This Week in the WCHA (Sioux 7)

This last weekend saw mostly sweeps in the WCHA, CC over UMD, SCSU over MTU, UND over BSU, and UM over UW (3-pts). Those sweeps makes the middle of the pack a dangerous place to be, not knowing who will win home ice in the first round. Here are the current standings in the league.

TEAM........GAMES PLAYED..W-L-T---POINTS
1 Colorado College...24..18-5-1---37
2 North Dakota........24..16-7-1---33
3 Denver.................24..15-8-1---31
4 Wisconsin.............26..10-11-5--25
5 St. Cloud State......24..11-11-2--24
5 Minnesota State.....24..10-10-4--24
7 Minnesota-Duluth...24...8-11-5--21
8 Minnesota..............24...7-11-6--20
9 Michigan Tech........24...7-13-4--18
10 Alaska-Anchorage..26...3-18-5--11

This weekend Alaska and Wisconsin wrap up their final WCHA league games. Alaska is stuck in 10th place, and UW currently sits in 4th, and cannot get any higher, but could fall as far as 9th place.

This weeks match-ups are all BIG as six teams try to get the last home ice playoff spots.


Wisconsin at St. Cloud

This is the biggest match-up, as both teams via for home ice. UW gave up 8 goals last weekend to a UM team that has struggled to score all season... This is it, if UW gives up that many goals this weekend, they can pack there bags for a road trip in the first round. SCSU on the other hand is in the midst of a hot streak, winning 5 in a row. The Huskies have 2 games in hand on UW, but they are against UND. So SCSU knows they need to sweep, to pass the Badgers, and leave Bucky watching and waiting on the rest of league to determine their fate. With both teams needing to win I think this should be a hard fought series, but the Badgers will end up road kill.
THEE CALL - SCSU 3-pts


Nebraska-Omaha (CCHA) at Mankato (Tuesday Night Special)

Earlier this season the Red Mavericks beat the Purple Mavericks, 6-3. I say this time the Purple beats the Red. I hope this game doesn't affect this weekend series MSUM has against the Tigers of CC.


Minnesota State Mankato at Colorado College

The Tigers have to feel pretty good about themselves, posting two shut-out wins last weekend at Duluth. That could also have a bad effect on CC too, over confidence. The other thing CC might also be doing is looking ahead to their season finale against Denver, and overlook the Mavericks. SCSU ended CC's home winning streak two weeks ago, and MSUM is on a mission for home ice, winning 7 out of their last 8 games. CC could clinch a share of the league title with a sweep this weekend, or could lose it by getting swept. MSUM could really help their cause to get home ice with a sweep, but it is a tall task, with a short week.
THEE CALL - SPLIT


Minnesota at Alaska Anchorage


With Minnesota taking 3-pts from Wisconsin last weekend it keeps the Gophers hopes alive for home ice in the first round. Mean while, UAA is locked into the bottom spot and will most likely travel to CC (or possibly UND) for the first round. The Gophers need to win, if they don't sweep the Seawolves, they will almost be assured of a road trip. Misery loves company, so they say, and Alaska would like to keep the Gophers around their neighborhood, the bottom half of the league. The trip to Alaska is a long one, so that could be a factor. The bigger question is, can UM keep scoring more than 1 goal per game? (I was lucky last week in my predicts, saying UM would break out of their scoring slump) Alaska if playing for pride now, which they have, so don't stick the harpoon in them just yet.
THEE CALL - SPLIT


Denver at Michigan Tech

Has DU saved their sinking ship, with a couple of wins against UAA? Is MTU's shipped been damaged beyond repair? DU has a 4-6-1 record in its last 11-games, and MTU has a record of 2-7-3 in its last 12-games. Both of these teams stocks have dropped of the second half of the season. The Pioneers need some wins to hold on to the number 3 spot and MTU wants to save their season and grab a top 5 finish. DU has not won a road game in 2008, but MTU has not been all that good at home in 2008 either.
THEE CALL - SPLIT


North Dakota at Minnesota-Duluth


Duluth is at home again this week, and coming off of an embarrassing weekend of getting shut-out at home twice, by CC. Duluth has had problems scoring all year, only 60 goals in 33 games, and now they have to face another top notch goalie in UND's J.P. Lamereoux. Speaking of JPL he finally got a day off on Sunday, UND started Walski in net and he earned a shut-out win against Bemidji State. The Sioux still remain red-hot riding their 13-game unbeaten streak into Duluth. The Bulldogs are still in the middle of a dogfight (bad pun) for home ice with most of the league. UND is trying to continuing its winning ways and keep the pressure on CC. If CC should faulter it would open the door to UND to grab a share of the league title.
THEE CALL - SIOUX SWEEP

CCHA official Matt Shegos is Biased?

I found this one reading the Blog that Yost Built. The black helicopters are circling Oxford, Ohio. The reason I posted this article is that people always say that Sioux fans are conspiracy theorists and that the league officials are out to get them. This would prove my point that is just isn't us. It appears to be college wide.

CCHA reffing situation ignores inherent biases

Some die-hard Miami hockey fans argue that college hockey referee Matt Shegos-a Michigan alum-is biased (Feb. 15, "CCHA approves alum reffing UM, MU series"). League officials have tried to argue that he is not. With all due respect to Director of CCHA Officials Steve Piotrowski and others who try to justify the conference's assignment of Shegos to referee the Miami-Michigan hockey game, they would do well to understand the meaning of the word bias.

According to The Miami Student article, "Piotrowski says that a fan's opinion from a school is most of the time based on that fan's biased support for the team … CCHA officials are all very well trained and to think that one would be biased toward one team is just plain wrong." Here's the problem: Fans may choose to be biased. Referees may hope that they are not biased. League officials may hope or even think that referees are not biased. However, bias is something that is not entirely controllable. A considerable body of research in psychology demonstrates that bias is both conscious and subconscious. Regardless of whether Shegos intends to be biased, he is biased.

Piotrowski argues that CCHA refs are very well trained. Does any of that training involve understanding where bias comes from or how bias subconsciously interferes with even well-intentioned decision-makers' thinking? I doubt it. Until and unless it does, it is not correct to argue that because the referees are well-trained, they are not biased. Even with such training, the referees in all likelihood will still be biased-though perhaps less so. Even with such training, the potential for subconscious bias will exist. This leads to the appearance of impropriety at the very least, as well as actually compromising the person's ability to discharge his professional responsibilities to the best of his ability. For these reasons, Piotrowski should reconsider the policy of assigning refs to games that include their alma maters.

Rebecca Luzadis
Associate Professor of Management
luzadirA@muohio.edu

Would BSU be a bottom feeder?

This past weekend I had an opportunity to hang out with some old friend from Bemidji and the usual conversation came up about BSU's possible admittance to the WCHA. This issue seems to be almost as explosive as the gun control and the abortion debates.


As many of you know; I have been on record of saying that I am ALL for the Beavers being part of the WCHA. As the Bottom-Feeder brought up I attended BSU back in the early 1990’s. I am also not for kicking out UAA as some have suggested (Sioux7). That response seems kind of callous and crass.

I think the BSU Beavers are a great fit for the WCHA because they are in close proximity of SCSU, UMN, UMD, MSU-M and UND. By adding BSU you can also cut down on travel costs. By adding the Beavers to the WCHA the league all of a sudden would have an unbalanced and odd number of teams. Personally I wouldn't want to have an 11 team league because it doesn't work for the WCHA playoffs.

There are a couple of options to consider. You could give the league winner a bye. That option is not likely to happen since that team that won the league title would want the revenue of hosting a playoff series. Do the math that is a nice profit for you program.

So then you have the next option, leave the 11th place team home, finish 11th in the league and your done. I am not sure I like that option because someone is going to be home and left out of the playoffs. It would eliminate the possibility of giving the 11th place team a shot at making the NCAA tourney for winning the league tourney. While it has never happened to date it does give a team something to play for. So to elevate this problem I would recommend the WCHA adding the UNO Mavericks.

Here is a silly post that I found on USCHO.COM

SCSU Beat Anyone The only thing is will Bemidji beat Souix, Gophers, Badgers? The only team they could beat would be UAA.

Mixed results

That post is so far from the truth it's silly. BSU has had moderate success playing the WCHA. Mind you; this is with CHA recruits. Tom Serratore did a great job of recruiting he was an assistant at SCSU. Since 2005 BSU's record against UMD is 5-2. This season the BSU Beavers split with the Bull Dogs in a home and home series. The BSU Beavers are also 4-2 against my 2nd favorite WCHA the MSU-M Mavericks (I switched my allegiance again), this season the Mavericks swept the season series against the BSU Beavers. On the other hand since 2005; BSU has had little success against MTU 0-2 since 0-7-1 against UND. Given the chance BSU would be able to compete at high level just as the other teams in the WCHA.

How about Phil?

This is the question that was posted on USCHO seems that they are having a tough time seeing past their love affair with the CCHA. Nice to see Roe and Bachman getting some love but they are freshmen.

QUESTION: Going into the homestretch of the regular season, who is the current favorite for the Hobey Baker Award?

