Sioux _7 Makes an appearance on Lets Go Mav's

Check it out

Answers from Sioux_7
(Note Sioux_& is the guy hidding in the back)
Goon's buddy, Sioux_7 wanted to get in on the action with my questions....so with no further delay, here are his answers!! (Can you believe I'm letting this many Sioux fans write on my blog? I must be getting nicer in the off season!!)


TEAM NAME: FIGHTING SIOUX

BEST FORWARD: T.J. OSHIE (Oshie is a tool...that kid drives me nuts!)

BEST DEFENSEMAN: TAYLOR CHORNEY (JOE FINLEY GETS MY MOST IMPROVED D-MAN AWARD.)

YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITE PLAYER & WHY: T.J. OSHIE, HE PLAYS A COMPLETE GAME ALL THE WAY AROUND. GOOD PUCK HANDLING SKILLS, GOOD DEFENSE IN HIS OWN END, AND HE GIVES 100% EVERY TIME HE IS ON THE ICE.

YOUR PREDICTION FOR YOUR TEAM CAPTAINS IN 2008: C-ROBBIE BINA, A-T.J. OSHIE, A-TAYLOR CHORNEY

WHY ARE YOU A FAN OF YOUR TEAM: I’M A PROUD UND ALUMNI, I ATTEND COLLEGE THERE FOR 6+ YEARS AND EARNED A B.S. IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, AND MINORS IN MATH AND CHEMISTRY. (holy crap he must be smart....but it did take six years....)

BEST ARENA SONG: AT THE OLD RALPH I LIKED THE OLD SONG, “SNAP YOUR FINGERS, SNAP YOUR NECK” BY PRONG. AT THE NEW ENGELSTAD, IT WOULD BE “SEVEN NATION ARMY” BY THE WHITE STRIPES.

BEST TRADITION YOUR TEAM HAS: THE WINNING NCAA/WCHA TITLES IS NICE, AND I ENJOY SING THE “IN HEAVEN THERE IS NO BEER” SONG. (Why is "winning" the standard Sioux answer? It's annoying and makes me taste a little throw up when I read it. Hello! Traditions are songs, actions...things like that. Not just winning....ugg, Sioux fan arrogance! There's my rant, sorry had to get it out because Goon said the same thing and it's just arrogant!)

YOUR PREDICTION FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON: A TOP 3 FINISH IN THE LEAGUE, WITH ANOTHER TRIP TO THE NCAA TOURNEY IN MARCH/APRIL.

THE TEAM IN THE WCHA YOU DESPISE THE MOST: GOPHERS, THOSE LITTLE DIRTY RODENTS.

YOUR SECOND FAVORITE TEAM IN THE WCHA: DULUTH , I DON’T KNOW IF IT IS THE TOWN (QUITE SCENIC IT IS) OR MY FRIENDS THERE, OR SANDELIN IS AN OLD UND GUY OR SOMETHING, BUT I LIKE DULUTH .

YOUR FAVORITE WCHA ARENA (BESIDES YOUR OWN!): I’VE ONLY BEEN TO UMD’S AND SCSU’S FOR GAMES… I WILL CALL IT A TIE

WCHA COACH YOU HAVE THE MOST RESPECT FOR: I WOULD HAVE TO SAY GEORGE GWOZDECKY. SINCE PAUKOVICH WAS SUSPENDED ONE GAME BY THE LEAUGE, FOR THE HIT ON BINA THAT BROKE HIS NECK, HE GAME HIM ONE EXTRA GAME SUSPENSION. CLASSY MOVE J

OPPOSING WCHA PLAYER YOU DESPISE THE MOST: “IF YOU DON’T HAVE ANYTHING NICE TO SAY, DON’T SAY ANYTHING AT ALL.”

BEST JERSEYS : THE NEW BLACK SIOUX SWEATERS, OF COURSE. THE ONE THAT’S NOT A UND SWEATER WOULD HAVE TO GO TO… COLORADO COLLEGE , I LIKE THE TIGER HEAD. (WHAT IS UP WITH DENVER ’S LOGO? THEY HAVE SOME HAWK HEAD? WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH BEING A PIONEER?)

WORST JERSEYS: OH, I’M GOING TO HAVE TO SAY IT’S BETWEEN, ALASKA AND MANKATO . I DON’T CARE FOR THOSE PARTICULAR SHADES. ( WISCONSIN ’S ISN’T UGLY, BUT IT IS TOO PLAIN, CALL IN VANILLA. SCSU JUST COPIED MONTREAL , AND MINNESOTA ’S IS SORTA PLAIN TOO.) (Hello! Mankato's jerseys are one hundred times better than UAA's!!)

SHOULD THE WCHA HAVE ALLOWED BEMIDJI TO JOIN: I HAVE TOUCHED ON THIS SUBJECT BEFORE ON “GOON’S WORLD”. I WOULDN’T MIND SEEING THEM IN THE LEAGUE, IT MAKES SENSE FOR A GEOGRAPHICAL REASON. BUT I WANT TO SAVE THE OTHER TEAMS IN THE CHA AS WELL. WITH THAT MIND, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RESTRUCTURING IN A COUPLE OF THE COLLEGE HOCKEY LEAGUES, TO EVEN OUT THE CONFERENCES WITH ABOUT EQUAL AMOUNTS OF TEAMS IN EACH, THE WCHA, CCHA, AND CHA.

WHICH TEAMS WILL FINISH IN THE TOP 3 IN THE WCHA: UND, UM, SCSU

PREDICTIONS ON THE 5 TEAMS TO MAKE THE 2008 FINAL 5: UND, DU, MTU, SCSU, UMD (NO GOPHERS)

AND, JUST FOR ME….

THE MAVERICK PLAYER YOU LIKE THE MOST & WHY: BROWNLEE, I REMEMBER HIM, HE WAS A SOLID D-MAN

THE MAVERICK PLAYER YOU LIKE THE LEAST & WHY: “DON’T HATE THE PLAYER, HATE THE JUTTING” (Brilliant saying!! Told you he was smart!)

WILL YOU BE VISITING THE MWCC THIS COMING SEASON? (AND IF NOT START EXPLAINING WHY): I WOULD LIKE TO GO TO A GAME THERE, AS WELL AS ALL THE OTHER ARENA’S IN THE LEAGUE. I WILL HAVE CHECK WITH THE GOON AND MAYBE MAKE A TRIP IF IT WORKS OUT. (See, Goon needs to get his ass to Kato and bring Sioux_7 with him. Maybe they'll be able to change my opinion of Sioux fans!!)

Even the Experts were wrong: Kyle Okposo to stay at Minnesota

It would be an understatement if I said that I along with many others were shocked that Kyle Okposo decided to come back to the Minnesota Gophers for his Sophmore season. Everywhere you read on the internet or everyone you talked to said they thought he was leaving and signing with the NY Islanders. Heck, even hockey guru Lou Nannie said in his interview with Dan Barrerio last Tuesday that he was shocked that Kyle was coming back, in fact the week before Lou said he was 95% sure that Kyle was going to sign with the Islanders. I guess we can say that it has been a summer of surprises.

Everyone thought he was gone

Kyle Okposo had been considered as good as gone. Instead, the Gophers' chances of contending for a national championship next season got a lot better Wednesday when Okposo announced he would return for his sophomore season.

"I could have signed and gone to camp to try to make the team," Okposo said, "but in talking to them I felt it was better to develop for another year at the University of Minnesota. I'm still a kid, and [the NHL] is always going to be there."

Check out this Blog Article on Ducks Win.

Conn Smythe Trophy winner
santa-claus-leads-water-fowl-to-first Stanley Cup

This is a blog that I found today. Here is an interesting article about the Ducks and how they won the Stanley Cup, doing it the clean way. Yeah ok, the article does have a little bit of a sarcastic tone to it but it the author does hit a lot of the points many of us are talking/thinking about.

So in building hockey teams for the future in the new NHL: here is the 64,000.00 questions. Do you build a team like the Buffalo Sabres who were a small, skilled, fast team whom, I might add, was dismantled by the Senators during the eastern conference championship? Or… Do you built a team like the Ducks who ran the opposition out of the building by having a team of big strong bruising forwards that hit everything in sight and take the puck hard to the net?

Literally, the Ducks ran over many a goaltender to accomplish their goal of winning a Stanley Cup this season. The Ducks also played a rough and tumble brand of hockey that focused on strong goaltending and a trap style defense. The Ducks are a mean and nasty group that lead the league in fighting Majors; oh by the way the Ducks were proud of that fact. I am not saying I don’t admire that style of play, because I do; if that team in question had played a cleaner style of rough and tumble hockey.

