Matt Frattin goal against the Capitals...

Seems like former Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin gets a lot of goals within 3-5 feet of the goal. Frattin got the game winner for the Leafs as they beat the Washington Capitals 3-2.  It proves the point that good things happen if you go hard to the net. Frattin (4g-2a—6pts) is tied for second on the Maple Leafs in scoring with Nikolai Kulemin (1g-5a—6pts).

Lastly, this is a text book example of a poor effort by the Washington Capitals defense as they looked like a bunch of pylons as the Leafs skated right past them.  It would be an understatement to say that the Capitals  as they were flat footed on that play.

Video from game one UND vs. SCSU

The video speaks for it's self. Not a good effort by the boys in the green and white last night, and players are standing around and watching SCSU make plays.

For those that want coach Dave Hakstol fired, I would say lets see how the boys respond tonight before you march on the Ralph with pitch forks and torches. I kid, but last night was a hard game to watch, there were a lot of things that went wrong, the video speaks volumes as well. I get it, but the head coach is going no where.

I think that Johnny Brodzinski is making a serious case for Rookie of the year in the WCHA, the kid is a horse an the coach of the SCSU Huskies compared him to former Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin.

RT @scsuhuskies: @scsuhuskies Jonny Brodzinski goal celebration photo by Brace Hemmelgarn at UND on Jan. 25. twitter.com/SCSUHUSKIES/st…
— Mick Hatten (@MickHatten) January 26, 2013

The Final round is here for the Great Sioux Jersey Ever

Introducing the final round of the Greatest Sioux Jersey Ever Tourney. The Sioux Jersey blog is now taking votes for the championship round at the Sioux-Jersey blog. [Click to vote]

Drew Stafford vs. Scott Hartnell

These kinds of hits have to be banned from hockey. Buffalo forward Tyler Ennis is 157 pounds soaking wet, and Flyers forward Scott Hartnell is a bull at 210 pounds, and he buries Ennis from behind.  No penalty on the play. You have to give former Fighting Sioux forward Drew Stafford credit for answering the call. 

Travis Zajac's new deal.

Former Fighting Sioux forward and current New Jersey Devil Travis Zajac is the first player to sign a big contract under the new CBA.

Here is the break down of the deal:
2013-14 $3.5 million (includes $1 million in signing bonus)
2014-15 $5 million (includes $1 million in signing bonus)
2015-16 $6.5 million
2016-17 $6.5 million
2017-18 $6.5 million
2018-19 $6.5 million
2019-20 $5.75 million
2020-21 $5.75 million

Jan 27, 2007 UND 7 UMN 3 (video)

On January 27,, 2007 UND defenseman Robbie Bina scores this shorthanded highlight goal from deep inside the UND end, Bina was about a stride past the red end line. It appears that Frazee was not ready for Robbie's long shot on net as the puck goes through Frazee’s notorious five hole into the Minnesota Golden Gophers net. That goal would tie the game at 3-3, UND would go on to score five unanswered goals lead by former Sioux forward T.J. Oshie, to beat number one ranked Minnesota 7-3.

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A trip down memory lane before bed...

A video before bed. I never get tired of watching this replay. This was one of my favorite Fighting Sioux hockey teams. Former Fighting Sioux forward Chris Porter puts the puck through Jeff Frazee's massive five hole to send UND to 2007 NCAA Frozen Four at St. Louis, Missouri. This game was sweet revenge for the Gophers beating UND the week before in the Final Five on a fluke goal by former Gopher forward Blake Wheeler.

UND vs. Minnesota Week... It's on... Let the fun begin...

It's here and it's on... This will be the final WCHA series between the two teams, before they go their separate ways. So after this season, there will be no more after regular season games, for at least four years. I wouldn't be surprised it that last longer.

If UND plays Minnesota during the next four seasons it will be during the NCAA tourney. So I expect there will be some pleasantries exchanged this weekend.



