This is interesting.

I found this today on the QuickFacts and my reply was that you're going to get a bunch of hate mail from Gophers fans. That being said I enjoy reading her post because she has a lot of interesting hockey news.

As said previously in this space, QuickFacts believes Golden Gopher Jordan Schroeder will not return to the University of MN & will turn pro
10 minutes ago from Seesmic Desktop

I don't think this twitter post/tweet is that far out of the main stream because listen to what he is saying.

But Schroeder wouldn't commit to returning to college, only acknowledging it's likely. "I'll have some decisions to make when I go back home," he said. "[But] a year back in college wouldn't hurt at all."
[Faceoff.com]

Corey Fienhage at the Sabres development camp.

Here is what Kris Baker had to say about Fighting Sioux defenseman Corey Fienhage at the Sabres development camp. I think Sioux fans are going to see some impressive play by Fienhage on the blue line for UND this season. I think he is going to blossom into a monster.

Corey Fienhage is built for the rugged NHL. He's very fluid and uses his excellent size in 1-1s to lean and rub players out. Elements of Derian Hatcher with better feet. Very no-nonsense. Even looks mean in drills. Aside from enjoying the physical contact (I compared him to a safety's patrolling mentality in the back field when he was drafted), he's good at getting in front of shots. For his efforts, he was stung inside a shin guard on both days. From the point, he's shown his hard rising right-handed shot on a couple of occasions. He's set to blossom in Grand Forks. [Sabres Prospects]

Bozak impresses Burke.

I believe this kid is one of the more complete players to play in the WCHA last season. Can you imagine how DU might have fared if Tyler Bozak had been available all of last year and not suffered an knee injury? It will be interesting to see how he fares in the NHL next season.

"That's what stood out the first time I watched him play," said Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke, whom signed Bozak to an entry-level contract in April.

"The first time I saw him play was probably the worst game he played in college. His team got spanked at home and he probably only had two shots on net. But I still loved how the rest of his team sagged and he just kept on battling.

"He was average at best, but I still liked him."

For most of his two-year NCAA career, Bozak was anything but average. He led the Pioneers in scoring with 34 points in 41 games as a freshman. And last season, despite playing just 19 games, he finished with 23 points and a team-high plus-14 rating.

But aside from his points or his ability to kill penalties or win crucial face-offs, Bozak's biggest asset is his Chris Drury-like character and competitiveness.

Those qualities were on display when Bozak returned from injury against Miami of Ohio for the West Regional semi-final. He may have been rusty and barely healed. But he still scored a goal and an assist in the 4-2 loss.

"I definitely wasn't 100%," he said, "but it was a do-or-die game and I felt I could help spark the guys on our team and just do what I could do out there to help them."

The Leafs, who beat out about 25 other NHL teams to acquire the late-bloomer, believe Bozak can also provide a spark to its rebuilding dressing room.

Burke said the signing was the equivalent to acquiring a second-round draft choice. But unlike Toronto's actual draft picks this year such as seventh-overall selection Nazem Kadri, Bozak is the only one expected to immediately jump into the NHL. [Faceoff.com]

Kessel negotiations on hold?

I am trying to figure out what the heck Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is trying to do? Looks like the Bruins GM is playing hard ball with Kessel. To the fans on message boards that I see suggesting that Marco Sturm and Patrice Bergeron are going to be able to pick up the slack if Kessel leaves. Seriously; that isn't going to happen. Patrice Bergeron is one hit away from a medical retirement after suffering two concussions and Sturm has never scored more than 27 goals in a season. Also neither players is a pure scorer like Kessel.

As far as the current Bruins roster goes, according to a source close to the Phil Kessel negotiations, there has been no communication between the Bruins and the Kessel camp since the NHL entry draft. The last time Kessel’s agent Wade Arnott and Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli spoke, they reportedly let it be known where they stand, with Arnott stressing that his client’s first preference was to remain a Bruin. Chiarelli, according to this source, said the Bruins would get back to him, but as of Monday, they had not done so yet... [NESN]

More college kids paying their own way to camp.

It's too bad that there aren't any professional development camps close by, like maybe the Ralph, where a hockey fan could come watch some of the action and take some pictures. It will be interesting to see how Zach Budish does this season after missing all of last winter with a knee injury.

Hockey is not an inexpensive sport by any means. High-end equipment, registration fees, and travel expenses are all part of the commitment a hockey player and that player’s family are forced to endure to continue playing the sport they love. For the players at the Development Camp, they see the financial outlay as money well spent both in terms of their hockey education and the message their presence sends to the Predators.

“It sends the right message to the organization that you want to be here and you want to play in Nashville one day,” forward Nick Oliver said. “I think it is a great tool for college guys to come here to help them get prepared for their upcoming seasons. I’m going to try and learn a lot here.”

The 6’3” 184-pound Oliver is headed for St. Cloud State University in the fall. He was selected in the 4th round (110th overall) of last month’s Entry Draft.

Fellow recent draftee Zach Budish echoed Oliver’s comments.

“It’s a big week in our development, and gets us started off on the right note,” Budish said. “I just got drafted a couple of weeks ago, so I wanted to come down here, have a good experience, and learn a lot of things hopefully.”

The 18-year-old Budish already possesses NHL size at 6’3” and 229 pounds. He is recovering from a torn ACL sustained in a high school football game last fall. That injury prevented him from playing his senior hockey season at Edina High in Edina, Minnesota. Had Budish not sustained the knee injury, there was a good chance he would have been selected in the first round of the Entry Draft. Nashville selected him in the second round with the 41st overall pick.

Budish, who will play for the University of Minnesota in the fall, credited his parents for their financial contribution allowing him to come to Nashville [Examiner.com]

BHO thanks Ovie.

For those of you that haven't seen this on Puck Daddy here is our president thanking the Russian people for Alexander Ovechkin.

Early Signing?

Looks like Jordan Schroeder is non-committal on his future. I would be willing to bet we will see him for one more year in the WCHA.

Although he's clearly got a top-end future, Schroeder's probable path is to return to Minnesota, where he can mature physically for another year while likely contending for the Hobey Baker Award for college hockey's best player.

But Schroeder wouldn't commit to returning to college, only acknowledging it's likely. "I'll have some decisions to make when I go back home," he said. "[But] a year back in college wouldn't hurt at all." [Faceoff.com]

Anaheim Ducks sign Saku Koivu

Confirmed by [Mike Russo] You can take Saku Koivu off of the Wild's list of potential free agents. Looks like Wild fans are stuck with first round bust(s) James Sheppard and Benoit Pouliot. I am hoping the new GM tries to get another prized free agent.

The Anaheim Ducks have signed the free agent centre to a one-year, $3.25-million contract. Koivu, 34, had been the Canadiens' second-longest-serving captain in team history. [montrealgazette]

Canucks prospect pays his own way

Props to Richard from the Illegal Curve. Interesting article on Gophers forward Jordan Schroeder. I am surprised that Gophers coach Don Lucia didn't send Jordan with a shadow to make sure he comes back to Minnesota without a contract in hand. Also in the article you will notice a few familiar names of UMD Bulldog players Mason Raymond and Evan Oberg.

Jordan Schroeder, the Vancouver Canucks’ first-round pick in last month’s draft, had to borrow money from his father to attend the NHL team’s prospect camp at the University of British Columbia this week.

