League office to review incident(s)

The WCHA league office is going look at the video of the Dasher Trolls walk across the ice and the incidents from last Friday's game between the Sioux and Pioneers. If the WCHA is going to start looking at game film to hand out additional penalties and suspensions maybe the league office needs to look inward and start looking more closely to their on ice official's job performance. While Gwozdecky was wrong to show up the officials and walk across the ice and delay the game there is a reason he performed these antics. The fans get it George the officials in the WCHA are sub par and they down right suck. Until the coaches and the league schools complain nothing will change.

While we are looking at film I hope that the league Commish sees the blatant spears by J.P. Testwuide on Sioux forward Chris VandeVelde, that should have been a major penalty.

AWAITING THE JURY: Not that he wouldn't have reviewed the video anyway, but University of Denver's melee against North Dakota on Friday did not go unnoticed by WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod, who watched the fights unfold live on television from the World Arena press box during CC's tie against St. Cloud.

McLeod said any disciplinary action resulting from the episodes, including coach George Gwozdecky's ejection from the game Saturday, wouldn't be determined until he receives a review from Greg Shepherd, the WCHA's supervisor of officials

CCHA investigating incident.

The CCHA is investigating the incident from Saturday night's game. It will be interesting to see how many games Tropp is suspended I think that 2-3 games is about right. Slashing a player while they lay on the ice is unacceptable. Also, I agree with the announcers wanting to fight a guy for a legal hit is bush league and Conboy should get some kind of punishment for his tactics as well.

CCHA investigating incident that landed Michigan hockey player Steve Kampfer in hospital; statement expected this week...
by Kevin Ryan | The Ann Arbor News
Monday January 26, 2009, 11:17 AM
The in-game actions of Michigan State University hockey players Andrew Conboy and Corey Tropp, the two who sucker-punched and slashed Michigan defenseman Steve Kampfer during Saturday's game at Yost Ice Arena, are being reviewed by the Central Collegiate Hockey Assocation, and the league is expected to announce its findings before this weekend's games, associate commissioner Fred Plech said Monday morning.

With 53 seconds remaining in Michigan's 5-3 victory Saturday, Kampfer, a junior, was clothes-lined and sucker-punched from behind by Conboy along the boards. As he lay motionless on the ice, Tropped whacked at Kampfer's neck area with his stick. Moments earlier, Kampfer had knocked Tropp off his feet with what appeared to be a clean open-ice hit.

Tropp was ejected from the game after being assessed a five-minute major penalty for slashing, two 10-minute misconducts and a double game-disqualification, all of which carry a minimum suspension of three games, per CCHA rules. Conboy was given a double minor roughing penalty.

Poll Monday.

USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll

January 26, 2009
Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Notre Dame (37) 19-3-3 987 1
2 Boston University (13) 18-5-1 963 2
3 Northeastern 17-5-2 867 5
4 Cornell 14-2-3 831 3
5 Minnesota 12-5-5 791 6
6 Vermont 14-5-4 716 7
7 Denver 15-7-3 696 4
8 Michigan 18-8-0 692 8
9 Princeton 13-5-0 582 9
10 Miami 14-8-4 553 10
11 Boston College 11-8-3 450 14
12 North Dakota 15-10-3 432 15
13 New Hampshire 11-8-4 353 11
14 Ohio State 16-7-3 347 12
15 Wisconsin 13-10-3 279 16
16 Minnesota-Duluth 13-7-6 271 17
17 Colorado College 13-9-6 244 13
18 Yale 13-5-1 158 NR
19 Air Force 17-6-1 97 20
20 Dartmouth 10-7-2 67 18
Others Receiving Votes: St. Cloud State 42, Nebraska-Omaha 24, RIT 23, Alaska 17, Minnesota State 5,
Massachusetts 4, Quinnipiac 4, St. Lawrence 4, Niagara 1
----------------------------

USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
Jan. 19, 2009
Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week
1 Notre Dame (22) 19-3-3 496 1
2 Boston University (6) 16-5-1 464 2
3 Cornell (6) 13-1-3 434 4
4 Denver 15-6-2 394 7
5 Northeastern 15-5-2 386 6
6 Minnesota 12-5-5 336 8
7 Vermont 13-5-3 304 7
8 Michigan 16-8-0 280 6
9 Princeton 13-5-0 222 10
10 Miami (Ohio) 13-8-3 188 9
11 Ohio State 16-6-2 156 14
12 New Hampshire 11-6-4 154 13
13 Colorado College 13-8-5 132 11
14 Boston College 9-8-3 46 12
15 North Dakota 15-10-3 45 NR

Others receiving votes:
Wisconsin 17, Alaska 9, Nebraska-Omaha 9,
Air Force 2, Michigan State 2, Quinnipiac 2, Yale 2.
----------------------------

INCH Power Rankings

1. Notre Dame
2. Boston University
3. Cornell
4. Northeastern
5. Vermont
6. Denver
7. Michigan
8. Minnesota
9. Princeton
10. Miami
11. North Dakota
12. Ohio State
13. Boston College
14. Wisconsin
15. New Hampshire
16. Colorado College
17. Air Force
18. Minnesota Duluth
19. Yale
20. RIT
Dropped out: Dartmouth, Alaska
Bubble-licious: St. Cloud State, Dartmouth, Nebraska-Omaha

In the INCH power ranking UMD could be higher. USA Today didn't even have UND's record right the Fighting Sioux are 15-10-3.

Internet Trolls.

There are a few people that take themselves way, way, way too serious. When I started this blog it was to have fun. At this current time I am still having fun. Most of us write blogs because it is a hobby. Now we have these self appointed narcissistic experts that think they are the hockey blog police. You know these people; they are people that are insecure in their skin that need to cut others down to feel better about their pathetic self. These are the people that sit in their mother’s basement with oatmeal on their shirt parsing every word and phrase that bloggers write. They also comment on every misspelled word and punctuation mark that is missed, then when you go to their blog they have misspelled words and pictures that of woman’s hockey players when the article is about a men’s hockey team. Sorry but you really need to get a life, I am not quitting because you take issue with what I write.

Always brave when hiding behind a fake name on the net

These trolls are always brave when they can hide behind a moniker or fake name using multiple email addresses and log in names. It is pretty easy to figure out who they are because use the same phrases and say the same things. These trolls have multiple login names on college hockey message boards and are an administrator’s night mare, one name is deleted and banned another name will sprout up almost instantly. These guys are real brave when they are anonymous and write anything; nothing is out of bounds because they know they don’t have to pay for their comments. Yet in public they wouldn’t dare say this stuff to you because they are gutless punks.

Now we have a few morons that have dedicated a blog to Brandon, BrettB and my blog (I will not link their blog because it isn’t worth mentioning plus they are just trolling for hits) they are going to focus on every article and point that we make. Now! Talk about your basic losers. If that isn’t a text book definition of loser I don’t know what is? Let’s review; you think our bogs are that bad, so you’re going to waste your time pointing out how bad you think these blogs are? WTF is that? So let me get this right; your life is really that pathetic and that bad that you have to focus on us? If that isn’t pathetic I don’t know what is? If you think our blogs are that bad don’t read it. Why lower yourself?

Sioux7 not going anywhere

Now to some house cleaning issues. Our friend from RWD's suggested that I give Sioux7 his pink slip. Come on now! that is not going to happen. Sioux7 is a great friend of mine and I personally hired him to jinx the other teams around the WCHA. Unfortunately the Badgers have thrived under Sioux7's predictions

Profanity

From time to time posts have been removed for objectionable content. I have many family and friends that read my blog and I am not having them wade through vile filthy, horrible, objectionable comments. If you can't use the language you're posting in a letter to a business colleague or your mother it shouldn't be posted. If you can't comment without being respectful and with out cussing don't comment. Again, its the common courtesy thing. Notice how people are really brave while hiding behind a fake name. These are people from the same ilk that caused Brad to have to moderate his hockey blog. The lack of class that some people ooze is mind boggling.

There should be a suspension

Props to LetsGoDu. This is why Sioux fans affectionately call Denver Coach George Gwozdecky the Dasher Troll. While this Gwozdecky meltdown added some good theater to Saturday's game, the leauge must suspend Gwozdecky for this antics during the game, this is unacceptable and can't be tolerated. There should have also been another penalty when Gwoz walked out on the ice. Hey George we get it, Todd Anderson is a horrible hockey ref, no disagreement there.

Scores from 1-24-2009

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Atlantic Hockey
Bentley 4 at Sacred Heart 3
Army 2 at Air Force 3
Connecticut 0 at Mercyhurst 6

Analysis
Air Force swept their 2 games series again Army.

CCHA
Michigan State 3 at Michigan 5
Lake Superior 8 at Bowling Green 4
Western Michigan 4 at Ohio State 1
Miami 6 at Nebraska-Omaha 1
Alaska 2 at Northern Michigan 2 ot: NMU wins shootout

Analysis
Michigan sweeps MSU and things got way out of hand last night(video included on top). MSU player Andrew Conboy went Todd Bertuzzi on Steve Kampfer after Kampfer legally checked Corey Tropp. While Kampfer was laying on the ice MSU player/thug Corey Tropp hacked him on the back of the neck with his stick. That folks is my definition of a bush league move. Seriously! Your opponent has been cheap shoted ans is laying on the ice motionless while another player comes and slashes him in the back of the neck. The Michigan State thug Corey Tropp should be gone for the rest of the season, that isn't acceptable in any league.

The blog that Yost Built has a run down of the incident as well as Michigan Victors. The CCHA has to suspend Corey Tropp for a very long time. There will be suspension for both Michigan State players.

CHA
Niagara 1 at Bemidji State 3

Analysis
Beavers and Purples Eagles split this weekend's series.

