Western College Hockey: Wayne State Applies to CCHA

Expansion; Just Something to Think About

Western College Hockey: Wayne State Applies to CCHA

I think Chris from Western College Hockey makes some good points that are going to have to be addressed in the future. People can stick their head in the sand but this is an issue that isn't going to go away anytime soon. The CHA will not be able to survive with only 5 teams. I personally like the Idea of BSU and UNO in the WCHA, if BSU can assured the league they are in fact getting a new arena. I have bee told by people in the know at BSU that are in fact getting a new arena.

As for Huntsville, I have heard they are going to disband their hockey program in the future. I personally suggest that they submit an application to the Atlantic Hockey or Hockey East. I don’t just don’t know what you should do with them. Unless college hockey seriously thinks about adding 4-6 more games this maybe a mute point.

There is one perceived negative what do you do with a 12 team WCHA? For one you could have a Super Six instead of a Final Five. So I have over come one objection already. Personally, the fans would show up anyway. I am all for 6 games in three days as opposed to 5 games in three days.

Lastly, no matter what happens someone is going to be unhappy with the way everything shakes out. You can take a trip to the bank on that one. Hockey purists will say a 12 team WCHA sucks, but the CCHA has done it for years.

Is The News Media Piling On?

Read the Story at the GF Herald
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — Robbie Bina, whose strong return from a broken neck has prompted a lot of praise for his play and character, is facing a misdemeanor for allegedly trying to help two underage friends escape a police car during a bust at a local bar, according to reports. Those two underage friends just so happen to be star Sioux sophomores Jonathan Toews, 18, and T.J. Oshie. They were picked up last week for underage drinking. According to the prosecutor's office, Bina, 24, opened the door of a patrol car where two of them sat and then walked away. He will be charged with escaping custody, a Class B misdemeanor, which carries a maximum punishment of a $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail. Pettit said the six minors who were cited won't face further charges.North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol took command of the situation by asking the Grand Forks police chief to meet with the team Friday morning.

Media all too Giddy

Seriously I don’t have a problem with media reporting this story; I do believe its time for the media to move on and find something else to report on. However, I do have a quick question for the Herald Writers, who are all to quick to smear a Fighting Sioux hockey player; who are the other 4 under aged people that were sited at the bar along with the two UND hockey players? The other four students sited at Judy's Bar were: Brandon Horton, Latasha Schenfisch, Laci Ginder and Tara Fugleston. "


I believe the Local Drive- By- Media has made a mountain out of a molehill in this case, is really necessary to drag this out in the media all week? I suppose the Heraldo is has nothing else to report? College kids drink underage; it’s a fact of life. Another fact is not all of them get caught? But God forbid if one of these underage kids that get caught happens to be a fighting Sioux hockey player. Really this is not an earth-shattering story.

Like PCM said over on Sioux Sports How it is that on Tuesday, a half dozen police cars and sheriff's SUVs can descend on my neighborhood with lights flashing and sirens blaring, three people can be led away in handcuffs and not one single word about the incident appears in the local news media? Is the Judy's Tavern scandal consuming too many news-gathering resources?

PCM does have a point it seems that would be more serious than two kids getting busted for underage drinking, and a third letting them out of a squad car. Is this all we have to do in Grand Forks, ND? The non-story is who are the other kids involved in this earth shattering story? If they had been college athletes their name would have been dragged through the mud as well.

Links to the Story
Red Star and Sickle
Heraldo Article
WDAZ
UND Sports Zone

Wild and Av's

Gaborik Gets Two

This was one of the better games I have watched in some time. Gabby is catching fire at just the right time, Marion has 13 goals and 7 assists in 19 games. Last night wing was big win because it keeps the Av's in the rear view mirror 6 points out of the last playoff spot.

UND Athletics Director Caught Having Fun.

Bunning Sieving Frazee


Time For People to Relax

Apparently UND Athletic Tom Bunning has upset a few of Societies hypersensitive people with his enthusiasm he shows towards Sioux sports. Last weekend UND athletic director was photographed sieving the Gopher Goaltender in Marriucci arena. In fact the some of the sports Blogs was all up in arms about it. I have no idea what people are so up in arms about.

Former Fighting Sioux Heraldo sports writer weighed in with his view of the situation.
Bakken's View

www.insidecollegehockey.com has a photograph of UND Athletic Director Tom Buning doing the "sieve" chant/arm chop in last weekend's series at the University of Minnesota. He was joining in with the crowd after a Sioux goal. The online photographer returned to the press box and said he couldn't believe what he just saw.

Neither can I. This is embarrassing. Buning is not a frat boy; he is the school's AD. He needs to show some decorum and dignity at games. This isn't the first time that he's acted improperly. In Milwaukee at the Frozen Four, he embarrassed several Sioux fans sitting around him by standing up and screaming at the officials. It's one thing for Joe Six-pack to do this; it's something else for your leading athletics department official to act so sophomoreish.

Tom is a nice guy, but he acts too much like a fan and not enough like a leader at times. While we're at it, he needs to stop his pushup act at football games, too. It was fun at the beginning. But the body language of the Sioux coaches and players suggest they're tired of it. The attention should be on the game, not an administrator who tries to horn in on the attention by looking at the big screen to see if his pushups are being shown.
So who's in position to tell him to knock it off?

What is the big deal?

Come Ryan lighten up a bit, have we really become that thinned skinned that we can’t have a little fun at sporting event? So what if he is the AD of the University of North Dakota? So he was screaming at the officials. I just think some are getting way to worked up about nothing in particular.

I think some of the other people that were concerned about it might have been experiencing what I call sour grapes for the Sioux running Minnesota out of their own building. In fact I am happy we don’t have some stuffed suit for an athletic director. I have had the pleasure of Meeting Tom Bunning a couple of times and have to say that the guy is awesome, a real breath of fresh air. I can’t fault Bunning for his actions. Bunning has been known to do pushups after touchdowns at Sioux football games as well as leading cheers during hockey games at Ralph Englestad Arena.

INCH’s take on the Photo

INCH

SAY WHAT?
From the So Sioux Me Dept.: There’s nothing wrong with a little good-natured ribbing of the opposing goalie after he allows a goal, right? With that in mind, INCH’s double-secret Mariucci Cam caught North Dakota athletics director Tom Buning directing the traditional “sieve” chant (complete with Bob Dole-esque, right-handed, pen-gripping, pointing gesture) at a Minnesota net minder. Memo to Gopher and Sioux fans: We’re just the messengers. Now talk amongst yourselves

I believe that is probably the probably the most entertaining point I have read on the issue to date.

Sports Thoughts have Addition for Hobey Baker Award

Top CCHA player Snubbed for the Hobey

Kyle Whitney's Opinion on the Snub of Mike Santorelli Kyle has a valid point that is hard to refute: Both Duncan and Mike Santorelli shouldn't have been left off of the Hobey Baker Voting Ballot and there is no excuse for it.

I would imagine that NMU could get Santorelli on the ballot like Ryan Ducan with some pressure from the local media or the school’s sports information department. The fan voting is just one of the ways these kids get selected for the Hobey Baker. It does seem mind boggling that a player of his skill and talent would be left off the ballot since he is first in the CCHA and second in the nation in goal scoring, maybe there is some politics that we don't know about. I think there is something to the argument that if he played for a big school or his team was leading in the league would be getting more love for the Hobey Baker.

Nonetheless this doesn't make this any less of a travesty. Lets look at this more closely; Mike Santorelli doesn't make the ballot with his impressive stats but Blake Wheeler of Minnesota a second or third line player in WCHA makes the ballot with 27 points in 29 games. Mind you Wheeler barely squeaks into the top 100 in points per game nationally while Mike Santorellis is tied for 15th nationally. I guess playing for a bigger school makes hell of lot of difference.

Duncan Added to the Hobey Ballot

Duncan
Duncan Added To Hobey Balloting

Sioux forward Sophomore Ryan Duncan has been added to the Hobey Baker Memorial ballot. I would say that this action is long over due; this is a travesty and Ryan should have been on the ballot from the start. I think adding Ryan to the ballot is the right move based on Duncan's play so far this season with 21 goals and 15 assists for 36 points. Vote for Ryan Duncan at Hobey Baker

Here is what INCH had to say about Duncan:
Read about it at INCH Article

We started building a case for Duncan, who leads the WCHA with 21 goals and shares the league lead in scoring with 36 points, after naming him our Player of the Week for his efforts in the Fighting Sioux's sweep of Minnesota. Though his play against the Golden Gophers was particularly impressive, the diminutive forward (the Calgary native's listed as 5-foot-6, 158 pounds) has been the one constant in the lineup for a North Dakota team that's ridden the roller coaster this season. His more heralded classmates, T.J. Oshie (4-7—11 in his last five games) and Jonathan Toews (3-9—12 in his last six) have started to come around and may once again dominate the headlines, but Duncan's the one who's got them to this point.

