THN Top 50 NCAA Players

Prospect expert @THNRyanKennedy counts down the top 50 NCAA players you need to know this season: http://t.co/pv5rmqCPkb
— The Hockey News (@TheHockeyNews) October 3, 2014

The Hockey News has ranked the top 50 NCAA Hockey players and 14 (.28%) are from the NCHC. Three of them are from the University of North Dakota. 

8. Riley Barber, Miami – Incredible offensive prowess has boosted the Washington pick’s stock since he came to RedHawks; look for more of the same from the junior.

9. Jordan Schmaltz, North Dakota – St. Louis first-rounder is a maturing, mobile defenseman who doubled his points as a sophomore last season.

12. Nick Schmaltz, North Dakota – Jordan’s younger bro joins him in Grand Forks. The Chicago first-rounder is blessed with a number of sick offensive moves.

17. Jonny Brodzinski, St. Cloud State – Gifted goal-scorer will once again light the lamp large for the Huskies; he’s a Los Angeles selection.

21. Evan Cowley, Denver – With Sam Brittain gone, Cowley can put his stamp on the crease with the Pios. The big netminder is a Florida pick.

27. Jake Guentzel, Nebraska-Omaha – Smaller Pittsburgh pick had an outstanding freshman season with the Mavs and they’ll need his playmaking prowess again.

28. Andy Welinski, Minnesota-Duluth – Mobile Anaheim pick with great size led the Bulldogs in points from the blueline as a sophomore.

33. Zane McIntyre, North Dakota – Boston prospect formerly named “Gothberg,” will hold down the fort in net for UND as the team eyes a national title.

34. Jaccob Slavin, Colorado College – The Carolina prospect is much bigger than he was when the Canes drafted him and he plays all situations on the back end.

35. Quentin Shore, Denver – The third of four hockey brothers, Shore is an Ottawa prospect who brings some nice scoring punch back to the lineup.

38. Paul LaDue, North Dakota – A late-blooming defenseman snagged by Los Angeles as a depth pick, LaDue was great as a freshman, grabbing all-conference rookie honors.

40. Teemu Kivihalme, Colorado College – Incoming freshman boasts a crazy set of wheels from the blueline; he’s a Nashville pick.

45. Aidan Muir, Western Michigan – Raw Edmonton project kicks off his college career in Kalamazoo; 

50. Joey LaLeggia, Denver – The skilled offensive blueliner is an Edmonton pick primed to put up big numbers as a senior.

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• Predictions for the 2014-15 NCHC Hockey Season
• UND Hockey: Zane McIntyre Selected to Preseason All-Conference Team

Stanley Cup Humor, 0-3

pic.twitter.com/4Cx2yrpDpH
— NHL Humor (@TheNHLHumor) June 10, 2014

This one was pretty good. It's funny if you're a L.A. Kings fan and not if your cheer for the New York Rangers.

(Video) Dwight King's controversial goal - Game Two

#450253954 / gettyimages.com

I listened to this game on my XM Radio and I wanted to see video of the goal in question before I commented on it. I think Henrik Lundqvist has a valid complaint here. From my perspective, it looks like L.A. Kings forward Dwight King uses the contact with Ryan McDonagh to interfere with Lundqvist. I think that this should have been called goalie interference in my opinion. This is a hard call to make, but this also makes a good point that the NHL needs to have video review on goalie interference.

Chris Johnston, Sports Net -- Henrik Lundqvist had a legitimate beef coming out of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final after seeing Dwight King score a momentum-seizing goal for the Los Angeles Kings while leaning into him. The Kings forward was battling for position with Ryan McDonagh at the top of the goaltender’s crease and kept Lundqvist from being able to make a proper move towards a Matt Greene point shot.

The puck ended up hitting King and going in, bringing Los Angeles back to 4-3 and propelling them to yet another two-goal comeback.

The explanation referee Dan O’Halloran provided to Lundqvist on the ice was that the contact was made with him after the puck had already gone in the goal. Replays showed differently.