ECAC
Brown 1 at Cornell 5
Rensselaer 3 at Clarkson 4 ot
Yale 5 at Colgate 4 ot
Union 2 at St. Lawrence 5

Analysis
Clarkson has won 4 games in a row after having a very rough season. Cornell beats Brown, but then everyone has anyways.

Hockey East
Mass.-Lowell 3 at Merrimack 2
Maine 3 at Boston College 6
Massachusetts 1 at Vermont 1 ot
Providence 3 at Northeastern 6
Boston University 3 at New Hampshire 1

Analysis
Since being swept by Vermont, Boston University is 11-1-1, that is a pretty impressive run. Not a good showing by New Hampshire this weekend as they give up 8 goals to the Terrirers and score one.

WCHA
Minnesota State 4 at Minnesota-Duluth 7
St. Cloud State 6 at Colorado College 1
Denver 2 at North Dakota 2 ot
Michigan Tech 3 at Alaska-Anchorage 3 ot

Analysis
Two sister kissings in Anchorage this weekend. Like I told someone MTU is better than their record. The real Huskies play tough and clog up the neutral zone. MSUM is going through a very rough stretch right now they have 3-10-0 record since the December.

Non-Conference
Robert Morris 8 at Quinnipiac 5

Eidsness saves UND: UND 2 DU 2

Tonight the Fighting Sioux escaped with a point and took three out of four points from the WCHA leading Denver Pioneers. Last night the Fighting Sioux ran the Pioneers out of the building. Tonight's game the tables were turned and the ice seem to be slanted in the Pioneers direction. The Fighting Sioux's young goaltender kept them in the game and allowed them to gain a point in the game.

After last night game you expected the Pioneers to have a better effort and the Pioneers were the better of the two teams. To say that the Sioux were flat tonight would be an understatement, Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness played his best game of the season and kept the Fighting Sioux in the game, this very well could have been a10-3 game. Brad Eidsness made many point blank saves throughout the game and got lucky as a few of his rebounds were of the juicy variety. The Sioux cannot win games against good teams like DU if they don’t move their feet. Tonight the Sioux didn’t move their feet, they were a step slow and beat to the puck all night. It was obvious that DU made the proper adjustments in tonight’s’ game. When this team moves it feet and plays an up-tempo game they can skate with anyone and out skate most teams in the country.

Observations

After watching this weekend's series Denver and UND are the two best skating teams in the WCHA in my opinion. I predict they will meet again.

With his play on the weekend Brad Eidsness improves to 15-7-3 GAA 2.5048 Sv% .910.

The dasher Troll George Gwozdecky was back tonight. Coach Gwozdecky should be suspended from the next two games for his unprofessional behavior in tonight's game. Walking across the ice was unacceptable. I mean we get it George the refs in the WCHA suck but coaches are expected to be professionals. After jumpinig up on the dasher and making a walk across the ice the Pioneers got the next 5 power plays in a row. The WCHA officials and their supervisor should be sanctioned/disciplined. This season the NCAA mandated that the officials focus on the obstruction and clean the game up. They league officials are in violation of that mandate and are back to calling game like they did in the past.

I think from reading the article in the Rocky Mountain News you can tell that Gwoz was not the only one that was upset with the officating of tonight's game. Here is coach Hakstol on the Denver Coach's antics.

UND coach Dave Hakstol wouldn’t comment about Gwozdecky’s ejection or the possibility of further punishment by the league.

But, he said, “My question is why he didn’t get another penalty (for going on the ice). A 5-on-3 would have been key for us.”

There was no scoring in the third period or five-minute overtime, although the Pioneers had the majority of the chances.

That was due in part to Denver having five power plays and UND none after Gwozdecky’s ejection.

“We have to take some responsibility for some of the penalties,” Hakstol said. “But five in a row?”

BOX SCORE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK 1 - 0 6x6 Matt Frattin (12) (Chris VandeVelde) 4:44
NDK (+): 21,29,14,6,19,G31 DEN (-): 6,8,28,22,17,G1
DEN-1 Dustin Jackson (2-Hooking) 6:34
NDK-1 Mario Lamoureux (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 6:34
DEN 1 - 1 6x6 Anthony Maiani (8) (Chris Nutini, Brandon Vossberg) 11:21
DEN (+): 6,27,24,14,16,G1 NDK (-): 5,11,20,14,8,G31
DEN-2 Brandon Vossberg (2-Hooking) NDK 0x1 16:18

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

DEN-3 Dustin Jackson (2-Hooking) NDK 0x2 1:31
DEN-4 Joe Colborne (2-Roughing) 6:37
NDK-2 Chay Genoway (2-Roughing) 6:37
DEN-5 Tyler Ruegsegger (2-Hooking) NDK 0x3 7:03
DEN-6 BENCH (10-Game Misconduct) 9:30
DEN-7 BENCH (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Served by Matt Glasser) NDK 0x4 9:30
NDK-3 Brett Hextall (2-Cross-Checking) DEN 0x1 14:49
NDK 2 - 1 6x6 Evan Trupp (5) (Darcy Zajac) 16:52
NDK (+): 19,11,25,3,26,G31 DEN (-): 28,9,15,12,16,G1
NDK-4 Chay Genoway (2-Interference) DEN 1x2 18:27
DEN 2 - 2 6x5 PP GT Patrick Wiercioch (8) (Anthony Maiani, Rhett Rakhshani) 19:00
DEN: 28,16,9,12,15,G1 NDK: 25,20,11,3,G31

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

NDK-5 Joe Finley (2-Interference) DEN 1x3 1:56
NDK-6 Matt Frattin (2-Roughing) DEN 1x4 5:58
NDK-7 Ryan Duncan (2-Tripping) DEN 1x5 8:51
Timeout - Denver 19:43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overtime (5:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NO SCORING

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
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Watkins on the breakaway.

SIoux fans are smiling ear to ear today after last night's game. This goal should get Sioux fans in the mood for tonights game. This the Matt Watkins many of us were expecting when he arrived at UND from the BCHL, this was a pretty goal.

Check out the beginning of the clip as Denver Punk player Rhett Rakhshani squirts water at the REA fans.

Friday night at the REA.

Since 2005-2006 the Fighting Sioux have a 7-5 record against DU. The 8-3 score means nothing today. This has become one of the most contested series that UND plays in. While I don't expect a full out donny brook I think there will be some high emotions in tonights game. I watched this video a few times and J.P. Testwuide speared Vandy.
I am surprised the refs didn't give him a five minute major for it.

Check out PCM's write up in the Rocky Mountain News. Wow, he has gone from being a pseudo reporter to the big time. :)

North Dakota scored four goals in the first period and three in the second en route to the victory, handing the Pioneers their biggest defeat in Grand Forks since 2000 and their worst defeat in more than four years.

Going 12-3-1 since late December, 15th-ranked North Dakota followed a familiar formula to down the fourth-ranked Pioneers, getting goals from eight players.

“They’ve got good depth and good balance. They played with good speed tonight,” Denver coach George Gwozdecky said of North Dakota. “I thought we practiced well, but it’s very difficult to spend as much time away from games as we have since mid-December and try to simulate the speed and especially the intensity of game in practice.”

DU’s Marc Cheverie, who entered the contest as the WCHA’s top goalie, was pulled from the game not once, but twice.

This season the Sioux have chased some great goaltenders from the game; let's review the line up; Marc Cheverie, Ben Scrivens, Jase Weslosky and Alex Kangas.

Scores from 01-23-2009

Friday, January 23, 2009

Atlantic Hockey
Army 1 at Air Force 5
Connecticut 2 at Mercyhurst 7
Bentley 5 at Sacred Heart 6 ot

Analysis
Air Force beats Army after losing three games in a row.

CCHA
Miami 2 at Nebraska-Omaha 2 ot: UNO wins shootout
Alaska 0 at Northern Michigan 2
Michigan State 2 vs. Michigan 6
Lake Superior 3 at Bowling Green 4
Western Michigan 2 at Ohio State 2 ot: Ohio State wins shootout

Analysis
A couple of more shootouts in the CCHA. Michigan continues to dominate Michigan State University.

CHA
Niagara 4 at Bemidji State 3

ECAC
Union 3 at Clarkson 4 ot
Yale 4 at Cornell 3
Rensselaer 7 at St. Lawrence 6 ot
Brown 4 at Colgate 1

Analysis
Well, well, well, what do we have here? Cornell loses to Yale and drops from 1st to 5th in the pairwise. As Jason Moy said: "We saw last night just how volatile and fragile Cornell’s top position in the PWR was. We also saw how volatile a position Yale was in too."

Hockey East
Northeastern 3 at Providence 1
Massachusetts 1 at Vermont 2
New Hampshire 0 at Boston University 5

Analysis
Boston University continues to play tough shutting out the Wild Cats 5-0.
Northeastern remains hot right now.

WCHA
Denver 3 at North Dakota 8
Michigan Tech 3 at Alaska-Anchorage 3 ot
Minnesota State 0 at Minnesota-Duluth 4
St. Cloud State 4 at Colorado College 4 ot

Analysis
Colorado College continues to struggle on Friday night 3-5-5 in thirteen games.
UAA finds out that MTU is tough to play.

Non-Conference
Robert Morris 4 at Quinnipiac 5

Mike Check:
I guess some might need to rescind their predictions/statements that North Dakota is going to is going to finish seventh in the WCHA. — Eric, Grand Forks, N.D.

Nice wins this past weekend for the Fighting Sioux. Of course, they are just three weeks removed from scoring a total of two goals in consecutive losses to the 11th-place team in the CCHA (Michigan State) and the last place team in the WCHA (Michigan Tech). Just something to bear in mind.

Sioux 8 DU 3

If I had to describe the game in two words it would be; total domination. The Sioux out worked, out hustled and out scored the first place Denver Pioneers. The Fighting Sioux needed to come out strong and set the tone early, they did and scored four goals in the first period and never looked back.