Duncan Is Tops

Just for general accounting purposes Ryan Duncan is on fire; Duncan is tied for first with in the league with 36 points tied with SCSU’s Andrew Gordon and Andreas Nodl. Ryan Duncan is also leading the league with power play goals with 11 nationally Ryan Duncan is ranked 4th nationally in goals for game. For all of the stats log on to NCAA Stas

Toews and Oshie Charged with Under Age Drinking

Ryan Bakken is reporting on his blogBakken's View

Two of UND's top forwards, T.J. Oshie and Jonathan Toews, have been charged with minor in possession after being spotted in Judy's Bar recently by the cops. Coach Dave Hakstol to the surprise of nobody said he had no comment and that the matter would be handled internally. I'm guessing Sioux fans would be all for the two being suspended for this weekend's games. (If you didn't know, UND has the weekend off.)

So what does a coach do when his players are caught drinking alcohol, which is not exactly a news flash for college students? So they get a two-minute minor or a five-minute major or a 60-minute unsportsmanlike? Or, maybe double-secret probation.

Behavior the Norm for College Students

With the incidents that took place in Minneapolis, Minnesota last season with Gopher hockey players getting into trouble at a local watering hole, I am sure this story is going to sprout legs and get some airtime, especially on opponent’s messages boards around the league. My opinion on the matter is this is part of college life college kids get busted for under age drinking all of the time and I am sure that head coach Hakstol will handle the matter off ice and out of the media’s eye. I could care less, as long it doesn’t affect their play on the ice, and they don’t get caught re-offending. These young men will go to court and pay a fine for their lack of judgment.

NHL Player Moves

Here is an Interesting PerspectiveWaiting for Stanley

Waiting for Stanley looks at the recent Vancover Canucks move.
I guess Michael Forney isn't the only one that is being refered to as Joe Glass.

The Most annoying Comercial of All Time.

I have NHL Center Ice and recently they had a promotion to get more people to sign up for the NHL package. The first time that I saw this commercial I thought it was funny, after watching the commercial at least twenty times in one night it wasn’t funny anymore.

On the Flip Side

This is the opposite of annoying commericals, Shania Twain the NHL probably could sell more tickets with comericals like this.

High Lights from the NHL Young Stars Game.

Check out some of these goals from Former Fighting Sioux player Zach and as well as former Golden Gopher player Phil Kessel light the lamp dur the young starts game. These all star games are fun but there is no hitting what so ever. I bet the goalies aren't all the fond of them. Parise ended up being the MVP of the game.

The Hockey Show Adds Audio of their shows

The Hockey Show Kicks off on the Web

After a few glitches the Hockey Show is finally up and running as they get going and now they will have the replays of previous show on the web. Join Moose Richards and Scott Williams as they discuss CHA hockey. the Hockey Show

Ryan Duncan Left off the Hobey List

Here is the List
Sean Bentivoglio, Niagara
Brian Boyle, Boston College
David Brown, Notre Dame
Ted Cook, Niagara
John Curry, Boston University
Nathan Davis, Miami
Ryan Dingle, Denver
Eric Ehn, Air Force
Brian Elliot, Wisconsin
Joe Fallon, Vermont
Glenn Fisher, Denver
Bobby Goepfert, St. Cloud State
Alex Goligoski, Minnesota
Andrew Gordon, St. Cloud State
Kyle Greentree, Alaska-Fairbanks
Jocelyn Guimond, RIT
Brett Hemingway, New Hampshire
T.J. Hensick, Michigan
Jeff Jakaitis, Lake Superior State
Erik Johnson, Minnesota
Ryan Jones, Miami
Michel Leveille, Maine
Pierre Luc-O'Brien, Sacred Heart
Mike Lundin, Maine
Travis Morin, Minnesota State
Alex Nikiforuk, Nebraska-Omaha
Kyle Okposo, Minnesota
T.J. Oshie, North Dakota
Scott Parse, Nebraska-Omaha
Mike Radja, New Hampshire
Les Reaney, Niagara
Dan Rosen, Brown
Cory Schneider, Boston College
James Sixsmith, Holy Cross
Trevor Smith, New Hampshire
Sean Sullivan, Boston University
Jonathan Toews, North Dakota
Bear Trapp, Sacred Heart
Mark Van Guilder, Notre Dame
Blake Wheeler, Minnesota
Brock Trotter, Denver
Brandon Wong, Quinnipiac
Steve Zalewski, Clarkson

Someone (besides a Gopher fan) please tell me how Ryan Duncan was left off the Hobey Baker voting? Ok Eric Johnson is a good hockey player but isn't even worthy of getting a vote for the Hobey in my opinion.

Adam Wodon Gives UND some Love.

Check out this Article

Adam Wodom isn't traditionally known for giving UND much love, I always thought he had a hard time seeing past the EZAC, but I have to give him credit Adam does write a good article on the Sioux's play this past weekend. Check it out hereCHN Link

I really like this piece right here.

The Gophers have now lost four of six. It shows why you can't anoint national champions in January, no matter how good the team looks. The Gophers are in a major funk, first offensively, and now defensively. The old goalie concerns, which had been muted most of this season, and which it appeared might finally have been taken care of for good, are rearing their ugly head again. Minnesota didn't score an even strength goal on the weekend.

This one is even better. Kind of sums up what I thought of UMN's porus goaltending.

UND defenseman Robbie Bina, while killing off a penalty, cleared it down the ice from 190 feet, and the puck bounced a few times before bouncing over Jeff Frazee's stick and in. Frazee did not come out to challenge the puck and it cost him. He was eventually replaced by Kellen Briggs, who didn't fare any better. Not having Tyler Hirsch anymore as a playmaker is clearly hurting Minnesota, but can it really mean this much?

Power Rankings: Did they watch the same games.

INCH; you can’t be Serious.

Tell me what’s wrong with this picture, the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux go to Minneapolis Minnesota sweep the number one team in the country and we only move from from 15th place to 17th in the INCH power rakings. You can't be serious. no really trying saying that with a straight face. This is why Sioux fans think that inside college hockey have no credibility. The one that is even more funny is the fact that UND shreds the so called anointed number one team in the country and they only drop from number 1 to number 3. This is why you get hate mail from Sioux fans. It’s this out right hatred for UND. It almost makes you wonder if their office is right next to Gregg Sheppard’s.

Link to the ridiculous: INCH Debacle

Here is my letter to INCH.

To whoever,
How the heck can a team go into the Number one teams arena sweep the number one team in the country and only move from 15th to 17th. On the flip side after looking like pylons all weekends the Gophers only fall two spots from 1 to 3. That is a joke; it’s almost as funny as the Bracketology over on USCHO.

Signed the Goon
http://ndgoon.blogspot.com/

Robbie Bina Goes Down Town.

Frazee Makes History


Gopher’s sophomore goalie Jeff Frazee gained some unwanted fame Saturday night. Frazee will go down in college hockey history as giving up one of the freakiest goals of all time. Funny thing it seems that Gopher goalies are always making history for giving up freakish goals. Lets examine the storied history; the Legg goal in the NCAA playoff against Debus, the Holy Cross Crusader goal that shocked the college hockey world last season and now this.

Junior Defenseman and local folk hero Robbie Bina was playing on the penalty kill for the Fighting Sioux. The puck makes its way to Bina, who then shoots the puck down the ice and on net. Sleeping in the Gopher goal was goaltender Jeff Frazee; the goal for the Sioux was a momentum killer for the Gophers. In the game the Gophers were gaining the edge in play and had just scored three unanswered goals on the power play, the Sioux were reeling and it looked like the Gophers might get on track and put the game away. Bina’s goal changed the momentum of the game and the Sioux went on to score 4 more goals against the once vaunted Gopher defense and goalie.

Sioux Win Big Series

I heard all week how UND had no chance against the mighty Gophers. Briggs was the top goalie in the NCAA; in fact I got some crap from Gopher fans for saying that Briggs was the same sieve different year. However, in retrospect I was right on. In fact Briggs game up 9 goals for the weekend is staggering. This guys is one of the best in Gopher history are you kidding me. You know we heard the same thing last spring before the regional last year how the Sioux were going to be run out of the REA. I heard Gopher fans walk into our arena and say Marriucci west. Funny thing they were saying the same thing when they left.

