Wild aren't good against Stars in Dallas...

I had to take a second look when I read this clip in the Star and Tribune... I wonder if there is any way we can blame Norm Green for that? LOL...

The Wild (6-1-1) dropped its ninth consecutive game (0-7-2) in Dallas since a 3-2 overtime vicory on March 21, 2003. That ties the franchise record for longest winless streak in an opposing arena.

Travis Roche bis 2012 beim SC Bern

Some one had this posted on Siouxsports.com Travis Roche has signed a contract to play in Bern Switzerland.

Travis Roche bis 2012 beim SC Bern

Der SCB hat den Vertrag mit dem kanadischen Verteidiger Travis Roche um drei Jahre bis und mit Saison 2011/12 verlängert.

Travis Roche hat in seinen bisher 16 Meisterschaftsspielen für den SCB 16 Punkte geholt (7 Tore, 9 Assists). Roche ist damit hinter Peteri Nummelin zurzeit der zweitbeste Offensiv-Verteidiger der National League A.

For the people that don't speak deutch I included the translation below. You have to love the google you can decipher that Travis Roche has signed a three year deal with SC Bern without ever taking a class in the German language.

Travis Roche until 2012 when SC Bern

SCB has the contract with the Canadian defenders Travis Roche for three years until the 2011/12 season and extended. Travis Roche has in his past 16 games for the championship 16 points SCB fetched (7 goals, 9 assists). Roche is so behind Peteri Nummelin currently the second best offensive defender of the National League A.

Hockey Chicks on the Fighting Sioux

Check out what the Hockey Chicks had to say on their latest podcast. I listened to this on my ipod on the way home from Iowa today and Kat and Julie briefly talk about college hockey at about 17:00 minutes in, apparently Boston is the place to go this season if you want to watch the college hockey powerhouses play.

The Hockey chicks talk about Ryan Duncan, and how he has a chance to redeem himself. I listen to these guys (women) because I find them remotely amusing, while they do seem to get their facts mixed up some times they kill me.

Sean Avery's day at the office

I found a few interesting stores on Rangers thug/though guy Sean Avery over on The Rangers Report. First off everything in this article makes me ask is this a hockey player or a fashion model want a be? Also, I must add it's like traffic accident you know you shouldn't look but you do anyways.

Until there is more definitive news on Sean Avery’s hockey career—he does still play hockey, doesn’t he?—or unless he lacerates his spleen again, is linked to more call girls, or becomes engaged to one of the Bush sisters, this will be my last Sean Avery post for some time.

But for those of you who can’t get enough Avery, and that would seem to include Sean Avery himself, (check out this video)

What did I learn from the video? It does appear that Sean Avery has recovered from the spleen injury. I also found out that I actually have something in common with Sean Avery; I have the same pair of the Adidas Bounce shoes that Avery does. I might add that after six and a half months they are already starting to fall apart.
Men's Vogue picture
It would appear that Sean Avery is a fashion designer trapped in hockey goon's body. I mean check out this post:

I don't watch sports. I don't read about sports. Generally, other than spending a lot of time in dressing rooms both at home and on the road, I don't hang out with other athletes. Over breakfast in hotels when the Rangers are on the road, I read the Style section in The New York Times. Some people question whether I'm straight; others give me compliments. Some women find it a turn-on. My teammates are very supportive and cool about my interest in fashion — sometimes they even ask for my advice on what to wear. But I'd be lying to you if I said that I don't take some verbal abuse from opposing players for the clothes I wear, or for my interest in something — "fashion" — that I think sounds a little frightening to narrow-minded blockheads. I also realize that this isn't necessarily their fault — they think it's what they're supposed to think.

Earlier this year — just before the playoffs, actually — I wrote to the editor in chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, and expressed my desire to intern for the magazine once my team won the Stanley Cup. After just a couple of days I got the answer I was looking for.

But first, of course, the playoffs: The Rangers had a great first round against the Devils in mid-April. (I caused my usual controversy with what I thought was an innovative technique to distract the Devils' goalie, Martin Brodeur; apparently the NHL thought this was too innovative, and created a new rule to prevent players from blocking or interfering with a goalie — some call it the "Sean Avery Rule" — to make sure it never happens again.) In the second round we played a strong Pittsburgh Penguins team. In the first period of the third game of the series, I lacerated my spleen. I finished the game, but pretty soon internal bleeding and a few other bad things led to a rough week. The Rangers lost the series against the Penguins, and all of a sudden I had some time off. This is where the fun starts.

UND 4 C.C. 2

The UND Fighting Sioux regained some momentum it lost yesterday by resoundingly beating the C.C. Tigers 4-2 in the third place game for the Final Five. In the past we have heard how the third place game is a meaningless game and there is no reason to play it. This afternoon that couldn't be further from the truth as the Sioux locked up a number one seed with the win against WCHA regular season champion C.C. today, now the Sioux have to wait to see where they go next. Seems as if the Lets Go DU hockey blogger has taken great pleasure in the Tigers losing both its game in the WCHA Final Five this weekend.



