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)

Wednesday press update for UND Men's hockey

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine. 
 
Today, I attended the UND media day for Men’s hockey and these are some of the quotes that I got from the head coach and a few of the UND hockey players.

UND Head coach Dave Hakstol was asked the specifics that his team needs to improve upon.
“Our play away from the puck,” coach Hakstols said.   “Our play without the puck has to improve.”
Coach Hakstol was asked about sophomore forward Michael Parks who suffered a lower leg injury during the third period of Saturday’s exhibition game against the Manitoba Bison.

“I honestly don’t have any new information than what I had on Sunday and Monday,” Coach Hakstol said. “We’re going to re-evaluate him on Friday and I think that will tell us a little bit more that we need to know he certainly won’t be available this weekend.”

Coach Hakstol was asked where red-shirt freshman forward Rocco Grimaldi and where he is going to play this weekend.

“I don’t know yet, Hakstol said. “He might play center, he might play left wing or he might play right wing. I am not trying… I don’t know exactly what we’re going to set for combinations for Friday. So far in practiced this week, he has played left wing as well as center. So were going to go with… probably, likely we will set our lines tomorrow for Thursday’s practice going into Friday’s game. But I am 100 percent set yet on exact line combinations, were going to mix it up, he’s going to play a lot of different position during the season.”

Senior defenseman Andrew MacWilliam had off season shoulder surgery and sat out the first exhibition game against the Manitoba Bison. Coach Hakstol was asked on whether defenseman Andrew MacWilliam is going to play this weekend.

“We will wait till Thursday, coach Hakstol said. “I think there’s a… he’s doing really well – potentially he could play one game even low minutes this weekend and up in Alaska and go up and play one game and that’s a great progression and get to play two games the following weekend and come back for our home opener – but we are going to give it all the time we possibly can before we make that final decision and that will probably be Thursday morning, he has practiced, he has had a regular practice jersey on for the last two weeks of practice – that tells me how close he is .”

Sophomore defenseman Nick Mattson was asked about his impression of the first exhibition game against the Manitoba Bison.

“I thought it was a good game,” Mattson said. Obviously there was a little rust and a few sloppy plays but overall it felt really good to get back on the ice and I think it’s pretty evident that we have some individuals that have a lot of skill and ability to make some plays but as a team we have a ways to go it was kind of expected. So it felt good to get back on the ice we’re looking forward to kind of improving and keeping things going here.

Senior forward Corbin Knight on whether freshman forward Drake Caggiula was going to stay on the top line with Knight and Danny Kristo.

“It’s up to the coach, I don’t know right now, Knight said. He played good there on Saturday and he made some plays. It’s up to the coach, I couldn’t tell you.”

Knight was asked about his impression of freshman Rocco Grimaldi’s play on the power play.

“He was good we didn’t get a whole lot of opportunities on the power play unfortunately,” Knight said. But from what we did, he is such a dynamic player; he makes stuff happen from anywhere on the ice. So… he is pretty impressive and it was fun to be on the ice with him.”

Related articles

• North Dakota shakes off early rust to beat the University of Manitoba Bison 5-3 (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• ND Shakes Off Rust to Beat Manitoba Bison (insidehockey.com)
• UND Men's Hockey Media Day (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• UND Men's Hockey Media Day (thehockeywriters.com)

Edit: UND Versus Manitoba Lines

Tonight is the first exhibition game of season between the Manitoba Bison and the University of North Dakota Hockey team. 

