Union Hockey Player Saves National Guardsman From Fire

I found this happy, feel good story over on yahoo, that I should share it. 
It is nice to a happy sports story and not another criminal one.

NCAA player finally meets soldier whose life he saved, given medal 

By Greg Wyshynski November 17, 2014 11:24 AM   Puck Daddy

(Read the Whole Article Here)

The freshman hockey player and the National Guard captain met at center ice on Saturday, face-to-face that night for the first time since Union College forward Kevin Shier helped save the life of Timothy Neild. 

On Dec. 8, 2013, Shier and his father were driving from Syracuse to Union for a recruiting visit when they spotted a pickup truck burning near a concrete barrier of a bridge on the New York State Thruway. Neild was trapped inside.

Shier and another man helped cut Neild’s seat belt and dragged him out of the burning truck, which exploded soon after. The National Guardsman was severely hurt in the crash, and was placed into a medically induced coma for 11 days.

“We thought he was dead,” recalled Shier.

But he was alive. And on Saturday, it was time to thank the freshman hockey player who helped save that life.

“I wouldn’t b
e here today — or at all — had Kevin Shier not done what he did,” Neild said, via the Daily Gazette, before Union’s game vs. Princeton, “and it’s so incredible to finally meet him.”

Before the game, Neild pinned the New York Conspicuous Service Medal on Shier, which ranks only behind the Medal of Valor as far as these honors go.

Shier and his team gave Neild and his family – his wife and their 3-year-old daughter were in attendance – a signed Union College jersey.

From the Gazette:

“It was pretty surreal up until six months ago or so, and very surreal up until we found out that Capt. Neild was OK and he was recovering well,” he said. “It changed my life, for sure.

“It’s been kind of emotional. It was nice to meet Capt. Neild to kind of, not give it closure, but to solidify what had happened.”

If Shier sounds humble, Neild said it’s expected. "He says what a lot of the true heroes say: 'I did it because he would have done it for me,'" he said.

Union Suspends Three Players for Violating Team Rules

This past weekend, Union head coach Rick Bennett threw the book at three of his players. Bennett suspended three players for multiple games, for violating team rules. Looks like the Union coach is sending a message early in the season. Here's the video to this story.  

Ken Schott, Gazette -- Union coach Rick Bennett announced Sunday that three Dutchmen have been suspended for violation of team rules.

The three players penalties are senior forward Max Novak and junior forwards Matt Wilkins and Nick Cruice.

Novak was suspended five games, while Wilkins and Cruice each got three games. The suspensions begin with Sunday’s exhibition game against the University of Prince Edward Island.

"It's just a violation of team rules. I'll leave it at that," Bennett said before the game. That's going to be the protocol for this. I don't want to elaborate. It's a violation of team rules. It's something our staff feels very strongly about. It's nothing the guys didn't know about. They're veteran players. They knew about it. We've moved on."

From last season’s stats, Max Novak (15g-16a—31pts), Matt Wilkins (6g-14a—21pts) and Nick Cruice (6g-1a—7pts). Two of these suspensions are significant. Novak missing five games is a big hit for the Dutchmen.

Hearld Letter to the Editor: Union, Yale share key trait: Coaches who deliver

 If you haven't read the Grand Forks Herald, this letter to the editor is worth a look. So a Herald Reader wants us to take a look one row back.

If anything, this was probably Dave Hakstol's beat coaching job so far to date. Yeah, I would hate to disappoint this letter writer, but Don Lucia and Dave Hakstol aren't going anywhere. #firehakstol #firelucia

WARREN, Minn. — The past two NCAA hockey champions have been fun to watch. Both Union College, this year, and Yale University the previous year captured the essence of collegiate athletics, in that neither give out athletic scholarships but both still rose to the pinnacle of an NCAA sport.

UND and the University of Minnesota Gophers should also be commended for their fine efforts in reaching the Frozen Four. The expectations for those two schools should be high, in that they are among the elite in resources, both financial and facilities in the collegiate hockey world. Union plays in an arena that seats just over 2,000 fans.

Both Union and Yale had lesser talent, if the number of NHL draftees on their roster is considered. But as ESPN’s lead hockey analyst Barry Melrose pointed out — and I do respect his knowledge of hockey — you could see plays develop and players executing a plan.

