Cam Bam Neely, one cool tribute

Cam Neely in my opinion was one of the best right wings to ever play the game of hockey, when he retired he left a void in a lot of Boston Bruins fan's heart. Cam Neely's career was cut short by a dirty leg check by the Dirty Swede and turtle Ulfie Samuelsson.

I still remember the day Cam retired from the NHL. It feels like it was yesterday and it still makes me sad today to think what Cam Neely could have become if his hockey career not have been cut short by a bush-league knee on knee leg check. Who knows; maybe the Bruins would have traded him away like all the other stars.

But I digress; fast forward to this season. I hear people say, “oh that player over reacted, it was only a leg check.” Only a leg check, watch the video and see what a knee on knee leg check can do to a hockey player. Play the game straight up or don’t play at all.

Sioux out two key underclassmen.

This is the bad news that Sioux fans kind expected was going to be coming this week. UND lost two key underclassmen players; Chay Genoway was hurt in Sunday game during the first period on a checking from behind penalty and super frosh Evan Trupp was hurt on a freak accident that after watching the tape I still can't figure out what happened.

Genoway, Trupp Out Indefinitely for North Dakota
GRAND FORKS, N.D. — A two-game sweep of Minnesota-Duluth over the weekend propelled North Dakota to the top spot in the current Pairwise, but the Fighting Sioux may have paid a significant price the victories.

Freshman forward Evan Trupp, the team's top-scoring rookie, and sophomore defenseman Chay Genoway, the WCHA's top-scoring defenseman in points-per game, will both be out of the North Dakota lineup indefinitely after suffering major injuries over the weekend.

No timetable has been set for their returns, and whether or not they will return to the lineup at all this season remains questionable.

Genoway, who has amassed 22 points in 30 games this season, was injured in the first period of Sunday's game after being checked from behind into the boards by Minnesota-Duluth junior forward Michael Gergen, a former teammate of Genoway's. Gergen was ejected from the game for the hit.

The loss of Genoway, who is second on the team with a +19 on-ice rating, leaves the Fighting Sioux with six active defensemen.

Trupp, meanwhile, was injured in the second period on Saturday, fracturing a bone in his leg according to the Grand Forks Herald. Trupp (eight goals, five assists) had played in every game for North Dakota this season until his injury.

The injuries to Genoway and Trupp come a week before the end of the WCHA regular season. North Dakota is in the midst of a nation-best 15-game unbeaten streak and will host St. Cloud in a pair of games this weekend. The Fighting Sioux sit only two points behind first-place Colorado College in the WCHA standings.

Rivalry week; SCSU and UND

A person could burn up a ton of clichés describing the importance of this week’s matchup between the SCSU Huskies and the UND Fighting Sioux. The Huskies and Sioux are natural rivals as determined by the league a few years back. What does this mean? It means the Sioux and the Huskies are going to play 4 times a year every year. I have not heard a lot of people grumble about this and I am fine with it.

The UND Fighting Sioux and SCSU Huskies usually play exciting games and this year has been no different. Under Coach Bob Motzko the Huskies have gotten away from the ever boring trap and now play a more exciting brand of up tempo hockey. Back to the Clichés; did I mention that this weekend is crunch time? With the final week of the season there is a lot at stake. A WCHA regular season title (possible if DU co-operates and UND sweeps) and seeding for the WCHA tourney. This weekend’s series also has national implications as well, because the Sioux want to keep winning so they can secure a number one seed. If the Huskies get swept this weekend they probably go on the road for the First round of the WCHA playoffs and run the risk of not making the NCAA tourney.





SCSU Huskies 17-14-3 -- 12-12-2 5th place in the WCHA
Leading scorers
R. Lasch 22-24-46
G. Roe 18-22-40
A. Nodl 17-23-40
N. Dey 10-10-20
M. Hartman 7-12-19
Goaltenders
J. Weslosky 14-11-0 2.20
D. Dunn 3-2-2 2.63
B. O'Brien 0-1-1 3.54







Fighting Sioux 23-8-2 -- 18-7-1 2nd place in the WCHA
Leading scorers
T. Oshie 14-21-35
R. Duncan 13-20-33
C. VandeVelde 14-14-28
R. Bina 2-21-23
C. Genoway 6-16-22
Goaltenders
A. Walski 1-0-0 0.00
J. Lamoureux 22-8-2 1.68

UND is 14-5-4 the last 24 games against SCSU.

This post isn't going to make Husky fans very happy.

Jim Connelly said; We’ve reached the first full week of March with only one regular season league championship still up for grabs. The WCHA will come down to the final weekend of play, with North Dakota sitting just two points behind league-leader Colorado College.

The Tigers may have the tougher opponent this weekend then they’ll face in-state rival Denver, while North Dakota squares off against St. Cloud State. SCSU did prove a problem for Wisconsin over the weekend, earning a split, but they’ll be traveling to Grand Forks for this final weekend which gives the edge to the Sioux.

Here is another interesting perspective from this blog post.

WCHA Dominance in the PairWise

If the NCAA Tournament Selection Show were taking place today, the WCHA would have a 50/50 chance of winning this year’s national championship based on the field itself (WCHA fans, I’m sure, will argue that the league’s “superiority” would give them better than a 50/50 shot, but to that I digress).