Fast forward to this past weekend, we heard the same rhetoric. Someone were lecturing me on why the Fighting Sioux need not to show up for the series this past weekend. Some of these same fans then said that the Sioux winning on Friday night was a complete fluke and the Sioux would be promptly defeated on Saturday night something like 6-2. In fact the television on FSN had said basically that there was no need to play the game either because the Gophers alway ended up winning on Saturday night. The Fighting Sioux are now 3-1-0 in their last four games at REA East. In fact this time it was the Gophers that were run out of the building.


This sums it up best over on USCHO:
Marriucci Meltdown

For the last couple months, ‘How good is Minnesota?’ has been the most popular – and important – question asked around college hockey. In posing the quandary, many looked at their lackluster schedule, underwhelming performances against inferior opponents, and an inexperienced, if heralded, freshman class as evidence that the Gophers impressive run – now nine weeks atop the USCHO national poll – belied some major weaknesses.

Sioux take Game one From the Gophers

Sioux come out on top

All week long we heard how the game wasn’t even going to be close the Gophers were going to run the Fighting Sioux out of the building. In fact there was no reason for the Sioux to even show up. The Sioux spotted the Gophers an early two-goal lead then scored the next five goals taking game one against the Golden Gophers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Minnesota has lost the last three Friday night games. The Fighting Sioux spent most of the night on the penalty kill finishing 2/11 on the penalty kill.

The Fighting Sioux have been playing better as of late going 7-1-1 and own the countries best-unbeaten streak at 5-0-2.

Breaking down the Numbers.

For his career Kellen Briggs is 8-12 against the fighting Sioux in 20 games.
The Fighting Sioux are the only WCHA team Don Lucia doesn’t have a winning record against.
North Dakota is currently ranked 35th nationally on the penalty kill after hovering around 54th earlier in the season.
North Dakota is currently ranked 5th nationally on the power play.
North Dakota is currently ranked 20th nationally in scoring.
Minnesota is currently ranked 5th in nationally in scoring.
Junior Robbie Bina has as many goals as super sophomore Jonathon Toews both players have 7 goals.

The Golden Nation: Brooms and Shovels

The Golden Nation: Brooms and Shovels

This review is a hoot: Satnu from the Golden Nation Reviews this Weekends Upcoming Series

One could say that Satnu has an interesting perspective on this weekend games between Minnesota and UND. I would have to catagorize him as being a satorist. Check it out click on the link at the top of the article. If the Goofers don't sweep this weekend I would be glad to serve Satnu some crow hot off of the grill. Do you like BBQ sauce on your crow.

Seriously its almost silly how the Goofer fans are predicting that UND shouldn't even show up this weekend. Some have said the games aren't even going to be close. I know Minnesota is a really good hockey team but the Fighting Sioux aren't bad either. I hope the Gophers, Pioneers and Husky players are this cocky as the Gophers fans are.

Gopher Fowards Finishing Checks

More of this to come?

I found this video over at Let's Go DU hockey blog I wondering if the Gopher forwards are planning on going to the net hard and finishing their checks on the Fighting Sioux goaltenders this weekend? Things could get interesting if they do.

The Sioux and the Gophers

The Match Up
7>5

The Clock is Ticking

First off; I wish I were going to be at the game this weekend. Nothing beats some good smack talk between Sioux and Gopher fans at a hockey game, however, I have to work and there will be no trip south this season. Lucky for me I will however be able to see the game on the TV at work. My brother called last night to rub in the fact that he has two tickets to the game on Saturday night at the John. I sure he could probably get top dollar for those tickets too. I would love to see a sweep of the Gophers by the Fighting Sioux, however, I will settle for a split or a couple of ties. The Sioux need to get points to avoid a first round tilt in Madison Wisconsin against the Badgers, a team they do not match up well against because of the style of hockey they play.

No Prediction this Weekend

There will be no bold predictions for this weekend because I really can’t put a finger on this years Fighting Sioux team. I am carefully optimistic that the Sioux can pull one off this weekend. As of late the Sioux have played better but their level of competition hasn’t been that high. The Sioux currently are ranked 14th in the PWR rankings and a win would bolster their playoff chances and probably get them off of the NCAA bubble. The Sioux have 10 WCHA games left for the season and I believe the Fighting Sioux would have to go 7-3 or 6-4 and get to the Final Five to get off the NCAA bubble.



Tough Task Ahead: (per inch)
Inside college hockey breaks down the prospects for the Badgers over taking the Sioux in the standingsINCH Link. This is going to make every Fighting Sioux hockey important because of the poor play in the first half of the season. Each game that the fighting Sioux lose is going to have the ramifcaitions. Its going to make every game have the feel of a game 7 in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

If the WCHA playoffs began today, Wisconsin would have to go on the road, but despite their current standing in the lower half of the league standings, there's optimism for a strong finish among many Badger fans. Wisconsin has played two fewer league games than fifth-place North Dakota (which the Badgers currently trail by a point) and four fewer league games than Alaska Anchorage, with which it is tied for sixth place. Eight of Wisconsin's 12 remaining league games are against teams at or below the Badgers in the standings.

The Week In Hockey

Goon’s Ramblings

I was looking at the Bracketology: for Jan. 24, 2007 over on USCHO Bracketologyand I find a few things that crack me up. Jayson Moy seems to be giving the EZAC way too much love and has two teams making the tourney. While I do agree that Clarkson and is decent hockey team Moy is giving SLU way too much credit. Isn’t this the same team UND beat 4-1 earlier last month during the tourney in Hanover, NH. So am I to believe the logic that UND if they keep winning is going to be left out of the tourney, while St. Larry gets in, hardly. Lets just say there are almost a month and a ½ left of the season. I think we should just wait and see how the rest of the season plays out. Let's not punch those tickets for the big dance just yet. There are going to be many twists and turns in the game ahead. I would also predict that there are going to be a few shockers to come with the conference tourneys during the third week in March. Also, a few other team like Miami seem to be sinking to the bubble fast. I also don’t see the CCHA getting 4 teams in the tourney this year.
Last night B.C. lost to Boston University, hence UND moved up to 14th in the power rankings I guess that throws a wrench in the equation.

Over on Western College Hockey

Chris Dilks has the footage of the Minnesota Riots after the NCAA championship.They know how to throw a party in Minneapolis Minnesota That will teach you to park your car downtown after the Gophers win a big game. I wonder if they will riot if Brewster leads the Golden Gophers to a Big Ten championship in college football. Funny thing when UND won the National Championship in college hockey there were no riots in the streets.


Hammy’s perspective on the DU and Minnesota Fight that Almost Happened

An interesting read. Hammy is right the reffing in that game was really poor, the refs missed a lot of calls and let the game get out of control in the first period. Hum, Gopher fans bringing up the short comming of the on ice officials. I am not about to label Gopher fans as being Halo's just yet, but Hammy is just stating what Sioux fans have been saying for some time, the WCHA is a first class league with second rate officials. Hammy's Blog

* The Denver series was certainly entertaining in a number of respects. I don't tend to say much about the quality of the refs on a weekly basis because I find it to be a very tiring excuse that some fans use quite often. But this is an exception. The games were called relatively poorly this weekend. When Ben Gordon (a player hardly known for being a tough guy) gets a fighting major for wrestling around and then getting punched while on his back, you know something is amiss. That may have been the worst reffed series the Gophers have played in this year.

* Gopher forward James O'Brien may have run into the goalie anyway since he was given a push from behind but the added effort he gave in hitting DU's Glenn Fisher was uncalled for. I have to admit that a part of me didn't feel quite as sorry to see it happen given Fisher's bush league act toward Blake Wheeler at the conclusion of Friday's game but it still should not have happened. When it comes to getting back at a goalie for trash talking, there is no better way to do it than to put pucks in the back of his net and tagging the guy with a loss. Scoring five goals on him and hanging him with a loss is revenge enough.

I have to hand it to the Gopher forward if your going to run a goalie you might as well make it count. I wonder if the Gopher forwards will continue running over the goalie this weekend when the Gophers play the Sioux down in the John down in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I would venture to guess that if any Gopher forward runs over one of the Sioux's goalies there is going to be a brawl. The Fighting Sioux will not take that laying down. All I can say is bring it, if that is the type of game the Gophers want to play. Any exchange of players lost to a DQ only helps the Sioux.