Box Score

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-1 Taylor Chorney (2-Boarding) CC 0x1 2:40
CC 1 - 0 6x6 Chad Rau (28) (Mike Testwuide) 7:56
CC (+): 14,25,7,4,21,G30 NDK (-): 4,28,16,14,7,G1
CC-1 Jack Hillen (2-Holding) NDK 0x1 8:13
NDK-2 T.J. Oshie (2-Slashing) CC 0x2 9:24
CC-2 Ryan Lowery (2-Tripping) NDK 1x2 17:27
NDK 1 - 1 6x5 PP T.J. Oshie (18) (Taylor Chorney, Chris VandeVelde) 19:20
NDK: 7,4,29,28,16,G1 CC: 21,4,7,14,G30

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CC-3 Kris Fredheim (2-DELAY OF GAME) NDK 2x3 3:48
NDK 2 - 1 6x5 PP LL Chris VandeVelde (15) (Taylor Chorney, T.J. Oshie) 5:01
NDK: 29,4,7,28,16,G1 CC: 14,8,26,11,G30
NDK-3 Brad Malone (2-Kneeing) CC 0x3 8:10
CC-4 Jack Hillen (2-Interference) NDK 3x4 10:09
NDK 3 - 1 6x5 PP GW Chay Genoway (7) (Jake Marto, Brad Malone) 10:27
NDK: 5,25,8,10,14,G1 CC: 9,10,11,7,G30
CC-5 Nate Prosser (2-Slashing) NDK 3x5 12:28
NDK-4 Kyle Radke (2-Hooking) CC 1x4 15:06
CC 2 - 3 6x5 PP Jimmy Kilpatrick (15) (Brian Connelly, Ryan Lowery) 16:36
CC: 11,23,14,24,26,G30 NDK: 2,5,7,16,G1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CC-6 Nate Prosser (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) NDK 3x6 2:45
NDK-5 Brad Miller (2-Roughing) 4:21
CC-7 Scott Thauwald (2-Roughing) 4:21
NDK 4 - 2 6x6 Darcy Zajac (3) (Kyle Radke, Jake Marto) 10:02
NDK (+): 11,26,25,6,21,G1 CC (-): 23,24,19,16,11,G30
CC-8 Nate Prosser (2-DELAY OF GAME) NDK 3x7 10:44
Timeout - Colorado College 18:35

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game

Gophers 3 Huskies 2

Tonight's game between the SCSU Huskies and the Minnesota Gophers was for the most part an pretty exciting hockey game that featured a lot of up and down the ice offensive action, almost the race horse hockey that many in the WCHA have come to love. To say the least it was nice to see the return of of hockey with a focuse on offensive and less on the defensive side. I was affraid going into the game that it was going to be a bit of a yawner.

Surprisingly; during tonight's game referee Derrick Shepherd unexpectedly found his whistle again as he called an amazing 17 penalties during hockey game. There were 9 penalties whistled against the Gophers and 8 whistled against the Huskies. I am not sure there were 17 penalties called all of last weekend between the Mavericks and the Gophers.

I was surprised at the score of this game as I thought the Huskies would have run the Gophers out of the building. Seriously, common sense would have told me that the Gophers would have been tired after playing almost 5 games last weekend. The Gopher found their legs, won the game and will get the 7:00 pm game tomorrow night. I guess we won't get to see if there is actually still the Gophers rule this season.


Box Score

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MIN 1 - 0 6x6 Tony Lucia (7) (Evan Kaufmann, Derek Peltier) 0:25
MIN (+): 12,5,20,22,19,G33 STC (-): 26,9,12,21,24,G33
MIN-1 Mike Howe (2-Tripping) STC 0x1 6:05
STC-1 Andreas Nodl (2-CHARGING THE GOALIE) 6:27
MIN-2 Ben Gordon (2-Hooking) STC 1x2 7:00
STC 1 - 1 5x4 PP Garrett Raboin (2) (Ryan Lasch, Aaron Brocklehurst) 7:33
STC: 7,19,21,9,G33 MIN: 5,20,16,G33
MIN-3 Stu Bickel (2-Hooking) STC 1x3 7:49
STC-2 Chris Anderson (2-Slashing) MIN 0x1 12:02
MIN-4 Jay Barriball (2-Hooking) STC 1x4 16:30

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STC-3 Michael Olson (2-Tripping) MIN 1x2 3:12
STC-4 Brent Borgen (2-Elbowing) MIN 1x3 3:12
MIN 2 - 1 6x4 PP Evan Kaufmann (9) (Blake Wheeler, Cade Fairchild) 4:35
MIN: 19,17,28,26,13,G33 STC: 13,24,7,G33
MIN-5 Patrick White (2-Cross-Checking) 8:10
STC-5 Aaron Brocklehurst (2-Interference) 8:10
STC-6 Ryan Lasch (2-Diving) MIN 1x4 8:10
MIN-6 Ryan Flynn (2-Slashing) STC 1x5 12:40
MIN-7 Tony Lucia (2-Hooking) STC 1x6 13:06
MIN-8 Cade Fairchild (2-Roughing) 15:36
STC-7 John Swanson (2-Roughing) 15:36
MIN-9 Mike Carman (2-Tripping) STC 1x7 18:34

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STC 2 - 2 6x6 Tony Mosey (5) (Ryan Lasch, Garrett Raboin) 15:34
STC (+): 27,19,24,12,28,G33 MIN (-): 7,17,13,6,2,G33
STC-8 Nick Oslund (2-Goaltender Interference) MIN 1x5 15:50
MIN 3 - 2 6x6 GW LL Mike Howe (6) (Derek Peltier, David Fischer) 19:47
MIN (+): 24,20,5,16,11,G33 STC (-): 10,21,13,24,12,G33
Timeout - St. Cloud State 19:47

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Miami in need of the Heimlich

All season long we have been hearing from the CCHA-loving media experts how Miami is such a great hockey program. One Skippy even used the term dynasty. Fast forward to Sunday and Miami's bubble is starting to burst. The schedule stuffed with cupcakes is finally coming back to bite the RedHawks in the butt. One could say that the cupcakes are getting lodged in their throats.