Currently, eight of the ten WCHA teams rank in the top 14 of the PairWise rankings. That was made possibly when Minnesota crept from the 15th spot to the 12th position over the weekend, while a skidding Minnesota-Duluth club held on for dear life to the 14th and final PWR rank.

I don’t have the math brain to say what the chances are the through the playoffs that eight WCHA teams will maintain their PWR. Obviously, the lower the seeds that advance to the Final Five the better the chance that we’ll see seven or eight WCHA teams.

The Jack Johnson hit on Ryan Smyth

This is the Jack Johnson hit that everyone is talking about on the intenet. While none of use want to see a hockey player get hurt and carried off the ice on a stretcher Johnson hit Smyth was a legal hit.

This is what people are saying about the legal hit and Jack Johnson.

From the MiamiHawk Talk.

redhawkforlife said; People will say it was a clean hit. I agree. But Jack knew exactly what he was doing at that exact area of the ice. We've seen it over and over from him from jr's on up.

Bonk said; Who would've guessed? Hack checks someone cleanly for the first time in his adult life, and the guy loses consciousness. I'll bet he won't try that again.

Josh D who put the video said;jack johnson nearly kills ryan smyth

Joe Sakic added: "It wasn't a dirty hit. (Johnson) hit him hard and (Smyth) hit the corner of the glass. It was just unfortunate as to where it happened."

Johnson said, "that he felt bad about the check that sent Smyth sprawling to the ice."

However, he knew what was coming next. Clean hit or not, a fight had to happen. It's part of hockey's code.

But there's honor among fighters, and Laperriere extended Johnson the courtesy of deciding when the brawl would occur.

"He came up to me and said, 'Do you want to get it over with?"' Johnson said. "I said, 'Sure."'

The fight never took place as Rob Blake stepped in and played the role of peacemaker, quickly breaking up the fracas. He didn't want to see his young defenseman get hurt by the fists of Laperriere. Not for what he thought was a clean hit.

UMicers said; JJ is a disgrace to himself, Michigan and LA. He's always done that crap. Us Michigan fans don't count him as a Wolverine. He stayed here 2 years then went pro. I hate the Avs, but I like Ryan Smith - He's an Oiler to me.
It looks like Smyth got his head run into the column that connects each glass pane. Almost as if it was protruded out from the glass. Or was that the angle and it was really just JJ's elbow he threw?

I've seen a LOT dirtier hits. Still, JJ is an IDIOT of the highest order.

Are the black helicopters are circling in Madison?

Just for the record, I did study conspiracey theory in college so I can see where some WCHA fans might think the league has something against certain teams; say the Wisconsin Badgers. The Husky fans might have argument was well.

This past weekend there was another game with another blown call. This time the botched call was made by the WCHA head of official's son Derrick Sheppard, the team on the receiving end of that bad call; the Wisconsin Badgers. The game in question was also at the National Hockey Center the site of another blow call that went against the Huskies.

So does Greg give his son Derrick a weekend off? Is there another letter of apology for coming?

A look back at the preseason predictions.

Here is what I predicted the
Standing would look like.
1.) Fighting Sioux
2.) Minnesota
3.) SCSU
4.) DU
5.) UW
6.) C.C.
7.) Tech
8.) MSU-M
9.) UMD
10.) UAA

Here is what they look like with one week to go. Both Wisconsin and the UAA have no more games this weekend. So UAA can not improve their standing and Wisconsin has to depend on other teams and could be traveling for the first round.

1 Colorado College 19-6-1 39
2 North Dakota 18-7-1 37
3 Denver 16-9-1 33
4 Wisconsin 11-12-5 27
5 MSU-Mankato 11-11-4 26
6 St Cloud St 12-12-2 26
7 Minnesota 8-11-7 23
8 Minnesota-Duluth 8-13-5 21
9 Michigan Tech 8-14-4 20
10 Alaska Anchorage 3-19-6 12

Here is my updated My What if predictions for the season.

UND 28 41
CC 28 41
Denver 28 35
Mankato 28 28
UW 28 27
SCSU 28 26
UMN 28 25
UMD 28 23
MTech 28 22
AA 28 12

Sioux 7 sent this in an email today. Interesting look by all the so call experts. looks like there were a lot of people that were wrong.

Sioux 7 GF Herald USCHO INCH

North Dakota 1, 1, 1, 1
Minnesota 2, 2, 2, 4
Denver 3, 4, 3, 2
Colorado Coll.8, 3, 5, 3
Michigan Tech 4t, 7, 4, 6
Wisconsin 6, 5, 6, 7
St. Cloud St. 4t,6, 7, 5
MSU-Mankato 7, 9, 8, 9
Minn.-Duluth 9, 8, 9, 8
Anchorage 10, 10, 10, 10

UND 2 UMD 1 OT...

Kevin Pates blog article sums it up well ; UMD's scoreless streak ended at 232 minutes and 9 seconds, the longest in school history. North Dakota's shutout streak ended at 196:41, second longest in school history.