Here's the NHL's Rule 69.1, you can see that video review is not permitted to review goalie interference. This is a rule that I think the NHL needs to change.

69.1 Interference on the Goalkeeper - This rule is based on the premise that an attacking player’s position, whether inside or outside the crease, should not, by itself, determine whether a goal should be allowed or disallowed. In other words, goals scored while attacking players are standing in the crease may, in appropriate circumstances be allowed. Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal; or (2) an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact. The rule will be enforced exclusively in accordance with the on-ice judgment of the Referee(s), and not by means of video replay or review.

(Video) Justin Williams controversial goal in game six

At the 11:56 mark of the third period, L.A. Kings forward Justin Williams scored the go-ahead goal. It was one of those calls where it looked like the ref was going to blow his whistle and then decided that he let the play stand. Per the NHL rules, you can't review this play. Most times, you would have had a whistle and a face-off. But the Whistle didn't come.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Kris Letang talks about his stroke

Kristopher Letang of the Pittsburgh Penguins, at a 4–1 win over the New Jersey Devils (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you haven't seen it, this article by Josh Yohe who's the Penguins reporter for the TribLive.com, its worth a look. 

Yohe's article is about Pittsburgh Penguins defensman Kris Letang and what he has gone through after suffering a stroke. Very scary story. 

Letang's absence to the Penguins line-up is a major loss, but his long term health is more important right now.  

It was a scary time.

On the morning of Jan. 29, Letang's wife woke up to find him laying on the floor of the couple's bedroom. He was alert but knew something was wrong.

“I was not able to function,” he said.

Letang's mother-in-law is a nurse and was at their home at the time of his stroke, which stopped him from calling 911. He felt better enough later in the day to fly with the Penguins to Los Angeles.

But after a series of tests, it was determined that Letang had a stroke. He said he is still having “good days and bad days” and is still dealing with fatigue.

Letang looked noticeably thinner than normal. He has recently been given permission to work out though he isn't skating and continues to take blood thinner medication. [Read more]

LA Kings Matt Frattin fights Tyler Myers after a legal hit

This is one element that I don't like about the NHL. Whenever someone is hit with a nice crisp, hard, legal bone jarring check, there has to be a fight. This doesn’t even appear to be that hard of a check. Whatever happened to taking a number and hitting them later in the game? It’s called taking the license plate of the truck that hit you.  I think this is one instance where the instigator penalty needs to be given out more. Don't get me wrong I like a good fight. My nickname is goon.

Watch this hit,  Los Angeles Kings forward Matt Frattin is making a shoulder-to-shoulder hit on  Buffalo Sabres center Cody McCorrmick. If you watch the video, it doesn't appear that Frattin hits McCormick in the head, he comes close, but there doesn't appear to be any contact with the Buffalo center’s head. We can debate this point if you want, but take a look at the video. 

Mind you McCormick is no small guy at 6'2 224 pounds and Frattin is the smallest of the three guys at 5'11 and 187 pound and he holds his own against Tyler Myers who is 6'6" 194. Maybe Myers is just mad because his team is 3-14? I don’t know.

Here's what I said over on Sioux Sports and I stand by it. "Myers comes over and challenges him to a fight and Frattin pounds him. Myers gets an extra two for holding. The Sabres are becoming a laughing stock."

NCHC Hockey: Total of the Early Departures

With the hockey season approaching, I would think that the NCHC is done with its early departures.