As college hockey fans will tell you, championships are won in March and April, not November, December and January. There isn't a Virg Foss or a Sid Hartman media award for winning first half of the season. To be successful and make a run deep into the post season, your hockey team needs to winning at the an end of the season, not limping into the playoffs. The key to being successful is having your team winning in February and March. Miami seems to be in full meltdown mode and is falling faster than a prom dress at a senior prom.


Adam Wodon sums it up best:

Ferris State 3, Miami 1
CHN: Uh-oh. Ferris State did it to Miami again, and, soon you won't have to worry whether Miami is overrated, because they won't be rated very highly anyway. This two-game sweep at the hands of the Bulldogs has to sting Miami, which needs to get out of this funk in a hurry. First place is lost, now with Michigan five points ahead. And Michigan State tied the RedHawks for second with its two-game sweep. The losses have dropped Miami to fourth in KRACH and tied for fourth in the Pairwise.

WCHA > CCHA

If the playoffs started today this is what the WCHA and the CCHA representatives would look like per the PWR at Siouxsports.com. Looks like the WCHA is regaining some strength as a league.

CCHA
1. Michigan
2. Miami
7. MSU
14 Notre Dame

WCHA
3. C.C.
5. UND
6. DU
10. UMD
11. MSU-M
13. Wisconsin

Scores of Relevance
CCHA
Ferris State 5 at Notre Dame 3 CC
Michigan State 1 at Northern Michigan 3 CC
Michigan 4 at Miami 2 CC

WCHA
Wisconsin 1 at Michigan Tech 1 WC OT
Alaska Anchorage 1 at Minnesota State 3 WC
St. Cloud State 3 at Colorado College 5 WC
Minnesota 1 at Denver 1 WC OT

Miami vs Michigan

Tonight I was able to watch the much talked about match up between the Miami RedHawks and the Michigan Wolverines on CCHA television network, I mean CSTV. While I do say that tongue in check I do think CSTV spends way too much time patting that CCHA on the back and has kind of slighted the WCHA and Hockey East.

Speaking of the CCHA television network; tomorrow night if you have that channel in your cable package you will be able to watch the UNO Mavericks and the tOhio State Buckeyes. Clear your calender folks, this is a must watch game. Talk about a meaningless game between two middle of the road teams in a top heavy mediocre league. Come on folks, at least give us game two of the Miami and Michigan match up which is an more interesting match up. It could save you a lot of money in travel cost to just stay in Oxford, Ohio one more night.

Back to the game; while the score was close, the game was not in my opinion. The RedHawks were basically knocked out of the game after the 1st period. I thought Michigan was obviously the better team, as they put the RedHawks away in the first period by burying lose pucks in front of the net. Hum, looks a lot like the team that the Fighting Sioux played last season in Denver, fast skilled and opportunistic. I was, however, not impressed with Miami or with Jeff Frazee's WJC backup. On the flip side I was impressed with Ryan Jones strength and defensive skills, I would have to say that the man is a brute.

The Wolverines then went on the vapor lock mode and got into penalty trouble in the later stage of the game. The Wolverines masterfully killed the penalties and were able to hold the RedHawks off. It will be interesting to see who wins tomorrow nights game. If Michigan sweeps I will go a long way in the Wolverines sewing up the CCHA title and a number one seed.

NMU on the rise?

If I was a top team in the CCHA I would be hoping I don't have to play the NMU Wild Cats who are now all of a sudden they have tied Michigan for two games and beaten MSU.

WCHA the no scoring league

Someone mentioned how the WCHA is becoming the no goal league, five of eight teams only scored one goal. Here is the reason why seven out of the top twenty goalies in the NCAA are from the WCHA. NCAA goalie leaders.
Save Percentage: Saves GA Save%
1 Jean-Philippe Lamoureux North Dakota SR 652 46 .934
2 Billy Sauer (COA) Michigan JR 647 46 .934
3 Jeff Zatkoff (LAK) Miami JR 522 38 .932
4 Ben Scrivens Cornell SO 521 38 .932
5 Richard Bachman (DAL) Colorado College FR 575 43 .930
6 Michael-Lee Teslak Michigan Tech JR 319 24 .930
7 Mitch O'Keefe Ferris State JR 391 31 .927
8 Mark Dekanich (NSH) Colgate SR 660 53 .926
9 Alex Kangas (ATL) Minnesota FR 444 36 .925
10 Matt Lundin Mercyhurst JR 603 49 .925
11 Juliano Pagliero Niagara JR 562 46 .924
12 Matt Climie Bemidji State SR 427 35 .924
13 Kevin Regan (BOS) New Hampshire SR 563 47 .923
14 Alex Stalock (SJS) Minnesota Duluth SO 661 56 .922
15 Jeff Lerg Michigan State JR 785 67 .921
16 Mike Zacharias Minnesota State JR 608 52 .921
17 Kyle Richter Harvard SO 559 48 .921
18 David Leggio Clarkson SR 652 57 .920
19 Billy Blase Yale SO 432 38 .919
20 Peter Mannino Denver SR 622 55 .919

This weeks picks: Misc Ramblings/Rants

FRIDAY:
Wisconsin at Michigan Tech
Alaska-Anchorage at Minnesota State
St. Cloud State at Colorado College
Minnesota at Denver

SATURDAY:
Wisconsin at Michigan Tech
Alaska-Anchorage at Minnesota State
St. Cloud State at Colorado College
Minnesota at Denver

Last week 5-5
For the Season 90-64

This week's analysis

This week MTU Huskies and Wisconsin Badgers will split. I just don’t see either team getting very far ahead of the other team. Both teams are very defensive minded.
Thanks to MTU getting only 1 point last weekend I now owe Sioux_7 two beers, it was another weekend where I predicted a sweep and the prediction ended up being very wrong. Kind a like Paula Weston’s rants every week. Ha, I suppose I can always jinx someone else’s team this weekend.

