University of North Dakota Tentative 2012‐2013 Midco Sports Network Live Broadcast Schedule

Here is the tentative  Midco Sports Net Live Broadcast Schedule.

Aug. 30 SD School of Mines /Tech UND 7:00 PM Football
Sept. 8 Portland State UND 6:00 PM Football
Sept. 13 Montana State UND 7:00 PM Volleyball
Sept. 29 Cal Poly UND 6:00 PM Football
Oct. 1 Northern Colorado UND 7:00 PM Volleyball
Oct. 6 Canadian Exhibition UND 7:00 PM Hockey (men)
Oct. 12 USA Exhibition UND 7:30 PM Hockey (men)
Oct. 13 Northern Arizona UND 3:00 PM Football
Oct. 26 Anchorage UND 7:00 PM Hockey (men)
Oct. 27 Anchorage UND 7:30 PM Hockey (men)
Oct. 27 Minnesota (tape delay) UND 2:00 PM Hockey (women)
Oct. 28 Minnesota UND 2:00 PM Hockey (women)
Nov. 2 Boston University UND 7:30pm Hockey (men)
Nov. 3 Southern Utah UND 1:00 PM Football
Nov. 3 Boston University UND 7:00 PM Hockey (men)
Nov. 8 Portland State UND 7:00 PM Volleyball
Nov. 16 UMD UND 7:30 PM Hockey (men)
Nov. 17 UMD UND 7:00 PM Hockey (men)
Dec. 5 University of Missouri ‐KC UND 7:00 PM Basketball (men)
Dec. 7 Denver University UND 7:30 PM Hockey (men)
Dec. 8 Denver University UND 7:00 PM Hockey (men)
Jan. 4 Holy Cross UND 7:30 PM Hockey (men)
Jan. 5 Holy Cross UND 7:00 PM Hockey (men)
Jan. 11 Colorado College UND 7:30 PM Hockey (men)
Jan. 12 Colorado College UND 7:00 PM Hockey (men)
Jan. 17 E. Washington UND 7:00 PM Basketball (men)
Jan. 18 Wisconsin UND 7:00pm Hockey (women)
Jan. 19 Wisconsin UND 7:00 PM Hockey (women)
Jan. 25 St. Cloud State UND 7:30 PM Hockey (men)
Jan. 26 St. Cloud State UND 7:00 PM Hockey (men)
Feb. 1 Wisconsin UND 7:30 PM Hockey (men)
Feb. 2 Wisconsin UND 7:00 PM Hockey (men)
Feb. 7 Montana State UND 7:00 PM Basketball (women)
Feb. 9 Montana UND 2:00 PM Basketball (women)
Feb. 14 Sacramento State UND 7:00 PM Basketball (men)
Feb. 16 Northern Arizona UND 2:00 PM Basketball (men)
Feb. 21 Northern Colorado UND 7:00 PM Basketball (women)
Feb. 28 Portland State UND 7:00 PM Basketball (women)
Mar. 1 Bemidji State UND 7:30 PM Hockey (men)
Mar. 2 Bemidji State UND 7:00 PM Hockey (men)
Mar. 15‐17 WCHA Playoffs UND 7:30 PM Hockey (men)

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.

NCHC - "very specific discussions" on ice quality

One of the “major” concerns for NCHC fans about the conference signing a five year deal with the Target Center in Minneapolis for the NCHC tourney has been ice conditions  – historically the Target Center has had the propensity to have very bad ice – which is a buzz kill in hockey.  You can't skate on slush very well.

More specifically the WCHA held the Final Five at the Target Center during the 1998-99 and 1999-00 seasons and the ice condition was really poor, also there are some bad sight lines as well for hockey because the Target Center is a basketball only arena for the most part – hockey is not played on a regular basis at the Target Center.

Eric Stromgren/CHN Writer --- The Target Center has been criticized as a hockey venue from ice quality to fan sight lines, something officials addressed in the press conference and with the media afterword.

