to leave the regular season on a good note.”

Central plays sixth-seeded Fargo North on Thursday in the first round of the region tournament, while Fargo South plays fifth-seeded Devils Lake.

The Bruins appeared to be in position to take the third seed on Monday night after Ian Powers tied the game when his wrist shot from the boards went off a Central defenseman's stick and into the net with 4:50 left.

South outshot the Knights 12-3 in the third period and only needed to muster a tie.

But in overtime, Central needed just one scoring chance.

Riopelle carried the puck in the zone on his forehand along the right wing. He fought off a check from a Bruin defenseman and took it to the net hard. At the last second, he moved the puck to his backhand and flipped it past goalie Scott Buchholz on the short side at 1:22.

“On a play like that, you just try to drive to the net and hope to get a rebound or draw a penalty,” Riopelle said. “Once I saw it go in, I just laid there on the ice. I knew that the game was over. That's probably the best feeling I've ever had as a Central hockey player.”

South coach Dean Wilson said he felt his team had chances to win but didn't finish. As for not getting the third seed, he's not overly concerned.

“In order to get to state, we'll need to beat Red River, Grafton(-Park River) and Central anyway,” Wilson said. “And Devils Lake, too, for that matter. We play them first.

“We're looking forward to the challenge.”