Zach Parise goal against the Flyers in game three

This is the reason former Fighting Sioux forward Zach Parise is going to make a lot of money on the free agency market during this summer.  I predict that the future Wild forward is probably going to be making somewhere in the 7-10 million dollar a year range.

The Devils star Parise scored this beautiful goal in last night's game against the Philadelphia Flyers. Parise's goal at the 07:29 mark of the third period gave the Devils a brief 3-2 lead. The Flyers would even the score at the 11:04 mark of the third period with a goal from Flyers forward Danny Briere.

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Miles Koules on the Pipeline show

Former UND recruit Miles Koules was on the Pipeline show with Guy Flaming and Dean Milard; Koules discussed his decision to join the Medicine Hat Tigers instead of playing the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux next year.

Miles Koules was asked about why he changed his mind and this is what he had to say.

"You know what, North Dakota was a great place, the facilities and everything were awesome," Koules said. "The main thing that I looked at was; A - the amount of games, I just think that the amount of games that you get to play in the WHL really helps turn you into a pro more than college."

"I think I play a bigger role on the Tigers next year than I would at North Dakota my freshman year, that was pretty much a deciding factor as well."

[Click to Listen]

EDIT - Fargo federal judge tosses out Sioux lawsuit to preserve UND nickname

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This news just broke this evening. Today the U.S. District court in Fargo threw the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe lawsuit against the NCAA. [Click to view the ruling]

GRAND FORKS - U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson has granted the NCAA’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe, a major setback to American Indians trying to preserve the University of North Dakota’s Fighting Sioux nickname.

Erickson filed his order late Tuesday in Fargo, where lawyers for the two sides had presented oral arguments on April 19.

The Spirit Lake Sioux, through its Committee for Understanding and Respect, had asked the court to overturn the NCAA’s 2005 policy discouraging the use of American Indian names and imagery by member schools.

They also argued that they and the Standing Rock Sioux were “indispensable parties” to the 2007 agreement settling a lawsuit brought by UND against the athletics association, and that they have been wrongly excluded from negotiations concerning that settlement.

In his 23-page opinion, Erickson held that none of the several counts brought by the committee state a sufficient legal claim under federal law.

“Many of the counts are entirely without merit, and the ones that could potentially have been meritorious could only have properly been brought by UND,” Erickson wrote.

You can read it for yourself right here.

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Jack Rabbits won't play the Sioux...

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This news came out today and SDSU won't play UND until UND "is in good standing" with the NCAA and no longer on sanctions.

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The leader of University of North Dakota's alumni says South Dakota State has joined a growing number of schools that won't schedule UND in athletics until the controversy over its Fighting Sioux nickname is resolved.

UND Alumni Association and Foundation CEO Tim O'Keefe was in Fargo on Tuesday morning to kick off a campaign to get rid of the nickname. O'Keefe says the issue is no longer about preference, but the price the school will pay if it keeps the moniker.

O'Keefe says SDSU won't schedule any more athletic contests with UND until the Grand Forks school is "in good standing." SDSU officials were not immediately available for comment.

This story has evolved even more since it first emerged this after noon. The SDSU SID was on with Mike McFeely on KFGO and said that SDSU will honor "existing contracts" with UND but will no longer schedule UND until they are in good standing, meaning that they are no longer on NCAA sanctions. You can listen to the Mike McFeely show right here. [Click to listen]

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UND alumni groups plan campaign for nickname retirement

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here is the latest news in the UND Fighting Sioux Nickname debate that broke this after noon.

Chuck Haga, Grand Forks Herald ---- Leaders of the UND Alumni Association and Foundation have scheduled news conferences in Grand Forks and other North Dakota cities Tuesday to launch a campaign in support of Measure 4 on the June 12 primary ballot.

As it will appear on the ballot, approving the measure would reaffirm the Legislature’s repeal of a law requiring UND to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname, opening the way once again for the university to retire the name and associated Indian-head logo.

