Wild officially done.

As I slept in my bed last night the Anaheim Ducks were putting the finishing touches on ending the Minnesota Wild's season, in a shootout no doubt. It should not have come down to this. The Wild should have been able to compete on the ice but were short changed an incompetent general manager who has missmanged the Wild so poorly they have no room under the cap to operate. Maybe Risbrough could learn from the Boston, Detroit and St Louis GM's.

This paragraph from the Minneapolis Star and Tribune really makes my blood boil because it should have never come down to this. It's not really Jacques Lemaire fault, he did a good job he could coaching the Wild with what he given to him from the teams GM.

I could see that [the fans] were happy the way the guys were working because they let us know," said a proud Lemaire, who might have coached his last home game. "I wish we would have had more games like this and we wouldn't be in the situation that we're in right now.

"Tonight was special. Behind the bench, I don't know how many times I thought, 'Gee, the guys are playing with their heart,' and you could tell."

I get what he is saying. So if only they had given this effort in February or March? I think the Wild gave the best effor they could based on injuries and lack of talented players. What if the Wild had more talented players necessary to make a run. Imagine if Gabby had been around maybe 10 more games this season? You have to wonder if Doug Risebrough had only resigned Brian Rolston during the off season? Come on! Rolston wasn't asking for that much money, it was a drop in the barrel, and who did you get to replace him with?

Could you imagine how Marian Hossa would have looked playing the forward possition in the land of 10,000 lakes. Great! Hossa took less money to play hockey in Detroit a team that has a chance to win a stanley cup and a general manager that knows how to manage the salary cap and develop players in their organization. Their players actually take less money to stay in their organization. The same can't be said about the state of hockey.

Now maybe Jacques Lemaire has coached his last game I don't hold him as responsible as I do Risebrough Lemaire did a lot with very little. Hopefully Doug Risebrough will be shown the door. I have followed this team since their born on date in 2000-2001 season, it is time for a change.

Something to look forward to

While the Wild are out of the Playoff as predicted, T.J. Oshie will get his first kick at the Stanley Cup with the St Louis Blues. The Blues played to a 18-6-3 since Feburary 12th. Oshie was also awarded the goal of the year by the NHL.

According to Brad's blog there will be seven former Fighting Sioux playing for the Stanley Cup. Zach Parise, Travis Zajac (New Jersey), Ryan Bayda (Carolina), Jonathan Toews (Chicago), Ryan Johnson (Vancouver), Mike Commodore (Columbus), T.J. Oshie with the (St Louis). I think the Sioux player(s) that has the best chance of going the furthest in the Stanley Cup playoffs is probably Ryan Bayda and Ryan Johnson. The Devils are a mess right now have gone 11-9-1 the last 20 games and three of their last four wins are against teams not in the Stanley cup playoffs (Lighting, Senators, Sabres).

Clearing up a few things.

During Bemidji’s amazing run to the Frozen Four I have heard a few things that need clearing up or addressing. First off there is one more year to the hockey Conference College Hockey America. The only issue remaining is whether the NCAA is going to grant them an auto bid next season. So the person that wrote to me an email to inform me that BSU doesn’t have a conference. Wrong!

Not deserving of an Auto-Bid

To the people that said Bemidji didn’t deserve to be in the NCAA tourney and took an at large bid away from a more deserving team. I believe that is a straw man’s argument. Evidence is the way BSU took down a number one seed in Notre Dame and beat a tough defensive three seed Cornell to advance to the Frozen Four. While Traditional powers like Michigan, North Dakota and Denver couldn’t get out of their regionals. That is hardly a fluke or an enigma in my opinion. Notre Dame was ranked number one or two for a good part of the college hockey season and was the number two over all seed in the NCAA hockey tourney. BSU has already done what MSU-M and SCSU have ever been able to accomplish advance to the Frozen Four and they have been a Division one hockey team for a shorter period of time that either of the fore mentioned teams.

BSU to the WCHA or not?

There seems to be a lot of emotions on both ends of the argument on whether BSU should be admitted to the WCHA or not. I think Bemidji State University has made a strong case to gain membership to the WCHA. I keep reading where people say just let Bemidji State and University of Alabama Huntsville wither and die on the vine or show apathy towards these two teams.

Like Donna from RWD’s said from a previous blog post that there will be people that will cry whine and complain if the WCHA lets BSU into the league because they won’t get their traditional rivalries like Wisconsin, DU, C.C. or Minnesota. I will buy that argument; however, my next question is what is worse? No match up with your favorite hockey team or missing the NCAA tourney because your favorite league was short sighted? I am going to take not playing a common opponent for one season because I would rather see my team go to the NCAA hockey tourney and possibly to the Frozen Four than being left at home because of stuborness.

I am going to take this argument one further. Imagine your favorite college has a strong season just missed winning their conference tourney, now off to the NCAA tourney. Not so fast. Imagine that favorite college hockey team being eligible under the current PWR and 16 team NCAA hockey tourney, you make your plans to attend a regional and watch your team play. Not going to happen. Due to a number teams folding and not being picked up by one of the five division one hockey conferences the NCAA has decided to drop the NCAA hockey tourney from sixteen to twelve bids. Your favorite hockey team’s season is over and there is no NCAA tourney for you. Do you see what I am getting at? The NCAA is going to pull at large bids if anymore hockey teams decide to fold. Now tell me who does UAH and BSU look. How about adding a few Canadian CIS teams? The University of British Columbia looking pretty good right now.

My Pick for the NCAA championship

I think that the Boston University Terriers are the most complete and balanced team in this season NCAA field and it would be only fitting that they win the NCAA tourney. While Miami trip to the Frozen Four is a nice story I don't think they are going to be able to slow down the Terriers tonight. Also, the final game is going to feature refs from the WCHA according to Fiona Quick on a recent twitter post. Note to the Redhawks expect the refs from the WCHA to make their presence know by calling a bunch of ticky tacky penalties. Also don’t expect the rash of penalties to have much of an effect on the Boston University Terriers who were one of the top penalized teams in the NCAA this season.

Stalock gone. Signs with the Sharks.

With the defection of Alex Stalock to the NHL that bring the total of 9 underclassmen that have left early to sign professional contracts so far this off season. After Stalock's run in the playoffs this spring you had to wonder if the Mighty Stalock's stock had risen pretty high. UND, MTU and SCSU are the only teams not to suffer any early defections as of yet. Also, in today's Grand Forks Herald UND beat writer Brad Elliott Schlossman is reporting that Chris VandeVelde is leaning towards staying at UND for his senior season.

Rink and Run had the details of Stalock's contract and even if Alex only plays in the AHL next season 62,000.00 is pretty good start to a post college career.

His two-way contract will be worth $62,500 if playing in the American Hockey League and $630,700 if playing in the NHL, plus an annual signing bonus of $85,000. Its possible Stalock may be assigned next week to San Jose’s American Hockey League affiliate in Worcester, Mass.

Early departures in the WCHA (9)

Alaska-Anchorage (1)
Paul Crowder, jr, forward, N.Y. Rangers

Colorado College (2)
Brian Connelly, jr, defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks
Richard Bachman, so, goaltender, Dallas Stars

Denver (1)
Tyler Bozak, so, forward, Toronto Maple Leafs

Minnesota (1)
Ryan Stoa, jr, forward, Colorado Avalanche

Minnesota-Duluth (1)
Evan Oberg, so, defenseman, Vancouver Canucks
Alex Stalock, jr, goaltender,

MSU-Mankato (1)
Trevor Bruess, jr, forward, Washington Capitals

Wisconsin (1)
Jamie McBain, jr, defenseman, Carolina Hurricanes

Did Chara break the code?

Our friend BrettB mentioned in another blog post earlier that Chara had broke the code when he was pounding on Les Hab's hack Mike Komisarek during last night's game.

BrenttB said:Chara guy was punching guys with gloves on?? Uh oh... numerous amounts of hockey code were broken from the highlights I saw..

True Zedno Chara did run in to the pile and start wailing away on someone that was sort out of the play and being held back by two officials and Chara did keep his gloves on. What does everyone think?

Bruins and Habs first round?

God I hope so and it is looking like that might be the case. I have to say that Jack Edwards is my favorite homer hockey announcer. I am sure he grates on some people but being a Bruins fan his commentary is music to my hears. There are so many Edwardisms that they actually have a Jack Edwards bingo game. Hockey Fights got the names of the combatants wrong for this fight, it was actually Shane Hnidy and Josh Georges and not Maxim Lapierre who was dropped by Brian Lee ealier in the week. Lapierre is really, really, really lucky that Lucic wasn't able to get his hands on him or he would have gotten his ass beaten for a second time this week.

I guess it would be an understatement to say that Milan Lucic was in an ornery mood last night and was looking to dance with former Michigan player Mike Komisarek.

It's just one of the general rules of life: when Canadiens meet Bruins, gloves, helmets and sticks end up as litter on the ice (true to form, there was a line brawl in the second).

Rough-hewn Bruins forward Milan Lucic renewed hostilities with nemesis Mike Komisarek and at one point in the second period chased down the Habs defenceman after he hit Lucic from behind in the neutral zone.