Colorado College (0)

None

Denver (3)

Scott Mayfield So. D NY Islanders (NHL), April 5
Juho Olkinoura So. G Winnipeg (NHL), April 7 (FA)
Nick Shore Jr. F Los Angeles (NHL), April 12

Miami (0)

None

Minnesota Duluth (1)

Chris Casto So. D Boston (NHL), March 26 (FA)

Nebraska-Omaha (2)

Andrej Sustr Jr. D Tampa Bay (NHL), March 21 (FA)
Tony Turgeon Jr. D San Antonio (AHL), July 18 (FA)

North Dakota (1)

Derek Forbort Jr. D Los Angeles (NHL), April 5

St. Cloud State (1)

Nick Jensen Jr. D Detroit (NHL), May 2

Western Michigan (1)

Danny DeKeyser Jr. D Detroit (NHL), March 29 (FA)

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End game scrum in Columbus Blue Jackets vs Los Angeles Kings, Jackets Brandon Dubinsky assessed a match penalty

This was the end of the game between the Kings and the Blue Jackets. Blue Jackets Brandon Dubinsky assessed a match penalty and is suspended by the NHL until he has a hearing with the NHL's Department of Players Safety, there could be a Shanaban coming soon for Dubinsky. Aaron Portzline of the Columbus Dispatch tells us why.

At the end of the game, as dance partners began to pair up, Dubinsky came up from behind on Kings defenseman Robyn Regehr behind the Kings net. Doughty approached from behind and through a right-hand puck at Dubinsky, which appeared to hit the mark. Dubinsky turned a charged after Doughty, who ducked and covered in front of the empty Los Angeles net.

"Just a cheap shot, and that's his personality," Kings forward Kyle Clifford said of Dubinsky. "We've got guys out there and he goes after Doughty, who is not our toughest player."

Who knows how long of a suspension Brandon Dubinsky will get, but we know that his antics at the end of the game are outside the hockey code, he sucker punched someone. Dubinsky is also the Blue Jackets player that jumped Charlie Coyle after his clean hit on Artem Anisimov.

UND's Derek Forbort signs with the L.A. Kings

@derek4bort played 3yrs NCAA at #UNDHockey & hopefully long #NHL career #LAKings. Future starts 2moro flying #AHL Manchester @monarchshockey
— Ben Hankinson (@benhankinson) April 6, 2013

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Kings have signed defenseman Derek Forbort to a three-year entry level contract, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.

Forbort, 21, was selected by the Kings in the first round (15th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. The 6-5, 207-pounder is a native of Duluth, Minnesota.

Forbort has played the last three seasons for the University of North Dakota. This year he played in 42 games and recorded 17 points (4-13=17) and 22 penalty minutes. In 2011-12 he played in 35 games (13 points) and in 2010-11 he played in 38 games (15 points).

He also has experience with the U.S. National Dev. Team and the U.S. Nat. Under-18 Team. For the U.S. he earned a bronze medal at the 2011 World Junior Championships and a gold medal at the 2010 WJC-U18 event.

The Kings host the Edmonton Oilers tomorrow, Saturday, at STAPLES Center at 1 p.m. The game will air on FOX Sports West and KTLK AM 1150 with pregame shows beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Bruins 2, Wild 8th in 2012 Uni Watch rankings

So the Montreal Canadians have been ranked first in the 2012 NHL Uni Watch Rankings - the Boston Bruins were ranked second and the Wild were ranked eighth. Below is how the NHL rankings shook out.

1. Montreal
2. Boston
3. NY Rangers
4. Detroit
5. Philadelphia
6. Toronto
7. Pittsburgh
8. Minnesota
9. Columbus
10. New Jersey
11. Chicago
12. Buffalo
13. NY Islanders
14. San Jose
15. Florida
16. Winnipeg
17. Vancouver
18. Phoenix
19. Calgary
20. Tampa Bay
21. Carolina
22. Nashville
23. Anaheim
24. Ottawa
25. St. Louis
26. Edmonton
27. Washington
28. Los Angeles
29. Dallas
30. Colorado

L.A. Lakers Victory parade? Yikes no respect for the Kings

Wow! Nice slight to the Los Angeles Kings and their Stanley Cup victory.

"We will probably be over the Laker's victory parade, Mark Kriski said.

Dustin Brown Drops the F-Bomb

You never know what's going to come out of someone's mouth at the moment of extreme excitement. Dustin Brown you earned it and it was funny to see that Pierre McQuire didn't even blink and continued on with his interview.