Scherr said there have been "very specific discussions" on ice quality.

Mattson has worked at the Target Center since the building opened and said past problems could be attributed to quick turnaround times required from the staff. Ice before the state high school tournaments in 1999 and 2000 were put in a few days before the tournament, Mattson recalled.

"We know we've got to get it made earlier, give it a proper amount of time to get it ready, get it skated on and get it roughed up — that's a challenge we're up for," Mattson said.

Mattson said ice will likely be made in mid-February to avoid potential problems and the Timberwolves would play above the ice with the court placed on a "deck."

I have seen it mentioned in a couple of newspapers that the NCHC has a opt out clause with the Target Center if the conference is not happy with the Target Center but I have yet to see it mentioned in the latest press releases that I have received from the NCHC.

SCSU Assistant Hockey Coach Job annoucement

English: St Cloud State University Logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Assistant Men’s Ice Hockey Coach #792767 (contingent on funding)

Learn More about this Employer in their Profile

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Institution:	St. Cloud State University
Location:	St. Cloud, MN
Category:	Admin - Athletics and Coaching
Posted:	06/04/2012
Application Due:	06/18/2012
Type:	Full Time

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Date of appointment: July 16, 2012 or as soon as possible thereafter
Description: Assistant Men's Ice Hockey Coach
Responsibilities:
Assist head coach in planning, organizing and administrating all aspects of a highly competitive Division I men's hockey program. Responsibilities include but not limited to: all aspects of on ice coaching, recruiting, video analysis and all other areas of organizational needs. This person should also have the ability to assist in fundraising and public relations.
*Employment for this position is covered by the collective bargaining agreement for the Inter Faculty Organization which can be found at: http://www.ifo.org/contract09-11/2009-2011.pdf.

Qualifications and experience:
Required:
· Bachelor Degree
· Coaching and/or playing experience at the collegiate or professional level
· Evidence of demonstrated ability to teach and work with persons from culturally diverse backgrounds.
Preferred:
· Understanding of the NCAA rules and regulations
· Familiarity at the high school, junior and collegiate hockey levels

Application Procedures:
To apply for this position, please continue the process via this website or directly at: http://agency.governmentjobs.com/stcloudstate/default.cfm.

Application Review begins June 18, 2012 position is open until filled.
A complete application will include the following:
· Cover Letter
· Resume/Curriculum Vitae
· Contact information for three (3) current, professional references
· Copies of official Transcript(s) (undergraduate/graduate/PhD)
Contact Information:
Search Committee Chair - Bob Motzko
Phone: 320-308-4806
E-mail: rgmotzko@stcloudstate.edu

St. Cloud State University is committed to excellence and actively supports cultural diversity. To promote this endeavor, we invite individuals who contribute to such diversity to apply, including minorities, women, LGBT, persons with disabilities and veterans. St. Cloud State University is a member of Minnesota State Colleges and Universities System.

Application Information

Contact:	Bob Motzko Department of Athletics St. Cloud State University
Phone:	320-308-4806
TDD:	1-800-627-3529 or (612) 297-5353
Online App. Form:	http://agency.governmentjobs.com/stcloudstate/default.cfm

s/t to Husker Mike for posting this on another message board. This Job announcement would be to replace former Fighting Sioux hockey player and SCSU assistant hockey coach Steve Johnson who is moving on to be an assistant Hockey Coach at UNO under Dean Blais.

German goalie Named Patrick Fücker - No Really there is

This was a funny story that I found on line and I thought I would pass it along - can you imagine if this guy or someone with a funny name like this guy actually made the NHL or AHL.

I would love to see this happen, because it would be funny listening to the play-by-play folks have a good time with his last name. Can you imagine some of the story lines this guy's name would inspire... Well I guess we can only dream right?

Here is a link to Patrick Fücker's profile, you can see that he is an active player in Germany.