Jeff Dubay Loses Job over telling the Truth

Jeff Dubay aka Puffy from KFAN’s morning show PA and Dubay lost his job at FSN for his off air comments that were directed at the WCHA’s on ice officialsLink to the article This one really chaps my ass. Jeff Dubay’s termination from FSN sports borders on being ridiculous or just plain silly. My question is; are the WCHA officials so thin skinned that it can’t take feed back about the performance of its on ice officials? Maybe Greg Sheppard should actually look at what his officials are doing on the ice and quit complaining about how the public views it’s clowns in stripes. I watched the game between the Gophers and the Pioneers twice and the performance of Todd Anderson was pathetic, Anderson made the game about him and ruined a good match up between two good teams. While Dubay might have been out of line I don’t believe he deserved to be fired, I think Jeff should be given an award for his honesty. Have the league officials ever listened to Gopher radio announces or UND’s Tim Hennesy for that matter? Hey Sheppard are you going to ask that they be fire next?

Bruce Ciske Takes on the Issue of Officating

Not to hammer the officials (yeah right) but here is another interesting perspective of the performance of officials in the WCHA and how we could get them to address some of the issues surrounding their performance or lack of performanceThe Ciske Blog I really like what Bruce had to say in this article.

Frankly, I think it's high time that the league either take visible steps to improve the level of its officiating, or allow coaches to speak publicly on the matter. No one is questioning the work ethic of the officials or their supervisor, Greg Shepherd. No one is questioning the integrity of this crew.

But we're spinning our wheels right now. Too often, the officials take center stage, either for a controversial decision or a questionable penalty call (or non-call) or how the review process is handled.

Already this year, we've seen some extremely bizarre calls that had great bearing on how games ended.

(The two calls in the Gopher-UMD Friday game - one of which took away what appeared to be a UMD goal, and the other taking a late faceoff outside the UM zone when it was apparent that the Bulldogs should have received either a power play or a penalty shot - along with the controversial goal at the end of Saturday's game in St. Cloud, just to name a couple. Oh, and I'm still bitter about that goal ruling in the playoff game in Denver last March.)

It's one thing for coaches to criticize the officials. They aren't allowed to publicly, and they shouldn't be. That would lead to anarchy. But when respected writers who have covered this league as long as Virg Foss has feel the need to speak up, you have an issue on your hands. Simply trying to dismiss the comments of a guy like Foss really doesn't help much.

I'm not calling for anyone's head here. Just saying that Foss has a point, and I'd love for the league to acknowledge that they would like to get their officiating to a higher level.

Same Sieve Different Year.

Sieve, Sieve, Sieve...
I thought I might as well get the smack talking going, this one is for Slap Shot. Its been way too civil and I am getting tired of ripping the refs so I will move on to a new subject, ah, lets the do the Gophers goaltending. Incase anyone has forgotten this is the same Sieve that lost to Holy Cross just a different year. Its funny how the media in Minneapolis has tried to paint a picture of how Kellin Briggs is this great goalie. Personally it kind of reminds me of the Grand Forks print and radio media talking about some of our players. You know the same old story on and on about Kellin being a goalie for the ages if not statisically the best goalie of all time. Snicker, not much of an endorsement of Minnesota's goalies is it? I am sorry Stauber was one of the best goalies Minnesota ever had and Briggs isn't worthy of sniffing his jock.


One last point, some are going to come on here and tell me about how poor of a goalie Lammy is. Well it probably is a valid point, until recently he hadn't played well this year. However the numbers don't lie, for his career Philippe Lamoureux 2.36 GAA and a .911 save percentage on the other side of the ice Briggs has a career GAA of 2.43 and a save percentage of .908. Flame away come on here and discuss it with me.

Bruins and Sabres Kessel Gets two.

Bruins and Sabres
I watched this game via NHL Center Ice last week; Former Gopher Phil Kessel gets his sixth and seventh goals of the season. The seventh goal was a thing of beauty. If the Bruins coaching staff keeps putting Savard and Kessel together you will see a few more high light real goals.

NHL Plays of the Week.

Seems like the first time you won't see a former Fighting Sioux hockey player on them. What a week of hockey in the NHL.

A blast from the past Vernon and Roy.

The Whistler tackles the Reffing in the WCHA.

The State of Officiating in the WCHA
The Whistler from Say Anything Blog Link to The Whistlers Article
Takes on the issue of the officiating in the WCHA. I know it is a touchy issue as many WCHA fans have brought it up almost weekly, however, its not just the fans, there has also been a lot of and dissatisfaction with the level of officiating from time to time from the coaches in the WCHA as well, which finally lead to a WCHA coaching confronting the game official after the game and hence getting into a profanity laced altercation with that game official.

Locally Sioux fans that bitch (I am one of them) about the officiating have been called halos by opposing teams fans. Some think its just sour grapes or entitlement hockey but that isn't the issue. The issue is the officiating and the on ice official’s performance that can be dismal at times. I believe the WCHA officials have to be better because I believe the fans deserved better. After watching the game between the Gophers and the Pioneers last night I believe the officials in that game should be suspended and publicly scorned. Todd Anderson totally took the game over and made the game about him. There was no flow to the game and the first period took almost an hour to finish. I would love to see the grade that Greg Sheppard gives Anderson for his weekend performance. Oh by the way third man in is a game misconduct not a two minute minor.

The fans pay hundreds of dollars to watch college hockey only to have to witness the performance of the paid officials hit all time lows. So if the coaches are saying it anonymously then it’s as bad as it looks to the fans as well. In the WCHA I believe the worst of the officials are in no particular order: Don Adam, Todd Anderson, Marko Hunt, Derrick Sheppard. I believe the only way to change the officiating is too clean house and start over, starting at the top with head of officials Greg Sheppard. The fans and administrations of the WCHA schools should demand this.

Mission Accomplished. Sioux Sweep Beavers.

 

The After Bina's Goal

The Sioux Sweep the Beavers

No Seriously, that’s not a typo, the Sioux sweep. The Sioux swept an opponent for the first time since the Sioux swept the Mankato Mavericks during the last week of October down in Mankato. It’s only the second time UND fans have been able to see the stick salute at center ice by the players.

The Streak

Fighting Sioux its current modest streak to 6-1-1 in the last 8 days. During those 8 games the Sioux have only given up three goals twice. The Sioux are getting good defense, decent goaltending and are scoring timely goals. The key to the success is that for the most part the Fighting Sioux are staying out of the penalty box. The Sioux killed off 11-13 power plays this weekend. They also were 5-16 on the power play going 4-10 on Saturday night.

D.O.T. Line on Fire

Finally the D.O.T. line is re-igniting (I can’t think of a better word), should we say that it’s starting to catch fire just at the right time. Breaking down the scoring, T.J. Oshie had a goal and four assists, Jonathon Toews had two goals and two assists, and Duncan chipped in with two assists. Originally Oshie had been given the second goal in Bemidji but after further review Toews was ruled to have scored the second UND goal. That is 10 points on the weekend for the D.O.T. line. Wouldn’t you know it Duncan, Oshie and Toews are sitting on top of the statistics for the Fighting Sioux? These guys are going to have to carry the load if the Sioux are going to be successful this weekend.

Sioux Defense Likes Scoring Too

Robbie “the Rock Star” Bina had a two goal weekend adding more points to his growing season total, however, that's not the only positive from this weekend; Taylor Chorney said, “hey I like scoring too” as he chipped in two goals this weekend as well. Who would have ever thought that Robbie Bina would have the same number of goals for the season as the heralded Jonathon Toews? The Robbie Bina conquest continues as he improves to 8th on the team in scoring; for the season Robbie has six goals and has added 8 assists for 14 points. That figures out to be a point every other game.

Bemidji State Pictures: The Victory

 

John Glas Field House Just before game time

The past two season the Beavers and the Sioux have played in a home and home series. The past two years I was lucky enough to get tickets and go to Bemidji to watch the games in the John Glas Field House. The atmosphere in the arena was amazing. Incidently, Bemidji is tentatively scheduled to get a new arena in the fall of 2009 or 2010. I only hope that Seratore tries to schedule the Sioux to open the new building. It would be a fitting way to open the new building.
Phil Pre-Game
I wouldn't have wanted to be any where else but Bemidji on Friday night. The game in the Glas brought back memories of the old REA. The fans are right on top of the ice in the Glas, and your able to see the action up close and personal. I was also lucky enough to be sitting in the end of the arena where the Fighting Sioux scored all three of their goals. What the John Glas lacks in amenities it gain in crowd atmosphere, if only we could a little of that back in the new REA.
Oshie Stopped in close The Sioux came out buzzing and played with intensity Friday night. I would have to say that it was probably one the best periods of hockey on the year for the Fighting Sioux. In Fridays game the Fighting Sioux played with the same grit that they displayed last Saturday night and had an edge and swagge. This is the type of play that it takes to win close games and to be successful.

Unknown Sioux player checking someone
Bob Woback and another Beaver fan
Beaver?
World Famous Corner Bar

College Hockey Bracketology.