I like a good fight like most hockey fans, however, a team can play rough tumble without making questionable plays like hitting to the head and going around trying to take out skilled players by sucker punching them or going after opposing players knees. Frankly, the Ducks were a bunch of thugs, lead by head Thug Brad May. Exhibit (A) was the sucker punch to the head of Kim Johnsson a skilled player for the Wild that never fights and happened to be their best defenseman. Now on the other side of the ice during the playoff Chris Neil is also a dirty hockey player that makes a lot of questionable hits on opposing players and it is only a matter of time before the league clamps down on him as well.

The new NHL done?

After watching how the games were refereed during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, I think there are GM’s that are going to rethink their strategies after watching the Ducks hook, hold and obstruct their way to the Stanley Cup Championship. The Refs in the playoffs were inconsistent and didn’t call the games the way they were during the regular season. This is a fact, the Wild and Ducks series was a testament to that. The Ducks proved that in the new NHL big strong teams could still beat and negate faster skilled skating teams like the Wild. That’s not to say that he Ducks were skilled up front they were, but they weren’t the best. It will be interesting to see how the league drafts the next couple of seasons.

Linkorama: Goon's makes an appearnace on Lets Go Mavs

Recently the Lets Go Mav's blogger asked her fellow WCHA bloggers a few questions here are my answer that I gave.


TEAM NAME:

The University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux

BEST FORWARD(s)
T.J. Oshie and Ryan Duncan

BEST DEFENSEMAN:
Taylor Chorney, Taylor could really be on his way to Edmonton to play for the Oiler’s if he wanted to.

YOUR PERSONAL FAVORITE PLAYER & WHY:
I like T.J. Oshie because I think he is the complete player, score and play defense. Oshie doesn’t skate around the opposition he skates through the opposition, he is tough, T.J. played half the season with a broken thumb, ouch! Oshie reminds me of my favorite ex-professional hockey player Cam “Bam” Neely

YOUR PREDICTION FOR YOUR TEAM CAPTAINS IN 2008:
Robbie Bina (a), Taylor Chorney (C) (a)____________someone.

WHY ARE YOU A FAN OF YOUR TEAM:
I graduated from the University of North Dakota with a BA and an MA in Sociology; I am probably the only Republican with a Masters in Sociology. I bleed Green and White and the sight of maroon and gold make me want to throw up.

BEST ARENA SONG:
Saturday night is all right for fighting.

BEST TRADITION YOUR TEAM HAS:
A tradition of winning (7 Titles NCAA titles and 13 WCHA titles) and competing for the NCAA/WCHA title every season.
Recently Lets Go Mav's asked her fellow blogers some questions. Here are my answers to the questions Amy asked us.

YOUR PREDICTION FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON:
Finish high in the WCHA standings. Sweep the Mav’s, beat them in the first round of the playoff and go to the Frozen Four. He, He, He… That one is for the Blog author.

THE TEAM IN THE WCHA YOU DESPISE THE MOST:
No Doubt the Minnesota Golden Gophers, I also despise the DU pioneers also, I think based on the rivalry between the two programs the last 4-5 years. Despise the teams don’t hate their fans.

YOUR SECOND FAVORITE TEAM IN THE WCHA:
I am a closet Mavericks fan. I guess the reason I am is that they never give up and they keep coming at what ever team they play.

YOUR FAVORITE WCHA ARENA (BESIDES YOUR OWN!):
Actually I have only been to SCSU (that place sucks there is a reason they call it the concrete center), Duluth and Minnesota, Minnesota was like a morgue when I went there. UMD was a fun place to see a game but the arena needs to be moth balled.


WCHA COACH YOU HAVE THE MOST RESPECT FOR:
Bob Motzko the coach of the Huskies and Scott Sandelin from Duluth, I also started to appreciate Troy Jutting more recently just because I think he has really done a decent job at MSU-M, I believe the man can coach and I think he will take that program to the next level if the fans in Mankato give him a chance.


OPPOSING WCHA PLAYER YOU DESPISE THE MOST:
Jeff Paukovich, no explanation needed.

BEST JERSEYS:
Fighting Sioux

WORST JERSEYS:
Wisconsin Badgers, come on you’re a big ten school at least come up with a better uniform than that.

SHOULD THE WCHA HAVE ALLOWED BEMIDJI TO JOIN:
Yes, I went to school at BSU for two years and I think that if they can get a new arena why shouldn’t they be allowed to compete in the WCHA. The Beaver hockey Program is a storied program and basically I would say that BSU is the Michigan Tech of Division II and III.

WHICH TEAMS WILL FINISH IN THE TOP 3 IN THE WCHA:
It’s really too early to tell we haven’t even gotten into the dog days of summer as of yet. A lot can happen over the summer.

Gare Joyce on Ryan Duncan

Check this out:
Here is an interesting perspective from a great hockey mind, I think it is possible that Ducan might get a look at the next level after his days in college are over. Thank God he is coming back for this year at least though.

Gare Joyce On Duncan

It's a heckuva pedigree. One story listed him at 5'6" and another at 5'8". Betting the former is closer. That's what they list on the team website. UND got off to a rocky start but got rolling later on in the season. In the old NHL I doubt he'd get a look--he didn't, in fact. An '85 birthday, he was eligible for the 2003 draft, when he would have been about 130 pounds soaking wet. Nowadays? Would seem like a worthwhile gamble. Look at that pic -- he's hardly bigger than the player on the trophy.

Ducks on the Verge of being California's 1st Stanley Cup Winner.

Here is something to think about if you live in Canada or even in a Northern Tier State like Michigan, Massachusetts, Minnesota or New York. The 2007-2008 winner of the Stanley Cup is going to be in the State of California. Lets look at this further, the past three winners of the Stanley cup have resided in North Carolina, Tampa Florida and now Anaheim California. With the game on Wednesday night, the Ducks are going to win the Stanley Cup for the first time.

Daniel Alfredson is a classless hack

There is no doubt in my mind that Ottawa's Daniel Alfredsson deliberately shoot the puck at Rob Niedermayer in the last seconds of the second period of last nights game, Alfredson almost single handidly caused a brawl to end the second period. That has to be one of the most classless acts that I have witnessed in hockey for quite sometime. The thing that really burns my ass is that Alfredsson got nothing, no penalty or suspension. The refs also should have let Niedermayer clean his clock and Daniel is lucky the refs stepped in when they did.

Here is another interesting perspective. This Chick Nailed it too.

This woman has a really good point, plus she isn't too hard on the eyes if you know what I mean. Seriously this woman is right on, the NHL is trying to get more viewers in the USA and NBC pre-empted a overtime playoff game for a stupid horse race. I do think that the NHL also has to look into getting the NHL on more than two nights a week in the USA. Versus, another good points. The NHL needs to be back on ESPN now, tomorrow is too late.

Cherry Nails it. Don on NBC

I had to watch this video again, this was some good stuff. I hope that NBC keeps this up because this was awesome. I think Cherry and Hull hit on a lot of things that many NHL fans feel about the NHL and the state of professional hockey in the USA. Basically hockey is an after thought and Bettman is doing us a disservice by trying not clean up or lets say tone down the game of hockey. Honestly, hockey needs to play to it's strengths and that is fighting, bone crushing body checks and the speed of the NHL.

Hockey is a regional game?

While not everyone is going to like hockey that's fine with me. Personally I can't watch the NBA is nothing more than a bunch of over paid punks, and it is boring. So why in the name of all that is sane did the NHL hire Gary Bettman to be the league commissioner? I think the NHL needs to realize that Bettman needs to go for the good of the game.

Personally, its time for change and I think that Hull and Cherry are right when they say that hockey should play to its strengths. Sure there will be people that will say that Cherry and Hull are a couple of blow hards, ok fine. Let's do the research and ask the fans what they want. Give me two reason's whey Don Cherry isn't right? They show NASCAR on T.V. there is nothing more violent than a crash or a skirmish after a crash between two drivers. Bristol Raceway has more fights than Madison Square Garden.

Take a look at Professional Wrestling and Ultimate Fighting, their whole existence is based on violence and scrapping and the fans eat it up. The USA is a culture of warriors and gladiators. Why not promote more fighting in NHL hockey? I am not talking about bench clearing brawls of the 1970's. I am talking about dropping the instigator rule in the NHL. The one that came up with that rule is a knuckle head. All that rule did was cause the stick work to increase in the NHL.

Fans for the most part love fighting in hockey, Hull was right go around and poll the fans on how they feel about fighting I would be willing to be that 80-85 or even more like to watch a good fight in hockey. For the fans that say that there is no room in hockey for fighting don't understand the reason behind fighting. Even in college I have seen the fans go nuts after a good scrap or fight. There is a reason they are called the Fighting Sioux.