Glenn Davis, Sports Grind Daily --- We’re sure Patrick Fücker is a humble guy just trying to make his way. The 19-year-old has been a competitive hockey player in Germany for years now, working his way through the nation’s junior ranks and last month moving to the Rostock Piranhas, who play in Germany’s third-highest league. Just a guy who apparently loves the Rangers and trying to play the game he loves for a living.

But he’s more than that. He had to be more than that. Because his name is out on the internet. And his last name is Fücker. Someone was going to find it eventually, and they were going to love it, and they were going to send it to Puck Daddy’s Greg Wyshynski, and he was going to love it. Who wouldn’t love a name like this, except Patrick Fücker himself, when he’s around English-speakers? We encounter names we love all the time, but this may be the best of them.

And that’s why we have to hope against hope that Fücker one day makes it to the NHL. Granted, the third-best league in Germany is a long, long way from there (and these last couple GAAs look pretty high), but can you imagine the clusterFück that would ensue each time Fücker’s name had to be mentioned? The stifled giggles? The uncomfortable announcers?

Malkin's hat trick...

You have to wonder if Finnish goalie Petri Vehanen is going to see Evgeni Malkin in his nightmares, talk about being lit up like a pinball machine. Malkin and the Russian beat the defending champion Finland 6-2 to advance to the World Championship final against the winner of the Czech Republic and Slovakia game.

I think by watching the video you can see why Malkin is one of the best forward'sin the world right now. With one game remaining, Malkin is tied for second in scoring with Henrik Zetterberg with 15 points.

Related articles

• Malkin tears Finland apart

  ---

Who is the best American hockey player?

Chime in if you would like. There have been a lot of great American hockey players that have played in the NHL.

First off, this is a very complex question and also worthy of discussion - Dave Starman is right, you could spend a lot of time discussing this subject. So who is the best "American" hockey player? The first question I would have to ask what position are we talking about? You could break it down by postion - you have forwards, defenseman and goalies.

Another question is what time period are we talking about? You have the present time and the how far do we go back? Do we go on pure statistics?

The game of hockey has evolved due to technology and hockey isn't like it was back in the 1960's and 1970's.

Right now in my opinion, I think that Zach Parise is one of the best American forwards in the game of hockey there are other players you could include in that conversation. Pure statistics - the all-time top scoring American forward is Mike Modano with (561g-813a—1374pts).

This past season, Phil Kessel was the top American born hockey players for the 2011-12 season with (37g-45a—82 pts) and Zach Parise was second with (31g-38a—69pts).

In goal I would have to say that Tim Thomas, Johnathan Quick and Ryan Miller are pretty good but so were John Vanbiesbrouck and Tom Barrasso.

Defensively, Phil Housley is the top scoring American born defenseman all time with (338g- 894—1232).

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ESPN and the lack of hockey coverage

I read a couple of articles and blog posts in the past week about ESPN not having NHL coverage on any of their channels anymore. Frankly, the first thought that came to my mind was - that ship has sailed – it may never come back again. I don't think we really need to worry about that because the void has been filled by a much better product.

To be honest with you, after watching ESPN’s brutal coverage of the NCAA Hockey tourney, who really cares anymore?

Enter NBC Sports Network formerly known as Versus and originally was the Outdoor Life Network has evolved and filled the void that ESPN left after the NHL lockout and has gotten better which each year that has passed since the NHL lockout.

NBC Sports Network has started coving college hockey as well, and for the most part NBC Sports Net has done a pretty good job in the broadcasts that they did last winter. I look forward to watching more of their broadcast next winter. Maybe we can get ESPN to drop their Division I NCAA College Hockey coverage all together as well and let NBC and or CBS take over college hockey for them.

ESPN will will then be free to show NFL and College football, NBA and College Basketball and Billiards on their sports network. While we are at it, ESPN can keep Barry Melrose, there is no use for him in college hockey and he isn't very good at breaking down the NHL either.