Schroeder, who attends the University of Minnesota, is subject to the strict rules of the U.S. National Collegiate Athletic Association. To protect his amateur status, and to be eligible to play for the Golden Gophers later this year, Schroeder had to pay his own way and must take care of his own lodging while in Vancouver.

“I definitely wanted to come and show the organization that I’m interested,” said Schroeder, the 22nd pick in the draft who has yet to sign a professional contract. “I wanted to prove to them that I can come in and pay my dues, even if it costs a little bit.”

Schroeder, 18, isn’t the only one paying his own way to take part in team-organized events. While other U.S. collegians among the two dozen or so prospects at camp this week face the same financial requirements, the Canucks also have NHL veterans and hopefuls digging into their own pockets to travel to Vancouver this summer.

The Canucks are holding off-ice training sessions with strength and conditioning coach Roger Takahashi. Every player in the organization is invited to take part in the GM Place workouts, though they are more suited for younger players looking to improve their game or their chances of making the team at training camp this fall. [the Globe and Mail]

Here is the video of the new BSU arena

Here is the a video of the new BREC, it is an impressive site and it's a good way to start off on the right foot in the WCHA for BSU. It also levels the playing field with the other haves around the WCHA. According to Moose Richards of KBUN AM 1450 in Bemidji, MN the Beavers head coach Tom Serratore would like to open the new BREC with North Dakota. Stay tuned as soon as we find out who will be the first team to open the new BREC I will let you know.

More on Joe Colborne at the Bruins Development Camp.

I guess in a way I am hoping this kids turns out to be the second coming of Joe Thornton only better. Meaning he won't disappear during the Stanley Cup playoffs and get sent to San Jose in a trade. Also! Good news for the other WCHA teams that big Joe doesn't plan on being at DU for all four years. You do have to love his honesty. As a first round draft choice most of us don't expect to be there that long either.

BEDFORD, Mass. — Denver head coach George Gwozdecky might not like to hear it, but Boston Bruins prospect Joe Colborne isn’t shy about the fact that he doesn’t plan to play four years for the Pioneers.

Fresh off his freshman campaign, Colborne explained that today after the first day of the Bruins’ Third Annual Development Camp at The Edge Sports Center, where the attendees were put through some land testing and then team-bonding exercises.

“I’m ready to be a Bruin whenever I can be,” Colborne, the Bruins’ first-round pick (16th overall) in ‘08, explained. “But again, I’m not going to kind of rush myself in so that I’m not ready. I have a great situation back at Denver, so whenever we sit with management we’ll figure that out.”

Colborne produced 10-21-31 totals in 40 games for the Pioneers this season. But those aren’t the numbers he and the Bruins are most interested in. For Colborne, playing college hockey in the U.S. is all about bulking up. He weighed in today at 206, which he said is 13 pounds more than he weighed at the start of Denver’s season. So eating eggs every day and hitting the weights as often as possible,paid off.

“It was a lot of hard work. That was the main reason I went to the college route because I could be working out three times a week all year,” he said. “We have a great trainer down there and ever since I’ve been home in the summer I’ve been working out in Calgary six times a week. It’s nice to finally see the rewards starting to come.
----------{snip}----------
“I think some of the guys that haven’t been here before, especially today, were a little bit shocked by what we were doing,” said Colborne, who played both center and wing for the Pioneers but thinks he’d still like to be a center in the pros. “But we were all in that situation, especially last year. For me being in that situation, I felt a little bit out of place sometimes, not knowing what to expect. They’ll learn quick just like we did last year.”

Colborne obviously caught on quick to college life. He said he kept his grades up and learned to cook a bit. And on the ice and in the weight room he made major strides. The next step is to turn pro — when it’s determined by all parties he is ready, but sooner rather than later.

Purple Mavs and Red Mavs...

Nice article by Purple Mav's blogger Shane Frederick in yesterdays Mankato paper. Interesting take on BSU, UNO and MSU-M. One of the things that hasn't come up much during the realignment was that UND, MSU-M SCSU, UNO and for a few years UMD were in the now defunct NCC conference and that these schools had a history together in Division II sports such as baseball, basketball and football.

The last time the WCHA added a team was in 1999 when Minnesota State joined the league.

That was a much different situation 10 years ago, as the local, purple Mavericks were making the transition from the dying Division II ranks to Division I.

Minnesota State’s short stint as a D-I independent involved a sort of initiation process, playing in the nine-team WCHA’s conference tournament as the 10th seed for two years before becoming a full-fledged member of the fraternity. Even then, Minnesota State had to pay an expansion fee and not share in the conference tournament and Final Five money.

Like MSU, Bemidji State jumped from Division II to Division I. In 1999 it left the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association behind and helped found the now nearly defunct College Hockey America conference. Omaha started its program from scratch and began playing in 1997. After its overtures to the WCHA were turned down, it joined the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in 1999.

Both schools’ stock jumped up recently, as the Beavers shocked the college-hockey world by advancing to the NCAA Frozen Four in April and, a month ago, the red Mavericks hired ex-North Dakota coach Dean Blais, who won two national championships with the Sioux, to run the program.

The WCHA certainly isn’t adding a pair of powder-puffs, and all 10 of its current members might be just a tad nervous right now.

While the addition of those two schools will give the WCHA a much different look in a couple of years, it might not be too strange for Minnesota State and its fans.

The purple Mavericks practically have considered the schools their D-I cousins and have maintained rivalries with both. A longtime D-II rival with Bemidji, Minnesota State has played the Beavers every year since 1998, going 14-5-2 against them in that span. MSU has played Omaha, an old North Central Conference rival in other sports, every year but two since 1997 and has a 14-6-4 all-time record against the red Mavs.

Minnesota State and Nebraska-Omaha have played for the “Spirit of the Maverick” trophy every year since 2001-02. Come 2010, the WCHA will undergo a spirit of change. [Mankato Free Press]

College Hockey players in Bruins development camp.

Here is a list of players in the Bruins development camp that have college hockey experience. Most notable is Joe Colborne who was a first round draft choice in last years draft.

F Scott Campbell Umass-Lowell 14-16-30 in 38 games
F Joe Colborne 16th in 2008 University of Denver 10-21-31 in 40 games
D Tommy Cross 35th in 2007 Boston College 0-8-8 in 24 games
G Matt Dalton signed in 2009 Bemidji State University 2.19 GAA .921 Sv%
D Alain Goulet 159th in 2007 University of Nebraska-Omaha 2-3-5 in 17 games
D Brady Lamb University of Minnesota-Duluth 1-1-2 in 21 games
F Jason Lawrence Boston University 25-14-39 in 44 games
D Tyler Ludwig Western Michigan University 8-21-29 in 41 games
D Zach McKelvie Army (NCAA) 5-12-17 in 33 games
[WickedBruinsFan's Blog]

Joe Colborne at the Bruins development camp.

I think this kid is an impressive sight and is going to have a monster season in the WCHA. As a Bruins fan it would love to see this kid succeed and move on. By him succeeding and moving on means my favorite team the Fighting Sioux won't have to worry about checking him during WCHA league games. Looks like DU fans will get to enjoy him for another season as well.

