Pioneer Press: Wild's Justin Fontaine: Small-town boy starting to make big impact

Speaking of former college hockey players. Former UMD Bulldog Justin Fontaine is in camp with a new contract trying to cement a roster spot with the Minnesota Wild. Fontaine is on a one-way contract so he could end up playing for the Iowa Wild to start the season.

Chad Graff, Pioneer Press -- Justin Fontaine insists this Wild training camp is no different from last year's.

The two-year, one-way contract he signed this summer doesn't change his mind-set from a year ago when he was in the final year of his contract and fighting just to keep his job.

It's impossible to ignore how different things are for him, though.

For the first time in his career, he has job security in the NHL.

Rather than auditioning for a roster spot, Fontaine was tapped to play Thursday night's exhibition game against the Penguins alongside skilled forwards Thomas Vanek and Mikko Koivu, his chance to show he's ready for a bigger role on the team.

"I think there's a different feeling for him," Wild coach Mike Yeo said. "There's no question he's coming in with the sense that he belongs here, the comfort level that he doesn't have to worry about whether one mistake might be the difference between him going home or staying."

Minnesota Wild: Justin Fontaine files for arbitration

#490242273 / gettyimages.com

Former UMD Bulldog and current Minnesota Wild RFA forward Justine Fontaine has filed for salary arbitration. EDIT: Came from Hockey Wilderness blogger-> Apparently, the former Bulldog wants 2.75 million a year. So, I would say, it's probably going to be less than the above number.

This past season, Fontaine scored (13G-8a—21pts) in 66 games. Just for comparison sake, Fontaine was 4th on the Wild in goal scoring, so he isn't total hack making outrageous demands. It will be interesting to see what kind of a contract he signs. I don't think his salary demands are all that unreasonable.

Russo's Rants -- Wild right wing Justin Fontaine was the only one of the Wild's restricted free agents to file for arbitration by today's 4 p.m. deadline. He's one of 20 to do so in the NHL.

Fontaine's agent, Neil Sheehy, will continue to try to negotiate a contract with the Wild. He can do so up until the hearing, which will be scheduled from July 20 to August 4 in Toronto in front of an independent arbitrator. Most of the time, a contract is worked out prior to the hearing. By any player filing for arbitration, it ensures he can't be signed to an offer sheet by another club and it ensures no holdout from training camp.

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• Minnesota Wild: Revisiting the Justin Fontaine Question: Oh yeah! He's scores again (Video)
• Minnesota Wild: Former UMD Bulldog Justin Fontaine scores hat-trick against the Coyotes
• Justin Fontaine's Wild NHL Opportunity in Minnesota

Two Games Without Heater and Two Wild Wins

For the first time in his career Saturday, Dany Heatley was a healthy scratch for the Minnesota Wild as they played Phoenix, in what quite possibly was the biggest regular season game for the Wild to this point.

Being demoted to the fourth line this season, Heater hasn't done much for the Wild, but I still will say the trade to San Jose to get him was one worth while. It got rid of a Martin Havlat who really didn't do much of anything for the Minnesota Wild.

However, is the offensive fuel for Dany Heatley running on empty? I think these past two games have shown that. His veteran presence in the locker room is probably one that is well liked, but his lack of production on the ice is one I think the fans won't miss.

Maybe Heatley was the thorn in the side as of late, keeping guys like former UMD Bulldog Justin Fontaine off the ice and I'm sure many will agree to this, and because of this, I don't see Heater getting much, if any, playing time until the playoffs, if he even gets any there.

Minnesota Wild: Cooke Check on Nail Yakupov, Leads to Justin Fontaine goal

One of the positive things to come out of this season is the play of rookie forward Justin Fontaine. With the goal last night, Fontaine now has 12 goals on the season. That's third on the Minnesota Wild in goals. That three more than 7.5-Million dollar man Dany Heatley. Check out the beginning of this play, Matt Cooke blows up Nail Yakupov with beautiful, legal check. Apparently,Yakupov is out with a upper body injury.

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• Hockey Wilderness Mid-Season reviews (hockeywilderness.com)

Minnesota Wild: Former UMD Bulldog Justin Fontaine scores hat-trick against the Coyotes

Coming into the season, a Wild player hadn't scored a hat-trick since January 17,  2010, when former Wild forward Guillaume Latendresse scored a hat-trick against the Phoenix Coyotes... Almost four years later a Wild player did it again against the Coyotes.

The Wild now have two hat-tricks in six days. So, tip of the hat to former Bulldog forward Justin Fontaine for leading the Wild to a 4-1 victory over the Desert Dogs. For all of naysayers that said Fontaine wouldn't make the Minnesota Wild, he's been up with the Wild since the start of the season.

Ahem, just to refresh everyone's memory.

ahem, http://t.co/8OjEp4C6RH
— Eric J. Burton THW (@goon48) October 23, 2013

Justin Fontaine suspended by Houston Aeros

Image via WikipediaFormer Minnesota Duluth Bulldog Justin Fontain has been suspended by the Houston Aeros for his comments he made on Twitter on Monday night.

Michael Russo , Star Tribune --- The Wild suspended Houston Aeros forward Justin Fontaine for two games after he used a gay slur during a Twitter exchange about the Grammy Awards with a teammate on Sunday night.

Fontaine soon removed the tweet and apologized, saying, "My apologies to everyone, it was wrong. Twitter rookie and it came out totally wrong. It was a roommate battle, nothing more. #sorry."

By that time, however, it was retweeted by another teammate and spread across the Internet.

"Minnesota Sports and Entertainment (MSE) apologizes for the offensive slur that was posted by Justin Fontaine on Twitter last night," the Wild said in a statement Monday night. "Fontaine has been suspended from playing in the next two games for the Houston Aeros."