Forward lines vs. Manitoba: 1. Caggiula-Knight-Kristo 2. MacMillan-Rowney-Parks 3. O'Donnell-Grimaldi-Gaarder 4. Pattyn-St. Clair-Rodwell
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDMHockey) October 6, 2012

Defense: 1. Mattson-Panzarella 2. Forbort-Schmaltz 3. Simpson-GleasonGoalies: 1. Saunders 2. Gothberg 3. Maris
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDMHockey) October 6, 2012

Out: MacWilliam, Senkbeil, Mitch MacMillanReferees: Jonathan Morrison, Brian Thul Linesmen: Andy Dokken, Justin Hills
— North Dakota MHockey (@UNDMHockey) October 6, 2012

Manitoba Bison Forward lines

10 Brendan Rowinski–19 Ian Duval–26 Blair Macaulay
21 Del Cowan–25 Paul Ciarelli–9 Matthew Lowry
29 Luke Cain–11 James Henry–27 Tyler Feakes
18 Dylan Kelly– 23 Tyler Dittmer–15 Jesse Paradis
17 Austin Lauder

Manitoba Bison Defense Pairings 

4 Jeremy Schappert–20 Brandon Lockerby
6 Brock Sutherland–2 Dane Crowley
3 Eric Mestery–24 Travis Bobbee
5 Lee Christensen

Manitoba Goalies

1 Joe Caligiuri
35 JEsse Deckert

Related articles

• UND Men's Hockey Media Day (thehockeywriters.com)
• UND Hockey incoming freshman - the vitals (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• "O Captain! My Captain!" - UND picks Mac to be captain (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Friday Links and College Hockey to take center stage.

Seawolf (Photo credit: Travis S.)

The dog days of summer are finally over and for UND Hockey fans the season couldn't come fast enough - especially with all of the news that has happened off of the ice, during the preseason.

Once UND gets past the team imposed suspensions and the self created adversity - UND should end up having a pretty good season based on the personnel that UND has coming back and the new recruits coming in.

With a sigh of relief, the exhibition season will finally begin a week from this Saturday as the UND Fighting Sioux Hockey team will take on the Manitoba Bison at 7:05 pm on the 6th of October at Ralph Englestad Arena.

Ironically, the UND Hockey team was suppose to see former UND forward Taylor Dicken who was reported to have transferred to the home town Manitoba Bison - looking at the Manitoba roster I was unable to find Dicken's name.

UAA Seawolves might need a temporary home away from home

If there ever was a case for UAA Seawolves to get a their own arena on their campus - that time is right now - the Seawolves have some arena issues right now that might not get solved before the Seawolves play their first home game.

I also think that it's time that UAA athletic department look into the possibility that they might need to get a new on campus arena for the Seawolves. The Seawolves share an arena with the Alaska Aces of the ECHL... UAA is going to get a new 109 million dollar basketball arena on their campus, but the new building will not have an ice surface for hockey. This also doesn't sit well with Seawolves fans either.

Its the opinion of some UAA fans that I have chatted with, that the UAA Athletic Department isn't as committed to UAA hockey as the University should be and UAA Seawolves fans aren't real happy with the UAA Athletic Director Steve Cobb.

According to Doyle Woody of the Anchorage Daily News the Seawolves might not have their arena to play in when the season begins. Chris Dilks of the new revamped SBN, does a pretty good job of breaking down the options that the Seawolves have if their arena isn't fixed in time for their first home game.

Chris Dilks, Western College Hockey --- Anchorage athletic director Steve Cobb has begun making preparations in case the repairs can't be made in time, or in case the repairs don't hold through the season. The Seawolves' practice facility, the 750-person capacity Wells Fargo Sports Complex, is being given a press box, and being set-up to accommodate television broadcasts and video review.

With it being Alaska, there aren't many other viable options if ice can't be made at Sullivan Arena. The Menard Center in Wasilla, roughly 45 minutes from campus, can seat 1500 people. The Kenai River Brown Bears' home in Soldotna can seat 2000, but at nearly three hours drive away, it's likely not much of an option. There aren't any other arenas in the area with a capacity over 1000 people.

A new on-campus arena has been discussed for Alaska-Anchorage for a few years now. Perhaps these issues at Sullivan Arena could help add some momentum to the project.

President Barack Obama and GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney are kicking the Denver Pioneers out of their own hockey arena so the two candidates can have their first presidential debate.

