UND Hockey: UND slips past Manitoba

Interior of Ralph Englested Arena during a hockey game. The arena is located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tonight, The University of North Dakota kicked off the 2013-14 season with an exhibition game against the Manitoba Bison (Canadian Interuniversity Sport). The Bison entered tonight’s game with a 0-2-0 record and were outscored 9-0 on the weekend by the Alberta Golden Bears of Canada West. Things didn’t get any better for the Bison tonight. When Manitoba left Grand Forks, ND they had been outscored 12-0 on the weekend, and were still winless after losing 3-0 to UND.

The game was choppy at times and the hometown team looked a little bit rusty. UND came into game with only one official practice under their belt, but the green and white still managed to put 39 shots on net. Despite the high shot total, UND was only able to put three past Manitoba goalies Joe Caliguri and Deven Dubyk.

The game featured three players from the greater Grand Forks Area (Gage Ausmus, Luke Johnson and Paul LaDue). One of the local players, Luke Johnson made an immediate impression on the home town folk, scoring UND’s third goal at the 03:26 mark of the third period. After the game, the freshman was asked about his debut in a UND uniform.

“It was incredible,” Luke Johnson said. “Growing up here, I always dreamed of being on the ice with that caliber of player. So, it was nice to get out there and get the first one.”

The rust showed on special teams and the power play went 0-8 on the evening. Johnson was asked about his impression of the power play.

“We have worked on it a little bit the past week, but were going to need some work on it,” Johnson said.

The UND head coach concurred with his freshman forwards assessment of the power play and had this to say about his team’s first game.

“I thought we did a lot of good things,” Hakstol said. “I will get a little more specific than that. I thought we really started out the game trying to play with some structure. I thought as we got moving through the game, our five-on-five play improved as we went through the game. As I expected, I thought we were a little rocky on our specialty teams.  We scored the shorthanded goal, we were a little out of sync on the PK, but we got the job done.   Our power play was a little out of sync, but I think we still got 14 or 15 shots on goal.”

Last season, during the exhibition game against Manitoba, UND forward Michael Parks suffered a lower body injury and missed 17 games. After missing all but one game during the first half of the season, Parks returned to the lineup and scored (7g-1a—8pts) in 25 games. Tonight, Parks was one of the forwards that stood out. Parks scored at the 11:38 mark of the second period to give UND a 2-0 lead. After the game the sophomore forward seemed pleased with his game.

“I think we had a real strong game as a team,” Parks said. “I think it’s good that we got the first one out of the way, because we got a lot of young guys in there. We had what seems to be a pretty long preseason here.  Then with working really had at practice, we were really excited to get on the ice in a game.”

The regular season starts for real next weekend (October 11-12, 2013 ) when UND plays the University of Vermont Catamounts in a two game series at Ralph Engelstad Arena.

Related articles

• UND Hockey: Dillon Simpson named Captain of the UND Hockey Team (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UND Hockey: Two Cousins set to make Debut for UND (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Hockey: The Weekend Ahead (10/5/13) (insidehockey.com)
• UND Women: Observations from Lindenwood Series (insidehockey.com)
• UND Hockey: Two Headed Monster in Net for UND (thehockeywriters.com)

North Dakota shakes off early rust to beat the University of Manitoba Bison 5-3

Seal of the University of North Dakota (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Grand Forks, ND – During the off-season, there have been a few well documented distractions for the UND hockey team but tonight, that focus finally changed to playing hockey.

Tonight, it was all about playing hockey as UND took on a very determined and pesky CIS team the University of Manitoba Bison.

In the past, UND has had a lot of success against the University of Manitoba. UND hasn't lost to the Bison since the 1949 season – tonight was no different as UND extended that streak (9-0 under coach Dave Hakstol) by shaking off some early season rust to beat the Manitoba University Bison 5-3 at Ralph Englestad Arena.

After the game head coach Dave Hakstol talked about his team’s play during their first exhibition game.
“I thought there was a lot of rust – lots of good effort – that probably was expected, Hakstol said. “I thought the sharpest part of our game was offensively, not a lot of cohesion defensively.”

Coming into this season, there are high expectations,  the University of North Dakota is looking to have a strong season based on who they have coming back, but also who they have coming in this season.

Although tonight’s game was only an exhibition game, the game can still be used as an audition for the players that are trying to solidify their position on the roster for the regular season – from what I have seen tonight – it would appear that the upcoming season looks promising for UND.

One of those bright spots was UND’s second line of Mark MacMillan, Carter Rowney and Michael Parks, that line looked like they picked up right where they left off from last season – that line scored the first and third goals for UND.

Coming up big for that line were sophomore forward MacMillian, who had a goal and an assist for UND. Senior forward Carter Rowney also chipped in a goal and two assists as well.

One problem from last season was that UND was bitten by the injury bug during the middle part of the season and couldn’t even fill out a full lineup by the end of the season.