No power outage for the Sioux

At the beginning of the season the Fighting Sioux were having trouble scoring goals, in their last 5 games the Sioux have scored; 6, 6, 3, 5, 8 the Sioux are averaging over 5.6 goals per game. There isn't just one line scoring like Sioux teams of years past. On this year's team there are four lines contributing and scoring goals. Everyone seems to be buying into their role. There are 15 guys on the Sioux roster with double figures in points. That folks is balanced scoring. When we say the Sioux are winning games, the Sioux aren't winning close games they are beating good teams and great goaltenders by big margins. The Fighting Sioux are jumping on teams early and often. The Fighting Sioux remind me of the piranas with their current play.

How big is the return of Big Joe Finley? Finely 1g-3a-4pts on the night was a major offensive force to be reckoned with. Ryan Duncan continues to contribute at a high level as he had 1g-2a-3pts. Jake Marto continues his torrid pace 1g-2a-3 pts and has six points in three games.

BOX SCORE
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DEN-1 Jesse Martin (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) NDK 0x1 2:25
DEN-2 J.P. Testwuide (2-Hooking) NDK 1x2 6:35
NDK 1 - 0 6x5 PP LL Chris VandeVelde (9) (Jake Marto, Ryan Duncan) 7:29
NDK: 29,25,19,8,21,G31 DEN: 19,25,9,5,G1
NDK 2 - 0 6x6 Ryan Martens (10) (Matt Watkins, Joe Finley) 8:35
NDK (+): 20,8,11,25,3,G31 DEN (-): 8,25,22,28,19,G1
NDK-1 Brett Hextall (2-Slashing) DEN 0x1 9:46
NDK 3 - 0 6x6 Jake Marto (5) (Brad Malone, Evan Trupp) 11:52
NDK (+): 25,22,19,26,14,G31 DEN (-): 18,19,14,7,11,G1
NDK 4 - 0 6x6 GW Ryan Duncan (11) (Joe Finley, Matt Watkins) 13:37
NDK (+): 16,2,17,5,18,G31 DEN (-): 12,7,14,18,11,G1
DEN-3 John Lee (2-Tripping) NDK 1x3 14:07
DEN 1 - 4 6x6 Rhett Rakhshani (11) (Patrick Wiercioch, Tyler Ruegsegger) 19:57
DEN (+): 9,28,15,25,16,G35 NDK (-): 2,8,11,20,5,G31
DEN-4 Stephen Cunningham (2-Slashing) NDK 1x4 20:00

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

NDK-2 Ryan Martens (2-Hooking) DEN 0x2 2:39
NDK-3 Matt Watkins (2-Hooking) DEN 0x3 6:02
DEN-5 Rhett Rakhshani (2-Slashing) 10:16
NDK-4 Ben Blood (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 10:16
NDK 5 - 1 5x5 Matt Watkins (4) (Darcy Zajac, Joe Finley) 10:41
NDK (+): 20,11,2,5,G31 DEN (-): 7,28,12,14,G1
NDK-5 Ryan Duncan (2-Slashing) DEN 1x4 12:13
DEN 2 - 5 6x5 PP Tyler Ruegsegger (9) (Rhett Rakhshani, Anthony Maiani) 12:28
DEN: 15,9,16,12,28,G1 NDK: 20,3,25,11,G31
NDK-6 Jake Marto (2-High-Sticking) DEN 1x5 12:28
DEN 3 - 5 6x6 Luke Salazar (12) (Jesse Martin, Joe Colborne) 19:20
DEN (+): 18,14,12,28,11,G1 NDK (-): 8,11,5,2,20,G31

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

NDK 6 - 3 6x6 David Toews (5) (Andrew Kozek) 2:19
NDK (+): 18,10,22,25,3,G31 DEN (-): 18,12,7,25,14,G1
NDK-7 Matt Frattin (2-Hooking) DEN 1x6 2:52
DEN-6 Dustin Jackson (2-Slashing) NDK 1x5 5:06
DEN-7 John Lee (2-Roughing) 6:01
NDK-8 Chris VandeVelde (2-Roughing) 6:01
NDK 7 - 3 6x6 Matt Frattin (11) (Evan Trupp, Chris VandeVelde) 8:20
NDK (+): 21,19,29,2,5,G31 DEN (-): 7,12,6,25,18,G1
DEN-8 Rhett Rakhshani (2-Elbowing) NDK 2x6 9:59
DEN-9 Anthony Maiani (10-Misconduct) 9:59
DEN-10 Dustin Jackson (2-Slashing) NDK 2x7 9:59
DEN-11 Dustin Jackson (10-Misconduct) (Served by Matt Glasser) 9:59
DEN-12 Patrick Mullen (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-13 J.P. Testwuide (10-Misconduct) 10:14
DEN-14 Brandon Vossberg (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-15 Brandon Vossberg (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-16 J.P. Testwuide (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-17 J.P. Testwuide (2-Roughing) 10:14
DEN-18 J.P. Testwuide (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 2x8 10:14
NDK-9 Brad Miller (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-10 Chris VandeVelde (10-Misconduct) 10:14
NDK-11 Chris VandeVelde (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-12 Chris VandeVelde (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-13 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK-14 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 10:14
NDK 8 - 3 6x4 PP Joe Finley (2) (Ryan Duncan, Jake Marto) 11:18
NDK: 2,16,25,22,11,G31 DEN: 19,6,28,G35
DEN-19 Joe Colborne (2-Roughing) 18:29
DEN-20 Chris Nutini (2-Roughing) 18:29
DEN-21 Brandon Vossberg (2-Roughing) 18:29
DEN-22 Jesse Martin (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-15 Chay Genoway (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-16 Joe Finley (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-17 Darcy Zajac (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-18 Ryan Martens (2-Roughing) 18:29
NDK-19 Darcy Zajac (2-Cross-Checking) DEN 1x7 18:29

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game

Last time DU and UND faced off.

Last time UND and DU got together Kyle Radke was one of the few people I have ever seen in the modern era of college hockey get into two fights in the same game. That feat was accomplished last year during the DU and UND series at Ralph Englestad Arena. I expect to see more of this kind of action, lots of goals and up and down the ice action.

Here are some interesting points going into this week.

Power Surge: UND has scored at least one power-play in each of the last six games. The Sioux power-play is converting at 19.4 percent this season to rank fourth in the WCHA.

Record:---- Overall---- Home---- Away---- Neutral
ALL GAMES--- 14-10-2---- 8-3-0--- 6-4-2--- 0-3-0
CONFERENCE-- 9-5-2------ 6-2-0--- 3-3-2--- 0-0-0
NON-CONFERENCE 5-5-0---- 2-1-0--- 3-1-0--- 0-3-0

Did DU's Cody Brookwell predict a fight this weekend?

In reading the Denver Post article on the Sioux and Pioneers; is the Denver defenseman Cody Brookwell predicting a fight this weekend when the Sioux and Pioneers meet on the ice? In watching the Sioux play this season they are not the type of team that is going to goon it up.

Check it out --- Last season in Grand Forks, the Sioux swept DU in a chippy series that included three full-fledged fights in the finale. In the final brawl between North Dakota's Kyle Radke and Brandon Vossberg, Gwozdecky was furious his players remained spectators when Radke took Vossberg down to the ice and pummeled him in defenseless fashion.

Radke has since graduated, but the Sioux still like to fight, an illegal NCAA tactic that complements their legal physical play. Two weeks ago in Grand Forks, North Dakota and Minnesota combined for 98 penalty minutes to cap the Sioux's two-game sweep. Afterward, Gophers defenseman R.J. Anderson said North Dakota "came to a war with guns and we came with butter knives."

"We've talked about it, that we're going to take the physical play to them right away, to let them know we're not intimidated," DU junior defenseman Cody Brookwell said. "There is a time and place (to fight), and there are guys on this team willing to go with a guy. That's part of the game, and sometimes it needs to be dealt with."

The Rocky Mountain News seems to be expecting some shenanigans as well. I highly doubt we are going to see a lot of after the whistle stuff nor do I expect to see a donny brook this weekend. UND is hardly a team full of goons the Sioux are ranked 18th over all in penalty minutes when in years past they had been ranked number one.

The University of Denver hockey team has left its balmy hometown for frigid North Dakota, where Brandon Vossberg and the rest of the Pioneers know their reception will be even more chilling.

DU opens a series against its Western Collegiate Hockey Association rival Friday night at the Fighting Sioux's Engelstad Arena, returning to the venue for the first time since a brawl almost one year ago led to foul moods and suspensions.

DU coach George Gwozdecky, though, said the chaos paled when compared with the encounters his college teams with Wisconsin endured against the Fighting Sioux three decades ago.
-----Snip------
As in past years, most notably in the seasons after former DU forward Geoff Paukovich delivered a hit on North Dakota's Robbie Bina in 2005 that left Bina with a neck injury that kept him sidelined for more than a year, the Pioneers are bracing for a rude welcome from the Fighting Sioux faithful.

"I think that's what we like about the game," Vossberg said. "We understand the history, and to be honest, I think that motivates us even more. That's part of the game - the physical aspects, the rough-and-tough stuff. For some reason with them it definitely tends to come out a little more, but we like that. We've been preparing all week for it."

Interesting perspective on head shots.

Here is an interesting article about head shots and the league and the players association going after the offenders that are committing these fowls. Mike Peca has an interesting perspective on head shots. You change your opinion of them once it happens to you a few times. Peca is almost saying, "I was for them before I was against them."

Hunting the headhunters- Mike Peca will admit it: Early in his NHL career, when it came to hitting and concussions, he was the one who played hard and fast and wasn't overly worried if the opponent he'd just hammered in the head needed help getting off the ice.

