The Russian Olympic team for the 2014 Sochi games

English: Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Fedor Tyutin prior to a National Hockey League game against the Calgary Flames, in Calgary]] (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Goaltenders

Sergei Bobrovsky (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Semyon Varlamov (Colorado Avalanche)
Alexander Eremenko ( Dynamo Moscow)

Defense

Anton Belov (Edmonton Oilers)
Vyacheslav Voynov (Los Angeles Kings)
Alexei Emelin (Montreal Canadiens)
Andrei Markov (Montreal Canadiens)
Evgeni Medvedev (AK Bars)
Nikita Nikitin (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Ilya Nikulin (AK Bars)
Fedor Tyutin (Columbus BlueJackets)

Forwards

Artem Anisimov (Columbus Blue Jackets)
Pavel Datsyuk (Detroit Red Wings)
Ilya Kovalchuk (SKA)
Denis Kokarev (Dynamo Moscow)
Nikolai Kulemin (Toronto Maple Leafs)
Evgeni Malkin (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Valery Nichushkin (Dallas Stars)
Alex Ovechkin (Washington Capitals)
Alexander Popov (Avangard)
Alexander Radulov (CKA)
Vladimir Tarasenko (St. Louis Blues)
Alexei Tereschenko (SKA)
Viktor Tikhonov (SKA)
Sergei Soin (Dynamo Moscow)

New Jersey's Ilya Kovalchuk retires from the NHL at age 30

New insider? "@AngelinaLawton: Guess I was 7 months early on this secret :) #kovalchuk @NHL @NHLDevils pic.twitter.com/tWeIpErkZc”
— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) July 11, 2013

As announced today, the Devils forward Ilya Kovalchuk retired from the NHL leaving the New Jersey Devils holding the bag. I am thankful that I don't have  Ilya Kovalchuk in a keeper fantasy hockey league.

NHL.COM --- Kovalchuk's departure frees up more than $6 million in salary-cap space for the Devils, allowing the club to be more active in free agency. But the Devils will have to pay between $250,000 and $300,000 per year in cap-benefit recapture fees for each of the next dozen years.

"Right now we just have to take a step back to go forward," Lamoriello said. 'We'll just have to re-evaluate what our options are and do the best we can, but we'll be ready to play when September comes."

Kovalchuk leaves the NHL after 11 seasons; he had 417 goals and 399 assists for 816 points in 816 games. After being taken by the Atlanta Thrashers with the first pick in the 2001 NHL Draft, Kovalchuk had 29 goals as a rookie in 2001-02. He scored at least 30 goals in each of the next nine seasons, including six in a row with at least 40 from 2002-03 to 2009-10.

With Ilya Kovalchuk departure, the Devils free up six million dollars that that they can use to go after a forward to take Kovalchuk's place, of course forwards like that don't grown on trees. With the departure of Kovalchuk, former Fighting Sioux forward Travis Zajac is now the top paid forward with the Devils. The Devils also have about 10 million dollars to work with under the cap. Kovalchuck is now going to play for SKA in the KHL.

UND recruit Christian Evers drafted by the London Knights

With the 99th overall pick, the London Knights are pleased to select Christian Evers in the 5th Round of the 2013 #OHLDraft!
— The London Knights (@GoLondonKnights) April 6, 2013

Being a high profile program, the University of North Dakota Hockey team has had some of their highly sought recruits decommit and go a different route.

It’s been highly documented as of late.

In August, right before the 2011-12 season, J.T. Miller decommitted from UND, and signed a signed with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. Miller’s decommit put UND in a precarious situation. Without Miller, UND immediately became a different type of team.

In 61 games with the Plymouth Whalers, Miller scored (25g-37a—62). After his season with the Whalers was over, Miller played in eight games during the Calder Cup playoffs for the Connecticut Whale of the AHL.

This season, Miller was called up to the New York Rangers and scored two goals, leading the Rangers to a 4-1 victory.