This is one of my favorite memories of recent time. I still think they should call that famous corner Wehrs Corner like some have suggest. I wonder if Kevin Wehr still has night mares of that corner.



I still giggle when I hear Frank Mazzocco say, "This Fighting Sioux teams is bringing some old time hockey back to the WCHA." Also, in retrospect, I think Woog and Mazzocco are better than the current Gopher television announcers that are employed by FSN. I never thought I would say this but I think it's true.



Don't leave the arena early after the last game, there still could be some fire works in the hand shake line as well. I am kind of sad this is the last regulars season between the two teams. I also think that it's sad that he two schools are going to let this historic rivalry cool off. In my opinion, there is no reason for the two teams not to play.

I like many UND fans would love to see the two team meet every year.

Related articles

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One Goal; Follow up interview with Allison Davis O'Keefe

Allison Davis O’Keefe – One Goal

Allison Davis O’Keefe author of the book One Goal, agreed to answer a few questions I had about her amazing book. Here what Allison had to say about the book, her answers will also answer a few questions you might have had about the book.

Recently, I listened to the interview you did with Tim Hennessey on 96.1 between periods of a Michigan Tech and UND hockey game. You had some interesting points that I would like to expand on.

The first question I would like to ask you is; how hard was it to gain access to the Fighting Sioux hockey team and the coaching staff?  

It was hard. I am not from this community so I honestly didn’t realize how private the team can be.  They are a tight-knit group, a band of brothers, if you will, and they protect one another.  Hockey players also have many superstitions – ‘routine’ they will call it – and anything or anybody who challenges the norm is greeted with healthy suspicion.

Was it hard to convince Dave Hakstol to let you photograph him and his team?

 Yes. I think Coach Hakstol is fiercely protective of his team and he didn’t want anything to distract them from their goal.  Coach Hakstol is a naturally private person and I think that instinct extends to his team.  I, like his players, had to gain his trust and confidence; the doors weren’t flung open, even after he had agreed to allow the project to move forward.

How long did it take to get that in?

I have been asking Coach Hakstol to photograph the team in one way or another for a number of years. I think he finally agreed because it was to be the last year of the Fighting Sioux. But frankly, the book is about much more than that.

Was there ever time the head coach said, not today?

There was never a time when he said ‘not today’, no.  The agreement was open access and the team gradually accepted that.  As a photojournalist who has covered Capitol Hill and presidential campaigns, you know when to put the camera down and build a relationship, build trust, and when you absolutely can’t miss the shot.  I knew when not attend a meeting and he knew, for the most part, that I was there. I tried to use a level of discretion in the process while still capturing every aspect of team life.

I have heard people make comments about you being related to head coach via marriage and that was the reason you were able to gain access, but that’s not true?  

Coach Hakstol is married to my husband’s cousin – and, honestly, I think all that gained me was the ability to broach the subject of this project with him.  I had to earn his trust, his team’s trust, and the staff’s trust.  Without that, I would have been shut out and shut down two games into the season.  And I made it clear from the beginning that this is a work of photojournalism; I’d shoot what I saw with no interference.  To his credit, Coach Hakstol was true to that agreement. Not once did he ask to see the pictures before they were published.  And he didn’t see the final book until after it was off the printing press and on sale.

How were you received by the players?

At first the players were confused as to why I was there all the time.

There were whispers of ‘who is this person’ and ‘why is she crouched on the ground, taking photos while we board the bus’? They had questions.

I remember at an away game in Madison early in the season, Jason Gregoire turned as he loaded his bag on the team bus and said, “What are you doing here?”

But over time they all got used to it, and would make fun of me, or joke about getting ‘face time’.

I was also pregnant with my daughter during the entire season so toward the end it was a little comical watching me walk on the ice after the Final Five or the regional NCAA tournament.

It got harder to get up and down and move quickly with two cameras, a bag of lenses; some of the guys would help me up and wonder aloud if it was doctor-approved for a pregnant woman to walk on the ice.

How were you received by the UND assistant coaches?