As Komisarek jousted with Bruins enforcer Shawn Thornton, Lucic skated up behind the Canadiens player and grabbed his head with both hands, dragging him to the ice.

Lucic was assessed a double-minor for roughing and a 10-minute misconduct.

And as the horn blew to end the first, a scrum saw colossus defenceman Zdeno Chara raining blows on a hapless Komisarek - who clearly featured as the top target in the Bruins gameplan.

Though Chara sought out Komisarek, who was exchanging angry words with another Bruin, he received only a double-minor for roughing.

The story that won't go away.

When I first read this story I thought it was a joke, so I checked the calender for the date and it wasn't April 1st. This story contiunes to keep motoring on and won't die, maybe it will die once MSU-M gets rejected by the WCHA.

Earlier this week I said, "Immediately we hear the pontifications about Dean Blais coaching the team." Wow, that didn't take long and Blais angle came full circle in just one short week (three - four days). I wonder if MSU-M realize how expensive it is to have a division one men's and woman's program? Also, coaches like Dean Blais don't work for free either.

MSUM hockey plan includes Blais ---- by Eric Peterson

Metro Sports Foundation proposal outlines potential Division I hockey team

A proposal presented to Minnesota State University Moorhead last month outlines launching Division I hockey with well-known coach Dean Blais leading the men's team.

The Forum obtained a similar proposal through an open records request to North Dakota State.

MSUM is responding to a similar request from The Forum, but had not provided documents as of Thursday.

"I would not be surprised if both of the presentations were exactly the same, exchanging the logos and names of the universities," MSUM Athletic Director Doug Peters said.

MSUM is holding a news conference at 10 a.m. today in the Comstock Memorial Union to discuss its potential move to Division I hockey.

"At this point in time, we are exploring the opportunity," Peters said.

Peters said he received the proposal from Metro Sports Foundation President Todd Berning and Urban Plains Center General Manager Lance Johnson in early March.

The MSF owns and operates the UP Center, which would house the potential Division I program.

Peters said the proposal he received was dated March 7.

"It's a good starting point and a good reference point, and it's been prepared by people that are very, very experienced," Peters said. "We're taking a good look at it. It doesn't mean we have adopted it. It's a good starting point."

The 14-page plan NDSU received is titled, "North Dakota State University Men's and Women's Division I Hockey Plan." It's dated March 25.

On Page 10 of the plan, a section reads:

"Finally, Dean Blais, who will serve as the head coach of the men's team, was the head coach of the Sioux for 10 years."

Peters confirmed the MSUM plan contained the same statement.

Links to the Story

In Forum --- MSUM AD says chances better than 50 percent the school will add D-I men's and women's hockey.

McFeely: No harm in MSUM's push for D-I hockey.

Could we see the Gophers playing the Dragons in a weekend series at the Urban Plains Center in the next few years? Excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor and give a urine sample just for writing that sentence.

Reality check time: The odds of this actually happening, of the Dragons actually fielding a Division I hockey program and playing in the WCHA, are so in excess of astronomical that it is not even worth discussing beyond the hallucinatory level. Drop two acids and call me in the morning.

In Forum --- Dragons, Szymanski set hockey press conference for Friday

So is Standing Rock going to vote as well?

This is the first step in the right direction if UND wants to keep the Fighting Sioux name. I think this is something that should have been started a long time agon and it still might be a little to late.

I also wonder if the Tribal Council Chairman Ron "His Horse Thunder" will let his tribal members vote or not. In the past he has been against it. If RHT doesn't let them have a referendum, what is he afraid of? I would say let the member of the Standing Rock Tribe vote. If after both tribe vote and the results show that the two North Dakota Sioux tribes are against the Fighting Sioux name then it's time to move on and change the name. I don't see any reason why UND needs to rush and change the name without first exhausting all steps in the process.

Sioux tribes begin nickname campaigns
Spirit Lake, Standing Rock reservations to hold referendums
Supporters of the Fighting Sioux nickname on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation are seeking a referendum on the issue, similar to the one being held in a few weeks on the Spirit Lake reservation Antoine American Horse Jr. said he and some other veterans from Standing Rock will be asking the Tribal Council to let tribal members decide whether they support the nickname.

A longtime supporter of the nickname, he’s probably best known as a participant in a tribal flag ceremony at Ralph Engelstad Arena in October.

On the Spirit Lake reservation, nickname opponents are gearing up to win hearts and minds, convinced that, if they could tell voters their side of the story, they could turn the public against the nickname.

Referendums are key because, under a legal settlement with the NCAA, UND needs the blessings of both namesake tribes in North Dakota to keep the Fighting Sioux nickname.

The NCAA opposes the use of American Indian nicknames because it considers them derogatory. Nickname opponents agree, calling the nickname racist.

Tribal councils on both reservations have generally been hostile or ambivalent about the nickname. The Standing Rock Tribal Council has not only opposed the nickname, it also voted to ban a referendum in June.

But tribal members have been more open to the nickname’s use. In the Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation, nickname supporters, backed by a survey, are confident they’ll win a substantial majority.

Opponents have essentially conceded as much, but they cautioned voters to heed the experience of tribal members that have actually attended UND and felt the sting of racism.

These are not the quotes of a leader.

I have been reading the comments of WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod for the last few months leading up to Bemidji State University applying for membership in the WCHA. There are no other option for BSU due to no fault of their own. Frankly I have to say that I am unimpressed with McLeod’s leadership so far to date. I keep hearing a lot of excuses from McLeod on how 11 teams won’t work, so McLeod is throwing his hand up in surrender. Just once I would like to here some suggestion on how the league might/will try to accommodate BSU and look to to correct the problem in the future.

Time for a change at the top

I have been told that McLeod is looking for an extension on his contract. Maybe the league schools should think twice before they go ahead and renew his contract. Personally, I think there are other people more qualified that would make a much better commissioner than Bruce McLeod, heck I can think of a few off of the top of my head. Here are just a few that come to mind; RH Bob Peters, Gino Gasperini, Jeff Sauer or Dean Blais. There are many people that could do the job. Why does the WCHA we have to settle with Bruce McLeod?

All of these fore mentioned men would be a better choice IMHO to run the WCHA. The WCHA needs a strong leader not just a figure head. A real leader would have been on the fore front to absorb these teams from the CHA and not let it become catastrophe. It is not these teams fault that their league is about to disband. It is also not these teams fault that their future could be on the brink of extinction.

Loss of At-Large Bids Next?

I predict that if NCAA division one hockey loses anymore teams the NCAA will start pulling at large bids. I also believe that some of these leagues are waiting for the stick/carrot approach before they chug ahead with re-alignment. It is a big poker game and they are waiting for someone to make the first move and lay their cards down on the table. I believe we have one season to work things out before the NCAA threatens to start pulling at-large bids. I don't want to see my team stay home because everyone was to stubborn to make concessions. I suggest the big four conferences commishioners start coming up with some solutions. Enough of the excuses.

With January’s announcement that Niagara and Robert Morris are joining Atlantic Hockey for the 2010-11 season, the CHA is officially a dead league walking. Bemidji has applied for membership to the WCHA and Alabama-Huntsville has applied to the CCHA. If either team is rejected, they will have to go it as an independent or…the unthinkable.

Bemidji needs the approval of eight of the ten WCHA teams to join. The league meeting in April 27. It’s going to be a tall order, especially getting the approval of schools that seem to have more to lose than to gain: Colorado College, Denver and Alaska-Anchorage. More travel, and, for all the schools, a lesser share of playoff revenue and a crazy 11-team schedule (since no other team applied for admission, although reportedly as many as four teams from other conferences expressed interest).

Will the feel-good story of the Beavers help?

“It doesn’t change the facts,” WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod told the Grand Forks Herald. “But it certainly changes the feelings when you deal with your heart. In one case, you’re dealing with your heart…You also have to deal with your head and business sense, too.
(read the whole thing here)

Wild Season just about over.

I am going to have to say that it's over for the Wild dead man walking.

Team Pts Games remaining

6. Columbus 92 2 @StL, vs. Wild
7. Anaheim 88 2 vs. Dal, @Phx.
8. St. Louis 88 2 vs. Clb., @Colo.
9. Nashville 86 2 @Det., @Wild
10. Wild 85 2 vs. Nash., @Clb.

While mathematically the Wild are still alive; I don't see St. Louis losing to the Av's nor do I see the Ducks losing two games either especially when the two team they play are really bad. So I think we can finally start kicking dirt on the Wild season. Note to owner Craig Leipold please tell Doug Risebrough he is fired and tell him to pack up his thing. Risebrough is one of the major reasons this team sucks and no free agents want to play here. If think I am being silly look at the development of James Sheppard and Colton Gillies how is that working out for the Wild?

Keep Voting for T.J. Oshie.

Here are the latest numbers for Goal of the Season.