Last January, USDT U18 recruit Stefan Matteau, who had originally committed to play at the University of North Dakota, decommitted from UND, and decided to play for the Blainville-Boisbraind Armada of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Matteau had a strong start to the season with the Armada (18g-10a—28pts) in 35 games and was invited to the New Jersey Devils camp once the NHL lockout was settled.

Matteau ended up playing in the Devils first five games of the season before being a healthy scratch for the next four games in a row.

The New Jersey Devils could have sent Matteau back to Blainville-Boisbraind, but instead he remained with the New Jersey Devils and last night he was skating on a line with former Fighting Sioux forward Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk to start the game.

Matteau has played 17 games with the New Jersey Devils this season, scoring (1g-2a—3pts). On the March 17, 2013, Matteau was returned to his junior team Blainville-Boisbraind Armada and has scored (1g-4a—5pts) in 6 QMJHL playoff games.

In April of 2012, Miles Koules announced that he had decommitted from the University of North Dakota and was going to be a member of the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL. In his first season with Medicine Hat, Koules recorded (19g-21a—40pts) in 69 games for the Tigers.

This past November, Brendan Lemieux, son of former NHL pest Claude Lemieux, left the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL, decomitted from the University of North Dakota, and decided to play with the Barrie Colts of the Ontario Hockey League. In 42 games with the Colts, Lemieux scored an unimpressive (6g-8a—14pts).

We’re not done yet!

UND has two other recruits that have been drafted by the OHL clubs. Nick Schmaltz brother of current defenseman Jordan Schmaltz was drafted by the Windsor Spitfires last spring. Nick has not ruled out going to the Spitfires.

Also, today, UND recruit Christian Evers was drafted in the 5th round by the London Knights in the OHL Draft. Lets just say, UND fans are a little worried, based on past experience, if Evers will ever make it to UND. Evers is an impressive kid who is 6’4” and 200 pounds who will turn 16 on May 25, 2013. So you have to think, that the London Knights, will be hard after Christian Evers, to sign with them.

Evers had an impressive year with the Omaha AAA Hockey Club 16U team, scoring (17g-42—59pts) in 67 games. Evers tweeted this on his twitter account today.  So, only time will tell.

Can't wait to be apart of UND in a few years. That's what I mean when I said "Can't wait for things to play out." #SorryForTheConfusion
— Christian Evers (@CEvers97) April 6, 2013

Cross-posted at the Hockey Writers Combine.

Related articles

• UND recruit Christian Evers drafted by the London Knights (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Recruit Evers Drafted by Knights (insidehockey.com)

UND: what could have been

New Jersey Devils (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Now that the NHL is back in full swing, a few young players are starting to make their NHL debut with their clubs. Some of the names are kind of familiar. There are two that might stick out for North Dakota Hockey fans.

During the last two seasons, the University of North Dakota Hockey team had two highly coveted recruits (J.T. Miller and Stefan Matteau) decommit from the team and decide to go a different route.

Obviously, UND fans were a little miffed at these two young men for changing their mind and going a different route.

While I was disappointed at first, that neither of these two kids honored their commitment, I am not longer upset about it. Here’s why. Neither of these kids would’ve been here that long anyways, and in the long run it ended up working out for the best anyways.

In August, right before the 2011-12 season, J.T. Miller decommitted from UND, and signed a signed with the Plymouth Whalers of the Ontario Hockey League. Miller’s decommit put UND in a precarious situation. Without Miller, UND immediately became a different type of team.

Because Miller changed his mind at the last minute, UND wasn’t able to just go get another player of Miller’s skill set. Players like that aren’t just a dime a dozen.

In response to the last minute defection, UND picked up a walk-on recruit named Connor Gaarder from the Coulee region Chill of the NAHL.

In 61 games with the Plymouth Whalers, Miller scored (25g-37a—62) and after his season with the Whalers was over, Miller played in eight games during the Calder Cup playoffs for the Connecticut Whale of the AHL.

This past week, Miller was called up to the New York Rangers and scored during last night’s game against the New York Islanders. Miller scored the first two goals of his NHL career leading the Rangers to a 4-1 victory.

In retrospect, Miller would have been at UND for a single season, while losing him last summer was as setback and he would have been a great addition to UND’s depleted lineup. UND found a way to win without him.