Nathan Gerbe, BC -- 22-22-44 in 31 GP with 3 SHG

Richard Bachmann, Colorado College -- leading nation in save percentage (.935) and GAA (1.71) along with 21-5-1 record

Ryan Jones, Miami -- Nation's leading goal scorer with 29-14-43 in 34 GP

Kevin Porter, Michigan -- Nation's leading scorer with 25-26-51 in 34 GP

Ryan Lasch, St. Cloud -- Just a sophomore but tied for second nationally in points with 19-25-44 in 32 GP

Some other player not mentioned above
I don't know / No opinion.

How about where is Jean-Philippe Lamoureux a goals against average of 1.76 and a save percentage of .931. Mind you; this wasn't done playing a bunch of cup cakes this was done playing the toughest strength of schedule in college hockey while Porter and Jones have done it against a shamefully weak strength of schedule.

An interesting perspective on BSU's new arena.

This is an interesting perspective on the possible BSU arena and what the Ralph has meant to Grand Forks, ND. I was talking to some friends of mine from Bemidji and it would appear that there is a still some question(s) on whether the event center should be built in Bemidji, MN. There should be no questions in any one's mind. An event center of this magnitude would mean a great deal for the citizens of Bemidji, MN and their economy. It is time to move forward and build the events center, enough of the wavering by the weak kneed citizens and politicians. The increase in taxes on the citizens of Bemidji is minimal; a half-cent sales tax increase, this is a very small amount of money for the benefits the citizens of Bemidji will reap for having a center of this magnitude. Think of the revenue this will bring the city of Bemidji. Also the WCHA will not let you in if you are still playing it the John Glas Field House, you can bank on that.

Success of The Ralph could Bemidji events center
Brad Swenson Bemidji Pioneer

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The view is imposing. The Ralph Engelstad Arena is off by itself, surrounded by parking lots as one drives U.S. Highway 2 as it skirts north Grand Forks. And while there is plenty of parking, be ready to pay $10 for something kind of close and $5 for something remote.

The $100 million Ralph Engelstad Arena, completed in 2001, is home to the University of North Dakota hockey team, the Fighting Sioux. And the Sioux this weekend hosted Bemidji State University’s men’s hockey team in a Saturday-Sunday afternoon series. The Beavers came away empty-handed, losing 5-1 on Saturday but holding firm on Sunday, losing only 1-0 with less than 5 minutes left as left wing Andrew Kozek took a feed from a prone center T.J. Oshie at the slot and fired the puck past BSU goalie Orlando Alamano’s glove hand.

Watching the game, however, on a winter Sunday afternoon leaves no doubt what University of North Dakota hockey and especially The Ralph means to the greater Grand Forks area. Posted attendance for Sunday’s game was 11,043 – only 363 short of its posted capacity for ice hockey. And some there told us Sunday was an orderly crowd – it’s much different if fellow WCHA opponents Minnesota or Denver are playing the Sioux.

The Ralph Engelstad Arena might be called opulent – especially in its monstrous size and that it contains thousands of UND’s logo, the Sioux Indian head that is inlaid in marble in the floor, in the carpet every five feet on the Suite level, on each row of seats in the arena, and elsewhere. Currently the subject of NCAA rulings that the Fighting Sioux logo be removed as offensive to American Indians, it is clear that doing so at The Ralph would cost millions of dollars, let alone being something the arena’s benefactor, the late Ralph Engelstad, forbade from happening in his building.

Still, the success of the Ralph Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks can be studied as a model for the Bemidji Regional Events Center now being sought in the Minnesota Legislature with bonding and a sales tax extension. Pegged at $50 million, Bemidji’s project is half that of The Ralph, but it would also be more inclusive to include a convention center and events center space. The Ralph is basically a hockey arena, but it also hosts concerts and like events, including the upcoming 2008 World Men’s Curling Championship.

Bemidji’s proposed center could learn much from The Ralph, albeit on a much smaller scale. BSU would be the anchor tenant in a Bemidji Regional Events Center. As such, the success of the hockey program should be highlighted as one walks in the facility. The Ralph is adorned with statuary and photos of Sioux greats of the past, giving a sense of history and pride before even first puck is dropped.

At the main entrance once past the ticket gate, the Sioux Shop is an open air market – gates surround it but no walls, windows or doors in the classic sense. More than an hour before Sunday’s start, the Sioux Shop was literally filled with people, many of them already sporting a Sioux hockey jersey in white or green ($79 apiece, thank you). The shop had a huge variety of themed sweatshirts, polo shirts, T-shirts, jackets, pullovers, etc., etc., etc. About two dozen different sorts of caps could be had, including one with pull-down earflaps with the Fighting Sioux logo.

A middle floor is encircled with 48 luxury suites, a floor that needs a special pass or ticket even to enter with posted hosts to check. Each room has a food area with table, serving area and refrigeration. A rail offers a spot to watch the game, or just beyond is a seating area for each luxury suite that extends below the suite and is part of the public arena seating. Plans for the Bemidji events center call for 25 luxury suites, and interest is high already as BSU officials say that 20 of them – at $30,000 each – are already pledged.

With BSU figuring on 3,000 or so seats, one wonders if the Beavers can draw a capacity crowd for all games. That depends on how the events center is marketed, some said Sunday.

“Some 3,000 to 4,000 season tickets are sold outside of Grand Forks,” says Virg Foss, retired Grand Forks Herald hockey writer, from his perch in The Ralph’s two-tier press box. “UND marketed its program throughout the area – from Devils Lake to Crookston to Winnipeg.”

It shows in the suites purchased at The Ralph, representing firms from Fargo to Devils Lake. And if those folks aren’t at the game, firms use their suites for other groups in their communities, from Boy Scouts to peewee hockey teams.

“All these people have a meal here, buy gas here and some stay the weekend here,” says Foss. The advent of The Ralph has been an asset to the Grand Forks economy, he notes.

And the same could happen in Bemidji and, more importantly, put BSU’s hockey program on a firm ground as it seeks WCHA membership at some point. Currently, WCHA teams have agreed to schedule BSU over the next several years as the Bemidji community works build a WCHA-capable arena.

“Dave Hakstol has been really supportive of scheduling BSU,” Foss said. “At 100 miles, BSU is the closest Division I hockey team so it makes sense each year.” While both games this year were played in Grand Forks, the series is usually split with a game in each city. “The BSU program has a lot of history, and it would be sad to lose that.”

The Ralph can’t be replicated in Bemidji – we can’t afford it and we don’t have a benefactor like Ralph Engelstad. But it does offer a unique perspective on how such a facility, if done well and marketed well, can make a major impact on the university’s profile, on broadening the community’s entertainment and convention visibility, on recharging the local economy and in improving the so-called “quality of place” that is viewed as key in attracting and retaining people who hold well-paid jobs in our developing knowledge-based economy.

A visit to Grand Forks should include a stop at The Ralph. See for yourself

The North Dakota fans erupted; the noise was deafening. The goal was all the Sioux needed to extend its unbeaten streak to 13 games, the longest in the nation. A few minutes later, the win was sealed and fireworks burst over each goal. The mostly North Dakota supportive crowd (judging by the hundreds of Fighting Sioux hockey jerseys on fans all about The Ralph) went home happy; those of us from Bemidji left unhappy but satisfied that the Beavers had played a courageous game against a potential national NCAA Division I champion.…

The NCAA is at it again.

Here we go again same old ___ again. UND fan's favorite NCAA executive director Myles Brand is at it again. True to form; Myles Brand is over looking one institution while holding another member institution to different standards. It is just not right. I wonder what it would take to get Myles Brand out at NCAA headquarters? Seems like we need to have a regime change at the NCAA head quarters. I know I am not the only one that feels this way.

Hypocritical NCAA silent on Lobos' casino deal
Here we are again. Another inconceivable, unfathomable moment in the life of the NCAA, and I'm left stupefied. The NCAA is, beyond the shadow of any man's reasonable doubt, the most hypocritical organization in sports.

Last week, the University of New Mexico's athletic department announced a $2.5 million sponsorship deal with a tribal casino hotel. Let that sink in, folks.

An institution of higher learning signed a marketing deal with a company built around gambling.

And not a peep from the NCAA.

Now, if that's not enough to make you tear your hair out, consider this: The casino/hotel is located on tribal land 25 miles west of Albuquerque, where the university is located. Not so long ago, the NCAA -- and president Myles Brand, in particular -- blew a gasket and demanded the end of member institutions using "hostile and offensive" Native American nicknames. He went as far as saying no NCAA championships would be played at any university using such a nickname.

Yet here is New Mexico, an NCAA member institution, making millions from a development corporation that owns a casino on Native American soil.

Many believe that tribal casinos are a way for others to make millions, while most of the Native Americans living near the casinos see scant profits. Since tribal sovereignty is the legal basis for gambling on Native American land, tribes aren't bound to disclose profits or how the money is spent. All we really know is this hotel/casino just so happens to glamorize and glorify the NCAA's unspeakable sin, gambling.

At a press conference announcing the deal, New Mexico president David Schmidly said he saw no problem with the university's marketing deal: "They don't do any gambling on sports events or things of that nature, so I think it's a win-win."

Gambling is gambling. There are no shades of gray -- only black and white.