For the people that think that people that favor fighting in hockey that this is questionable or fringe view it's not. Check out this article by B.D Gallof.


B.D. Gallof on Fighting in Hockey

Back a few weeks ago, when you all were assaulted with my little satire about how the new NHL under Gary Bettman has drained much of what audiences in America really want. Hockey fighting. Battles. Blood. Guts. Glory. That when the audiences of America are all tuning into Ultimate Fighting and other violence like 24 and The View, that a diluted hockey product is NOT whats going to fly or bring back US hockey fans.

Now, this wasn't anything mindblowing, mind you. I am certainly not tooting my own horn...well, much. But it was very refreshing when none other than Don Cherry say the exact same thing on NBC last night, only a couple of weeks later. Obviously I am not alone...and obvious some better hockey minds than yours truly are also on this very bead.

While Gary Bettman has press conferences with doublespeak and spins on why hockey is losing the battle in the US of A...I have been scratching my head to why hasn't the NHL at least marketed itself more strongly in the meaty demographic of 18-35 males. As I watch the UFC brand itself with deals with ESPN, VS, Spike TV and other places, I simply look at Gary's dull eyes and realize that the man in charge is just not fit for the job.

More College Connections in the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Here is an interesting story that I found over on the UNH hockey blog. Actually I am surprised it hasn't come up until now; but hey! you have to give credit where credit is due. So in the leadership of the two teams we have a BADger, Spartan, Fryer and a Saint (I am not sure the name saint works with either of these two teams) P.S. since there is no way to post a link to this blog post I quoted him.

Cup Coaching and Staff - Did They Go To College?

UNH Hockey Blogger said:

Since I brought it up and no one else has done it, here it goes... still no 'Cats, oh well... great, now I'll have to do a feature on coaching 'Cats!

ANAHEIM

GM - Brian Burke - Providence (hometown boy backstory with Providence)

Asst. GM - David McNab - Wisconsin (championship goaltender)

Asst. Coach - Newell Brown - Mich. State (became Asst. at Mich. State after just three years out from playing - story for the Mich. State blogger?)


OTTAWA

Asst. Coach - Greg Carvel - St. Lawrence (No joke - was and Asst. at Anaheim in 03-04!hmm... his backstory, like Burke's is a hometown boy, would probably make for a good post for the St. Lawrence blogger if there is one...)

Duck Defenseman Chris Pronger suspended for one game for this hit

Chris Pronger was suspended by the NHL for this hit on Dean McAmmond. It's the second time that Pronger was suspended by the league during the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs. After the game on CBC Ron McClain asked Don Cherry if Pronger would be suspended for his hit by the league. Don Cherry's response was no, I don't think he will. I guess ole Grapes was wrong.

When I first saw this hit I didn't think it was that bad but after watching it a few times, there no reason to elbow a guy in the head like that. That being said I think Chris Neil had a questionable hit earlier in the game on McDonald seemed to be your typical questionable Chris Neil hit.

Seems that Brian Burke the GM of the Ducks agrees with my assessment of the Chris Neil hit.

BRIAN BURKE: I'll go first. Colin Campbell just informed me Chris Pronger had been suspended for a game. From my perspective, we have to accept the league's decision. I think Chris, if you look at the hit, Chris' footwork wasn't right. He was trying to stop a guy, finish his check. But at the end, he stuck his arm out and got him in the head and the player's injured and we're sorry about that.

So we have to accept the fact that the league has imposed a one-game suspension here. The troubling part for me is that I think there should be, should have been another hearing today.

This was a reaction hit on a tough play. Chris Neil's hit on Andy McDonald was reprehensible. You guys go back and break down the tape, he took six strides in from the blueline, he's going full speed, full extension, elbow right to the head. Our player skates away. He gets a free pass. Their player gets hurt. Chris Pronger gets a game.

There is no fighting during the Stanley Cup

I believe that this series has been boiling and its about to boil over. If you play a team enough times in the playoffs your going to develop a rivalry. I expect more of the physical stuff in the next game. Chris Neil has done nothing but run his mouth since this series began. I do have to give Fischer credit for not hitting the ducks forward while he was down.

Cool Stanley Cup Promo

This is a really cool Stanley Cup hockey promo that I found on line. In my opinion spring and early summer is the best time of the year. While some would say that Baseball is America's sport to me it is still second fiddle to NHL hockey and I usually don't even watch baseball until hockey is over. I mean it's not like there aren't enough games say about 162 of them. This time of year is awesome because of the Stanley Cup playoffs are winding down but also the fact that my golf game hasn't gone in the crapper yet. This video does bring back some great hockey memories of; Mark Messier, Raymond Bourque and Rod Brind'Amour. It won't be long until an another team will be drinking out of the Stanley Cup.

NBC Sucks

Speaking of network television. The Stanley Cup playoffs were supposed to be on NBC but KVLY out of Fargo had a telethon on instead of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Thank God for good ole CBC. It's no wonder that the NHL is a second rate sport in the states no one can watch it.

Ducks take Game two.

I would have to say that this game could have been 6-0 if it wasn't for the stellar play of Ray Emery. Seriously the Ducks were all over the Senators in this game. While it pains me to see the Ducks winning the Stanley Cup, I do think the Ducks are the less of two evils.

Brian Murray has done nothing but complain about the officials during this series and it seems that when the Senators were getting all of the favorable calls in their previous series especially against the Sabres, Murray was happy. However, when the table was turned against the Senators all of sudden the refs weren't making the right calls. You can't have it both way coach.

I do think Murray has a point I do feel that the Ducks have gotten all the breaks on the obstruction penalties, or should we say the lack of call on the obstruction. For the most part the refs have let the Duck play their game. I thought the Ducks were hooking and holding the Wild in their series and they were not being called for it. I even asked the Commish one of my buddies that was a great hockey mind and he agreed with me.

Prediction: Duck in 5 games.

Crappy or Crappie

Sioux_7 sent me this picture. This Picture was taken by Sioux_7 during the during the first round of the WCHA playoffs between the MSU_M Mavericks and the Fighting Sioux.

NHL to Winnipeg?

Winnipeg return intrigues commish

ANAHEIM, Calif. -- NHL commissioner Gary Bettman gave his strongest indication yet Monday that having a team return to Winnipeg could happen one day.

Bettman, in his state-of-the union address to the media before Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final, referred to an editorial in a Canadian newspaper he read this week which suggested that if the NHL did add another Canadian team it should go back to Winnipeg first because they have a new building and the NHL owes it to them.

"I'm not opining on whether or not that's an opinion that I agree with, but it is an interesting and intriguing thought," Bettman said in a comment that raised eyebrows.

While he stressed that there really hadn't been that much thought put into it at this point and that he had no plans for any current NHL teams to re-locate or for the league to expand, he does see the chance for Winnipeg to get a team back one day.

"When we had the chance to go back to Minnesota, we did. Because it made sense, the right ownership, the right building situation," said Bettman. "The market was strong and vibrant. We haven't studied Quebec City or Winnipeg or anywhere else in Canada, but the notion that if it could work to put a franchise back in a place where one was lost, feels good -- provided we don't wind up in a situation where we've created a prescription for another failing franchise.

"So am I intrigued? It's obviously something I've thought about in terms of trying to make right something that one point in our history went wrong."

The Jets left Winnipeg for Phoenix after the 1995-96 season. Bettman believes the salary cap and revenue sharing facets of the current collective bargaining agreement provides a chance for a market like Winnipeg to make a go of it.

But another team in Toronto? Bettman is not a fan of that idea, despite the fact there are three clubs in the New York/New Jersey area and two teams here in Southern California.

This would be one of those stories that are just too good to be true. But hey; who doesn’t like a good story. This would especially be good news for hockey fans in North Dakota that can still fondly remember the Jets of the 1990's. I am already hoping this story comes true some day. It would defiantly good news.

I know Sioux_7 and I would definitely go to a few of the games. We went to about four o them together back in the 1990’s during college. I can also remember when my father and taking to me to a few games on Boxing day, in fact I can remember seeing the North Stars play the Jets one December 26th back in the 1990's. I know its only speculation and there is a reason that the Winnipeg Jets left for the frozen prairie for the desert in Phoenix (not that they are doing that well in Phoenix either).

That being said that one of the reasons the Jets couldn't remain viable/competitive in Winnipeg was that they played in the old run down dumpy Winnipeg arena. That problem has been addressed and the new Winnipeg franchise would have a brand new MTS Center to play in

Ducks take Game one.