Last January, USDT U18 recruit Stefan Matteau, who had originally committed to play at the University of North Dakota, decommitted from UND, and decided to play for the Blainville-Boisbraind Armada of theQuebec Major Junior Hockey League.

This was the second high profile player in as many years to decomitt from UND and go to the Canadian Hockey League.

Of course the UND fan base was upset. But UND nation was not alone; these defections have also happened to the University of Michigan and Miami University as well.

Matteau had a strong start to the season with the Armada (18g-10a—28pts) in 35 games and was invited to the New Jersey Devils camp once the NHL lockout was settled and has started the season.

Matteau ended up playing in the Devils first five games of the season before being a healthy scratch for the next four games in a row.

The New Jersey Devils could have sent Matteau back to Blainville-Boisbraind, but instead he remained with the New Jersey Devils and last night he was skating on a line with former Fighting Sioux forward Travis Zajac and Ilya Kovalchuk to start the game.

Looking back, I think it’s safe to say that Matteau is another player that wouldn’t have been here very long, in the end his decommitment to UND might not be such a bad thing.

During a recent UND hockey media day, I had a conversation with someone about the makeup of the current North Dakota hockey roster and how it could have looked if these two players had actually made it to North Dakota. It’s something to think about.

Cross Posted at the Hockey Writers Combine... 

MSG to show KHL games; you'll recognize a few of the names

Last night, while checking out a few sites on the internet that I visit from time to time, I came across this little news nugget on the MSGwebsite. The Sports channel that covers the New York Rangers, New York Islanders and New Jersey Devils  has announced that they will show two KHL games this month on their network.

The games will be Friday October 26, (Dinamo Minsk versus Barys Astana) and Wednesday October 31 (SKA. St. Petersburg vs Dinamo Riga.) Both games will be on DirecTV 634. 

Playing for Barys is former University of Wisconsin Badgers defenseman Ryan McDonagh and former Fighting Sioux forward Brandon Bochenski.

Former Wisconsin Badgers forward Joe Pavelski along with former UMD Bulldog Tim Stapleton players for Dinamo Minsk

DINAMO MINSK ROSTER

Head Coach: Alexander Andriyevsky (BLR)

No.      Position           Name                                   Country

89        Def                  Goroshko, Oleg                       Belarus
27        Def                  Denisov, Vladimir                     Belarus
13        For                   Drozd, Sergei                         Belarus
17        For                   Dudko, Sergei                        Belarus
22        For                   Irgl, Zbynek                           Czech Republic
8          Def                  Karalahti, Jere                         Finland
98        For                   Kane, Evander                        Canada
77        For                   Kitarov, Alexander                   Belarus
25        Def                  Krajicek, Lukas                        Czech Republic
11        For                   Kulakov, Alexander                  Belarus
92        For                   Laine, Teemu                         Finland
7          For                   Linglet, Charles                       Belarus
19        For                   Meleshko, Dmitry                    Russia
21        Def                  Murphy, Cory                          Canada
10        For                   Mikhalyov, Andrei                    Belarus
29        Def                  Niskala, Janne                         Finland
88        For                   Pavelski, Joe                          USA
60        For                   Pivko, Libor                           Czech Republic
16        For                   Platt, Geoff                            Belarus
32        Goal                Rinne, Pekka                           Finland
23        For                   Stas, Andrei                           Belarus
18        For                   Stapleton, Tim                       USA
30        Goal                Haugen, Lars                           Norway
86        Def                  Chernook, Pavel                      Belarus
40        Goal                Shelepnyov, Yan                      Belarus