Go into any locker room on any campus in the country, and there are countless NCAA posters plastered all over the walls about the ills of gambling and how one mistake can end careers and destroy programs.

Yet, we've heard nothing from Brand about New Mexico's utterly inappropriate revenue-generating relationship with a casino. That, ladies and gentlemen, is hostile and offensive.

Meanwhile, the University of North Dakota, per NCAA rules, has two years to gain approval from the state's Sioux tribes to use the nickname Fighting Sioux. Or else.

There's nothing like the foul stench of hypocrisy.

At UND we are used to Myles Brand and his stench of hypocrisy, it's old hat. Brand lives by the do as I say not as I do philosophy. This deal stinks of corruption and and an administrator out of line with main stream. Gamblings and college sports are a recipe for trouble. So what is it going to be Myles? Why don't you answer the damn questions? I would expect that Brand is going to to continue to stone wall like he always do. Its stuffed shirts like Myles Brand that give academics a bad name.

Fighting Sioux 1 Beavers 0

The Fighting Sioux and the BSU Beavers played to a 1-0 ho hum game. One could say that the game lacked emotion. In the third period I felt that the team that scored first would win the game.

The BSU Beaver goalie Orlando Alamano was the difference in this game as he had a great effort and held the Fighting Sioux at bay all afternoon as he stopped many shot point blank. BSU had trouble burying shots in close.

Aaron Walski started the game for the fighting Sioux and got the shut out. Aaron Walksi was the first goalie in 55 to starts for UND that wasn't named Jean-Philippe Lamoureux. Aaron Walski looked good in stopping 13 shots in route to a 1-0 shut out.

Box Score
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 GW LL Andrew Kozek (14) (T.J. Oshie, Derrick LaPoint)

Number 4 Bobby Orr.

Bruins legend #4 Bobby Orr revolutionized the game of hockey. Funny thing is you dont see many defenseman that can take the puck end to end anymore. Clutching and grabbing, you can't clutch what you can't grab.

FSN North To Televise 2008 Red Baron WCHA Final Five

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Xcel Energy Center and Fox Sports Net (FSN) North, in conjunction with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), announced today the 2008 Red BaronTM WCHA Final Five will once again be telecast on FSN North and produced by Minnesota Wild Broadcasting. The entities have televised the tournament since 2000.

The 2008 Red BaronTM WCHA Final Five will be held Thursday - Saturday, Mar. 20 - 22, at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul for the eighth straight year.

"Once again, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association is extremely fortunate to be able to partner with Fox Sports Net North and Minnesota Wild Broadcasting to bring one of the premier events in all of collegiate athletics, the Red BaronTM WCHA Final Five into living rooms across the country," said WCHA Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod. "The telecasts of the Red BaronTM WCHA Final Five on FSN North continue to generate tremendous ratings year after year, and after our record-setting event a year ago, we all look forward to another sensational championship at Xcel Energy Center in Saint Paul."

Oh goody, I wonder if that means that hockey fans in the upper midwest will have the privilege to listen to the Rug and Wooger's UNBIASED break down each and ever game for us. I would love to actually have the Wild's announcers just as long as we don't have to listen to Kevin Gorg.

Boll vs Commodore

This is a perfect example of what happens when you take a run at the oppositions skilled players. Boll took a run at Redden and Former Fighing Sioux defenseman Mike Commodore settled the score with Boll immediately. I don't have a problem with that type of hockey the players police the game and they don't have to rely on the refs to keep them honest.

Sioux 5 Beavers 1

Ironically UND won today and didn't beat anyone up as Fighting Sioux beat the BSU Beavers 5-1 in an afternoon matinee at the REA. The Fighting Sioux went 4 for 10 on the power play and also more power plays that the oppostion. Not something you would expect from the NCAA most penalized team.

Offensively for the Fighting Sioux forwards Chris VandeVelde and T.J. Oshie both had three point games and Brad Miller also chipped in with two points in a solid work man like effort. I once had a friend of mine tell me that he shot a ho hum 67 in golf. Today the game was one of those ho hum games.

Box Score
NDK 1 - 0 6x4 PP LL Chris VandeVelde (12) (Taylor Chorney, T.J. Oshie)
NDK 2 - 0 6x5 PP GW Ryan Duncan (12) (Chris VandeVelde, T.J. Oshie)
NDK 3 - 0 6x5 PP Matt Watkins (7) (Brad Miller, Rylan Kaip)
BMJ 1 - 3 6x5 PP Riley Weselowski (2) (Ian Lowe, Travis Winter)
NDK 4 - 1 6x5 PP Ryan Duncan (13) (T.J. Oshie, Chris VandeVelde)
NDK 5 - 1 6x6 EN Brad Miller (3) (Robbie Bina)
PP UND 4 / 10
PP BSU 1 / 5

WCHA standings

1 Colorado College 24 18-5-1 37 80-44 (32 23-8-1 110-68)
2 North Dakota 24 16-7-1 33 78-49 (30 20-8-2 99-58)
3 Denver 24 15-8-1 31 70-57 (32 21-10-1 97-73)
4 Wisconsin 26 10-11-5 25 64-64 (34 14-13-7 99-86)
5 St. Cloud State 24 11-11-2 24 72-67 (32 16-13-3 101-79)
Minnesota State 24 10-10-4 24 59-63 (31 16-11-4 88-76)
7 Minnesota-Duluth 24 8-11-5 21 50-66 (30 12-12-6 66-74)
8 Minnesota 24 7-11-6 20 52-63 (34 13-13-8 84-88)
9 Michigan Tech 24 7-13-4 18 48-68 (32 11-16-5 67-82)
10 Alaska-Anchorage 26 3-18-5 11 51-83 (32 7-18-7 75-99)

Pairwise
3 Colorado College 22 23-8-1 .7344 3 .5911 2
4 North Dakota 21 20-8-2 .7000 5 .5874 3
6 Denver 19 21-10-1 .6719 6 .5724 6
7t Minnesota State 16 16-11-4 .5806 14 .5417 9
10 St. Cloud State 15 16-13-3 .5469 18 .5392 11
13 Minnesota-Duluth 11 12-12-6 .5000 28t .5291 15
14t Wisconsin 10 14-13-7 .5147 27 .5336 14
14t Minnesota 10 13-13-8 .5000 28t .5290 16
Interesting that there are 8 teams right now in the hunt for the NCAA tourney. Oh boy, I bet the NCAA is probably dreading the possibility of an all WCHA frozen four. It could happen if 6 WCHA teams get in. Minnesota and Wisconsin would be the first couple of teams out and MSU-M is looking more and more like they are going to get a ticket to the big dance. Troy Jutting has Mankato looking really good right now. So, UND needs to sweep the Dogs and LGM's boys need to take two in the Springs. The Huskies are also peaking at the right time.

Thoughts from one Beaver fan about the upcoming weekend in SiouxLand

This is frome one of my friends in Bemidji

Always thought the whole UND Fighting Sioux identity was positive, in good taste, and a source of great pride (and still do)

Many Beaver fans pull for UND aside from this weekend because UND Puck has treated BSU very neighborly in scheduling so that BSU may continue to develop as an NCAA DI program......along with being so close to Grand Forks.....and BSU gets a fair number of coaches from UND ranks

Seems like the Beavers are the opponent that jump-starts the Sioux annual drive to the FF.....but this year, the Beavs will try to avoid being road-kill, as the Sioux Train has already left the station and continue to build up speed (and PMs)

The Beavs have one point to show for the D-I era vs. the Sioux, and that was, as I said, when playing the Sioux before turning their past seasons around.....not sure what we're gonna see when playing the UND at the top of their game

Last dances with Dub squads in CO, (DU=2-4, CC-4-5), OrlandO and Frosh Dalton tended cages.....wonder if Climes will see action.

Hope the Green & White stay outta the box.....will make for more entertaining afternoons for BSU Fans

Most Importantly......From the "Did You Know?" Dept: Goon is a Beaver & has a tattoo to prove it. He's actually a Sioux only in his after life, that is, after his Bemidji State University life! He even tailgates with Beaver fans in Bemidji for Beaver Hockey Games! Long-Live Goon!

Safe & Fun Weekend Everyone!

bottom feeder

Check out this blog post.

Check out this really good blog article by RWD as she puts Elliot Olshansky, formerly of CSTV/The Rink Rat through the Gauntlet. It is really worth your time to take a look at this article. For those fans that have wondered where Elliot Olshanksy has been as of late (this is covered in the article) Elliot has re-surfaced here.


You have to give Elliot credit for being a true fan.

EO: I was at the one the next year, at the Gutt up in Burlington. It was homecoming at Dartmouth, and there were two WCHA teams playing within driving distance of Hanover that weekend. The Bulldogs were at Vermont, and North Dakota was at UNH. I went to UVM on Friday and UNH on Saturday. That's something that UMD and NoDak both deserve credit for: traveling east regularly. North Dakota especially.

This is my favorite exchange right here.

EO: I think the thing that's bothered me the most lately has been the way people have looked down their nose at CCHA teams, Miami in particular, because of a soft schedule.

RWD: Hah, well, you can be sure at least one regular critic of the CCHA is a reader of RWD.

EO: This may not be the most convenient time to say this, given what happened against Ferris State, but Miami is a legit team.