Tim O’Keefe, executive vice president of the UND Alumni Association, and Rick Burgum, chairman of the foundation, will join local UND alumni at the news conference in Grand Forks, Fargo, Bismarck and Minot.

O’Keefe, Burgum and other alumni leaders have spoken against efforts to retain the nickname, saying they fear serious consequences for UND’s athletics program and students athletes.

Immediately some will question Tim O’Keefe loyalty to Fighting Sioux Sports and to the nickname. There will be others that will say that O’Keefe was ordered by the UND administration to say this or call him and the others other alumni leaders in this campaign turn-coats or a toady.  They might want to think again, O’Keefe does have credibility, he was a letter winner with the UND Hockey team back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Lastly, I would love to see someone tell former Viking fullback/tight end Jim Kleinsasser a sell out or a toady.

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Brock Nelson named Inside College Hockey All-American

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Official Press Release

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – University of North Dakota sophomore forward Brock Nelson has been named to Inside College Hockey’s 2011-12 All-America Third Team. Nelson enjoyed a breakout sophomore season in 2011-12, leading the Fighting Sioux in points (47) and goals (28) in 42 games and becoming the program’s youngest 20-goal scorer since Jonathan Toews scored 22 in 2005-06.

A native of Warroad, Minn., Nelson led the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) in goals and was the WCHA’s only player to score 20 goals during league play. He ranked third nationally in goals, tied for third in game-winning goals (6) and tied for sixth in power-play goals (10). His six GWG tied him for the 10th-best single-season total in school history.

Earlier this month, Nelson was also named to the All-College Hockey News Second Team, as well as the Red Baron WCHA Final Five and NCAA West Region All-Tournament teams. He helped guide the Sioux to their league-record third straight Broadmoor Trophy as WCHA Final Five champions, as well as the No. 1 seed in the NCAA West Regional. Following the season, Nelson signed with the New York Islanders and is currently playing for their American Hockey League affiliate in Bridgeport, Conn.

The 6-foot-4, 192-pound Nelson was a first-round draft pick of the Islanders in 2010, when he was selected 30th overall. Nelson finished his collegiate career with 36 goals and 32 assists for 68 points in 84 games.

A few good articles on the NCAA

National Collegiate Athletic Association (Philippines) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Someone posted these articles on Sioux Sports in the nickname section and they are worth a read if you haven’t seen them. There seems to be an emerging re-occurring theme of an Anti-NCAA sentiment by fans and journalists.

Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com --- "Do we really want the NCAA to be the moral police?" one college administrator said last week.
-----------[ Snip ]-----------
Some thought NCAA president Mark Emmert overstepped his authority when he warned Penn State it might be investigated for lack of institutional control in the Jerry Sandusky case.

Former NCAA president Myles Brand started the fight to eliminate offensive team nicknames. While some schools acquiesced quietly, the battle over University of North Dakota's "Fighting Sioux" nickname rages. All of it still doesn't explain why Notre Dame's "Fighting Irish" nickname isn't offensive and stereotypical.

"The NCAA drifts into social policy every now and again," said a source who has had business dealings with the NCAA. The source did not want to be identified. "Is that organization, by design, supposed to lead our moral fabric, be engaged in social policy?"

Here is another one that asks the question The NCAA: Is Membership Worth It? That's a good question... Do we really need the NCAA to monitor college athletics anymore? Some would say no. In some cases they have over stepped their bounds.

Frank Deford NPR --- Trust me: It's only 10 days since Kentucky took the title, but the NCAA is safely again where it likes to be, flying under the ethical radar, tucked away on the sports pages and in the warm embrace of ESPN.

So far as the college media and fans are concerned, we're already back to the only issue of real consequence: how to more properly conduct the football championship so that the big-conference schools can make more money, even as the poor players continue to make none.

But before we all put the NCAA out of our mind again, here is my question: Why do so many honorable colleges continue to let their good names be associated with such an un-American conglomerate? Oh, I can understand why the big-time colleges, like Kentucky — or like Alabama, the football champion — need a cartel. It's the same reason Saudi Arabia and Venezuela belong to OPEC.