Coach Jackson is hilarious – at one of the Thursday night steak dinners I mentioned how much I enjoyed the HBO series leading up to the Winter Classic and how much I admired the access they got.

Jackson picked up on my not-too-subtle hint and said, “Alli, what do you want? Let’s do it.”

I was busted. They all knew why I had brought it up (keep in mind I had to make sure to watch SportsCenter just to know what the heck they were always talking about) but from that point forward, I didn’t really ask to go in the locker room; I just did.

I one thing I noticed is that you did a real good job of showing the different sides of Coach Hakstol; how did that play out?

Time. It is just true that with any extended photography/documentary project, it takes time to show various sides of a person. I slowly would ask for a little more – “how about I start the day at your house and go to work with you.” But he didn’t think anyone would want to see that stuff so at first he thought it was a little weird. There is a photo that is not in the book of him driving to work while holding a mug of coffee. Despite numerous travel-mug-gifts, he still always drives to work with a mug of coffee. I don’t even think it fits in the cup holder. But that is routine. And I was interested in things like that. I think everyone sees a very stoic serious Coach – which is accurate – but for someone who is arguably a community leader and who feels a responsibility to the town that his team represents there is a lot more going on behind the scenes.

What was your impression of the 2010-11 season?

Expectations and pressure.  It seems the Fighting Sioux are always expected to win and win big but this season in particular came with an elevated level of destiny. And I can’t truly imagine what that must feel like.  They put pressure on themselves and I do think they had fun together that season but I would say that one of the lessons learned that year was that there is a value in recognizing your accomplishments along the way. At a recent UND Fan Luncheon, Coach Hakstol, in speaking about the book, said that in ten years he would bring the 2010-2011 team together for a reunion. And they would truly relish in all of their personal and professional accomplishments – something, perhaps, they didn’t do enough of in the moment.  One of the things that I think is lost in coverage of Coach Hakstol is his strong influence on these ‘young men’ as he calls them. He may have to be a disciplinarian and a coach but he truly has an effect on their lives. And Coach Hakstol knows that it is more important to be a good human being, a good man, in life than it is to focus on wins and losses.

Impression of the UND fan base and Ralph Englestad Arena?

The saying, you won’t believe it until you see it is never more true than at the Ralph Englestad Arena. I would go back to New York, hang out with my friends, meet a photo editor, and try to describe what I was trying to accomplish with this project and I genuinely couldn’t find the words.

You did a good job reflecting on the seniors on the 2010-11 Fighting Sioux hockey team; what was your impression of the class of 2011? Who stuck the most of the class?

I will attempt to answer this without sounding too sentimental – the seniors are simply a great group of guys.  You will not meet someone who works harder, is more humble, and kind than Chay Genoway. And the group that started together and went all four years on the team together were like true brothers.

Who were the characters on the team that stuck out for you?

Brad Malone is a character – there was always something happening with him. I think Brent Davidson grew so much as a player that year. That was cool to watch. I went with Jake Marto and Chay Genoway when they volunteered at the Grand Forks Senior Center. They really felt like a part of the community and it was humbling to see how well they were received.  That was a unique bunch – a great team – and I truly enjoyed getting to know each of them as individuals.

What happened to the pictures that didn’t make it into the book?

There are a number of images that I really like that didn’t make it into the book. I will likely put some on my website, allisondavisokeefe.com. The other thing that didn’t make it into the book was a lot of the content from my interviews with Coach Hakstol. We sat down a number of times over the course of the season and afterward. Those interviews are audio-only and I would like to share them in some way. The two most telling are the ones from the day after the Frozen Four loss and the one we did the following season.

Is there any way that you will do a second book? 

No, it is unlikely that there will be a second book.  This was a one-shot chance.

Is there plans for a follow book on another UND hockey team? Or another school?

No, I have no plans to do this with another hockey team. I hope that documenting the 2010-2011 season opened the door for others to document UND hockey. Peter Bottoni, Matt Schill and the team working on “Through These Doors” is fantastic.

