What if the Gophers don't make the Final Five?

The beat writers are already starting to ponder the thought of the Gophers not making the Final Five and the West Regional. There is a very good chance this could happen this season.

There will be plenty of time to throw darts — and I’m sure they will be thrown — if the Gophers don’t make the NCAA tournament, with a regional here, and worst yet, if they get bounced in the first round of the WCHA playoffs and don’t make the Final Five.

The wailing will be heard all the way to Colorado Springs, where WCHA commish Bruce McLeod has his office. People have always speculated how well a Final Five without the Gophers would draw, they might get a chance to really find out.
(Read the whole story here)

I keep hearing gloom and doom for the WCHA and the NCAA regional if the Gophers don't make the WCHA Final Five or the NCAA West Regional. I predict that both tourneys will survive even if the Minnesota Gophers fail to make either tourney. NCAA hockey is bigger than the Minnesota Gophers.

Keith Ballard vs Chuck Kobasew

Nothing like a fight between a former Minnesota Gopher and a Boston College Eagle. Kobasew isn't really know for his fighting skills but took exception with Ballard's low hit and held his own against a pretty tough hockey player like Keith Ballard.

Check out VV on the Pipe Line Show.

Check out what UND's Chris VandeVelde had to say on the Pipeline Show.

They asked Vandy if he is ready to make that jump to the next level? Chris is going to sit down after the season with his family advisor and weigh his options. I think there is a good chance that Vandy will not be back with the Fighting Sioux next season.

Bitz makes it big for the Bruins.

Former Cornell Big Red player Byron Bitz is getting his shot with the Boston Bruins and making the best of his opportunity. While staking on the fourth line Bitz has (3g-2a-5pts) in 20 games. As a Bruins fan that watches just about every Bruin's game I have to say that I have been impressed with Bitz so far. (goal 1) (goal 2)

BOSTON (AP)- It wasn't the first time Byron Bitz had a big crowd chanting his name. It had been a while, though.

The rookie fourth-liner scored his second and third NHL goals Tuesday night, leading the struggling Bruins to a 6-1 win over the Florida Panthers in the opener of Boston's six-game homestand.

Bitz's performance had the fans buzzing, just like he used to in his days at Cornell.

"Couple times in college - but 20,000 people's different than 4,000, so it was pretty cool," he said.

Bitz, playing in his 20th game since being recalled from Providence, Jan. 10, scored once in the second period and again in the third as the Bruins won for only the second time in their last eight games.

His second goals made it 4-1 and Aaron Ward and Michael Ryder followed with goals to break the game open. That got the home crowd chanting for Bitz to finish off the hat trick.

He didn't do it, even with a bit of late power play time.

"It would have been nice if it worked out but it?s not that big a deal," he said.

Lucia might start Patterson.

Check out the Story here. Lucia must be feeling the heat? I think Kangas is the least of the Gophers problems. If I was a Gopher fan I would be more concerned with their porous defense that has left their goaltending out to dry numerous times and the Gophers are starting to pay for this. I don't see Patterson making much of a difference.

As the Gophers men's hockey team prepares for its final four games of the men's hockey season, coach Don Lucia says he might have to tinker with his goaltending this weekend.

"Everything's being evaluated right now," he said. "Whether we split our goalies this week, that's not a decision that's been made. Have we talked about it as a staff? Sure we have."

Sophomore Alex Kangas has started all 30 of Minnesota's games as the Gophers have gone 13-11-6, including 10-10-4 in the WCHA going into a weekend home series against Minnesota-Duluth.

After earning the team's designation as most valuable player last season with a 1.98 goals-against average and a .930 save percentage, Kangas this season has a 2.94 GAA and a .895 save percentage. The numbers have been even worse as the Gophers have gone 6-11-2 in their past 19 games: 3.63 and .869.

The option is backup goaltender Kent Patterson, a 19-year-old freshman from Plymouth who spent two seasons with Cedar Rapids of the U.S. Hockey League and recorded a 2.75 GAA and a .913 save percentage. Patterson has played only four games for the Gophers and has stats of 2.09 and .933.

Would Kangas benefit from sitting out a game?
(read the whole article)

DU now Tigers fan this weekend.

Props to Fighting Sioux fan for making note of this Blog post from Mike Chambers. If I was DU Pioneers I would worry solely about beating the Huskies who swept the Pioneers in St. Cloud back in November 4-2 and 2-1.

Props to my buddy Sioux7 for bringing out the obvious, "The Pioneers will be playing an hour behind the Tigers, hosting St. Cloud State." FYI - CC and UND play on Sat. & Sun. at 3:37pm CT both days. You have to love Mike Chambers. Lets Go Sioux. It's time to kick some Tiger ass this weekend. Seriously, Roe, Lasch and the Huskies are going to come out flying against the Pioneers and they are not going to give the Pioneers anything. One game at a time.

CC could help DU win WCHA.
By Mike Chambers ---- The Denver Post

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season championship could be awarded to the University of Denver on March 7, and it's a title archrival Colorado College could help produce.

DU fans will be fans of the Tigers this weekend when CC visits North Dakota. But the Pioneers and Tigers end the regular season March 7 at Magness Arena.

DU, tied with the Fighting Sioux atop the WCHA, needs CC to win a game or two in Grand Forks, N.D. The Pioneers will be playing an hour behind the Tigers, hosting St. Cloud State.

"We are concentrating fully on our series here with St. Cloud and feel strongly that if we take care of business over the next couple games, we'll put ourselves in real good position," DU coach George Gwozdecky

They will play at least five games and as many as eight — depending on how far they advance in the WCHA playoffs — before the 16-team NCAA Tournament field is announced March 22.

"I don't want to put the cart before the horse," Gwozdecky said of obtaining a No. 1 seed. "We feel good about ourselves right now, but I certainly don't want to be predicting or making plans. As we've seen from a week ago, the Pairwise can fluctuate so easily because of how close everyone is."

Crosby and Ovechkin.

I saw this story over on Puck Daddy. I love watching these two teams play each other. Also, I can't be the only one that is getting tired of Crosby's antics, while Crosby is a good hockey player he is a bit of a cry baby. Here is Ovechkin had to say about Sidney Crosby.

"What can I say about Crosby?" he said. "He is a good player, but he talks too much. I play hard and if he wants to hit me, he can hit me, not talk to you guys about who plays cheap and who plays dirty. That's my game... If he doesn't like it, it's his problem."

Later on, when I got my chance to speak to Ovie in Russian, he seemed to be jokingly frustrated about the whole "cheap shot" issue.

"What, I can't play hard against him? What is he going to do, cry?"

Wild are boring to watch.

You can't make this stuff up. This is what the Chicago Blackhawks had to say about playing the Minnesota Wild. As a life long Wild fan I think this is a pretty accurate description and it is becoming boring to me. I would recommend that if you're are having trouble sleeping at night, why not watch a replay of this game on DVR. It would put you right to sleep. If you like goal tending last night's game offered quite a few opportunities to see good goaltending. Last night Wild goaltender Josh Harding was nothing short of amazing as he stopped former Sioux Jonathan Toews close in. For the Blackhawks Jonathan Toews scored the only goal of the game for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Maybe it's time for Minnesota Wild owner Craig Leipold to rethink the Wild's team philosophy. Come on now! Maybe it's time to take a look inward and try to remake the Minnesota Wild into something more exciting, more appealing and a better on the ice product that the fans can be proud of.

Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith called the Minnesota Wild's style of play "patient." Coach Joel Quenneville said it was "well-disciplined." Winger Kris Versteeg went with a more basic description.

"It's boring to play against, and it's boring to watch," Versteeg said. "They really put you to sleep out there. They have five guys that basically just stand in front and just block shots.

"Playing against a team like that makes it pretty tough to really get any life in the building."

The boring approach worked just fine for the Wild in a 2-1 victory over the Hawks on Sunday night at the United Center. The defeat snapped the Hawks' four-game winning streak, and they lost for the fourth time in their last five home contests.
(Read the whole article here)

Here is what the Blackhawks hockey blogger Steve Rosenbloom had to say about the Minnesota Wild's style of play. It sounds a lot like Sioux Sports own Redwing_77.

More games for the Blackhawks against Minnesota’s old hockey team instead of the new one.

I hate the Wild. I hate the neutral-zone trap. I hate the way Jacques Lemaire has uglied up the game.

But I really hate that the Hawks had 800 shots, including almost two minutes of a 5-on-3, but couldn’t beat Josh Harding for three stinkin’ goals when three goals is a month’s output for the Wild.

I’m aggravated, but that’s all I really want to say. No sense ranting. The Hawks don’t play the Wild again this season. Thank goodness. We now return to hockey and leave the land of lobotomies behind.