Watching the game on Monday night I actually thought the Senators were the better team for about 40 minutes and then the Ducks took the game over and basically beat the Senators at their own game. The duck hit everyone in sight and out hustled the Senators to the puck. The Duck's strategy seems to be, take as many stupid penalties as possible and then turn around kill the majority of them. One can only pontificate that the Ducks wanted the Senators to get tired of shooting the puck and having Giguere stop it. If the Ducks want to be a Stanley Cup Champion, however, they must stay out of the box and not take stupid selfish penalties. Playing with fire will eventually cause your team to get burned.

For the game the Senators were 2-7 on the power play but the most impressive part was the Ducks killing a long five on three power play. In the end Ducks won the game by shutting down the powerful Spezza, Heatley, Alfredsson line. Statisically, the top line in the 2007 Stanley Cup playoffs had two measly points during the game.

Paros not Dressed?

The biggest disappointment of the game was the fact that there was no Chris Neil and George Paros fight. In fact the pundits had predicted a fight between the two during game one, hard to get into a fight if one of the combatants is sitting in the stands. I have to admit that I had been waiting patiently all week to see a good tussle between the two heavy weights. The league office will be pleased as the game turned out to be pretty tame as far as nastiness goes. All in all it was a great game with some good hitting, with a lot of up and down the ice play.

The reason I don't even remember Paros playing during the game was the ducks didn't dress him for the game; I confirmed this by looking at the starting line-ups on line. Resident thug and tough guy Brad May played a good game and didn't even suck punch anyone during the game. Also not dressed were Bemidji's own Joe Motzko and Lets Go Mav's Ryan Carter both were healthy scratches.

The College Hockey Players in the Stanley Cup

I looking at the rosters it appears that we missed quite a few of the college hockey players that are playing in the finals. Actually there are a few that I didn't know about. George Paros an Ivy League player, yikes. UNH Hockey Blog names a couple that we forgot.

ANAHEIM

Andy McDonald - Colgate

Chris Kunitz - Ferris State (hurt)

Dustin Penner - Maine

Todd Marchant - Clarkson

Kent Huskins - Clarkson

Mark Hartigan - St. Cloud

Drew Miller - Mich. St.

Bemidji Minnesota's Joe Motzko - St. Cloud

Ryan Carter - Mankato

George Parros - Princeton

*Brian Salcido - Colorado College

Ryan Shannon - BC

Joe DiPenta - BU

Mike Hoffman - Univ. of Connecticut

OTTAWA SENATORS

Dany Heatley - Wisconsin BADgers

Joe Corvo - Western Mich.

Tom Preissing - Colorado College

Mike Comrie - Michigan

Patrick Eaves - BC

You can't get away from them even on the Golf Course.

This a picture of my buddies Wife's driver cover. You can't get away from them even on the golf course.

GOT BEAVER? (Sioux 7)

The WCHA doesn't.

They rejected the idea of expanding the league to 11 teams. Now the Bemidji State mens team is in need of some help. According to Dr. Goeb, the BSU athletic director, they are now trying to raise $2.5 Million by May 2008 to make sure they can operate the team for another 5 years. This 5 year window would then make it for BSU to try and get into a new league, or save the CHA.

The Bemidji State's men hockey team is in jeopardy, since the CHA is down to 5 teams in the league. Having 5 teams in the league, their automatic bid for the NCAA tournemant is most likely to get pulled. That means it will be highly unlikely that any team in the CHA will make the big show. The CHA has made a couple of good showing at the NCAA tourney. BSU took Denver there limit a couple of years ago, before Denver eventually won the NCAA title.

BSU getting into the WCHA makes sense, especially from a travel/distance approach. They are only 2-3 hours away from 5 WCHA teams. This would be nice for these 5 WCHA schools, they wouldn't take much to adjust there travel budgets.

The other thing would be if the WCHA, CCHA, CHA, would go into a new alignment. I have mentioned this before, the CCHA has 12 teams, the CHA has 5, and the WCHA has 10.

If 2 teams left the CCHA and the WCHA had 1 team move to the CHA, that would make for more even conferences, CCHA=10, WCHA=9, CHA=8. That would mean, there could be either more conference games or more non-conference games. I think every league would be improved by a realignment. This would also leave the WCHA and the CHA room for expansion in the future as well, by having less than 10 teams.

It has worked in the NFL, I remembered when they did it, at first I didn't like it, but give it time and before you know it, its hard to remember what it was like before the change. If college hockey doesn't change it will get passed by, and will suffer a loss, no sport wants to lose teams and go backwards.

I would be displeased to see a hockey team, such as BSU out in the cold due to snobbish politics among the universities. I don't know about others, by I like the Beavers, even being a extremely biased UND fan. They have had a good hockey progam for years and I hope they are able to continue their proud tradition and stay at the Division 1 level.

Memorial Day

As we celebrate the memorial day weekend, lets not forget the Men and Women fighting overseas in harms way to defend this great nation. This weekend is about honoring sacrifices, as you know freedom is not free. Many people gave their lives protecting our nations freedoms we enjoy today, like the freedom of speech. As a veteran I would like to thank those fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan and those standing watch at our nations military bases around the world. Thank you for your service, you are not forgotten.

Check out this video video kicks ass

Hot Stove: Hextal and Chelios

Here is a blast from the Past and Chelios and Ron Hextal get after it during the 1989 Wales Conference Finals. Old time hockey. Incidental Ron's kid Brett Hextal will be playing at UND in the fall, I hope he plays with the same fire and determination.

Goon's Prediction Ducks in 6

Wrong Again:
First off I believe that this years Stanley Cup Playoffs have been kind of uneventfull, they are no where near as exciting as the last two Stanley Cup Finals. I also didn't do very well picking the games up to this point. First I jinxed the Buffalo Sabres by predicting they would win the Cup, as we all know that prediction came crashing down last week as the Sabres were closed out by the Senators. I also thought that the Devils were going to beat the Senators. In fact none of the teams that I wanted to win in this seasons Stanley Cup playoffs have made it as far as I thought. If I picked a team to win they lost. I picked Dallas over Vancover, the Wild over the Ducks and I predicted Buffalo over the Senators. I also predicted that there would be another UND fighting Sioux hockey player to have his name engraved on the Stanley Cup, wrong gong.

Ducks in 6 games

I believe the Ducks are going to win the series in 6 games. The Ducks have better goaltending Giguere is a much better goalie than Ray Emery. and I don't believe the Sens defensive pairs are as dynamic duo of Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger. Also look for game one to be a slug feast as I expect Chris Neil and George Paros to face off at center ice.

College Flavor to this Series

As Sioux 7 had mentioned in another post, this series will feature many players that played in the WCHA and or college hockey. This really does prove how the NCAA has come a long way in producing top players in the NHL.

Danny Heatley (Ott)- Wisconsin
Ryan Getzlaf (Ana)- St. Cloud St.
Mark Hartigan (Ana)- St. Cloud St.
Tom Preissing (Ott)-Colorado Coll.
Ryan Carter (Ana)- Mankato State
Ben Eaves (Ott) - Dirty B.C. Eagles
Mike Comrie (Ott) - Michigan
Dustin Penner (Ana)- Maine and also played hockey at Bottineau, ND.

Chelios a Classless hack?

Apparently Chris Chelios failed to shake the ducks players hands after his team lost the game and the series to the Ducks.

Doug Stolhand Weighs in on the issueChris Chelios. He plays the game rough and is a warrior on the ice, no doubt about it. I've never liked him but then again he's never played for the Ducks so why would I? He's one of those guys that you love if he's on your team but can't stand if he's not.

In 2003 the Ducks swept the Red Wings in the first round of the playoffs and much was made around Orange County about Chris Chelios not going through the handshake line after the series was over. Well, I kept an eye on the man that has been playing in the NHL for longer than Corey Perry or Ryan Getzlaf have been alive and sure enough he did not go through the handshake line this year, either. I am not sure if this is something he always does regardless of opponent but it shows a lack of class. I asked some fellow media members if Chelios shakes hands after the Red Wings win a series and they said yes. That being the case I can officially say that Chris Chelios is like school in the summertime - no class.

Here is what Teemu Selanne had to say about it:

"It shows what kind of guy he is. When you have success it's easy to be the good guy but when (bad) things happen and you do that kind of stuff, like the Minnesota guys, that's...you can make your own opinion. I don't really care but I would like to say 'Have a good summer.'"

Looks like the Ducks players are still playing their first round match up against the Wild. Hey Teemu shut the hell up about the Wild Series.

LORD STANLEY'S CUP (Sioux 7)

There are only two teams remaining out of 16 that entered the playoffs, and only one can skate the cup home. Anaheim and Ottawa, are the last teams standing, and neither has ever won the stanley cup. Anaheim made it to the Finals in 2003, only to be defeated by the Devils in game 7.