"Homeless" DU hockey team picked third in its final season in the WCHA; Air Force top pick in AHA | The Denver Post blogs.denverpost.com/colleges/2012/…
— Mike Chambers (@MChambersDP) September 26, 2012

Yesterday, Brad Elliot Schlossman beat writer for the Grand Forks Herald released his preseason UND hockey preview - that preview is now available for all to read on line. Good stuff there. [Click to view]

Former Central Knight's and Future UND defenseman Paul LaDue was named the assistant captain for the Lincoln Stars.

RT @rehockeyacademy: Congrats to @pdue54 on being named an Assistant Captain for this year's @lincolnstars squad
— Schlossman (@SchlossmanGF) September 26, 2012

UND's now infamous hockey part actually made The Hockey News as well - you can read the story by clicking on this link to a story that Ryan Kennedy wrote.

Why the latest college hockey drinking incident drives me nuts: bit.ly/PG7SBh
— Ryan Kennedy (@THNRyanKennedy) September 26, 2012

Hump day in the No Hockey League…

Good morning everyone – its 31 days until UND the Fighting Sioux plays the Manitoba Bison in the first exhibition game of the season. To quote Dean Millard of the Pipeline Show, it’s hard to not refer to UND hockey as the Fighting Sioux.

But I digress.

Jess Myers has the latest - INCH A-Z: and UND’s Brendan O’Donnell makes the cut… Also, last week Jess Myers revealed on twitter that he will for the most part only be covering two teams for ESPN 1500, the Minnesota Gophers and the Minnesota Wild. Myers said that he would write an occasional article for INCH but will not be doing it on a full time basis.

The WCHA pre-season ballots have been mailed out and it's getting to be that time of the year again. The third annual blogger poll should come out in a few weeks.

Joe Paisley has his Wednesday links up on his Paisley’s hockey blog.

Apparently a few of the Golden Rodents were interviewed at the Minnesota State Fair and Senior forward Zach “riding mopeds are dangerous" Budish’s said that his favorite game last was the one against the Fighting Sioux at the Midwest Regional at the Xcel Energy Center. From the looks of it - it appears that UND hockey team needs to refresh Mr. Budish’s memory that most games against UND are not all fun and games.

"Definitely the regional final against North Dakota. They kind of embarrassed us a week before, and it was nice to get back at them. It was just a great game for us...so much fun and such a great atmosphere." [Gopher Sports]

A Tradition of Excellence has it's Wednesday links up as well Toews, Freshmen, & Recruits By the Numbers

Here are my pre-poll rankings - feel free to cut them to pieces if you want. These might also change a bit... I will be putting up a WCHA season preview on INSIDE HOCKEY later this month.

1. Minnesota
2. UND
3. Wisconsin
4. Denver
5. UMD
6. C.C.
6. MTU
8. UNO
9. SCSU
10. BSU
11. Mankato
12. UAA

Andrew Weisss of the Hockey Guys, had the UND incoming freshman ranked 8th and I think personally that is a little low. Then again titles are won on paper they're won on the ice so these rankings will be meaningless once the season starts.

The No Hockey League - CBA

According to Scott Burnside of ESPN.com, it looks like the Coyotes might have a new owner finally, as Greg Jamison who used to be the CEO of the San Jose Sharks has gotten his financials in order and is set to purchase Coyotes from the National Hockey League for $170 million dollars.

The NHLPA wants to return to the bargaining table and kick start talks – stay strong boys – don ‘t let the NHL Owners take you to the cleaners again this time around.

James Mirtle breaks down the numbers on what a NHL player can make if they decide to play overseas. Mirtle says that a fair number of players are looking at playing overseas including Alex Ovechkin.

This is what Henrik Zetterberg of the Detroit Red Wings had to say about the current state of the NHL CBA talks. In reading Henrik’s comments, one really can’t remain positive any more. This could be a very long work stoppage.

“There's no two-way street in their proposal," Zetterberg said. “We're trying to find a way to partner up with them. We have problems in the league. We have to find a solution, players and the league together, and both help out.