Poll Monday

USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
February 23, 2009

1 Boston University (31) 23-5-4 981 1
2 Notre Dame (19) 25-5-3 968 2
3 Michigan 24-10-0 863 3
4 Northeastern 20-8-4 850 4
5 Denver 19-9-4 790 8
6 Princeton 20-7-0 673 10
7 Miami 18-9-5 666 5
8 North Dakota 20-11-3 637 9
9 Vermont 17-8-5 635 6
10 Cornell 17-6-4 540 11
11 Yale 19-6-2 532 7
12 New Hampshire 16-9-5 513 12
13 Colorado College 16-9-8 352 18
14 Minnesota-Duluth 16-9-7 336 15
15 Ohio State 19-11-4 281 16
16 Wisconsin 16-13-3 227 13
17 St. Lawrence 17-11-4 191 20
18 Minnesota 13-11-6 145 14
19 St. Cloud State 17-13-2 122 19
20 Mass.-Lowell 15-13-2 62 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Air Force 50, Boston College 41,
Alaska 22, RIT 16, Dartmouth 7

USA Today poll

1. Notre Dame
2. Boston University
3. Michigan
4. Northeastern
5. Denver
6. Princeton
7. North Dakota
8. Vermont
9. Miami
10. New Hampshire
11. Cornell
12. Yale
13. Colorado College
14. Minnesota-Duluth
15. Ohio State


Analysis:
UND keeps moving up in the national polls and in the PWR where the Fighting Sioux are currently sitting 11th.

Sioux 5th in INCH Power Ranking.

INCH Power Rankings
1. Notre Dame
2. Boston University
3. Northeastern
4. Michigan
5. North Dakota
6. Denver
7. Princeton
8. Miami
9. Vermont
10. Yale
11. Cornell
12. New Hampshire
13. Minnesota Duluth
14. Wisconsin
15. Ohio State
16. Colorado College
17. St. Lawrence
18. Minnesota
19. St. Cloud State
20. UMass Lowell

Dropped out: Boston College

Bubble-licious: Air Force, RIT, Alaska

Color me surprised that UND is ranked that high.

Are the wheels coming off in Minneapolis?

The Minnesota Gophers were picked in the top half of the WCHA; currently the Gophers are again sitting in seventh place of the WCHA with four games remaining. There is a good chance that the Gophers could end up on the road again for the first round of the WCHA playoffs. Gopher fans are already worried that their team will do the unspeakable and end up missing the Final Five and the Midwest regional as well which is at Marriucci Arena. These fears are very realistic and could very well happen. Playoffstatus.com give the Gophers a 17% chance of getting home ice for the WCHA playoffs. If this happens it could get very ugly in Minneapolis. (Stay tuned folks)

As the Gophers season goes poorly and the loses continue to pile up there will be more and more calls from Gophers fans for the head of Gopher's head coach Don Lucia. It is only natural, as a Viking fan I have been calling for Brad Childress to be fired since season two. The questions are already starting to mount, what went wrong with the Gophers? While there have been many distractions that could lead to some of this season's failures, there has also a plethora of excuses and silly statements to come out of Gopherville. It’s been like a train wreck in slow motion. Here are some of the excuses we have seen so far; the Gophers are too young, the WJC players are tired, coach excuse. I even heard the lovable Doug Woog utter a jersey excuse in case the Gophers had managed to lose to SCSU.

No easy road to home ice

Two weeks ago during the Wisconsin series I heard Doug Woog mention to “the Rug” that Minnesota’s schedule is much more favorable the rest of the way. After the statement the Gophers proceeded to get three points out of a possible eight in their last two series. You gotta love the Wooger.

Fast forward to this weekend the Gophers the gritty and determined UMD Bulldogs, let me just say the Bulldogs are no cup of tea and I can personally think of seven other teams I would rather face right now. If the Gophers continue to play like they have the Gophers will get run out of building by Scott Sandelin’s team. Being a rivalry series UMD is going to be all over the Gophers.

Moron of the week

Here is my candidate for the Moron of the week; this is some classic stuff folks. I like how Gophers fan always refer back to the Fighting Sioux as being a bunch of hacks when their teams is ranked a lot higher nationally in penalties in minutes (PIMS) than the Sioux. I also like how this posters mentions UND’s 4 trips to the frozen four, yep UND has come home empty handed the last four years but the Fighting Sioux also finished ahead of the Gophers.

NMGo4
DU has 8 Colorado players on its roster, Wisky has 9 in-state kids, CC only two. But Tammyloud is right. The amount of in-state talent has nothing to do with how obnoxious the fan base might be. That comes, in large part, from the coach. Some coaches flip the bird and encourage otherwise thuggish behavior, and that manifests itself in fan behavior. I am afraid we just have to get used to it, but can also take comfort in the fact that even the most obnoxious fans get very, very quiet when they get punked out year after year after year after year in the Final Four. Sue fan, try channeling your energy into winning a national title with Hackstol at the reins. Maybe that will help.

Check out some of these comments from fans on the various web boards and newspaper web sites.

Gophers fall to 7th place in the WCHA.

Loss has Gophers on the road for the playoffs.

Is it time to move on without Lucia?

Even Gopher's beat writer Roman Augustoviz has an article on Lucia and the Gopher's struggles this season. Roman's article is more careful and dances around the edges but it is interesting and does ask a few questions that might be on Gopher fan's minds.

UAA attendance problems.

Earlier this weekend I touched on the attendance woos at UAA.From watching the hockey broadcasts from UAA on their webcast and from this weekends hockey broadcast you can see there wasn't anyone in the stands. Here is an article by Doyle Woody that breaks this down even further.

Seawolves hurting; Aces about even

By DOYLE WOODY

With three home games remaining at Sullivan Arena, the UAA hockey team is on pace to register its lowest average attendance in more than 20 years.
Going into tonight's series opener against North Dakota, the Seawolves are averaging 3,348 tickets sold per home match, a drop of nearly 300 per game from last season's average of 3,641.

And last season's average attendance was the lowest since the 1987-88 season, when the Seawolves averaged 3,520 tickets sold per game.

UAA's attendance is down 8.0 percent from last season, the second-largest loss in the 10-team Western Collegiate Hockey Association behind Michigan Tech, where attendance has fallen 9.0 percent.

Eight of 10 WCHA teams have lost attendance -- granted, some of the drop-off is negligible -- and Minnesota State-Mankato has actually raised attendance 5.0 percent.

In the ECHL, where 18 of the 20 teams returning from last season have suffered drops in attendance, the Alaska Aces are among the top franchises in retaining fans.

The Aces have averaged 4,649 tickets sold per game, down 68 per game from last season.

Alaska's 1.4 percent loss in attendance ranks third-best in the league, behind defending Kelly Cup champion Cincinnati, which has increased attendance 6.9 percent, and Bakersfield, which has raised attendance 1.9 percent.

Sioux 6 Seawolves 2

The Fighting Sioux sweep the UAA Seawolves in Anchorage for the first time since 2003 but the series sweep didn't come without a high price tag as Evan Trupp left the game with an apparent shoulder injury and didn't return. The UAA television announcer said. "one shoulder is lower than the other and that's not good." According to the Grand Forks Herald Trupps status is unknown at this time; I suppose we will know more later in the week. Trupp missed four games earlier this season with a shoulder injury. Let’s hope that Trupp doesn’t miss too much time as the Sioux need his offensive creativity. I would imagine that freshman David Toews will take his place in the lineup next weekend.

With the win against the Seawolves last night, coach Hakstol's team has won at least 20 games in each of his first five years of coaching for the Fighting Sioux. With the win last night the Fighting Sioux also clinched home ice for the WCHA playoffs. The Sioux should not be satisfied with securing home ice for the playoffs; the Fighting Sioux have bigger fish to fry as they are currently tied with the Denver Pioneers for first in the WCHA. If the Sioux finish tied for first with the Pioneers the Sioux hold the tie breaker based on head to head record.

Sioux on a roll

The Fighting Sioux have been on a tear since their horrible start; since Thanksgiving weekend the Fighting Sioux have gone 16-4-2 and 11-1-2 since the first of the year after starting the season 0-3-0. The only real blemish on the Sioux's record was the disappointing showing in the GLI during the Christmas break. I would be willing to bet that no team wants to be in UND's bracket come NCAA playoff time.

Complete domination

The Fighting Sioux played a complete game and both ends of the ice and cashed in on their opportunities when they were presented to them. The Defense cleaned up rebounds and did a good job getting the puck out of the zone and up ice. Freshman goalie Brad Eidsness 20-8-3 2.409 gaa sv% .911 had a good weekend between the pipes and made some big saves in both games. At one point last night Eidsness stoned a Seawolves player on a clean break away after the Sioux defense had gotten caugh up ice in the defensive zone.

Senior Ryan Ducan (1-2-3), Freshman Jason Gregoire (0-3-3) and Junior Chris VandeVelde (3-0-3) were huge for the Fighting Sioux all weekend as they made big plays at important times during the weekend series. With the Sweep of the Seawolves last night the Fighting Sioux moved into 11th in the Pairwise Rankings which mimic the selection for the NCAA hockey tourney.