Just to be clear, I not trying to snub CBS Sports Network, they do a very good job with their hockey coverage as well and will be the future home of NCHC beginning in 2013-14.

So why is there a disconnect or a lack of hockey coverage? Recently, Ed Sherman asked Vince Doria, ESPN’s senior vice-president and director of news Vince Doria, why ESPN hates hockey. This is what he had to say.

We don’t hate hockey. When I worked in Boston (as sports editor of the Boston Globe), I probably went to more Bruins games than Celtics. There’s probably not a better in-the-house sport than hockey. Watching it live. My own personal feeling is that it never transferred well to television. I’m not exactly sure why that is. [Sherman Report]

I don’t agree with that argument and I think it’s a load of horse manure, if that was true why do people purchase the NHL package from their cable provider or satellite dish providers? Hockey fanatics want to see NHL Hockey and they want to be able to watch games from all over the NHL Hockey spectrum every night of the week during the hockey season.

I wouldn’t walk across the street to watch a NBA basketball game, I don't care who is playing, nor would I turn to ESPN to watch college or NBA basketball, but I would pay $160.00 to watch anyone in the NHL play hockey on my television set, any night of the week.

I remember the good ole days of hockey coverage on ESPN and ESPN2, this was pre-NHL lockout when NHL hockey was on two or three nights a week and then on every night during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, of course ESPN picked the teams that you were going to watch and we got a heavy dose of the New York Rangers and the Pittsburgh Penguins, but for the most part it gave us "decent" hockey.

That was then and this is now – NBC Sports Network has made us forget that ESPN has ever shown a hockey game on their network - NBCSN has shown all of the games exclusively during this season's Stanley Cup Playoffs, so we're good. When there have been two games on at the same time NBC has had the other game on the news channel CNBC. In closing, we can say to ESPN that we don't need you for hockey coverage anymore and you don't have to pretend to like hockey on any level, because we know the truth.

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Edit - State of shock - Eades out at UND

I would be willing to bet that most of us that are fans of Fighting Sioux hockey probably are in a state of shock right now. Personally, I don't know what to make of this, Carey Eades is the epitome of Fighting Sioux hockey.

Most of us know that coaches leave programs and move on, but I don't if any of us could predict this happening, at least not now, not in the middle of the off-season.

Edit: According to Brad Schlossman

Eades, who was part of the 1980 and 1982 national championship teams as a player and the 1987 title team as an assistant coach, said he was caught off guard by the decision. Eades was told about it prior to the American Hockey Coaches Association convention in Florida, which took place during the last week in April.

Related articles

• Developing - Carey Eades out at UND
• UND Hockey coach Dave Hakstol weighs in on the nickname ...
• Kristo coming back for senior season at UND
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Raffi Torres Shanahammered - suspended 25 games

The NHL has spoken, they have made an example out of Raffi Torres, they have thrown the book at him. The NHL has also set a precedence, the question is, will the NHL be consistent in their ruling?. While I think that Torres deserved at least a 5-10 suspension this suspension is almost to the point of being excessive. My first question is, would the NHL give the same suspension for a star player? I am going to say not.

NEW YORK -- Following are statements from National Hockey League Senior Vice President of Player Safety and Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan in announcing the 25-game suspension assessed to Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres:

"This is a violation of three NHL rules – interference, charging and illegal check to the head."

"In addition to the fact that three separate NHL rules were violated with this one hit, two other factors were critical in determining the appropriate length of suspension:

"First, this violent and dangerous hit caused a severe injury.

"Second, Torres not only is a repeat offender as defined by the CBA, his extensive Supplemental Discipline history consists mainly of acts very similar to this one – including two this season."

"Despite knowing that Hossa no longer has the puck, Torres decides to finish his check past the amount of time when Hossa is eligible to be bodychecked. That is a violation of the Interference rule."