Brown exclaimed, "You never know, that's why we F'N play."

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.

CBC opening for game 3

Here was the opening of last night's game on CBC - unfortunately I am not able to watch CBC anymore because I got rid of my Midcontinent last July and got DirecTV. 

Based on how the New Jersey Devils have played there may only be one more game left, because the Los Angeles Kings have been relentless and have taken the games to the Devils.

Kings take 2-0 lead in series against Devils

Los Angeles Kings forward Jeff Carter scored the game winning goal at the 13:42 mark in overtime to give the Los Angeles Kings a 2-0 series lead against the New Jersey Devils. The Kings have gone an impressive 14-2 in the Stanley Cup playoffs and have not lost since the first round of the playoffs. What is even more impressive is that the Kings have not lost on the road during this years Stanley Cup Playoffs. Let me just say - I think the Devils will be hard pressed to win four of the next five games against the Kings. I wouldn't be surprised if the Kings sweep the Devils at home. With their win on the road the Kings have now won 10 out of 10 games on the road - that's an impressive feat and only three other teams have done that during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

But to go a perfect 10-for-10 away from the land of the rich and famous, well, that seemed like a dream, or a Hollywood script. Nevertheless, that's just what the Kings did with Jeff Carter's game winner 13 minutes and 42 seconds into overtime for a 2-1 win over the New Jersey Devils at the Prudential Center on Saturday.

The Kings not only extended their record to 10 consecutive wins to start a postseason, they became only the fourth team to win 10 road games in a playoffs, matching the 1995 and 2000 Devils as well as the 2004 Calgary Flames. [Tim Wharnsby, CBC]

The 1st Annual Northland Hockey Academy 4-Day Skills & Drills FULL DAY CAMP

The Northland Hockey Group presents…

The 1^st Annual Northland Hockey Academy 4-Day Skills & Drills FULL DAY CAMP

June 25-28, 2012 at the Sanford Center in Bemidji, Minnesota.

For boys and girls born from 1995-2005

MAIN INSTRUCTOR: Jeff Carlson and his staff

Director of Storm Hockey School (formerly Top Gun Hockey Camp since 2003, as well as other professional positions as a hockey instructor for summer camps, day camps, skills clinics and training schools since 1990.

Regional Coordinator/Instructor for Northern Edge Elite Hockey Schools since 2005.

President of Stonebriar Ice Hockey Association from 2003-2010, coaching several team from Mites thru Bantams, AA to house league levels. From 1995-2003, Head Coach/Asst Coach of several teams from Midget AA to Mite house league in New York City and Los Angeles metro areas.

GOALIE INSTRUCTOR: Scotty Buchholz

Former North Dakota All State Goalie!!!

The Academy will have a low instructor/player ratio!!!

LOCATION: SANFORD CENTER in BEMIDJI, MN (Home of the D1 Hockey Bemidji State Beavers)

Sanford Center - Bemidji

1111 Event Center Drive

Bemidji, MN 56601

INCLUDES: Many reasons to attend in 2012

12 hours of detailed on ice and 10+ hours of detailed Off-Ice instruction.

Four days of skating in the state of the art Sanford Center in Bemidji

Northland Hockey Academy Jersey

Lunch

Fun Galore

More

FEE: Low Price

Only $295 per player, Goalies are only $195 (Mail your check before June 15^th)

LIMITED: Be sure to register before June 18^th!!!

Each Camp Group is limited to 30 skaters and 4 goalies. We will have many instructors, plus goalie instructor for all On-Ice sessions.

FULL DAY CAMP: (Example only - Group 1)

8:00AM - Drop off

9:00-10:30AM – On-Ice

10:45-11:30PM – Plyometrics & Off-Ice Skills (stick handling, quick fee etc.)

11:30-12:00PM – Lunch (Provided by local vender - INCLUDED)

12:00-12:30PM – Instructional Video & Classroom Hockey Education

1:00- 2:30PM – On-Ice (Individual Skills: Stick Handling, Shooting, Passing, Checking)

2:45- 4:00PM – Plyometrics & Off-Ice Skills (stick handling, quick feet etc.)