I would like to thank Allison Davis O’Keefe for taking the time to answer my questions. Make sure to check out her book “One Goal” because it’s worth every penny.

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers - Combine.

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Book Review: One Goal, From a UND Hockey Fan's Perspective

Coach Hakstol addresses his team after a game
One Goal, Allison Davis O’Keefe

This Christmas my wife gave me the book “One Goal” by Allison Davis O’Keefe.  If this book was not under your Christmas tree and you are thinking of purchasing it, do it.

I was told that they’re flying off of the shelves at the Sioux Shop. “One Goal” is on sale for $45.23 at the Ralph Engelstad Arena Sioux Shop. According to the Sioux Shop webpage, the book is still in stock.

In my opinion, this is a great gift idea for that person that loves UND hockey. I am glad that I found this book under my Christmas tree, and I am thankful for receiving it. Of course, this is coming from a guy that makes no apologies for his love of UND hockey. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, because I believe that the book’s audience is UND hockey fans.

If you’re a Fighting Sioux hockey fan and you followed the team during the 2010-11 season – you lived the memories that are well-documented in this book – “One Goal” will also bring back emotions that you experienced during the season.

I know the name changed for good on June 12, 2012 but for the purposes of this review, the team is referred to as Fighting Sioux, because that was the team’s name at the time.

“One Goal” is an emotional, thoughtful and personal look into the 2010-11 UND Fighting Sioux hockeyseason. “One Goal” also gives UND hockey fans a chance at closure, seeing their favorite team lose in the semifinals of the 2011 Frozen Four. This was a very painful experience for the team, the community and the fans.

“One Goal” also does a good job humanizing UND head hockey coach Dave Hakstol as well.

Coach Hakstol with his wife Erin after a game.
One Goal, Allison Davis O’Keefe

Being credentialed by UND for the last year and a half has allowed me to get a closer look at a man that many fans might not totally understand. In my opinion, Hakstol at times, has been unfairly bagged on by some in the UND fan base.

From the “front stage” perspective, Hakstol comes off a bit stiff, but also very serious and businesslike. One of my friends once asked me “when Hakstol was going to take the hanger out of his suit coat.”  If anything, this book gives the readers a chance to get a different look at the man that many fans have not seen.

From the “front stage” Hakstol at times also comes off as being a “bit” intimidating, if not standoffish.

Coach Hakstol is a very passionate person when it comes to UND Hockey and that emanates from the book as well.

“One Goal” gives a glimpse into the “back stage” version of Dave Hakstol, but also the 2010-11 Fighting Sioux Hockey team as well. You see a guy that’s a family man.

“One Goal” really does a good job giving the fans a closer look at the senior class of 2011, especially seniors Matt Frattin and Chay Genoway, two of the bigger stars in a very star-studded line up.

While Frattin was known for his bone-crushing hits and timely goals on the ice, you see a different side of a young man off the ice. You see a reflective Frattin stopping to collect his thoughts before a big game.

The 2010-11 version of UND hockey was probably one of UND’s best teams during the Dave Hakstol era that made it to the Frozen Four; in my opinion that team should have hung a banner, but in the end could not seal the deal and bring home the hardware. That is  also illustrated in the book.

“One Goal” also illustrates that it’s more than just being about hockey, it’s about comradeship and being there for your teammates.

UND not winning the NCAA title in 2010-11 left a void in the hearts of Fighting Sioux hockey fans all across the Fighting Sioux fan base. You can see from the pictures in the book, that the loss also affected the players as well.

There are few if any written words in this book, but the pictures tell the story about a hockey season that did not quite end the way most of us would have wanted.

You see the cold reality of losing and also the cold barren winter prairie that comes alive when Fighting Sioux Hockey is in town playing at the Ralph.

Historically, the 2010-11 Fighting Sioux hockey team was also the last “full” season of UND being called the Fighting Sioux.