"While we acknowledge the circumstances of certain hits may cause a player's skates to come off the ice, on this hit, Torres launches himself into the air before making contact. This is a violation of the Charging rule."

"The position of Hossa's head does not change just prior to or simultaneous with this hit. The onus, therefore, is on Torres not to make it the principal point of contact. By leaping, Torres makes Hossa's head the principal point of contact. That is a violation of the Illegal Check to the Head rule."

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• Raffi Torres Suspension: Ruling From NHL Will Come On Saturday
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Todd Bertuzzi vs Shea Weber

How dare they! A fight in hockey, how unacceptable. As you can see from the reaction on the bench and in the stands, that no on approves of this thugish behavior. Seriously!!! I have never seen anyone get up during a fight and leave a hockey game. The fans love it.

This is how they settle difference in the game of hockey, this is per the "Hockey Code" last game Shea Weber drove Henrik Zetterberg head into the glass at the end of game one, it was an unneeded and unnecessary and dirty hit. So Redwings hack Todd Bertuzzi did the right thing, he challenged Weber to a fight and they settled their difference like men, on the ice.

Lately, we have seen a few of the hockey pundits, most who have never played the game of hockey, call for an all out fighting ban, in all levels of hockey, due to an epidemic of head injuries suffered by players in the NHL.

Of course most if not a majority of these head injuries were the result of illegal and dirty hits. If you don't believe me take a look at this list [click to view list]. You know the dirty hits in question, there are the ones where a guy plants his opponent head long into the boards, the victim lays crumpled up on the ice and refs and linesmen then rush in to rescue the offending player, before the opposition's teammates can get a chance to answer for said hit. [Example of hit] Many of these dirty hits were never properly disciplined. 

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Diver Down - Vancouver Canucks.

This is a perfect example why the Vancouver Canucks are one of the most hated teams in the NHL. I mean this is pathetic, there is no reason a North American Hockey player should be playing the game this way. This is not the Swedish Ice Hockey Federation, this is the NHL, the best hockey league in the world.

I want to be clear, diving in hockey to draw a penalty is poor sportsmanship, seriously, Ryan Kesler looks like a buffoon in this video, whether Kesler want to believe it or not, he's a role model to young kids and they look up to him.

I am being dead serious, I don't want to go to a high school hockey game and see this crap. Are we to believe that Kesler is that light on his skates and is so easily knocked off his skates? I disappointed than one of the better American forwards in the game of hockey has to resort to this type of crap?  I am not the only one that is less than impressed with this display.

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Interesting perspective on the NZT...

I think this is a pretty accurate description of the Neutral Zone Trap. Over the years we have watched a lot of teams that ran a 1-2-2 or a 1-4 and they were God awful teams to watch play hockey. The first team that comes to mind are the Wild and Devils teams that were coach by Jacques Lemaire, these teams were absolutely brutal teams to watch play hockey.

Blue Seat Blogs --- Some of the more conservative teams will trap once they have the lead. Other teams will trap at the end of each period regardless of the score. More moderate teams will trap when they do not get the puck in deep enough to work their aggressive forecheck. And finally, even those “north/south” puck pursuit teams will still trap when they are simply changing lines. Well the smart ones do anyway.

The point is the trap has evolved, but for some reason people’s perception of it hasn’t. So when I read that Zach Parise would be better off on a non-trapping team, or that the league should make more rules to undermine the trap’s effectiveness, I just laugh. People still aren’t getting it.

The game has changed and it is becoming increasingly difficult to paint players or coaches and their respective systems with broad strokes. So whether you’re the Bruins playing a 1-4, or the Devils playing a 1-2-2, or the Lightning playing a 1-3-1, a lot of it is all just hyperbole. The truth is the days of clogging up the neutral zone for the entire game may be over, but variations of these formations live on and they are not going anywhere anytime soon.