RWD: I can remember other teams that may have lost to Ferris State at crucial times.

One last thing while Elliot is a great mind I don't see the RedHawks making the Frozen Four sorry bud.

BSU Beavers up next for the Sioux.

This weekend the Fighting Sioux 19-8-2, 16-7-1 WCHA play the BSU Beavers Bemidji State 14-13-3, 11-4-3 CHA at the Ralph Engelstad Arena on Saturday at 3:37 pm and at 3:07 pm.

~UND is 13-3-1 in its last 17 games.

~UND is 10-0-1 in its last 11 games.

~Senior goalie Matt Climie has played in 22 of 30 BSU games, starting 21. He has a 12-6-3 record, and ranks eighth nationally with a 1.95 goals against average. Climie also has an outstanding .921 save percentage.


~Lamoureux extended his school-record streak of consecutive starts in goal to 54 consecutive games.


~ The Hockey ShowScott Williams and Moose Richards discuss the upcoming series between the Beavers and the Sioux.

~Check outTroy Mills Beaver Pond For all the latest on BSU hockey. Too bad Millsy isn't going to be there for the game, something about having to work.

Sweet Video of UND's Season.

This is an awesome video that RedFrog of ND has posted. Murder INC is coming to an arena near you. Slugging it out one game at a time. I am betting that no one is going to want to play the Sioux in the playoffs this season.

Guest writer Heidi Sioux and her take on The Goons of NCAA Hockey

I was inspired by your name and decided to write a little something about “Sioux Goons”. I have spent the last few days reading articles on hockey web sites and their comments, blogs, and message boards regarding the UND/Denver series this past weekend. For the most part I have found the majority of it quite humorous. The venom, passionate hatred, and hypocrisy that the Sioux are totally at fault for everything that happens on the ice has been absolutely hilarious.

There is an amazing amount of revisionist history. One of the ones I like the best is that the squad this year is somehow “worse” than previous Sioux teams. I especially like the comment in the comment section of the Western College Hockey that insinuated that Blais’ teams were angels.

Color Me Surprised
Anonymous said...
“Hakstol is a far cry from what Dean Blais was at that school. Blais may have had some tough players but they generally didn't act like a bunch of goons.”
3:58 PM

I have been attending UND hockey games since I was a baby (my folks brought me up right) but didn’t really start paying attention to it until the late 70’s when my obsession was born and from that time the teams have consistently stayed the same. The Sioux have always been a “hard hitting, in your face, don’t mess with me or my teammates or you will sorely regret it” team. Gino and Dean’s teams were always that way and Hakstol has just followed the tradition.

Let’s take a little trip down memory lane. Gino’s teams included such notable “goons” as Jim Archibald, Landon Wilson, Marc Chorney, Dean Dachyshyn, Justin Duberman, Craig Ludwig, Russ Parent, Gary Valk, Micky Volcan, Howard Walker, Dixon Ward, Marty Schriner and Chris Jensen. Dean’s teams have also included their fair share of notable “goons” - Mike Commodore, Matt Greene, Matt Jones, Matt Smaby, Andy Schneider, David Hale, Tim O’Connell and Mike Prpich (I know there are more than this for both coaches, but these are the ones I remember off the top of my head). Throughout this period of goonery, the Sioux have amassed 5 National Championships, 9 WCHA Championships and have sent more than 75 players on to actually play in the NHL. Not bad for a bunch of “thugs”.

Two of my favorite “goons” are Jim Archibald and Mike Commodore. Archie, who was a winger, played in 154 games had 248 penalties for 540 minutes and – wait for it – had 75 goals and 69 assists for 144 points. Although he averaged approximately 3.5 minutes of penalty time per game, he also contributed .93 points per game. Mike Commodore, who is one of my other favorite players, contributed 151 penalties for 382 minutes in 106 games. This is the same Mike Commodore who has played in two Stanley Cup Finals, has a Stanley Cup ring and was recently traded to the top NHL team in the East, the Ottawa Senators, as they prepare to make a run at the Stanley Cup.

Puck Swami on the USCHO board had an interesting take on the Sioux physicality ( – post 350), I am not sure I totally agree. The one quote that I did chuckle at though was:

“It starts at Level 1 "check-them-cleanly-but-violently-all-the-way-through-the-boards philosophy (Kris Porter/Matt Smaby/Mike Commodore)" that tries to establish the Sioux as masters of the physical domain.”

This is the same Mike Commodore that took offense to Alex Brooks of Wisconsin taking “liberties” with one of our skilled players and beat him so bad he had to have plastic surgery. I’m pretty sure that it was after this fight that the “Commodore Rule” was established which gives increasing DQs for repeat offenders.

Our current “goon” (according to all the comments on various web sites) Joe Finley has a career total (including this year to date) 87 penalties for 231 minutes in 113 games (he’s got a ways to go to catch up with Commy). For this year his stats are 22 penalties for 63 minutes in 29 games and is a plus +22. He is tied for major penalties with one with several of our other “goons” – Ryan Duncan, TJ Oshie, Rylan Kaip, Kyle Radke and trails the biggest goon on the team Derrick LaPoint who has 2. Boy oh boy, are these guys a bunch of thugs. Would hate to meet any of them in a dark alley – OK, Radke pissed might make me shake in my boots a little.

While I really like the physicality that this years team is playing with and I am tremendously proud that they are willing to stand up for each other and take their punishment like men, these kids couldn’t hold a candle to the “brutes” that came before them. This is by far the least physically intimidating team the Sioux have had in a very long time. What they may lack in size however, they more than make up for it in HEART and PRIDE.

Milan Lucic goes two times.

I really like this kids and so do the Boston Bruins. Last night Milan Lucic got into this fight with Carolina's Wade Brookbank and then Milan finished the night going with with Carolina's Tim Gleason after he took exception to a hit that Gleason put on Bruins star Marc Savard.

According to Hockeyfights.com Lucic has not been in a fight since January 3rd. One of the reason he has not been in a fight was because of a facial injury he sustained in a game against the Flyers.

WCHA gives out additional penalties...

You knew it was coming and I don't have a problem with the decision that should have been made after the first fight. IF the referee Marco Hunt had given Radke and Testwuide a DQ for the first fight then there is a good chance that there is not another fight in that game.

North Dakota, Denver Receive Additional Penalties
by Adam Wodon/Managing Editor

Watch the Video

After the second period, as the teams were leaving the ice, a full-scale fight broke out between North Dakota's Kyle Radke and Denver's Brandon Vossberg. That followed a fight earlier in the game between Radke and Denver's J.P. Testwuide, which was broken up quickly and only resulted in 10-minute misconducts.

The between-periods fight caused a lengthy melee on the ice between numerous players, though Vossberg bore the brunt of up to a dozen punches by Radke.

Radke and Testwuide have each received a one-game suspension. WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod said that the referee, Marco Hunt, should have given a game disqualification for the earlier fight, which was the rationale for these suspensions. Radke already received an automatic suspension for the game disqualification penalty he received for the fight against Vossberg. That means Radke will sit out this entire weekend against Bemidji State, while Testwuide and Vossberg will each sit Friday against Alaska-Anchorage.

North Dakota swept the two-game series against the Pioneers, rallying from 4-1 down to win 5-4 on Saturday.

It's not the first time this year North Dakota has been involved in such an incident. Just three weeks ago, the Sioux got into a number of altercations with Minnesota, including a near-fight in the post-game handshake line. North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol was suspended for two games for an obscene gesture towards referees that was caught by television cameras during the game.

North Dakota leads the nation in penalty minutes at 22.2 per game.

"The same culprits that have been involved with previous issues from North Dakota were perhaps the catalyst to get this started," said Denver coach George Gwozdecky to the Denver Post.

"In a game like that, and to have that break out, was disturbing. I thought the officials that were very prompt earlier when Testwuide and Radke got into it, were very prompt in jumping in and breaking that up.

"And yet, in this instance with Radke and Vossberg, they did the exact opposite. I was very worried about Brandon. He was certainly on the wrong end of receiving those punches."

Sioux Traveler mentioned over on Siouxsports.com So if they can have make up calls on fights why not make up calls on the missed goals from earlier on?? They have opened up a large can of worms.

Yes they have; I think Sioux Traveler is right what stops the league from looking at every game after the fact because one of the head coaches is unhappy. I wonder if Gwoz is happy now that he got one of his players suspended for the next game that wasn't originally suspended. I think the Pioneers are getting a little thin, I read on line that the Pioneers are down to something like 17 skaters.

What next? I am all for this if after reviewing the films, however, if it is determined that the league officials made the wrong call the league office needs to hold the on ice officials publicly responsible. I am sick and tired of this shroud of secrecy in the WCHA. Like Running with the Dog's said this is nothing new for reviewing the tape but lets not be silly the officials need to make the right calls. I am all for making the game better but it starts with Refs also and not just the players.

In case anyone forgot.

There has been a lot of squabbling and complaining on what did or did not happen this past weekend. We have a coach in Denver complaining to whoever will listen to him about how the mean Sioux kicked the snot out of the Pioneers.