“But in their proposal, they want us to (sacrifice) everything. [Mlive.COM]

This is the day that none of us want to see – the 13th of September is D-Day for the NHL and the NHLPA – this is the day that condescending, pompous, little Jerk Gary Bettman is going to ask the owners if they want to lock the NHL player out for a third time since 1994 and I am sure the owners will agree with Bettman. #FIREBETTMAN

Tim Panaccio, CNSPHILLY.COM --- On Sept. 13, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman will address the league’s Board of Governors in New York City.

According to governors, who spoke anonymously with CSNPhilly.com, Bettman will outline where both sides are in the collective bargaining process.

He will then ask them – via a vote – whether they are supportive of his strategy to lock the players out on Sept. 15 if there is no agreement on a new, long-term – not short-term – CBA.

Tort's favorite New York Rangers beat writer Larry Brooks tells us that the lines of communication are open but there isn't much going on right now.

Alex Ovechkin is pretty clear where he wants to play hockey this season. “But I don’t want to be there; I want to be here,” Ovechkin said in a conversation with beat reporters Tuesday. “But, again, my contract is here and I hope the NHL and NHLPA are going to sign a deal before the 15th.” [Washington Times]

Here are a few familiar names of few NHL players that are just now turning 25 or will soon be 25 years old. It’s seems like a long time ago – eight years – when a 17 year old Jonathan Toews showed up to play for the University of North Dakota.

Roy MacGregor, the Globe and Mail --- It was also the season in which he was 25 years of age.

And what of Claude Giroux. Last year, the young Philadelphia Flyers forward scored 93 points and soared to the highest echelons of the game. Giroux will turn 25 – perhaps his greatest season, who knows? – on Jan. 12, 2013. He has no idea where he might be playing at that moment.

Jonathan Toews, the brilliant captain of the Chicago Blackhawks, who won the Stanley Cup, the Conn Smythe Trophy and an Olympic gold medal at 22, will turn 25 on April 29, when normally he would expect to be well into the 2013 playoffs.

And then, of course, there is Sidney Crosby, whose contract and number both salute the day, month and year of his birthday: August 7, 1987.

He turned 25 this summer.

Hopefully, next month we are talking about something other than player and owner squabbles and just hopefully, we will have an NHL season. #FIREBETTMANNOW

Tuesday at the Links… The No Hockey League and "Sloppy Seconds"

Good morning and there are now roughly 32 days until the University of North Dakota plays it’s first exhibition game against the Manitoba Bison.

Former Maine Star and current Tampa Bay Lightning forward Teddy Percell says that the lockout is going to hurt the players. [CBC.CA]

"Sloppy Seconds"

Here is a story that is just too good to pass up. Toronto Maples Leafs defenseman Dion Phaneuf is now engaged to former 24 actress Elisha Cuthbert– in case anyone has forgotten, Cuthbert was the center of a crude and disparaging comments that Sean Avery made about her while he was a member of the Dallas Stars.

"Uh, I'm really happy to be back in Calgary, Avery said. "I love Canada."

"And I just want to comment on how it's become like a common thing in the NHL for guys to fall in love with my sloppy seconds. I don't know what that's about. "Enjoy the game tonight."

Avery was suspended indefinitely by the NHL for those comments and after his suspension he was traded to the New York Rangers and he has since retired from the NHL.

Here is all you need to know about the star studed engagement - Exclusive: Elisha Cuthbert Engaged to Dion Phaneuf: All the Details!

Lockout Talk

If this doesn’t sink for you - The Ottawa Senators have begun preparing their fans for the strong possibility of an NHL lockout.

Former Minnesota Duluth Bulldog and current Vancouver Canuck defenseman Jason Garrisonis growing a beard and he says that he'll keep the beard until the National Hockey League and its players sign a new CBA. Garrison might have to trim that beard or it could get pretty long.

The on going saga that is the Phoenix Coyotes; deal with Glendale in flux .