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

NDK-1 Evan Trupp (2-Tripping) AKA 1x1 2:00
AKA 1 - 0 6x5 PP Kevin Clark (7) (Josh Lunden, Mat Robinson) 2:58
AKA: 9,21,33,24,20,G49 NDK: 6,16,17,25,G31
NDK-2 Brett Hextall (2-Cross-Checking) AKA 1x2 7:58
NDK 1 - 1 5x6 SH Ryan Duncan (14) (Jake Marto, Jason Gregoire) 9:29
NDK (+): 16,25,6,17,G31 AKA (-): 14,40,33,16,4,G49
AKA-1 Curtis Leinweber (2-Holding) NDK 1x1 12:00
NDK 2 - 1 6x5 PP LL Chris VandeVelde (11) (Brad Miller, Ryan Duncan) 13:17
NDK: 29,14,16,25,26,G31 AKA: 14,18,33,13,G49
NDK-3 Ryan Martens (2-Interference) AKA 1x3 13:44
AKA-2 Trevor Hunt (2-Tripping) NDK 1x2 15:16
NDK 3 - 1 6x6 GW Brad Malone (3) (Darcy Zajac, Ryan Martens) 19:05
NDK (+): 22,11,8,25,6,G31 AKA (-): 23,24,9,21,22,G49

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

NDK-4 Brett Hextall (2-High-Sticking) 6:49
AKA-3 Kevin Clark (2-Roughing) 6:49
NDK 4 - 1 5x5 Chris VandeVelde (12) (Jake Marto, Brad Miller) 6:59
NDK (+): 29,21,14,25,G31 AKA (-): 16,4,20,33,G30
NDK-5 Andrew Kozek (2-Cross-Checking) AKA 1x4 9:16
NDK-6 Zach Jones (2-Checking from Behind) AKA 1x5 12:44
NDK-7 BENCH (2-TOO MANY PLAYERS ON ICE) (Served by Andrew Kozek) AKA 1x6 19:22

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

NDK-8 Joe Finley (2-Tripping) AKA 2x7 6:56
AKA 2 - 4 6x5 PP Josh Lunden (12) (Curtis Leinweber, Mat Robinson) 8:22
AKA: 21,11,9,33,20,G30 NDK: 5,11,20,24,G31
NDK 5 - 2 6x6 EN Jake Marto (6) (unassisted) 17:13
NDK (+): 25,17,6,29,16,G31 AKA (-): 9,18,20,21,16,11
NDK 6 - 2 6x6 HT Chris VandeVelde (13) (Matt Frattin, Jason Gregoire) 19:15
NDK (+): 29,17,21,6,2,G31 AKA (-): 40,21,33,4,12,G30

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

News from the other side

Check out this link for highlights from last night's game. The video also does a pretty good job of illustrating that there wasn't very many fans at the Sullivan Arena in Anchorage last night. While the box score says that the paid attendance for last night game was 3679, it would appear from the broadcast and from the news highlights that the actual attendance was a lot smaller. I just don't get it. Why wouldn't the attendance be higher?

While UAA has had a tough go at it the last three seasons, UAA is improving and UAA coach Dave Shyiak has his team close to being a decent to very good hockey team in the WCHA. UAA also plays in one of the premier hockey conferences in Division one hockey. Lastly, I also don't buy the argument that there is a lot more to do in Anchorage than some of the other other WCHA cities; like say Grand Forks, Saint Cloud, Houghton or Mankato. It is the dead of winter in Alaska right now and hockey would seem to be a natural fit for a state that is known for it cold winters and majestic beauty.

Here is the Anchorage Daily News story on last night's game.

UAA certainly didn't go down without a fight. The Seawolves outshot the Fighting Sioux 18-12 in the final two periods.

"I thought we played well enough to win," UAA coach Dave Shyiak said. "You gotta give (North Dakota) credit. They earned their breaks -- they got a power-play goal and a bounce to go their way in overtime.

"We hung in there with one of the best teams in the country."

Here is Anchorage hockey blogger on attendance for hockey in Anchorage.

In the meantime, UAA entertains North Dakota this weekend in its final WCHA home series, and the Seawolves could use some more fans. Look in Friday's paper for a chart detailing the program's attendance drop this season, which is in keeping with most of the teams in the league, although UAA's drop is the second-worst.

In any event, the Aces have dropped in attendance, too, but just barely. They open a three-game, ECHL road trip at Phoenix on Saturday.

Saturday Morning Bracketology.

Here is the latest from Jason Moy at the Bracketology blog. Personally I would like to see UND get another crack at BU.
Midwest Regional (Grand Rapids)

East Regional (Bridgeport)

15 RIT vs. 1 Boston University

12 North Dakota vs. 7 Yale

Midwest Regional (Grand Rapids)

16 Bemidji State vs. 2 Notre Dame

9 Princeton vs. 8 Miami

West Regional (Minneapolis)

14 Wisconsin vs. 3 Michigan

10 Cornell vs. 6 Northeastern

Northeast Regional (Manchester)

13 Minnesota-Duluth vs. 4 Vermont

11 New Hampshire vs. 5 Denver

UND 2 UAA 1 OT

We watched the game at the Highlander Bar in Grand Forks, ND tonight after watching Central Knights shutout the Red River Rough Riders 6-0. What a day for hockey.

The Sioux won a game against a team that does a great job clogging up the neutral zone. While I am happy the Fighting Sioux won the game it wasn't a very good game to watch, it was down right boring. These are also the type of games you have to win to be successful in the WCHA and NCAA playoffs. The classic tight checking, tough contested game that requires a lot of grit where you can't make a lot of mistakes. One of those games where a missed pass ends up being a goal. Brett Hextall and Chay Genoway were huge tonight and they were the difference in the game.

UAA is kind of an enigma, for a team that is sitting in 9th place in the WCHA they sure play a lot better hockey than their record. The Seawolves play with a lot of grit and tonight they did pretty much everything they were supposed to, except they didn't get the win. Seawolves coach Dave Shyiak he said, “They are one of the best teams in the country,” and when “You give them a couple of chances and they are going to score.”.
Box Score

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

AKA-1 Tyler Moir (2-Interference) NDK 0x1 3:29
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Tripping) AKA 0x1 6:59
AKA-2 Jared Tuton (2-Interference) NDK 1x2 11:04
NDK 1 - 0 6x5 PP Brett Hextall (9) (Ryan Duncan, Brad Miller) 12:03
NDK: 26,16,14,25,29,G31 AKA: 18,33,13,12,G49

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

AKA-3 Mat Robinson (2-Tripping) NDK 1x3 17:25
NDK-2 Jason Gregoire (2-Roughing) 19:27
AKA-4 Curtis Leinweber (2-Roughing) 19:27

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

NDK-3 Joe Finley (2-Roughing) 4:18
NDK-4 Joe Finley (2-Cross-Checking) (Served by Andrew Kozek) AKA 0x2 4:18
AKA-5 Kevin Clark (2-Roughing) 4:18
AKA-6 Trevor Hunt (2-Hooking) NDK 1x4 7:33
AKA 1 - 1 6x6 Josh Lunden (11) (Mat Robinson, Kevin Clark) 11:17
AKA (+): 21,33,9,13,40,G49 NDK (-): 2,5,16,26,17,G31
NDK-5 Jason Gregoire (2-Interference) AKA 0x3 13:28

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Overtime (0:17)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK 2 - 1 6x6 GW LL Chay Genoway (3) (Brett Hextall, Jason Gregoire) 0:17
NDK (+): 5,2,16,17,26,G31 AKA (-): 16,12,20,13,33,G49

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

Pasquale Mangiola And The Three Habs

Coming off a disastrous 1-4-1 road trip, the last thing the Montreal Canadiens' needed was to be embroiled in another controversy.

With the Montreal media in a frenzy about the teams rapid descent down the Eastern Conference standings, any good news that's fit to print is hard to find.

Tracts of glorious pine trees are plowed under as the media attempts to play Sherlock Holmes in his latest mystery: What The Hell Is Wrong With The Habs?

Barring a miraculous clue from the sole of a dusty hob nail boot, the mystery of the Habs will fail to satisfy.

The media are smart enough to know that there are only so many times you can hammer home the point that the Canadiens are under performing.

So, it stands to reason the media will take their collective boot off the throat of the Canadiens' and look for something else.

French language newspaper La Presse were the first to find the rotting fish in the brine.

I don't want to get sued so you may find the word alleged or reportedly sprinkled throughout this diatribe.

It is alleged that the Kostitsyn brothers (Sergei and Andrei) and Roman Hamrlik are acquaintances of a Pasquale Mangiola, a man who has alleged links with organized crime.

Mangiola was arrested and charged with conspiracy and cocaine trafficking by Montreal police last week, in a sting operation called "Project Axe."

Allegedly the police have recorded conversations between Mangiola and two of the players.

La Presse was quick to point out that the three Canadiens' were not suspected of anything more sinister than a good night on the town with Mangione.

However, the optics of it all don't look good.

In a hastily put together press conference Friday afternoon, Canadiens general manager Bob Gainey would not brush aside the allegations made by the media.

"I can only go on what I know," Gainey told TSN.ca. "It's not good for our team. It does not reflect well on our team, it does not reflect well on the individuals and it cannot be extinguished as a possible inhibitor to our performance."

While there are many people who want to be associated with a professional hockey team for good reasons. not everyone is a chaste.