Minnesota will not beat DU this weekend as the Gophers go 0-4 on the season against the DU Pioneers, mark it down that you heard it here first. :) I predict during the post series hand shake a purse fight will break out between Don Lucia and George Gwozdecky.

C.C. is hot right now after running EZAC patsy Clarkson out of the building; I bet we don't see Clarkson as a first round bid this season. I predict that C.C. sweeps this weekend, no disrespect to the Huskies who are my second favorite team in the WCHA, but this is the year of the Tiger. I am sure Win-Twins will be happy with my prediction. I am sure that Heather is still smarting from the Santana trade as well as I am. I don't think the Twins got enough for Santana.

MSU-M and UAA, no way the Seawolves get any points this weekend in Mankato, the Mavericks are smoking hot right now. :)

Here is UND Fighting Sioux Hater Kevin McFeely aka McFooley's latest rant.


Here is the part I think is comical:

The University of North Dakota has exerted copious amounts of energy issuing written apologies for its hockey team in the past year. So much so that “Fight On Sioux,” the school’s fight song, was in danger of being replaced by the twangy Brenda Lee classic, “I’m Sorry.”

Robbie Bina, T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews apologized via press release for their roles in last February’s Judy’s Tavern affair. Joe Finley – all 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds of him – had to write an apology after hacking Wisconsin mascot Bucky Badger across the shins with a stick last November. And just this weekend, Sioux coach Dave Hakstol circulated a written apology after being caught on television flipping the middle digit of his right hand at official Don Adams during UND’s heated contest at Minnesota on Saturday.

Contrary to popular legend, the toughest job at UND is not athletic director. It is media relations director. Typing all that contrition can leave a guy with a nasty case of carpal tunnel syndrome.

Hakstol’s YouTube moment elicited the expected frightening responses from cyberspace. A popular Sioux fan Web site and a chat room set up on The Forum’s site had numerous responses trumpeting two testosterone-fueled defenses: 1) Adams deserved to be the recipient of the obscene gesture and 2) this was a hockey game, not some supposedly less macho activity like figure skating or golf, so a one-fingered salute was a proper way for Hakstol to vent his frustration.

UND’s administration clearly did not prescribe to this juvenile way of thinking. Hakstol was suspended for two games Monday by co-acting athletic directors Betty Ralston and Steve Brekke. Hakstol will miss UND’s series against Denver Feb. 15-16 in Grand Forks.

Gee I wonder which fan web site Mike McFooley is refering to? It can't be the ever popular siouxsports.com. As we know from last season Mike McFooley has been know to lurk from time to time on that fan webpage. You would think a big city sports writer like Mike McFooley would look to more credible site for information, than a fan web page for your information (of course I say this tongue in cheek). Why don't you stick to covering your own teams down in Fargo, ND? I am sure that Mid Major Summit league that NDSU plays in is way more exciting than the little old WCHA. I am sure if I dig hard enough I will find Bison athletes in the bars and the police blotter as well.

Kissing your sister has never been this fun: Sioux 1 and Gophers 1

Wow! what a game. Intensity is what the game last night was lacking, tonight's game was oozing with intensity. Tonight's game could be described as old time hockey. All it was missing was Eddie Shore. No doubt tonight's game will probably boost UND up the national rankings for penalty minutes. I also think UND should wear it as a badge of honor. Get out of line with the Sioux and they will make you pay. It will be interesting to see if any more comes out of tonight's game as far as suspensions go. I just hope that Hakstol doesn't get suspended for flipping off the ref. I would have done the same thing.

Here is an interesting stat: Jean-Philippe Lamoureux has played in 51 consecutive games and has a 34-12-5 record with a 1.98 GAA and a .928 Save%. That is a pretty impressive line. After the season I would like to be a fly on the wall at the league meetings. I am not so sure a lot of the league coaches are going to want to sit next to Hakstol after the way this season has transpired.

I lost a lot of respect for FSN's Kevin Gorg this weekend. His quip about Finley being from Edina and 6'7" and yapping on the bench at the Minnesota players. So fricken what, so were a lot of other players on both sides of the ice. Seriously! There was no point in crying about UND, get over it. There were two teams on the ice and the Gophers are not innocent in this affair. Every week UND fans has to listen to people whine about how "UND is a bunch of goons...uses a bunch of cheap tactics..." UND is a physical team and plays like a cornered animal.

On the incident if you look you will see that R.J. Anderson tried to leg check T.J. Oshie and Darcy Zajac came to his aid, that is what probably set Zajac off.

Also I can't believe that "the Rug" Frank Mazzaco is the best that FSN can come up with. The man should should just wear pom-poms when he is in the booth. Woog is 100% class act and a straight up guy.