1.) T.J. Oshie (vs. VAN): 53.56 %
2.) Blake Wheeler (vs. STL): 19.33 %
3.) Alex Ovechkin (vs. MTL): 13.67 %
4.) Niklas Hagman (vs. FLA): 7.75 %
5.) Johan Franzen (vs. MTL): 5.69 %

Keep voting on line, as they say in Chicago vote early and vote often. Also, a nice honor for the WCHA, two of their former players are in the top two right now for goals of the season.

Here is what is wrong with the new NHL. (Moron of the week)

I found this blog for the Columbus Blue Jackets and this post really kind of illustrates what is wrong with the NHL right now. There is this mind set if you hit your opponent with a legal hit an then someone on your team needs to go after the player that just hammered your teammate with a legal. I call shenanigans and say that is BUSH LEAGUE.

If you are hit with a good clean check you take that player's number and wait for the time you can line that player up. It may be later in the game or in another game. The end. If your on the ice and someone slashes your goaltender, another player or you that is ground for droppign the mits. That is different. All these prima Donna's today that think they can't be checked. Hockey is a contact sport.

Last night, after Rick Nash was steamrolled by T.J. Oshie, the smallest player on the ice was the first responder with his team trailing the Blues 3-1 early in the third period. Kris Russell, all 5-foot-10, 180 pounds of him, went after Oshie. The hit produced a wild scrum and landed Russell in the box for four minutes (double minor, roughing). Oshie went for two minutes.

The entire sequence seemed to wake up the Jackets who responded with two quick goals from Kristian Huselius and Nash to tie it. The Jackets eventually lost 4-3 in a shootout, but coach Ken Hitchcock was proud of the response on individual and collective levels.

It was a valuable point for the Jackets on a night it appeared they might be run out of the building. They maintained sixth place and remained five points clear of ninth. It also gives them a little momentum heading into today's game.
(read the whole article here)

Moron of the week

Here is this week's candidate for moron of the week. This person here should stop watching hockey because they don't have a clue what a legal hit is. Maybe some of northern boys need come down to Ohio and give some of the rubes in OHIO classes about the ins and outs of hockey. T.J. Oshie is not a chippy, dirty player.

Anonymous:
oshie's hit could have been legal, but it was cheap. maybe that is what oshie wants to be. he better be ready to pay. think what a shelley will do to him...fresh punk meat... Posted by Anonymous | March 29, 2009 10:53 AM

College Hockey players in the NHL.

Last night I was watching a game between the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators and started doing a mental accounting of all the college hockey players that were on both teams. If you think about it, this is an impressive list. For the Senators: Mike Comrie F Michigan, Danny Heatley F Wisconsin, Brian Lee D North Dakota Ottawa, Ryan Shannon F Boston College, Jesse Winchester F Colgate. On the other bench for the Bruins you had Byron Bitz F Cornell, Matt Hunwick D Michigan, Phil Kessel F Minnesota, Chuck Kobasew F Boston College, Mark Stuart D Colorado College, Tim Thomas G Vermont, Aaron Ward D Michigan. Blake Wheeler F Minnesota Boston. You see a pattern here, there are more and more division one college hockey players playing in the NHL each.

This a press release that I recieved from the editor of Letsplayhockey.com

From college to the NHL

Nearly a third of all NHL players in 2008-09 honed their skills in college before making the leap to the pros

In the world of NCAA hockey, the vast majority of players on the 58 Division I and 78Division II/III men’s teams will not make the jump to the NHL, AHL, ECHL or any other of the various professional hockey leagues around the world. But for a growing number of players, college hockey is a steppingstone to the bright lights of the National Hockey League.

In fact, according to next week’s issue of Let’s Play Hockey (www.letsplayhockey.com), 279 players who saw at least one regular season NHL game in 2008-09 honed their skills in college before making the leap to the professional ranks. That number represents nearly a third of all NHL players from the current season. In 2008-09, 61 former collegiate hockey players made their NHL debut.

Leading the list of former college players now in the NHL are standouts such as New Jersey’s Zach Parise (North Dakota), Tampa Bay’s Martin St. Louis (Vermont), Calgary’s Mike Cammalleri (Michigan), Atlanta’s Todd White (Clarkson), Ottawa’s Dany Heatley (Wisconsin), Chicago’s Jonathan Toews (North Dakota) and Boston’s Tim Thomas (Vermont).

Former college players are also among the leading 2008-09 rookies. Eight players who competed in the college ranks are currently among the top 33 rookie scorers in the NHL. They are: Boston’s Blake Wheeler (Minnesota), N.Y. Islanders’ Kyle Okposo (Minnesota), St. Louis’ T.J. Oshie (North Dakota), Anaheim’s Andrew Ebbett (Michigan), Boston’s Matt Hunwick (Michigan), Phoenix’s Kyle Turris (Wisconsin), Pittsburgh’s Alex Goligoski (Minnesota) and Nashville’s Ryan Jones (Miami).

Former college players are also among the leading 2008-09 rookies. Eight players who competed in the college ranks are currently among the top 33 rookie scorers in the NHL. They are: Boston’s Blake Wheeler (Minnesota), N.Y. Islanders’ Kyle Okposo (Minnesota), St. Louis’ T.J. Oshie (North Dakota), Anaheim’s Andrew Ebbett (Michigan), Boston’s Matt Hunwick (Michigan), Phoenix’s Kyle Turris (Wisconsin), Pittsburgh’s Alex Goligoski (Minnesota) and Nashville’s Ryan Jones (Miami).

Breaking down the list of 279 players by college sees the University of Michigan lead the way with 25 players, followed by Boston College (16), North Dakota (16), Wisconsin (16), Michigan State (15) and Minnesota (14).

And the numbers will only continue to grow. During the 2008-09 college hockey season, there were 197 players whose rights were owned by an NHL franchise. In addition, the NHL Central Scouting Service’s rankings for the 2009 Entry Draft list numerous prospects who will head to college hockey programs across the nation this fall.

Phil Housley was the rare hockey player to make the quantum leap from high school to the NHL. Countless Canadians take the Major Junior route before making the jump to the pros. European players compete in the numerous leagues throughout the continent in hopes of someday earning a spot on an NHL team. But for 279 NHL players, college was the path to take.

Colleges Represented in the NHL

Michigan 25
Boston College 16
North Dakota 16
Wisconsin 16
Michigan State 15
Minnesota 14
Boston University 13
St. Cloud State 13
Colorado College 10
Denver 10
Maine 9
Clarkson 8
Cornell 7
Dartmouth 6
Notre Dame 6
Ohio State 6
Vermont 6
Harvard 5
Michigan Tech 5
Minnesota Duluth 5
Minnesota State 5
Nebraska-Omaha 5
New Hampshire 5
Bowling Green 4
Princeton 4
Western Michigan 4
Alaska 3
Colgate 3
Miami 3
Providence 3
St. Lawrence 3
UMass-Lowell 3
Yale 3
Alaska Anchorage 2
Bemidji State 2
Lake Superior State 2
Massachusetts 2
Northern Michigan 2
Norwich 2
Alabama-Huntsville 1
Army 1
Brown 1
Ferris State 1
Holy Cross 1
Niagara 1
Northeastern 1
RPI 1

Vote for Oshie goal of the year.

Here is the link to the NHL web page to vote for T.J. Oshie who is a candidate for goal of the year. Currently Oshie is leading the vote with 45.60%, Alex Ovechkin 21.06%, Niklas Hagman 13.39%, Blake Wheeler 10.44%, Johan Franzen 9.51%. Ok Sioux fans and Blues fans vote for T.J. Oshie for goal of the year.

What's the Goal of the Season? You decide! Tuesday, 04.07.2009 / 11:20 AM / NHL Insider By Adam Schwartz and Brad Holland - NHL.com Staff Writers Below you'll find our five nominees for the Fan's Choice Goal of the Season.

Watch the videos, consider their merits, and record your choice by voting in the poll.

Vote as many times as you like.

The choice is personal, but some things to consider when voting are degree of difficulty, skill, and showmanship.

The voting ends this Friday at 10:00 a.m. ET, when the top goal, hit and save of the season is revealed.

Enjoy

Bemidji's new arena.

Check out the ins and outs of BSU's new arena that is going to be open for the 2010 season. This is going to be the new Beaver pond.

Beaver Linkorama.

Sean Leahy of Puck Daddy had an awesome write up on Matt Read one of the Stars for the Bemidji State Beavers. Having gone to Bemidji State University myself I know there is a lot of ice fishing to be had as well as an occasional party here and there. LOL, I can't believe he didn't mention the Beaver bashes, those were always fun when I attended BSU.

Matt Read, a sophomore forward on Bemidji State, was the CHA's Rookie of the Year and a member of the conference's All-Rookie team in 2007-08; as well as an all-CHA selection this season. For the second season in a row, Read is leading the team in scoring. It was his overtime goal in the CHA championship game against Robert Morris that put the Beavers into the NCAA tournament.

Read talked to Puck Daddy about making an immediate impact as a freshman, beating Notre Dame, and college life in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Q. Since you upset Notre Dame in the opening round of the tournament, how much more confidence is there now in the locker room?

READ: There's a lot more confidence now. You can tell within our practices now, a lot of us are all excited and having a good time now. We're starting to get a little bit stressed out now going to Washington next Tuesday, but right now our whole team is confident and it's fun to be around the guys and we're just having a great time.