For decades there have been hangers on and ruthless people who want to befriend young, millionaire hockey players and gain access to the inner sanctum of a club.

Gainey said that the Kostitsyn brothers and Hamrlik simply made a bad choice in whom they chose to associate with.

"We've made the players aware that this is not the kind of conduct that is part of people in our organization and for them individually as young athletes, as professionals who are trying to attain their goals, that they have to make stronger choices than the person beside them," Gainey told TSN.ca.

The NHL security department, which visits each team yearly to talk about issues, including personal associations, is aware of the situation.

"The NHL is aware of the reports and is in the process of gathering information," deputy commissioner Bill Daley said in a statement released on Friday.

Surprisingly, various Habs' blog sites are silent on this issue. They were more interested in the recent trials of Alexei Kovalev.

This isn't the first time organized crime has crossed paths with NHL players.

According to an investigation by PBS, Pavel Bure was friends with Anzor Kikalishvilli who, according to the FBI and Russian law enforcement, is the co-head of a Russian organized crime operation.

The FBI stated that Russian hockey great Vyacheslav Fetisov was linked to a Russian mobster named Vyacheslav Ivankov. Ivankov spent ten years in a U.S. prison for extortion and was charged and acquitted of two murders in a Russian restaurant.

I've got to give kudos to Alex Rodriquez for his recent troubles. If this situation is worse than initially thought, then A Rod may be the best and most obtuse saviour the NHL has ever seen.

Tell us what he did.

USCHO blogger Todd Milewski brings up a good point in his latest blog post. It would be interesting to see what is actually going to be tolerated and what isn't going to be allowed in the WCHA. Seems that the league is a little inconsistent in their rulings. I think the WCHA should model its self after The NHL who does a good job breaking down suspensions and letting the fans, teams and the players know what is acceptable and what isn't acceptable.

WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod, in his statement, sent a message to the rest of the league that the game must be played “within the spirit of the rules at all times.”

So why not spell out exactly what happened and why it was unacceptable? Why not say plainly that the WCHA will not tolerate X and Y and Z, and Bruess is being punished for violating that?

If players are going to be held responsible, they deserve to know without a doubt what the expectations are. This is a case where a clearer definition is needed.

Mavs and Sioux in pictures.

Here are the pictures that Garlynn and Sioux7 took this past weekend. I want to thank the two photographers for their work.

Buress supended for his hit on LaPoint.

I have to admit that I am a little surprised by this move and didn't expect the league to suspend Buress especially after they allowed a few other incidents to go unpunished, like say the Brian Schack incident and his impersonation of Todd Bertuzzi.

What I am hoping is the league has finally decided that enough is enough and is going to start flexing some of their muscle and suspending players who cross the line. During the series between the Sioux and the Mavericks Trevor Buress crossed the line a few times last weekend. I am also surprised that Geoff Irwin wasn't suspended for his stick swinging incident on Zajac at the end of Saturday's game. If that act had happened in the NHL Irwin would be getting a call from Colin Campbell.

Bruess Suspended One Game
CHN Staff Report
MANKATO, Minn. — Pursuant to WCHA policy, Minnesota State has suspended junior forward Trevor Bruess one game.

Bruess was suspended for a hit on North Dakota defenseman Derrick LaPoint. LaPoint went hard into the boards and suffered a broken leg. He had surgery this week and will miss the remainder of the season.

Bruess was not assessed a penalty on the play.

“We need Trevor to understand that he needs to make every possible effort to avoid these types of incidents and want to emphasize to him that he is responsible for his actions on the ice,” said WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod. “We hope he will use this as both an educational experience and as a time to reflect on his play.

Weekend Match-Ups (Sioux 7)

Last weekend, UND sweep MSUM to move into a 1st place tie with DU, who tied CC in their one game, else where, SCSU sweep MTU to move into 4th place, and UM took 3pts from UAA.


WCHA Standings

1 North Dakota...............13-6-3...29
1 Denver......................13-7-3...29
3 Wisconsin.................13-7-2...28
4 St. Cloud State.........12-11-1...25
4 Colorado College.........10-8-5...25
6 Minnesota................10-8-4...24
7 Minnesota-Duluth.........9-8-5...23
8 Minnesota State..........9-13-2...20
9 Alaska-Anchorage........7-12-5...19
10 Michigan Tech...........1-17-6...8


#8 Denver at #13 Wisconsin
WOW, this should be the games of the week. Only one point apart, 1st and 3rd place teams in the league, UW on the bubble for the NCAA tourney. There are many implications going on in this series. A sweep by either team puts them in position to win the WCHA regular season, AND move up in the all important PWR standings. The Badgers are coming off a bye week, DU is coming off a tie with rival CC. UW is 9-5-1 at the Kohl center this season, and DU is 5-5-2 away from Magness. Both teams should be up for this series, with all that is riding on it. I'm going to call this one a split, DU in the Friday game, and UW on Saturday.


#14 Minnesota at #18 Colorado College
Another big series, this one is for WCHA home ice in the playoffs. These teams are only separated by one point, too. Since 2009, CC is 3-3-2 and UM is 4-6-1 (and is 1-4-1 in the last 6-games), so neither has done well in 2009. With the pile of teams still alive for home ice, a sweep for one team would help them grab a better hold on home ice. Will this be the weekend the Gophers complete their collapse and fall out of the race, or will it be the Tigers who will starve? UM has only won once on the road in 2009, and well CC doesn't seem to play well on Fridays, hmm. I'm calling a tie on Friday and a Tiger win on Saturday.


#9 North Dakota at Alaska-Anchorage
The Sioux make the long trip to Alaska this weekend in a tie for 1st place with DU. A sweep for the Sioux would give them the inside track for the McNaughton cup, since DU has played one more game than UND. The Seawolves are still alive for getting home ice, but they need some help. The highest I see UAA realistically finishing is 7th place. The Sioux are coming off a weekend sweep of MSUM and UAA is back home after getting one point last weekend at UM. I say the Sioux keep on their winning ways this weekend, Sioux sweep.


#15 Minnesota-Duluth at Michigan Tech
The Bulldogs need keep winning to to stay with the pack of teams their running with now. UMD is still on the NCAA bubble, so winning games is a must if they want to control they own destiny. The Huskies on the other hand are locked into the doghouse. MTU will be playing the number one team in the first round of WCHA playoffs on the road. The Huskies haven't rolled over and played dead yet, they have been in most of their games this year, so look for these dogs to keep barking and biting. I'm going with a split this weekend, UMD Friday, MTU Saturday.


#19 SCSU and MSUM are off this weekend

MSUM at Nebraska-Omaha (Tuesday Feb. 24)

Spirit Lake council mulls nickname vote

At this point in the game you have to wonder if it even matters if the Tribes have a vote or not. If Spirit Lake had a reservation wide referendum on the Fighting Sioux name and voted to keep the name that vote wouldn't mean much if Standing Rock DOESN'T vote to allow a referendum. We will see how this plays out but it almost seems like it is a little too late.

Spirit Lake council mulls nickname vote
Tu-Uyen Tran Grand Forks Herald
Published Wednesday, February 18, 2009

A decision whether to hold a referendum on UND's Fighting Sioux nickname will be before the Spirit Lake Tribal Council on Saturday, according to a supporter of the referendum.

John Chaske said his group met with the tribal council Wednesday, and it appeared three council members are willing to put the issue on the ballot in April. Another council member was absent, he said, and a decision on the referendum requires all to be present.

Chairwoman Myra Pearson has expressed her opposition to the nickname in the past, but she would only vote in the event of a tie.
----------(snip)----------
The Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council, however, has made clear its opposition to the nickname and even a referendum. It voted 7-5 in May 2008 to not hold a public vote.

Chaske said he understands there are Standing Rock members pushing the council for a vote. “I hope what we do here will give them a spark over there.”

A “yes” vote on the nickname would be the first step in building a new relationship between the tribe and UND, according to Chaske.

Ideally, he said, an agreement with the university might involve more scholarships for tribal members and classes teaching other students the reality of Indian culture. “We don’t all get a check every month from the federal government.”

So did I read this right? Is UND offering more scholarship money to Native American Students to allow them keep the Fighting Sioux name? Stay tuned folks.

Some nice goals.

Here is a sweet goal by former Gopher Blake Wheeler in Boston's 5-1 win against Carolina.

Former Fighting Sioux forward Drew Stafford scored his 16th and 17th goals of the season against Jason Blake's Toronto Maple Leafs team. Blake had a niceassist on Pavel Kabina's goal. Stafford is fourth on the Sabres in points with (17g - 20a - 37 points). Jason Blake is leading the Maple Leafs with (21g - 20a - 45 points).

Here is a nice goal by former B.C. Eagle and current Boston Bruin Chuck Kobasew

Both Fighting Sioux games on TV this weekend.

This is good news for Fighting Sioux fans that happen to live in Great Grand Forks area. You will be able to watch both games of the Fighting Sioux and Seawolves this this weekend on channel 23.

This weekend's UND-UAA series to be televised in Grand Forks area

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The University of North Dakota athletics department and Ralph Engelstad Arena announced today an agreement with GCI Cable and Midcontinent Communications to carry the broadcast of this weekend’s series at Alaska Anchorage in the Grand Forks viewing area.