After it was all said and done, lost in all the complaining and arguing is the fact that UND got another sweep on home ice and now the Fighting Sioux sport a 11-4-0 record on home ice and have a 13-3-1 record over the last 17 games if my math is correct.

The What if
WCHA Final
Team GP Pts
UND 28 39
CC 28 38
Denver 28 35
Mankato 28 30
UW 28 29
UMD 28 28
SCSU 28 24
UMN 28 23
MTech 28 22
AA 28 12

Yep; no one else does it.

In case any of HALO wearers thinks that fights don't happen in college hockey take a look at this collection of COLLEGE HOCKEY fights that I have compilled.

This is a recent fight that happened last season in Duluth between Mavericks and Duluth I wonder if Chris Dilks colored himself surprised.

Seems George Gwozdecky has forgot that even his teams have managed to gets involved in the fights as well. Oops, seem as if it was the same player J.P. Testwuide gets mixed up with a Gopher player Ben Gordon.

Funny its not just the WCHA schools, it's also the CCHA schools as well.

Even the Ivy League schools do it as well as the AHA schools.


This has to be one of the best college hockey fights I have seen; Scott Williams thinks so as well.

This Week in the WCHA (Sioux 7)

This weekend in the WCHA there are 4 league series, MSU-M is on a bye week, and UND is in non-conference play against Bemidji State.

Wisconsin at Minnesota

This series is usually important and billed as the "Border Battle" however, this year UW is battling for home ice and UM is just trying to get some wins. The Gophers now have the chance to play the "spoiler", a role they are not use to playing. The other cliche is that they are a wounded animal and are dangerous and unpredictable. UM cannot continue to just score 1 goal per game, that has to end sometime and I think that will be this weekend. UW has been good as of late, not great, but good. The badgers have been splitting with all the teams they are fighting with for home ice. I say this weekend hurts them with a split againts the Gophers, a team with little chance of getting home ice.
THEE CALL - SPLIT.

Michigan Tech at St. Cloud

It's the Huskies versus the Huskies, the dogs are gathering for the Iditarod race, but not in Alaska, it is in Minnesota instead. Currently both teams have a shot at home ice, SCSU in 7th with 20-pts, and MTU is in 8th with 18-pts. If SCSU gets a sweep, they can put the hurt on MTU and almost guarantee them a road trip to start the playoffs. If MTU gets a sweep they still need some help but still would have a chance at home ice. SCSU has won 3 games in a row against, CC, UAA, UAA and have got some momentum going. MTU has been splitting games or only getting a point a weekend. I'm saying SCSU is going up the rankigs and MTU is going down.
THEE CALL - SCSU SWEEP

Colorado College at Minnesota-Duluth

The Tigers had a bye week and should be well rested for their big road trip to Duluth. The Bullydogs are returning home after splitting a pair last weekend in Houghton with MTU. The Sioux have caught up to the Tigers and the pressure is on them to try and use these two games (in hand on UND) to gain some distance between themselves and UND. On the other side of the ice, UMD is in 6th spot. The Dogs need to get some wins and stay on pace for at least a 5th place finish and avoid a road trip in the playoffs. The Dogs have 2-games in hand on UW and MSUM who are tied for 4th, right ahead of them in the standings. The Tigers are a .500 team on the road and I think they will stay that way.
THEE CALL - SPLIT

Alaska Anchorage at Denver

Denver comes limping back home after getting beat up at Grand Forks. The Seawolves faired no better as they were swept at home by SCSU. The Pioneers look like they had gotten off their slide last Friday, but blew a 3 goal lead and left UND without getting a point. The goalie, Mannino, suffered a bad save percentage last weekend managing a lower than normal .849 average for the weekend. The Pioneers are struggling, however, they did take 3-points from the Gophers a couple of weeks ago, who are just above the Seawolves in the standings. I think DU will get some points this weekend and UAA will once again end up in 10th.
THEE CALL - DENVER 3-pts

Bemidji State Beavers (CHA) at North Dakota

In the past 6-games between these teams UND is 5-0-1. BSU normally plays WCHA teams really well, but this year the Beavers are having a down year against the WCHA, going 1-7-0 (their win was versus UMD). With Sioux on the nations longest unbeaten streatk, 11-games, it doesn't get any easier for the Beavers.
THEE CALL - SIOUX SWEEP

Its better to be the hammer than the nail (2nd addition)

Dustin Strand has a saying on the back of his DTRA Midwest Modified, "If It Doesn't Make you Whine It Aint Mine." I think that saying goes a long way in explaining how the Fighting Sioux's season is going. The Sioux are 10-0-1 in their last 11 games and have caused a wake of destruction on their way to the top of the WCHA standings.

With each weekend comes new complaints about UND's rough and tumble style of play. It almost makes you think we should change the UND Fighting Sioux team name to Murder INC. Funny thing was no one was really complaining about the Fighting Sioux until the Sioux got hot and went on a 11 game unbeaten streak. Also, I have not heard a lot of complaining about UND from its non-conference opponents.

The one complain that I find the to be the most humorous is big Joe Finley legal check on DU player Marcuzzi.

dggoddard "Clean hits" that result in concussions are not acceptable IMO. The hit needs to be looked at by the league office.

Yeah! Right, now fans want the WCHA to suspend people for legal hits, they don't even suspend people for illegal hits. I don't think that is going to happen, and it shouldn't. No one seemed that concerned Brady Murray or Jason Blake were hurt by legal hits. Injuries are a part of the game.

This should be taken as a badge of honor. I am actually glad that UND has finally gotten the moxie back, when the Ralph first opened teams seemed too giddy or comfortable coming in to play the Sioux. Teams should not want to come play the Sioux whether it is in the REA or in the other team's rink. I think Hakstol and company have the Sioux going in the right direction. Seems the better they get the more complaints they get.

Puck Swami said; think it's even a bit more than just 'not backing down' or 'sticking together'. Many teams have that. With UND, there are escalating levels of a more proactive violent edge to the Sioux game that all is about violence as intimidation.

Here's how..What makes the Sioux so effective over the years is that they have three more advanced levels of pro-active violence that they can draw upon to intimidate and win. It starts at Level 1 "check-them-cleanly-but-violently-all-the-way-through-the-boards philosophy (Kris Porter/Matt Smaby/Mike Commodore)" that tries to establish the Sioux as masters of the physical domain. Nobody checks harder than UND, and this is often enough to keep opponents in check.

If that's not enough to win, the Sioux will then often go to Level II, which is a more irritating, psychological/physical escalation. This of this level as a "stick-em-in the-nuts" or "bump em in their face after the whistle" - a kind of old school, brute force intimidation. This is the kind of play we see from guys like Mike Prprich or a Joe Finley. The message here is "don't mess with us or we'll hurt you, badly. ." Level II pushes the line from legal to illegal, but it's highly effective.

If that doesn't do the job, the Sioux have no problems going to Level III, which is good, old-fashioned, beat-down punch you in the face until you bleed. This is the domain of a Jim Archibald or Kyle Radke.

The Sioux can, and do, recruit players that can fit all three levels, and escalate this up the chain as needed to win. And they do it better than anyone else.

Chris from Western College Hockey has created a flame feast with his post; color me surprised.

The Gophers fans didn't want to be left out so they got into the act as well.

This weeks picks

FRIDAY:

Michigan Tech at St. Cloud State
Alaska-Anchorage at Denver
Wisconsin at Minnesota
Colorado College at Minnesota-Duluth


SATURDAY:

Michigan Tech at St. Cloud State
Alaska-Anchorage at Denver
Wisconsin at Minnesota-Tie
Colorado College at Minnesota-Duluth

Non-Conference:
Bemidji State at North Dakota


SUNDAY (Non-Conference):

Bemidji State at North Dakota

Last Week 7-1
For the Year 97-65

WCHA Playoff Picture (Sioux 7)

Another weekend is in the record books, and Sioux have caught the Tigers. Albeit, they have caught them by the tail, CC has two games in hand on the Sioux. This will create some pressure on CC, they now need to keep winning, if, they want to win the WCHA title. CC has a tough schedule left, at UMD, MSU-M, and DU (home/away). The Bulldogs and Mavericks are looking to get home ice advantage, so they need points too. UND has BSU (non-confernce), then at UMD, and wrap up at home against SCSU. Both CC and UND have wrapped up home ice advantage for the first round, and will not have to play in the Final Five play-in game, the worst either can finish is in a tie for 3rd place (that only happens if they lose all their remaining games, and UMD sweeps them all). Who the Sioux and Tigers will play is yet to be decided, since the 4th through 9th place is only separated by 7 points. Lets take a look at the current standings, shall we.

Team..............games..points..record
1 Colorado College....22..33..16-5-1
1 North Dakota........24..33..16-7-1
3 Denver.................22..27..13-8-1
4 Minnesota State....24..24..10-10-4
4 Wisconsin............24..24..10-10-4
6 Minnesota-Duluth...22..21..8-9-5
7 St. Cloud State......22..20..9-11-2
8 Michigan Tech.......22..18..7-11-4
9 Minnesota.............22..17..6-11-5
10 Alaska-Anchorage...24..11..3-16-5

Lets look at the numbers and what we know. UAA can't finish higher than 8th place, and UND and CC can't drop lower than a 3rd place tie with UMD which is as high as they can get. UW and MSUM can both move up a spot in 3rd place. The Gophers can be anywhere between 10th and 3rd place, same goes for MTU, SCSU 9th up to 3rd.