The Ducks have looked great at times this playoff season, but they have also shown a few weaknesses. The goalie, Giguere will have to be play much better, if they are to claim the cup. There defense is excellent, with the speedy offensive minded Niedermeyer and the stay at home, "crush 'em if they cross the blue-line" man Pronger. Also O'Donnell and Beauchemin have also been playing solid defense. Anaheims offensive will have to put up more goals in this series if they want to win. Selanne will need to step up his game, as well have solid contributions from McDonald, Getzlaf, and Penner just to name a few.

The Ducks can ill afford to get into a slug fest with Ottawa, it would be fun to watch, but could be disasterous for the Ducks. Anaheim needs to play there game, solid defense and take there chances on offense and the power play.



They suprised me with how the disposed of Buffalo in 5-games. The Senators have to be the hottest team in playoffs and they keep getting hotter, just like the weather. Ottawa seems to be scoring almost at will, which isn't good for anybody but Ottawa. They have fire power upfront, but what has been more impressive is the play of the defense and netminder. The question is can they keep up the good work in there own end? If they can they have a good shot at the cup.

The speedy forwards of Ottawa, will have to try and avoid being crushed by Chris Pronger. If Pronger can slow down, or intimidate, the Senators forwards, it could be a long battle for time and space on the ice.

THE PREDICTION

Both teams have a number of young players on there rooster, so nerves and inexperience could become a factor in the first couple of games. However, Anaheim does have an edge with a few of there veterans, like Scott Neidermeyer, who has a few cups under his breezers with the NJ Devils.

With the way hockey ratings are going, this could be a spectacular 7 game series that only a few fans watch. (I can't believe ESPN covers poker over hockey, considering you never see them scroll poker scores across the bottom, like MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, hmmm, makes me wonder.)

NBC will be covering the Stanley Cup Finals, the only bright spot I can see from this is they are going to have Don Cherry as a guest on the show. I hope they have some of his intermission show on TV and not just a snip-it of him occassionally.

This series is going to be interesting, and should go 7 games with Lord Stanley's Cup going to Ottawa. The Senators will take the Cup back to Canada, for the first time since 1993 when the Montreal Canadiens defeated the LA Kings. Call it karma, deja vu, but it gives me a feeling, Canadian team versus a team from California, different year, different teams, but same result.

Linkorama: Western College Hockey is reporting Gregoire to The Fighting Sioux

Western College Hockey: Gregoire to UND

Essentially this started out as a rumor from an unidentified anonymous poster on Damian Goddard's Lets Go DU blog
that highly regarded recruit Jason Gregoire has pulled his verbal commitment to DU and then committed to UND. Finally to this story is probably actually be true.

----------------------------------------------
Anonymous said...
Here's a bombshell that you can take to the bank as fact. Jason Gregoire re nigged on his verbal and instead because of a pushy father has signed with North Dakota since it is closer to home. This from a reliable source is true as you will see in the coming days...

Friday, May 18, 2007 4:53:00 PM CDT
-------------------------------------------------------


There are going to be some people pontificating and blaming Hakstol for recruiting a kid after he committed to another college program. From everything I have heard and seen I don't think Hakstol would actively recruit a player after he had verballed.

Badgers Recruit Kyle Turris

I found this clip on-line, another great BCHL player that will be playing in the WCHA. This is the prized recruit Wisconsin picked up in the past season that will be playing for the Badgers in fall of 2007. This kid is going to be a dandy player. I predict he will be in Wisconsin two season max.

Silly Season

This time of season there is a lot of rumors floating around the Internet, a lot of them are down right silly or ridiculous so I refer to this time of year as the silly season, when people have too much time on their hands so they spend it scanning the Internet for rumors and innuendo. The one that a few have put out there is that Oshie will change his mind and go pro since Jonathan Toews signed with Chicago Black Hawks. Right, that is what I call a case of huge wishfull thinking by mostly Gopher fans who know that it's only a matter of time before Kyle Okoposo signs with the Islanders, that leaves some huge holes in the Gophers line up. Sioux don't worry it's not going to happen Sioux fans.

Another rumor I read was that Jason Gregoire has changed his mind and decided to go to UND instead of UND. There are some that have suggested that Hakstol was actively recruiting a player after he had verbally committed to another team. I doubt Hakstol would resort to a bush league tactic such as that. Even if he did it would eventually come back to haunt him.

Hot Stove: Jay Miller and John Kordic

Ah yes... the old Bruins and Habs games, seemed like everyone of these games were an instant classic. Here are some great fights from some great games. Now, with the pathetic state of both teams the rivalry has become somewhat stale and even boring. John Kordic was the proto-typical goon playing in 244 games scoring 17 goals 18 assist for a total of 35 points. The amazing number is the 997 minutes in penalties. Incidentally John Kordic was killed in a Hotel Room a police officers in Lorette, Quebec. Kordic was 27 years old.

Ex-New Hampshire Wildcat Jay Miller was a little more talented hockey player playing in 446 games scoring 40 goals 44 assists and 84 points he logged an impressive 1723 minutes in the penalty box.

Hot Stove: Lyndon Byers vs David Mackey

With the new kinder, gentler NHL it seems the tough guys are becoming a thing of the past, now guys just hack each other with their stick or board their opponent. Lyndon Byers was one of my favorite Bruins, the man would fight with anyone and was a half way decent energy line person. You also got to love the Bruins old third jersey's.

Byers and Giles

Goon's World Tribute to Jonathan Toews

Hey J.T. where going to miss you:

This post is a tribute to Sioux Forward Jonathan Toews who signed a professional contract this past week. While most of us weren't shocked that he signed a professional contract his leaving still smarts none the less. Watching some of these clips should bring back some good memories of Jonathan Toews. Fighting Sioux fans will miss Toews because he is such a dynamic player. It doesn't take much of a hockey genius to see that Toews has the offensive touch, the nose for defensive, the knack for anticipating where his team mares are going to be and his ability to make a pass or shot that could change a hockey game.

Minnesota Gopher Goalie Jeff Frazee isn't going to miss Jonathan Toews as he lit him up during the 2007 World Junior Tourney. I would be willing to bet that Jeff Frazee when to Blarney's after Toews announced that he had signed a professional contract had a few long island teas.

Jonathan Toews with the wrap around versus Holy Cross in the West Regional in 2006.


J.T. the potty mouth

The Quest for 8

October 13 - Hall of Fame Game UND - MSU
October 19 – UND @ Boston College "the Dirty Eagles"
October 20 – UND @ Northeastern
October 26 – UND @ MTU
October 27 – UND @ MTU
November 2 – Colorado College - UND
November 3 – Colorado College - UND
November 9 – UND @ BADgers
November 10 – UND @ BADgers
November 23 – UMD - UND
November 24 – UMD - UND
November 30 – UND @ DU
December 1 – UND @ DU
December 7 – Gophers - UND
December 8 - Gophers – UND
December 28 – UNH - UND
December 29 – UNH – UND
January 4 – UND @ SCSU
January 5 – UND @ SCSU
January 11 – MTU - UND
January 12 – MTU - UND
January 18 – UND @ Mav’s
January 19 – UND @ Mav’s
January 25 – UAA – UND
January 26 – UAA – UND
February 1 – UND @ Gophers
February 2 – UND @ Gophers
February 15 – DU – UND
February 16 – DU – UND
February 23 – BSU – UND
February 24 – BSU – UND
February 29 – UND @ UMD
March 1 – UND @ UMD
March 7 – SCSU – UND
March 8 – SCSU – UND
March (14-16) - 1st Round WCHA Playoffs
March 20/21/22 - WCHA Final Five
March 28/29/30 - NCAA Regionals
April 10/12 - NCAA Frozen Four @ Denver

Break down of the Schedule

The Sioux only play the Mavericks twice in Mankato next season unless of course; UND draws the Mavericks in the WCHA playoffs either in the first round or at the Final Five. If the Mavericks and Sioux actually played in the Final Five it would probably be the first time there was an actual fighting major at the Final Five. Incidentally, if that happens, that would make three years in a row we played the Mavericks in the playoffs, I have come to enjoy the yearly dance with the Mavericks in the playoffs.

Speaking of match-ups UND, Michigan and Minnesota have end up in the same regional two years in a row? Anyone want to go for a third? Listen folks I am going on record and saying this will not happen again next season. If that happened I would be willing to predict that if that happened Lucia and Red would snap and come unglued. I would love to be a fly on the wall when that phone conversation is going on, what do you mean you put us in UND’s regional bracket again.