College Hockey Bracketology.

I have been looking through the latest Bracketology article on USCHOThe Link to the article and I think its funny to read how the so called flat belly experts think UND isn’t going to put it together and make the NCAA tourney, lets just say this is a work in progress. Actually if the Fighting Sioux can pull things together and get on a mini run they can still qualify for the NCAA playoffs. The reason being is the teams they face are sitting pretty high in the PWR and RPI rankings the Fighting Sioux sit tied in 14th place after blowing in the first part of the season. The Sioux play next weekend at Minnesota, February 23rd at Denver and March 2nd and 3rd at SCSU at least 3 or 4 wins against those three teams or a least a sweep of one of the three would really set up the Fighting Sioux nicely in getting them closer to the NCAA playoffs. Third or fourth place in the WCHA standings is not out of the question.

In looking at the numbers more closely I don’t think the ECAC (aka the EZAC) warrants two or three teams getting into the playoffs some team have only played nine league games and that is a joke in my opinion. I also don’t think that Hockey East will not put 6 teams in the NCAA tourney, talk about an east coast bias. Anyone want to put odds on UNH folding in the NCAA playoffs?

I think when push comes to shove; the ECAC gets 1 team and the Hockey East is going to get 4 or 5 bids for the NCAA tourney. This the time of year where teams go on runs and teams get hot and others cool off. I am hoping the WCHA proves once again that they are the pride of college hockey. The last five titles have gone to the WCHA and I would like to see it stay that way as long as the Gophers don’t win it. Just kidding, no really.

The Time is now

I don’t like to use a lot of clichés, it’s just not my style, however, I am going to string a few of them together. Lets try these on for style. There is no time like the present. Just win baby. It’s a marathon not a sprint, or at least in this case it’s a middle distance 10 Kilometer race. The Time for Fighting Sioux hockey team to make a move is now.

If the Fighting Sioux finish in the lower half of the WCHA standings fail in the WCHA playoffs and don’t make the NCAA playoffs, Dave Hakstol is going to have some serious questions to answer. I know the Fighting Sioux lost a lot of talented players but so did Minnesota, one could make the argument that Minnesota lost more than the Sioux. I read a post over on Siouxsports.com From Skateshattrick Here are some of the major points of this post that I think hit the mark. This person bring up some legitimate questions that are going to be hanging out there in the off season if this season doesn’t have a happy ending.
Snip----------

4. I'm so tired of hearing how we lost all these great players. Guess what? So did everyone else. UM lost its top 4 scorers in Potulny, Kessel, Irmen and Harrington. Denver lost 3 of its top 4 scorers with Matt Carle (the best player in the country last year), Gabe Gauthier, and Paul Stastny. UW lost its top 5 scorers with Pavelski, Earl, Burish, Gilbert and MacMurchy. CC lost Joey Grubb and its 2 Hobey candidates, Marty Sertich and Brett Sterling. Other than SCSU, UND arguably had the most returning. Yes, UND lost Stafford, Zajac, Spirko and Smaby, but they returned their 3, 4 and 5 scorers in Oshie, Toews and Duncan.

We have almost no contribution from our freshmen class. UM has Barriball (26 points), Okposo (24), E. Johnson (15), Flynn (9), Carman (9), Lucia (8), O'Brien (6) and Schack (6). Denver has Brock Trotter (26), Rakhshani (24), Ruegsegger (22)and Gifford (10). CC has Connelly (14) and Sweatt (12). SCSU's leading scorers are freshmen. What does UND have? Other than Chay Genoway's respectable 13 points, we have Zajac with 4, Forney with 2 and Vande Velde with 1. That is pathetic.

6. If Toews (who cannot score because he gets keyed on and has no help) leaves as expected, and TJ leaves as well, what do we have left?? The sophomore class other than Toews, Oshie, Duncan and Chorney has been a major disappointment, and this freshman class looks weak. We better have a great incoming freshmen class next year, or the Sioux are going to find themselves in the lower half of the league.

7. Let's take the kids gloves off and quit blowing smoke up everyone's collective Asses, shall we? It is unacceptable for the Sioux not to be in the top 1/2 of the WCHA every year, making the NCAA tournament and competing for a national championship. We have the facilities, the tradition and success, and what every recruit wants--a proven track record of winning and of players making it to the next level.

8. So tell me, what excuse is there EVER for losing to AAU and MTU in the same year and getting swept at home by MTU??? The answer is none. We still have more talent than AAU and MTU combined. They would kill to have Jonathan Toews, let alone TJ Oshie, Ryan Duncan and Taylor Chorney. Name a player on either team (with the possible exception of Justin Bourne) who would even skate on the first line?? The answer is none.

9. What is the problem? Well, as politically incorrect and blasphemous as it is to say this, the bucks stops the chief or head coach. They underachieved last year for most of the year with the most talented team in the country, and this year is pathetic. I'm not saying that he needs to be fired, but that situation needs to be closely monitored. There is no way on earth that Duke in BB, Ohio State or USC in football or Michigan or Minnesota in hockey would put up with this garbage. It's bad enough getting swept by UW and Maine at home, but MTU is a new low.

Introducing the Hockey Show

There is a new college hockey blog of note The Hockey Show the blog is run by Scott Williams and Moose Richards of KBUN sports radio 1450 am out of Bemidji Minnesota. Scott Williams is the Television Voice of the BSU Beavers hockey team and Moose Richards is the Sports Director of KBUN.

The Hockey Show, which currently airs every Friday at 5 p.m. Central Time durring the Bemidji State University hockey season (October through early April) on KBUN-AM in Bemidji, Minnesota. The show typically concentrates on BSU hockey (with coaches interviews with Beaver Head Coach Tom Serratore and BSU's opponents Head Coach), but also features discussions about the College Hockey America conference, and Division-I college hockey as a whole.

If your making your way over to Bemidji on Friday you can listen to the Hockey Show on 1450am KBUN. Rumor has it that Hakstol will be interviewed by Scott.

Rock Star Robbie Bina gets Defensive player of the week.

Robbie Bina
This is well deserved

WCHA Link This past week as I left the arena I was wondering if Robbie Bina would finally get the defensive player of the week for his work this past weekend, four points by a defenseman in a weekend series is pretty impressive in the Goon's opinion, the fact that Robbie is playing hockey again is even more impressive. It was a good weekend for Fighting Sioux hockey players as Bina and Duncan were given the Defensive and offensive players of the week respectively in the WCHA.


Bina's write up

MADISON, Wisc. - Robbie Bina, a veteran defenseman at the University of North Dakota who played a key role at both ends of the ice in a WCHA series against Alaska Anchorage last weekend, has been named Red Baron WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for Jan. 16-22, 2007.

Duncan's write up

MADISON, Wisc. - University of North Dakota left winger Ryan Duncan, who helped his team to three points in a weekend conference series against visiting Alaska Anchorage, has been named Red Baron WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for Jan. 16-22, 2007. He also earned the honor on Jan. 2.

This Brings new meaning to word Hockey Groupie

This is a really funny video from MAD TV that I found over on one of the On an NHL fan blog site Waiting for Stanley. There are two parts that are really funny that brings new meaning to the word hockey groupie. The first thing she does is she puts a dirty protective cup under chin. That was funny. It is even more funny when she stands in net as one of the players fires a slap shot through her wickets.

A look at the Series ahead.

BSU vs UND
UND has an all time record of 11-1-1 against Bemidji State.
Bemidji has a 12-7-3 record 6-1-2 home 6-6-1 on the road
Bemidji is 7-2-3 in the CHA

UND is 11-11-2 over all 5-7-2 at home and 6-4 on the road.
UND is 7-9-2 in the WCHA
Stats
UND Numbers g g a pts
16 Ryan Duncan 24 17 10 27
7 T.J. Oshie 24 6 14 20
14 Brad Miller 22 8 9 17
24 Chris Porter 24 5 11 16
9 Jonathan Toews 15 4 11 15
22 Brian Lee 20 1 13 14
5 Chay Genoway 24 4 9 13
4 Taylor Chorney 20 2 11 13

BSU Numbers
8 Travis Winter 22 8 14 22
11 Rob Sirianni 22 8 10 18
22 Blaine Jarvis 22 8 8 16
14 Tyler Scofield 16 3 10 13
21 Luke Erickson 12 10 2 12
20 Joey Moggach 16 1 11 12
13 Matt Pope 22 5 6 11
27 Ryan Miller 18 3 7 10

Goal Tenders
UND W-L GAA SAV
Phil Lamoureux 8-9-1 2.35 .909
Tony Grieco 3-2-1 3.49 .884

BSU
Orlando Alamano 3-2-0 2.69 .912
Matt Climie 9-3-3 2.70 .912
Lane Sedevie 0-2-0 9.19 .787

No Tickets Available

The word from Bemidji is that the arena is sold out for the Friday game. I wonder if they will break any fire codes this season as there was definitely no seats left when the buck dropped last season for the Friday game.