Scoring/Penalties Time
Penalties/Minutes S
North Dakota 17 / 91
Minnesota 17 / 69


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-1 Ryan Duncan (5-Checking from Behind) MIN 0x1 0:07
NDK-2 Ryan Duncan (10-Game Misconduct) (Served by Ryan Martens) 0:07
NDK-3 T.J. Oshie (2-Slashing) 9:22
MIN-1 Jay Barriball (2-Slashing) 9:22
NDK-4 Joe Finley (2-Cross-Checking) MIN 0x2 10:32
MIN-2 Justin Bostrom (2-Interference) NDK 0x1 17:56

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MIN-3 Patrick White (2-Holding) NDK 0x2 3:28
NDK-5 Brad Malone (2-Roughing) 7:37
NDK-6 Brad Malone (2-Roughing) MIN 0x3 7:37
NDK-7 Brad Malone (10-Misconduct) (Served by Kyle Radke) 7:37
MIN-4 Derek Peltier (2-Roughing) 7:37
MIN-5 Blake Wheeler (2-Slashing) NDK 0x3 8:32
MIN-6 Blake Wheeler (10-Misconduct) (Served by Tom Pohl) 8:32
NDK-8 Jean-Philippe Lamoureux (2-Diving) (Served by Andrew Kozek) 12:15
MIN-7 Jay Barriball (2-CONTACT WITH GOALIE) 12:15
MIN-8 Mike Carman (2-Roughing) NDK 0x4 16:04
MIN-9 Kevin Wehrs (2-Holding) NDK 0x5 19:42

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MIN-10 Stu Bickel (2-Holding) NDK 0x6 3:42
MIN 1 - 0 6x6 Ben Gordon (10) (Blake Wheeler) 7:17
MIN (+): 13,17,28,26,4,G33 NDK (-): 4,10,7,17,28,G1
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 GT Chris VandeVelde (11) (Ryan Martens, Robbie Bina) 11:15
NDK (+): 29,8,4,28,20,G1 MIN (-): 28,13,4,17,26,G33


Overtime (5:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-9 Rylan Kaip (2-Hooking) 2:58
MIN-11 Blake Wheeler (2-Roughing) 2:58
NDK-10 Joe Finley (10-Misconduct) 5:00
NDK-11 Joe Finley (10-Game Misconduct) 5:00
NDK-12 T.J. Oshie (2-Roughing) 5:00
NDK-13 T.J. Oshie (2-Roughing) 5:00
NDK-14 T.J. Oshie (10-Misconduct) 5:00
NDK-15 Darcy Zajac (5-Cross-Checking) 5:00
NDK-16 Darcy Zajac (5-Fighting) 5:00
NDK-17 Darcy Zajac (10-Game Disqualification) 5:00
MIN-12 Ryan Flynn (2-Roughing) 5:00
MIN-13 Ryan Flynn (2-Roughing) 5:00
MIN-14 Ryan Flynn (10-Misconduct) 5:00
MIN-15 Tony Lucia (5-Fighting) 5:00
MIN-16 Tony Lucia (10-Game Disqualification) 5:00
MIN-17 Blake Wheeler (10-Misconduct) 5:00

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game

It's Official: WCHA rules on game.

Todd D. Milewski is reporting that it is now official the game from last Friday night between the DU Pioneers and the Badgers will not change, there will be no point given to the Badgers, even though they tied the game before regulation time expired.

I don't think anyone thought the game result would change, however, this now puts the refs in the WCHA on notice, they must do better. Horrible isn't going to be good enough anymore, the league officials must do a better job and the fans deserve better and we should demand better. Excuses from the league office saying that there is nothing wrong with the job being done on the ice is unacceptable. The WCHA officials must make the right calls or face further scrutiny. The coaches should also speak up at the league meeting in the spring.

I believe now the status quo might finally change, the reason being; one of the Big Ten schools in the WCHA has finally been a victim of and lost a game because of poor officiating and the changes will be made, you can bank on it. I pitty the fool; I mean offical that makes the next mistake. I do expect some head to roll, it should be Randy Schmidt's. Can you imagine if this blown call had happened to the Minnesota Gophers? An official would have gotten a public rebuke and suspension following by a firing. Remember what happen to Jay Kleven for making a correct call?

The league's response is more of the same old tired crap, the WCHA admits its incompetent ref made a mistake, his second one on the season, however, the league is also is telling Wisconsin don't go away mad just go away.

Here's the official wording from the WCHA:

In response to the letter of protest filed with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association from the University of Wisconsin regarding the circumstances surrounding the Wisconsin vs Denver intercollegiate hockey game on Friday, Jan. 11, Bill Hudson, WCHA Chair, and the member Faculty Athletic Representatives made the following decision:

After a review of both the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations book and the WCHA Handbook, the above has confirmed Commissioner McLeod's interpretation/decision and affirmed that it is not the prerogative of the Association to change the outcome of a game.

In the 2006-08 NCAA Men's and Women's Ice Hockey Rules and Interpretations book, under Rule 6/Playing Rules, HR-81, SECTION 39: Protests are not recognized or allowed.

Further, under Rule 5/Officials and Officiating Systems, SECTION 3: The duties of the referee(s) are as follows:
under a. The referee(s) decision is final; there is no appeal.

In the WCHA Handbook, Code of Regulations:
1. Playing Rules
a. NCAA playing rules will govern play in all intercollegiate ice hockey games. Conferences and individual institutions are prohibited from modifying any playing rules except by permission of the NCAA Ice Hockey Rules Committee.

The WCHA earlier acknowledged the error that was made and regrets the circumstance. This decision is final and the matter is considered closed.

Sioux beat MTU 4-1

Tonight the Fighting Sioux played well and got the win against a hard working hockey team. MTU is a big skilled team back stopped by two great goaltenderss that plays a strong defensive game I think they are the best in the WCHA. For the half of the game this was a boring hockey game and picked up the second half of the game.

The Sioux beat the MTU Huskies to the puck all night and did the things they have to do to be successful, go into the dirty areas and get the puck. The Sioux played with that edge that I saw against Wisconsin Badgers and the Fighting Sioxu also played great team defense limiting the Huskies to 15 shots. One could say that they took a page out of MTU's book. I look forward to reading how UND is a bunch of hacks that, to me that means the Fighting Sioux played their game tonight.