After only playing the Gophers 2 times during the regular season the Fighting Sioux get to play the Gophers four times next season. This should prove to be a heated four games this year after the Gophers were swept at home in January and knocked out of the NCAA playoffs by the Fighting Sioux. Early rumor I have heard is that Don Adam has requested WCHA official John Champion ref all four games that the Sioux and the Gophers play this season. Seems that the 23-10-penalty differential in favor of the Gophers from the season series last January wasn’t a big enough in the Gophers favor. This season my unnamed source is telling me that Sioux fans can expect a bigger penalty margin; this time the margin will be some where in the neighborhood of 45-10 in favor of the Gophers when the two teams play in Marriucci Arena during their February series. There will also be a subsequent memo addressing this issue later in the year.

This season the Sioux finally get the UMD Bull Dogs four times again, rumor has it that the Minnesota legislature is close to approving a new arena for the Bull Dogs, we will see if it gets signed into law. Also, UND doesn’t travel to UAA, so I can say with confidence that the Sioux will not be swept in Anchorage two years in a row by the Sea wolves.

Break down of the Non-Conference Schedule

The annual slap down of the BSU Beavers will be in February 23 and 24, should be a lot of fun. Shall we say that the line has been cast? Don and Gary will be filling my email box with flames and I am sure that the Beavers homer television announcer will be giving me call also soon. Just kidding boys.

One match up I am excited about is that Hockey East power house UNH comes to the REA in December 28 and 29 and rumor has it that Bob Norton of NESN is coming as well and is starting a new web page of HockeyEast4theHobey.com.

Also UND plays B.C. and North Eastern in October, maybe this time the Sioux can fare better against Hockey East. Last season UND went 0-3.

The hit everyone is talking about.

Detroit Red Wings Tomas Holmstrom is nailed along the boards by Rob Niedermayer & Chris Pronger of the Anaheim Ducks in Round 3, Game 3 of the 2006/2007 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at the Honda Center in Anaheim. Rob Niedermayer was ejected from the game drawing a 5 Min Major while initially Pronger wasn't given a penalty. Today the League handed down a one game suspension to Anaheim Ducks player Chris Pronger's for his role in the hit on Holmstrom. One of the arugments that came out of the penaltiy was that if Holmstrom had been wearing his helment correctly there wouldn't have been an injury. During the game it was noted that Holmstrom's helment came off 4 times.

It's Official Toews is Gone.

NHL.COM photo

It has just been announced May 16, 2007, 5:05 PM EDT Black Hawks Sign Toews to 3 Year Deal

The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to terms with highly touted forward Jonathan Toews on a three-year, entry-level contract.

"Chicago is a city with a great history and it's a great hockey city," the 19-year-old Toews said in a statement. "The Blackhawks are an Original Six team with a great hockey tradition. I'm looking forward to playing for the Chicago Blackhawks fans."

He was Chicago's first pick, third overall, in last June's NHL entry draft.

"Jonathan Toews is an exciting player that Blackhawk fans are going to enjoy watching," Hawks GM Dale Tallon said in a statement. "He has been an outstanding player at the collegiate level for two years, he's won two gold medals playing for Team Canada in the world junior championships the past two years, and was a member of gold medal winning Team Canada in the recently completed world championships in Moscow.

"He has shown leadership and the ability to compete at all levels. We're excited to welcome him to the Blackhawk family."

Toews had seven points (2-5) in nine games for world champion Canada in Moscow.

"I was very impressed by the way he played in the world championships," said Blackhawks head coach Denis Savard. "Jonathan is a heart and soul kid. He looks like he's been very well coached. He is a solid two-way player with lots of skill."

The Winnipeg native had four goals and three assists at the world under-20 championship in Sweden earlier this year, and was named to the tournament's all-star team. He is the first Canadian-born player to ever win a gold medal in both the world junior championship and the world championship in the same year.

Toews also played at the University of North Dakota this season, scoring 18 goals and adding 28 assists in 34 games.

This how things go. When I turned my computer off still no news on the signing, went on a walk with the dog, came back from walk with dog, showered went to work. Logged on to the internet and there it was. Officially this is the first early departure.

Are there any more?

This isn't saying that the Sioux aren't going to be hit with any more departures, there could be more, however, from what Sioux fans have been told; there may only be one more possible departure Sophmore defensemen Brian Lee. If I am not mistaken from what I have heard and read Sioux fans should find him for a couple of weeks.

The Toews Watch Update: Ok, I am confused

Ok, I admit I am confused

To take a phrase from Glen Beck this is what we do know: Sioux Forward Jonathon Toews is still a member of the North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey team, that's as of this moment. This could change at any time. However, Eklund from hockeybuzz.com--
Ouch, I stubbed my Toews!

For those of you unaware, Jonathan Toews name is pronounced "Taves," not Toes...I continue to hear that a deal has indeed already been struck with Toews and the Hawks, and in today's story with the Daily Herald, Tim Sassone writes, The Jonathan Toews era is about to begin for the Blackhawks. Not since Jeremy Roenick decided college wasn't for him after attending a few classes in 1988 has the arrival of a Hawks rookie been so anticipated. Hawks general manager Dale Tallon says he is close to signing the 19-year-old Toews, the third player taken in the 2006 draft. How close? It could happen in the next couple weeks. Toews apparently has decided to leave the University of North Dakota and accept what could be millions from the Hawks, who desperately need him to be Roenick-like in ability and fan appeal. If Toews was undecided over going pro, his head-turning effort in the recent World Championships as the only non-NHL player on Canada let him know he was ready for the big time.

"Why Two Weeks Eklund?" you may ask. I am told it is all about marketing and timing...but it is in fact done.

Really; the Hawks are going to pay Toews millions. The Rookie max is $850,000.00 per season per the CBA, that would mean his contract would be filled with incentives. The rookie max signing bonus is also something like $85,000.00. To get millions it would be as a result of incentives.

Toews close to signing a deal
By Tim Sassone

Hawks general manager Dale Tallon says he is close to signing the 19-year-old Toews, the third player taken in the 2006 draft. How close? It could happen in the next couple weeks.

Toews apparently has decided to leave the University of North Dakota and accept what could be millions from the Hawks, who desperately need him to be Roenick-like in ability and fan appeal.

If Toews was undecided over going pro, his head-turning effort in the recent World Championships as the only non-NHL player on Canada let him know he was ready for the big time.

Tallon said he wasn't surprised by the performance, which impressed many with his poise and offensive skills.

"I think he's going to be better as a pro than he was in college," Tallon said. "I don't think he got enough credit for his offense because of how good he is defensively.

"He's sneaky with his skills. He has awareness of where the puck is going to be instead of where it was. Not a lot of guys can figure that out."

If Toews is the real deal, the Hawks could have a dynamic new look, assuming the prospect they pick first overall in the draft can play right away and Tallon signs the right free agents.

This is what I find confusing. If Toews told Brad Schlossman that he hasn't made a decision yet. Where are all of these other writers getting their information from? Seems like an honest question.
Tallon trying to get Blackhawks settled
By Bob Foltman
Tribune staff reporter

On a day when the Blackhawks announced the signing of a new assistant coach and one of their prospects, two key questions remain unanswered—but perhaps not for much longer—regarding Jonathan Toews and Michal Handzus.

Of perhaps the most significance, Hawks general manager Dale Tallon said Tuesday he hopes to sign Toews, the highly touted first-round pick from last summer, perhaps this week.
-----snip--------
Some thought if Toews had a strong tournament that would seal his decision to leave the University of North Dakota and join the Hawks. Pat Brisson, Toews' family adviser, did not return a phone message.

Oh well we will see. Like I have said many times, him signing isn't and wouldn't be a shock to any of us here in Grand Forks. The fact that he has taken this long to sign a professional contract give most of us just a small flicker of hope. With or without Toews the Sioux will be the favorite to win the WCHA tilte and would be a factor in the end for an NCAA title. The fact that the family advisor didn't return the call might mean something.

Lastly if it sounds like I am not excited about Toews playing for the Chicago Black Hawks; I am not. If this was any other team say like the Wild, the Boston Bruins, Phoneix, or Toronto Maple Leafs, or any other NHL organization I would probably be estactic, I would be very happy for Toews. We are talking about the Chicago Black Hawks, an second rate organization that has been run into the ground to by a horrible owner Bill Wirtz. Chicago is going to use Toews to try to sell seasons and put butts in seats in the form of ticket packages. You can't even watch a Chicago Black Hawks game on TV becaus of the black outs that hang over every Chicago home games. It's sad.

Interesting Fact I found in the article linked above and another reason to stay in school longer.

Maybe time for Plan C?
Brophy joins the endless list of future Hawks prospects.

Tallon called the first-round elimination of Norfolk in the American Hockey League playoffs very disappointing. The Hawks were counting on a long postseason run in which their prospects would get a taste of winning.

Instead, whispers that their prospects may not be as good as the Hawks had hoped may have gained some validity. Jack Skille,the seventh overall pick in 2005, played in just three of the six games with no points. Troy Brouwer,who had 41 goals in the regular season, had just one goal and one point in six games and was a minus-4.