Reason for Optimism

After all of the poor play of the Fighting Sioux (its been documented extensively on this blog) and out right sucking during the first half of the 2006-2007 hockey season the Fighting Sioux now sit tied for 14th in the Pairwise Rankings. In fact the Fighting Sioux are currently tied with Vermont and which by seasons end hopefully will finish above Vermont. The best cure for finishing higher in the RPI and PWR rankings is to keep winning hockey games.

The Kaip Fight.

In case you haven't seen the Fight between Anderson and Kaip its up on YouTube now. Thanks Vegas Sioux. This is why I think fighting has a place in hockey, even college hockey. The game was getting really chippy and after Anderson and Kaip's fight the boys settled down and played hockey.

Check out this NHL Video, Good Memories from the Past

This video pretty much sums up why I think Hockey is one of the coolest games.
Hard hitting, goal scoring and timely saves. Check out the Dominator.


Check out this video also, this shows how crazy Candians get about their team, I wish REA was half this crazy during a game.

No Sister Kissing Tonight

In Bina we Trust

Quietly the Fighting Sioux hockey team has gone on a modest streak; going 4-1-1 in their last four games losing only a one-goal game to the C.C. Tigers last week. The Fighting Sioux allowed no UAA power play goals this weekend going 0-10 on the penalty kill, that in it’s self is a major accomplishment for this young Sioux team trying to find an identity. No seriously that’s not a typo. North Dakota is now ranked 35th over all on the penalty kill after hovering around 54th earlier in the season. With the win tonight and the Gophers beating the Badgers, the Sioux sit in 5th place in the WCHA standings with in striking distance of the C.C. Tigers.

If I had to pick a player this season that I thought was deserving of the come back player of the year I would pick Robbie Bina. Bina sat out last season on a medical red shirt after being injured in the 2005 Final Five from a dirty hit from Jeff Paukovich, we won’t review the hit in question at this time because it’s in the past, we will focus on the positives look to the future. This season Bina has come out and played like a man possessed. Bina has proved to be dependable with the puck in the defensive zone but is also contributing in the offensive zone as well getting 4 goals and 8 assists for 12 points in 24 games. Bina’s goal tonight was a thing of beauty as he shot the puck from the point as the UAA goalie was screened and blew the puck past UAA goalie Nate Lawson. In my opinion Bina is starting to gain rock star status in Grand Forks with each goal and point he gets. Every points seems to be an encore of the last point recorded. Ok, I am convinced, what are you going to do next Robbie.

Off to Bemidji to Play the Beavers

This weekend the Sioux play a home and home with the BSU Beavers. This is a pivotal series and taking 4 points against the Beavers is a must. I am making the trip and hope the boys won’t let me down; my buddies from Bemidji will never let me down if the Sioux lose a game in Bemidji. The Beavers must get on the scoreboard early and often and quite the rabid John Glas Field House fans.

Bemidji Hockey Media

If you have a chance check out the Beavers and Sioux telecast on Friday night in Bemidji its on KBSU TV 17 in Bemidji. Scott Williams is the voice of the BSU Beavers calls the game for all Beavers homes games. Moose Richards and Scott Williams also do the hockey show on KBUN 1450 in the afternoon on Fridays, if you get a chance to hear the show I recommend listening to the boys they do a nice show and they are one of the areas few sports shows that talk ONLY about college hockey.

Linkorama for BSU hockey:
BSU Hockey
Millsy's Beaver Pond

A Tie that feels like a loss.

Kissing your Sister.

They say that a tie is like kissing your ugly sister, I must agree. The fact is that tie no matter how painful to watch; wasn’t a loss, however, it doesn’t feel much better than a loss. I can’t imagine being that locker room after a debacle like that. Bring on the shootout.

One could make the argument that the margin of error is getting smaller as each non-win piles up on the 2006-2007 version of the Fighting Sioux. Last nights game caused me to feel all kinds of emotions. At first I was disappointed that the Sioux gave up yet another first period goal in Englestad Arena; then I was excited as the Fighting Sioux took a 2-1 and 3-1 lead. Then I felt like having an anxiety attack as the 2nd Alaska goal went in, I knew it was a matter of time before the roof was going come down on the Sioux once again.

Disappointing:

When the season is over I believe that the 2006-2007 Fighting Sioux team will go down as a team that didn’t. Let me explain. This years Fighting Sioux team doesn’t protect its goalie, among other things. They don’t score goals but that is for another blog entry. Last night Joe Finley had a chance to knock the crap out of a UAA player that was hacking the shit out of his goalie. What did big Joe do? Just about nothing. Big Joe stood there and gave the guy a love tap, then skated backwards. Joe your 6’-f'n-7” and weigh 250 pounds, please knock the snot out of the guy that’s hacking your goalie. In fact Joe could you please hit someone? Please. I have no idea what the hell Washington saw in this guy but could you sign him when the season is over?

We are talking about basic concepts here; there is no focus from the players on the task at hand. If I were a player I would not have a hard time getting ready for this game. It’s a simple concept about pride and effort. UAA spanked you on their home ice and this is the response you have for the Seawolves. Pathetic is the first word that comes to mind when I think of this game. I am not saying UAA is a bad team because they aren’t; their coach is a whopping 3-1-1 against UND since he took the UAA job. Heck the UAA coach might want to schedule 6 games a year against the listless Sioux.

This season all long we have heard how TJ Oshie and Jonathon Toews are going to the NHL after the season is over; we have been told by the pun dents and bathroom lawyers that there are no way these two guys make it past the snow melt. That might be true but how about finishing the business at hand first boys.

I want to know what happened to the player that played at the WJC, this is the same kid that made Jeff Frazee look sick in the shoot out. I just want to know if the Fighting Sioux can have him for the rest of the season before he signs on the dotted line with the Norfolk Admirals. If you can’t score in college how the hell are you going to score in the NHL? The players are bigger and faster and the goalies are better.

The Probable Playoff Scenario

This is what is probably going to happen to the Fighting Sioux if they don’t start winning some hockey games like right now they are going to end up in 6th place in the WCHA standings; that’s if they are lucky enough to finish that high. That is probably going to give them a date with the Wisconsin Badgers in first round of the WCHA playoffs. I personally do not like that match up at all and don’t see us getting past this series if we don’t start playing hockey the way it’s supposed to be played. I am not kidding around; the Fighting Sioux do not match up well against the Badgers in Madison or Grand Forks. Think about it.

Boogard and Godard 01-09-07

The Boogey Man gets beat by AHLer Derrick Godard. This was Boogards first fight since 11-14-06. The Boogey man didn't return to the game.

Zach Makes the Cut Again this Week.

Check out the plays of the week.
Walski make Manny look sick on the shoot out. Who says Shootouts are boring? Also, check out Zach Parise's goal at about fifty five seconds in, Zach with the spinarama. Later on in the video; Zach and the New Jersey Devils get robbed. Sid the Kid also makes good on a tap in goal.

Linkorama

Links around the Blogsphere:
Lets Go Mavs says that I have been slacking this week. Yep I have, so I decided that I had to do something. Truth be told there is lots of time at night to write but when you in the middle of an 8 over-nights (midnight shift) in a row blogging comes second.

I did find Donalds UAA Fan Blog most recent blog article to be interesting.
Donalds claim is that its the worst blog article ever. UAA Blog

So having started out three times to write something about this series and then deleting all of them I figured I'd just write and whatever comes out is what you're stuck reading. I started a typical UND has "this and that" as I've been doing most of the year at midweek. But it was boring stuff. Here's UND's stats. I was going to write about UAA's lines and how Charlie Kronschnabel's injury has affected them (he'll likely return against UofM). Not that it's necessarily boring but it didn't come out sounding like I wanted it to sound, so I deleted it. I thought about writing about Lawson and Olthuis but if I write about a goaltender and he gets pulled or blown out then how stupid will I feel? I could write about the freshman but we all know they've been playing great and developing just as they should. I could write about the upperclassmen stepping up from last year but how often can you read me saying that same stuff.

Chris Dilks deals with the Referee incident. Wester College Hockey
I would have to say that I agree with Chris on his analysis of the situation. I am sure that a ruling and a suspension is coming soon. I also believe that Campion should have not gotten into a shouting match with a league coach after a game, very unprofessional in my opinion.