Wow! Let’s put this into perspective, the UMD Bull Dogs went almost 4 games without scoring a goal. That is mind boggling statistic and there is no sense to it. I watched both games this weekend and UMD is a much better team than that statistic. Fast forward to this weekend I pity the Gophers because they will definitely take a pound of flesh from the Gophers. I can just imagine what the rug is going to whining about this weekend on the FSN broadcasts. UMD is a physical team and the Gophers better be ready to play. The Golden Gophers better not worry about pressing their uniforms next weekend because they are definitely going to get their uniforms creased by the hard hitting Bull Dogs.

In case anyone is keeping track UND has now gone 12 periods without getting a major penalty. That in its self is a mile stone. UND is righting the ship at the right time going into the playoffs, silly selfish penalties at the wrong time can kill a teams chances of winning a national title.

On UMD's lack of scoring; it has to be bad luck/bad karma, you kind of wonder if one of the Bull Dog players broke a mirror in the UMD locker room. Lets not kid ourselves folks the UMD Bull Dogs are more talented than the score board reflects from this past weekend play that is also reflected in the Pairwise as they are still are ranked 13th and could get into the NCAA tourney. The Sioux with the win today moved to first in the Pairwise.

WCHA over rated?

Not in my unbiased opinion. Look for CCHA trolls over USCHO.COM to start another silly thread next week where we will read that UMD and MSU-M are over rated. To me it is just sour grapes because the WCHA is such a strong league.

I don't think the Miami’s, Notre Dames, Michigan States or the Michigan’s of the world would like to play this team right now. Personally, I hope the Sioux are done with the Bull Dogs for the season. Just a prediction I am sure that Denver wants nothing to do with them as well. While there wasn't a lot of scoring this weekend, the goaltenders put on one hell of a show. Might I say that Stalock was nothing short of F'N phenomenal? UND's goaltender Jean-Philippe Lamoureux was also pretty good as he only gave up one goal all weekend. I would definitely take Stalock on my team any day over Jeff Zatkoff or Billy Sauer.

Getting a sweep on the road in the WCHA is not easy and the Sioux had to work very hard for this victory. UND is now on a 15 game unbeaten streak which is tops in the nation and will play Garrett Roe and the SCSU Huskies this weekend in the REA.

Series injuries

In addition to the Evan Trupp injury yesterday, UND super sophomore defenseman Chay Genoway was hurt in the first period when he was checked from behind and it didn't look good but lets hope that it is not a shoulder separation.

box score

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1st Period (20:00)
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MND-1 Michael Gergen (5-Checking from Behind) (Served by Rob Bordson) NDK 0x1 1:11
MND-2 Michael Gergen (10-Game Misconduct) (Served by Rob Bordson) 1:11
NDK-1 Ryan Duncan (2-Interference) MND 0x1 5:46
NDK-2 Ryan Martens (2-Hooking) MND 0x2 15:12
NDK-3 Taylor Chorney (2-Interference) MND 0x3 19:55

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MND-3 Josh Meyers (2-Tripping) NDK 0x2 3:02
MND-4 Jordan Fulton (2-Interference) NDK 0x3 7:30
NDK-4 Derrick LaPoint (2-Holding) MND 0x4 9:26
MND-5 Matt McKnight (10-Misconduct) 11:39

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MND-6 Matt McKnight (2-Hooking) NDK 0x4 3:19
NDK-5 Robbie Bina (2-Hooking) 5:00
MND-7 Nick Kemp (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x5 5:05
MND 1 - 0 6x6 MacGregor Sharp (7) (Matt McKnight, Kyle Schmidt) 11:10
MND (+): 18,13,17,11,5,G32 NDK (-): 2,10,28,7,16,G1
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Andrew Kozek (15) (unassisted) 12:50
NDK (+): 10,7,16,2,28,G1 MND (-): 13,18,14,17,11,G32
MND-8 MacGregor Sharp (2-Holding) NDK 0x6 13:19

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overtime (0:53)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK 2 - 1 6x6 GW LL Chris VandeVelde (14) (Rylan Kaip, Joe Finley) 0:53
NDK (+): 29,17,2,7,28,G1 MND (-): 23,19,22,4,20,G32

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End of Game
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Color me surprised; I thought it was only UND that did these things?

To take a page from our favorite Western College hockey blogger color me surprised. This can't be. Seems things got a little rough between the Badgers and the Huskies this past weekend.

Hey; I thought it was only the Sioux got involved in these things? From what I read, it sounds like there was a lot of after the whistle stuff this past weeekend. What is the common denominator now? Red uniforms? The Badgers? According to the SCSU coach Bob Motzko his team is a bunch of saints and never gets involved in stuff like this. Heck his boys don't even know what to do in these types of situations. Here is a thought; how about the common denominator that it is a league game and things get heated.

Roe and the Huskies better be ready to be hit next weekend

I am telling you right now that UND is going to check Roe and the skilled Huskies up and down the ice next weekend. The Fighting Sioux are going to hit Roe hard every chance they get the Huskies can bank on it. That is hockey and that the way the Sioux play.