The leading scorer in the series for Norfolk was Jonas Nordqvist,25, with seven points. He was followed by five points each from Carl Corazzini,28, and Craig MacDonald,30, neither of whom would be considered prospects at this point in their careers.

Is Toews Gone?

TSN Picture
EK from hockeybuzz.com is reporting that Toews has signed. Kind of funny since TSN and NHL.comand don't have anything iknformation on the Toews signing as of yet.

UPDATE: Brad Schlossman Grand Forks Herald sports writer for the North Dakota Fighting Sioux has confirmed that Toews has not signed a contract as of yet and the rumor was incorrect.

I got off the phone with Toews a little bit ago and he was surprised to hear about the report. After seeing it for himself he said, "Jeez, I can confirm that's not true."

Toews just returned home yesterday and will finally get his first real chance to go over the decision with his parents in the coming days. It has been a whirlwind for him since the final couple weeks of the season.

Unfortunately, many rumors get tossed around at this time of year. Many people dislike the use of anonymous sources because of accuracy issues. Well, in this instance, not only is the source anonymous... so is the reporter.

The best place to hear it from will be Jonathan himself. He is always completely honest about everything. He didn't mislead anyone last year when he was going through the same process. He'll be open about everything again this year, too.

Also, many have wondered about the lengthy period of class he missed to go to Moscow. Toews said that his teachers have been very helpful and are giving him extensions, allowing him to take incompletes for now while he makes up the work.

Hum; seems that there are few people in hockey world and as well as Canada that have an aweful case of wishful thinking, in fact my advice to the Hawks back up and let him make his decision. Toews is a tight college team that has a good chance of winning an NCAA title, the only thing Chicago has a chance of is finishing in the bottom half of the league standings . Seriously folks, the decision will be coming soon I am sure. It kind of makes a person wonder who was behind this rumor and how accurate it was.

Team Canada Wins the Gold in the World Championship

This was the IIHF World Hockey championship that no one got to see in the USA, which in my opinion is a disgrace. Current Fighting Sioux Johnathon Toews and former Fighting Sioux Mike Commodore were on the championship team.

Thornton vs Danny Markov

As far as I know this is the only fight there has been during the third round of the playoffs. There has been a lot of stick work but not many fights. This one didn't last long either.

More Ranting and Raving about Towes.

Al Cimaglia on Toews

I try not to get too excited about future Blackhawk Jonathan Toews, but it is impossible. At 19 he is able to more then hold his own with NHL men and never seems to get rattled. I knew when watching Toews during some college games that he was very strong on his skates, but that was against 18-21 year old youngsters. So I always wondered if he would be able to go strong into the corners with NHL players, and that answer has been clearly shown in the last couple of weeks. Toews continues to impress and plays like someone far older then 19, he is a special talent. Now he needs to sign a NHL contract and the Hawks need to design an effective team for next year. I thought Toews could be a 2nd line or maybe a checking line center to start out. Now it appears that he can be a legitimate 1st line center and play alongside Havlat. I would love for the Hawks to pick up a big strong winger who also would be good in the corners, someone like Taylor Pyatt. I think the Hawks would be best served to look to sign two or three 2nd tier free agents. On the radar screen could be a defenseman with some offensive skill, a strong faceoff center, and a tough winger like Pyatt.

Toews has to be signed right after this tourney is finished, so the team building can move forward.

Again everyday that Sioux had Toews for was a gift, much like Zach Parise being a Fighting Sioux was too. However, wouldn't it be awesome if Toews decided to come back for one more year of college, heres to hoping T.J.'s team mates are putting a lot of heat on him. Toews is a special player and I am predicting when he does go pro he will have about the same impact that Jordan Staal had in Pittsburg.

Waiting for a Decision

TSN Photo
I Was listening to radio show Gretzkys on XM-204 in the car on the way home from work this afternoon and I don't know what it is with Bob McKenzie from TSN but he seems to be this big time cheer leader for Jonathon Toews; hey bob we get it, Toews kid can play hockey. To listen to Mckenzie talk on the radio show its appears to all but a done deal on Toews signing with Chicago. Realistically speaking it’s basically what we have been feeling all along up here in Grand Forks. I have said a few times over on Sioux Sports that we should just accept that fact he is already gone, thanks for the two years and good luck Jonathon. The fact that he isn't signed yet does say a few things. 1.) the decision isn't as done of a deal as some have suggested. 2.) Maybe Chicago is low-balling him or not giving him the contract that he thinks he deserves. 3.) Maybe there is a lot of pressure from teammates.

I am not much of an optimist when it comes to talented players staying in school when the big money is being dangled in front of them. I suppose you can take the delay in the signing two ways; Toews really hasn't made up his mind and the media pundits are trying to sway Jonathon into making a decision, or maybe this is really a tough decision; add to that some players already decided to come back for another season might be making a once cut and dried decision that much harder. Maybe it’s not easy telling your fellow team mates that you don’t want to come back for another shot at an NCAA title. It's a stretch, I know. I’m a realist and I don’t see him coming back for next season, but I wouldn’t complain if he did in fact decided to come back. Could you imagine him and Trupp on the same team?

Personally, I want to get this over with so we can worry about something else this summer, whatever the decision is so be it. This the only thing I could see is Toews wants another crack at an NCAA title and possibly another kick at the can with the Canadian WJC. Three gold’s in a row by a player would be unprecedented.

Frankly if I was a player with a lot of talent like Toews and was looking at the prospect of playing for the Chicago Black hawks, mind you this is the same team that is owned by Bill Wirtz, I would look at it as Chicago as being a professional purgatory and wouldn't be in any hurry to sign. Chicago a once proud hockey franchise has been run into the ground.

It's almost like Canada is starving for another star and have anointed Toews as the next one.

Toews Impresses

There were a few eyebrows raised when Team Canada chose Chicago Blackhawks prospect Jonathan Toews for its World Championship squad.

But the way this young player has performed in the tournament shouldn't be a surprise.

The first time I saw Jonathan Toews in action was at Hockey Canada's summer evaluation camp in preparation for the 2006 World Junior Hockey Championship in Vancouver. I was blown away by how he played in those scrimmages.

I thought that Jonathan Toews was Bryan Trottier.

Everything that Toews has done since then has led me to believe that this is a very good comparison. He is a complete hockey player when you factor in his offensive and defensive play, pressure and physical play. He is the complete and total package.

Off the ice, he is fluently bi-lingual, and has the character to be a great star. Ten years from now, we'll still be talking about him - as the NHL's most complete player.

Don Cherry is Coming to NBC, to make Debut during Stanley Cup

For those of you that have never had the pleasure of watching CBC's hockey night in Canada won't have to buy a satellite dish to watch Don Cherry this season. Starting during the Stanley Cup finals on NBC you will be able to watch Canadian icon Don Cherry. Don Cherry has taken his fair share of hits for his candid opinion, straight talk and his disdain for the European hockey players.

In a way I am pretty excited about it. I can't wait for the stuffed shirted, pc lefties take on this guy, Don isn't going to sugar coat anything. Some have looked at it as NBC's attempt to get hockey's rating up in the states. In a way he is kind of Canada's version of Rush Limbaugh, maybe not as polished but just as conservative. However, instead of politics he talks about hockey, but he does do a good job attacking leftist Canadians and the P.C. Nazis.

Cherry to make U.S. debut on NBC
Posted: April 10, 2007
Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Don Cherry is bringing his loud mouth and louder outfits south of the border.

The outspoken former coach of the Boston Bruins, who has been a fixture on CBC's "Hockey Night In Canada' telecasts for more than 25 years, will make his U.S. broadcasting debut as part of NBC's Stanley Cup playoff telecasts, the network announced Tuesday.

"A lot of people have written that what I say up here I would never get away with it down in the States," said Cherry, the Bruins' coach from the 1974-75 season until the 1978-79 campaign. "I'll just go on and do what I have to do.

"In the States, they wanted me to go on one time in Pittsburgh. Jaromir Jagr, it was when he had long hair and he was with Mario Lemieux and I said, 'There's Mario and his daughter.' It didn't go over too good. That was my last time in the States."

Cherry will be teamed with Brett Hull, the never-shy former player who is in his first season with NBC.

"Better get some plaids," Cherry said.

Hull will also to contribute to CBC's coverage in Canada.

"He tells it like it is," Hull said of Cherry. "If they did it on a regular basis, he would be just as popular down here as he is up there. Part of the thing that's missing, not with just hockey, but in all coverage in the American sports world, is some personality. I think that's why you see a guy like Terry Bradshaw, as popular as he is.

"He's not just Mr. P.C., going, 'That was a nice catch and throw."'