Goon's three stars of the game
1.) Evan Trupp
2.) Chris VandeVelde
3.) Big Joe Finley

Box Score

First Period

North Dakota-1 Evan Trupp (Matt Frattin, Jake Marto) 17:10

Second Period

Michigan Tech-1 Peter Rouleau (Deron Cousens, Drew Dobson) 0:46
North Dakota-2 Joe Finley (Chay Genoway, Chris VandeVelde) GWG 10:53
North Dakota-3 Matt Watkins (Taylor Chorney, Chris VandeVelde) 11:50

Third Period

North Dakota-4 Taylor Chorney (T.J. Oshie, Ryan Duncan) PPG 1:24
Goaltender Saves
Michigan Tech-1 Rob Nolan (60:00 L) 9 3 11 23 (4 GA)
North Dakota-1 Jean-Philippe Lamoureux (59:46 W) 6 1 7 14 (1 GA)

Referee(s): Jon Campion (wouldn't you know it)
Asst. Referee(s): Nathan Freeman, Kile Bergren

Links for the Series

Mining Gazette

Tech Hockey Blog

Boosh Factor

On Frozen Blog; Mean Joe Finley — Even Meaner?

I found this article at the ON FROZEN BLOG I know it is a little late but we might as well enjoy big Joe now because he is going to be gone at the end of the season.

The Wisconsin State Journal this week has a detailed account of the mayhem the North Dakota Fighting Sioux directed at freshman phenom Kyle Turris of the Wisconsin Badgers this past weekend. Turris, the third overall pick of the 2007 draft by Phoenix, is an understandable target of old-time attention one month into the college hockey season: he’s been perhaps the most impressive and dominant first-year performer, piling up 14 points in 8 games thus far. He’s third in the nation in scoring, behind a pair of St. Cloud State teammates: Ryan Lasch and Vienna, Va.’s Garrett Roe, also a freshman. They have 17 points in 10 games.

The Fighting Sioux have their share of dominating forwards, including last year’s Hobey Baker winner Ryan Duncan. Nonetheless, they made like their namesakes last weekend, as the Journal notes:

“In the first period of the series opener Friday, won 4-0 by UW, Turris was walloped at the offensive blue line by Fighting Sioux junior defenseman Joe Finley, a fellow NHL first-rounder (Washington) who is listed at 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds . . .

“Things escalated in the second game . . . Finley literally tackled Turris along the right boards . . .”

Not content to make life miserable for skilled Badgers on the ice, Big Joe apparently got rough off it, too:

“. . . a UW official confirmed that Finley allegedly used his stick to smack Bucky Badger in the leg when the two passed one another on the runway to the dressing rooms Saturday night.”

He can’t get to D.C. fast enough for me.

Here are a few pictures that Win-Twins sent me.
Here are a couple of pictures of Joe Finley that were sent to me. While a lot of fans of opposition teams think Finley is a gutless thug or a tireless hack. I think that honor has been earned by Stu Bickle. Personally I think Finley is a great defenseman that has done nothing but get better since his arrival at UND... The fact that fans complain about him means he is affective and giving them reason to grumble, fans used to say the same things about Matt Greene. Joe has also cut down on the stupid penalties this season and has been a effective penalty killer since his arrival at UND.

The sky is falling.

I have been reading the Siouxsports.com this week or WHINEABOUTEVERYTHING.COM as the Gophers fans call it and its getting really silly. Some of the stuff I have read this week is really over the top. I think some of these people forget about their days in college. Hell when I was in the military we could have gotten charged with disorderly conduct every weekend.

Lets look at this folks T.J. Oshie was charged with a misdemeaner not a felony and lets not forget that T.J. is innocent until proven guilty. One thing that I think everyone forgot there is actually going to be a game tonight which is on CSTV tonight.

I answered some questions over on the Win Twins blog there were a few minor additions to my answers but it was fun answering the questions.

This weeks picks: Misc Ramblings/Rants

Games this week in the WCHA

01/04/08

Colorado College at Wisconsin
North Dakota at St. Cloud State
Michigan Tech at Mercyhurst
Minnesota Duluth at Bemidji State
Wayne State at Minnesota

01/06/08

Colorado College at Wisconsin
North Dakota at St. Cloud State
Michigan Tech at Mercyhurst
Minnesota Duluth at Bemidji State
Wayne State at Minnesota

Last week 9-9-0
Year 59-45

WCHA does well in Holiday Tourneys

The WCHA proved once against that it is a top notch league by going 10-5-3 overall in the recent holiday tourney play. I think this record speaks volumes about the type of league that the WCHA is. I am sick and tired of fans from other leagues disrespecting the WCHA. If you look the power rankings and the KRACH you will see that the Strength of Schedule of the WCHA speaks for itself our league leaders are not lining up against and beating up on a bunch of weak sisters of the poor cup cakes. The WCHA is playing top notch competition and beating them. While the CCHA’s top teams are probably deserving of their rankings they are not playing a lot of tough teams.
This is the stupidest thing I have read all week: USCHO

IMO the WCHA is overrated and the only reason they have 7 teams in the top 20 is because of what the conference has done the past 5 years. To be frank they have 4 really good teams and a handful of mediocre teams that are ranked because they beat up on each other and the conference is overrated. SCSU is a solid team, but they lost some high power players last year. DU, CC, and ND are excellent teams but after that, Minnesota and Wisconsin are mediocre and in the top 20 because of their name. Facts are facts; it will all play out in the end. SCSU does pose some threats because of their team speed, wish I could make it up there for the tourney.