The GCI production will be made available on channel 23 Grand Forks and in the immediate Grand Forks viewing area, which includes the East Grand Forks, Grand Forks Air Force Base, Drayton, Grafton, Minto, Manvel, Larimore, Crookston, Thompson, Reynolds, Buxton, Hatton, Mayville, Portland, Hillsboro, Galesburg and Grandin.

The broadcast will begin at 10:05 p.m. Central on Friday and Saturday night.

I guess you are never too old.

I guess this is an example of why you should never stop living your dreams. I would have to say that this is one of those feel good stories. The guy is supposed to go work on a oil field and ends up suiting up as a back up in a professional hockey league. Funny thing is that Wheaton is backing up former Gopher Kellin Briggs.

ONTARIO, Calif. - For the Reign, they were just two games out of 73.

For Terry Wheaton, the only player in uniform who didn't play either Friday in Bakersfield or Saturday against Las Vegas, it was a dream come true.

The 42-year-old Corona resident knew it would be, almost as soon as he hung up the phone after telling coach Karl Taylor that prior business commitments would prevent him from serving as the team's emergency backup goaltender for the weekend.

"The more I thought about the opportunity," Wheaton said, "I called back and said, `I will be at practice Thursday morning and will reschedule my business meeting.' "

It sounds like a simple choice. But consider that Wheaton, a full-time oil field manager, had to postpone a trip to Libya just to take a few pucks in the chest before each game, then open and close the gate on the Reign bench for 60 minutes. He knew he wouldn't be allowed to see live game action unless starter Kellen Briggs suffered an injury that prevented him from staying in.

Still, once the puck dropped in Bakersfield, with his wife and two children among the 5,525 in attendance, "I had to pinch myself," Wheaton said.

Doug Risebrough's latest blunder.

Check out the latest comment by Wild General Manager Doug Riesebrough talk about mismanaging a National Hockey League team. No one should wonder why the Wild are floundering and will miss the playoffs this season. Pouliot has been a bust since he has been with the Wild and should have been released.

The Road for the Wild gets even tougher as they will play 14 of 17 games on the road.

Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough admitted keeping Pouliot on the roster following training camp was "a bad mistake."

"He wasn't ready," Risebrough said. "You get to a point when a player's not succeeding [with the Wild] ... it's better to put him down."

A few things.

There is the latest 4 X 4 by INCH and where INCH has predicted UND will end up in the post season. That would be one tough regional. I can't wait to see how the rest of the season plays out.

GRAND RAPIDS Midwest Regional 1. Notre Dame --- For a team that didn't lose a game for three months, the Irish's list of marquee wins — Boston College, Minnesota Duluth, Michigan — is surprisingly short.
2.Miami --- The home-and-home series against Ohio State to close the regular season could have some extra heft, don't you think? The RedHawks appear to have shaken their January swoon.

3. North Dakota --- To steal a phrase from ESPN's Chris Berman, nobody circles the wagons like the Sioux. Still, this team isn't that far removed from consecutive losses to Michigan State and Michigan Tech.

4. RIT --- There was a time not that long ago where it was unfathomable to put anyone other than Air Force in as the Atlantic Hockey auto-bid.

This is very good news for college hockey. The NCAA has decided to put reginoalization on hold for now. Lets hope cooler heads will prevail and this thing will get killed and die a slow painful death.

"Regionalization," or the NCAA's cost-cutting restrictions on placement of teams in the NCAA tournament bracket, has been put on hold for one year, according to Steve Cady, chair of the Men's Division I Ice Hockey Committee and associate athletic director at Miami.

Regionalization threatened to cause havoc with the bracket this year, as CHN previously examined in this article here.

The Championships/Sports Management Cabinet is voting this week on whether to make regionalization of brackets something that is mandated across most NCAA sports. If they do, Cady said it wouldn't take hold until next year.

But even then, because of the cooperation the committee received on delaying it until next year, Cady is optimistic that the more drastic regionalization proposals will not be passed, and instead hockey will be allowed its compromise proposal

First step in changing the name?

I believe this might be the first step in what some of us fear is coming, the changing of the Fighting Sioux nickname. I am not a fan of changing the name but I don't see how the University of North Dakota keeps the name. Stay tuned;I will keep up with this issue and post anything related to the Fighting Sioux name.

Grand Forks Lawyer to Chair ND Nickname Committee
2/17/2009

A 10-member committee has been formed to consider the future of the University of North Dakota`s Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

Board of Higher Education member Grant Shaft will chair the group. Shaft is a Grand Forks attorney and former state legislator.

The group`s first meeting has not yet been scheduled.

The panel includes representatives from UND`s student body, members of the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake Sioux tribes and representatives of Sen. Byron Dorgan and Gov. John Hoeven.

The members are Shaft; Ryan Bernstein, Hoeven`s staff attorney; Robert Boyd, a UND vice president; Steve Burian, a UND alumnus who heads a Grand Forks civil engineering and consulting company; and Pam Gulleson, Dorgan`s state director.

Other members are Jody Hodgeson, general manager of the Ralph Engelstad Arena; Standing Rock Sioux tribal member Tom Iron; Spirit Lake reservation resident Erich Longie; UND law student Jeremiah Lunde; and UND student Celeste Melander.

Wild at the Trade dead line.

This is my latest crontibution at the illegal curve. If I was the General Manager for the Minnesota Wild.

3. Minnesota Wild (Courtesy of Eric from Goon’s World)

Needs:

1.) Top line forward: Someone in like Olli Jokinen.
2.) Second line forward: Someone along the lines of a player like Jason Blake.
3.) Another second or third line forward: Or maybe a rent-a-player like Keith Tkachuk. Simply:
The Wild are in dire need of offense and anything would be an improvement.

Who’s Available:

1.) Martin Skoula: This team has an over abundance on defense.
2.) Kim Johnsson: See above.
3.) Marian Gaborik: Wild can’t resign him so the team needs to get whatever they can for Gabby.

Check out this Radio color guy.

A fellow Sioux fan sent me this audio clip. This guys is unbelieve able; it is the Florida Panthers Radio Voice Randy Moller, he sure beats the heck out of some of the various NHL and college hockey announcers. You will the call on a few of Keith Ballards goals.

Television great Rick Jeanneret from the Buffalo Sabres is pretty good as well. The May Day, May Day call is one of my saddest moments. One of my buddy is a Sabres fans and put this call on my answering machine after the series was over.

GM Place to host Olympic hockey.

There have been some questions on whether the 2010 Olympics were to be played on an Olympic sheet of ice or not. It is official that the 2010 games will be at GM place which is an NHL rink.

This will be the first Olympics to be played on a NHL size rink. Personally, I am excited and relieved that we don't have to watch the best hockey players in the game of hockey play on those God awful sheets of ice.

GM Place will host the ice hockey events in the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. These will be the first Olympic games to use NHL sized ice. This decision was made in order to maximize the potential crowds and revenue, instead of building a smaller, temporary venue with the international-size ice surface, as has been done for most other Winter Games. On July 2, 2003, 18,000 came to GM Place to hear the announcement that Vancouver got the games.

CHA is better than the AHA

This blog post is in response to this stupid comment

"The CHA is a billion times worse than Atlantic Hockey, no one who knows anything about hockey would say otherwise."

This comment is so wrong in some many ways that I don't know where to begin? I can't let this stupidity go. Just for the record this comment is in response to a blog post.

First off the CHA has been very competative in their 10 year history. The CHA actually had a team, Niagara make the 2000 NCAA tourney as an at large bid. The same can not be said about the AHA. Robert Morris and Niagara University actually have to cut scholarships to join the AHA, the CHA currently allows 18 scholarships the AHA is going to 12 next season. In my opinion that means the teams joining the AHA are taking a step down to join this league.

Record against the big 4.
AHA 11-40-5 (.241)
CCHA 24-24-8 (.500)
CHA 12-34-2 (.271)
ECACHL 20-37-4 (.361)
HEA 33-20-4 (.614)
WCHA 22-18-8 (.542)

The CHA's record versus the AHA is 5-2-1.

A few things

Check out what Dan Barreiro has to say about the Golden Gophers about six minutes into the broadcast.

Here is what Fiona Quick has to say about Nate Hagemo's return to hockey. Sounds like Hagemo has run into some injury problems.

Nate Hagemo had two goals and two assists in 10 games with the Amarillo Gorillas and was considered one of their top defensemen when he was checked awkwardly into the end boards by Mississippi’s Brad Bonello during a game on December 20th. Hagemo reportedly was on the ice for some time before being assisted to the locker room. Hagemo suffered neck and back injuries, including a herniated lumbar disc. He was cleared to play by Amarillo's doctors in mid-January and placed on waivers and immediately claimed by the Tulsa Oilers but failed their physical so the transaction was canceled and he has been sent back to Amarillo until he can be cleared to play. He has been attempting a comeback this season following trouble with substance abuse and multiple arrests. Hagemo was told he may not recover from a previous shoulder injury but this new injury does not involve the shoulder. He is contributing to every off-ice event for the Gorillas, visiting schools and hospitals and helping in the team offices, while working on his rehabilitation hoping to avoid surgery.