BARYS ASTANA ROSTER

Head Coach: Vladimir Krikunov

No.      Position           Name                                  Country

23        For                   Alexandrov, Viktor                 Russia
80        For                   Antropov, Nikolai                   Kazakhstan
42        Def                  Belyakov, Fyodor                    Russia
41        For                   Boyd, Dustin                         Canada
27        For                   Bochenski, Brandon               USA
33        For                   Gavrilin, Andrei                      Kazakhstan
50        Def                  Grigoryev, Mikhail                   Russia
9          For                   Dawes, Nigel                        Canada
31        Goal                 Yeremeyev, Vitaly                  Russia
8          For                   Zhailauov, Talgat                   Kazakhstan
62        For                   Krasnoslobodtsev, Vadim        Russia
35        Goal                 Lassila, Teemu                      Finland
5          Def                  Litvinenko, Alexei                  Russia
54        Def                  McDonagh, Ryan                   USA
51        For                   Mirasty, Jon                         Canada
4          Def                  Novopashin, Vitaly                 Russia
18        For                   Polishchuk, Fyodor                Russia
1          Goal                 Poluektov, Pavel                   Russia
81        For                   Pushkaryov, Konstantin          Russia
79        For                   Rakhanov, Mikhail                  Kazakhstan
34        For                   Rudenko, Konstantin             Russia
2          Def                  Savchenko, Roman                Kazakhstan
91        For                   Savchenko, Filipp                  Russia
25        For                   Solaryov, Ilya                        Kazakhstan
10        For                   Spiridonov, Maxim                 Russia
48        For                   Starchenko, Roman               Kazakhstan
36        For                   Upper, Dmitry                       Russia
37        Def                  Fadeyev, Evgeny                   Kazakhstan
24        Def                  Hutchinson, Andrew              USA
71        Def                  Hedman, Victor                     Sweden


Wednesday, October 31 – SKA St. Petersburg vs. Dinamo Riga (1:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. ET)

SKA ST. PETERSBURG ROSTER

Head Coach: Milos Riha (CZE)

No.      Position           Name                                 Country

2          Def                  Alexandrov, Yury                   Russia
44        For                   Artyukhin, Evgeny                 Russia
72        Goal                 Bobrovsky, Sergei                   Russia
71        For                   Burdasov, Anton                   Russia
77        Def                  Vorobyov, Dmitry                   Russia
37        Def                  Grebeshkov, Denis                 Russia
38        Def                  Dallman, Kevin                       Canada
33        Goal                 Ezhov, Ilya                            Russia
7          Def                  Kalinin, Dmitry                       Russia
83        For                   Klimenko, Gleb                      Russia
17        For                   Kovalchuk, Ilya                      Russia
15        For                   Kucheryavenko, Alexander      Russia
25        For                   Makarov, Igor                        Russia
74        For                   Monakhov, Sergei                  Russia
9          For                   Martensson, Tony                 Sweden
13        For                   Nepryayev, Ivan                    Russia
76        Def                  Pervyshin, Andrei                   Russia
11        For                   Prucha, Petr                         Czech Republic
52        Def                  Semenov, Alexei                    Russia
4          Def                  Serkin, Grigory                       Russia
36        For                   Sigaryov, Andrei                    Russia
91        For                   Tarasenko, Vladimir                Russia
10        For                   Tikhonov, Viktor                    Russia
41        For                   Thoresen, Patrick                  Norway
73        Def                  Chudinov, Maxim                    Russia
40        Goal                 Shikin, Dmitry                        Russia
31        Goal                 Stepanek, Jakub                    Czech Republic

DINAMO RIGA ROSTER

Head Coach: Pekka Rautakallio (FIN)

No.      Position           Name                                 Country

75        For                   Ankipans, Girts                      Latvia
98        For                   Biezais, Elvijs                         Latvia
96        For                   Bicevskis, Maris                      Latvia
71        For                   Bukarts, Roberts                    Latvia
13        Def                  Galvins, Guntis                       Latvia
33        For                   Daugavins, Kaspars                 Latvia
25        For                   Dzerins, Andris                       Latvia
74        For                   Johnson, Jamie                      Canada
12        For                   Giroux, Alexandre                   Canada
41        For                   Ivanans, Raitis                        Latvia
70        For                   Indrasis, Miks                         Latvia
72        Def                  Carle, Mathieu                        Canada
15        For                   Karsums, Martins                    Latvia
2          Def                  Lavins, Rodrigo                       Latvia
87        For                   Meija, Gints                           Latvia
17        For                   Nizivijs, Aleksandrs                  Latvia
14        Def                  Redlihs, Jekabs                       Latvia
9          Def                  Redlihs, Krisjanis                     Latvia
6          Def                  Rekis, Arvids                          Latvia
11        Def                  Sotnieks, Kristaps                   Latvia
32        Goal                Tellqvist, Mikael                       Sweden
44        Def                  Cibulskis, Oskars                     Latvia
19        For                   Schremp, Rob                        USA
38        For                   Szczechura, Paul                    Canada
37        Goal                 Jucers, Maris                          Latvia