Jon Campion should also be disciplined, but I'm not holding my breath. We're supposed to believe that the league's officials are completely impartial. Coaches aren't even allowed to mention officiating without suffering some sort of reprimand because to do so would imply that officials play some factor in the outcome of the game. It's the Great Lie that we'd all like to believe, but see proven false every weekend. And now we're supposed to believe that Jon Campion was completely impartial this past weekend when less than 10 minutes after the game, he was engaged in a heated argument with one of the coaches? It's one thing for Means to yell at him, but for Campion to respond to it, which it sounds like he did, that's completely unprofessional and unacceptable.

Celebrating Mediocrity agrees with me on the shootout as an option for settling games. Celebrating Mediocrity I really like this piece this person writes on the shoot out and I agree.

The problem with Wodon and other hockey purists is that they want the game to grow, but refuse to open their minds to change. They expect the rest of the world to all of a sudden open their eyes and see hockey the way we all see it.

Well I'm sorry purists but its not going to happen. If you want the sport to grow, you will have to except change.

College hockey, like professional hockey, is a business. It is a business that can not survive on the support of the purists alone. Most of us do not even pay to go to college hockey games. We are in the press box, eating free food.

UAA and UND part II

Important Weekend Ahead

This weekend the 20th ranked Fighting Sioux face the upstart UAA Sea Wolves in an important WCHA match up. One could say that this is the first of many defining moments for the second half the WCHA season, getting points is a must, losing any games at home is UNACCEPTABLE. Earlier this season UAA swept the Fighting Sioux in the series up in Anchorage Alaska. I would imagine that the past series will be on the minds of Sioux hockey players. Hopefully this weekend results will be a little different than the last time we played UAA. One could even say that this series might be about payback. UAA plays an uptempo game and the Sioux will have to have their feet moving this weekend if they want to be successful.

A look at the Numbers:

Offensively Ryan Duncan is ranked 70th nationally in points per game
Defensively Brian Lee is ranked 20th nationally in points per game
Defensively Taylor Chorney is ranked 38th nationally in points per game
In Goaltending Philippe Lamoureux is ranked 24th nationally in GAA
In Goaltending Philippe Lamoureux is ranked 39th nationally in Save %
The Fighting Sioux are ranked 29th nationally in goals per game
The Fighting Sioux are ranked 17th nationally on the Power Play at 19.8%
The Fighting Sioux are ranked 45th nationally on the Penalty Kill at 80%

While the numbers aren’t great they have improved and there is only one way to go but up.

Linkorama:UAA Blog

If you want to see the UAA perspective on the UAA hockey team go to Donald’s UAA fan blog. I think Donald has an interesting perspective of what is going on up in the last frontier. One would say that UAA is much improved this season and has played the WCHA tough, and could make some serious noise in the WCHA playoffs. I would bet teams aren't looking past them this season. Just ask the Fighting Sioux

Donald chimed in on his view of penalty shots:

begin rant
Deciding any team sporting event by using a single element of the game in some sort of last resort attempt to appease "the mob" is an affront on many levels. A tie is a valid result. It says two teams were equal. I'm well aware there are players that like it. I'm already well aware that "the mob" likes it. Implementing shootouts may be inevitable with the prevailing fan attitude much more akin to Goon's than mine but that doesn't mean it won't lessen the game. Lessen? No ... It invalidates the rest of the game. You take 65 minutes of hockey where neither team deserves to lose and condense it to 10 one-on-ones? There's no reason for the actual game at all. Let's just have 2 hours of shootouts. Let's eliminate the teams who played one game 150% better than they've ever played from going home with a well-earned tie against a 43 time National Champion with 5 future NHL snipers. Those programs should just all fold. That'll leave the NCAA with about 15 - 20 teams full of shootout experts.

I'm so far beyond disgust with the prospect that ultimately it could affect my status as a fan of the game. College Hockey is the last sport that I follow regularly (English Premerie League intermittently). I gave up on Baseball as a teen, I stopped watching all Basketball in the mid 80's, and pro Football is a steriod-ridden joke. I guess I could start a Fulham FC Blog? At least the EPL understands the relevance of ties. I honestly don't know how enthusiastic I could be about being a fan when/if that crap comes to be. It's time for a last stand I say. Whoever is in charge of drawing a line and saying, "NO! we will not let you cross this line!" ... needs to get to drawing the damn line and rallying the troops with a stirring "But it will not be this day ..." battle speech. No to the Shootout? Not just No ... fuck no. There must be someone in a position of authority somewhere who can at least be given the opportunity to express that "purists" don't want this crap in the game they love. Adam Wodon better be right when he thinks they'll be an outcry.

The Clock is Ticking on UND's Season...

There is no Time Like the Present:
I was looking at the number for this years addition of the Fighting Sioux and the numbers nationally are not very good, in fact they are dismal. This is probably the reason they have lost 11 games so far this season and sit out of the playoff hunt and in 8th place in the WCHA.

One could say that the margin of error is very thin and it pains rabid Sioux fans like myself to witness what we have seen on the ice this season. The time has come for someone to step up and score goals and that has not happened as of late. Last night another solid effort in net was wasted, incidently Phil is now sitting at a .900 save%. The defense has stepped up now is the time for the Sioux forwards to take notice and score some goals.

A Look at the Numbers
The Fighting Sioux are ranked: 35th in the nation in winning%.
The Fighting Sioux are ranked: 45th in the nation on the Penalty Kill.
The Fighting Sioux are ranked: 17th on the Power Play we were 7th.
The Fighting Sioux Forward Ryan Duncan is ranked 62nd nationally in Points per game.
The Fighting Sioux Forward Ryan Duncan is ranked 13th nationally in goals.
The Fighting Sioux Forward Ryan Duncan is ranked 3rd nationally in PP goals
Looks like the Ryan Duncan show, other need to step up and help out.

How would this kid Look in a Fighting Sioux Uniform?

In case anyone is wondering a few years back it discussed how then BCHL hockey player was interested in attending the University of North Dakota, it was discussed over on Sioux Sports, but after UND showed no interest in Les Reany he chose Niagara, just out for interest sake he has played in twenty one games; scored 14 goals and 21 assist for 35 points. That 1.67 per game and ranked second nationally, I just can’t see where this kid would fit into our line up.

Kessel is Back Rehabing in Providence.

Kessel Rehabing for Return to the Boston Bruins Lineup.
With the Boston Bruins stuck in a three game losing streak the return of Phil would be a welcome addition to the Bruins line up.

From the AP.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) -Boston Bruins rookie Phil Kessel started a brief conditioning stint in the AHL on Friday night, one month after surgery to treat testicular cancer.
Kessel saw action on three lines and played on special teams during the Providence Bruins' 2-1 loss to Worcester.

"I felt good, my body felt fine," said Kessel, the No. 5 pick in last year's NHL draft. "I was in better shape playing during the season, but what can you do? I was resting and got back here ... and worked hard to get back in shape."

Kessel is expected to be recalled by the Bruins after Providence plays at Manchester on Saturday and at home against Springfield on Sunday, Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli said.

"At just 19 years old and in his first season in the NHL, it would be difficult for Phil to come right back to Boston in the middle of the season, after being off the ice for a month," Chiarelli said. "These few games in Providence will help Phil readjust to the speed of the NHL so that he is ready to join Boston on Monday morning."


Kessel already got positive feedback from Providence coach Scott Gordon. I've got to think he felt relatively good because he was up and down the ice all night," Gordon said.

Kessel learned he had testicular cancer shortly before playing in a Dec. 9 game against New Jersey. He underwent surgery three days later to remove his right testicle.

"I couldn't believe it," Kessel said last month. "It was tough. I had a hard time with it."

Edit:
Phil Kessl has played two games in his rehab stint with the Providence Bruins getting a goal in two games. A good start to getting back up and running with the Boston Bruins.

Who Says Shootouts are Boring?

How can you not Like Shootouts?


Who says shootouts are the wrong way to settle a hockey game? Are you kidding me? Did you see yesterday's game? If this isn’t exciting you might want to check your pulse to see if you’re still alive or you want to see a game go 5 overtimes; boring. Don't tell me about hockey purism, that bunk. Funny thing, the Pundits are already starting to weight in on the USA and Canada Shootout. Thank God college hockey gets back in full swing this weekend. They have had too much time on their hands during the holidays.

Adam Wodon chimes in with his disgust for the Shootout: Wodon Weighs in

It doesn't matter whether it's regular season or the playoffs. The same sick, empty feeling remains the same. Sure, we've become desensitized somewhat to the regular-season shootout in the NHL and minor leagues by this point. And, with greater battles to fight in college hockey, many of us have just chosen to ignore the regular-season shootout for now.