There is a bit of irony in the book, the Fighting Sioux nickname is supposed to be “hostile and abusive” or at least that’s what we’re led to believe based on what the NCAA has said in the past.  Yet there is a picture of Fighting Sioux fans of Native American descent at the Midwest Regional wearing jerseys sporting the Fighting Sioux logo. How could that be?

The Fighting Sioux came into the Frozen Four on a 15-game unbeaten streak (14-0-1) and won theMacNaughton Cup by six points over second-place Denver.

UND also won the Broadmoor Trophy in impressive fashion beating DU 3-2 in the championship game in two over times, but the team didn’t touch either trophy when it was presented to them at center ice. UND would then travel to Green Bay, Wisconsin and roll through the NCAA Midwest Regional Semifinal beating RPI 6-0 and DU 6-1 in impressive fashion.

The 2010-11 team was built to win a national title and was by far the best team in the WCHA during the regular season and first three rounds of the playoffs, but as we have learned in the past, the best team doesn’t always win. Just ask Brendan Morrison from Michigan.

Matt Frattin after the Frozen Four loss against Michigan
One Goal, Allison Davis O’Keefe

The 2010-11 Fighting Sioux Hockey team had higher aspirations, but it appeared from a bystander and the book illustrates that the Fighting Sioux hockey team didn’t really stop long enough to enjoy the moment.

Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol made mention of this to the author of the book a year and a half later. From the afterword of One Goal; “he [Hakstol] wished he had allowed the team to relish their wins – that perhaps the pressure of “destiny” prevented them from appreciating their accomplishments.”

There are a few examples of this in the book. You can see the lonely Broadmoor Trophy and a MacNaughton Cup sitting at center ice just begging to be picked up and paraded around the Ralph and the Xcel Energy Center. Some of the college hockey media people seem almost taken back by that, I think the author might have been as well. None-the-less, the author gives you the opportunity to ponder that for yourself.

I have now read the book “One Goal” about ten times and I find something new each time that I re-read the book, the first time I read it I got tears in my eyes. I highly recommend picking up a copy so you can relive the memories of the UND Fighting Sioux’s 2010-11 season. It’s like you can feel the memories coming out in the pictures of the book.

It would be interesting to see the pictures that didn’t make the book.

Originally posted at the Hockey Writers Combine... 

Lucia on the Gophers future schedules

English: Big Ten Conference logo since 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There has been a lot of discussion on the Gophers future hockey schedules with their move to the Big Ten and why they're not playing one team and then playing maybe another team. Here is a quote from Michael Russo's blog today.

Some Don Lucia quotes:

On future schedule? “We have a four-year deal with Northeastern and Boston College [starting next year], so it’s something I want to continue to do – at least every year get out to the east coast. Right now, we’ll have our 20 Big Ten ames, our eight in-state games – that’s 28, we’ll have our tournament, that’s 30, so that’ll leave us four games a year. Right now we’re locked in with Notre Dame, B.C. and Northeastern, and when that drops off, we’ll get North Dakota back on when Notre Dame drops off. When B.C. drops off, that’ll free up another opportunity to go at East to play somebody every other year back and forth. The plan is to try to get out to the east coast every other year.”

Thoughts? Comments? It will be nice to see the rivalry return in four years hopefully.

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Jonathan Toews finally back to 100 percent

English: Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews during warm up prior to a National Hockey League playoff game against the Calgary Flames, in Calgary. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here is one person the lockout probably helped. Former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews suffered a concussion during the 2011-12 season and is now just finally getting back to normal.

Chris Kuc, Chicago Tribune --- The Blackhawks captain wasn't 100 percent healed in July. Or October. In fact, it wasn't until late last week that Toews was convinced he's completely over the concussion that caused him to miss the final two months of the 2011-12 regular season before he returned in the postseason against the Coyotes.