The announcers talked in this tournament about the fine traditions of both UND and the Gophers, which is true with many titles in their past. But what brought both Union and Yale to the epitome of the college hockey world was behind the bench. Don Lucia, head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers, last won a title about 11 years ago; but from what I read, there is some pressure developing on him, as the expectations in Dinkytown are high — plus, he now has an athletic director who demands accountability. In Grand Forks, the current regime has yet to win a national championship.

You can only ride the tradition mantra so long. In my mind, part of tradition can be equated to longevity. In that regard, the Chicago Cubs have a fine and long baseball tradition; but not so in championships.

Given the “tradition” but more importantly the resources available, fans of the Gophers and UND should expect more than mere winning records. I commend the players of both teams; their effort cannot be questioned. I look one row back.

Union takes home the title

Wow! What a game last night. IMHO, this was one of the better Frozen Four championship games that I have seen. Some might say that the improbable happened last night. Union College with one NHL draft choice, and no scholarships, beat the mighty Golden Gophers 7-4. Just for the record, the Gophers have 14 NHL draft choices on their roster.

Junior defenseman Shane Gostisbehere is the only player on the Dutchmen’s roster that is drafted by an NHL team (Philadelphia 2012). After his play this past weekend, there’s also a good chance that the Flyers will want Gostisbehere to sign a professional contract, soon.

If you’re a regular college hockey fan, you will know that this wasn’t a fluke. Union came into last night’s game on a 16-0-1 run, and the Dutchmen hadn’t lost since January 31, 2014. Union has a knack for beating the big-time, high-profile teams. Over the last two seasons, the Dutchmen have ended the Boston College Eagles season. This year only reinforces that the ECAC is becoming the premiere, power-house conference in college hockey. That's two titles, in two seasons, not too shabby.

Union has a very veteran lineup with five seniors on their roster. The average age of their senior class is 23 years old. I have seen some making an issue of the Dutchmen’s age, but I don’t see a problem with it.

Just for the record, the average age of the Union is 21years and 11 months old. The average of the Minnesota Gophers is 21 years and two months old. There’s not too much difference in age.

Union will lose five seniors, Daniel Carr (22g-28a—50pts), Mat Bodie (8g-31a—39pts), Kevin Sullivan (9g-29a—38pts), Matt Hatch (13g-9a—22pts), Cole Ikkala (2g-2a—4pts).

Congrats to the Gophers and the Dutchmen on a great season.

Goon's Frozen Four review

Much like Sioux7 my brackets for the NCAA Hockey Tourney were totally busted as I got only one out of four brackets right, usually I am able to pick two of the four correctly.

Just for the record, my Frozen Four brackets included Michigan, Miami, Boston College and North Dakota.

I confess as a college hockey fan I am not all that excited with this season’s Frozen Four field, to be honest with you it bores me. This Frozen Four could end up being as bad as the 2010 Frozen Four that was at Four Field where Boston College ran through the field like a hot knife through butter. I could see the same thing happening again this season.

Unfortunately, the two best teams are in the same bracket and the attractive match-up is Minnesota and Boston College; other than that, nothing really jumps out at me in this season’s Frozen Four. In one bracket we have what I would consider a snooze feast between Union College and Ferris State, and there are others that agree with me.

 

Game time for the first game between Union College (26-7-7) and Ferris State (25-11-5) is 3:30 p.m. Central Standard Time Thursday.  The game is on ESPNU (DirecTV208 and Dish Network148) 

My prediction is that the Ferris State University Bulldogs, who are lead by head hockey coach Bob Daniels, who incidentally was awarded the 2012 Spencer Penrose Award, will end Union’s magical season in a boring non-eventful game if you’re still awake by the end of the game you will see Ferris State win in a trap feast 2-1 game.

Both teams Union and Ferris State have never been in the Frozen Four so one of these two teams is going to make the championship game of the Frozen Four for the first time in their team’s history. 

Fun and interesting facts about Ferris State and Union: The Bulldogs and Dutchman's rosters contain  NO NHL Draft picks, there is not a single one on either team, that is almost unheard of in today’s college hockey world. Just for the record, Union college has , Boston College has 9 and Minnesota has 17 NHL draft Choices.  

In the evening title it’s the Boston College Eagles (31-10-1) vs. the Minnesota Golden Gophers (28-13-1) at 7:00 p.m. Central Standard Time Thursday. The game is on ESPN2 ( DirecTV and 209 Dish Network 144)

This season’s Frozen Four prohibitive favorite, Boston College is a team that has three solid forward lines that could be most teams first line on any team. The Gophers are also loaded through the forward lines as well. Here are the lines that both teams used in their last games.