That being said, every team play the trap from time-to- time, I have seen the Fighting Sioux when they are up in a game late, employ the Neutral Zone Trap with great success.

Cornell head coach Mike Schafer employs this tactic as a regular game plan and they play it perfectly; a few years ago his team played UND won a grind it out 1-0 game and Cornell was badly outshot 28-15. The Big Red took the lead 1-0 in third period and then lined at the blue line and chipped the puck out of the zone. Personally, I am glad that I don’t have to watch that kind of hockey on a regular basis.

The best way to beat the trap is to enter the neutral zone with speed and get past the defenders. Also, another way to be a trap team is to get the lead forcing them to abandon their team game plan.

I don’t think we will ever see the end of the “trap” in modern hockey. Playing smart defensive hockey is a good recipe for victory and there are times that it is appropriate. Again, there is no reason to pinch a lot when your team has the lead and the best offensive opportunities come with active forwards off of the fore check of the defenseman.

Maxime Talbot vs Johnny Boychuk

This is the proper way to deal with the "Rats" and the punks in the NHL. Some people like to refer to them as agitators. Personally, I think they are for a most part irritants and these types of players tend to get called out for their actions.

This is the reason that I think the NHL needs to not ban fighting, it keeps these types of players honest. This is also your classic beat down of a players that crosses the line on a regular basis. Hat tip to Johnny Boychuck for stepping up and making Talbot answer the bell.

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Dennis Seidenberg vs. Colby Armstrong (Video)

This is another perfect example of why the National Hockey League needs to "not" ban fighting. First you have a punk like Toronto Maple Leafs forward Colby Armstrong, who has a history of being one of those players that plays on the edge and takes liberties on other teams star players.

If you think that I am kidding go over to Youtube you will see that he has a hit parade of high questionable hits on opposition players. [Example 1], [Example 2], [Example 3], [Example 4]... You can see a pattern here, always high, targets the head.

So fast forward to tonight, Armstrong hits Dennis Seidenberg a who is a European hockey player, that doesn't have a reputation of being a dirty player, and is not known for being a fighter, with a questionable hit, while Seidenberg is in a vulnerable position.

Armstrong is lucky that Seidenberg stepped in and that he didn't get beat up by Boston Bruins defenseman/bruiser Adam McQuaid, that would have been ugly...Per the hockey code the players settled this matter on the ice and there is no need to wait for the league office to act.

Another Nice hockey story...

This is a nice story that someone sent me in a email today. I thought it was worth reading, it's a nice story.


It's also, proof there are good parents teaching their kids life lessons as well.

My son plays on the Bantam A hockey team in East Grand Forks (one of his teammates is the younger brother of current NTDP U-17 team member and future Denver recruit Gage Ausmus). They battled through the MN State Bantam qualifying tournament in St. Cloud this past weekend. One of the highlights of the grueling weekend was the fact that not only was my son’s team in the tournament, but the East Grand Forks Bantam B team had also made it into the qualifying 

tournament and managed to play at the same time in the rink next door every game all weekend long. Sunday evening was the final game for both teams – if they lost they were done for the season, and if they won they were going on to State.

The A team played a good game but didn’t have too much trouble, winning 3-0. The B team on the other hand, fought a very tough battle, taking a 3-3 tie into first one overtime, then a second. Late in the period the action was in the opponent’s zone, and the other team managed to incur a minor penalty – tripping I believe. The ref threw up his arm, signaling the delayed penalty, but before the other team could regain possession the puck was put into the crease area and a desperate scramble ensued. 

The next thing we knew, the ref was signaling another infraction, this time with arms crossed and then pointing to center ice. PENALTY SHOT for our boys, called for covering the puck in the crease! Nerves were on fire as the young men – goalie and forward – lined up for the shot. The arena erupted in cheers when a deke was stopped by a good pad save, and overtime continued. The atmosphere was electric, and finally the East Grand Forks team got a solid shot during the power play and scored the game winning goal.