SCSU hockey: Winless no more
By Kevin Allenspach

Garrett Roe has a talent, something every bit as valuable as his abundant ability to score goals and set up others.

Those aptitudes alone are enough to make you want him on your side. He has another forte, though, that merely makes you glad you don’t have to play against him. Just ask the Wisconsin Badgers.

Roe can agitate, and the way he affected St. Cloud State’s 3-2 victory on Saturday at the National Hockey Center was right out of his stylebook.

Trailing by a goal, Roe drew a penalty late in the second period that resulted in a 5-on-3 power play for St. Cloud State.

Roe subsequently hammered a shot off the shoulder of goalie Shane Connelly to tie it, and Matt Hartman netted the winner 36 seconds later during the man advantage Roe created.

“If I play without and edge out there, you wouldn’t notice me afterward, you wouldn’t notice me on the forecheck, the backcheck, in the D-zone, on faceoffs, and you wouldn’t notice any points, either,” said Roe

Roe goaded the Badgers into two first-period penalties and then gave them the opportunity to go ahead with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty of his own.

(Read the rest of the article here)

More Garrett Roe

"I think I said we played a 'nice' game then, too," Motzko said. "That's the way it was again. They bring out the nice in us, I guess."

Except for Garrett Roe, who took exception to John Mitchell's hit at the SCSU blue line late in the second.

Roe, who thought he was kneed, got up and stalked Mitchell, eventually catching him with a hit from behind into the boards in front of the Badgers' bench.

Exit Roe for a major penalty and the closest the Huskies came thereafter was John Swanson's 20-foot shot that clanked the left post and the crossbar before bouncing out in the final minute.

The tumult and the shouting

Saturday's 3-2 victory was in the books, the Huskies had dispatched their 14-game winless streak against Wisconsin, and yet the Badgers wanted some more. Blake Geoffrion precipitated a scrum that involved many players from both benches just as they were emptying for the post series handshake. Both coaches came on the ice and started pitching their players out of danger, and referee Derek Shepherd wisely preempted the tradition and sent each team directly to their dressing rooms. Not before Matt Stephenson will remember Senior Night for the couple of good whacks he got in on Geoffrion, though.

"I looked over and I saw (Matt Hartman) on his back and Geoffrion was taking liberties," said Stephenson, who got a double-minor with Geoffrion. "I just came over to make sure it didn't get out of hand. First, they went after (Nate Dey) and that started the whole brouhaha. I looked over and I saw Geoffrion swinging. I went over and put my stick on him to let him know I was there and he turned around and punched me right in the stomach. One thing led to another and I was on top of him. I haven't been in one of those since juniors, and my last line brawl I was on the bottom."

Huskies coach Bob Motzko waded into the fray, afraid he would lose personnel for next weekend's series at North Dakota.

"Our guys never get into that, they don't know what to do," Motzko said. "I had to get out there and remind them we've got two more games to play."

MSU-M Mavericks 3 C.C. Tigers 2 in O.T.

So you say there is still a chance, UND can still tie for the WCHA title. There is still a slim chance of that happening thanks to the MSU-M Mavericks. The MSU-M Mavericks win the game in dramatic fashion as Kael Mouillierat scored 16 seconds into overtime. This is only the second time the C.C. Tiges have lost on home ice. I listened to the third period of this game and over time. See, I am not a jinx. Wow, sounded like an exciting game. I wonder how much drink spilling there was tonight?

To the Troy Jutting doubters/haters, how do you like Coach Jutting now? Talk about flying under the radar this season. Folks; there is your WCHA coach of the year. No one expected the Mavericks to be where they are but they are right there in the mix with a winning record.

Next weekend UND plays SCSU, DU plays C.C. and Mankato gets the Tech Huskies. Wow, it is going to be a photo finish in the WCHA this last week.

I hope this none of my friends.

I just hope this isn't one of my friends. Let me know if I need to send bond...

UND 2 UMD 0

Duluth Minnesota -- North Dakota scored twice in the final minute of play in each of the first two periods to extend its unbeaten streak to a nation-leading 14 games (13-0-1) and hand the Bulldogs their third straight loss (the first time that has happened all season). The Sioux (22-8-2; 17-7-1), who were 1-for-6 on the power play, got goals from T.J. Oshie and Chris VandeVelde.

If you like to watch a goaltenders battle this game was one for the classics. The goaltenders in this game were nothing short of being absolutely amazing. UMD goalie and Alex Stalock and Fighting Sioux Jean-Philippe Lamoureux were a pair of brick walls. Personally I like to see a little more scoring with my hockey but a win is a win.

Lamoureux's play this weekend helps make his case why he should be given strong consideration for the HOBEY BAKER With today's game Lamoureux is tied for 1st over all nationally in goals against average 1.70 and and third in save percentage of 933.

The game was not without a high cost as super freshman Evan Trupp suffered a lower leg injury looking at the tape I can not see what caused the injury but it didn't look good. I wouldn't be surprised if he is gone for the season. I hope I am wrong on that.

~According to UMD blogger Running with the Dogs UMD has gone 181 minutes with out a goal.

~With the shutout today by Lamoureux and the Sioux have held the opposition to zero goals 6 times on the season.

