Joe Finley to return to UND Senior Season

A couple of season's ago the Fighting Sioux experienced a mass exodus of players as they lost an unprecedented 5 underclassmen (Travis Zajac, Jordan Parise, Matt Smaby, Drew Stafford and Rastislav Spirko). Fast forward to this offseason; it would appear the Sioux losses stand at two players (Taylor Chorney and T.J. Oshie). While the two players we lost are big contributers it would appear that the losses are not going to be as bad as it could have. So I guess you can say that Fighting Sioux fans got some great news today as it was announced that Joe Finley plans on coming back to UND for his senior season. While Finley fans will be excited to know we get big Joe for one more season; I am sure there will be a few of the haters will say that big Joe is nothing more than a goon, he has slow foot speed, plus minus numbers mean nothing or a is just a pylon. The haters are just going to have to get over it.

Finley plans to return
Brad Elliott Schlossman Grand Forks Herald

UND’s goaltenders, who have a combined one college start under their belts, got some help Tuesday night.

Western Collegiate Hockey Association plus-minus leader Joe Finley said he called UND coach Dave Hakstol to say he plans to return for his senior season.

Finley, a defenseman who was a first-round draft pick of the Washington Capitals, has led the Sioux in plus-minus the last two seasons and led the league with a plus-24 rating as a junior.
The Edina, Minn., native also contributed offensively. He scored four goals and added 11 assists last year, more than doubling his output from his first two seasons.

In case you're wondering why I am excited to see big Joe return to the Fighting Sioux, here are some of the high lights from Big Joe career at UND.

Big Joe scoring against the Denver Pioneers...

Big Joe making Alex Kangas look like a silly.

Big Joe introduing himself to Jacke Skille...

Ducan to return to North Dakota

When I heard that Ryan Ducan the 2007 Hobey Baker Memorial trophy winner was coming back to UND I was ecstatic. I think it will help UND a lot having one of their top offensive stars back in the line up next season. I am already hoping and dreaming that next season the Fighting Sioux coaches put Ducan on a line with David Toews and Evan Trupp. That line could probably score 75-100 goals.

Duncan to return for senior season
Brad Elliott Schlossman
After Ryan Duncan won the 2007 Hobey Baker Memorial Award, some thought there wasn’t anything left for him to accomplish in college hockey.

To the contrary, the standout winger will have several milestones sitting in front of him this fall, when he returns for his senior season.

Duncan has informed UND that he will be back to complete his college career rather than sign a free-agent pro contract.

That means he will have a chance to further solidify himself among the program’s best.

Despite playing in an era when scoring is at a record low, the 5-foot-6, 159-pound forward from Calgary only needs 20 points to move into the top 20 in all-time scoring at UND. He currently ranks 38th with 133 points.

Duncan also could break the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s record for most consecutive games played. Duncan has never missed a game at UND, playing 132 in a row. His former teammate, Chris Porter, holds the record at 175.

Duncan could become the first player ever to win the Hobey Baker Award twice and just the third player in the last decade to leave college hockey with both the Hobey and a national championship trophy, which has eluded Duncan’s Sioux teams.

“He’s already created a lot of great memories,” UND coach Dave Hakstol said earlier this season.