But if it comes to college hockey, watch out. Guns will be blazing. And finally, there's the point. This is being discussed in college hockey. Apparently, there is a directive to discuss ways that ties will be eliminated in college hockey in the future.

If that happens, there will be an outcry like college hockey hasn't heard before.
Even most proponents of shootouts in regular-season college hockey probably agree that deciding today's ultra-important World Junior game with one was wrong. But don't stop there. Let the empty feeling of today's events be a lesson to college hockey administrators everywhere — that, at least for anyone with a soul, the same feeling pervades even if it's during the regular season.
Yes, shootouts stink.

Come on, that couldn't be further from the truth.

First off Adam couldn’t be further from the truth. With current state of the NCAA hockey I doubt there is going to be any out cry if the shootout is put into play. Apparently by 2008-2009 the NCAA is going to put this rule into effect. NCAA Hockey Rules page 10

Back to the shootout; the players in this contest know from the opening faceoff that if the game is tied at the end of regulation and overtime they will settle the game with a shootout, end of story. That is the way it is, get over it move one and go back to your cushy job on College Sports Television. We lost; Toews single handedly dismantled Frazee and made him look silly. I only hope when the Sioux play the Gophers in January that Toews makes Frazee and Briggs look silly.
Back to the argument; there is this line of thought that some how the NHL is not as exciting to watch as college hockey, that is utter non-sense. Have you watched an NHL game as of late Adam? Seriously? Also the WCHA has become horrible and unbearable to watch. There are still teams in college hockey that run the now defunct Neutral Zone Trap. If college hockey played the game with the new rules these teams would be run out of the building and would not flourish under the new rules. I doubt some of these teams could put together a shootout line up that could score.

So if it’s good enough for the NHL its damn sure good enough for college hockey. So that argument is utter bull; the NHL flourishing under the new rules that include the shootout and a crack down on enforcement of the rules as they are written. God forbid that college hockey finally come out of the stone age and join the 21st century. There is no calling the game by the scoreboard in the NHL (a penalty in the first period is a penalty in the third period); this is a prevalent practice in WCHA hockey.

The second flaw in Adam’s logic is some how college hockey is pure and fun to watch and shouldn’t be ruined with a shootout and that there is nothing wrong with a tie. I think all ties should be decided in college just like the NHL, if you lose in O.T. you get a point period seems fair enough to me. If the game is still tied after 5 minutes go to the shootout. I wouldn’t mind being on the edge of my seat in the REA. Lately nothing has brought me out of my seat except another trip to the bathroom or another run to the beer line. The game needs some work.

Donald Chimes in with his view on Shoot out
UAA Hockey Blog

Double A Zone Respone:

Josh Has Answered the Question
Read Josh's Response:
I have to admit, I didn’t think that any of the questions asked in the most recent post about mascots were meant to be answered. They seem to be rhetorical in nature because any answer I give isn’t going to be in line with all of your passionate beliefs.

My personal opinion about mascots isn’t directly in accordance with the NCAA position taken by the Executive Committee. For instance, I don’t see much of a difference between Fighting Sioux and Fighting Irish. I know leprechauns aren’t real, but the word “fighting” seems hostile to me. That’s my personal opinion, but the Executive Committee, which is comprised of presidents and chancellors, doesn’t agree with me.

With regard to the questions about Pontiac and Theodore Roosevelt, I can only share my personal thoughts. I do believe there’s a difference between a car company and a sports mascot imitating an American Indian. Teddy Roosevelt was responsible for the establishment of the NCAA, and I see no reason we can’t have an award named in his honor.

You all are going to disagree with me and that’s certainly fine. You’re all passionate, believe the Executive Committee made a poor decision and are looking for hypocrisy in every nook and cranny of the NCAA. I understand the points being made, but personally feel that we’re discussing different situations.

I am not walking a company line – I agree that there are inconsistencies. I can’t imagine how North Dakota fans are feeling and I won’t try to put it in words. I am confident, however, that there are folks up there who are offended by the use of the Fighting Sioux moniker, and I think it’s important to remember that they should have a say as well.


Posted by: Josh Centor | January 3, 2007 02:40 PM
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Basically we are back to the belief that if a small number of people are offended by the name or logo that some how a small minority of people should be able to exact it's will on the majority. I guess we are back to the notion that you have a constitional right to not be offended. Yikes.

Jerry Hatch Responds Again:

I don't think anyone is trying to prevent anyone in North Dakota from having a say. But it certainly appears that those people are in a very small minority. The comparison of the "Fighting Sioux" with the "Fighting Irish" is certainly a valid one, but perhaps not this discussion. Comparing the Sioux logo to the Florida State Seminole logo, plus the horse and rider at the game, plus the fans painted in the stands, many of them doing the "tomahawk chop" and I fail to see how one can be declared hostile and abusive, and the other not. It simply makes NO sense. Nor does overlooking the Aztecs for consideration. I don't recall hearing that anyone asked the Nahua about that. Too many exceptions have been made for poorly designed reasons. The NCAA should just eliminate this policy.

When discussing the car company Pontiac, you should be aware that Pontiac sells its trademarked Indian Head logo on all kinds of products as "OFFICIAL PONTIAC MERCHANDISE." Money does speak louder than words apparently.
Posted by: Jerry Hatch | January 3, 2007 04:39 PM
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I kind of like this guy.

The Vegas Lines are up for the NCAA Tourney.

Here is the Line for the NCAA Hockey Tourney
5/2 - Minnesota
5/1 - New Hampshire
6/1 - Maine
7/1 - Notre Dame Fighting Irish
7/1 - St. Cloud State
8/1 - Colorado College
10/1 - Miami, Ohio
12/1 - Boston College (dropped from 9/1)
15/1 - Vermont
18/1 - Michigan
20/1 - Clarkson
22/1 - Denver
22/1 - Boston University
25/1 - Cornell
30/1 - Massachusetts
30/1 - Michigan State
30/1 - North Dakota Fighting Sioux
40/1 - Lake Superior State
40/1 - Wisconsin - Defending Champion
50/1 - Dartmouth
50/1 - Alaska-Anchorage
60/1 - Bemidji State
60/1 - Quinnipiac
75/1 - Niagara
10/1 - FIELD (All others)

I am going to Vegas in March to place my bet.
Goon's World odds on the Gophers and Briggs imploding during the NCAA and WCHA playoffs 20/1.

Josh From the Double A Zone, Fails to answer the Questions.

NCAA's Double Zone
Here is the orginal article:
The Double-A Zone has set the record straight when misinformation about the NCAA infiltrates major media. We have discussed and lauded committee decisions; we have also criticized them.

There haven’t been too many dull moments during the past 365 days and we look forward to expanding our coverage and continuing our spirited conversations during 2007.

Here is my response to Josh from the Double A Zone

So who is going to set the record straight for the NCAA, seems they got quite a few of their facts wrong with the nickname debate.

Sioux fans were wondering if your were going to respond to any of the questions we posted for you?

Posted by: Goon | January 2, 2007 05:22 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here is a response to my comment from Jerry Hatch.

When you have no answers to the questions, I don't think a response will be made!

Posted by: Jerry Hatch | January 3, 2007 11:23 AM

Taylor Chorney Recieves award from INCH

Chorney Makes the Cut
Fighting Sioux defenseman Taylor Chorney has made the INCH's First Half All-WCHA Team. Some more Gee-Whiz reading that I don't mind at all. INCHLink Taylor is a solid defensman and the Fighting Sioux will need him to continue his solid play in the second half of the season if the Fighting Sioux are to make another second half run to the NCAA and WCHA playoffs.

Stats of Interest:
While sitting in the stands recently while the Sioux were being swept by the Wisconsin Badgers a guy that sits next to me told me that Hakstol had not a very good coaching record against the likes of Wisconsin and Minnesota since he has been the head coach at UND. Here is a break down of Hak's record against his two WCHA rivals.

Minnesota: 4-4-0
Wisconsin: 4-7-1

Hakstols Sioux may not have the best regular season record against the Badgers, however, when it matters the most Coach Hakstol has beaten the Badgers twice during the WCHA playoffs at the Final Five. They say the creme rises to the top during defining moments.

Against Minnesota Coach Hakstol has a .500 record against the Minnesota Gophers, however, he does have a winning record against the Gophers during the playoffs winning twice in the 2004-2005 season.

The Goals of the Week. A couple of Former Sioux light the lamp

These are some awesome goals

Zach Parise and Jason Blake light the lamp. Peter Bondra gets his 500th of his career. The Wild Finish in St. Paul as the Wild beat the dead things.