Classic Don Cherry
Take a look at some of these clips. Some classic Don Cherry, enjoy.
Coach's Corner - 3/24/07
Don Cherry - on women at hockey games
Don Cherry On Uflie
Don Cherry on Hitting
Coach's Corner - Dion Phaneuf
playoffs coaches corner Apr 11
Coaches Corner and The Stanley Cup in Afghanistan

Future Sioux?

This is the team that competed and won in the Ice Palace Cup last weekend. Kids from Grand Forks, ND are as follows; goalie Seth Lang wearing the RBK goalie pads, (hint good chance he will be Central High School's starting goalie soon), next to him Brock Dahl. Second row Casey Purpur (Grand Kid of Cliff Fido Purpur, future Central Star) Jordan Aamot is next to him. Also on the team are Paul LaDue and Aaron Hatt. It's possible these kids could be future Stars for the Fighting Sioux.

Pictures from the Final Five

Found these Pictures in the Camera 
I was cleaning up my mess when I realized that I had some pictures from the Final Five that I hadn't done anything with. I would have had more if I hadn't reformated my disk during the Thursday night game. Basically deleting my pictures from my Vegas Vacation. There was some great pictures from the Grand Canyon that no longer exist. Thank God my wife has basically the same ones. If you click on the image you can get a better look at the picture.
 
 
 

Former DU Pioneer Goalie Wade Dubielewicz Resigns with Islanders

Former DU star Wade Dubielewicz was (like most of us can spell that without looking it up on line) was resigned by the New York Islanders. Looks like Mike Dunham might be done (no pun intended)on long island. Dubie was one of the major reasons the Islanders made the playoffs earlier this spring when their starting goalie Rick DiPietro went down with a concussion Wade stepped in and went 4-0. The contract is a one way deal too.

In case anyone forgot about this game at the end of the season, wining their final game to get into the playoffs, with Dubielwicz stoning the Devils in the shootout. The Shootout

The New York Islanders have signed goaltender Wade Dubielewicz, who led the team to a playoff berth this season with four straight wins in the final week, to a one-way NHL contract for 2007-08. The man they call "Dubie" is expected to share the nets next season with Islanders No. 1 goaltender Rick DiPietro.

"Wade really earned this opportunity," said Islanders general manager Garth Snow. "He has developed steadily with each season in Bridgeport and played well whenever the Islanders needed him. And, of course, Wade's play down the stretch was instrumental in our team making the playoffs. We're very excited that he'll be an Islander next season."

Dubielewicz was named NHL's First Star of the Week for the last week of the regular season by earning four wins in four games, including two in the shootout. For the week Dubielewicz was 4-0 with a 1.93 GAA and a .934 save percentage. Prior to this season the 28-year old Dubielewicz played in 9 games for the Islanders.

Over four full seasons with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers – the Islanders' American Hockey League affiliate – Dubielewicz was 58-52-8 with a 2.48 GAA and a .919 save percentage and 13 shutouts.

"I've been a part of the Islanders family my entire pro career and I had no interest in going anywhere else," said Dubielewicz. "My family and I are thrilled at the opportunity Garth Snow and Ted Nolan have given me, and I'm very appreciative of that. I'd also like to thank everyone involved with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers for helping me along the way. Although it's a big plus knowing I'll be an Islander next year, my plan is to come to camp in the best shape of my life and be ready for a great season for our team."

Senators paste Devils and move on

Another game that lack High Lites

If there had been any highlights in this game I would have posted them.
Sen's and Devils Lows Lites

I made a bold prediction earlier the year right before the Stanley Cup Playoffs that there would be another Fighting Sioux hockey player to have his name engraved on the on the Stanley Cup. That prediction took a serious hit with the New Jersey Devils losing in the second round to the Ottawa Senators, as Zach Parise's and Travis Zajac's team was enliminated.

Actually when the second round of the playoffs began I would have bet a great deal of money in Vegas that the Senators would go down to in 5 or 6 games to the New Jersey Devils. Seriously, the Senators had Ray Emery a unproven playoff goalies facing off against basically one of the best playoff goalies in NHL history, right behind Patrick Roy in my opinion. Funny thing happened Broudeur looked average and Ray Emery faced little if any tough shots.

Whey the Reversal?

The Senators beat the Devils at their own game. The Senators lined up at the blue line and made it impossible to get inside the Senators defensive zone. The Senators also cashed in on New Jerseys turnovers. The bigges problem I see with Devils is they don't have that feared defensemen they once had anymore the Devils also aren't as physical as they used to be; The Devils no longer have Kenny Daneko or Scott Stevens no longer patrol the blue line. If I was a offensive player playing against the Devils I am not going to fear Paul Martin Richard Matvichuk, Andy Greene, Brian Rafalski. I know that I can get in front of Martin Brodeur without getting my head knocked off. The Senators spent all day in front of Brodeur and they didn't pay for it.

Goalie Tired?

Martin Brodeur had another allstar season. Check out these numbers Brodeur played in 78 out of a possible 82 season games logging 4697 minutes winning 48 games and suffering 23 loses with a gaa of 2.18 and a save percentage of .922. Those are phenominal numbers. They guy also played in basically 95% of his teams games. That is too much for a guy that is 34 years old.

NJ Devils Picture


Parise Named to Team USA
Article

newjerseydevils.com – Zach Parise has been named to the 2007 U.S. Men’s National Team, USA Hockey announced today.

Team USA faces Finland this Thursday in the quarterfinal round of the 2007 International Ice Hockey Federation World Championship in Moscow, Russia.

This season, Parise set career-highs in goals (31), assists (31) and points (62) while playing in all 82 regular-season games with the Devils. He added 10 points (7g, 3a) in 11 games during the 2007 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Parise will be making his second IIHF World Championship appearance, having recorded two assists in three games with the U.S. Men’s National Team in 2005.

Parise has previously won gold medals with the U.S. National Under-18 Team at the 2002 IIHF World Under-18 Championship and the U.S. National Junior Team at the 2004 IIHF World Junior Championship. He also competed with Team USA at the 2003 IIHF World Junior Championship.

Wings Move on Sharks head to the Golf Course

I was actually surprised that the Sharks went down with hardly a whimper last night as the normally high flying San Jose Sharks were shut out by soon to be senior citizen Dominic Hasek, the Red Wings defense was great but the sharks didn't do much to make the Wings work for this game. I have to say that last nights games really didn't keep my attention, I had to struggle to watch this game. I was disappointed and miffed. The Sharks losing in the semis for a second year in a row, I had them penciled in for going to the conference finals.

Ryan Garner touches on a few of the issues that affected the San Jose Sharks during their second round match up with the Red Wings.
Ryan Garner Article

Well, the Sharks aren't the Rangers, and offered up an embarrassing effort on home ice in Game 6. There wasn't any desperation, nobody stepped up, and we saw a performance that only reinforced San Jose's reputation as playoff chumps, lacking heart and determination. Sure, there were spurts of effort. Michalek would flash through the neutral zone or Clowe would press the forecheck at times, but there wasn't any sustained pressure, and nothing close to a flurry down the stretch. I can only remember two quality scoring chances, Grier's empty net and Bernier's breakaway. I think that says it all, the fact San Jose's two best chances came from a third-line penalty-killing grinder and a young fourth-line winger. Forwards on San Jose's top two lines combined for only 7 shots, while the bottom two lines had 18. That's just not right.

I've received several frustrated e-mails tonight calling for heads to roll, and Patrick Marleau is getting the most blame, with Joe Thornton close behind. Marleau went six consecutive games without a point, finishing the series -5. What happened to him?? The captain is the go-to guy for everything, and if he's the worst player on the ice it takes everyone else off the hook. They don't have anything to build on, no example to live up to. It's unfortunate the past 10 days will have a permanent effect on Marleau's career, adding to the pressure and doubt he'll have to overcome next season.

Thornton didn't have a single shot on goal, didn't record a hit, won only 38% of his faceoffs, and finished the night -2. What happened?? Clearly he's one of the most talented players in the world, but if that's the performance you get with the season on the line maybe that $6.66 million salary could be put to better use somewhere else. I'm just throwing it out there.

When your front line center and super star player Joe Thornton isn't a factor on the score sheet and on the board in big games your chances of winning goes way down, frankly you not going to be very good. It seems that yearly big Joe does a disappearing act during the Stanley Cup playoffs. It was such a issue that I believe lead to Thronton going to San Jose. Joe Thornton needs to be hitting every, winning face offs and scoring goals, without doing these things he is 6.6 million dollar anchor. Over on XM-204 today some of the fans in San Jose were calling for the coaches head. I think it is premature but if there are many more tent foldings early in the the playoffs the coaches heads may roll.