Then it started happening to him — the head shots, concussions and all those lingering effects — and now he has a different view on what has become the primary safety issue among the NHL's more than 800 players.

"Once you receive a couple [of concussions], it kind of changes your perspective on what the rules should be in the game," the veteran Columbus Blue Jacket said. "In our game, a lot of stuff is reactionary, but there are a lot of hits where guys have plenty of time to make a decision … should I check the puck back or should I pulverize this guy regardless of the position he's in? And far too often, it's the latter."

While many in and around the game vigorously debate the merits of fighting after the death of senior hockey defenceman Don Sanderson, the majority of NHL players are concerned with how to reduce the number of head shots that have crumpled the likes of Patrice Bergeron, Simon Gagné and Andrei Kostitsyn, to name just a few.

I think one of the biggest issues in the NHL is a players lack of respecting for their opponents when they are in a vulnerable positions. The Jones hit on Bergeron last year concerns me, Jones could have let up in that situation instead of hammering his opponent into the boards. Jones got a 2 game suspension, Bergeron was out for the rest of the season.

I think the NHL league office should start hammering the players harder in the wallet and suspending the players that don't back off the head shots before they get way out of hand. There is also the old saying live by the sword and die by the sword eventually a dirty player gets what is coming to him. You just hope that guy doesn't ruin a couple of players careers on the way.

Some guys intentionally go for the head shot, but I think its bad karma," Vancouver Canucks forward Darcy Hordichuk said. "You know, what goes around comes around. I try not to hit anybody when they're in a vulnerable position, and I'd hope that guys respect that with me if I'm ever in a vulnerable situation."

"There's no place for it," Eric Nystrom of the Calgary Flames added. "You've got to put yourself in the other guy's position."

We Are North Dakota

I think Mr. Lang nails it today in his letter to the Grand Forks Herald. Why do we need rush to immediately replace the Fighting Sioux name? There is no logical reason in my opinion. Why not drop the name and have a dialog on its replacement? Is there is any reason why the University of North Dakota's sports teams can just simply be "North Dakota" during the transition period? When the University, students and Alumni find a suitable name then we can make the transition to that nick name and logo. I like most Sioux fans know that political correctness will not allow us to keep our nick name and logo, however there are 60+ years of history connected to the Fighting Sioux name and a replacement may take time. I have seen a few nice replacements that I like but we shouldn't make a rash decision.

GRAND FORKS — I agree with the Herald’s Jan. 11 editorial, “It’s time to drop the Sioux nickname and logo” (Page D1), and with its suggestion that the Fighting Sioux nickname should be dropped but not changed. Deciding on a new nickname so soon after dropping “Sioux” would create hard feelings for everyone who cares about the matter (which, based on the sheer volume of letters-to-the-editor over the past few years, is a lot of people), with the exception of the one person or group whose idea for a new nickname gets chosen.

Once the legal aspects of the matter have been finished up, UND can concentrate on the things it needs to focus on — things such as seeking admittance to a Division I athletic conference and recruiting, both athletically and scholarly.

Also, maybe we fans need to change our views of what dropping the nickname means. It does not mean that we lose the constitutional right of freedom of speech. We can still wear the old gear on which we’ve spent so much money. They can still be “Sioux” athletes in our hearts, if not in law.

Plus, who knows? After a generation of no nickname representation, the state’s Sioux tribes may want the name reinstated.

For now, we are North Dakota.

Dustin Lang

INCH Chat

Here is the latest from the boys at INCH. Just a couple of things that have to be addressed. I guess when a hockey team has 7 seniors in the line up it's seen as having just enough leadership. What the hell is that?

I guess Jess is starting to realized that his prediction that UND will finish in 7th place might be a little off and is probably going to have to back track from it and possibly retract it.

Our goaltender that Jess has questions about has better numbers than the goalie from UMN. Let compare Brad Eidsness 14-7-2 GAA 2.51 and SV% .908 > Alex Kangas 12-5-5 GAA 2.68 and S% .906. D'oh! I guess Minnesota has goalie issues then? In the last four games Alex Kangas has given up 6,5,2,6 goals.

Lastly, if Minnesota is the best of the rest how come the Sioux took them apart, piece by piece? I don't buy the logic anymore because UND went through Minnesota with ease and is also the only team to beat Cornell. I wonder if Jess even watched the games between the Sioux and Gophers? Let me guess; coach was gone, the WJC players were tired. Hey Jess; just come and say it, you hate UND. I am sure a lot of us wouldn't have a problem with that, because you can't claime you're being objective.

Andrew: (Denver, CO): How do you think the gophers will do for the rest of the season? Do you think that they can pull it together and finish off how they started off and win the WCHA? Who is the strongest team in the WCHA?

Jess Myers: I'd pick Denver as the strongest team in the WCHA, and the Pioneers have a chance to prove that this weekend at North Dakota. Minnesota is definitely behind Denver in my book, but is the best of the rest, from what I've seen. So I don't see them winning the regular season barring a slip-up by Denver, but Minnesota is a very good hockey team.
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Sam: Mandan ND: What do you think about the Sioux and Pioneers series this weekend, and what impact will it have on the outcome of the WCHA for the remainder of the season?

Jess Myers: If Denver sweeps this weekend, the Sioux are in the Pioneers' rear-view mirror for good. Frankly, I don't see that happening, with the way North Dakota is playing right now. Denver is a better team, but the Sioux are hotter. That should make for some great hockey.
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Robert-Denver-CO: Its hard to put a handle on North Dakota this year. History says it will not happen but if ND sweeps a very good Denver team this weekend and sits alone atop the WCHA what will you guys think of this team? It appears they could be turning into something special with a bunch of blue chippers "and" still enough talent with playoff experience. What say you??

Jess Myers: North Dakota is awash in young talent, and has just enough veteran leadership to succeed right now. I may have had the Sioux a bit
underrated early in the season (I picked them for seventh in the WCHA while some were calling them a top five team in the nation) but I figured it would take that young talent a little bit of time to mature. And I was unsure then (and still am a little bit) about their goaltending. Right now they're on the bubble for an NCAA invite, which is quite an accomplishment after the rough start they had.
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Dave (Grand Forks,ND): Do you think it is a down year in the WCHA or are the teams just beating up on each other?

Jess Myers: I definitely think this is a down year overall. Most of the elite teams in the nation are playing in other conferences. Denver and Minnesota are near-locks for the NCAA tournament, and the league will get one or two more teams in (North Dakota and Wisconsin, maybe) but this is not going to be an all-WCHA Frozen Four by any means.

Tim Thomas hits Jason Blake.

Watch Bruin's goalie Tim Thomas lay a hit on former Sioux forward and current Toronto Maple Leaf Jason Blake during last night's game. At the end of the play you can hear Blake say the F' is that. Oh by the way the Bruins won the game 4-3 in a shootout.

NHL testing new goalposts.

This is something that I am not in favor of and a place the NHL should not go. I like other hockey fans are not in favor of this move at all. We have the new rules, we have made the goalies smaller and now they want to screw with the dimensions of the net. What next? I don't think there is a problem with scoring in the NHL right now. This would be a gimmick in my opinion.

NHL tests net result of new goalposts
Maybe this is something that will finally allow the Maple Leafs to score a goal on home ice.

The NHL is experimenting with different-shaped posts and crossbars to see if more shots that normally clang off the iron might instead be directed into the net.

It's a way the league might be able to increase scoring without changing the size of the nets.

Mike Murphy, the league's vice-president of hockey operations, described the new post as a "teardrop" shape, like the rim of a paper coffee cup that has been squeezed.

The league did its first testing of the new nets at the Air Canada Centre during yesterday's Leaf practice, filming the workout to see how pucks reacted when they hit the posts. A DVD of the experiment will be studied internally and then passed on to the league's general managers.

"It's a little bit of research and development to see if, without changing the size of the nets, we can make the nets more rewarding offensively," said Murphy.

This hit warrants a two game suspension?

Props to RPI Hockey. This is the hit that everyone is talking about in the ECAC. Apparently the ECAC refs instructed the Big Red to skate off the ice and not shake hands with the RPI Engineers. Correction: I watched the hit a few times I dunno, I have seen worse go uncalled before. I just don't know if this hit warrants a two game suspension. It definitely isn't a boarding call, but the argument could be made that it was probably a high stick. What do you think?

ALBANY, N.Y. -- ECAC Hockey today announced that Rensselaer junior defenseman Erik Burgdoerfer has been suspended for two games by the League as a result of incidents in the Engineers' contests versus Colgate Friday, January 16 and Cornell Saturday, January 17 at the Houston Field House in Troy, New York.

Burgdoerfer was assessed a five-minute major and game misconduct for hitting from behind at the 15-minute mark of the third period versus Colgate; and a five-minute major and game disqualification for boarding at the 20-minute mark of the third period versus Cornell. The disqualification penalty automatically carries a one-game suspension as mandated by NCAA ice hockey rules

Rocky Mountain news on expansion.

Interesting Point I can't imagine what a 11 team league could do for scheduling? I guess you could say that I have never seen the word poach(es) used this way very many times. Interesting play on words; poaching is the activity of making an employee or customer switch from a competing company to your own company. When I think of poaching I think of taking a deer with a flashlight or poaching an egg. It would also appear that the league schools are more open to expansion than they have been in the past.

EXPANSION: Don't be surprised if the 10-team WCHA eventually poaches a team from another league, such as the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, to become a 12-team league in a few years.

Last week, the WCHA voted unanimously to rescind a moratorium barring league expansion, opening the door for Bemidji State to join the league after College Hockey America disbands. Because Air Force has found a comfortable niche in the AHA and the other soon-to-be CHA refugees - Niagara, Alabama- Huntsville and Robert Morris - are neither a competitive nor logistical fit for the WCHA, the league likely will look to bring another team into the fold to avoid an unwieldy 11-team format.