Boston Globe: How Joe Colborne is growing into his body and game. Big Joe currently checks in at 6-foot-6, 196 pounds. That's an inch taller than he was last summer. He is arguably the club's brightest prospect because of his size and skill. Colborne will return to the University of Denver for his sophomore season.[Bruins Blog]

More on Zajac filing for arbitration.

Here is an interesting article about former Fighting Sioux hockey Travis Zajac and him filing for arbitration. It will be interesting to see what he gets for a contract. Zajac played in 82 games scoring 20g-42a-62 pts and was a +33.

The short-term and initial good news is that Travis Zajac will (almost) definitely return next season. I emphasize almost as teams have "walk-away" rights after the results of arbitration that they can invoke within a vast number of requirements. Based on past arbitration hearings with the Devils that I can recall, the player has returned next season. Moreover, I don't expect the Devils to walk away from Zajac, not with their current lack of depth at the position and with their current surplus of cap space. So expect Zajac to continue to be the center for Zach Parise. However, considering the process, this could turn out to be some serious bad news for the Devils. [In Lou We Trust]

Michael Forney still undecided.

Brad Elliott Schlossman has confirmed that Michael Forney HAS NOT made his decision on wether he is going to return to UND or not. I would imagine that we will hear some kind of announcedment soon on what his decision is going to be.

Forney still has not made his final decision. I think everyone involved thought that the answer would be known by now, but it is not. When I know, I'll pass it along. [UND Hockey Blog]

Hunwick files for arbitration. (Zajac and Smaby too)

The Bruins need to have Matt Hunwick and Phil Kessel signed and in their lineup for the next season. First off this is a good sign for Matt Hunwick. Also, former Sioux hockey playersTravis Zajac (New Jersey) and Matt Smaby (Tampa Bay)filed for arbitration as well.

As expected, Matt Hunwick filed for arbitration by today's 5 p.m. deadline. Hunwick was one of 20 restricted free agents to file for arbitration. Hunwick is expected to come to an agreement prior to his hearing.

"Still negotiating with B's," agent Peter Fish wrote in an e-mail to colleague Kevin Dupont. "It will work out."

Hearings will take place in Toronto from July 20 to Aug. 4. Players who have filed for arbitration are not eligible to sign offer sheets. The deadline for club-elected arbitration is tomorrow at 5 p.m.

The other players to file:

James Wisniewski
Colby Armstrong
Clarke MacArthur
Tuomo Ruutu
Aaron Johnson
Marc Methot
Jiri Hudler
Denis Grebeshkov
Kyle Brodziak
Tomas Plekanec
Travis Zajac
Nate Thompson
Ryan Callahan
Nikolai Zherdev
Nigel Dawes
Daniel Winnik
Matt Smaby
Kyle Wellwood
Milan Jurcina
[Boston.com]

Here is what was on the Quick facts twitter.
QuickFacts: Mpls native D Matt Smaby of the Tampa Bay Lightning filed for salary arbitration. He made $825K in last yr of 3yr entry level deal in 08-09.

Sports Broadcaster job posted on UND web site.

As someone mentioned over on Sioux sports the UND hockey broadcaster position is open at the UND human resources site. I sure hope the University doesn't plan on replacing Tim Hennesy.

POSITION: Sports Broadcaster (20 hr/wk, TBA), #10-002

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 7/15/2009

COMPENSATION: $ 25,000
UND determines employment eligibility through the E-Verify system. Upon successful completion of the initial probation period, an employee may be eligible for a salary adjustment. Comprehensive fringe benefit package that includes full health insurance coverage for single or family plans, retirement plan and much more is provided. A complete summary of benefits for staff employees may be seen at:

DESCRIPTION OF POSITION:
Current UND employees may receive first consideration. To serve as play by play announcer for men’s ice hockey and other sports as assigned by Associate Athletic Director; To serve as host and emcee for various radio and television productions including but not limited to men’s hockey coach’s TV and radio show; emcee at various athletics functions; fill in as public address announcer; assist with press conferences and public relations; other duties as assigned by Associate Director of Athletics.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree or minimum of 5 years hockey play by play experience
Hockey play by play radio/TV broadcast experience
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Familiar with NCAA rules and regulations

Education of an A.D.: Alberts Is a Quick Study

[Props] Here is an interesting article that appeared in the New York Times on the UNO Mavericks. While I can't stand the New York Times political slant they do have decent college and professional hockey coverage and some really nice blog articles. I also think the Hockey blogger has a very cool name in Stu Hackel.

As a college hockey fan I have to say that I have been very impressed with the direction that Trev Alberts has taken the UNO hockey program since he was hired at UNO. First he hired former UND hockey coach Dean Blais, gained membership in the WCHA and hired a good assistant coach in Mike Hastings.

It is going to be interesting to see how the Mavericks do in their last season in the CCHA. I also wonder how long it will take before Dean Blais has the Mavericks challenging the elite teams in the WCHA for home ice playoff spot, MacNaughton Cup and or Broadmoor Trophy?

Facing a tight deadline, Alberts tapped boosters for nearly $400,000 so he could lure Dean Blais, a two-time national champion at North Dakota, to coach men’s hockey, Nebraska-Omaha’s only Division I program.

Alberts also leveraged financial concessions from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association as a condition of admitting the Mavericks. On a conference call announcing the acceptance of Nebraska-Omaha and Bemidji State late last month, Bruce McLeod, the conference commissioner, told Alberts, “Trev, you can be one tough guy to deal with, and I’ve got the scars to prove it.”

Alberts is trying to rework the hockey team’s lease at the Qwest Center downtown. The university pays rent and receives nothing from parking or concessions, Alberts said.

“He has been able to open doors I couldn’t get close to,” said Don Leahy, a former Nebraska-Omaha athletic director whom Alberts brought back as a part-time associate athletic director. [New York Times]

Kessel not going any where yet.

Happy 4th of July to everyone. Also, props to Richard of the Illegal Curve. Kessel is not being traded to Toronto yet! The rumor deal is off the table right now.

Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke is not about to book Phil Kessel a flight to Toronto.

Burke reported yesterday that a deal between the Leafs and the Boston Bruins, which would have seen Toronto defenceman Tomas Kaberle head to Boston for the high-scoring Kessel, is not on the table anymore, at least not at this point.

In fact, Burke added that interest in Kaberle's services, once very high, has cooled down.

Kessel, 21, is a restricted free agent, meaning that the Bruins can match any offer sheet he receives from other NHL clubs, and reportedly is looking for something in the neighbourhood of $5 million US. The Bruins, however, quickly are running out of cap space and probably would have to deal some players to keep him. If not, a trade with the Leafs may again become a possibility.

Kessel, a native of Madison, Wis., led all Bruins with 36 goals last season (the only Beantowner to score more than 30) and added 11 points in 11 playoff games. Kessel has been criticized for his defensive game, but was plus-23 under head coach Claude Julien.

The deal between the Leafs and Bruins fell apart over a miscommunication, that is, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli thought that Toronto's first-round pick in the 2009 draft (seventh overall) was part of the swap. Burke said it never was. [Sun Media]

Ryan Hill press release.

I found this article while reading the World of Junior Hockey. The thing that stuck out from the article was Michael Forney being committed to the Sioux. As of right now we have yet to get an official confirmation that Michael Forney is in fact coming back to UND. I would imagine we will find out pretty soon.