Boston College Forward Lines 

Barry Almeida (22g-16—38pts) – Bill Arnold (17g-17a—34pts) – Steven Whitney (13g-22a—35pts)

Chris Kreider (22g-21a—41pts) – Kevin Hayes 6g-20a—26tps) – Destry Straight (3g-6a—9pts)

Johnn Gaudreau (20g-21a—41pts) – Pat Mullane (10g-26a—36pts) – Paul Carey (15g-12a—27pts) 

Minnesota Gophers Forward Lines

Kyle Rau (18g-25a—43pts) – Nick Bjugstad 25g-17a—42pts) – Zach Budish  (12g-23a—35)

Sam Warning (6g-9a—15pts) – Erik Haula (20g-28a—48pts) – Jake Hansen (15g-22a—37pts) 

Nate Condon (11g-19a—30tps) – Travis Boyd (1g-8-a—9pts) – Taylor Matson (8g-15a—23pts) 

Goalies

Boston College goalie Parker Milner, 27-5-0, 1.70 goals against average and a .935 save percentage. It would be an understatement to say that Milner has been on fire as of late, during the Eagles' current 17-game winning streak, Milner has been flawless and sports a 17-0-0 record and an impressive 1.11 goals-against average with a mind popping .960 save percentage.

Minnesota goalie Kent Patterson, 28-13-1, 2.23 goals against average and a .911 save percentage. I have seen Gopher fans make the argument that Patterson has been the has been the MVP for the Golden Gophers.

As Sioux7 laid out in his blog post, both teams are similar statistically and I do expect that special teams will have a major factor in this game’s outcome.

Minnesota ranks
1st in team offense with a 3.67 avg/gm
8th in team defense with a 2.21 avg/gam
5th on the Power Play at 23.24% (43/185)
36th on the Penalty Kill at 81.0% (149/184)

Boston College ranks
6th in team offense with a 3.50 avg/gm
2nd in team defense with a 2.07 avg/gam
11th on the Power Play at 21.55% (39/181)
3rd on the Penalty Kill at 88.0% (162/184)

That being said, I am going to stick with my earlier prediction that made a week ago, I do expect to eat a little crow if my prediction is wrong.  That being said, I have seen a lot of good teams get absolutely steam rolled by the Boston College Eagles during the NCAA tourney.

 I also predict that the Boston College Eagles will win their programs fifth NCAA Title by a 6-3 score against the Ferris State Bulldogs.

Related articles

• Frozen Four Match-Ups (by Sioux 7) (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Redwing77's Frozen Four Opinion Piece! (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• My prediction for the Frozen Four (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

INCH Power Rankings

1. Boston College — 29-10-1 

2. Union — 24-7-7

3. North Dakota — 25-12-3

4. Michigan — 24-12-4

5. Minnesota — 26-13-1

6. Minnesota Duluth — 24-9-6

7. Miami — 24-14-2

8. Denver — 25-13-4

9. Western Michigan — 21-13-6

10. Ferris State — 13-11-5

11. Maine — 23-13-3

12. Boston University — 23-14-1

13. Cornell — 18-8-7

14. Harvard — 13-10-11

15. UMass Lowell — 23-12-1

16. Air Force — 21-10-7

17. Michigan State — 19-15-4

18. Colgate — 19-17-3

19. Merrimack — 18-12-7

20. RIT — 20-13-6

Dropped out: St. Cloud State

Bubble-licious: Colorado College, St. Cloud State

As always I include the INCH Power Rankings because I find them amusing. This week’s amusement is again Union at number two; I honestly don’t get that one. It doesn’t chap my butt and I am not going to have an aneurism over it, but I don’t think a team that lost two games to Brown is worthy of being the second rated team in the nation. Alright, whatever, I predict by weekend’s end they will again be a one and done or a two and done. I don’t expect them to be in Tampa for the Frozen Four.

Related articles

• INCH Power Rankings (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• INCH Power Rankings (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• INCH Power Rankings (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• INCH Power Rankings (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• INCH Power Rankings (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• INCH Power Rankings. (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• INCH Power Rankings (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• INCH Power Rankings (ndgoon.blogspot.com)
• Redwing77's NCAA Tourney Bracket Pick'em Part Two (ndgoon.blogspot.com)