"There was a lot of conversation about a year ago, including myself, where we didn't think (expansion) was a good idea," University of Denver coach George Gwozdecky said. "We didn't want the CHA to disband. We really wanted the CHA to continue operations and expand. But, obviously, that proved fruitless and that changed not only my stance, but a lot of others', too.

"An 11-team league would be difficult. I would not want the job of putting together an 11-team schedule."

Weekend Tilts (Sioux 7)

Last weekend saw the WCHA standings get a little tighter in the top half, with now only 3-points separating 1st from 5th. Depending on this weekends out comes their could be more separation among the top 5 OR some teams might move up on their tales...


WCHA STANDINGS
1 Denver............11-4-1...23
2 Wisconsin.........10-6-2...22
3 Minnesota..........9-4-3...21
4 North Dakota.......9-5-2...20
4 Colorado College...9-7-2...20
6 Minnesota State....7-9-2...16
7 Minnesota-Duluth...5-6-5...15
8 St. Cloud State....7-9-0...14
9 Alaska-Anchorage...5-9-2...12
10 Michigan Tech.....1-14-3...5


Lets take a look at this weekends match ups. We will start from the bottom and work our way up.


Michigan Tech at Alaska-Anchorage
When looking at the standings we have the bottom 2 teams here. A pair of wins UAA puts themselves in a position to make a run at the top 5. A pair of losses by the Huskies and they pretty much secure the bottom rung on the ladder. These teams split their series earlier this season in Houghton. MTU has had some problems scoring goals this season, they have been shut-out in 7-games, while UAA has not been shut-out this year. I don't think either of these teams wants to be last, so I going to call this one a SPLIT.


St. Cloud State at #13 Colorado College
CC has not sweep an opponent since MTU back in October, in the goal department CC has scored 48 goals and given up 51 in league play. SCSU has been more the sweep and get swept type of team this season, they have scored 49 goals and given up 52.
Looking at those numbers and their records, SCSU is just one sweep away from getting both clubs to the .500 mark,. But remember the Huskies have 2-games in hand on CC. The other thing is, SCSU is 2-6-0 on the road and CC is 9-3-2 at home overall. I'm calling this classic cat vs. dog series as a SPLIT.


Minnesota State at #17 Minnesota-Duluth
The Mavericks can't be happy, they are ahead of UMD in the standing, but UMD is ranked and they are not. Duluth has been suprising good at home this year, with a record of 7-1-3. The Mavericks have been a good road team this year, posting a 5-4-3record away from the Alltell Center. Both teams are on the edge of getting into the top 5 for home ice. I don't see either of these teams getting swept this weekend, another SPLIT.


#4 Denver at #15 North Dakota
It has been good start to the second half for the Sioux again, who are 5-0-1 since the start of 2009, and DU is 2-1-1 in that time. DU is averaging 3.65 gf and 2.21 gaa, while UND has 3.46 gf and 2.77 gaa. Those numbers favor DU, but DU is coming off a bye, which might make a difference, also DU is with out one of their top players, Tyler Bozak (knee surgery). I'm thinking this going to be fun to watch these teams battle it out for the top spot in the WCHA. I'm going with the theme of the week, SPLIT.


#6 Minnesota and #16 Wisconsin are off this week.

The definition of a brawl.

Since we are on the subject of fights in Hockey (college and professional) check out this video; the past few season Sioux fans have heard how UND is always involved in the fights, brawls and acts of thuggery.

Folks this is my definition of a brawl. In all of the years that I have been watching Sioux hockey I have yet to see something of this magnitude at a UND Fighting Sioux hockey game. Next time you read or hear that UND was involved in a brawl; take a step back and ask yourself is this what they're are talking about. Probably not. This is my text book definition of a Donnybrook.

Props to the Monday Morning Blogger.

Legislated football games.

Now we have the state legislature in North Dakota attempting to write bills that NDSU and UND play each year in football. Don't these people have something better to do, you're waisting our tax dollars arguing petty bills. Get back to work doing the people of North Dakota business. I believe this is an issue for the two schools to work on without interference from the state legislature. Leave it to a democrats to come up with this type of a bill. In the end I believe this bill will fail.

Bill would require NDSU and UND to play an annual football game
Kevin Fee Grand Forks Herald

The state is trying to get involved in the UND vs. North Dakota State rivalry.

Rep. Weezie Potter, D-Grand Forks, has introduced a bill in the North Dakota House that mandates that UND and NDSU play an annual football game.

The schools haven’t met since Oct. 18, 2003, when the Sioux defeated the Bison 28-21 in overtime in the Alerus Center in Grand Forks.

The stoppage of the rivalry, which began in 1894, was mostly due to NDSU moving its sports programs to NCAA Division I to start the 2004-05 school year. But UND joined the Bison in Division I this school year.

Blues 5 and Bruins 4. Shoutout. (Oshie with the Winner)

Check out the scoring from yesterdays game between the BRUINS and the BLUES nice representation of NCAA Division one college hockey players. This is the classic wig out by former Vermont goalie and current Bruin Tim Thomas as David Backes scores the winning goal with one second left. If anything I thought the goalie was scored by a high stick. The game between the Bruins and the Blues went to a shootout with Former Sioux T.J. Oshie scoring the winning goal in the Shootout. Don't give me the bravo sierra that shootouts are boring.

1 BOS 12 C.KOBASEW(8) 26 B.WHEELER(16) 91 M.SAVARD(39)
2 STL 15 B.WINCHESTER(7) 29 J.WOYWITKA(9) 42 D.BACKES(9)
3 STL 18 J.MCCLEMENT(4) 20 A.STEEN(11)
4 BOS 73 M.RYDER(18) 46 D.KREJCI(32) 33 Z.CHARA(18)
5 BOS 11 P.AXELSSON(4) 6 D.WIDEMAN(22)
6 BOS 33 Z.CHARA(10) 11 P.AXELSSON(15) 46 D.KREJCI(33)
7 STL 57 D.PERRON(5) 21 P.BERGLUND(16) 28 C.COLAIACOVO(11)
8 STL 42 D.BACKES(16) 7 K.TKACHUK(16) 57 D.PERRON(25)
9 SO STL 74 T.OSHIE

Simply Put gives his analysis of the game as well. BrettB is right I believe that Backes is the best thing to come out of MSU-M as far as professional hockey palyers go.

NHL to look at Fighting.

According to hockey guru Puck Daddy the NHL is going to look at fighting.

Colin Campbell, the NHL's director of hockey operations, plans to ask the league's 30 general managers if they want to ban fighting.

The question will come at the general managers' annual meeting in Naples, Fla., in early March. It will be part of a long look at fighting by the league and its GMs, although a vote to ban fisticuffs from the NHL version of the game is unlikely.

"I think that will be a very short discussion," Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager Brian Burke said yesterday. "I am not in favour of it."

Burke said he will keep an open mind on the topic of fighting, at least until he hears what the discussion is in Naples. But he does not think many of his peers want to remove fighting from hockey.

"I vigorously oppose [a ban], so I think it will be a short discussion," he said.

Leafs GM Brian Burke brings up some good points on the role Fighting plays in the National Hockey League. I also believe there isn’t going to be a ground swell of people in the NHL wanting to change the status quo; I believe fighting is here to stay in some facet. If Fighting is taken out of the NHL you will have these gutless punks known as agitators skating around the ice taking liberties with teams skilled players with no way to exact justice. The code will be thrown out.

I do think Brian Burke is wrong though, fighting in hockey sells tickets. Some people go to NHL hockey games with the sole purpose of seeing a fight. While I think Fighting plays a role and polices the game, it isn't the sole reason I watch the game (apparently there is something wrong in some eyes of enjoying a good fight).

While Campbell believes questions about fighting need to be asked, Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke has his answers ready.

"I think it's a very important historical and present part of our game," said Burke. "If it comes to a vote, Toronto is certainly not going to vote to eliminate fighting. That's certainly not going to happen while I'm here.

If you take fighting out of the game, you eliminate the players' ability to regulate the violence in the game. That's what fighting does. It's not gratuitous. It's not to sell tickets

Yeah don't do that again.

I guess Scotty D and I weren't the only ones that felt the the bubbles above the head of Gopher goalie Alex Kangas lacked class. Sure the bubbles are kind of funny but imagine if they were on the other foot. Like I said before UND is a better program than that. I am surprised that FSN didn't mention them on their broadcast.

*I want to give the REA arena leafy spurge for the the captions next to Gopher's goalie Alex Kangas head that said, what's a sieve? Also, the caption that said, "I wish I had played for the Sioux." I have to say not cool; both of these comments lacked class. We are the University of North Dakota, we are better program than that.

From Brad's blog.

--Several UND people complained about the "thought bubbles" that were placed next to Minnesota players on the Jumbotron two weeks ago. Ralph Engelstad Arena's people agreed that they were not appropriate and in bad taste and said they won't happen again.

DU and UND (let the games begin)

Here is an interesting article from Mike Chambers blog. Seems the re-occuring theme is popping up this week as well. The Sioux rough it up, when ever there is a fight UND is involved in it.

"I can't even explain it, but I love going to North Dakota and playing those guys," Bozak said. "We certainly heated up the rivalry when we went up last year, when we had that pretty chippy second game and then beat them in the WCHA playoffs in St. Paul (Minn.). It's always a hard-nosed, chippy and fast game with them, and it's unfortunate I'm going to have to miss it."

Slugging Sioux.

North Dakota has a pattern of turning games against DU, Wisconsin and Minnesota into fightfests that have led to questions about referees keeping control of the game.

The Sioux slugged it out with each of those teams last season and again against the Gophers on Jan. 10 in Grand Forks.