While Toews was symptom-free and had cleared all the NHL-imposed concussion protocols before returning to the Hawks' lineup, there were lingering effects from the injury that even the 24-year-old center didn't realize were affecting him. They included balance and eyesight issues that were discovered and solved during a five-day stint at an Atlanta-area chiropractic neurology facility last week.

"Even if you don't feel something and you think you're symptom-free, there's probably still something there that's kind of hindering you and affecting the way your brain works," Toews told the Tribune on Wednesday. "It was just a lot of eye-movement things. My eyes didn't track very well. They didn't look from one target to the next very well. My balance with my eyes closed and my head turned a certain way was terrible. (There were) little things that I would think were normal because I didn't feel something in my head.

EDIT: So is UMN ducking UND in hockey?

Roman had this article on his blog this morning and I am kind of perplexed why the Gophers and UND wouldn't continue the rivalry?

The first reason really doesn't wash because UW Kept dates open on their schedule with the caveat that if UND didn't change the name the future nonconference games would be canceled.

One has to believe that there are other reasons that UMN doesn't want to continue the series right now.

Roman Augustoviz, Goal Gophers --- The Don tried to explain why on his weekly radio show on Monday. He said, in matter-of-fact fashion, that the U could not schedule a team with an American Indian nickname in a nonconference game by school rules. That dispute -- to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname or not -- at UND has only been settled recently.

In late September, UND and the NCAA agreed which signage could stay and which had to go at Ralph Engelstad Arena. A month later, workers took down the "Home of the Fighting Sioux" sign on the front of the building.

By then, Lucia seemed to imply, the Gophers' schedule, which will include a whopping 14 nonconference games -- the U will have only 20 conference games in the six-team Big Ten -- was all filled up for the next few seasons. The U will be playing the other Division I teams in the state and schools like Notre Dame, where his son Mario is a freshman, Boston College and Northeastern, Lucia said.

UND? They might return to the U schedule in three, four years, Lucia said.

What do "UND" fans think? Do you think somewhere between the Spin and the B.S. is an answer?  I will have to admit that some of the best games that have been on the schedule from a year-to-year basis have been the UND vs UMN games.

Let's examine the logic of this decision, we would rather not play a game that will fill both team arena's every other season. Hum... That makes no sense what-so-ever. I mean seriously, that one doesn't pass the smell test.

Does anyone think that the Gophers are tired of getting roughed up playing UND? Last year was an enigma in recent times where the Gophers got the best of UND and beat them 4/6 games.

Most of the games are very rough and physical and both teams fan bases are at each others throats for a week after. In fact the best weeks on the blog are during the rivalry series between UND and the Gophers... That doesn't happen during any other series in the current configuration of the WCHA. DU and UND are probably a distant second. You don't see UND and UMD fans at each other's throats on the message boards and fan blogs.

What's the real reason, I don't believe some of the meadow muffins that I have read recently on GPL either. I have a hard time believing that most Gopher fans with half a brain would not want to continue one of the greatest rivalries in all of college sports. No matter how you slice it, Penn State and Ohio State isn't going to bring half of the interest that UND vs. UMN will. You could play the game on an area lake and 5,000-10,000 people would show up for it.
Edit: Check out this quote by UMN head coach Don Lucia...s/t to INCH...

A day later, when asked about the high-tension rivalry between the Gophers and North Dakota, Minnesota coach Don Lucia suggested that a cooling off period might be in order starting in two years when the teams are no longer in the same conference.

“We will go back there as a non-conference team,” Lucia said at his weekly gathering with the media. “We have a great rivalry. Sometimes it gets a little over the top and I’m not sure that is healthy for anybody. So we will continue to play, but I doubt we will continue to play each and every year.”

Thanks to Jake in the comments for bringing up this point from last years series between UND and UMN, that got lost in the shuffle. So in retrospect, the Gophers probably are using the Fighting Sioux nick name as cover, but also probably are ducking UND as well.