~During the 14 game unbeaten streak the Sioux have keep the opposition to 1 or fewer goals 11 times, that is pretty good defense in anybody book.

~UND known around the league as being a tough team has not taken a major penalty in 180 minutes.

~ Word for the week is - Donnybrook: A fight. Hockey announcers seem to be the only people who still use this term. In college hockey, fighting is strictly prohibited, and a player can earn a multi-game suspension for participating. But that doesn't stop announcers from dubbing just about any instance of pushing and shoving on the ice a donnybrook.

Box Score

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
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NDK-1 Derrick LaPoint (2-Roughing) 4:05
MND-1 Jordan Fulton (2-Goaltender Interference) 4:05
MND-2 Justin Fontaine (2-Roughing) NDK 0x1 4:05
MND-3 Travis Gawryletz (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x2 6:04
NDK-2 Evan Trupp (2-Tripping) MND 0x1 9:42
MND-4 BENCH (2-Too Many Players) (Served by Evan Oberg) NDK 0x3 12:13
MND-5 Michael Gergen (2-Roughing) NDK 0x4 14:30
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 GW LL T.J. Oshie (14) (Chay Genoway) 19:15
NDK (+): 5,7,2,16,10,G1

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2nd Period (20:00)
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NDK-3 Brad Malone (2-Tripping) MND 0x2 5:21
MND-6 Jordan Fulton (2-Hooking) NDK 0x5 9:02
NDK-4 Chris VandeVelde (2-Goaltender Interference) MND 0x3 12:51
MND-7 Jay Cascalenda (2-Delay of Game) NDK 1x6 18:21
NDK 2 - 0 6x5 PP Chris VandeVelde (13) (T.J. Oshie, Ryan Duncan) 19:37 NDK: 29,7,16,4,28,G1 MND: 22,17,20,13,G32

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3rd Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-5 T.J. Oshie (2-Slashing) MND 0x4 11:46
Timeout - Minnesota Duluth 19:00.3
NDK-6 Rylan Kaip (2-Roughing) 19:18
MND-8 Josh Meyers (5-Kneeing) (Served by Justin Fontaine) 19:18
MND-9 Josh Meyers (10-Game Misconduct) (Served by Justin Fontaine) 19:18

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End of Game

The Rat discusses the CCHA SOS.

This is an interesting article and I wanted Sioux fans to check it out. There is also a Zach Parise is God reference. I do find myself agreeing with what Elliot says.

Finally, something else that I had a mind to say in my previous employment, but didn't. It involves a pro wrestling reference, which I didn't want to make at CSTV, but this is my blog and mine alone, and I'll make as many wrestling references as I Zach-damn well please.

(Yes, I will make the "Zach Parise is G-d" jokes here, if for no other reason than that there's so much else going on in the world that I doubt The Genuine Article has time to worry about college hockey).

Anyway, this has to do with the subject of strength of schedule. I don't think it's meaningless by any stretch of the imagination, but I don't think it means as much as it's being made out to by those who doubt Michigan, Miami, etc.

In the fall of 1996, with the cash cow known as the nWo having just been introduced, there was going to be a WarGames match between the nWo and a WCW team (WarGames: coolest gimmick match ever). Sting and Lex Luger proposed joining forces with Ric Flair and Arn Anderson, who had been their rivals before the whole nWo business started.

Anderson, who is one of the best promo men who ever worked in wrestling, gave a long response that included a memorable (to me, anyway...sadly, it's not on YouTube) comment in the direction of Luger, who at that point had a real bodybuilder physique (not to mention better hair). He pointed at Luger's muscles and said that they were "show muscles," and no good in WarGames, but if Luger could bring the drive, intensity, and hard work that it took to get those muscles, that would be useful.

This is how I feel about teams that play "soft schedules." The record is like those "show muscles" that Arn Anderson talked about: it may look more impressive than it actually is, but the tools a team uses to win those games and amass that record? The skills, strength, speed, etc? Those are worth something, and just because those attributes have been tested against a less-than-impressive schedule, that doesn't mean that they aren't there.

I've seen Michigan, Miami, Michigan State and Notre Dame. I've seen what they bring to the table. Knock their schedules all you want, because it doesn't mean a thing about what kinds of teams they are.

I will say, however, that Miami will be much better off in the future if they can get out of the Ohio Hockey Classic. With Ohio State in its current condition as a program, that tournament does nothing for the RedHawks, and they should have gotten out of that instead of getting out of the Lefty McFadden.

If Miami is going to always be a road team in a holiday tournament, they'd do much better moving around, and going to the Denver Cup, Dodge Holiday Classic, one of the Florida tournaments, etc. At the very least, Ohio State should try to alternate Miami and Bowling Green as the second Ohio team in the tournament, so that each could move around in alternate years. Dartmouth is doing something like that since Vermont started hosting the Catamount Cup every year, as they host the Ledyard Bank tournament every other year, and are heading elsewhere at the holidays when they don't host.

There, I've said my piece on that.

Elliot is right about Miami. If the Miami RedHawks want to get more respect as a legitimate NCAA division one hockey program their university needs to start stepping up and playing some better teams during their non-conference play, they also need to win more than a game in the NCAA tourney.