Who would thought this was possible? I got this from Fiona Quick's twitter. It kind of makes you wonder what the deal is? Why is it that Frazee isn't good enough to play with the Minnesota Gophers but is able to get it going with the Lowell Devils.

Jeff Frazee, is now tied for fifth in the AHL with 20 wins (20-9-4) 2.59 Goals Against Average and .923 Save Percentage

Former Fighting Sioux Star Zach Parise was named the first star of the week by the NHL.

Bruins Forward Michael Ryder has returned to practice after after having facial surgery. Ryder usually skates on a line with Blake Wheeler and David David

Ryder, clipped by Antoine Vermette's stick 10 days ago in Ottawa, said he initially feared he suffered eye damage. His eye turned out to be fine--despite a couple of days of blurred vision--but Vermette's stick broke both nose cartilage and the sinus bone.

Derrick LaPoint out for the year. (Moron of the week)

All Sioux fans know Sioux defense man Derrick LaPoint is out for the remainder of the season with a broken leg. LaPoint is a good defenseman that plays the game straight up and clean. Goon's World would like to wish Derrick Lapoint a speedy recovery and hope to see you back next season.

I watched the tape of the incident and yikes I have to feel for Derrick. The video shows him laying on the ice and he tries to get up look at his leg and just lays back down. LaPoint is a lot braver than I am.

(read the whole story here) UND sophomore defenseman Derrick LaPoint will miss the rest of the season with a broken tibia and fibula, an injury he suffered during Saturday night’s 4-3 win over Minnesota State-Mankato.

The injury occurred midway through the first period when Mankato forward Trevor Bruess took LaPoint into the end wall with a hit from behind. LaPoint’s ankle rolled up and both bones were cleanly broken.

He was carted off on a stretcher and taken to the hospital. LaPoint had successful surgery Sunday morning.

Moron of the Week

Here is my candidate for 'Moron of the week' it was posted over on the Badgers hockey blog and it's too bad we don't get to know who this anonymous Skippy is so we can expose him. I like how people have all the balls in the world when they can sit behind a fake screen name and say vile stuff like this. This person is a real piece of work. It almost makes me want to change this weekly award to douche bag of the week. So as long as it is a Sioux player this is fine with this clown. (clip to the incident) Way to stay classy.

Anonymous said...
I can't feel much sympathy for an Sioux player, regardless of where they are from originally.

February 15, 2009 9:40 PM

Poll Monday (Happy Presidents Day)

USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Division I Men's Poll
February 16, 2009

Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Boston University (44) 23-5-2 993 1
2 Notre Dame ( 6) 23-5-3 945 2
3 Michigan 23-9-0 905 4
4 Northeastern 20-8-2 815 3
5 Miami 18-8-4 783 7
6 Vermont 17-7-4 731 5
7 Yale 19-5-1 677 10
8 Denver 17-9-4 659 8
9 North Dakota 18-11-3 564 11
10 Princeton 18-7-0 560 9
11 Cornell 15-6-4 495 6
12 New Hampshire 14-9-5 420 12
13 Wisconsin 16-11-3 404 13
14 Minnesota 13-9-6 371 14
15 Minnesota-Duluth 15-9-6 256 17
16 Ohio State 18-10-4 211 16
17 Boston College 13-10-5 177 15
18 Colorado College 14-9-8 167 18
19 St. Cloud State 17-13-2 101 NR
20 St. Lawrence 16-11-3 92 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Dartmouth 91, Mass.-Lowell 21, RIT 18,

Air Force 16, Nebraska-Omaha 12, Alaska 5, Colgate 5,

Massachusetts 4, Alaska-Anchorage 2
--------

USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
Feb. 16, 2009

Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week
1 Boston University (31) 23-5-2 507 1
2 Notre Dame (3) 23-5-3 473 3
3 Michigan 23-9-0 448 4
4 Miami (Ohio) 18-8-4 391 6
5 Northeastern 20-8-2 369 2
6 Vermont 17-7-4 331 5
7 Yale 19-5-1 296 10
8 Denver 17-9-4 285 8
9 North Dakota 18-11-3 235 11
10 Princeton 18-7-0 205 9
11 Cornell 15-6-4 151 7
12 New Hampshire 14-9-5 133 12
13 Wisconsin 16-11-3 109 13
14 Minnesota 13-9-6 85 14
15 Ohio State 18-10-4 21 NR
Others receiving votes: University of Minnesota Duluth, 16; Colorado College, 12; Boston College, 7; Rochester Institute of Technology, 3; St. Lawrence University, 3.

INCH Power Rankings & Randomness

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

Analysis
First off happy president's day holiday. I guess I am almost shocked that UMD isn't higher in the INCH power rankings. After being out of the top ten most of the season UND has made it back.

I found this great quote in the Wild beat writer's Russo's Rant this morning some good stuff here.

attended the Gophers-Alaska Anchorage game last night. Just a bad hockey game. I was sitting with Senators GM Bryan Murray and assistant GM Tim Murray in the third, and Tim Murray said (and he said I can print this), “If anybody ever says again that the NHL should go to bigger rinks, come watch a bad college game.”

Of course the rodent fans are going to take issue with Russo but I think the big ice sucks because it takes some of the hitting out of the game and actually slows the game down. On a smaller sheet of ice the game comes at you faster. Go to the DECC and watch a game, the action is ussually fast and furious. I like a lot of other NHL fans think the olympic sheet of ice God awful, thank God the 2010 olympics in Vancover will be at GM place which has NHL ice.

REA tough place to play.

Check out this video that I found on Youtube, it would appear that the REA is becoming a very hostile place for opposing players.

Another weekend another incident.

Greg Shepherd was to attend both games this weekend at REA in case something out of the ordinary occurred in this weekend's series between the Mavericks and the Sioux. Well it happened again, color me surprised.

At the end of last night's game between UND and MSU-M Maverick player Geoff Irwin broke his carbon fiber stick slashing Darcy Zajac. In reviewing the replay WDAZ/Channel 23 did not catch the slash on film you can hear the stick being broken over Zajac on the tape. This is straight out of the federal league on slap shot and is utter bravo sierra. There is no room for that type of a reaction in ANY LEAGUE this is totally unacceptable, this wasn't a bow tie cross check this was a full swing tomahawk chop with a hockey stick. If that was the NHL it would be a minimum of two games. Lucky for Irwin the linesman Nate Freeman was able to rescue him before Zajac could exact his pound of flesh.


If Mullen was suspended by DU coach George Gwozdecky for his slash on UMD's Mike Connolly, this has to be a at least a 1-2 game suspension and it is time for Troy Jutting to man up and admit his player was wrong.

Scores from 2-14-2009.

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Atlantic Hockey
American Int'l 1 at Canisius 5
Mercyhurst 7 at Connecticut 4
Air Force 1 at Bentley 4
RIT 3 at Holy Cross 1
Sacred Heart 1 at Army 3

Analysis
Yawn!

CCHA
Ohio State 1 at Michigan State 2
Nebraska-Omaha 2 at Michigan 4
Northern Michigan 2 at Notre Dame 5
Alaska 4 at Western Michigan 3
Miami 4 at Lake Superior 0
Ferris State 1 at Bowling Green 3

Analysis
No shootouts in the CCHA last night. Notre Dame keeps rolling along. Miami with the shut out.

CHA
Niagara 1 at Alabama-Huntsville 3
Bemidji State 0 at Robert Morris 3

Analysis
Big conference win for UAH. Bob Morris beats BSU, but don't worry BSU and RMU will play a few more against each other before the season is over.

ECAC
Cornell 2 at Harvard 4
Clarkson 3 at Quinnipiac 5
Yale 4 at Rensselaer 1
Colgate 1 at Dartmouth 0
St. Lawrence 3 at Princeton 1
Brown 1 at Union 3

Analysis
EZAC teams Cornell and Princeton are falling in the Pair Wise Rankings faster than a prom dress at an after prom party. This is what happens when your teams plays a small number of out of conference teams and then play conference games against the weak sisters of the poor each week. What is even worse is when your team loses to the weak sisters of the poor.

Hockey East
Boston College 4 at Mass.-Lowell 4 ot
Massachusetts 4 at Northeastern 1
Boston University 2 at Maine 2 ot
Vermont 4 at Merrimack 3
New Hampshire 4 at Providence 2

Analysis
Maine gets a point after getting run out of the building the night before by BU.

WCHA
Michigan Tech 2 at St. Cloud State 4
Minnesota State 3 at North Dakota 4
Alaska-Anchorage 2 at Minnesota 4

Analysis
Minnesota finally wins after not winning in 5 games. Make that the first place Sioux; UND defenseman Chay Genoway skated the puck from the end to end and fired a puck at Mankato goalie Mike Zacharias. The rebound deflected to the left to Gregoire, who put it in. North Dakota is tied with Wisconsin for the lowest goals against in league play. Hum, it appears that UND doesn't have too many issues with defense and goaltending.