Ryan Hill Commits to University of North Dakota The Sioux Falls Stampede announced today that defenseman Ryan Hill has committed to the University of North Dakota for the upcoming 2009-2010 season. He becomes the 15th player on the 2008-09 squad to commit to a Division I school.

Hill was acquired by the Stampede in trade with Waterloo in early January and went on to post three assists in 29 games while helping anchor the Stampede blueline. The Hermantown, Minnesota native recorded a total of six assists in 51 USHL games last season. Prior to playing for the Stampede and Waterloo, Hill spent the majority of the 2006-07 season with the Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets.

"We're ecstatic," said head coach Kevin Hartzell. "Ryan paid his dues more then most and we're excited he found a great home."

The Fighting Sioux went 24-15-4 en route to their WCHA-leading 14th league championship in 2008-09. The Sioux also advanced to the NCAA tournament for the fifth straight season under head coach Dave Hakstol, who also took home WCHA Coach of the Year honors. The Fighting Sioux have advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four in four of Hakstol's five seasons behind the bench. He began his career as the head coach of the Sioux City Musketeers (1997-2000).

A total of eight players who spent the 2008-09 season in the USHL have committed to the University of North Dakota; Brett Bruneteau (Des Moines), Mike Fink (Des Moines), Joe Gleason (Des Moines), Matt White (Des Moines), Michael Forney (Green Bay), Mike Cichy (Indiana), Danny Kristo (Omaha), and Ryan Hill (Sioux Falls).

The Fighting Sioux had 11 former USHL players on their roster during the 2008-09 season; Joe Finley (Sioux Falls), Derrick LaPoint (Green Bay), Mario Lamoureux (Tri-City), Brad Miller (Green Bay), Jason Gregoire (Lincoln), Brad Malone (Sioux Falls), Ben Blood (Indiana/Des Moines), Jake Marto (Omaha), Evan Trupp (Des Moines), Chris Vande Velde (Lincoln), and Aaron Walski (Lincoln).

The USHL celebrated its 30th season of junior hockey in 2008-09. With nearly 180 players already committed to NCAA Division I schools and 17 NHL Draft picks that played in the league this season, the USHL is the nation's foremost producer of junior hockey talent. For more information, visit us on the web at www.ushl.com.

Avs fan say good bye to Tyler Arnason.

Sounds like Avs fans are ecstatic to get rid of former SCSU Husky Tyler Arnason. The Comments on this subject are comical and worth the read. I first saw Tyler Arnason play for the Ice Sharks of the USHL in 1997-1998 and my first impression of Arnason was that he was lazy, a weak player that shied away from contact in the corners. The fact that he has made it this long in the NHL puzzles me.

Relief is finally here, Avs fans. No more startling, sweat-soaked leaps from the pillow at 3 a.m., following visions of Tyler Arnason playing for your team.
No longer will you have to pound the table after seeing Arnie get the puck taken off his stick, then watching him casually skate back to the bench with that “who cares?” look on his face.

No longer will you have to pull your hair after seeing Arnie misfire on another shot, or have it easily blocked and taken the other way, Arnie a full three strides behind in pursuit.

No longer will you have to look at an Avalanche payroll list and see Arnie making more money than guys like Lappy. No longer will you have to see Arnie shy away from making any contact with an opponent, which if he’d done so might have resulted in the Avalanche having the puck.

It’s all over. Arnie is, appropriately enough, a New York Ranger - the team that never saw an over-the-hill, overpaid Avs player they didn’t like.

Bon voyage, Arnie.

Or should it be: bon bon voyage? [All things Avs]

Kyle Keslo on Ryan Hill.

Here is what Kyle Kosior from the IllegalCurve had to say about the new Sioux defenseman Ryan Hill. That is the kind of defenseman I like to see playing for UND.

The Fighting Sioux have picked up USHL journeyman Ryan Hill, who skated last winter with Waterloo and Sioux Falls. An actual defensive defensive that will help the Sioux. Nothing flashy, but not very fun to play against.

College hockey: NCAA wants crackdown on late contact, facewashing, obstruction

This is really good news for college hockey fans. I guess I should read my home town newspaper that comes to my house more often. I have to admit that most of my reading is of Brad Schlossman’s blog and or his hockey articles and that's it, the other stuff in the Grand Forks Herald is basically page filler and worthy of bird cage lining. Today, As I was checking out the Grand Forks Herald website for information on UND's newest defensive recruit Ryan Hill, I found this information of the impending changes that is music to my ears. The NCAA wants to eliminate the bush league face wash. I applaud this action and I think it's a very good rule for college hockey; I am sick and tired of seeing players give each other face washes especially after the whistle. I would like to see the NHL do this as well.

Brad Schlossman, Grand Forks Herald: The NCAA wants referees to clean up the after-the-whistle shenanigans in college hockey.

The Rules Committee announced its points of emphasis for the 2009-10 season on Thursday, and at the top of the list was eliminating both contact after the whistle and facewashing, the act of sticking a glove in an opponent’s face.

Facewashing is a common form of retaliation that doesn’t draw penalties.

Hockey gloves, covered in perspiration, tend to smell awful. So players will skate up to an opponent, stick their palm in his face and let him take a whiff of the stench.

The Rules Committee, however, views this as a violation of the “grasping the facemask” rule. Planting an open hand in an opponents face should result in a minor penalty, it says.

Pushing the facemask or moving the hand back-and-forth on it should result in a major penalty, and twisting or pulling on the mask should be a game disqualification under the excessive roughness category.

“The committee believes altercations after the whistle are a growing and disturbing trend,” the NCAA said in a release. “Any contact to the head tends to escalate altercations. After reviewing numerous situations, the committee expressed its concern about student-athlete safety as well as the negative effect on the game’s image.”

I was wondering how long it would take to get to this discussion came up? The subject of obstruction on the puck carrier has come up again this summer and the NCAA rules committee has said that it would like to have the puck carrier protected, “the expectation of overall enforcement is higher.” Yeah, I hope that the WCHA officials can figure it out this year and call the game the way it is supposed to be called. If you take your hand off of your stick to hold up the person with the puck it’s a penalty. If you slash, hook, hold interfere with the opposition moving the puck up ice it’s a penalty.

Protecting the puck carrier

Last year, the NCAA’s big mandate was to do a better job protecting the puck carrier.

This was an effort to increase scoring chances and the excitement of the game by letting skilled players proceed without being hooked or held.

Midway through the year, however, multiple Western Collegiate Hockey Association coaches said they felt that the referees had backed off on making those calls.

The NCAA again addressed that rule this summer.

“As all levels of NCAA ice hockey enter the second season with the two-referee system,” it writes, “the expectation of overall enforcement is higher.”

Boston Bruins salary break down.

The Boston Bruins Hockey Boston Globe beat writer Fluto Shinzawa has this over on his blog today. It would appear that the Bruins are going to have a tough time signing both former Michigan star Matt Hunwick former Gopher Phil Kessel. I suppose someone could be traded to make room for them. Personally if I was the general manager I would trade Marco Sturm and 3.5 million dollar salary for a draft pick or for a less expensive forward so the B's could free up some salary cap room. Sturm has never scored thirty goals in a season and Kessel had 36 this past season.