Looking at Miami’s non-conference schedule; beating likes of Canisius, OSU (tourney), SCSU (tourney), Vermont and RPI is not all that impressive of a feat. Sure, Miami beat the people that they had on their schedule, however, there needs to be some meat to their schedule. Why not try to schedule some teams like B.C., UNH, UND, C.C., Wisconsin, and Minnesota? Wins against big programs helps in the pair wise rankings. I have a hard time believing these schools wouldn’t have some kind of a scheduling agreement with your school.

I read where one Miami fan said UNH and UND wouldn’t play MU. I am not sure how this guy came to this conclusion?

Or maybe no one else wants to play them. The scheduling philosophy at Miami is to play any one, anytime, anywhere. Look at our basketball and football schedules relative to the rest of the MAC. Its not Miami's fault if NDAK, UNH or other high profile hockey teams don't want to play us. And the CCHA isn’t that bad of a conference, very comparable to the other college hockey conferences. Miami may loose quickly in the tourney, but Michigan and every other team has an equal chance of bowing out early. Maybe you are the one that needs to get off what ever box you are standing on. Feb 14 2008, 2:09 pm by Justin, OXFORD, OH

I am all for Miami coming to REA for a two game series next season, in fact I would urge the University of North Dakota athletic department to schedule them as soon as possible. Why not? Actually I could imagine the Sioux traveling to Oxford, Ohio to play the RedHawks in the Goggin ice center, God knows that it would be on TV since most of us in the WCHA know that CSTV stands for CCHA TV. He, he, he...

So when is a loss an improvement?

From today's Herald I had to take a second look at this.
Since when is a loss an improvement?

Denver 1, Michigan Tech 0: Dustin Jackson scored a power-play goal with three seconds left in the second period to lift Denver over Michigan Tech.

The win lifted Denver into a second-place tie with UND in the WCHA standings.

Denver had a 22-21 edge in shots on goal.

Tech improved to 11-17-5 overall, while the Pioneers improved to 22-10-1.

Random thoughts.

This was posted by FargoSioux on Sioux sports the betting lines from Bally's in Las Vegas. This is what the gambling folks think the betting lines for this season's Frozen Four are going to be. Even the betting gurus have been fooled by Miami. It will be interesting to see how the paper tigers do during the NCAA tourney.


Teams of note:

Michigan 13/5
North Dakota 3/1
Boston College 7/2
Miami 7/2
Denver 4/1
Colorado College 6/1
Michigan St. 7/1
New Hampshire 7/1
Notre Dame 8/1

Other WCHA schools:

Wisconsin 10/1
Minnesota 30/1
St. Cloud 40/1
Mankato 50/1
Michigan Tech 60/1

Up dated WCHA standings

1 Colorado College 39 19-5-1 / 24-8-1
2 North Dakota 33 16-7-1 / 21-8-2
3 Denver 33 16-8-1 /22-10-1
4 Wisconsin 27 11-11-5 / 15-13-7
5 MSU-Mankato 24 10-11-4 / 16-13-4
6 St Cloud St 24 11-12-2 / 16-14-3
7 Minnesota 21 7-11-7 / 13-13-9
8 Minnesota-Duluth 21 8-11-5 / 12-12-6
9 Michigan Tech 18 7-14-4 / 11-17-5
10 Alaska Anchorage 12 3-18-6 / 7-18-8

I don't see any scenario where UND catches the Tigers, call me a realist. There is a slim glimmer of hope, but it is fading fast and I am not going to hold my breath waiting. First off MSU-M would have to beat the Tigers tonight, this is very possible but C.C. has lost just one game at home all season long. UND then has to win every game from here on out no ties or loses.

The league might as well FEDEX the Tigers the cup now because the race is over. Let them have the McNaughten Cup. Some have likened the McNaughten Cup an anchor because it is so hard to win then after after winning the cup some teams have gone out and laid an egg in the NCAA playoffs. A few teams come to mind off the top of my head. The last time the Sioux won the NCAA title, the fighting Sioux lost the battle for the cup with Wisconsin but won the Final Five and the NCAA title, the Badgers got bounced in the regional. I will take an NCAA title over a league title any day. This season feels a lot like the 2000 season.

I believe if the Tigers won today, they would sew up at least a tie for the championship because they would have 41 points and all UND can get is 41 points as well. That would mean that C.C. would have to lose both games next weekend against DU and I don't' see that happening. Anything is possible but I don't see it happening.

Goon's updated what-if.

CC 28 43
UND 28 41
Denver 28 37
UW 28 27
Mankato 28 26
SCSU 28 26
UMD 28 23
UMN 28 23
MTech 28 20
AA 28 14

Projected first round match ups

C.C. vs UAA
UND vs MTU
DU vs UMN
UW vs UMD
MSU-M vs SCSU

Final Five: C.C., UND, DU, UMD, MSU-M

Ruutu vs Lucic; UND on Hockeyfights.com

This is the best fight I have seen all season. This one is between Pittsbug's Jarkko Ruutu vs Boston's Milan Lucic; this fight wasn't even close as Lucic worked Ruutu. Ruutu is known around the league for being an agitator, however, he will fight and he does not hide hind the refs or a face sheild.