First off if the WCHA is such a overrated league why has the WCHA won 5 of the last 7 NCAA titles. Also if the WCHA is so week why did it take (2) overtimes for Michigan to beat MTU and Miami (1) overtime to beat SCSU. If you use the logic above Michigan and Miami should have run both of those WCHA patsies out of the building.

Sioux take game one from Wild Cats.

While reading the USCHO board this morning I found this picture, this has to be one of the funniest pictures I have seen in a long time. Must have been a WCHA official?

An interesting stat

Turn on the offense:
I found this interesting stat in today’s Capital Times blog article written Todd Milewski.

Wisconsin has averaged 4.67 goals in six non conference games and just 2.4 goals in 10 WCHA games.

I think Todd poses a good question. Why are teams like the Badgers scoring more goals in non-conference games than in conference games? One word: Obstruction.

Sioux take game one

With the win last night UND is 5-5 in the last ten games. Without naming names; some in the media have said the Fighting Sioux have been a disappointment so far this season, the fact remains that the Fighting Sioux have played the hardest schedule in NCAA hockey to date. Breaking this fact down further, that means that in 15 of 16 games UND has played this season have been against teams under consideration for the NCAA tourney. Just for comparison sake the Fighting Sioux's SOS rating on the KRACH is 441, while Michigan's is 128 and Miami's is 162.

~Make no mistake about it the University of New Hampshire is a good hockey team and they will be in the mix at the end of the season. Defensively UNH clogs up the shooting zone and makes it hard to score on them. I was impressed with UNH's discipline and they way they played as a team. The Wild Cats were also missing their one of their top forwards super frosh James van Riemsdyk who is playing for the USA in the WJC.

~UND won a game when Duncan, Oshie didn't score a goal or register a point.

~UND record is 9-1-0 where they score the first goal and 0-5 when they don’t score first.

~After scoring 10 goals for the Fighting Sioux last last year including the 180 footer against Jeff Frazee. Senior Defenseman Robbie Bina has no goals this season, however, he is third on the team in points and the top point getter for defenseman. Junior Taylor Chorney is fifth on the team in points with 12 and the second highest scoring defenseman on the team.

~If the NCAA playoffs started today UND would be a high number 2 seed.

~Sioux fans should enjoy Joe Finley because after this season he will be gone. Just a hunch...

~Kyle Radke was huge in the win last night. I would hope we see him again tonight.


~Jean-Philippe Lamoureux should get an Emmy for this acting job during last nights game. Let me say this, it was a top notch performance, however, ref Don Adam did not buy the performance and only game Bobby Butler a 2 minute minor. Here is what happened: UNH Forward Bobby Butler went behind the UND net and bumped into JPL who launched himself into the air, then fell to the ice like he had been shot by a 44 auto magnum. There was a gasp as the crowd looked on in horror, then miraculously Phil made a full recovery to rejoin the game. Maybe the gasp was the thought of Walski coming into the game.

~Here is the WCHA record against the rest of college hockey: 2-0-1 against the AHA, 12-7-4 Cup Cake Hockey Association, 9-0-0 against the CHA, 3-1-1 against the EZAC, 4-2-2 against the Hockey East. Below is the break down of the leagues record against the “big four”.

AHA 5-24-3 (.203)
CCHA 23-20-4 (.532)
CHA 7-26-3 (.236)
ECACHL 13-25-4 (.357)
HEA 15-15-5 (.500)
WCHA 19-10-7 (.625)

Miami Better than UND?

This is what Elliot Olshansky had to say about Miami, Denver University and UND. Personally I like Elliot's work and I listen to his podcast every week, but I must take exception with a few things that he has said. Miami has played two teams that I would consider to good and ranked in the top ten, the Irish and Michigan State and they went 3-1 against them. While Elliot is right Miami does have a better record, I am not impress with them beating the likes of Vermont, Ohio State, Nebraska, Canisius, Rensselaer. If you look a little deeper at this you will see based on the the KRACH Miami strenght of schedule is 15 while DU is ranked 3rd and UND 1st.

The Rink Rat Rankings: Season 2, Edition No. 7
By Elliot Olshansky - December 17, 2007
I had one of my most gratifying moments of the season on Saturday.

After answering questions from the media about his Miami RedHawks' 7-3 win over RPI, Miami head coach Rico Blasi asked me, "So does this mean we get in your rankings now?"

This makes Blasi the second coach to talk to me about the Rink Rat Rankings - Robert Morris' Derek Schooley was the first - and the answer, naturally, is yes.

The No. 2 team in the nation - according to the polls - joins the Rink Rat Rankings this week, along with Nebraska-Omaha and Union.

So, where do the RedHawks land? Click "more" to find out.

1. Miami - So, I established last night that the RedHawks are, in my opinion, a better team than North Dakota, so you knew they'd be No. 4 or higher, but I'm giving them full marks. Jeff Zatkoff gives Miami a presence in goal that neither Notre Dame nor Michigan can boast right now, and Charlie Effinger is still a very capable backup (who might even be able to start over Billy Sauer or Jordan Pearce, although I suspect that if he were capable of his sophomore year form over the long haul, it'd be an even split with him and Zatkoff). There's also that size, strength, and physical presence that Miami brings. If you look at the comments that Rensselaer head coach Seth Appert made about how physically strong the RedHawks are, and how much further along they are in their physical development compared to RPI, you can say the same thing - albeit not to the same degree - when comparing them to Michigan or Notre Dame, particularly that very young Michigan team.