How strong is the feeling around the locker room now that "Cinderella label be-damned, we can win this thing?"

I've never been in a locker room where there's such a good feeling going around and, all of us, we know what we have at stake and what we can do. It's an unbelievable experience right now and I don't know how to put it into words.

Having a chance, coming to Bemidji, you never think of even in a national tournament of coming to the Frozen Four and now you have the opportunity we've got to make the best out of it. It's just exciting right now.
--------------
Q. So, you're a 22-year-old college-athlete ... what the are the parties like in Bemidji? What does a college kid do up there?

READ: Um, ice fishing. [Laughs] There's not much here in Bemidji , but we have our fun. We like to play cards once in a while. Trying to think, we don't do much up here really, just do what we can. Spend a lot of time at the rink and just goofing around on campus.

Other great reads

Bemidji State Hockey Goes From 16th Seed to the Frozen Four.

Grand Forks Hearld: Men's hockey: Busy Beavers.

Bemidji State fitting itself for hockey's glass slipper

WCCO --- Bemidji State Hockey Looks To Erase Underdog Status.

Adam Wodon, CHN --- Bemidji State Playing For Something More.

Matthew Conyers, CHN --- Beaver Players Trying to Re-Focus.

Kessel, Thornton and Ward back in for the Bruins.

The three Bruins that were hurt this week are back in tonight's line up to play against Brian Lee's team the Ottawa Senators. Manny Fernandez in net.

Blake Wheeler---Marc Savard----Phil Kessel
Mark Recchi---Patrice Bergeron---Chuck Kobasew
Milan Lucic---David Krejci---Michael Ryder
Shawn Thornton---Stephane Yelle--- Byron Bitz

Zdeno Chara --- Aaron Ward
Matt Hunwick --- Steve Montador
Mark Stuart --- Shane Hnidy

Manny Fernandez
Tim Thomas
(source Boston Globe)

Drew Stafford vs Jonathan Ericsson

Not a good season for the Sabres and this is not former Sioux Drew Staffords best effort as far as fighting goes but I have to give him credit he stood up for a team mate that was getting cheap shoted.

MSU-M Dragon's Hockey.

I think I am going to call shenanigans on this one. I just don't see this happening. While I think realignment is on the way I don't see how MSU-M thinks they can get a college hockey team together that would even be remotely competitive in the WCHA let alone one of the lesser conferences. Immediately we hear the pontifications about Dean Blais coaching the team. Come on now! Also, I think the WCHA is going to expand to twelve teams but it won't include a team from the Fargo Moorhead area. I would rather see an established team like UAH, UNO or NMU than Moorhead State.

MSUM considers D-I hockey
Urban Plains Center could be home to team. Minnesota State University Moorhead is considering launching an NCAA Division I hockey team and using the Urban Plains Center as a possible home, MSUM President Edna Szymanski said Monday.

Szymanski said no state money could be used to fund the proposal with the school and state facing a budget deficit.

“Not to explore it would be crazy,” Szymanski said. “This is a hockey community. It would help us increase our recognition in the region.”

MSUM athletic director Doug Peters said campus and community members began studying the idea after the Western Collegiate Hockey Association voted in January to lift a moratorium on adding teams.

“The time is right to take a look at it,” Peters said.

The WCHA is a 10-team league that includes the University of North Dakota and is widely regarded as one of the top ice hockey conferences in the country.

Brian Lee vs Maxim Lapierre

I thought this was a pretty good fight between former Fighting Sioux hockey player Brian Lee and Maxim Lapierre what ever it takes to stay in the line up. This was Brian Lee's first fight in the NHL. Brian Lee also had one fight against Pascal Morency when he was with the Binghamton Senators.

Sharks and Ducks brawl.

I watched the ending of this game last night and I must say that I would love to see the Sharks and the Ducks face off in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Checking the standings and IF the Ducks can finish eighth they could end up facing the Sharks in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Holy Cow that would be a great series. The ending of the game was an old fashion donnybrook. You have to wonder if the NHL will take a look at this? I don't expect any suspensions to come out of this.

The Ducks had chances at the end, but could not convert and frustrated by the lack of calls in their favor, things boiled over on the ice. It wasn't a scrum, it was a brawl that primarily focused on Getzlaf and Marc-Edouard Vlasic going full tilt, Boucher coming out of his net to get involved. and Teemu Selanne yapping at the referee in either disgust, disbelief or both. The penalties handed out, including several misconducts, were 26 minutes for San Jose and 38 minutes for Anaheim.

The primary frustration was not the calls, but lack thereof that befuddled the Ducks.

"There were obviously some emotions, frustrations and what not," commented coach Randy Carlyle. "We're not saying we haven't committed fouls. We have. When we've played in the offensive zone for as many minutes as we have and watch what other teams do to defend our players, and if we do the same thing, it doesn't seem like there is an equal playing field at times. But that's perception."
(read the whole article here)

Ballard whoops Crosby.

I had to watch this video a few times and all I can say is good for Keith Ballard nice to see Cindy Crosby get what's coming to him. Crosby while a great player acts like a spoiled toddler that has had his pacifier taken away from him.

I am also sick and tired of seeing hockey players go after the opposition after they have recieved a legal body check or one of their teammates have been hit by a legal check. Grow the hell up and be a man, your part of the ice. This is unacceptable, If you don't like to get hit play tennis. There is no rule that you can't hit a teams star player.

Season over for the Wild. Note to Ownership Fire GM.

I was watching this game this afternoon on NBC and frankly the team put me to sleep, talk about boring, it almost looks as if the Wild accepted the fact that they aren't going to make the playoffs and just bagged the game. Gabby can say that Osgood was shakey but I didn't see a lot from him except for his goal. I almost wonder if Gaborik is hockey's version of Randy Moss I play when I want to.

I think the real truth is that the GM didn't give the coach a team that could have did much even if they would have had Gaborik for the whole season. Also when you have offensive defenseman like Marek Zidlicky they are prone to make big time mistakes that cost goals and if they Wild could have held on they would've at least gotten a point.

This team is pathetic and needs leadership at the top, there is nothing in the way of talent developing in Houston, General Manager Doug Risebrough is a joke and the one that should take all of the blame. I wish I could be the one to tell Risebrough he is fired. Gone, clean out your office because your toast. Take the train.

Teams that can’t put together a single real winning streak in a season shouldn’t have been in this position anyway. But that’s an indictment of the system.

Tonight’s loss was deserved, but it was heartbreaking nonetheless. The Wild was outshot 44-23, 34-11 at one point. Only Niklas Backstrom, a shaky Chris Osgood, and a couple posts, too (first period must have been sponsored by the Minnesota & Michigan Iron Range’s cuz Koivu, Hossa and Hudler hit iron), allowed the Wild to even be a minute from overtime.

And then, in one flawed, fatal last-minute shift, three players — Cal Clutterbuck, Eric Belanger and Marek Zidlicky, according to coach Jacques Lemaire — made mistakes.

Belanger fell. Clutterbuck joined Marian Gaborik on a forecheck when he shouldn’t have. But as often is the case, it was Mr. Zidlicky who caused the 2-on-1 by again carelessly stepping up in the neutral zone like he’s done so many times this season (most recent on Zach Parise in New Jersey, resulting in Brian Gionta’s nail in the coffin).

Zidlicky got lured into stepping up on Pavel Datsyuk. One pass later, 2-on-1 between Tomas Holmstrom and Marian Hossa.

Game over. Season over.

Lemaire roasted the players, but I point you to the game story for those quotes. The locker room was pretty glum after the game, obviously, because this week vacation plans will begin and native country’s will begin to phone about world championship availability. (read the whole article here)

Must seen interview with Tyler Bozak

I saw this Tyler Bozak interview over on DG's LetsGoDU hockey blog. Even if you're not a DU fan it's a must see.

A couple of the points that really hit home was how down to earth Bozak is but also how modest he is as a person. Folks, this was one of the best players in the WCHA this past season and barring injury would have run away with the scoring title in my opinion. Sounds like Bozak is a very good student and will go back and finish the rest of the year at Denver. The part that makes Bozak such an attractive prospect to the NHL is ability to play both ends of the ice. Toronto is going to be good again very soon they have picked up two top undrafted free agents and have been rumored to be going after Matt Gillroy from BU as well.

More of the Avery and Thomas incident.

This what Tim Thomas had to say about Sean "Sloppy Seconds" Avery smacking Tim Thomas to the back of his head with his Hockey stick as Thomas was stretching during a TV timeout. What part of that is socially unacceptable does Avery not understand?

"You look up and see who it is," recalled Thomas, "and you're like, 'You've got to be kidding me.' So it was just reflex."
---------snip-----------
Thomas decided to answer this one for himself. "There are some lines that can't be crossed," said Thomas, who graciously gave Avery credit for his gritty, and usually fair, play around the net during the times when there weren't TV timeouts. "He has a hard time figuring out what the lines are."