Misc stuff

While we are on the subject of the Phoenix Coyotes; Though ownerless, Coyotes have shown signs of staying power...

Apparently, Wayne Gretzky 'dreamed' of second Summit Series... [The Observer]

From ESPN yesterday - Bloomberg Businessweek has its annual ranking of the smartest spenders in sports. Check out the Smartest and worst spenders...

Smartest spenders:
1. Detroit Red Wings
2. Pittsburgh Penguins
3. Boston Bruins
4. Chicago Blackhawks
5. San Jose Sharks

Worst spenders:
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. Edmonton Oilers
3. Columbus Blue Jackets
4. Calgary Flames
5. Minnesota Wild

Here is the defending Stanley Cup Champions National TV schedule "if" there is a season. [LA Kings Insider]

University of North Dakota Defenseman Andrew MacWilliam made the latest Hot List.

Andrew MacWilliam, D – University of North Dakota (WCHA) Never to be confused with an offensive dynamo, MacWilliam has nonetheless been a sturdy, physical presence on the UND blueline during his first three campaigns. Entering his final year in college, the Calgary native will don the green sweater as captain, with Habs prospect Danny Kristo as one of the assistants. Drafted 188th overall by Toronto in 2008.

Summer Dreaming...

If you’ve read Goon’s World for any length of time (thanks for reading by the way), you will see that this is for the most part, a 24/7 365 days a year blog dedicated for hockey… When I am not watching hockey, I am actually thinking or dreaming about hockey (NCAA and NHL Hockey). Let’s just say,  hockey is my religion of choice for me.

While listening to a podcast of the Pipeline show last week while riding my bike, Fighting Sioux junior defenseman Dillon Simpson said something that got me thinking – it’s going to be hockey season very soon. While I am not very good at math – we’re roughly about 2 months away from the start of the college hockey season. "If" the NHL gets their stuff together with the CBA, we are about 9 weeks away from the drop of the puck in the NHL.

The summer is beginning to wind down and incidentally the fall semester at UND starts on 22 August – so like I mentioned above -– we're getting down to crunch time – hockey season is just around the corner... The college hockey season begins the 6th and 12th of October with exhibition games against the Manitoba Bison and the USNDT under 18 team.

In the final season of the WCHA as we know it – the University of North Dakota Hockey team will begin its defense of the Broadmoor Trophy – in case you were counting – UND is going for the 4-peat … That would be unprecedented if UND won the trophy for season in a row.

Yesterday was a big day for the University of North Dakota sports – Per Jayson Hajdu UND has officially gone Division I in all of their sports.

The University of North Dakota is proud to announce that it has been elected to full Division I active membership status from the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), officially completing UND's transition from Division II status. UND President Dr. Robert Kelley received a letter from the NCAA today confirming the University's active membership in Division I athletics

If you’ve been paying attention this summer, you will have noticed that the NCAA has been very busy – yesterday, the NCAA levied a very heavy punishment against BGSU defenseman freshman defenseman Ralfs Freibergs, basically Freibergs is going to get to play 3 regular season games and possibly about 2-6 playoff games if BGSU doesn’t decided to have him file for a redshirt.

Kevin Gordon Sentinel Tribune --- Bowling Green freshman defenseman Ralfs Freibergs has been suspended for 33 games by the NCAA, the result of his junior hockey team in Latvia playing in a professional league, Falcon hockey coach Chris Bergeron said.

The Latvian born Freibergs has played junior hockey in the United States the last 2 1/2 seasons, but played in his home country before that.

He played with the Latvian national team in the World Junior Championships in 2009 and 2010 . To prepare the team for the WJC, Latvian officials had the team play in a Latvian professional league.

The NCAA penalized Freibergs one game for each game he played in the league. "Ultimately, anything professional, when it comes to the NCAA, is something that will have penalties with it," Bergeron said. "We knew, as a program, as a staff, this was a possibility. It's not something out of left field."