Last February against DU, North Dakota's Kyle Radke fought the Pioneers' J.P. Testwuide, but neither was given a game misconduct. Radke came out of the locker room following the second- period buzzer and pummeled Brandon Vossberg.

"I don't think we're going to prepare for anything other than we normally do," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "This league is a tough, fast, physical league, and whether you play Minnesota, North Dakota or Wisconsin (on the road), we expect those things."

Poll Monday

USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
January 19, 2009

Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Notre Dame (38) 19-3-3 986 1
2 Boston University ( 7) 16-5-1 931 2
3 Cornell ( 5) 13-1-3 877 5
4 Denver 15-6-2 828 4
5 Northeastern 15-5-2 821 3
6 Minnesota 12-5-5 753 7
7 Vermont 13-5-3 673 8
8 Michigan 16-8-0 637 6
9 Princeton 13-5-0 562 10
10 Miami 13-8-3 507 9
11 New Hampshire 11-6-4 468 13
12 Ohio State 16-6-2 467 14
13 Colorado College 13-8-5 427 11
14 Boston College 9-8-3 320 12
15 North Dakota 14-10-2 316 17
16 Wisconsin 13-10-3 280 16
17 Minnesota-Duluth 11-7-6 123 NR
18 Dartmouth 10-7-0 117 18
19 Alaska 11-8-5 100 NR
20 Air Force 15-6-1 94 15
Others Receiving Votes: Nebraska-Omaha 67, Yale 39, Minnesota State 26, Quinnipiac 26, RIT 16, Maine 13, Union 7, Michigan State 6, St. Lawrence 5, St. Cloud State 4, Massachusetts 3, Niagara 1

USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
Jan. 12, 2009
Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week

1 Notre Dame (30) 18-3-2 501 1
2 Boston University (2) 14-4-1 475 2
3 Northeastern 14-4-2 421 4
4 Denver 15-6-2 389 7
5 Cornell (2) 11-1-3 385 6
6 Michigan 15-7-0 323 11
7 Vermont 12-4-3 317 10
8 Minnesota 10-5-5 275 3
9 Miami (Ohio) 12-7-3 199 8
10 Princeton 13-5-0 180 5
11 Colorado College 12-7-5 158 12
12 Boston College 9-6-3 135 9
13 New Hampshire 10-6-4 129 13
14 Ohio State 15-6-1 95 15
15 Air Force 15-4-1 46 14
Others receiving votes: University of Wisconsin, 18; Yale University, 9; University of North Dakota, 8; Quinnipiac University, 6; University of Maine, 4; Dartmouth College, 3; University of Nebraska Omaha, 3; Rochester Institute of Technology, 1.


***

UND 16th in the INCH Power Rankings.

The INCH Power Rankings are up.

1. Notre Dame
2. Cornell
3. Boston University
4. Denver
5. Northeastern
6. Vermont
7. Minnesota
8. Michigan
9. Princeton
10. Ohio State
11. Miami
12. Colorado College
13. New Hampshire
14. Boston College
15. Wisconsin
16. North Dakota 2 The Fighting Sioux head into this weekend's series against Denver unbeaten in their last six games (5-0-1), and have outscored their opponents 28-13 during that span. 14-10-2 (9-5-2 WCHA) LAST WEEK: T at Michigan Tech, 3-3 ot; W at Michigan Tech, 5-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Denver, vs. Denver
17. Dartmouth
18. Air Force
19. Alaska
20. Minnesota Duluth

Dropped out: Yale, Nebraska-Omaha

Bubble-licious: Yale, Nebraska-Omaha, Union, RI

Seems now the Sioux are making a climb up the rankings. Polls come out later on today on Poll Monday.

Classic Dean Blais.

You know while I think UND has a good coach, I do miss the one liners and words of wisdom from one of UND's former Hockey coach Dean Blais. Check out these post game comments. The straight talk express is back.

Fargo --- Head coach Dean Blais had some choice words for his team after an effort he called “lackadaisical and sloppy.”

“I was disappointed in everybody from our captains to the guys that were sitting out,” Blais said. “We had no leadership, and I don’t know what we are now.

“I don’t know if we’re a playoff team or a team that’s going to finish sixth.”

JMFJ Returns to the King's line up.

Jack Johnson has returned to the LA Kings line up. Even though he played for Michigan he was one of my favorite college players unless he was playing against the Fighting Sioux. It will be interesting to see if anything happens between Johnson and Kessel when they meet on March 19th 2009.

Jack Johnson returns in Kings' loss
Defenceman Jack Johnson returned from the injured list Saturday afternoon for the Kings and mustered two shots and five hits in 20 minutes of ice time, but it wasn't enough to help Los Angeles avoid a fourth straight loss, 3-2 in a shootout at Dallas.

Johnson, who turned 22 on Tuesday, had sat out the last 41 games because of a shoulder injury suffered on Oct. 12.

The American blue-liner was placed on the injured reserve list the next day and had shoulder surgery later that month.

Before the injury, Johnson played in two games, with no points and two penalty minutes.

See I told you so.

Ed Trefzger has an interesting article on USCHO blogs.
I remember not too long ago when everyone had Air Force Academy penciled in as an at large bid I said; "I think you can sum it up right here the AHA conference is a JOKE, a league stuffed with CUPCAKES. Air Force would be the middle of the road team in the CCHA, HEA or the WCHA." This got me a few negative reps over on USCHO.COM but it appears that I was right. I also think that RIT is going to win the AHA. There is also no award for having the best record at the half way point for the season. Your teams doesn't get to the award for the best start. College hockey plays the games all the way to the season end.

I think this is where we say see I told you so.

Let’s not let emotions dictate what reality is. Lets face facts and be frank the Atlantic Hockey Association outside of Air Force is a complete and utter joke. They should just call it the bakery league because it is stuffed full of cream puffs and cupcakes. Lets review the league: Air Force 13-1-0 (SOS 46), Bentley 5-5-1 (SOS 47), Mercyhurst 5-8-1 (SOS49), Canisius 6-5-3 (SOS 51), UConn 4-9-0 (SOS 52), Holy Cross 4-9-1 (SOS 53), Sacred Heart 3-9-2 (SOS 54), American International 4-9-0 (SOS 55), RIT 5-8-1 (SOS 57), Army 3-8-1(SOS 58). No one in the AHA has a strength of schedule above 47. That is a weak league.

Here is the updated version of that run down with the new updated numbers.
Let’s not let emotions dictate what reality is. Lets face facts and be frank the Atlantic Hockey Association outside of Air Force and RIT is a complete and utter joke. They should just call it the bakery league because it is stuffed full of cream puffs and cupcakes. Lets review the league: Air Force 15-6-1 (SOS 52), Bentley 9-11-1 (SOS 48), Mercyhurst 9-12-2 (SOS 53), Canisius 9-8-4 (SOS 57), Connecticut 5-16-1 (SOS 49), Holy Cross 8-11-3 (SOS 54), Sacred Heart 5-14-3 (SOS 51), American International 4-18-1 (SOS 55), RIT 14-9-1 (SOS 58), Army 7-12-2(SOS 56). No one in the AHA has a strength of schedule above 48. That is a weak league.

Scores from 01-17-2009

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Atlantic Hockey
American Int'l 1 at RIT 6
Sacred Heart 0 at Mercyhurst 7
Holy Cross 3 at Army 3 ot
Canisius 4 at Air Farce 2

Analysis
I guess this is where I can say "see I told you so." Everyone was giddy when Air Farce was beating up on cup cakes by huge margins, the pundits had Air Farce penciled in as an at large bid. Well since their 13-0-1 run the Falcons have gone 2-6-1, the Falcons have also lost 3 games in a row. Now the cup cakes are beating Air Farce. Oh the humanity! RIT is now leading the AHA but they have played two more games than Air Force. I am predicting that RIT will win the AHA conference tourney this season making their first NCAA tourney bid this spring.

CCHA
Notre Dame 3 at Lake Superior 3 ot: Notre Dame wins shootout
Ohio State 2 at Ferris State 2 ot: Ohio State wins shootout
Nebraska-Omaha 1 at Alaska 1 ot: Alaska wins shootout
Michigan State 1 at Miami 6
Michigan 1 at Bowling Green 0

Analysis
Miami stops a 5 game losing streak. Michigan shuts out BGSU after being shutout the night before 3-0. Billy Sauer gets the win in net for the Wolverines. There were three shoot-outs in the CCHA last night. Cue up the unhappy coach audio for the coaches that lost the shootout.

EZAC
Clarkson 4 at Brown 3 ot
Cornell 3 at Rensselaer 0
St. Lawrence 2 at Yale 2 ot
Colgate 3 at Union 6

Analysis
Yawn!

Hockey East
Vermont 4 at Northeastern 2
Massachusetts 4 at Mass.-Lowell 3
Boston College 2 at Boston University 5

Analysis
Hockey East is this years version of the WCHA last season. They are kicking the snot out of each other every night. Boston College is not the team they were last season and that is to be understood, the Eagles have no Nate Gerbe this year.

WCHA
North Dakota 5 at Michigan Tech 0
Alaska-Anchorage 1 at Minnesota State 7
Minnesota 8 at St. Cloud State 6
Colorado College 4 at Wisconsin 3

Analysis
The stretch run in the WCHA. Check out those scores from last night. Looks like scoring is up in the WCHA. In three of the last four games Alex Kangas has given up 6, 5, 2 and 6 goals. Alex Kangas as seen his save percentage go from a .921 to a .906. I think we can say that the Gophers defense has been exposed. It was not a night for the Huskies as both teams MTU and SCSU lost.