Sioux 4 Purple Cows 3

First off I hope that Derrick LaPoint has a speedy recovery. From the video and the picture that I saw of the injury it does not look good for LaPoint. Derrick LaPoint has made some great strides in his development this season and has played pretty well after having a little bit of a tough start. The Fighting Sioux hockey team will miss LaPoint on the blue line.

This was a hard fought game between two teams that really don't like each other all that much. While I do like watching the Sioux and Mavericks play I don't like some of the antics that I saw this weekend. Trevor Buress needs to learn some respect for his fellow competitors, IF this kid ever makes it to the next level he is going to get it handed to him if he doesn't learn to play a little cleaner game.

I have no problem with players that play hard and get into an occasional fight but if you watch the NHL you don't see too many the NHL goon's doing the bush league moves Buress does on a nightly basis because eventually someone come calling and you have to pay the piper. What I say from Buress on Friday night was disgusting, that bush league leg check on Chay Genoway could have ended Chay's season. To Chay's credit he was able to get out of the way Buress in the nick of time and didn't absorb much of a dirty leg on leg check. I don't think I have seen Derick Boogaard or Milan Lucic try to leg check an oppostion player intentionally.

While I think UND was the better team this weekend I am not so sure I want the Sioux to see the Mavericks again this season. Hopefully the Mavericks move up so the Sioux don't have to play them until maybe St Paul.

The Mavericks are pretty fast and have a good amount of talent through the forward lines. Defensively, I think the Mavericks are a little small and they get caught up ice quite a bit but Mike Zacharias is an awesome goaltender and saved their bacon a lot this weekend. If it wasn't for Zacharias the score might have been more lopsided in UND's favor both nights.

Finally it was fun to talk to a few of the people from Mankato this weekend, they traveled pretty well. It was fun to meet Dan Myers and his girl friend and also talk to Heather and Amy as well. Amy wanted me to wear a purple cow jersey to the game tonight but I don't think I could ever wear any thing that is purple in color let alone a purple hockey jersey. I just don't know if purple is my color. Last time I owned anything with purple the Viking's quarter back took a knee and a field goal kicker missed an easy field goal, yeah so much for the 15-1 season. I actually threw my Viking's hat out after that day.

I would like to wish everyone a happy Valentine's Day.


Box Score
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1st Period (20:00)
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MNS-1 James Gaulrapp (2-Holding) NDK 0x1 3:34
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Hooking) MNS 1x1 10:31
NDK-2 Joe Finley (2-Cross-Checking) MNS 1x2 11:46
MNS 1 - 0 6x4 PP Geoff Irwin (10) (Kael Mouillierat, Kurt Davis) 11:57
MNS: 19,9,22,23,21,G1 NDK: 20,11,5,G31
MNS-2 Rylan Galiardi (2-Holding) NDK 0x2 13:00
MNS-3 BENCH (2-TOO MANY PLAYERS ON ICE) (Served by Justin Jokinen) NDK 0x3 15:14
MNS-4 Jason Wiley (2-High-Sticking) NDK 0x4 17:32
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Matt Watkins (5) (Andrew Kozek, Darcy Zajac) 19:57
NDK (+): 20,10,11,2,25,G31 MNS (-): 5,12,17,18,20,G1

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2nd Period (20:00)
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MNS-5 Rylan Galiardi (2-Holding) NDK 1x5 1:02
NDK 2 - 1 6x5 PP Ryan Duncan (13) (Chris VandeVelde, Ryan Martens) 1:53
NDK: 16,29,8,14,25,G31 MNS: 19,5,15,17,G1
MNS-6 Cameron Cooper (2-Roughing) NDK 1x6 2:05
NDK-3 Jason Gregoire (2-Interference) MNS 1x3 3:07
MNS-7 Andrew Sackrison (2-Tripping) NDK 1x7 9:58
MNS-8 Rylan Galiardi (2-High-Sticking) NDK 1x8 15:40

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3rd Period (20:00)
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MNS 2 - 2 6x6 Geoff Irwin (11) (Kael Mouillierat) 0:53
MNS (+): 19,9,17,23,3,G1 NDK (-): 14,20,2,8,11,G31
NDK-4 Chay Genoway (2-Interference) MNS 1x4 1:34
MNS-9 Blake Friesen (2-Hooking) NDK 1x9 8:52
MNS 3 - 2 5x6 SH Trevor Bruess (11) (Kael Mouillierat, Ben Youds) 10:47
MNS (+): 23,9,5,3,G1 NDK (-): 2,17,21,19,5,G31
MNS-10 Brian Kilburg (2-Interference) NDK 2x10 12:58
NDK 3 - 3 6x5 PP Chris VandeVelde (10) (Ryan Martens, Ryan Duncan) 13:40
NDK: 14,8,16,29,25,G31 MNS: 10,18,5,17,G1
MNS-11 Mike Louwerse (2-Roughing) 15:46
NDK-5 Evan Trupp (2-Roughing) 15:46
NDK 4 - 3 5x5 GW LL Jason Gregoire (11) (Chay Genoway, Jake Marto) 17:08
NDK (+): 17,5,25,16,G31 MNS (-): 19,4,20,22,G1
Timeout - Minnesota State 19:56
MNS-12 Geoff Irwin (2-Roughing) 20:00
MNS-13 Geoff Irwin (5-Slashing) 20:00
NDK-6 Darcy Zajac (2-Roughing) 20:00

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End of Game
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Region of Death III.

Jason Moy has his latest Bracket Prediction up at USCHO.COM and talk about another bracket of death much like the 2006 REA regional, but also the 2007 Denver Regional.

West Regional (Minneapolis)

13 North Dakota vs. 3 Michigan (What, again?)
11 Minnesota-Duluth vs. 5 Northeastern

Scores from February 13, 2009

Friday, February 13, 2009

Atlantic Hockey
Army 4 at Sacred Heart 3
Mercyhurst 6 at Connecticut 3
Air Force 3 at Bentley 2
RIT 6 at Holy Cross 0
American Int'l 0 at Canisius 3

CCHA
Ohio State 1 at Michigan State 1 ot: MSU wins shootout
Miami 2 at Lake Superior 1
Ferris State 3 at Bowling Green 2
Nebraska-Omaha 3 at Michigan 8
Northern Michigan 5 at Notre Dame 9
Alaska 0 at Western Michigan 3

CHA
Niagara 4 at Alabama-Huntsville 2

ECAC
Cornell 4 at Dartmouth 5 ot
Clarkson 3 at Princeton 5
Brown 3 at Rensselaer 4
Colgate 2 at Harvard 3
St. Lawrence 4 at Quinnipiac 3 ot
Yale 4 at Union 2

Hockey East
Northeastern 5 at Massachusetts 3
Boston University 7 at Maine 2
Vermont 2 at Merrimack 3
Providence 4 at New Hampshire 4 ot
Mass.-Lowell 6 at Boston College 0

Analysis
If the NCAA playoffs started today the defending NCAA champ the Boston College Eagles would be out of the NCAA tourney. Boston College goalie John Muse has not been impressive this season here is the line on Muse 13-10-4 GAA 2.89 SV% 0.899. Boston University's rolled again as Colin Wilson has three goals and an assist for a four point game for the Terriers.

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

Analysis
Colorado College watched their 3-2 lead against DU dissolved in the third period. With the Tie the Tigers keep the Gold Pan. Minnesota found out that Alaska isn't going to go quietly into the night as the Seawolves had to score a goal to secure a tie in the game. Also, Gopher forward Jay Barriball missed a chance to win the game in over time.

Another brawl that's not UND's fault...

It's seems that it just isn't the WCHA league games that scrums, fight and incidents happen in. Check out Adam Wodon's description of what happened between Maine and BU last night. Hockey is a very fast emotional game and fights are going to happen from time to time.

Then the other stuff started. ... At 8:21, Will O'Neill, who had just scored, got into it with Wilson. Wilson only got two for roughing, but O'Neill got a fighting major and Game DQ. Fifty seconds later, Maine's Mike Branwell was called for spearing on BU's Brandon Yip, and also got a Game DQ. Yip received a double minor. ... After Kevin Shattenkirk's goal making it 7-2, things got even worse. At 14:12, Maine's Jeff Dimmen was cited for a hit from behind, which BU's Brian Strait took exception to, leading to a fight between the two. Both were ejected and given Game DQs. Finally, at 18:20, BU's Eric Gryba and Maine's Jeffrey Marshall got into a scrap, but "only" got roughing minors and 10-minute misconducts. ... That's three game disqualifications for Maine, in case you lost count, meaning those three players must sit Saturday's rematch. ... “That’s not what we’re about and there’s no excuse for that,” said Maine coach Tim Whitehead about the three DQs.

Sioux 4 - Purple Cows 1

The Fighting Sioux's road to the NCAA tourney is not going to be a gimme or a slam dunk, they are going to have to work for it. The Fighting Sioux must keep winning if they want to play past the WCHA playoffs. Tonight was the first step in the right direction on a long road. The road to the NCAA playoffs doesn't get easier and the Mavericks will come out tomorrow guns blazing. The Sioux must be ready and can't take a shift off, they must play a complete disciplined game like they did tonight. If the Fighting Sioux can continue their pace and their current path they could very well finish a top of the WCHA. Tomorrow night the Sioux can not get wrapped up in the after the whistle bravo sierra.