This is what the Rangers coach John Tortorella had to say about Tim Thomas after took matter into his own hands. Just for the record John I can't believe you think Thomas deserved an extra penalty, the reason he was the aggressor was that he was just whacked a goalie in a vulnerable position in the back of the head by one of your head cases Sean Avery.

Tortorella took issue after the game with the fact that the referees didn't come down harder on Thomas for jumping Avery. During the game's final TV timeout, Thomas had taken a knee between the circles when Avery skated by and raked the back of his head with his stick. Thomas chased after him, pushed him from behind and touched off a melee that ended up with matching minors for Avery (unsportsmanlike conduct) and Thomas (roughing).

"There has to be an extra one given to Thomas," Tortorella said, calling him "the aggressor" on the play, even though Avery - who dodged reporters after the game - could just as easily have put the Rangers shorthanded when they couldn't afford it.

Former Beaver Matt Climie gets first NHL start and win.

It's been a whirl wind week for the Bemidji State University Beaver hockey program first with the Beavers making the Frozen Four and now one of their former goalies Matt Clime got his first start in last night's game against the St Louis Blues. Clime also got a win in his first start with a 5-4 win in over-time against the Blues.

The big news of the morning was that 26-year-old Matt Climie will make his NHL debut tonight in goal for the Stars.

Climie, as you might expect, was excited about his chance in goal with the Stars. Climie was an emergency call-up Friday from Idaho, the Stars' East Coast Hockey League affiliate. Stars goalie Marty Turco suffered a lower-body injury Thursday against Calgary and is day-to-day. Climie said he received a call from the Stars late Thursday night saying he's going to be called up. He said he was told before this morning's skate that he would start tonight.

"My first start in the NHL, growing up in Canada, every kid dreams of playing in the NHL," Climie said. "I'm kind of overwhelmed."

Stars coach Dave Tippett said he's going with Climie tonight because he's the goalie that gives the Stars the best chance to win. I think you can read between the lines there for what that means for backup goalie Tobias Stephan and his future with the organization. Stephan will be an unrestricted free agent this summer and it's unlikely that the Stars will make him an offer. He's probably gone.
(Read the whole story here)

Thomas gives Sjostrom a waffle.

You had to wonder how long it would take before Sean "Sloppy Seconds" Avery would perform one of his bushleague acts. You have to know if you hit, whack, bump the oppositions goalie you're going to pay for it. Sjostrom got everything he deserves when he jumped Timmy Thomas. You have to love Jack Edwards from NESN he is my favorite homer.

Bruins clinch the top spot in the east.

So if you were a college hockey fan from the WCHA watching the Minnesota Gophers last year or the two seasons prior to that; would you've thought that Blake Wheeler would be a legitimate candidate for the Calder trophy. Would you have thought that Wheeler would score 20 goals and add 22 assist for 42 points in 76 games. Not in a million years. Today Wheeler scored the Bruins only goal as the Boston Bruins shut out the New Yorks Rangers and clinched the top spot in the East.

The State of the Wild.

Check out the latest zinger from Wild Blogger Michael Russo on the state of the Minnesota Wild. Russo really hit the bullseye with this article. The next step I would like to see is the Minneapolis media call for Wild owner Craig Leipold to sack Wild General Manager Doug Risebrough. It's time for Risebrough to go because he has been a miserable failure when it comes to running the Wild. This team is all his doing and he is the that the blame should be laid on. Russo is right as well as he should start looking at the Blues and Kings because that is who the Wild are going to be chasing next season.

The Wild Owner should have taken notice when Risebrough didn't want to trade James Sheppard for Olli Jokinen. Are you kidding me, Risebrough didn't want to trade young talent like James Sheppard, guys like James Sheppard are a dime a dozen in the NHL. There are hundreds of guys like him in the AHL and ECHL.

If the front office convinces owner Craig Leipold that this was a throw-away season solely because Gaborik was hurt, it's an injustice to everybody who paid a dime for tickets or merchandise.

If Leipold wants a reality check, just turn on the Center Ice package and watch St. Louis and Columbus and Chicago and Edmonton and even Phoenix and Los Angeles.

Think the Wild really has better young talent, a brighter future? Those teams are burgeoning with young, explosive talent, which is reason for real optimism there and pessimism here.

The Wild has James Sheppard, who's somehow untouchable like he's going to wake up tomorrow and become Jarome Iginla. Mikko Koivu and Brent Burns are good, cornerstone players.

But in the history of this organization, the Wild has developed one star, Gaborik -- and this week is likely his Minnesota swan song.

The Wild has sold out every game in franchise history, but it's not guaranteed to continue. Assistant GM Tommy Thompson knows this. He wasn't trying to critique the current state of affairs. But in an interview with me for the upcoming Hockey News Draft magazine, Thompson said the Wild must draft a "dynamic player ... with a little pizzazz" this June.

Another great read on T.J. Oshie.

Imagine the possibilities if former Fighting Sioux hockey and current St Louis Blue hockey player T.J. Oshie had not been hurt and played the whole season. I suspect he would have been one of the leading candidates for Rookie of the year. Check this article from the Sporting News on T.J. Oshie.

This, from a kid who is 5-11, 181 pounds -- not a thug, but a well-round skilled player who knows how to hit and hit hard.

After missing more than 20 games with a high ankle sprain earlier in the season, Oshie exploded onto the scene with highlight goals and hits. He's leveled opponents with big-time hits, like this one against Nash.

The Blue Jackets were angered about the hit. Blues fans went bonkers for it. Blues broadcaster Bernie Federko noted correctly Oshie did exactly what he should do.

"A player coming out of the penalty box is told to go directly to the puck," Federko said during last Saturday's telecast. "He caught Nash flatfooted."

Argue it all you want, but Oshie did glide into the hit. Had it been charging, he would have been called for a penalty.

A typical comment from cyberspace: "That homer announcer is dead wrong. Nash is on the ice and is fair game. There is no written law you can't check a team's superstar legally. I am also sick and tired of hockey players wanting to fight after someone who lays a legal hit on one of their teammates. It is part of the game," according to a post on Goon's World. By the title, take it with a grain of salt. But take it as a statement of fact as well.

"Paging Mr. Nash, Mr. Rick Nash. Please come pick up your pride at the customer service counter," wrote old friend Kevin Wheeler of KMOX Radio in St. Louis.
(Read the whole article right here)

Tim Thomas gets paid.

Former Vermont Catamount and current Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas signed a contract extension for 4 years and 20 million dollars. Just for comparision sake here is what some of the other goalies will be making next season. Bruins goalie Tim Thomas will be making 6 million next season the same amount as Niklas Backstrom. Also, you have to wonder if Thomas is probably the odds on favorite to be the man between the pipes in next year's Olympics.

Henrik Lundqvist ($6.875 million)
Roberto Luongo ($6.75 million)
Ryan Miller ($6.25 million)
Jean-Sebastien Giguere ($6 million)
Niklas Backstrom ($6 million)
Miikka Kiprusoff ($5.833 million)
Marty Turco ($5.7 million)
Tomas Vokoun ($5.7 million)
Cristobal Huet ($5.625 million)
Evgeni Nabokov ($5.375 million)
Martin Brodeur ($5.2 million)
Marc-Andre Fleury ($5 million)

(Source Bruin's Blog)

Note to WCHA commissioner make it work.

The WCHA commissioner and North Dakota faculty representative Sue Jeno made a site visit to Bemidji State University on Friday; this is one of the first steps in the right direction of getting BSU gaining membership into the WCHA. Now is a time for a steady hand and leadership as the WCHA makes the transition to a 11 or 12 team league.

The thing that troubles me the most is all of the excuse making I hear from the WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod, to quote the one time beat writer for the Fighting Sioux Virg Foss, “make it work.” If McLeod can’t make it work maybe the member schools of the WCHA should consider another person for the Commissioner's job. IIRC the commissioner’s contract is up for renewal this year and maybe the league needs to go in another direction if McLeod can’t offer stable leadership. Maybe there is someone that can make it work. I don’t think the WCHA wants to be the league that killed 2008-2009 Division one Hockey’s version of Cinderella.

With BSU the sole applicant, it would leave the WCHA an 11-team league which would present scheduling problems. Not in the math, McLeod said, but in producing a fair and equitable balance among the big and smaller schools in the league.

“I have put together an 11-team 28-game schedule for three years out,” he said. “You can put it together. … But there’s no model to it.”

The WCHA already plays an imbalanced schedule because home-and-home games aren’t available to all teams. The 10-team, 28-game imbalanced schedule takes four years to work it out so that all teams play home and away an equal number of times. A 12-team, 28-game schedule takes five years.

“I have yet to figure out a way – I’ve been in NHL offices, every place I can to try to find some model that works with some fairness, some balance to it and I have yet to come up with it,” he said.

The schedule he does have has some teams with two games on the road three years in a row to the same school.

“It’s not fair to the institutions that are in the league right now, that they have no idea what their opponents' schedule is going to look like from year to year,” he said. “It has no recognition of traditional opponents we have in the league.”

Many think that a step backward, McLeod said.

Better than an 11-team league is a 12-team league, he said, and it appears work continues to gain another application.