I also don't see a lot of teams offering Kessel more than the 3.75 that Krejci is making. I think the five million a year is a little unrealistic. Heck! Zach Parise is set to make 3 million dollars next season and he scored (45g-49a-94 points)last season. I just don't see the current market letting Kessel getting paid more than Zach Parise.

With Steve Begin, Mark Recchi, and Byron Bitz in the fold, the 2009-10 roster is rounding into form. Here's where the Bruins stand:

Forwards

Marc Savard, $5 million
Patrice Bergeron, $4.75 million
Michael Ryder, $4 million
David Krejci, $3.75 million
Marco Sturm, $3.5 million
Chuck Kobasew, $2,333,333 million
Glen Murray, $1,383,333 million (buyout)
Mark Recchi, $1 million
Blake Wheeler, $875,000
Milan Lucic, $850,000
Steve Begin, $850,000
Byron Bitz, $687,500
Peter Schaefer, $566,667 (buyout)
Shawn Thornton, $516,667

* Phil Kessel is a restricted free agent.

Defensemen

Zdeno Chara, $7.5 million
Dennis Wideman, $3.875 million
Aaron Ward, $2.5 million
Andrew Ference, $1.4 million
Mark Stuart, $1.3 million

* Matt Hunwick is a restricted free agent.

* Because Johnny Boychuk is considered a bubble player (similar to Vladimir Sobotka), he is not included in this model.

Goalies

Tim Thomas, $5 million
Tuukka Rask, $850,000

Current cap hit: $52,487,500.

ANALYSIS: The Bruins have $4,312,500 of cap space under the $56.8 million ceiling with Kessel and Hunwick yet to sign. Just about impossible to sign both unless movement of existing salaries takes place

Wild Sign Shane Hnidy.

From Wild Blogger Michael Russo's Twitter "Wild signs tough defenseman Shane Hnidy.

I think it is a good move, also, it would appear that he isn't going to cost the Wild very much. This is a pick up that I like and will help the Minnesota Wild, Hnidy is tough defenseman and he will stick up for team mates as Matt Niskanen found out.

The Wild has signed gritty defenseman Shane Hnidy to a one-year, $750,000 contract. He spent the last two years in Boston. In 477 NHL games, he has 14 goals, 57 points, is a plus-22 and 565 penalty minutes. [Russo's Rants]

Toews makes the team Canada Orientation Camp Roster.

Here is the roster for the team Canada orientation camp roster. Former Badger forward Danny Heatley and Former Sioux forward Jonathan Toews have made the roster.

Goaltenders

Martin Brodeur L/G 6'2" 210 05/06/72 Montreal, Que./QC New Jersey Devils (NHL)
Marc-André Fleury L/G 6'2" 180 11/28/84 Sorel, Que./QC Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Roberto Luongo L/G 6'3" 205 04/04/79 Montreal, Que./QC Vancouver Canucks (NHL)
Steve Mason R/D 6'4" 212 05/29/88 Oakville, Ont. Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Cam Ward L/G 6'1" 200 02/29/84 Sherwood Park, Alta./Alb. Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)

Defense

François Beauchemin L/G 6'0" 213 06/04/80 Sorel, Que./QC Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Jay Bouwmeester L/G 6'4" 218 09/27/83 Edmonton, Alta./Alb. Calgary Flames (NHL)
Dan Boyle R/D 5'11" 190 07/12/76 Ottawa, Ont. San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Brent Burns R/D 6'5" 219 03/09/85 Ajax, Ont. Minnesota Wild (NHL)
Drew Doughty R/D 6'1" 203 08/12/89 London, Ont. Los Angeles Kings (NHL)
Mike Green R/D 6'2" 208 10/12/85 Calgary, Alta./Alb. Washington Capitals (NHL)
Dan Hamhuis L/G 6'1" 203 12/13/82 Smithers, B.C./C.-B. Nashville Predators (NHL)
Duncan Keith L/G 6'1" 194 07/16/83 Penticton, B.C./C.-B. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Scott Niedermayer L/G 6'1" 200 08/31/73 Cranbrook, B.C./C.-B. Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Dion Phaneuf L/G 6'3" 214 04/10/85 Edmonton, Alta./Alb. Calgary Flames (NHL)
Chris Pronger L/G 6'6" 213 10/10/74 Dryden, Ont. Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
Robyn Regehr L/G 6'3" 225 04/19/80 Rosthern, Sask. Calgary Flames (NHL)
Stéphane Robidas R/D 5'11" 190 03/03/77 Sherbrooke, Que./QC Dallas Stars (NHL)
Brent Seabrook R/D 6'3" 220 04/20/85 Tsawwassen, B.C./C.-B. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Marc Staal L/G 6'4" 202 01/13/87 Thunder Bay, Ont. New York Rangers (NHL)
Shea Weber R/D 6'4" 230 08/14/85 Sicamous, B.C./C.-B. Nashville Predators (NHL)

Forwards

Jeff Carter R/D 6'3" 200 01/01/85 London, Ont. Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
Dan Cleary L/G 6'0" 210 12/18/78 Carbonear, Nfld/ T.-N.-L. Detroit Red Wings (NHL)
Sidney Crosby L/G 5'11" 200 08/07/87 Cole Harbour, N.S./N.-É. Pittsburgh (NHL)
Shane Doan R/D 6'1" 216 10/10/76 Halkirk, Alta./Alb. Phoenix Coyotes (NHL)
Simon Gagné L/G 6'0" 195 02/29/80 Ste-Foy, Que./QC Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
Ryan Getzlaf R/D 6'4" 221 05/10/85 Regina, Sask. Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Dany Heatley L/G 6'3" 216 01/21/81 Calgary, Alta./Alb. Ottawa Senators (NHL)
Jarome Iginla R/D 6'1" 203 07/01/77 St. Albert, Alta./Alb. Calgary Flames (NHL)
Vincent Lecavalier L/G 6'4" 215 04/21/80 Ile-Bizard, Que./QC Tampa Bay (NHL)
Milan Lucic L/G 6'3" 228 06/07/88 Vancouver, B.C./C.-B. Boston Bruins (NHL)
Patrick Marleau L/G 6'2" 220 09//15/79 Aneroid, Sask. San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Andy McDonald L/G 5'11" 183 08/25/77 Strathroy, Ont. St. Louis Blues (NHL)
Brenden Morrow L/G 5'11" 205 01/16/79 Carlyle, Sask. Dallas Stars (NHL)
Rick Nash L/G 6'4" 218 06/16/84 Brampton, Ont. Columbus Blue Jackets (NHL)
Corey Perry R/D 6'3" 209 03/16/85 Peterborough, Ont. Anaheim Ducks (NHL)
Michael Richards L/G 5'11" 195 02/11/85 Kenora, Ont. Philadelphia Flyers (NHL)
Derek Roy L/G 5'9" 188 05/04/83 Rockland, Ont. Buffalo Sabres (NHL)
Joe Sakic L/G 5'11" 195 07/07/69 Burnaby, B.C./C.-B. Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
Patrick Sharp R/D 6'1" 197 12/27/81 Thunder Bay, Ont. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
Ryan Smyth L/G 6'1" 190 02/21/76 Banff, Alta./Alb. Colorado Avalanche (NHL)
Martin St. Louis L/G 5'9" 177 06/18/75 Laval, Que./QC Tampa Bay Lightning (NHL)
Eric Staal L/G 6'4" 205 10/29/84 Thunder Bay, Ont. Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Jordan Staal L/G 6'4" 215 09/10/88 Thunder Bay, Ont. Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL)
Joe Thornton L/G 6'4" 235 07/02/79 St. Thomas, Ont. San Jose Sharks (NHL)
Jonathan Toews L/G 6'2" 209 04/29/88 Winnipeg, Man. Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)

The Wild sign injury prone Czech

My head just about exploded when I saw this. Here is Martin Havlat's injury list.
So basically the the Wild traded an injury prone and soft Slovak for an injury prone Czech. Yikes.