BG has 36 regular-season games this season, so Freibergs will be eligible to play the Saturday game of its next-to-last series of the regular season.

This is what former Princeton Tiger and current LA Kings’ Kevin Westgarth had to say about the prospects of the NHL having another lockout. I agree with Westgarth; I think we are going to see a lockout – actually – I would be very surprised if it didn’t happen. In my opinion, I think that the owners are trying to weaken the NHLPA.

Pat Leonard, Blue Shirts Blog --- Finally, the LA Kings’ Kevin Westgarth said it best on Wednesday when asked what he believes is the players’ No. 1 issue, considering the feedback he’s received from his peers:

"Generally, like the fans, we are concerned about – I think everyone has a little post-traumatic stress from last time,” Westgarth said, referring to the lockout and missed season of 2004-05, when the union lost the battle and eventually agreed to the salary cap in place today.

“It is something (where) they locked us out last time. It’s foreseeable for them to lock us out again. So guys obviously want to play, but obviously we need to get the right deals together, as well.” Read that one more time: “It’s foreseeable for them to lock us out again.”

Boston Bruins heir apparent Tuukka Rask is ready to take over the reigns as the starting goalie in Beantown this fall. According to Capgeek, the RFA Rask has a new one year deal worth $3,500,000.

Tuukka Rask was caught off guard - just a little - when he heard fellow Bruins goalie Tim Thomas decided not to play next season.

Surprised? Yes.

Shocked? Not so much.

''I wasn't expecting him to do that, obviously,'' Boston's new starting goalie said Thursday at a charity event. ''But I really appreciated what he's done and I appreciate his decision to want to be with the family and take some time off hockey.

''It really didn't shock me that much, but I'm more sad to see him leave because we had a really good connection and friendship going on. But I'm sure he's happy now where he is, and gets to spend time with his family.''

Here is some interesting news – former Edmonton Oiler, Vancouver Canucks and New York Ranger forward Mark Messier has been awarded a $6-million in a settlement with the Vancouver Canucks. [Vancouver Sun] Mark Messier played with the Vancover Canucks from 1997-2000 and returned to play for the Rangers from 2000-04.

Former Fighting Sioux forward Chris Vandevelde was on an Edmonton Oilers podcast recently and this is what he had to say about his recent success in the AHL playoffs. Also, the Edmonton Journal also has this story on Vandy as well. There is a chance that Vandevelde could make the Edmonton Oilers roster out of training camp.

Jonathan Willis, Edmonton Journal --- In 68 regular season games in the AHL, Chris VandeVelde scored just seven goals. In 14 post-season games, however, he tallied six times. What happened?

I’ve spent a lot of time looking at VandeVelde’s last couple of seasons over the last two weeks. Between evaluating the Oilers’ prospects for our prospect series here at the Cult of Hockey and the Top-25 Under-25 at the Copper and Blue, his name would have come up anyway, but combine those two series with the fact that VandeVelde turned down his qualifying offer, subsequently signed an identical deal, and now is in the conversation as a possible Oilers roster option in 2012-13 and he’s been top of mind.

VandeVelde was on Oilers Now a few days ago, and host Bob Stauffer asked him about that bump in goal-scoring during the post-season. VandeVelde had some difficulty answering the question but even so I found what he said interesting:

"I mean I just… I, you know, I was shooting more and I had confidence and that’s a huge thing. Any player with confidence is obviously better, and just making good plays, playing with good line-mates, that’s just how it went and we had a good run there."

Here is a break down for UND's conference Affiliations. UND’s 2012-13 Conference Affiliations – this is an exciting time in UND sports as now all of UND’s sports have a conference to play in.

America Sky Conference: Men’s golf

Big Sky Conference (BSC): Men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s cross country, football, women’s golf, soccer, softball, men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, volleyball

Great West Conference (GWC): Baseball

Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF): Men’s swimming and diving

Western Athletic Conference (WAC): Women’s swimming and diving (affiliate member)

Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA): Men’s and women’s hockey (2012-13 final season)