The winning team’s bench emptied in a wave of exuberance, as they always do in these kinds of games. We’ve all seen it a hundred times – the champions hog-pile each other while the other team collapses in sullen defeat. This was no exception, and the teams played their roles as they were supposed to do. The losing goalie lay face down in his crease, overcome with sadness. I watched from ice level in the corner of the rink, only a few feet from the distraught young man. As the winning team celebrated, their goalie separated himself from the pack and skated over to the other netminder. He gently patted him on the shoulder and helped the other player to his feet. The two shared a few words – I couldn’t hear anything over the noise but the emotions and message were clear: you played your heart out; you were a worthy opponent; keep your head up because you have nothing to be ashamed of. Instead of savoring the win, the victor shared the spoils as best he could, choosing to lift the spirits of his foe as best he could. Not because he was told to, or because it was expected, nor did he even consider if anyone else was watching. But I was. I knew I was witnessing the best moment I have ever seen in youth sports. I wish I could have that kind of heart every day. This 15 year old kid showed me the meaning of sportsmanship in a way that I never could have scripted.

Congratulations Connor Shea for being a fantastic human being. His parents are Chip and Kristen Shea and they deserve as much credit as anyone for raising a child who knows the meaning of respect.

Kyle Rau's hit on Joseph LaBate

First off as most of you know, I am not a Gopher fan or an apologist by any stretch of the imagination. I also have a lot of respect for MIke Eaves coach of the Badgers... That being said, check out this hit by Gopher forward Kyle Rau check (38 second mark) on the Badgers Joseph LaBate. This is a textbook clean shoulder to shoulder body check. Apparently, Badgers coach Mike Eaves was less than pleased with the hit. 

Things got testy late in the second when freshman Kyle Rau leveled UW freshman left winger Joseph LaBate at center ice. No penalty was called even though the sequence looked almost identical to an episode Feb. 4 at the Kohl Center when UW junior defenseman and captain John Ramage was assessed a 5-minute major for contact to the head.

“The young boy’s woozy on his feet and there’s no contact to the head?” Eaves asked rhetorically, referring to LaBate. “That doesn’t add up does it?” [Madison.com]

Feel free to chime in your thoughts on the hit. Editing Note: Chuck Schwartz of Bucky's Fifth Quarter tells me that Eaves made those comments right after the game and there is a very good chance that the Wisconsin head coach had probably "not" seen the hit in question on video, before he made those comments in the post game press conference.

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Fighting Sioux vs. Mavericks game one

Fighting Sioux Forward Lines

29 Brock Nelson–10 Corban Knight (A) –7 Danny Kristo
16 Mark MacMillan–27 Carter Rowney–15 Michael Parks
Stephane Pattyn 28 –9 Mario Lamoureux (C) – 20 Joe Gleason
8 Dan Senkbeil–13 Connor Gaarder– No forward.

Fighting Sioux Defensive Pairings. 

4 Derek Forbort – 24 Ben Blood
2 Andrew MacWilliam (A) – 5 Nick Mattson
18 Dillon Simpson–22 Andrew Panzarella

Fighting Sioux Goalies 

32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness

UND Injuries: Forwards Taylor Dickin is out (lower body injury), Rocco Grimaldi is out (season knee surgery), Brendan O’Donnell is out (season ending surgery), Derek Rodwell is out (season shoulder surgery).