EDIT: Easton - The Art of Scoring Series: Meet Scott Bjugstad

Some familiar faces in this video. Zach Parise, former Fighting Sioux forward and current Minnesota Wild forward, if they ever end the lockout. Scott Bjugstad is the uncle of Gopher forward Nick Bjugstad. The kid in the video, is Anthony Walsh who has been profiled on this blog twice.

Hextall Style 2500

Mike Swainey from Redskin Warriors sent me this video via my Facebook page today - It's a video that former Miami Redhawk Andy Miele and former Fighting Sioux forward Brett Hextall appear in... I think this video is more for the ladies than the guys.

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Sports Net; Suter and Parise among Top 5 NHLers not losing money over lockout

ST PAUL, MN - JULY 9: Chuck Fletcher, general manager of the Minnesota Wild looks on as Ryan Suter #20 and Zach Parise #11 speak during a press conference on July 9, 2012 at Xcel Energy Center in St Paul, Minnesota. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

If there is one thing that we have learned during the 2012-13 NHL Lockout that we don't need to feel sorry for former Wisconsin Badger Ryan Sutter and North Dakota Fighting Sioux forward Zach Parise.

While other NHL players aren't getting a salary during the NHL lockout Sutter and Parise will be getting paid their 10 million dollar signing bonuses.

Patrick Hoffman; Sportsnet --- Ryan Suter, D, Minnesota Wild: $2 million

Much like Weber, his former defensive partner with the Nashville Predators, defenceman Ryan Suter had quite the interesting and rewarding off-season.

On the first day of free agency, Suter was signed to a 13-year deal worth $98 million by the Minnesota Wild. It was one of the most lucrative deals in Wild history, and one that must pay off if the team wants to become a postseason contender.

Suter is due to make $12 million total this season, which includes a signing bonus of $10 million. Therefore, should the NHL season be lost for the year, Suter will only lose $2 million of his salary.

Zach Parise, LW, Minnesota Wild: $2 million

The other most lucrative deal that the Minnesota Wild signed this off-season was to left winger Zach Parise.

Like Suter, Parise was also signed to a 13-year deal worth $98 million. The Wild, not known for their offensive prowess, now have someone who can produce on a consistent basis and a player that wields a ton of speed, a nose for the net, soft hands and the ability to create plays.

In an identical windfall to Suter, Parise is due to make $12 million this season with a signing bonus of $10 million. Like Suter, Parise will only lose $2 million if the lockout extends.

Just for the record I don't fault either player because they signed what they were offered during the off-season. I also think it's a bit of irony that the NHL owners while claiming to be hurting - there is at least one NHL owner that is going to have to pay 20 million dollars in player bonuses while the league is locked out. 

Herald; NCAA: Most logos can stay at the Ralph Engelstad Arena

English: Ralph Engelstadt Arena at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota. *Personally photographed by the undersigned May 8, 2007. Elcajonfarms 03:46, 3 July 2007 (UTC) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Ralph Englestad Arena and the University of North Dakota got some good news today when it found that many of the logos can don't have to be removed from the Arena.

Chuck Haga; Grand Forks Herald --- The new addendum requires the removal of the signs on the outside of the facility that say “Home of the Fighting Sioux” as soon as possible, Stenehjem said, and replacement of the logo carpeting as it wears out.

The “Home of the Fighting Sioux” signs are not accurate, Stenehjem said, “because it isn’t the home of the Fighting Sioux anymore since the State Board retired the name.”

He said it will be “up to the managers of the arena how quickly they can do it, and they will have to decide what they replace it with, ‘Home of UND Hockey’ or ‘Home of Champions’ or whatever.”

A decent read?



Kurt Snibbe/ESPN.com

Proposed Fighting Sue helmet logo.



Someone posted this article on Sioux Sports – I believe it was a Bison fan. If you haven’t seen this it’s worth a quick look. The reason that UND hasn’t been in March Madness is that UND just finally finished their transition to Division I in all sports, I expect that eventually UND will make the NCAA Men's and Women's Basketball tourneys as well.