13-Mar-09 Missed 1 game (lower body injury).
11-Mar-09 Lower body injury, day-to-day.
06-Apr-08 Missed the last 19 games of the regular season (left shoulder injury).
28-Feb-08 Left shoulder injury, day-to-day.
06-Jan-08 Missed 6 games (groin).
23-Dec-07 Groin, sidelined indefinitely.
28-Nov-07 Missed 22 games (shoulder injury).
17-Nov-07 Shoulder injury, day-to-day.
17-Oct-07 Shoulder injury, mid-November.
05-Oct-07 Shoulder injury, sidelined indefinitely.
09-Apr-07 Missed the last 3 games of the regular season (shoulder injury).
05-Apr-07 Shoulder injury, remainder of the regular season.
01-Mar-07 Missed 1 game (flu).
27-Feb-07 Flu, day-to-day.
13-Jan-07 Missed 3 games (groin).
05-Jan-07 Groin, day-to-day.
09-Dec-06 Missed 19 games (right ankle injury).
06-Dec-06 Right ankle injury, day-to-day.
21-Oct-06 Right ankle injury, early December.
20-Oct-06 Leg injury, left Friday's game.
15-Apr-06 Missed 58 games (shoulder surgery).
07-Dec-05 Shoulder surgery, mid-April.
29-Nov-05 Dislocated right shoulder, left Tuesday's game.
26-Nov-05 Missed 1 game (hamstring).
23-Nov-05 Hamstring, day-to-day.
22-Nov-05 Hamstring, left Tuesday's game.
03-Feb-04 Missed 2 games (groin).
29-Jan-04 Groin, day-to-day.
27-Nov-03 Missed 3 games (hamstring).
22-Nov-03 Hamstring, day-to-day.
11-Mar-03 Missed 2 games (groin).
05-Mar-03 Groin, day-to-day.
04-Mar-03 Groin, left Tuesday's game.
01-Mar-03 Missed 4 games (groin).
20-Feb-03 Groin, day-to-day.
27-Jan-03 Missed 2 games (elbow injury).
23-Jan-03 Elbow injury, day-to-day.
22-Jan-03 Missed 0 game (right arm injury).
21-Jan-03 Right arm injury, day-to-day.
20-Jan-03 Leg injury, left Monday's game.
14-Nov-02 Missed 6 games (groin).
08-Nov-02 Groin, mid-November.
29-Oct-02 Groin, day-to-day.
17-Apr-02 Missed the last 7 games of the regular season (groin).
30-Mar-02 Groin, day-to-day.
23-Mar-02 Missed 2 games (groin).
19-Mar-02 Groin, day-to-day.
06-Feb-02 Missed 1 game (groin).
01-Feb-02 Groin, day-to-day.
13-Apr-01 Missed the last game of the regular season (groin).
07-Apr-01 Groin, day-to-day.
01-Apr-01 Named NHL Rookie of the Month for March.
14-Dec-00 Missed 8 games (right shoulder injury).
25-Nov-00 Right shoulder injury, mid-December.

Gabby done in Minnesota. (Good Riddance)

The Maryann Gaborik era is over in Minnesota. The prima donna is on his way to New York to play for the New York Rangers. As a Wild fan I say, "good riddance, don't let the door hit you in the ass." Now the Rangers can put up with the glass groin and the multiple games missed due to various injuries.

As of this moment forward Wild fans also no longer have to put up with your antics and side shows. You will be booed when you return to Minnesota, hope one of your ex-team mates puts a shoulder into you as well. Now hopefully the Wild can make a play for some one that can actually sore goals, because with their current roster the Wild would be hard pressed to beat an AHL team let alone a NHL franchise. True to form the Wild have picked up a defenseman that isn't impressive as far as numbers go.

Former Minnesota Wild winger Marian Gaborik has agreed to a five-year contract with the New York Rangers.

The Slovakian forward will earn $7.5 million per year.

Gaborik played his entire seven-year career with the Wild, scoring 219 goals and 437 points in 502 games. Injuries limited Gaborik to just 13 goals and 23 points in 17 games this season. Gaborik set career highs in goals (42), assists (41) and points (83) in 77 games during the 2007-2008 campaign.

The 27-year-old was Minnesota's first pick (third overall) at the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. [TSN]

Heatly to the Oilers. (Not so fast)

TSN is reporting this deal if Heatley will waive his no-trade clause. If this is true the Edmonton Oilers will have gotten a lot better or at least added some fire power they didn't have last year. The Senators give up an unhappy star in Heatley for three decent role players.

Sources say Dany Heatley has been asked to waive his no-trade clause to go to Edmonton in exchange for Andrew Cogliano, Dustin Penner and Ladislav Smid.

If Heatley agrees to waive, it would appear the Sens and Oilers will have a deal, pending the official trade call with NHL central registry, but that is generally a formality.

Heatley informed the Senators in early June that despite having five-years remaining on a six-year contract extension that he recently signed that he wished to be moved. The contract calls for Heatley to make $7.5 million per season against the cap. [TSN]

UPDATE: Here is the latest from [Puck Daddy] .

Dany Heatley(notes) was this close to becoming a member of the Edmonton Oilers. As was reported last night on TSN and Sportsnet, the Oilers and Ottawa Senators had a deal in place that would have sent Andrew Cogliano(notes), Dustin Penner(notes) and Ladislav Smid(notes) to Ottawa in exchange for Heatley, as long as he approved the deal. Just after midnight Eastern time, TSN's Bob McKenzie put the kibosh on the trade reporting that Heatley had rejected the deal saying, "For now, and quite possibly forever, the deal is dead."

2009 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp Roster

Here is the Team USA roster for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Teams Ice Hockey orientation camp. There is a nice mix of ex NCAA and CHL players.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - USA Hockey today announced that 34 players, representing 22National Hockey League teams, have been invited to the U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp from Aug. 17-19, at Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, Ill.


2009 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Orientation Camp Roster

Goaltenders: Ryan Miller (MSU), Jonathan Quick (UMASS), Tim Thomas (UVM)
Defensemen: Tom Gilbert (UW), Tim Gleason (OHL), Ron Hainsey (UML), Erik Johnson(UMN), Jack Johnson (UM), Mike Komisarek (UM), Paul Martin (UMN), Brooks Orpik (B.C.), Brian Rafalski (UW), Rob Scuderi (B.C.), Ryan Suter (UW), Ryan Whitney (BU).

Forwards: David Backes (MSU-M), David Booth (MSU), Dustin Brown (OHL), Dustin Byfuglien (WHL), Ryan Callahan (OHL), Chris Drury (BU), Scott Gomez (WHL), Patrick Kane (OHL), Ryan Kesler (OSU), Phil Kessel (UMN), Jamie Langenbrunner (OHL), Ryan Malone (SCSU), Mike Modano (WHL), Kyle Okposo (UMN), T.J. Oshie (UND), Zach Parise (UND), Joe Pavelski (UW), Bobby Ryan (OHL), Paul Stastny (DU).

