Here are a few things that are worth looking at this morning.
Apparently Brandon from
Sioux Yeah Yeah is either sandbagging or doesn't think our team has a chance of winning the hockey games this weekend. Not mention, that the UND Fighting Sioux are a pretty good hockey team it's self, even with the rash of illnesses and the impending suspension. Add to the fact that the Fighting Sioux have also played a tougher schedule to date to start the season. That's not saying that UMD isn't a good hockey team because they are, but lets not forget that UND is pretty good as well.
Against my advice; Brandon was also participated and was taken to task in
this week's gauntlet by Runnin' With the Dogs. I would tell people to enter at your own peril when agreeing to run the gauntlet.
Also apparent, is that Brandon forgot to read the Bruce Ciskie blog, where Bruce said this, "Since it opened in October of 2001, UMD is 2-11-2 in games played at Ralph Engelstad Arena." [
Ciskie Blog] Let not your heart be troubled Brandon.
Sioux fans will be able to send DU forward Jesse Martin their best wishes this weekend. This from Jayson Hajdu' Twitter page, the UND Sports Information Director.
@UNDSID --- Sioux fans can send their best wishes to DU's Jesse Martin by signing a giant card at REA guest services during this weekend's men's games.
So go and sign this card if you are in the building this weekend. The Fighting Sioux fan base is pulling for the Denver University Pioneer forward.
A few predictions and thoughts from the Pundits
From the Star and Tribune; N Dakota's Malone suspended 1 game for check that left Denver player with neck fractures [
Star Tribune] It seems like every post that involves the Sioux in the Star and Tribune turns into a name calling fest between the Gophers and Sioux fans.
According to
Brad Schlossman Carter Rowney is out this weekend with an apparent upper body injury as the result of an elbow.
UND will likely be without Carter Rowney up front, too. Rowney was injured at the end of the second period Friday when Beau Bennett’s elbow caught him up high. There is no timetable on Rowney’s return yet. He did not practice today.
I am wondering why this hit wasn't reviewed by the WCHA officials as well? [
Crickets chirping ]
Roman from Goal Gophers of the
Red Star and Sickle thinks the Sioux will slap that Bulldog ass this weekend. I just hope he hasn't jinxed the Sioux this weekend.
Roman: Wish I could be in two places at once, at the Ralph and Mariucci. UMD (6-0-2) has the nation's longest unbeaten streak after escaping Bemidji with three points. Beavers slowed down 'Dogs top line, so will Sioux. North Dakota won four of five meetings last season. ... Sioux sweep.
This is what Tyler Buckentine WCHA Columnist from USCHO had to say about the match up between the Sioux and the Bulldogs this weekend. The combined record of UMD opponents is 9-20-7.
USCHO --- UMD’s opponents have a combined record of 9–20–7, and Sandelin said he believes the Bulldogs will see the toughest competition they’ve seen all season when they step into Ralph Engelstad Arena on Friday.
“They’re obviously the best team we’ve faced to this point,” Sandelin said. “They’re deeper and a little more skilled than the other teams we’ve faced, plus we’re at [UND’s] rink. We need to take care of the puck and play smart hockey because teams with their ability will take it and put it in your net.”
The Sioux are known for having one of the deepest lineups in Division I and have the ability to roll four solid lines each week.
Paul Stastny talks about the Malone hit on Martin
Here is what a former DU player and current Av's player Paul Stastny had to say about the Malone hit on Martin.
The Denver Post --- Stastny, who played two seasons at DU and skates with Martin and other Pioneers during the summer, was rattled because he knows what happened to Martin can happen to anyone.
And Stastny also knows North Dakota's Brad Malone, who delivered the hit on Martin. Malone, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound senior forward, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Avalanche in 2007.
While Martin's hockey career is probably over, Malone will likely continue his career with the Avs organization next season.
"I only saw the replay from one angle and it wasn't the best view, but I don't think there was any intention to hurt him," Stastny said. "Honestly, I've been thinking about it for the last two days. Jesse had his head down, but you don't want to blame anyone."
Martin was skating the puck up ice, out of the defensive zone, and wanted to pass it ahead. But he lost control of the puck and looked down to find it just before Malone crushed him on a forecheck.
Where do we go from here?
This what
perpetual Fighting Sioux hater Western College Hockey blogger Chris Dilks had this to say about the Malone hit.
All in all, I'm not going to declare Malone the worst person ever because I think he was honestly trying to throw a legal check, but the bottom line is that he definitely threw an illegal check which seriously injured another player. What type of suspension should that be worth? For those willing to search through internet archives, you could probably find all sorts of creative solutions from North Dakota fans, demanding pounds of flesh from Aaron Marvin last year, not the least of which was former Grand Forks Herald writer Virg Foss, who penned an editorial last year saying players that injure a player with an illegal check should be suspended until the injured player returns to the ice. I doubt the Herald will be reprinting that this week. There's no need to be excessive, but the suspension should definitely be significant.
Personally, I don’t mind the WCH blog, I read it all the time almost every day, I think there are a lot of good points brought up in this blog but let’s be frank and realistic and call it like it is, Chris Dilks hates everything UND, you can’t tell me otherwise. It is what it is. I get it; I don’t have a problem with that. I have my own teams and players that I have don’t like, cough, cough.
Also, I think in retrospect; unfortunately we all had to know this day was going to happen, when a Fighting Sioux hockey player injured another player on the ice. You could predict that opposition fans would say that, “hey what about Malone, you guys were calling for Aaron Marvin’s head last season as well.” I am not sure we are comparing apples to apples in this situation. It was pretty evident from the video of the Marvin that he followed Genoway all the way up the ice and went around another one of his teammates to put a devastating and a illegal hit on Chay Genoway.
I don't think the Marvin hit on Genoway compares to the hit that Malone put on Martin. Marvin's hit on Genoway was a CFB/boarding penalty. Malone on the other hand it would appear was attempting to put a “legal hit but violent hit" on Martin and unfortunately ended up injuring another player.
Malone has shown remorse for his hit and has had a tough
time dealing with this. I hope as fans we don't forget what happened and continue to put both players in our thoughts and prayers. I think all of us have a sick feeling in our stomach about what happened on the ice, none of us want to see another player injured, if they do they aren’t wired right, and need to seek professional help. During last Saturday’s game, if Martin skates away I don’t even know if we are looking at a penalty because hockey happens so fast.
Both players were suspended for their hit(s). I think we could have seen both players get longer suspensions for their hits/checks and the league would have been justified. In talking to a lot of people this week there are a lot of people that said, don't be surprised if there is a lengthy suspension attached to this hit. Malone was given a one game suspension but will now be a repeat offender and the scope will be on him just like it's on Aaron Marvin and it was on on former MSU Maverick Trevor Buress. If both players put a questionable hit on another players they will be subject to heavy disciplinary action. The fans and teams in the WCHA will demand that this happen.