Thinking of the web site Hockeyfights.com everyone's favorite college hockey team the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux had a column written about on the hockeyfights.com web site. Check it out at North Dakota Toughing College Hockey

This weekend's series with the Bull Dogs

Here are some good links for this weekend's series between the Bull Dogs and the Fighting Sioux. UND travels to the DECC for a pair of games on Saturday and Sunday at 2:07pm. Drunk Hockey guy covers why the games are on Saturday and Sunday. It does seem curious that the games are scheduled for when they are. I guess I am watching the first two periods at work on Saturday and Sunday. Thank God for DVR as well.

The Beat Writers.

Grand Forks Herald reporter Writer Brad Elliott Schlossman

Duluth News Tribune sports writer Kevin Pates

Apparently Dave Berger's prediction hit a cord with the UMD sports writerKevin Pates.

UMD Bloggers

Bruce Ciskie the radio voice of the Minnesota Duluth Bull Dogs also has a blog. While Bruce covers hockey he does have more of an eclectic perspective and covers a wide variety of sports.

Celebrity blogger Donna aka Running with the Dogs also has a cool blog.

USAF Bull Dog The DECC is Stacked is also an eclectic blog that covers many sports including the UMD Bull Dog hockey team.

Here is an interesting comment from the INCH/ESPN CHAT about college hockey

Landon, Littleton, CO: I was wondering if you had any insight into the success the Fighting Sioux have had finishing the regular season the past two seasons? Which include: Since Jan 1st in 2008: 12-1-1 with a 13 game unbeaten streak and counting. In 2007 after Jan 1st: 10-2-5 with an 11 game unbeaten streak! Their success has also come while playing in the toughest conference in the nation! Thanks for the thoughts.

Jess Myers: There are two ways to look at it: Either praise them for playing great after New Year's Day, or question why (with the same players) it takes the Sioux half the season to get things going. Last season there was a team meeting during which the players challenged each other to play better, and the result was a trip to the Frozen Four. This year, even in the midst of all those splits early in the season, coach Dave Hakstol knew they weren't far away from putting it all together, and when they did finally click, it was to be expected. In any case, they're better off with late-season surges than conference rivals like Denver and Alaska Anchorage, who have had late-season struggles in recent years.

More CCHA vs WCHA... Linkorama

Check out this really interesting debate that is over on the Blog that Yost Built. I would ask WCHA fans to recognize that this is the perspective from the CCHA fan, however, I am puzzled that the CCHA fans are not giving the MSU-M Mavericks a lot of respect. This season the Mankato State University Mavericks have proved to be a nice surprise this season; even to the point that they have kind flown under the radar.

When it is all said and done I do think the Mavericks will be a NCAA participant. While some have said that losing to UNO will kill their chances I think if they make the final five they will probably be in. Trust me CCHA fans I don't think that there are a lot of teams that would like to face the Mavericks right now. In fact, I am happy that the Sioux will not be facing them for the third year in a row during the WCHA playoffs. The Mavericks play hockey like a cornered animal and they will beat you up in the physicality department.

This blog post started as a result of this USCHO discussion.

Debunking the WCHA Myth
Let me be perfectly clear about this at the outset: I do think the WCHA is the best conference.

Where I disagree, however, is with the people who think that the mediocre teams in the WCHA are better than they are, solely because they're in the WCHA. I also disagree that the CCHA is a joke and that outside of the top 4, it's a horrible conference.

One of my favorite things to do is to take a look at numbers, with almost no idea about where they're going to lead me. I did it with the CCHA officials and I think that piece ended up being fairly interesting. The majority of this article was written over at USCHO in the "Minnesota State is over-rated" thread, which was basically making fun of the WCHA fans.

I find it amusing that when Miami loses to Ferris or Alaska, it's evidence that they're overrated and supports the idea that the CCHA sucks. But when CC loses to Michigan Tech, it's evidence of how deep that conference is...how even the bad teams are still really good.

The strength of schedule of the WCHA is part of the reason that everyone thinks they're so good, and why there are so many teams in position to make the tournament. I decided to take a closer look at things to see what I found. It was pretty interesting. At least to me.

Here ganzhimelf has a pretty good response to this post that I thought laid out what a lot of us have been saying all year long.

Originally Posted by ganzhimself
Give me a break... Let's look at the strength of schedule of the teams in the USCHO top 20 in the CCHA and the WCHA...

CCHA
Michigan 13th
Miami-Ohio 27th
MSU 16th
Norte Dame 24th

WCHA
North Dakota 1st
CC 5th
Minnesota State 10th
St. Cloud State 9th
Wisconsin 2nd
Minnesota Duluth 3rd
Minnesota 4th

CCHA is obviously the weaker conference with the over rated teams. I mean, not a single ranked team in the CCHA has a harder schedule than the ranked WCHA teams. Get over yourself and the Colon Cleansing Hockey Association.

Thuggery INC.