Non-Conference
New Hampshire 6 vs. Dartmouth 4
Alabama-Huntsville 1 at Western Michigan 5
Quinnipiac 1 at Niagara 5
Bemidji State 2 at Minnesota-Duluth 4

Analysis
The UMD Bulldogs were the only team named after a dog that won. The Huskies (x3) all lost and the Ferris State Bulldogs lost in a shootout. Seems that WMU hates Huntsville as well. Niagara keeping it real.

Bruce McLeod on WCHA moratorium being lifted.

Check out this weeks Hockey Show. Moose Richards talks with WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod talks about the moratorium being lifted. Listen to the Hockey Show here. The interview is at the beginning of the show and apparently three other teams have contacted Bruce McLeod expressing some interest about possible membership in the WCHA. Sounds like one of the teams that called is a team you would never expect. If you have an ipod you can listen on (itunes here).

Eidsness shuts out MTU Huskies 5-0

Listed below we have a new features: "Moron of the Week." This leads into to my theme for tonight.

Goaltending and solid defense wins championships, its a cliche I know. Brad Eidsness is a rookie goalie and at times has made rookie mistakes. There have been a few people that have said some ridiculous stuff about Brad Eidsness. Since stepping between the pipes Eidsness has played well enough to win on most nights, except for maybe against BU. This season many teams have looked bad against BU this season, they hung 7 goals on Michigan. Tonight Brad Eidsness got a well deserved shutout. Let's hope it is the first of many to come.

Big Joe Finley is starting to look like the Finley of old. Also, it should come as no surprise to anyone that Brad's first career shutout as a Fighting Sioux comes as Big Joe Finley gets more comfortable back on the Blue line. It takes a while to get back to game speed after missing 16 games with a concussion. Right now the defense for the Fighting Sioux is looking really good and I am excited for next weekend's series against the Denver Pioneers.

Box Score
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1st Period (20:00)
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MTU-1 John Schwarz (2-Holding the Stick) NDK 0x1 3:03
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 GW LL Matt Frattin (9) (Ryan Duncan) 7:32
NDK (+): 21,16,19,2,3,G31 MTU (-): 22,12,8,14,18,G37
NDK-1 Matt Frattin (2-Roughing) MTU 0x1 10:05
MTU-2 Ryan Angelow (2-Interference) NDK 0x2 13:57

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2nd Period (20:00)
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NDK-2 Joe Finley (2-Interference) MTU 0x2 6:11
MTU-3 Ricky Doriott (2-Boarding) NDK 1x3 17:54
NDK 2 - 0 6x5 PP Jake Marto (3) (Brad Miller, Evan Trupp) 19:17
NDK: 25,14,19,29,21,G31 MTU: 22,12,20,7,G37
MTU-4 Alex MacLeod (2-Boarding) NDK 1x4 19:51

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

NDK-3 Chay Genoway (2-Interference) MTU 0x3 2:53
NDK 3 - 0 6x6 Brent Davidson (2) (Brad Malone) 7:24
NDK (+): 15,22,18,6,14,G31 MTU (-): 12,26,17,19,16,G37
MTU-5 Peter Rohn (2-O-TRIPPING) NDK 1x5 8:53
MTU-6 Ricky Doriott (2-Roughing) NDK 1x6 12:57
NDK-4 Jason Gregoire (2-Interference) MTU 0x4 13:58
NDK 4 - 0 5x5 Matt Frattin (10) (Brad Malone) 14:20
NDK (+): 21,22,5,2,G31 MTU (-): 25,10,20,5,G37
NDK 5 - 0 5x5 Jake Marto (4) (Derrick LaPoint) 14:50
NDK (+): 25,3,8,29,G31 MTU (-): 22,16,12,26,G37
MTU-7 Drew Dobson (2-Tripping) NDK 1x7 16:04
NDK-5 Jake Marto (2-Roughing) 19:35
NDK-6 Joe Finley (2-CTH ROUGHING) 19:35
NDK-7 Joe Finley (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Served by David Toews) MTU 0x5 19:35
MTU-8 Bennett Royer (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 19:35
MTU-9 Bryce Reddick (2-Roughing) 19:35

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game
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Moron of the Week.
Check out this moron's post from Brad's blog This is why retarded drunk people shouldn't be allowed to pollute the Internet. Hey note to anonymous Skippy; Brad Eidsness gives UND the best chance to win in goal. I don't think we can afford to play Walski anymore this season.

what is it going to take to get eids out of the net????????????


Be good for him to have to sit and watch a game after he plays bad...but not when hak is the coach goalies...wait drafted goalies...can play terrible lose a game for his team and stil get to play....WOW HAK clean it up

Posted by: wow on Saturday, January 17 5:15 PM

UND lines for tonight's game.

The lines for tonight's game have been posted. UND's lines

17 Jason Gregoire--16 Ryan Duncan--26 Brett Hextall
19 Evan Trupp--29 Chris VandeVelde--21 Matt Frattin
20 Matt Watkins--11 Darcy Zajac--8 Ryan Martens
15 Brent Davidson--22 Brad Malone--18 David Toews

2 Joe Finley--5 Chay Genoway
3 Derrick LaPoint--25 Jake Marto
6 Zach Jones--14 Brad Miller

31 Brad Eidsness
30 Aaron Walski

I don't get why Mario Lamoureux isn't playing? UND's records is awesome with Mario Lamoureux in the line up and Mario had an assist in last night's game.

Its not just the WCHA officials.

Sounds like Jack Parker was a little upset with the Hockey East officials last night and had some choice words for the on ice officials; you kind of wonder what the bleeped word was? I saw this story linked a few places on line and it does seem to be a re-occurring theme over the course of every hockey season.

Personally, I think if the refs let games get out of hand and players get injured as a result of them letting things go the league has to hold the on ice officials somewhat responsible. The hooks and holds are not the problem it is the checking from behind calls that go under punished. Checking from behind is a gutless act and is a serious penalty that has to be called more closely and it is not. Personally, I think the refs are afraid to put a team down for five minutes and try not to call them unless they are really bad. This season I have seen a few checking from behinds go that are really blatant. Last night during the MTU and UND game I saw one that warranted a five minute power play, heck even the MTU web cast guys said it should have been one, but it wasn't. The last thing we want to see is a player hurt for life.

Parker Upset as Both Players Require Hospital Trips -- "The game was a pretty good one for a while," Parker said. "Then things were allowed to happen out there that made a mess out of the game."

Parker blasted the on-ice officials, Hockey East commissioner Joe Bertagna and supervisor of officials Richard DeCaprio.

"Higgins got six stitches in the head and a concussion and Matt Gilroy got a separated shoulder and a chest problem. Those two injuries occurred and the referees perceived them as being 2-minute minors," Parker said.

"I've been talking to the league about it for five weeks. This is what we get tonight after talking to the league. The commissioner and the supervisor of officials, I've talked to them for five weeks. This is what we get."

He continued, "Players should be protected and I haven't seen it done all year. A few minutes into the game we have a guy take a hit from behind, right in the numbers, and there doesn't seem to be any consequence (note: there was a five-minute major and a misconduct to Merrimack's Mickey Rego). My two guys got cold-cocked. Vicious runs by the opposition. There is no (expletive) need for that whatsoever, and they got two-minute penalties."

Chay Genoway leading the on-line fan Hobey voting.

Sioux fans don't forget to keep stuffing the ballot box for Chay Genoway over on the Hobey baker site. If you check out the results section Chay is the leading vote getter. I know it is only 1% but it doesn't hurt to help Chay get some recognition.

5842: Chay Genoway - North Dakota - Jr - D
3815: Mark Magnowski - Princeton - Jr - F
3748: Ted Cook - Niagara - Sr - F
3195: Jacques Lamoureux - Air Force - So - F
1544: Greg Flynn - Air Force - Sr - D
1310: Brock McBride - St. Lawrence - Sr - F
1272: Chad Rau - Colorado College - Sr - F

From our rival's newspaper.

Here is the story from the Mining Gazette

HOUGHTON - Michigan Tech showed a lot of heart on Friday night.

The Huskies battled their way back from deficits twice to earn a hard-fought 3-3 overtime tie with North Dakota in Western Collegiate Hockey Association action.

"I thought it was a gutsy effort," Tech coach Jamie Russell said. "We showed great character, but it concerns me that we came out and we didn't move our feet or skate at all in the first period."

The Huskies fell behind 2-0 after one. The Fighting Sioux built their two-goal advantage with a pair of power-play goals.

Jake Marto's goal put North Dakota in front by two. The Fighting Sioux dominated the opening 20 minutes, out-shooting Tech 15-4.

If not for the play of senior netminder Rob Nolan, the score could have been much worse. Nolan made several big stops to keep his team in the game early.
(read the rest of the story)

Scores from 01-16-2009 (Happy Hockey Day)

Friday, January 16, 2009

Atlantic Hockey
American Int'l 3 at RIT 5
Sacred Heart 1 at Mercyhurst 2
Canisius 5 at Air Force 4

Analysis
Air Farce just keeps on tumbling after the loss to Canisius. Notice you don't hear anymore talk of the Falcons making the NCAA tourney or the Frozen Four? One win does not make a program folks. The Falcons will be lucky to get out of their conference tourney. Since going 13-0-0 the Falcons are 2-5-1. There is no award for great first half of the season records. I think RIT will be heard from in the AHA before it is all said and done.

CCHA
Michigan State 4 at Miami 1
Bowling Green 3 at Michigan 0
Notre Dame 3 at Lake Superior 2
Ohio State 6 at Ferris State 2
Nebraska-Omaha 0 at Alaska 2

Analysis
Miami has lost an unimpressive 5 games, last night the RedHawks lost to the MSU Spartans night 4-1. We will hope and pray that our buddy RedHawkman from the Miami fan base doesn't jump off a bridge. Michigan lost to middle of the road team BGSU last night you can say that I was midly surprised by that result. Notre Dame keeps winning as they are now 17-0-2 since they last lost. The biggest question remains has Notre Dame peaked too fast? Last year they backed into the NCAA playoffs and went to the Frozen Four before losing to the Eagles.