As for Denver, that would be a hell of a game - especially if it were in to happen in Denver this April - with great goaltending on both sides behind well-coached teams with skill and character. Again, though, I think the size, experience, and physical development favor Miami, and the RedHawks certainly have enough skill to match up with the Pioneers in that department. I think it'd be a game decided in the third period - where, coincidentally, the RedHawks have outscored the opposition 36-6- and Miami would wear DU down for the win.

5. North Dakota - The harsh light of high expectations made a solid, if unspectacular, first half in Grand Forks seem like cause for concern. The Sioux will get New Hampshire for a pair after Christmas in lieu of a holiday tournament, and a strong performance there - the Sioux will have their full complement, while UNH will be without James vanRiemsdyk - would likely spark a big second half for Dave Hakstol's bunch. In the meantime, after seeing the "Kosha Boy" parody video on YouTube, I'm wondering how long it will be until some NoDak fan comes up with lyrics for "Crank That Oshie Boy." I can hear it now... "SIOUX!!! SIOUX!!!"

Goon's Perspecitve

I will take my chances when the money is on the line and Dave Hakstol is behind the Fighting Sioux bench, the Sioux are due for finishing the deal. First for Miami I predict another 1 or 2 games and done for the Redhawks in the NCAA playoffs this season, Denver will be in the mix at the end of the season and will probably be on of the participants in the Frozen Four in Denver in April. One final note Miami goalie Jeff Zatkoff was Jeff Frazee back up during last season WJC; what does that say?

The aftermath of the weekend.

Herald Picture
The way I figure the Fighting Sioux should be rested after this weekend series with the Minnesota Gophers. In fact; if my math is right, I figure that out of 120 minutes of hockey the Fighting Sioux gave what I consider a grade A effort for 26 1/2minutes. Enough of the first half slow starts, its time for some leaders to take the bull by the horn and win. Enough excuses.

~After re-watching the Saturday night game thanks to DVR, it is hard to tell if the second goal against UND should have counted. It would appear that the Gophers were offsides, but even after rewinding the tape numberous few times its really hard to see who the puck bounced off of, it was a bang, bang play. If you watch the play from my television it does appear that call was blown, of course Gopher fans are going to say differently.

~The refs made the right call in not giving Lammy a penalty on the so called kick, however, in listening to Mazzocco you would have thought the kick was as bad as the Erik Westrum kicking incident from a few years back. Not even close! While it was a bush league move on Phil's part, it didn't warrant any more than possibly a two minute minor.

~I was wondering why FSN doesn't just give Frank Mazzocco a set of pompoms. That guy is the biggest cheer leader and has not one bone of objectivity in his body. I think FSN would be better if they had less Frank and more Woog. Woog I find amusing but Frank is a pompous in your face jerk.

This week's picks

First off Win Twins has asked me to stop jinxing her Huskies. So I have decided to honor her request. So will predict a sweep of the Huskies by the DU Pioneers. I would have to admit that this would be a fun series to watch if I was not wrapped up in the UND - UMN series. I must let it be known that I do believe in Reverse Psychology, I am not opposed to the Huskies taking two versus the Pioneers but a split will do.

Friday

Wisconsin @ Minnesota State-Mankato
Alaska-Anchorage @ Minnesota-Duluth
Minnesota @ North Dakota
Denver @ St. Cloud State

Saturday

Wisconsin @ Minnesota State-Mankato
Alaska-Anchorage @ Minnesota-Duluth
Minnesota @ North Dakota
Denver @ St. Cloud State

Last Week's Picks 4-6
For the Year 42-28

Jasper's Rink Looks at Joe Finley

I had this email sent to me by the Washinton Capital's Blogger Jaspers Rink it's a blog article about Big Joe Finley, sweet.

I can't believe the amount of press this series has gotten? Max Watkins, LOL, funny how the new paper writers in Madison, Wisconsin can't even get Matt Watkin's name right. Come on folks; all you have to do is look at the North Dakota team roster if you want to know how to spell his name. And they said that I have a spelling problem, I am also not writing for a media outlet. Maybe we should refer to Wisconin's super frosh Kyle Turris as Krissy Turris. Kind of has a nice ring to it.

----Here is the Article----

Thanks to the indispensable Inside College Hockey for pointing us to a bit of news regarding University of North Dakota blue liner and 2005 Caps first-rounder Joe Finley.

It seems that Finley's Fighting Sioux and the University of Wisconsin (the numbers one and five teams in the nation, respectively) had a fairly rough-and-tumble series in Madison this past weekend, with much of the attention focused on Badger super-frosh Kyle Turris (the third overall pick in this past summer's Entry Draft). As the Wisconsin State Journal describes it:

"In the first period of the series opener Friday, won 4-0 by UW, Turris was walloped at the offensive blue line by Fighting Sioux junior defenseman Joe Finley, a fellow NHL first-rounder (Washington) who is listed at 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds.

"Things escalated in the second game, which saw North Dakota gain a split with a 3-1 victory. Winger Max Watkins thumped Turris in the neutral zone, Finley literally tackled Turris along the right boards, senior defenseman Robbie Bina put a headlock on Turris in the corner and junior center Rylan Kaip made a point of trying to drive Turris to the ice during every faceoff."But while Big Joe may have been done, um, badgering Turris, his weekend wasn't quite complete. After the second game, Finley apparently went Jeff Gillooly on UW's mascot:"

UW official confirmed that Finley allegedly used his stick to smack Bucky Badger in the leg when the two passed one another on the runway to the dressing rooms Saturday night."Beating up on a future NHL superstar is one thing, but Finley had better be careful or he might just find himself with the last thing anyone needs-Pissed off Sandra O on his tail