That second line chemistry for UND might be broken up for an extended period of time – it appears that UND wasn’t able to get out of the first game unscathed as sophomore Michael Parks suffered what appears to be a lower body injury and left the game midway through the third period and didn’t return to the UND bench.

After the game head coach Hakstol was asked about the condition of his sophomore forward Michael Parks.

“Nothing definitive,” Hakstol said. “That something I am not going to comment on right now.”
After missing all but four games last season, redshirt freshman Rocco Grimaldi showed us why he was worth the wait – as he literally had the crowd on the edge of their seat each time that he the puck on his stick. Grimaldi’s is very strong on his skates and he has speed few players can match.

“It felt good, the knee felt good, I was just happy to get out there, Grimaldi said. I thought I started pretty well getting my chances and then kind of slowed down a little bit I am kind of upset right now so, it is what it is.”

Senior forward Danny Kristo gave his impression of the first game as well.

I thought it was a pretty solid game we worked on some stuff we want to work on, Kristo said. Manitoba played hard, I thought we did a lot of things offensively, we have some stuff we have to sharpen up in the d-zone, neutral zone, turnovers, stuff like that you can expect this time of the year, but over-all I thought it was good – good solid first game.”

Related articles

• UND Men's Hockey Media Day (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Men's Hockey Media Day (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Men's hockey team captains suspended for regular season opener (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Eight men out - UND players to miss some time... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

The Queen maybe making a return to Winnipeg

Illegal Curve Picture

If you ever went to a Winnipeg Jets game or a Manitoba Moose game in the old Winnipeg arena you would have seen the Queen Elizabeth II picture that hung in the arena.That picture could be making a come back.

CBC --- An NHL hockey team may not be the only thing returning to Manitoba's capital.

The largest known portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, which hung from the rafters in the Winnipeg Arena for 20 years, may also be coming home.

Anya Wilson, custodian of the portrait, says she got an exciting phone call which suggests the Queen may be returning to Winnipeg.

Wilson says she can't say much more but would love to see the portrait hung once again.

At five-by-seven metres, the portrait has been homeless since it was taken down from the Winnipeg Arena, where the former NHL Winnipeg Jets used to play.

The Arena was demolished in 2005.

Related articles

• Largest known portrait of Queen may return to Winnipeg along with NHL team (thehockeynews.com)
• A REMINISCE: NHL franchise hopes give Winnipeg its groove back (cbc.ca)
• NHL franchise hopes give Winnipeg its groove back (cbc.ca)

What about Manitoba Moose?

Image via WikipediaHere is the latest in the NHL to Winnipeg saga. I don't know, personally I have always like the Moose Logo, it's fitting for that area because there are lot moose running around the Canadian Prairies and Midwest. Moose are indigenous to that area.

James Mirtle, Globe and Mail Blog --- What if the long-awaited Return of the Jets really wasn't the return of the Jets at all?

Amid all of the talk of the NHL's return to Winnipeg this s pring, there's also long been the suggestion that True North Sports & Entertainment would not bring back the Jets but instead "promote" their AHL franchise, the Manitoba Moose, to the big leagues.

Which would mean keeping the Moose logo, colours and uniforms.

The latest to report on this was sportslogos.net, quoting "a reliable source" within True North.
“True North has spent considerable time and money promoting the Moose brand, switching away from that would be like essentially flushing money down the toilet,” the source said.

You have to imagine there'll be some resistance to this move, as there's a great deal of nostalgia still associated with the Winnipeg Jets brand, 15 years after they originally left Manitoba.

That trademark is apparently still owned by the NHL and would presumably be easy to acquire, but all indications are True North would go against public sentiment and stick with their brand.

Atlanta Spirit, True North in negotiations about Thrashers sale, relocation

Image via WikipediaThis newspaper article gives me hope that we could still see the NHL return to Winnipeg, Manitoba.  That being said I have to remain realistic and I am not going to hold my breath just yet, but I do like where this conversation is going.

By Chris Vivlamore The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ----- The Atlanta Spirit has begun negotiations with True North Sports and Entertainment on the sale of the Thrashers, which would result in relocation to Winnipeg, according to a person familiar with the NHL’s sale process.

A deal has not been completed and it is also not known how long the two sides have been negotiating. However, the fact that talks are on-going could mean the Thrashers would relocate to Manitoba perhaps as soon as next season. "I have never confirmed nor denied specific parties we have been talking to in regards to a possible sale of the Thrashers," Atlanta Spirit co-owner Bruce Levenson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday.

Typically, confidentiality agreements are signed between parties in negotiations which would prohibit Atlanta Spirit ownership from identifying suitors NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, reached via e-mail, said there was "nothing I'm prepared to say at this point." A True North Sports and Entertainment spokesperson had no comment.

NHL owners do not have to get league approval get league approval to identify potential buyers and work out an agreement to sell their franchise. However they would have to get permission to negotiate with a party interested in relocation. Once an agreement in principle has been reached, the NHL’s Board of Govenors would be asked to judge the acceptability of the new ownership.