Fighting Sioux Players Stats 

MSU-M Mavericks Forward lines

23 Michael Door (C) - 19 Zach Lehrke - 8 Max Gaede
12 Jean-Paul Lafontaine - 18 Matt Leitner - 25 Eriah Hayes
24 Adam Mueller - 26 Joe Schiller - 22 Johnny McInnis
15 J.P. Burkemper - 29 Eli Zuck - 14 Justin Jokinen

Mavericks Defense Pairing

16 Tyler Elbrecht (C) - 2 Josh Nelson
7 Zach Palmquist - 17 Evan Mosey
3 Cameron Cooper - 27 Brett Stern

Maverick Goalies

30 Phil Cooke
1 Austin Lee

Maverick Player Stats


 Radio:  UND 96.1 (KQHT-FM) – The Fox.
Webcast:  www.fightingSioux.com
TV Friday: UND Sports Network, Fox College Sports Central, MidcoSN3
TV Saturday: UND Sports Network, Fox College Sports Pacific, MidcoSN3
*Note this weekend’s games will not be on DirecTV.

Related articles

• North Dakota vs. Minnesota State: Series Notes (insidehockey.com)
• Sioux vs. Mavericks series notes (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Fighting Sioux nickname debate makes Fox News (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Michigan Tech vs. North Dakota Series Notes (insidehockey.com)
• MTU vs. UND series Notes (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UND vs. DU Series Notes (insidehockey.com)
• UND vs. DU Series Notes (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UND vs. MTU game 2 lines (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Drew Stafford's goalie not happy with the Gaustad trade

I couldn't resist... This story caught my eye. This story involves the teammate of Former Fighting Sioux forward Drew Stafford; apparently his all-world goalie Ryan Miller isn't happy with the team trading away Paul Gaustad. I have also noticed this season that Ryan Miller has become a bit of a complainer. Hockey is a business and sometimes teams trade players to get rid of salary or to better their teams.

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Ryan Miller and Paul Gaustad are the closest of friends. They've been roomates. They've traveled through Europe together. They were teammates for a decade -- a run that ended Monday when the Sabres sent Gaustad to Nashville.

Miller is not happy with the transaction.

"It was a pretty tough day," Miller said today after practice in Anaheim Ice. "I’m not going to lie. I’m not real happy about the way it all turned out. But that’s the business of hockey.
"Like I’ve said, we don’t make those decisions. That’s more proof because if I had any more influence Paul would still be here. I appreciate the way he plays. He’s been one of my best friends for a long time there. Obviously, that’s going to continue, but it was nice to have him as a teammate and have those other intangibles."

Related articles

• GARTH: Miller Not Happy About Gaustad Trade (hockeybuzz.com)
• Hab's winning again... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Paul Gaustad Gets Worked by Milan Lucic in Revenge Fight (Video) (backyardsportsblog.com)

The Gloves are off UND vs. DU. – College Hockey’s version of the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s

One of the best rivalries in college hockey, DU and UND. I would call it college hockey's version of the Hatfield's and McCoy's, two teams that don't like each other very very much. The first video is the reason that Sioux fans refer to George Gwozdecky as the Dasher Troll and this is what a dasher dance looks like.

The second video is from the game where former UND forward/defenseman Kyle Radke unofficially got into two fights in one college hockey game. It was a game where Todd Anderson and former WCHA official Jon Campion lost control of the game.

I think it would only be fitting if Todd Anderson was the official of this weekend's series.

Incidently, WCHA official Todd Anderson was the referee that was on the ice and called both games that George Gwozdecky was kicked out of and did his dasher dance. [Dasher dance game part II, Prpich cup checks Geoff Paukovich]



Good news Fighting Sioux hockey fans that have DirecTV. Friday's game will be on at 9:00 PM Central Time on channel 603. Saturday night's game will be on channel 683 on Roots on DirecTV, at 8:00 PM on Saturday Night.

Roots Sports is the network that used to be Fox Sports Net Rockey Mountain, this is also the same network that employs Alana Rizzo who doesn't is not a big fan of Sioux fans and doesn't like them very much.

Related articles

• Lucky Bounces Save Sioux in Tie (insidehockey.com)
• Tech and Sioux skate to a 1-1 Tie. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Former NHLPA boss resigns from College Hockey Inc. (mysanantonio.com)
• The gloves are off part II - UND and UW week (ndgoon.blogspot.com)