From Brad Elliott Schlossman's Blog.

Six of the 10 WCHA teams have a representative at the camp.

Wisconsin has four (Tom Gilbert, Brian Rafalski, Ryan Suter and Joe Pavelski), Minnesota has four (Paul Martin, Erik Johnson, Phil Kessel and Kyle Okposo), St. Cloud State has Ryan Malone, MSU-Mankato has David Backes and Denver has Paul Stastny.

Key

(UM) = Michigan
(UMN) = Minnesota
(UML) = U Mass Lowell

Expansion linkorama

There have been a few interesting articles to come out since the WCHA went from 10 teams to 12 teams.

~BSU, Bemidji celebrate WCHA membership [Pioneer]

~McRae column: Our little town is never going to be the same with BSU in the WCHA [Pioneer]

~Nebraska-Omaha pulls out of CCHA [Newsminer.com]

~Bemidji State hockey travels the country in news of WCHA expansion [Pioneer]

Todd Milewski, a writer for United States College Hockey Online tweeted: “But seriously, the WCHA got this one right. Wouldn’t have been right to turn the other way while Bemidji faded away.”

But not everyone was happy. WCHA officials characterized BSU’s and UNO’s move to the WCHA as good for college hockey.

A sportswriter on the conference call challenged that generalization and asked: “The CCHA lost a team … the WCHA’s gain is the CCHA’s loss and how is that supposed to be good for college hockey?”

The writer also cited a statement issued by CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos.

“We are disappointed to hear of UNO’s decision to leave the CCHA as they have been a very good member of our league. We have an excellent league, with a very strong membership, and we will continue to focus all of our attention on being a great conference and a leader in helping to shape the future of college hockey,” Anastos said in a statement.

McLeod did not waver.

“Sometimes I have to look out for what’s best in college hockey in general,” he said. “We did not want to look at losing another program.”

~BG to hold 'hockey personnel' press conference [Sentinal Tribune]

~CCHA Issues Statement Regarding Nebraska-Omaha [CCHA]

June 26, 2009 ---- Farmington Hills, Mich. CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos today issued the following statement, on behalf of the CCHA Executive Committee and CCHA Council, in response to Nebraska-Omaha's announcement that it will be leaving the CCHA to join the WCHA in the 2010-11 season.

"We are disappointed to hear of UNO's decision to leave the CCHA as they have been a very good member of our league, and we wish them well. We have an excellent league, with a very strong membership, and we will continue to focus all of our attention on being a great conference and a leader in helping to shape the future of college hockey.

"At this time, it serves no purpose to speculate on how this latest decision will impact the future makeup of CCHA membership. There is a process being followed with respect to admittance of any new member and we are committed to following that process through to completion."

~UAH path clears for league entry. [The Huntsville Times]

Free agents offered contracts from the Wild.

These are the free agents from the Minnesota Wild hockey team that have received offers from the Wild. Former Gopher Danny Irmen and Robbie Earl were given offers from the Minnesota Wild, it will be interesting to see if Irmen or Earl get to play with the big team if they accept their offers. I would imagine they will get two way deals. Interesting that Dan Fritsche was not offered a qualifying offer sheet.

Here’s the breakdown of the players who received qualifying offers from the Wild:

C Kyle Brodziak
LW Robbie Earl
G Josh Harding
RW Danny Irmen
LW Benoit Pouliot
D Clayton Stoner

And here’s the list of those who didn’t get offers and now become unrestricted free agents who can shop for a team starting July 1:

D Paul Albers
LW Riley Emmerson
LW Dan Fritsche
LW Peter Olvecky

How will he be recieved?

I wounder how well Phillip Sameulesson will be recieved in Boston? I know there are more than a few fans in Boston (and other locations) that don't like his father's or his on ice antics and we will never forget what he did to Cam Neely. It's also ironic that the Pen's drafted him. That being said Phillip is a pretty solid player and I got to see him play in Fago, ND during the U-18 tourney.

MONTREAL - Philip Samuelsson is headed to Boston College this fall to play hockey, and his father figures that alone is proof of the kid’s mental toughness.

“If he can handle that,’’ said his father, ex-NHL villain Ulf Samuelsson, still reviled in Boston for his nasty hit on Cam Neely that accelerated the power forward’s departure from the game, “then he can handle Pittsburgh.’’

The younger Samuelsson was chosen by the Penguins yesterday as the 61st pick (last in the second round) of the 2009 draft at the Bell Centre. Like his dad, Samuelsson is a defenseman, nearly 6 feet 3 inches and 200 pounds. With Chris Kreider also headed to The Heights in September, the Eagles should be a force in Hockey East.

“I saw my dad win two Cups there,’’ said Samuelsson, reflecting on the family’s time in Steel City, “so I know how passionate they are about their sports.’’

The senior Samuelsson said he hopes his son can develop quickly and “get to play with those superstars’’ in Pittsburgh, where youngsters Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby recently led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup.

Lemaire scoffs at Wild's plans for more offense

I know this is a little late and got lost late in the shuffle while I was focusing on the WCHA expanding to 12 teams; however this article is worth taking a look at because it’s kind of hilarious. None the less, I think Lemaire is right to a certain degree; all teams’ play the trap from time to time, and the Wild will too, however, I don't see them falling back into the same boring defense first team they were under Lemaire. If they do they could bore the fans enough that they might stay home. I think the Wild are going to step it up and try to push the puck up the ice, if they get a few offensive players. Hint: Let's make a push for the Sedin twins.

MONTREAL — The Wild vows to be an up-tempo, attacking, let-defensemen-roam-free team next season.

Jacques Lemaire, who ran a structured, disciplined system during his eight seasons as the Wild's coach, doesn't buy it. Not for one second.

"You know what? You know what? They'll play the same way. They will play the same way," Lemaire said after being announced as one of Mike Babcock's assistants on Canada's 2010 men's Olympic hockey team. "You know why? Everybody plays this way. Detroit's a little different. But look at all the other teams.

"It's 95 percent defense. It's the details that are different, but that's about it. So what do you want to change?"

Lemaire, a two-time Jack Adams Award winner as coach of the year, gives new coach Todd Richards one week, maybe a month, next season before he pulls back the reins.

Lemaire used Atlanta, Florida and Tampa Bay, all three of which had new coaches last season, as examples. The Wild swept the three during an October trip, including a 6-2 pummeling of the Panthers.

"It's normal that the new guy would come in and say, 'Wait, we're going offense,'" Lemaire said. "Talk to the new coach in Florida [Peter DeBoer]. He came in and said it and won [four] games in the first 12. [Former Tampa Bay coach Barry] Melrose said that, too.

WCHA: prestige, passion, power...

I found this article in the Omaha newspaper, I think this newspaper article gives a pretty good illustration of the WCHA and how tough the league truely is. You can not take a night off, that is so true. The tenth place team can beat the top ranked team.

“I look through different glasses at the University of Minnesota than I did at the University of Denver, but when it comes to hockey there is a lot of similarity.”