I think that SCSU, MTU, and UM are going to finish in the bottom five. If DU keeps stumbling (they could drop as low as 7th place) it would make an interest race for the final 3 home ice spots.

It looks like homce ice race will come down to the final week of the season.

Mite Hockey brawl.

A friend of mine sent me this story in an email with the quip that they must be future UND fighting Sioux players. Typical Gopher fan.

From Geulph Ontario Canada. Kids as young as eight years old, along with their coaches, duke it out on ice after a hockey game between the two teams. Global National's Lauren McNabb reports...

Miami in need of the Heimlich

All season long we have been hearing from the CCHA-loving media experts how Miami is such a great hockey program. One Skippy even used the term dynasty. Fast forward to Sunday and Miami's bubble is starting to burst. The schedule stuffed with cupcakes is finally coming back to bite the RedHawks in the butt. One could say that the cupcakes are getting lodged in their throats.

As college hockey fans will tell you, championships are won in March and April, not November, December and January. There isn't a Virg Foss or a Sid Hartman media award for winning first half of the season. To be successful and make a run deep into the post season, your hockey team needs to winning at the an end of the season, not limping into the playoffs. The key to being successful is having your team winning in February and March. Miami seems to be in full meltdown mode and is falling faster than a prom dress at a senior prom.


Adam Wodon sums it up best:

Ferris State 3, Miami 1
CHN: Uh-oh. Ferris State did it to Miami again, and, soon you won't have to worry whether Miami is overrated, because they won't be rated very highly anyway. This two-game sweep at the hands of the Bulldogs has to sting Miami, which needs to get out of this funk in a hurry. First place is lost, now with Michigan five points ahead. And Michigan State tied the RedHawks for second with its two-game sweep. The losses have dropped Miami to fourth in KRACH and tied for fourth in the Pairwise.

Brian Rolston vs Alexandre Burrows

My advice for former LSSU star and Current Minnesota Wild player Brian Rolston is keep your day job as a top 5 forward with the Minnesota Wild. I have to give Rolston credit for taking matters into his hands by answering Burrows. I would not call Rolston a goon because that was only his second fight of his NHL career www.hockeyfights.com

From www.hockeyfights.com

There were two scraps in last night’s game against the Wild. Nathan McIver had a good bout with Aaron Voros early in the first period. In the second, Alex Burrows took exception to a hit Brian Rolston put on Willie Mitchell. Rolston got Mitchell hard from behind, no call was made, and Burrows wasn’t giving Rolston any option. It was Rolston’s first major since 1994-95 when he had a fight with Ken Klee. Klee picked up the instigator in that one, something the Star Tribune also noted.

UND 4 DU 1

DeJevu; Saturday night at the fights as the Sioux and Pioneers slug it out in a good ole fashion grudge match. As a fan I think this was a great series to watch. As a fan this is what I expect from a UND and DU game, both teams got after it all game long.

The Fight(s)

I do think the ref Marko Hunt made a grave mistake by letting Radke and Testwuide continue in the game, both players should have been given game disqualifications for fighting, both players were definitely throwing punches. It was also unanimous as the guys sitting around us agreed as well. That is the first time I have ever seen a college hockey player get into two fights in ONE game. I think if you look back at the fights UND has been involved in they were a direct result in the way the games were called. Call me a halo but if the refs start giving penalties for all unnecessary stuff (face washes, cross checks, punches etc)eventually the message will make its way down to the players involved in the game. Again call the games like the NHL and the game will clean itself up in about three weeks. The UND Fighting Sioux has now had three players receive game disqualifications for fighting this season.

~UND is 15-8-2 against nationally ranked teams.

~Oshie and Duncan are tied with Lasch for the league lead in points.

~In the last 10 games UND has given up more than one goal only twice.

~The last time UND swept DU in Grand Forks was 1999

Box Score
Goals Scoring/Penalties Time

1st Period (20:00)

DEN-1 J.P. Testwuide (2-Holding) 11:15
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Roughing) 11:15
NDK 1 - 0 5x5 LL Joe Finley (4) (Chay Genoway, Evan Trupp) 13:04
NDK (+): 2,5,21,19,G1 DEN (-): 22,17,4,5,G29
DEN-2 J.P. Testwuide (2-Interference) NDK 1x1 13:38
NDK 2 - 0 6x5 PP GW Evan Trupp (8) (Chay Genoway, Andrew Kozek) 15:01
NDK: 5,25,19,21,10,G1 DEN: 16,14,25,4,G29
DEN-3 Matt Glasser (2-Roughing) 16:08
DEN-4 Matt Glasser (2-Roughing) 16:08
DEN-5 Dustin Jackson (2-Roughing) 16:08
NDK-2 Matt Frattin (2-Roughing) 16:08
NDK-3 Matt Frattin (2-Roughing) 16:08
NDK-4 Brad Malone (2-Roughing) 16:08
NDK-5 Brad Malone (2-Hooking) DEN 0x1 16:08

2nd Period (20:00)

DEN-6 Chris Butler (2-Holding) NDK 1x2 0:30
NDK-6 Robbie Bina (2-Hooking) DEN 0x2 3:33
DEN-7 J.P. Testwuide (2-Slashing) 6:38
DEN-8 J.P. Testwuide (2-Roughing) 6:38
DEN-9 J.P. Testwuide (10-Misconduct) 6:38
NDK-7 Kyle Radke (2-Slashing) 6:38
NDK-8 Kyle Radke (2-Roughing) 6:38
NDK-9 Kyle Radke (10-Misconduct) 6:38
NDK-10 BENCH (2-Too Many Players) (Served by Ryan Martens) DEN 0x3 8:10
NDK 3 - 0 6x6 Andrew Kozek (13) (T.J. Oshie) 11:46
NDK (+): 10,7,16,28,4,G1 DEN (-): 12,25,7,19,16,G29
DEN 1 - 3 6x6 Brian Gifford (2) (Tom May, Zach Blom) 13:14
DEN (+): 22,14,17,7,4,G29 NDK (-): 6,25,17,11,20,G1
DEN-10 BENCH (2-Too Many Players) (Served by Brandon Vossberg) NDK 1x3 18:26
DEN-11 Tom May (2-Roughing) 20:00
DEN-12 Stephen Cunningham (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 20:00
DEN-13 Stephen Cunningham (10-Misconduct) 20:00
DEN-14 Brandon Vossberg (5-Fighting) 20:00
DEN-15 Brandon Vossberg (10-Game Disqualification) (Served by Zach Blom) 20:00
DEN-16 Peter Mannino (2-Roughing) (Served by J.P. Testwuide) NDK 1x4 20:00
NDK-11 Joe Finley (2-Roughing) 20:00
NDK-12 Evan Trupp (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 20:00
NDK-13 Evan Trupp (10-Misconduct) 20:00
NDK-14 Kyle Radke (5-Fighting) 20:00
NDK-15 Kyle Radke (10-Game Disqualification) 20:00

3rd Period (20:00)

DEN-17 Andrew Thomas (2-Roughing) 9:41
NDK-16 T.J. Oshie (2-Roughing) 9:41
NDK-17 Rylan Kaip (2-Interference) DEN 0x4 17:47
Timeout - Denver 17:47
NDK 4 - 1 5x6 SH EN T.J. Oshie (13) (unassisted) 18:50
NDK (+): 7,5,2,29,G1 DEN (-): 21,19,4,7,9,14


Check out this post from USCHO.COM

Gordwiser said: w t f? What a bunch of pansies complaining about bumping, gooning, and physical play... has no one played organized sports? That is why there are rules and penalties. If the Sioux (or any team) continue to muck it up, it's going to cost them with penalties, DQ's, etc. and eventually it will catch up with them. Even with all the physical play, I haven't seen any play with an intent to injure... that's a different story and do not condone that at all. I'm sick of all the BS about it all being on the Sioux and never the other team. If you have ever played any team sport of any kind, it's going both ways to some extent. We aren't on the ice to hear what is actually going on.

Kozy's sweet goal.

For those of you that don't read Siouxsports.com or surf youtube.com here is Andrew Kozek's third goal in last nights game. Look like the new top like is the DOK line (Duncan, Oshie Kozek).

Miami chokes on a cup cake.

All season long we have been discussing Miami's less that challenging schedule. A schedule lined with cream puffs and cup cakes. All the while the media pundants have lectured and have become defensive in telling the know nothing fans/hockey bloggers how great of a team the Miami RedHawks are. Okay, the Miami RedHawks are a good team not great and they are better than than about 9-10 teams in the CCHA. We have been told that we can't fault them for the played a very weak schedule because they have beaten the teams they had to play well except Michigan and three softies. Well that weak schedule came back to bite the paper champion Miami RedHawks again. So now the Miami squad has lot to CCHA powerhouses Alaska, Bowling Green and Ferris State.

Big Rapids, MI - Miami extended its winless streak to three games Friday night, dropping its opening contest with Ferris State, 6-5.