Low Graduation Rates? Fine with the NCAA. Two Feathers? OMG! Over at the University of North Dakota, the state's voters recently endorsed a referendum to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname. Right now the school's teams are the -- we'll get back to you on that, as UND teams have no nickname at the moment.

The NCAA ordered the University of North Dakota to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname and cease using a Sioux head image drawn by a Native American artist. The NCAA also ordered William & Mary to cease using a two-feathers sports logo. Yet the NCAA is fine with the University of Utah's American Indian nickname, the Utes, and its two-feathers logo.

What's the distinction here? Money. The North Dakota men's basketball team has not made the March Madness event in 20 years. William & Mary has never made the men's tournament. Neither the University of North Dakota nor William & Mary provides the NCAA with the only thing it cares about: greenback dollars. The University of Utah, on the other hand, has 26 March Madness appearances, including 12 of the past 20 tournaments. Because in the case of the Utes, the American Indian imagery generates cash for the NCAA, all is well.

Since the University of North Dakota needs a new nickname, TMQ proposes the Fighting Sue, perhaps with Johnny Cash theme music.

That being said, UND is usually in the NCAA Division I playoffs for hockey every season but once (missed NCAA playoffs in 2001-02) since 1997 and last season was the first time during the span that UND didn't wear the Fighting Sioux logo during the NCAA tourney. I am not so sure that the Johnny Cash Logo would catch on either. :) I did get a good chuckle out of that one though.

I do think it’s funny sometimes how the NCAA picks certain issues like Sports Team logos over more important issues like graduation rates.

EDIT: More comes out about UND Hockey party

More and more information is beginning to come out about the suspension of the four UND Hockey captains - the suspension are a result of a team party that took place this past weekend in Grand Forks, ND. It would appear that the University of North Dakota is being proactive and sending a message to it's players that this type of behavior will not be tolerated.

I have seen suggestions from some fans that this party from this past weekend resembles what some classify as hazing which the NCAA takes seriously - personally I am going to wait for more information to come out before I jump to that conclusion.

Here is what UND Sports Information Director Jayson Hajdu had to say on the matter, when asked by the UND Hockey beat writer Brad Elliot Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald, asked him if this might be a case of hazing.

“UND is continuing to gather information. If hazing has been involved, the university will take strong action.”

Kristo confirm that he got cut in an initiation party that involved -21 yrs old players. That's why he and 3 teammates are suspended. #habs
— Jonathan Bernier (@JoBern) September 19, 2012

Obviously, Kristo was caught and not cut from the team and which the writer later corrected himself.

Of course, Kristo got caught and not cut. Sorry.
— Jonathan Bernier (@JoBern) September 19, 2012

Here is a press release on the incident from CBC Radio - I translated the article with Google translate.

Hope Canadian Danny Kristo is suspended by the University of North Dakota for the first game of the season.

The team made ​​the announcement Tuesday.

Kristo and three other teammates were suspended for "unacceptable conduct" during a team party Saturday, said Brian Faison, director of sports programs at the school.

"The behavior of our players is not the role model they should play in the community, said the head coach of the team, Dave Hakstol. We rely on several players of character, but they must be accountable for their actions. '

Kristo is assistant captain this season. The other three players are also suspended two other assistants (Corban Knight, hope the Panthers, and Carter Rowney, undrafted) and the captain, Andrew MacWilliam, 7th round selection of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008.

In addition to the suspension, the players of the team should lend itself to such workshops weekly alcohol education. Any future violation of team rules lead to other consequences, ranging from reducing scholarships to expulsion from the hockey program.

Kristo, second-round pick of the Canadiens in 2008, will play in his fourth and final 2012-2013 academic year.

The team formerly known as the Fighting Sioux will begin its season Oct. 19 in Anchorage, Alaska.

Matt Greene Caption?

Here is something that has become a weekly occurrence. Fill in your own caption, for former Fighting Sioux defenseman Matt Greene as he barks at the once ice official during the NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs.

"Why I oughta..."