But why, in particular, do Division III colleges feel a need to align themselves with such a big-foot organization? At the very least, the NCAA is just so unbalanced. Do schools like Williams and Johns Hopkins and Oberlin and Cal Tech really need NCAA oversight just for their students to leave the classrooms and play games?

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Comparing Brock Nelson and Chris Kreider's deals

Chris Kreider's Cap Geek page  

 I was perusing the Cap Geek numbers for former Fighting Sioux forward Brock Nelson and for former Boston College Eagles Chris Kreider and I was a bit shocked at the difference in numbers. It will be interesting to see how these two players’ careers play out.

 Brock Nelson's Cap Geek Page 

 

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Matt Frattin vs Marcus Foligno

Former Fighting Sioux forward and current Toronto Maple Leafe Matt Frattin isn't know for his fighting skills, nor do I see him picking up the role as the Leafs goon. That was Frattin's first career fight in the NHL. 

Personally, I have to give him credit for standing up for a teammate, Foligno's hit on Bozek was questionable and border line dirty and I admire a players stepping up and answering the bell even if he doesn't fight.

In tonight's game against the Buffalo Sabres, the leafs rookie Frattin had the Gordie Howe Hat Trick tonight by scoring a goal, and assist and a fight.

Frattin scored his eighth goal of the season tonight, here is the video to that goal [Click to view].

Frattin now has (8g-7a—15pts) in 54 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

As soon as the NHL regular season is over, the Leafs are not going to be in the Stanley Cup playoffs, Frattin will play in the AHL's  Calder Cup playoffs with the Toronto Marlies. 

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Big Sky Bluffing?

First off, I am not trying to start a fight with anyone, I agree with Rob Port of Sayanythingblog on a lot of things when it comes to politics, but on this issue he is dead wrong. Today's ruling by the North Dakota Supreme Court puts UND's Athletic Department in a very bad situation, now they really get to find out if the Big Sky Conference is bluffing, "if" the Fighting Sioux nickname law isn't voted down or killed by the NDSC.

I am going to take the word of the UND athletic department over a political blogger. Who are you going to believe? 

While it might only be three B1G teams that won't play UND in any sport, two of those teams (Wisconsin and Minnesota) in college hockey, those teams bring a lot of money when they play the Fighting Sioux in hockey at the Ralph Englestad Arena. 

So that point is flawed and a little disingenuous from a hockey point of view. Not being able to play Minnesota and Wisconsin in college hockey after the 2012-13 season would be a fatal blow to the University and could cost the University of North Dakota a lot of money.

Would you rather see some random team every other season or would you like to play Wisconsin and Minnesota on a "semi" regular basis?

Wisconsin has stated they want to continue the series between the two teams but won’t if UND keeps the Fighting Sioux nickname.  According to Chuck Schwartz of Bucky's Fifth Quarter, "assuming North Dakota works out their nickname issues, it seems likely that the Badgers will continue to play Denver and North Dakota one series per year for the foreseeable future."

Lastly, some suggest we should discount Dale Lennon, Tim O'Keefe, Dave Hakstol and Chris  Mussman who some have accused of being  liars or stooges for the UND administration and the Big Sky Conference.  

Today's decision by the North Dakota Supreme Court puts that match up in jeopardy.
I will always love the Fighting Sioux nickname but where were these people 3-4 years ago? That was the time to stand up and fight. Why now?

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Developing - NDSC rules against NDBoHE

University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux athletic logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This just in the North Dakota Supreme Court has ruled against the North Dakota Board of Higher. The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled against the North Dakota Board of Higher Education.