The effort tonight was impressive as the Fighting Sioux out worked, out hustled and pretty much had their way with the Mavericks tonight. If it wasn't for Mike Zacharias the score could have been 10-1. The Fighting Sioux had the Mavericks on their heals all night and improved their record to 9-1-1 in the last 11 games against the Minnesota State University Mavericks.

Tonight I was even more impressed with the play of LGM's favorite Sioux player Big Joe Finley who had missed 16 games at the beginning of the season with a head injury. Big Joe has come back to the line up and been a major force on the blue line. I would have to say that the last three series Big Joe has taken a big leadership role on the ice for the Fighting Sioux.

Brad Miller was impressive with his two goals on the evening. It nice to see Miller chipping in after missing many games the first three years of his UND hockey career. There will be more tomorrow, I have to work in the morning.


Box Score
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1st Period (20:00)
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MNS-1 Zach Harrison (2-Interference) NDK 0x1 0:16
NDK-1 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) MNS 0x1 8:52
NDK-2 Matt Watkins (2-Boarding) MNS 0x2 9:38
MNS-2 James Gaulrapp (2-Hooking) NDK 1x2 14:39
NDK 1 - 0 6x5 PP LL Brad Miller (5) (Jake Marto, Ryan Duncan) 15:26
NDK: 14,25,16,26,29,G31 MNS: 19,12,17,5,G1
MNS-3 Nick Canzanello (2-Holding) NDK 2x3 17:40
MNS-4 Trevor Bruess (2-Kneeing) NDK 2x4 19:32
NDK 2 - 0 6x4 PP GW Brad Miller (6) (Brett Hextall, Chris VandeVelde) 19:39
NDK: 14,26,29,16,5,G31 MNS: 4,19,22,G1

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2nd Period (20:00)
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MNS-5 Trevor Bruess (2-Boarding) NDK 2x5 1:47
NDK 3 - 0 6x6 Evan Trupp (6) (unassisted) 6:05
NDK (+): 29,21,19,24,14,G31 MNS (-): 5,12,16,3,20,G1
NDK-3 Matt Watkins (2-Tripping) MNS 0x3 9:06
MNS-6 Cameron Cooper (2-Interference) NDK 2x6 13:57
NDK-4 Darcy Zajac (2-Interference) MNS 0x4 18:14

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3rd Period (20:00)
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MNS-7 Trevor Bruess (2-High-Sticking) NDK 2x7 0:30
MNS 1 - 3 5x6 SH Geoff Irwin (9) (unassisted) 0:59
MNS (+): 19,22,4,15,G1 NDK (-): 17,21,8,19,5,G31
NDK-5 Brad Malone (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) MNS 0x5 3:58
NDK 4 - 1 6x6 Andrew Kozek (7) (Joe Finley, Brad Malone) 10:28
NDK (+): 10,2,22,5,9,G31 MNS (-): 18,15,10,2,17,G1
NDK-6 Matt Frattin (2-Hooking) MNS 0x6 11:08
MNS-8 Nick Canzanello (2-Roughing) 18:57
MNS-9 Nick Canzanello (2-Roughing) 18:57
MNS-10 Ben Youds (5-High-Sticking) 18:57
NDK-7 Mario Lamoureux (2-Roughing) 18:57
NDK-8 Mario Lamoureux (2-Roughing) 18:57
NDK-9 Brad Malone (2-Unsportsmanlike Conduct) 18:57

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End of Game
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A sample of the fans.

Just so you know its not just me that upset with the refs and officials in this league check out this all American post from Brad's blog. All I can say is Bravo, well said. Time for some hockey the bye week is officially over. Props to AZ SIOUX for selling me my new Retro 1987 Fighting Sioux hockey jersey. Man do I miss those jerseys.

The WCHA, and the commissioner, is a joke. How can a coach who obviously is the "wine and dine" of the WCHA coaching fraternity (GWOZ) interrupt a pivotal league game for over 5-7 minutes and not get suspended by the league. It's obvious where the league derives from (Colorado) and the bias towards other programs. The WCHA has flown by the seat of their pants for quite some time. The officials leader, Sheppard, prances around the (10) arenas like he's a military general and yet his officiers (refs) continue to be gut-less when it comes to cleaning this league up. In the dictionary, the definition of the WCHA would go something like this:

A league in the NCAA that lets a few coaches dictate (GWOZ) and (LUCY .. we get the prime time games in the Final Five even if we are 5th seed) ... a league without leadership that lets the respective institutions dictate coaching suspensions ... where the ref's have called the games like the old Federal League in Slapshot and where the superstars bolt to the NHL after frosh, soph and jr. seasons like the famous quote, "I'm as mad as hell and I won't take it anymore" on the lack of protecting it's most prized athletes .. the league where USA Hockey dictates the Post Season Awards Banquet (WCHA) so that the athletes USA Hockey pulls from HS programs are glorified .. the league where in some years the best four teams play each other in a regional now and not see the greatest teams match-up in the Frozen Four .. the league where if they had it their way they'd just keep in the McNaughton Cup in Colorado and celebrate w/ DU or CC after the presentations.


The WCHA should visit North Dakota and Figthing Sioux name. Look at how it's program prides itself in the "family" of tradition and honor which are first, and foremost. But the NCAA and WCHA are against the name because most white people know what's best for the Native American. Just like the treaties of the 1800's and the Catholic Board Schools of the 20th century.

C'mon. And this league is what governs the pride of NCAA hockey.
Posted by: Yosemite Sam on Friday, February 13 2:08 PM

McLeod speaks

When I read this article this morning it made my blood boil. I have to give props for Fighting Sioux beat writer Brad E. Schlossman for writing this story and getting it out in the open for the public to read. It is also time for the WCHA to update its rules and have a standard that is more acceptable. The NHL makes swift and just decision that don't make five days to make. This is unacceptable. The league office appears that it doesn’t want to make the hard decisions. Maybe it is time the WCHA hires someone who will make just and fair decisions that are consistent.

To take a page from Redwing_77’s book; it is time for Bruce McLeod and Greg Shepherd to be relieved of their duties at the WCHA league office. When his contract is up for renewal it's time to send him a pink slip and put a new leadership in their place.


Is McLeod kidding? The league decided to give a player a private reprimand for his bush league and gutless attack on another player and received nothing else, after the Gophers coach Don Lucia failed to suspend Brian “the Hack” Schack. If I was George Gwozdecky I would be very unhappy with the league office right now. One coach manned up while the other one made excuses for bad behavior. My respect for Gwoz has gone up three fold.

If the league office is not going to suspend a player for such a blatant bush league attack, at least give that player a harsher public rebuke. Nothing! The sound of silence was deafening. Last season Kyle Radke got an extra game disqualification for his two fight game against the Denver Pioneers last season. If you watched the game between Minnesota and Mankato you will see that Schack was actually punching two different Gopher players with his helmet and gloves on during the same game that he was given a game disqualification in.

Like one fellow Sioux fans from New York said, “They're just gearing up to really stick it to the Sioux when ANYTHING out of the ordinary happens....Hak better have his boys on a short lease for the rest of the year, or suspensions will come fast and furious with the Sioux's reputation.” Just for the record WCHA head of officials Greg Shepherd will be at both games this weekend. Gee I wonder what the potential response would be if there is an incident this weekend? I would be willing to bet that it will be swift, harsh and not some bush league private reprimand.

I wonder what the leagues response would have been if the offending player had been wearing green and white during the Brian Schack incident? I would be willing to bet that the response would not be the kids gloves treatment Don Luica’s hack received.

Men's hockey: WCHA commish talks suspensions
Brad Elliott --- Schlossman Grand Forks Herald
Western Collegiate Hockey Association commissioner Bruce McLeod has the executive power to issue immediate suspensions, but he said this week he would prefer to follow guidelines in the league handbook.

Those guidelines — seen as a negotiation — are starting to come under fire after the league has had to deal with a misconduct issue for the third week in a row.

Denver defenseman Patrick Mullen was suspended Thursday for one game because of a slash at the end of last Saturday’s game on Minnesota-Duluth forward Mike Connolly.
----------(snip)----------
Two weeks ago, McLeod said the league examined Minnesota defenseman Brian Schack’s attack on MSU-Mankato’s Channing Boe. With Boe facing the ice and without a helmet, Schack punched him during a scrum. Boe suffered a broken bone in his leg and is likely out for the season.

Schack was issued a private reprimand but was given no additional suspension (he sat out one game because of a game disqualification penalty).
----------(snip)----------
“Obviously, we’re concerned about these incidents,” McLeod said. “I think we had seven game disqualifications last weekend for different reasons. I don’t think it’s ever happened like that. So there’s definitely a concern.

“But I have to be darn careful. In Patrick Mullen’s incident, just because he was the last one, doesn’t mean he should take the cumulative effect of all of the incidents. I try real hard to take each decision on its own.”