Senior captain Ryan Jones netted his third hat trick of the season, scoring goals number 25, 26, and 27 on the year, pushing Jones in front of Michigan's Kevin Porter for the nation's lead in goals scored.

Junior forward Justin Mercier scored twice and added an assist for the RedHawks, extending his point streak to five games. Mercier has four goals and four assists during that span.

Ferris State came out with plenty of pressure, out shooting the RedHawks, 9-0, through the first seven minutes of the game. FSU forward Cody Chupp opened the scoring early in the first period, when he picked up a rebound off of the leg pad of senior netminder Charlie Effinger and put the loose puck into the RedHawks' net. The score was Chupp's sixth of the season.

Ferris State extended its lead to 2-0, when forward Aaron Lewicki picked off an errant Miami pass while the RedHawks were on the power play, and wristed a shot past the stick of Effinger.

Just 44 seconds later, as the Bulldogs returned to full strength, sophomore Blair Riley skated in alone on Effinger, putting his shot through the Miami goaltender's legs. Junior goalkeeper Jeff Zatkoff came into the game after the third goal, his first action in relief this season.

(Read the Rest of the Story)

UND 5 and DU 4

UND dug themselves a hole before the Fighting Sioux scored 4 unanswered goals to win the game 5-4. Andrew Kozek had a career game as he scored a hat trick as the Sioux came from behind to win the game.


First Period

Denver-1 Anthony Maiani (Brian Gifford, Dustin Jackson) PPG 13:29
North Dakota-1 Andrew Kozek (Chay Genoway) PPG 16:00

Second Period

Denver-2 Jesse Martin (Kyle Ostrow) 0:56
Denver-3 Tom May (Tyler Bozak, Patrick Mullen) 2:27
Denver-4 Matt Glasser (Brian Gifford) 8:09
North Dakota-2 Chay Genoway (Ryan Duncan, Ryan Martens) 19:00
North Dakota-3 Ryan Duncan (Andrew Kozek) 19:33

Third Period

North Dakota-4 Andrew Kozek (Ryan Duncan) 10:58
North Dakota-5 Andrew Kozek (T.J. Oshie, Ryan Duncan) GWG 15:15
Goaltender Saves
Denver-1 Peter Mannino (59:42 L) 7 9 5 21 (5 GA)
North Dakota-1 Jean-Philippe Lamoureux (60:00 W) 3 5 6 14 (4 GA)

Referee(s): Marco Hunt
Asst. Referee(s): Nathan Freeman, Kile Bergren

Goon's World meets Greg Sheppard.

Greg Sheppard, the head of officials for the WCHA, was at the Green Mill tonight in Grand Forks and we had the opportunity to talk with him. I must say that Greg Sheppard was a lot of fun to talk to and a real trooper.

Game time

The results from the latest poll are in:
Question: Number of points the Sioux take from DU?
4 Points (144) 51%
3 Points (68) 24%
2 Points (44) 15%
1 Point (5) 1%
0 Points (19) 6%

You have got to love Patrick Reusse

You have got to read this PATRICK REUSSE article Mavericks no longer are a WCHA pushover From yesterday's Minneapolis Star and Tribune. Lets Go Mav's had it linked on her blog and this article is your classic Patrick Reusse article. You can bet that the Gopher fans will take issue with it and probably flood his email box with nasty grams.

The Gophers are off this weekend, giving Lucia, his players and their smug followers extra time to contemplate how the college hockey program with the most money, the widest-ranging television exposure and its choice of elite recruits can find itself in seventh place and with six victories in 22 WCHA games (6-11-5).

Here is another interesting statement.

The WCHA schedule has taken a different turn in Mankato, where the Mavericks don't have a sparkling and fabulously equipped arena in which they play and practice, but rather a modest rink called All Seasons in which they practice before moving down the hill to play games in the 5,000-seat Alltel Center.

Commodore glad to be a Senator.

Mike Commodore talks about the trade to the Ottawa Senators. I guess I am going to have to watch the Senators more often this spring with this trade the Sens got a lot tougher and Stillman will add experience and scoring touch.

(Read the rest of the story)

After getting over the initial shock of being traded Monday, newly acquired Ottawa Senators defenseman Mike Commodore began to rationalize.

”I remember playing against this team (Ottawa) in Carolina the last three seasons and how tough it was to slow them down,’’ Commodore told NHL.com. “It’s an offense capable of moving the puck and creating opportunities very quickly. As a defenseman, I never had any fun trying to keep up with this group. So I began to think how exciting it would be to become a part of it all. It’s always fun playing with a team that is this dynamic. I understand my role, which is to get the puck to our forwards as quickly as possible and allow them the freedom to do the rest. I’m looking forward to helping this team get on a little run moving forward into the playoffs.’’

Of course, Commodore is referring to Ottawa’s triple threat of Daniel Alfredsson (34 goals, 39 assists), Jason Spezza (23, 49) and Dany Heatley (28, 35), who sit snugly among the League’s scoring leaders.

Commodore and Cory Stillman were acquired by Ottawa in exchange for defenseman Joe Corvo and forward Patrick Eaves. Stillman, 34, who is only the sixth player in NHL history to win the Stanley Cup in two consecutive seasons with two different teams (Tampa Bay and Carolina) and Commodore, 28, each bring a wealth of playoff experience to Ottawa.

”The two guys we lost were big parts of our team, so it’s always kind of a different mix-up when you have a trade at this time in the season,’’ Ottawa goalie Ray Emery said. “But we’re pretty familiar with the guys (Commodore and Stillman) we were getting and realize that in a playoff run and, short term, they have experience and are more than likely going to be a big part of any success we have down the stretch.’

This one was close.

Wideman on Malkin in last nights game between the Pens and the Bruins. These kind of hits make you hold your breath every time you see a hit like this. Looks like it wasn't a deliberate knee on knee hit. What do you think?

Classic Bruins and Habs

Ah yes the good old days. I love watching videos from the old days in the NHL, where players settled their differences on the ice. There wasn't the stupid instigator rule. This video is a blast from the past, Habs and Bruins.

Jean-Philippe Lamoureux 4 the Hobey Baker.

Here are some of links for Phil Lamoureux's Hobey Baker Campaign. If you take a serious look at the numbers there is no reason Jean-Philippe Lamoureux isn't a legitmate Hobey Baker candidate. Jean-PhilippeLamoureux has not stacked his stats playing a mediocre schedule, he has done this playing the toughest strenght of schedule in college hockey this season to date.

Here are some of Phils accomplishments (per Grand Forks Herald)

-- Posted four shutouts in the first five games, becoming the first Western Collegiate Hockey Association player to achieve the feat.

-- Allowed just one goal in seven of the last eight games.

-- A save percentage that would rank as the best single-season mark in Sioux history, breaking Jordan Parise's .929 from two seasons ago.

-- A goals-against average that would be second-best in school history, trailing only Bob Peters' mark from the 1950s.

And don't forget, he's accomplished all of this against the most difficult schedule in college hockey according to both the KRACH and PairWise ratings.

Links

Grand Forks Herald

AZ Sioux's Phil 4 Hobey

MEN'S HOCKEY: Tops in stops

Dr Jekyll or Mr Hyde

This weekend the Fighting Sioux 17-8-2 play the Denver Pioneers 19-8-1 in an important WCHA series. This series will help decide where the two teams end up in the league standings as well as the all important PWR rankings. Here is a look at the Pioneers past 8 games and it would appear that DU has been a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde team. The Pioneers have a record of 3-4-1 during the new year. In the four loses the Pioneers have given up 20 goals and score 7 goals. In the 3 wins the Pioneers have scored 11 goals and gave up 5 goals. I don't know what DU Pioneers team to expect this weekend, however, this weekends series will not be a cake walk that some Sioux fans have suggested it will be. Anytime UND and DU strap it on it is ussually a hard fought and highly contested series and more than likely a split is probable result. I just don't see either team running away and hiding this weekend.

January (2-2, 2-2)
11 #17 Wisconsin * W, 3-2
12 #17 Wisconsin * L, 7-2
18 @ Air Force L, 5-2
19 Bemidji State W, 4-2
February (1-2-1, 1-2-1)
1 @ Minnesota State * L, 5-1
2 @ Minnesota State * L, 3-2
8 #20 Minnesota * T, 1-1 OT
9 #20 Minnesota * W, 4-1

Peter Mannino Pictured aboveis a four-time Red Baron WCHA Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 16, Nov. 6, Nov. 20, Feb. 12) honoree and candidate for Lowes Senior CLASS Award
for accomplishments on and off the ice. Mannino is tied for first all-time at Denver in shutouts (13), second in saves percentage (.918), third in goals against average (2.32) and tied for sixth in wins (56). He is 1-4-1 with a 3.61 GAA and .875 Sv% in his last six starts.

Pioneers must deal with fast line change.

Here is an interesting article from the Denver Post on players like Trotter leaving their college team early. While it hurts to lose players during the season I don't see a need to have any unnecessary rules on saying how long a player has to stay or when they can leave. From Lucia's comments in this article it would appear that Lucia would like to get rid of the one and done players like Phil Kessel and Erik Johnson.