ND Courts ---- The Justices signing this majority opinion would exercise this Court's discretionary original jurisdiction and decide now the constitutionality of the legislative enactment requiring the University of North Dakota ("UND") to use the "Fighting Sioux" nickname and logo. We conclude the question of the constitutional authority of the Board of Higher Education, in contrast to the constitutional authority of the legislature, is properly before this Court and is ready to be decided. Those Justices writing separately, however, conclude the issue is not properly before this Court at this time, is not ready to be decided and they will not decide the issue at this time. The necessary number of Justices required to decide the merits is lacking and for this reason we must deny the application of the State Board of Higher Education.

This ruling by the North Dakota Supreme Court puts UND in a precarious situation with the Big Sky Conference. Of course this is a little breathing room after Montana put themselves in the cross hairs with their on campus scandal where they fired the Athletic Director and the head football coach.

Edit: Justice Carol Ronning Kapsner  ruled that there is no matter of urgency at this time, if there was the State Board of Higher Education would have filed in court last year after the Fighting Sioux nickname law was passed in March of 2011.

[¶37] It is clear that the constitutionality of N.D.C.C. § 15-10-46, the statute asserted to be a problem, is not a matter of urgency. If it were so, the Board would have challenged its constitutionality, as it could have done, immediately upon its signature by the Governor on March 15, 2011, one year ago, or any time thereafter. The fact that it did not do so until now indicates this is not a matter of urgency.

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Nelson signs with Islanders and Big Mac to return.

This the news that we figured that was coming, I think there are a few more players we have to worry about, Danny Kristo is one, but also Corbin Knight and possibly Aaron Dell. The Fighting Sioux did get some good news as they found out that Junior defenseman Andrew MacWilliam will be returning to the Fighting Sioux in the fall for his senior season. According to @UNDSID there could be a few more to come. Good Luck to Brock Nelson... [Official Release]

I will post any updates that come up. It's turning out to be a busy news day for the Fighting Sioux.
There have been 8 players to forgo their college eligibility this season in the WCHA this season. 


University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux
Brock Nelson, sophomore, Forward, New York Islanders

Colorado College Tigers
Jaden Schwartz, sophomore, Forward, St. Louis Blues

Denver University Pioneers
Drew Shore, Junior Forward, Florida Panthers
Jason Zucker, sophomore, Forward, Minnesota Wild

Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
J.T. Brown, sophomore, Forward, Tampa Bay Lightning

Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks
Terry Broadhurst, Junior Forward, Chicago Blackhawks

St. Cloud State Huskies
David Eddy, Junior Forward, Calgary Flames
Mike Lee, Junior Goalie, Phoenix Coyotes

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• Double J of WTBX is our dirt bag of the week... (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Double J of WTBX is our dirt bag of the week...

[click to listen]

First off where do we start? This guy is a buffoon. Seriously!!! I have been to Hibbing Minnesota, the place is a run down industrial town that is famous for  what, open pit mines and Iron Orr... I would take Grand Forks, ND over that dump any day.

Also, the Fighting Sioux have 7 NCAA titles and 15 Regulars Season Championships. For the people like me that aren't good at math; the University of North Dakota has more NCAA titles than all of the Division I schools in the state of Minnesota combined.

"Why am I being so hard on the UND fans? Simple, YOU ARE THE WORST! You are the Packer fans of college hockey! Keep your mulleted, dead gopher tossing 5xl jersey wearing selves out of our state. Quit trying to pretend you have any sort of pride in your hockey program! What you think North Dakota is any sort of hockey hotbed? Really, get a lot of recruits out of NoDak do ya? You do realize that your roster, year after year is comprised mainly of Minnesotans...Minnesotans who weren't good enough, smart enough or for legal reason able to play for one of our state schools! Yeah they are still hockey players, just too bad they have to wear the green and black!"

The most moronic comment of this guys rant is the comment about our Minnesota Players... So I guess that Danny Kristo, Nick Mattson, Derek Forbort Ben Blood, Joe Gleason and  Brock Nelson aren't good enough to play at the University of Minnesota or the other states schools. Yeah, Right. To take a quote from Forrest Gump, "stupid is that stupid does." 

You can share your thoughts here by clicking on this link.

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