“Obviously the answer to an 11-team league is a 12-team league,” he said. “We are doing a lot of homework in that area. … There are some interests. I can’t mention them, but there are definitively possibilities for us but we have to come up with the right circumstances, the right way to approach, etc. etc.”

McLeod says he hopes BSU can get an answer this spring, right at the WCHA’s annual meeting. “That may or may not happen, depending on some things that are still in the works regarding some of the things we’re hoping for in a little bit.”
(read the whole story here)

NMU to stay in the CCHA.

It had been speculated that NMU might jump to the WCHA, but that rumor has been shot down. I agree with the NMU blogger, I think NMU would be a great addition to the WCHA and would be a natural rival with MTU. I think NMU fans should email and call the NMU athletic department.

NMU Decides to Stay in CCHA --- Rob Balmes
Much to the chagrin of many Wildcat fans, the NMU President, Board, and Athletic Director decided to remain in the CCHA, turning down an offer to rejoin the WCHA. I personally believe it is a terrible mistake, but respect the decision. Fans should now petition the CCHA to open a dialogue and not be bullied by Michigan and Michigan State to have cross-over interleague play every season. They have their nice little deal to play Wisconsin and Minnesota every season. The dream is dead, NMU remains a Central member.

Will all of the Hobey Hat Trick be signed this spring?

You have to wonder if after the Frozen Four is done next weekend will all of the Hobey Baker Hat Trick players be signed to professional contracts? Colin Wilson, Boston University a Sophomore (13g - 27a – 40) will probably get some pressure from the Nashville Predators to sign and Matt Gilroy Boston University a Senior defenseman
(5g - 16a – 21) is said to be one of the more sought after free agents after Tyler Bozek who just signed a professional contract today with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

4/03/2009 --- The Pittsburgh Penguins have signed free agent goalie Brad Thiessen from Northeastern University.

Thiessen is one of three finalists for the Hobey Baker award as the top college hockey player for the 2008-09 season.

The Aldergrove, BC native finished fourth in the nation in victories with a record of 25-12-4. He recorded six shutouts in 41 games with a save percentage of .931 and goals-against average of 2.11.

The 23-year-old was named the best goaltender and Player of the Year in Hockey East.

The winner of the Bozak sweepstakes is? The Leafs.

Sounds like Brian Burke got his man and is going to go after Boston University senior defensman Matt Gilroy as well as soon as the NCAA playoffs are over. It looks like the Maple Leafs are on the road to recovery and making the right steps to right the ship after a futile existence the last three seasons no Stanley Cup playoff; actually that will be four seasons after this current season is officially over. So look for the Maple Leafs to make some improvement.

So if your a Leaf aka a Make Me Laugh Fan things are starting to look up your general manager just got DU's Tyler Bozak and Notre Dame's Christian Hanson to sign professional contracts. Tyler Bozak was one of the most sought after undrafted free agents because he is a complete forward that plays both ends of the ice and will make an impact in the NHL.

Another Piece of the Puzzle
The Maple Leafs, having more success off the ice in recent days than they enjoyed all season, have outfought several other clubs for the right to sign talented Denver University forward Tyler Bozak.

Bozak, 23, has told the Leafs they are his preferred destination for his first NHL contract, with a contract expected to be signed sometime today. The Leafs are believed to have outmaneuvered Ottawa, Colorado and Anaheim, among other clubs, to sign the U.S. collegiate star. Tyler Bozak had 18 goals in 41 games with Denver in 2007-08.

After signing Christian Hanson of Notre Dame, who will make his NHL debut tonight in Philly, earlier this week, snaring Bozak gives the Leafs two of the top U.S. collegiate free agents available, with Boston University defenceman Matt Gilroy still on Brian Burke's radar.

Quite clearly, these free agents are looking at the Leafs and seeing opportunity for immediate NHL work based on the club's lack of depth at every position. This week, in a way, has turned into the draft before the draft for the Leafs, who desperately need to add prospects to their bare talent cupboard.

Bozak, a native of Regina who played his junior hockey in B.C. before heading to Denver, is thought to have more of an offensive upside than Hanson, but is smaller and missed most of the past season with a knee injury. Both are skill players, and Burke undoubtedly made it clear to both that he intends to add muscle around them to make their introduction to NHL competition easier.

Getting both players, meanwhile, is in part a credit to the stability the Leafs are enjoying these days.

So the list is updated over on the UND hockey blog.
Early departures in the WCHA (7)

Alaska-Anchorage (1)
Paul Crowder, jr, forward, N.Y. Rangers

Colorado College (2)
Brian Connelly, jr, defenseman, Chicago Blackhawks
Richard Bachman, so, goaltender, Dallas Stars

Denver (1)
Tyler Bozak, so, forward, Toronto Maple Leafs

Minnesota (1)
Ryan Stoa, jr, forward, Colorado Avalanche

MSU-Mankato (1)
Trevor Bruess, jr, forward, Washington Capitals

Wisconsin (1)
Jamie McBain, jr, defenseman, Carolina Hurricanes

David Backes scores 4 goals in one game.

I have to admit that I am getting more and more excited about the St Louis Blues and the great young team that they have. I mean look at the players. Tonight former MSU-M Maverick star David Backes scored four (4) goals in one game. Backed scored a natural hat trick and then scored the game winning goal. That is impressive in my book. You have to wonder if anyone will want to face tem in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The team they beat the Detroit Redwings.


(Goal 2)

(Goal 3)

(Goal 4)

NCAA upsets show why more teams necessary

Here was an interesting article that was in the THN.COM However the article is devoid of a few key facts. Lets clear up a couple of things up. First off; Robert Morris, Niagara have already found a conference the AHA and BSU and UAH are still looking for a new conference to call home. Second; Air Force was playing in their third straight NCAA regional they have never advanced to the Frozen Four.

The University of Findlay (Ohio) Oilers were the basketball team in question and hey, congratulations on your first national title.

But with Air Force beating Michigan and Bemidji State (Minn.) trouncing Notre Dame and Cornell in the Frozen Four tournament over the weekend, I couldn’t help but think of those players who suited up for the Oilers on the ice from 1999 to 2004, when Findlay was a member of College Hockey America (CHA), the dwindling conference that has also produced the Bemidji State Beavers. Those same Beavers are angling to join the powerhouse WCHA, leaving the CHA with just three members (Robert Morris, Niagara and Alabama-Huntsville). And based on the way the Beavers handled No. 1 Notre Dame and highly rated Cornell, it’s obvious the team knows how to compete with the big boys.

Findlay hockey died because of budget constraints, an all-too-familiar refrain these days, but a rough one when you read between the lines: the school would rather have a Division II basketball team than a Division I hockey team. In essence, they’d rather play Cal Poly Pomona on the hardwood than Notre Dame on the ice.

But hey – not my decision.

American college athletics are so exciting because of the atmospheres and because of the rivalries (think Wisconsin-Minnesota or Boston College-Boston U.). I’ve said this before, but it needs to be said again: More big schools are needed in NCAA hockey.

The talent is there. Powerhouses such as Wisconsin often over recruit and some players end up playing at Division III schools for a year until a roster spot opens up. And as we’ve seen with Air Force and Bemidji State, hockey is finding its Gonzagas and George Masons. The Falcons of Air Force, for example, were playing in their third straight Frozen Four tournament coming out of the Atlantic Hockey conference.

Big Joe Finley Signs.

LGM's favorite former Fighting Sioux hockey player Joe Finley has signed an entry level professional contract with the Washington Capitals organization. Goon's World would like to congratulate Big Joe and wish him good luck in the next step in his hockey career. I have enjoyed watching Finley play for UND the last four seasons.

04/02/2009 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 2, 2009

Capitals Sign Defenseman Joe Finley

ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have signed defenseman Joe Finley to a two-year entry-level contract beginning next season, vice president and general manager George McPhee announced today. In keeping with club policy terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Finley, 21, will join the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL) on Monday.

Finley skated in 27 games for the University of North Dakota this year and recorded two goals and eight assists. He missed 16 games with an injury.

The 6'7", 240-pound Edina, Minn., native was a four-time letter winner for North Dakota and helped the Fighting Sioux advance to the Frozen Four in each of his first three years of college. He recorded 35 points (seven goals, 28 assists) in 154 career games and led the team in plus/minus during his sophomore and junior years. He was named to the All-WCHA Academic Team three times.

He played one season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey League before college and recorded 13 points (three goals, 10 assists) and 181 penalty minutes in 55 games.

Finley was Washington's first-round choice, 27th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

T.J. Oshie Named NHL rookie of the month.

Former Fighting Sioux Hockey player T.J. Oshie was named the NHL Rookie of the Month for March, Oshie edged out former Badger Brian Elliot and Former Gopher Kyle Okposo for the award. If T.J. Oshie wouldn't have gotten hurt this season I could see him making a push for Rookie of the year in the NHL.

NEW YORK -- St. Louis center T.J. Oshie, who helped spark the Blues' playoff surge by recording 13 points (four goals, nine assists) and a +6 rating in 14 games, has been named the NHL Rookie of the Month for March.