Say for a moment if there was a rule like this then in UND's case the Sioux probably don't get players like Jonathon Toews, Zach Parise, Travis Zajac or David Toews. I would rather have these players come play in the WCHA for one and two season instead of not having them play in the WCHA at all. Whats good for Minnesota is not alway good for the rest of the league. If that was the case the Gophers don't get players like Erik Johnson or Phil Kessel because they end up going to Major Juniors in Canada instead.

(Read the whole article right here)

NCAA hockey is one of three major development entities for the NHL, but the only one that is unprotected from absorbing in-season player departures to NHL contracts.

If Trotter or Okposo played in the Canadian Hockey League, otherwise known as major junior, or a European elite league, they would have been prohibited or deterred from signing NHL deals.

"There is no deterrent with us at all," Western Collegiate Hockey Association commissioner Bruce McLeod said. "We have to come up with a deterrent, whether you can't sign after the season starts, or even like July 15, because it's hard to replace a guy after that.

"But, of course, we can't deal with money. We can't impose fines like the (International Ice Hockey Federation). It has to be a rule like major junior."

In major junior, an NHL prospect learns his full-season status after the first 10 NHL regular- season games. He sticks with the NHL club or is sent back to major junior for the rest of the regular season and playoffs.

If an NHL club signs an IIHF player and that player does not play in the NHL, the team that signs him compensates the IIHF team up to $150,000.

"We have to inject some rules to protect college hockey," Gophers coach Don Lucia said. " (DU's) situation is a little different than ours (with Okposo), but we have to find a common ground. Other leagues are protected and ours isn't. . . . We don't hold any cards, and therein lies the problem. We don't have any leverage."

This is an interesting article and it is something to think about. I am not so sure that we need to have another rule detailing how long a player needs to agree on staying in college. I guess coaches might have to make sure they are communicating with their players through the season.

Want to know why goals are down in the WCHA?

I have read where a lot of people are concerned about the numbers of goals that are being scored in the WCHA this season. I think I might have a reason why. Look at the National statistics for goalies. That is impressive in my opinion.

Goals Against Average: Minutes GA GAA
1 Jean-Philippe Lamoureux North Dakota SR 1594:53 46 1.73
4 Michael-Lee Teslak Michigan Tech JR 783:16 24 1.84
5 Richard Bachman (DAL) Colorado College FR 1498:24 46 1.84
12 Mike Zacharias Minnesota State JR 1542:51 54 2.10
15 Alex Stalock (SJS) Minnesota Duluth SO 1576:03 56 2.13
16 Alex Kangas (ATL) Minnesota FR 1094:54 39 2.14
17 Peter Mannino Denver SR 1565:09 56 2.15
24 Shane Connelly Wisconsin JR 1614:35 62 2.30

Save Percentage: Saves GA Save%
1 Jean-Philippe Lamoureux North Dakota SR 652 46 .934
2 Michael-Lee Teslak Michigan Tech JR 319 24 .930
4 Richard Bachman (DAL) Colorado College FR 601 46 .929
12 Alex Kangas (ATL) Minnesota FR 468 39 .923
14 Alex Stalock (SJS) Minnesota Duluth SO 661 56 .922
16 Mike Zacharias Minnesota State JR 630 54 .921
17 Peter Mannino Denver SR 652 56 .921

Troy Jutting makes an appearance on CSTV's at the Rinks

I think Troy Jutting is a good coach and is doing one hell of a job coaching the Minnesota State Univeristy Mavericks. While I am sure there are some Mankato Mavericks fans that will disagree with me I think Jutting has done a good job recruiting and coaching in the shadow of the University of Minnesota. It wasn't that long ago Mankato was transitioning from a Division II powerhouse to a legitimate division one team.

I can remember watching MSU-M and BSU play in the John S. Glas Field House for the first time as a Division one team. Now Jutting has the team on the cusp of a NCAA tourney bid. Troy Juttings team play a hard nosed style of play that I admire. I just hope my Sioux don't have to play them until the Final Five.

Here is a question that was posed to Coach Jutting from a North Dakota Mavericks fan. Hum, I wonder who he is? I wonder if I know him.

Mav's fan, ND: Coach, Would you say that your team play this year will get some of the nay sayers off your back?
Troy Jutting: I don't know. To be honest, I don't worry about that. I put far greater pressure on myself than anybody else can. I try to do the job best that I can. Everybody wants to be an expert, and there are a lot of people who have great ideas. I just want to do the best job that I can.

Where has this kid been all season?

Seth Lang's play Monday night should make his case in solidifying his hold on the starting goaltending position for Central High School. Seth Lang a sophomore until recently had been wafting in the wings for his opportunity to show what he can do. That opportunity finally presented itself on Monday night as Lang and the Central Knights put up blue collar effort to beat the Fargo South Bruins 2-1 in overtime. It would appear that the questions to the goaltending situation at Central High School have been answered!

Central grabs third seed
By Brad Schlossman, Herald Staff Writer

After a 5-19 finish last season, Tony Bina set the lofty goal of a third-place finish for his Grand Forks Central boys hockey team.

It took until the final second of the regular season, but the Knights fulfilled their coach's wish.

Joel Riopelle scored an overtime goal to lift Central to a 2-1 win over Fargo South on Monday in a game that decided the East Region's third seed.

“It's so big for us to get the win, especially going into the playoffs,” said Bina, whose team finished the regular season 12-8-1 overall and 8-5-1 in region play. “We thought that we could finish in the top three in the (East Region), and we did it through hard work.”

The Knights used strong goaltending from sophomore Seth Lang and timely goals by Riopelle and Klockmann to beat the Bruins in overtime for the second time this season.

Lang stopped 24 shots to lead a strong defensive effort by the Knights, who had allowed 17 goals in the last two games.

“We had to bounce back from those games,” said Lang, who made 11 saves in the third period. “It's good to leave the regular season on a good note.”

Central plays sixth-seeded Fargo North on Thursday in the first round of the region tournament, while Fargo South plays fifth-seeded Devils Lake.

The Bruins appeared to be in position to take the third seed on Monday night after Ian Powers tied the game when his wrist shot from the boards went off a Central defenseman's stick and into the net with 4:50 left.

South outshot the Knights 12-3 in the third period and only needed to muster a tie.

But in overtime, Central needed just one scoring chance.

Riopelle carried the puck in the zone on his forehand along the right wing. He fought off a check from a Bruin defenseman and took it to the net hard. At the last second, he moved the puck to his backhand and flipped it past goalie Scott Buchholz on the short side at 1:22.

“On a play like that, you just try to drive to the net and hope to get a rebound or draw a penalty,” Riopelle said. “Once I saw it go in, I just laid there on the ice. I knew that the game was over. That's probably the best feeling I've ever had as a Central hockey player.”

South coach Dean Wilson said he felt his team had chances to win but didn't finish. As for not getting the third seed, he's not overly concerned.

“In order to get to state, we'll need to beat Red River, Grafton(-Park River) and Central anyway,” Wilson said. “And Devils Lake, too, for that matter. We play them first.

“We're looking forward to the challenge.”

This weeks picks: Misc Ramblings/Rants

Friday:
St. Cloud State at Alaska-Anchorage
Minnesota-State at Wisconsin
Denver at North Dakota
Minnesota-Duluth at Michigan Tech

Saturday:
St. Cloud State at Alaska-Anchorage
Minnesota-State at Wisconsin
Denver at North Dakota
Minnesota-Duluth at Michigan Tech

Some people think I have the ability to jinx or put a hex people's hockey teams. That theory was proven wrong this past weekend when the Mav's swept the hapless UAA Sea-wolves in Mankato just as I predicted. I am also back to level par and even Steven with Sioux7 as Donn dared push his luck and make a bet with me again. HA!

This week I will prove that in fact this theory wrong again as I have picked the UMD Bull Dogs and SCSU to sweep. Drum roll please.

The Commodore trade.

Here are a couple of interesting articles that I found about the Mike commodore trade. I am kind of torn because I really liked the Hurricanes and I enjoyed their exciting run through to the Stanley Cup finals Also as a Fighting Sioux fan I loved watching Commodore winning the Stanley Cup. Also, one of the major reasons that I liked the Hurricanes was the fact that former WCHA stars Mike Commodore, Brent Heican and Matt Cullen played for canes. I can't cheer for the Ottawa Senators, it is like selling your soul to the devil. I know it is a business and the Canes are floundering so I am sure it had to be done.

As we found the out the Carolina GM wasn't messing around.

As Eric McErlain reported last month, Carolina GM Jim Rutherford expressed regret in a radio interview that he had kept so many players from the Hurricanes' Cup team together, and threatened to shake the Canes out of their season-long "underachieving" by dealing away "popular players." Well, today Carolina has traded defenseman Mike Commodore -- arguably the fans' most cherished player, maybe even more than Eric Staal -- and forward Cory Stillman to Ottawa in exchange for defenseman Joe Corvo and forward Patrick Eaves.

The Cason Blog looks at the Mike Commodore trade

Thank you Mike Commodore. You really grew up as a Cane. The Flames showed you no love, but you found it in droves as a Hurricane. You are truly a bigger-than-life guy. The Ottawa clubhouse just got a lot more fun. I wish you were heading to the Russian Super Secluded Siberian League. I sense pain on the horizon for many a Cane forward.