Yesterday The Minnesota Wild proved you can ruin your image for only a 6th round draft choice, as the Minnesota Wild picked up Chris Simon at the trade dead line. While other teams in the Western conference were picking up final pieces for the Stanley Cup drive the Wild picked up another tough guy. I wonder if Chris Simon can put up the numbers of Marian Hossa or Peter Forsberg? It is doubtful.

Lets look at some of the accomplishments of Chris Simon. Here is Chris Simon slashing Ryan Hollweg last March, this landed him a lengthy 25 game suspension. So what did Simon do for an encore? Chris Simon tries to slice off Jarkko Ruutu foot off with his skate on December 15th, 2007. This cost Chris Simon a 30 game suspension from the league.

Wild acquires Chris Simon
By Michael Russo
Star Tribune
(Read the whole story here)

Everybody in hockey knows the New York Islanders' Chris Simon. He's that notorious.

One year after adding depth center Dominic Moore -- a player Wild coaches had never heard of -- on deadline day, the only move Tuesday by the sinking Wild's general manager was to add Simon, a longtime enforcer whose career has been stained with eight suspensions, including the longest in NHL history.

This move came as several Western Conference contenders powered up for the stretch run and the postseason with significant trades.

"I know he's had his issues," Risebrough said of the 36-year-old Simon, who will join the Wild, his eighth team, today in Tampa and will cost the Wild a sixth-round draft pick. "The type of player he is will help us. We're a team that plays in a very competitive, very physical division. We're probably one of the smaller teams in the division. Getting size is a factor, especially size that's proven offensively.

When will they ever learn?

I recieved this email today from the Ralph Engelstad Arena Insiders. You would have thought they would have learned their lesson the last time that Ralph Engelstad Arena gave out free stuff. I can about bet there will be 5,000 of these noise makers laying on the ice.

We've clinched home ice!
The University of North Dakota men's hockey team has clinched home ice for the best-of-three WCHA first round playoffs! The games start Friday, March 14, and tickets are on sale now. Will you be there?

10,000 FREE pairs of Fighting Sioux Thundersticks will be given to fans Friday, March 14, to help cheer green to victory!

Get your adult ticket packages for the series for $40. Kid's seats are $20.
Buy yours today at the UND Box Office at Ralph Engelstad Arena, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 701.772.5151.

Minnesota State Senate approves funding for Minnesota Schools.

This is good news for BSU

Just in. This is a good news for BSU, UMD and SCSU. Now Governor Tim Pawlenty needs to sign it into law. I would suggest BSU fans start flooding the office of Tim Pawlenty with phone calls.

Bemidji State, Minnesota-Duluth and St. Cloud State Would Get Renovations or New Buildings
A Minnesota State Senate committee has approved a $1 billion public works bonding bill Tuesday which included funding for three Division I hockey arenas.


Most notably, $22 million in funding was approved for the Bemidji Regional Events Center, which would include a new hockey arena for the BSU Beavers. It was widely considered, including by the school itself, that a new arena was needed in order to maintain the viability of the men's hockey program.

Also approved was $40 million in funding for the renovation and expansion of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, home of the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs. Built in 1966, the DECC currently holds approximately 5,300 for hockey. The renovations would expand that to 6,500.

St. Cloud State's National Hockey Center will get $10 million to remodel and expand. Also, $10 million was granted to fund a new arena for the Minnesota-Crookston Division III team.

The measure still requires final approval of the legislature and Gov. Tim Pawlenty.

Here is another link to the story: $1B bonding bill OK'd by Minnesota Senate panel

Hockey players and fans would get four new arenas. They are:

-- A $40 million renovation and expansion of the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, with a 6,500-seat hockey facility.

-- $22 million for the Bemidji Regional Event Center, including a college hockey arena.

-- $10 million to remodel and expand the National Hockey Center at St. Cloud State University.

-- $10 million for the proposed Crookston Ice Arena.

This weeks picks: Misc Ramblings/Rants

Non Conference
02/26/08 Nebraska-Omaha at Minnesota State

Friday/29/08

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

Saturday 03/01/08

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

Sunday 03/02/08

North Dakota at Minnesota Duluth

Last Weeks Picks 7-3
Season Total. 100-68

FSSN broadcast of the men's hockey series at Minnesota Duluth available on FightingSioux.com

GRAND FORKS, N.D. -- The University of North Dakota athletic department is pleased to announce that the Fighting Sioux Sports Network telecast of the men's hockey series at Minnesota Duluth will be available as a video webcast on FightingSioux.com. Viewers can watch the broadcast with their Sioux Xtra subscription.

The broadcast is being produced by WDAZ in conjunction with UND athletics, the Fighting Sioux Sports Network and Midcontinent Communications.

~UND has a 13 game unbeaten streak, Some in the Minneapolis media have suggested that UMD will be a cake walk.Nothing could be further from the truth as I predict a dog fight for these weekend games.

~Look for the Mavericks to beat the Tigers this weekend.

~The WCHA is looking pretty good as far as Pairwise Ratings goes. There is a good chance that 5 teams will make the NCAA tourney. Currently there are 8 WCHA teams fighting for an NCAA tourney bid.

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.