Oshie edged Tampa Bay Lightning center Steven Stamkos (8-7--15 in 15 games), Toronto Maple Leafs center Mikhail Grabovski (5-9--14 in 13 games), New York Islanders right wing Kyle Okposo (5-8--13 in 13 games), Ottawa Senators goaltender Brian Elliott (9-3-0, 2.57 goals-against average), Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason (8-4-2, 2.46 GAA) and Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (7-2-3, 2.53 GAA) for the award.

Oshie tallied points in nine games as the Blues posted a 9-4-1 record and climbed from 12th to ninth in the Western Conference standings. He recorded an assist and a +3 rating in a 5-2 victory over Dallas Mar. 10, notched a goal and an assist in a 5-2 loss to Detroit Mar. 14 and notched a pair of assists in a 5-3 win over Minnesota Mar. 15. Forming a 'Kid Line' with fellow rookie Patrik Berglund and second-year David Perron, Oshie tallied a goal and an assist and was named First Star in a 4-2 victory over Vancouver Mar. 26 and registered 1-1--2 and a +3 rating in a 5-2 win at Columbus Mar. 29 that gave the Blues a sweep of the weekend home-and-home series.

Oshie is the fifth player to be named NHL Rookie of the Month this season, joining Columbus Blue Jackets center Derick Brassard (October), Blue Jackets goaltender Steve Mason (November and December), Anaheim Ducks right wing Bobby Ryan (January) and Nashville Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne (February).

Hobey Hat trick announced.

Here is the 2008-2009 Hobey Hat Trick.

The hat trick includes Junior goalie Brad Thiessen from Northeastern, Boston University senior defenseman Matt Gilroy and BU sophomore forward Colin Wilson.

This is why I like the shootout

I hear a lot of people railing against the shootout and how some people don't
want to see NCAA Division one hockey to adopt the shootout across the board
well it is goals/moves like this that make the shootout an exciting option for me.

Serratore for Spencer Penrose. Why not?

Here are the finalist for the 2008-2009 Spencer Penrose finalists. I would like to see the award go to Tom Serratore coach of the Bemidji State University Beavers because I think he is the most deserving of the award.

Coach Serratore has gotten the more out of less with his hockey team. I mean think about it this way, the BSU Beavers have (1) one player that is drafted by an NHL team (Chris Peluso (PIT) JR) the Notre Dame Fighting Irish had (8) eight players, you tell me what team under achieved there. So what we are saying while BSU had one drafted player other teams have 5-15 drafted players and couldn't make the Frozen Four or even get out of the first round game of their regional.

Breaking it down further the BSU Beavers weren't even in the top 25 of the Pair Wise Rankings yet they beat the 2nd and 12th ranked teams, in fact the Beavers beat the number two ranked team that was at the top of the rankings most of the season and went something like 20 games without a loss.

Keith Allain, Yale*
Enrico Blasi, Miami#@
Greg Cronin, Northeastern*
Dallas Ferguson, Alaska*
Dave Hakstol, North Dakota*
Jack Parker, Boston University#@
Tom Serratore, Bemidji State*#
Kevin Sneddon, Vermont#
Ryan Soderquist, Bentley*

* Conference coach of the year
# NCAA Frozen Four participant
@ Previous winner

Recent winners

2000 Joe Marsh, St. Lawrence
2001 Dean Blais, North Dakota
2002 Tim Whitehead, Maine
2003 Bob Daniels, Ferris State
2004 Scott Sandelin, Minnesota-Duluth
2005 George Gwozdecky, Denver
2006 Enrico Blasi, Miami
2007 Jeff Jackson, Notre Dame
2008 Red Berenson, Michigan

2009-2010 schedule is up

2009-2010 UND Fighting Sioux tenative schedule has been posted. Brad Schlossman posted an article about the schedule as well.

Oct. 3 -- MANITOBA (ex)(CIS)
Oct. 9 -- MERRIMACK (HOCKEY EAST)
Oct. 10 -- MERRIMACK (HOCKEY EAST)
Oct. 16 -- MINNESOTA
Oct. 17 -- MINNESOTA
Oct. 23 -- at Anchorage
Oct. 24 -- at Anchorage
Nov. 6 -- at Mich. Tech
Nov. 7 -- at Mich. Tech
Nov. 13 -- ST. CLOUD
Nov. 14 -- ST. CLOUD
Nov. 20 -- at Denver
Nov. 21 -- at Denver
Nov. 27 -- MIAMI (CCHA)
Nov. 28 -- OHIO STATE (CCHA)
Dec. 4 -- at Duluth
Dec. 5 -- at Duluth
Dec. 11 -- WISCONSIN
Dec. 12 -- WISCONSIN
Dec. 19 -- US WORLD JR (ex)
Jan. 1 -- at Notre Dame tour.(TBD)
Jan. 2 -- at Notre Dame tour. (TBD)
Jan. 8 -- MSU-MANKATO
Jan. 9 -- MSU-MANKATO
Jan. 15 -- at Minnesota
Jan. 16 -- at Minnesota
Jan. 22 -- at Cornell (ECAC)
Jan. 23 -- at Cornell (ECAC)
Jan. 29 -- DENVER
Jan. 30 -- DENVER
Feb. 12 -- at St. Cloud
Feb. 13 -- at St. Cloud
Feb. 19 -- DULUTH
Feb. 20 -- DULUTH
Feb. 26 -- at Colo. Coll.
Feb. 27 -- at Colo. Coll.
Mar. 5 -- MICH. TECH
Mar. 6 -- MICH. TECH
Mar. 12-13 -- WCHA first round
Mar. 18-20 -- WCHA Final Five
Mar. 26-28 -- NCAA regionals
Apr. 8-10 -- Frozen Four

James van Riemsdyk signs with the Flyers.

The UNH Wildcats were handed a bit of bad news todoay when they found out that their super star forward James van Riemsdyke will forgo his college eligibility to play for the Philadelphia Flyer's. Based on his play and his WJC tourney no one should be surprised. I expect JVR to make an immediate impact in the NHL.

DURHAM – Going, going, gone.

Sophomore center James van Riemsdyk informed University of New Hampshire hockey coach Dick Umile Wednesday morning that he had signed a contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, ending the tenure of one of the highest-profile recruits to ever wear a UNH uniform.

The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Van Riemsdyk returned home to New Jersey on Tuesday and finalized plans with his parents and family advisor, Umile said, adding that it was no surprise.

“I think we all knew there was a good possibility it was going to happen, but nothing’s official until it happens,” said Umile, who called van Riemsdyk a “joy to coach” and said he supports his decision to turn pro.

The No. 2 overall pick by the Flyers in the 2007 NHL draft, van Riemsdyk upset some people in Philly by returning to UNH for his sophomore season.

The Wildcats’ season ended Sunday, one step short of the Frozen Four, when they were nipped by top-ranked Boston University, 2-1, in the Northeast Regional final in Manchester. They finished 20-13-5.

Van Riemsdyk issued a statement through UNH Wednesday that read, in part: “It has been my lifelong dream to one day play in the NHL. … UNH has played a crucial role in preparing me for this important next step in my hockey career and I shall be forever grateful. I fully intend to complete my academic obligations for the current second semester.”

So now we are to believe the Wild like college kids?

When I was reading Wild blogger Mike Russo's blog post today this part of article really jumped out at me. It's no mystery that Wild general manager Doug Risebrough doesn't like college hockey players very much, if he did he would have more of them on his roster. Seriously! If Doug Risebrough really like ex-college hockey players why aren't there more ex-college hockey players on the Wild roster? While the Wild have 15 ex-collegiate hockey players on their farm club none of them are on the fast track to playing for the big club.

I think this is a legitimate question since there are many opportunities to get a good look at college hockey players living in the state of hockey. The Minnesota Wild have one collegiate hockey player on their team John Scott and he is from Edmonton Alberta, also the Wild have one American on their team Dan Fritsche who played his amateur hockey in the OHL and he is going to be a career third or fourth line player. I love the Minnesota Wild but Risebrough is doing a horrible job managing this franchise.

Also ran into Canucks bruiser Darcy Hordichuk, and he interviewed me rather than vice versa regarding a 6-foot-8 former Michigan Tech (who says the Wild dislikes college kids?) dude named John Scott. Apparently Hordichuk’s thinking he may need to “go” with the towering blue-liner, and by “go,” I mean fight if you catch my drift.

I talked to Scott a lot this morning about his fighting. He openly says that he’s a “bad fighter,” and it’s something he might need to address this summer by taking boxing lessons. Being a college kid, he never had to fight. He openly admits he hates fighting but knows at 6-8, it’s something he’s going to have to do if he’s going to be a regular in this league.
(read the whole blog here)

Houston Aeros roster 2008-2009.
Nolan Schaefer Providence College
Krys Kolanos, Boston College
Marco Rosa, Merrimack college
Brandon Rogers, Michigan
Danny Irmen, Minnesota
Jason Deitsch, St Norbert College
Bryan Lundbohm, North Dakota
Robbie Earl, Wisconsin
Jason Ryznar, Michigan
Mike Hamilton, Maine
Jon Insana, Michigan State
Tony Hrkac, North Dakota
John Adams, Boston College
Ryan Lang, University of Alaska Fairbanks

Bolts a bunch of hacks

After watching the game between the Bruins and the Lighting it would appear that Tampa Bay is a bunch of hacks, the stick swinging in this game was ridiculous. Check out the fight video of Milan Lucic as he buries Josef Melichar who was stupid enough to hit him up high with a bush league high hit. A whole lot of nasty is what Blues GM John Davidson called Lucic. Also, on the injury front Phil Kessel is still out of the line up until at least next week.