4:00PM – Pick up

DORM STAY AVAILABLE: Need to travel we can help you out!!!

Available for only $22 per night or a tad more if you want breakfast and supper included. Lunch is provided by the Northland Hockey Academy.

HOW TO REGISTER: Register at www.northlandhockeygroup.com

HOW TO PAY: Mail a check by June 15^th so we receive it by June 18^th.

Mail to…

Northland Hockey Group

P.O. Box 490324

Blaine, Mn 55449

QUESTIONS?: Let us know.

We are confident that your child will love this camp!!!

Anze Kopitar's game winning goal

Here is the game winning goal in over time by the Los Angeles Kings forward Anze Kopitar. Kopitar shows his speed as he gets  behind the New Jersey Devils defense - it was off to the races - not much the goalie New Jersey Devils goalie Martin Brodeur could have done there. That was the ninth win on the road for the Los Angeles Kings during the Stanley Cup playoffs - the Kings have yet to lose in nine games that they have played on the road during the playoffs.

Game one in the books - Kings up 1-0

Game one of the Stanley Cup Final between the Los Angeles Kings and the New Jersey Devils is in the book, the Kings won game one by a score of 2-1 on an overtime goal from forward Anze Kopitar at the 08:13 mark of overtime.Game two is on Saturday June 5th at 07:00 PM on NBC.

None of the former Fighting Sioux hockey players Travis Zajac, Zach Parise or Matt Greene showed up in the box score in last night's game.

Dodgers exec wants Winter Classic

Dodger Stadium, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Oh boy most of us are probably just chomping at the bit to see this hockey game. Or not! I see these outdoor games as a distraction away from the actual hockey game. Hey I admit, that I liked the 24/7 Flyers and Rangers on HBO this past winter; that was an awesome show and you got to know the players from the two teams quite well.

But now some want to have hockey in Chavez Ravine.  Why not go for Aloha stadium in Honolulu? I can't imagine that there have been that many hockey games in Hawaii. 

LOS ANGELES --- Dodgers president Stan Kasten was hoping to capitalize on rare Stanley Cup fever in Los Angeles with a pitch to bring the NHL Winter Classic game to baseball's biggest ballpark.

Kasten, the former president of the Atlanta Thrashers, said Dodger Stadium was equipped for the finals-bound Kings to host the annual outdoor showcase event and he was exploring plans to make it happen.

"Facility-wise, we could certainly handle it," Kasten told the Los Angeles Times, saying technology existed to keep the ice playable in hot weather.

The report cited an outdoor exhibition game in 1991 in which Wayne Gretzky and the Kings played in temperatures of around 85F (29C) in Las Vegas.

Personally, I think we have overdone the outdoor hockey game - just a bit - how many more of them do we need to have? Next season, there are at least three outdoor games in college hockey that I can think of off the top of my head. Do we really need anymore of these things? How much is enough? At what point do we hit the over saturation mark?

If I had to make a choice, I would rather be able to see a hockey game in a stadium built for hockey, most of the stadiums that I watched hockey in are designed with the hockey viewer in mind. I am really not all that thrilled about trying to watch a hockey game in a baseball stadium or a football stadium where your seat is going to be a long ways away from the ice and you have a hard time seeing the puck.  Can you imagine trying to watch a hockey game in Memorial Stadium in Grand Forks, ND when it 30-40 below zero, with the wind chill factored in. That might be one game I that I sit out.

Shane Doan's second goal

Phoenix Coyotes forward Shane Doan scored two big goals to help the Coyotes beat the Los Angeles Kings by a score of 2-0 to extend the Western Conference Finals series between the Phoenix Coyotes and the Los Angeles Kings. With the victory last night by the Coyotes in Los Angeles, game five is tomorrow night at 8:00 PM Central in Glendale, Arizona, at Jobing.com Arena.

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