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

Jaroslav Halak's mask honor's Pavol Demitra

s/t to In Goal Magazine. St Louis Blues goalie Jaroslav Halak's mask will honor the memory of his former Slovakian teammate Pavol Demitra who was killed last week when his KHL team Lokomotiv Yaroslavl team flight crashed after take off.

Related articles

• Blues playoff chances will hinge on Jaroslav Halak (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• Thousands attend Demitra memorial (canada.com)
• Thousands attend Pavol Demitra memorial (canada.com)
• Slovakia mourns Russia plane crash victim (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• R.I.P. Pavol Demitra (adrianatalkstoyou.wordpress.com)

A few links on hump day...

As I woke up this morning around 9:30 the news of the air disaster in Lokomotiv Russia was just breaking on twitter and on the internet. I had to look twice because I thought my eyes were fooling me. In today’s world where flying is consider relatively safe a whole KHL hockey team the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl had perished in a aviation disaster. 

Some of the dead were well known former NHL players; former Boston Bruins  defenseman Brad McCrimmon, former Wild, Blues and Canucks forward Pavol Demitra, Ducks defenseman Ruslan Salei, former Hurricanes forward Josef Vasicek, former Senators defenseman Karel Rachunek, former Devils forward Alexander Vasyunov, former Predator, Avalanche, Stars, Panters, defenseman Karlis Skrastins just to name a few were among the confirmed fatalities.


If this horrible summer does anything it puts life into perspective and reminds us that we only have very short time on this earth and we need to enjoy our loved ones and family members every chance we get. If anything when you go to bed tonight give your love ones a hugs and let them know that you appreciate them. I know it sounds cliché but no one really knows what tomorrow will bring or how life is going to shake out.

Western Michigan Broncos still haven't decided where they are going... 

The Western Michigan Hockey beat writer had this blog post on his Western Michigan media blog today. This might shed some light and explain why WMU hasn't accepted the WCHA bid for membership from the WCHA yet. It's no mystery that Western Michigan would like to get into the NCHC and I don't blame them. I think Western Michigan is a hockey program that is on the way up.

David Drew; Mlive.com --- WMU athletic director Kathy Beauregard said Wednesday no developments have come about regarding the Broncos’ future.

On Aug. 25, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association invited WMU, Bowling Green, Ferris State, Lake Superior State and Alaska-Fairbanks to join its league in 2013-14 and stated each program had 30 days to accept or decline the offer.

FSU, Lake Superior State and UAF have accepted the invitation while BGSU and Western Michigan have not yet announced a decision.

It is believed the National Collegiate Hockey Conference is still an option for WMU, but the new league has been quiet about potential future members and the qualifications for membership.

Brought to you from the huh department.

The Roman Empire formerly known as Goal Gophers posted his pre-season prediction on his blog and his selections have cause a bit of discussion. Does anyone think that the WCHA will shake out this way during the season? Personally, I don't see how Wisconsin finishes in 10th place. Personally do any of you think the Wisconsin Badgers will fall that far in the standings this season?

1. Colorado College

2. Denver

3. North Dakota

4. Gophers

5. UMD

6. Nebraska Omaha

7. Alaska Anchorage

8. Bemidji State

9. St. Cloud State

10. Wisconsin

11. Michigan Tech

12. Minnesota State Mankato 

Will Sidney Crosby return this season?

There has been a lot of rumbling about Sidney Crosby's health with him still suffering from post concussion syndrome symptoms almost nine months after his injury. There have also been rumors that Crosby might retire or not make a return to the NHL this season. Check out what Sidney Crosby had to say on the matter.

Bruce Arthur: National Post --- Sidney Crosby will not retire, though he intimated the thought did at least flit across his mind. When asked Wednesday if there was a chance he would never play again, Crosby said, “A pretty slight one. I wouldn’t bet on it.” When his doctors were asked if the Pittsburgh Penguins star would make a full recovery from the concussions which have sidelined him since early January, they almost made it sound as if he would return better than ever.

It all seemed very encouraging, given the vacuum of information that has swirled around the 24-year-old Crosby all year. Still, he is “not even close” to being cleared for contact; no timeline for a complete recovery exists. It sure could be better, even if it could have been worse.

But on the day Crosby broke his four-month silence, he also found his voice in a way he rarely has before. Crosby took his first media training classes at 14; he is careful, when he speaks. In March he had expressed cautious support for banning targeted hits to the head, but said he was not sure about accidental contact. He seems sure now.

Related articles

• 43 Dead After Plane Carrying KHL's Lokomotiv Crashes; Ex-NHL Locals On Team Roster (newyork.cbslocal.com)
• This Summer Continues to Suck for the Hockey World (slog.thestranger.com)
• Plane Carrying KHL's Lokomotiv Crashes; Ex-NHL Locals Among 43 Confirmed Dead (preprod.cbslocal.com)
• A Tragedy For Hockey (kymx.radio.com)
• Farewell Brad McCrimmon, Ruslan Salei, and Stefan Liv. You will be missed... (detroithockeyreport.com)
• Plane crash kills 'majority' of Russian KHL Hockey team Lokomotiv' - Puck Daddy - NHL Blog - Yahoo! Sports (gjoneto.wordpress.com)