By Kevin Paul Dupont, Globe Staff April 1, 2009 01:30 PM
Lots of stick work--and an abundance of shattered sticks--in last night's game.

''I guess you are right,'' said Milan Lucic, pulling up his sleeves to show slices in both forearms from enemy hacks. ''You saw that a lot of that in the old NHL, but not so much today.''

Julien kept to his minimal updates on the injured likes of Phil Kessel and Shawn Thornton. Kessel, he said, won't play until, next week. Thornton is considered day-to-day with a minor injury.

Genoway returning for senior season.

Brad Elliott Schlossman beat writer for the Fighting Sioux hockey team is reporting that WCHA defenseman of the year Chay Genoway will return for his senior season at UND. This is very good news for the Fighting Sioux hockey team, Chay brings a lot of on the ice leadership that should help some of the younger Sioux defenders. I would suspect that he will be a good candidate for wearing the "C". Your staying for another week just made a lot of Sioux fan's week a lot better. Now if we can only talk Vandy into staying we will be set.

The UND men’s hockey team will have to replace a pair of senior alternate captains on defense for next season, but it won’t have to replace the reigning Western Collegiate Hockey Association defensive player of the year.

Chay Genoway has decided that he won’t entertain any pro offers this offseason and he will be back at UND for his senior year.

“There was interest, but I didn’t want to take it any further,” Genoway said. “There is a time and place for some guys to go. But for me, everything points back to coming back to this program. I want to cherish another year here. I’m not ready to leave this place. It’s too special of a place. If I had the chance to play here for 10 years, I would.

“I’ve talked to guys who have moved on and they always say that this is their favorite place they’ve ever played, even at the pro level. I think we’re going to have a good team next year and I’m really excited about it.”

Genoway is an undrafted free agent, but NHL teams will have to wait another year to get a crack at the 5-foot-8, 165-pound dynamic, offensive defenseman.
(read the whole story right here)

BSU makes history.

This past weekend there was a whirlwind of excitement surrounding the NCAA Division one hockey tourney as the Bemidji State University Beavers qualified for the Frozen Four by beating a couple impressive highly favored foes. The flat bellied experts predicted that there was no way the Beavers could win and said that the Beavers would be a one and done team. The Beavers would have none of that and went along their merry way busting brackets and breaking the Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s and Cornell Big Red heart’s. It was a story book ending to an incredible weekend of college hockey.

BSU fans Giddy

Much of this week I have spent a fair amount of talking to my friends from Bemidji State Nation about their team’s historic series of events. You can hear the excitement in their voices as they get ready for the upcoming Frozen Four. As a UND fan I know how exciting it can be leading up the Frozen Four as the four years prior my team was in the big dance on the big stage.

I can't blame the BSU fans for being giddy, this is an exciting time. I have to admit being from Bemidji and having attended BSU for two years and being a member of the 1992 BSU football team I am giddy as hell. I also lived in Bemidji I want to see the Beavers win it all. I have to admit that I am sick and tired of seeing the hockey pundits and ESPN be cheer for the big schools like BU, B.C. Notre Dame, and Michigan school’s (2x). I think it is time for another small school to win the whole thing that doesn’t reside in on the East Coast or Michigan. So the only thing that would top this magical run by BSU would be a NCAA title. Is it possible, yeah it is…

Historic Run

The BSU Beavers became the first 16 seed to make the Frozen Four. Three number one seeds went down to defeat and only one Boston University won both of their games. The other three number one seeds didn't even win their first game. Compare and contrast the two Cinderella team's wins; the Falcons scored two relatively quick goals against Michigan and then were very lucky they were able to hang on to their lead as Michigan was all over them in the third period but could not score a goal. You almost have to wonder if AFA had Plexiglas on the front of the net.

On the other hand the Beavers flat out dominated one very good hockey team and another defensive powerhouse for 6 periods of hockey. There wasn’t any score a couple of goals and then go into a defensive shell. It was attack and counter attack. So yeah it’s historic probably because it has never happened until this past weekend. The BSU plan was very simple get pucks deep and skate very hard for 30 second and get off the ice. So simply yet the opposition was unable to answer Serratore’s game plan.

Puck Daddy on BSU

Greg Wyshynski of Puck Daddy kind of sums up the significance of BSU making the big dance. This story is very similar to the 1980 Olympic victory, kind of David versus Goliath

Sometimes, it takes a miracle for hockey to receive mainstream sports attention. Like back in 1980, when a bunch of college kids from the U.S. shocked the Olympic world by defeating the Russians; or like in 2009, when a bunch of college kids from Bemidji State University upset Notre Dame and Cornell to qualify for the 2009 NCAA Frozen Four in Washington, DC next weekend.

Bemidji what now? The question is being asked around the sports world as the liberal arts university from northern Minnesota -- home to around 5,000 students -- enters the semifinals of college hockey's Div. I championship tournament for the first time, in what some are calling "the equivalent of Morehead State going to the Final Four."

Kozek signs with the Chicago Wolves.

Goon's World will have a fond memories of former Fighting Sioux forward Andrew Kozek
I included the game winning goal from last years West Regional against the Badgers.
I would like to wish Kozek good luck in the next step of his hockey career.

( Chicago Wolves Press Release)--- The Chicago Wolves have signed left wing Andrew Kozek to an Amateur Tryout Contract (ATO).

The 22-year-old forward posted an assist in the University of North Dakota’s 6-5 overtime loss to the University of New Hampshire in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament on Saturday, and tallied eight goals, 20 points and 40 penalty minutes in 38 games with UND (WCHA) this season.

Overall, the Sicamous, British Columbia, native racked up 38 goals, 27 assists and 65 points in 167 career matchups with the Fighting Sioux, spanning four seasons (2005 to 2009). The Atlanta Thrashers second choice, 53rd overall, in the 2005 National Hockey League Entry Draft, KOZEK also spent two seasons with the Surrey Eagles (BCHL) prior to joining UND, recording 67 goals 71 assists and 138 points in 118 matchups from 2003 to 2005.

KOZEK will be available to make his professional debut when the Wolves take on the Peoria Rivermen at Carver Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m.

UNH loses Ryan Bourque to the QMJHL

Like father like son Ray Bourque's kid Ryan Bourque is going to play in the QMJHL and has backed out of his verbal commitment to UNH. Sounds like a significant loss for the Wildcats. You have to wonder how solid the Bourque's commitment to the Wildcats was? What is more interesting is the comments following this blog post and the debate on whether the NCAA versus CHL debate.

Bourque to skip UNH, head to QMJHL

Like his father, the youngest Bourque will play in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.

Ryan Bourque, a Boxford native and son of Bruins legend and NHL Hall of Famer Ray Bourque, will forgo a verbal commitment to the University of New Hampshire to suit up for the Quebec Remparts of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League next season.

Bourque, 18, was Quebec's seventh-round choice in last year's junior draft. He was ranked 61st among North American skaters in this year's NHL Central Scouting midseason rankings. He will have up to three years of junior eligibility. The Remparts' owner, general manager and coach is NHL Hall of Famer Patrick Roy, a former teammate of Ray Bourque's with the Colorado Avalanche.

US Under-18 team coach Ron Rolston said Bourque is an elite player in his age group who will be productive at the next level.

"He does everything for us, and he provides leadership," said Rolston. "He'll be a valuable asset to Quebec."

A 5-foot-8, 165-pound left wing, Bourque played the last two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program. He had 19 goals and 24 assists in 47 games this year, second on the Under-18 team. He will play for the US in the Under-18 World Championships, which begin April 9.

Ray Bourque played three seasons for the now-defunct Sorel (later Verdun) Eperviers, or Blackhawks, of the QMJHL.

Kessel still out.

Bruins fans will be disappointed to know that Phil Kessel is still out of the Bruins line up with the dreaded undisclosed injury. Sounds like a shoulder injury. According to the Boston Globe hockey blogger it appears to be a shoulder injury.

Kessel out again
Phil Kessel will miss his third consecutive game with an undisclosed injury tonight when the Bruins take on the Lightning at TD Banknorth Garden. Coach Claude Julien said Kessel is expected to resume practicing later in the week and get back in the lineup next week. It is suspected that it’s a shoulder injury that’s keeping Kessel sidelined, but Julien wasn’t even giving up the vicinity of the injury.

“It’s our job to protect guys,” said Julien with a grin, “and it’s your job to expose them.”…. Manny Fernandez was the first goalie off the ice at the morning skate, indicating he’ll play again tonight. Julien has said that he’s going to at least try to get Fernandez on track.