EZAC
St. Lawrence 6 at Brown 1
Cornell 4 at Union 1
Clarkson 4 at Yale 3
Colgate 2 at Rensselaer 3 ot

Analysis
Yawn! Boring!

Hockey East
Mass.-Lowell 4 at Boston College 3 ot
Vermont 1 at Northeastern 3
Boston University 4 at Merrimack 1
Providence 5 at Massachusetts 4

Analysis
The Boston College Eagles must be feeling the hangover from winning the NCAA title last season because they are not the same team this season. Vermont grounded by NU. BU rebounds after losing earlier in the week.

WCHA
St. Cloud State 1 at Minnesota 5
Colorado College 1 at Wisconsin 6
North Dakota 3 at Michigan Tech 3 ot
Alaska-Anchorage 4 at Minnesota State 2

Analysis
Minnesota runs SCSU out of the building after being slaughtered last week by the Sioux. After last nights game I heard Doug Woog say that SCSU will come out flying tomorrow night, they have their third Jerseys and the place is going to be rocking. Let's see we have three players tired from the WJC, they were missing their coach and now we have the jersey excuse. Last year's star goaltender Richard Bachman was yanked yet again as the Badgers shell the C.C. Tigers on Friday night. It will be interesting to see what Tigers team shows up tonight? Thank God the Sioux aren't going to have to play the MTU Huskies in the first round of the WCHA playoffs. I am also happy we won't see them again after tonight.

Non-Conference
Bemidji State 2 at Minnesota-Duluth 3
Alabama-Huntsville 3 at Western Michigan 4
Bentley 3 at Maine 1
Quinnipiac 6 at Niagara 4

Analysis
Maine losing to Bentley does kind of shock me. You will hear the Maine fans calling for their coach's head soon.

Sister kissing in Houghton Michigan: UND 3 MTU 3

For whatever reason the Michigan Tech Huskies have the Fighting Sioux's number this season, I can’t explain it, the Sioux just can’t win. If you looked at both teams records and after watching UND run the Gophers out of the building last weekend the Fighting Sioux were only able to gain a tie against the MTU Huskies. In retrospect I can’t say the Sioux have played bad against the Huskies they just haven’t capitalized on their opportunities and they haven’t found a way to get in between the circles of the Huskies defense. I guess we have to say hats off to the “Real Huskies”.

I have to give the Huskies credit they played tough defensively and capitalized on some knucklehead defensive break downs the Sioux gift wrapped for them. While our goaltender has played good this year Brad Eidsness has to be better and start making some timely saves at key times in the game. Every game I see him make a mistake he shouldn’t be making. Brad Eidsness should not be letting in goals from the circles. That is unacceptable. Tomorrow night the Sioux need to play with a little more grit if they want to take 3 of 4 points in the series. Losing tomorrow night is unacceptable, the Sioux need to get to the net like they have a purpose in life and keep moving their feet. Tonight during the second period they were not moving their feet and the Huskies jumped on them.

Positives

*Big Joe Finley blast from the point tonight was a beautiful goal. Big Joe is looking more and more like the Finley of old.

*Another big game for Jason Gregoire 1-1-2 for the night, that kid is a gamer and I can't imagine where UND would be without him this season?

*Mario Lamoureux come back after having his appendix removes and get a point.

Box Score
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK-1 Jake Marto (2-Tripping) MTU 0x1 8:35
NDK-2 Zach Jones (2-Boarding) MTU 0x2 9:35
MTU-1 Jordan Baker (2-Holding the Stick) NDK 0x1 10:21
MTU-2 John Schwarz (2-Holding) NDK 1x2 14:36
NDK 1 - 0 6x5 PP Jason Gregoire (9) (Ryan Martens, Chay Genoway) 15:57
NDK: 17,8,5,21,19,G31 MTU: 20,23,7,18,G37
MTU-3 Ryan Bunger (2-Tripping) NDK 2x3 17:34
NDK 2 - 0 6x5 PP Jake Marto (2) (Jason Gregoire, Evan Trupp) 19:01
NDK: 25,17,19,21,8,G31 MTU: 18,13,12,20,G37
MTU-4 John Schwarz (2-Tripping) NDK 2x4 19:27
NDK-3 Chris VandeVelde (2-Interference) MTU 0x3 19:57

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

MTU 1 - 2 6x6 Alex Gagne (5) (Deron Cousens) 4:52
MTU (+): 18,22,26,8,7,G37 NDK (-): 11,19,5,21,2,G31
MTU 2 - 2 6x6 Brett Olson (5) (Bennett Royer, Geoff Kinrade) 8:37
MTU (+): 16,19,12,26,14,G37 NDK (-): 11,6,8,14,20,G31
MTU-5 Drew Dobson (2-Tripping) NDK 2x5 9:15
NDK-4 Ryan Martens (2-HITTING AFTER WHISTLE) 12:19
MTU-6 Alex MacLeod (2-Cross-Checking) 12:19
MTU-7 Alex MacLeod (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) (Served by Peter Rohn) NDK 2x6 12:19
MTU-8 Alex Gagne (2-Hooking) NDK 2x7 19:06

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

NDK 3 - 2 6x6 Joe Finley (1) (Mario Lamoureux, David Toews) 2:34
NDK (+): 2,9,18,5,22,G31 MTU (-): 7,18,22,10,16,G37
NDK-5 David Toews (2-TOO MANY PLAYERS ON ICE) MTU 1x4 3:39
MTU 3 - 3 6x5 PP GT Peter Rohn (2) (Jordan Baker, Deron Cousens) 4:07
MTU: 25,22,26,12,16,G37 NDK: 11,5,2,20,G31
NDK-6 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 9:00
MTU-9 Mike VanWagner (2-Roughing) 9:00
NDK-7 Chris VandeVelde (2-Roughing) 17:11
MTU-10 Ryan Bunger (2-Roughing) 17:11
MTU-11 Ryan Bunger (2-Roughing) (Served by Peter Rohn) NDK 2x8 17:11

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overtime (5:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of Game

UND vs MTU Lines (updated stats)

Brad Elliott Schlossman has the lines up for tonights game against the real Huskies from MTU. Kozek didn't make the trip.

UND's lines

17 Jason Gregoire --(9-9-18)16 Ryan Duncan (10-8-18)--26 Brett Hextall--(8-8-16)
19 Evan Trupp--(4-9-13) 29 Chris VandeVelde(8-10-18)--21 Matt Frattin--(8-7-15)
20 Matt Watkins(3-5-8)--11 Darcy Zajac(2-8-10)--8 Ryan Martens---(9-8-17)
9 Mario Lamoureux(1-1-2)--22 Brad Malone(2-5-7)--18 David Toews---(4-5-9)

2 Joe Finley(1-3-4) --5 Chay Genoway (2-21-23)
3 Derrick LaPoint--25 Jake Marto(2-4-6)
6 Zach Jones(1-0-1)--14 Brad Miller (4-18-22)

31 Brad Eidsness 13-7-1 GAA 2.62 SV% .908
30 Aaron Walski

Michigan Tech's lines

22 Jordan Baker (9-6-15)--18 Alex Gagne (5-2-7)--7 Alex Lord --(0-3-3)
28 Derek Kitti (1-0-1)--13 Ryan Angelow (1-0-1) --21 Ryan Bunger--(0-1-1)
27 Justin St. Louis (0-0-0)--16 Brett Olson (5-8-13)--14 Alex MacLeod--(3-4-7)
19 Bennett Royer (1-3-4)--25 Peter Rohn (2-0-2)--24 John Kivisto--(1-3-4)

10 John Schwarz (0-0-0)--12 Geoff Kinrade (3-4-7)
26 Deron Cousens (2-4-6)--5 Drew Dobson (0-11-11)
23 Ricky Doriott(0-0-0)--20 Eli Vlaisavljevich (0-1-1)
8 Mike VanWagner (0-1-1)

37 Rob Nolan 2-12-1 GAA 2.98 SV% .895
30 Josh Robinson
31 Corson Cramer

Jason Blake scores hat trick.

Jason Blake has had a hell of a time since he showed up in Toronto last season, he signed a huge contract and scored 15 goals for the season, the fans in Toronto were not happy. I read the Toronto Star sports page on a semi regular basis and the fans in Toronto are not huge Jason Blake fans. I just hope they took into account that Blake had cancer last season, from reading some of the comments posted by fans it appears that they didn't. Last night Blake had a hat trick (2nd goal) and (3rd goal). Lastly, its nice to see Blake get the best of his former coach. I have never been a fan of Paul Maurice. For the season Blake has 13-16-29 in 40 games.

Suddenly a Leaf team that was poised to snap a four-game losing skid plunged back into the miserable hockey it had so desperately tried to erase.

On the bench, though, there was no letdown. Every player kept supporting the guy sitting beside him, right through the worst of it. Then Tomas Kaberle cranked home the game-winner on a power play.

Blake notched an empty-netter to complete his hat trick. That goal also bent the spotlight back toward him, and to the issues that have surrounded his time in Toronto.

The point was raised last night that he is a "different" player than he was last season, when he signed a five-year, $20 million (U.S.) free-agent deal, but followed up a 40-goal season in 2006-07 with just 15 under then-coach Paul Maurice.

He now has 13 goals – tied for second on the team – but admits that he was the problem, not Maurice.

Training camp was not quite over in September 2007 when Blake stunned the hockey world with news that he had been diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. With the aid of a super pill, he would play through the ailment, but it was clear he wasn't the high-scoring winger the Leafs had hoped for. (Read the whole story here)