Zach Parise 9th in the Top-40 Fantasy Hockey Left Wing Rankings

The rankings are out and another Former Fighting Sioux forward Zach Parise was ranked 9th in the Top-40 Fantasy Hockey Left Wing Rankings.

1. James Neal
2. Daniel Sedin
3. Scott Hartnell
4. Alex Ovechkin
5. Patrick Sharp
6. Rick Nash
7. Ilya Kovalchuk
8. Patrick Marleau
9. Zach Parise - UND
10. Milan Lucic
17. Brad Marchand
18. Thomas Vanek - Minnesota
23. Max Pacioretty - Michigan
29. Matt Moulson - Cornell
38. Chris Kreider - Boston College

Ouch! Alec Martinez hit on Travis Zajac

This was a hard legal hit by former Miami RedHawk and current Los Angeles Kings defenseman Alex Martinez put a monstrous hit on former Fighting Sioux and current New Jersey Devils forward Travis Zajac during the 05:22 mark of the second period. I think it's going to be safe to say that both teams are going to take a couple of day to heal after this series is over.

Parise finally scores after six game drought

The sound you heard was a sigh of relief from New Jersey Devils forward Zach Parise has he scored his first goal in six games for the New Jersey Devils.

That being said, it's not just Parise that has found the sledding to be tough, the New Jersey Devils top forward line of Zach Parise (1g-0a-1pts), Travis Zajac (0g-2a-2pts) and Ilya Kovalchuk (1g-0a-1pts) has been stymied by the Los Angeles Kings and the Devils top line has scored a grand total of two goals and two assist for four points between the three of them during the Stanley Cup Finals. Kovalchuck's goal was a empty net goal at the end of game four to keep the Devils hopes of extending the series alive.

Rich Chere, The Star-Ledger --- Devils captain Zach Parise ended his goal-scoring drought in the Stanley Cup finals when he scored his first goal against the Kings and first in six games going back to the Eastern Conference finals.

But he got help from Kings goalie Jonathan Quick, who shot the puck off the end boards to Parise at the right post. Parise beat Drew Doughty to the puck and scored inside the post.

“I made a not-so-great pass across the ice. I wasn't looking,” Parise explained. “I just saw Quick go out of the net. Just went on the normal forecheck route that I've gone on a thousand times this year. He just happened to misplay it and put it on my stick. You got to get lucky sometimes.”

If the New Jersey Devils are going to extend the series and send it back to Newark, New Jersey for a game seven the Devils top line is going to have to  become a factor on the score sheet. The Devils top line is going to have to make some space and break through the Kings defense and get behind the Kings defenders.

The record favors the Devils as they have a 10-1 record in games 4, 5, 6 and 7.  They also have future Hall of Fame goalie in Martin Brodeur who has won three Stanley Cups (1995, 2000, 2003) and seems to be getting better as the series goes along and you have to think that Marty is saving the best for the last series of the season.

Zach Parise game five goal

Here is New Jersey Devils and former Fighting Sioux All-American forward Zach Parise's goal in game five against the Los Angeles Kings. That was the first goal of the Stanley Cup Finals for Parise who had been held scoreless in five games for Parise how had been (0g-0a-0pts) and a minus 4 in the last five games going back to the Division Finals against the New York Rangers.

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• New Jersey star Zach Parise would be a devil of a Blackhawk

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• Zach Parise May Sign With Bruins, Rangers or Red Wings This Offseason (Photos)

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• PHT: DeBoer isn't worried about Parise's play

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