That kind of commitment shines through on the ice. WCHA teams won six national championships from 2000 through 2006, and the league has 27 national runner-up finishes to go with its three dozen titles. The CCHA, formed in 1971, has nine national championships and seven runner-up finishes — Michigan and Michigan State combined to win eight titles when those schools belonged to the WCHA.

“Week in and week out, you can't take a night off,” said Jeff Sauer, the former Wisconsin coach who now works for the WCHA as an assistant to Commissioner Bruce McLeod. “That's why we think we've had so much success in the national tournament. When you win a MacNaughton Cup (regular-season championship), our coaches will tell you to a man that winning that championship is tougher than winning an NCAA championship — when you consider everything that goes into it.”

UNO Associate Athletic Director Mike Kemp, who was the only coach in the program's history before Dean Blais was hired to replace him earlier this month, grew up on WCHA hockey. He served as Sauer's long-time assistant at Wisconsin before coming to UNO. When, in the 1990s, the WCHA started taking steps to recognize the legends that had passed through, it crystallized for Kemp all the special things he had thought about the league.

“The conference isn't just what it is today,” Kemp said. “It's what it has been since 1951. It's one for the ages.”

Last year a WCHA team didn't reach the Frozen Four for just the fourth time ever, but one year earlier the final top 10 poll included seven WCHA teams.

The league boasts the top three teams (Wisconsin, North Dakota and Minnesota) in attendance nationally, and the addition of UNO now gives the WCHA six of last year's top seven. All but Alaska-Anchorage, Michigan Tech and newcomer Bemidji State ranked in the top 25 in attendance. [Omaha.com]

Mavs Make the Jump to the WCHA

I found this neat blog and Husker Mike has done a really good job analyzing the Omaha end of the recently completed WCHA realignment. I have to say that I agree with Mike that in the end this is going to be a money maker for the WCHA, six first round playoff series instead of five. Also, the chance for six teams to go to St Paul and play for a auto bid to the NCAA hockey tourney as we saw this spring with Duluth you can play on Thursday and win the whole thing.

More teams will equal more money for the league as a whole. I also believe in the end UAH will be able to find a home in the CCHA so we don't bleed anymore NCAA division one hockey teams. I do think UAH coach Danton Cole will be able to put a competitive team on the ice in the CCHA. Personally, I don't want to see the NCAA go down the road of pulling bids due to a dwindling number of college hockey teams.

The only surprise about UNO leaving the CCHA for the WCHA is that the entire deal was completed today. Before today, it seemed that it was going to be a process that would take a few weeks, but once the parameters of an agreement between UNO and the WCHA were complete, there probably was little reason to drag the process out. In fact, perhaps Trev Alberts pushed to get the whole deal completed immediately so that there were no opportunities for "surprises" down the line.

The winners in this deal are obvious: college hockey gains by keeping Bemidji State's program alive. The WCHA gets bigger, and probably will earn more revenue with more rounds of playoff hockey. UNO reduces their travel costs and gets to share in the larger pool of revenue that the WCHA affords.

The loser? The CCHA loses UNO and the playoff revenue that is generated in Omaha. The CCHA will likely get the consolation prize of Alabama-Huntsville, but the unhappiness of the CCHA is clear from their terse news release.

UNO and BSU to the WCHA for the 2010-2011 season.

The BSU Beavers and the UNO Mavericks will be joining the WCHA for the 2010-2011 season. This is a good day for college hockey and it will help save the BSU Beavers that needed a conference to survive, they now are a member of the WCHA. Now it would seem logical if the UAH Chargers were admitted to the CCHA. I think it is in the best interest of college hockey for UAH to be admitted to the CCHA.

MADISON, Wis. – In what will rank among the most significant days in the storied, 58-year history of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, the membership today voted to admit both Bemidji State University and the University of Nebraska Omaha into the Association family beginning with the 2010-11 season. This marks the first expansion of the WCHA since Minnesota State University, Mankato was admitted as a 10th member for the 1999-2000 season and eighth time overall the league has expanded since it’s founding in 1951.

The admission of Bemidji State and Nebraska Omaha will bring the league membership to 12 teams. The current 10-team membership of the men’s WCHA is comprised of University of Alaska Anchorage, Colorado College, University of Denver, Michigan Technological University, University of Minnesota, University of Minnesota Duluth, Minnesota State University, Mankato, University of North Dakota, St. Cloud State University and University of Wisconsin.

“I am extremely pleased to announce that the Western Collegiate Hockey Association is expanding to twelve teams,” said WCHA Commissioner Bruce M. McLeod. “With the addition of Bemidji State University and the University of Nebraska Omaha the WCHA solidifies and positions itself to maintain and expand upon the excellence that is the WCHA.

“This is certainly a defining moment for the WCHA and we are proud to add Bemidji State and Nebraska Omaha to our already strong organization.

“This is a happy and proud day for me,” continued McLeod. “I’m happy because I think this is such a win-win circumstance for the WCHA, our new members and collegiate hockey in general. I could not be more proud of the way our WCHA members have handled this very complex circumstance and have been able to look beyond their own backyard and do what is best for college hockey and the WCHA.

“The WCHA is proud of what they’ve put together in 58 years (2009-10 will be the league’s 58th season) and I think this day will go down as a watershed day. I fully anticipate what we’ve done today will make us even better. I’m excited about the future and can’t wait to get going.”

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association is home to a collegiate record 36 national championship teams since it’s founding in 1951, a record 13 Hobey Baker Memorial Award Winners, some 400 players who have gone on to play in the National Hockey League and some 725 NHL Draftees, more than 150 alums who have played on various Olympic hockey teams, and more than 40 players and coaches who have been part of Stanley Cup (NHL) winning clubs. In addition, the WCHA has drawn in excess of 1,500,000 fans in each of the past seven seasons and in excess of 1,000,00 for 16 consecutive years and annually conducts one of college hockey’s premier post-season tournaments – the Red Baron™ WCHA Final Five held annually at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The Final Five drew 82,065 fans this past March.

“The pieces are all falling into place for Bemidji State hockey,” stated BSU Director of Athletics Dr. Rick Goeb. “Beginning with the efforts to elevate our hockey programs to the NCAA Division I level and having the women’s program join the WCHA over 10 years ago, to our partnership with the city to see a world-class venue like the Bemidji Regional Event Center come to fruition, and now the men’s hockey program being approved for membership into the elite conference in all of college hockey.
“We want to thank the city of Bemidji, our dedicated fans and the student body who have supported Bemidji State hockey. These outstanding hockey fans and partnerships have made membership into the WCHA a reality.”

Said Bemidji State men’s hockey coach Tom Serratore, who took his team to the NCAA Men’s Frozen Four in April of this year, “This is a great day for the Beavers.“

“First, I want to thank the WCHA for this opportunity. It is truly an honor to be a part of the greatest hockey conference at the Division I level and we feel privileged to come along side the other Division I hockey programs in the state of Minnesota as members of the WCHA.

“Beaver Hockey reaches far beyond this campus so that makes today’s announcement a dream come true for our alumni, many in the community and many in the region. This is a proud day for all involved with Bemidji State.”

[NORTH DAKOTA HOCKEY BLOG] , [Rink and Run], [Puckato], [Omaha.com]

Updated Kessel Rumor.

Here is the latest Phil Kessel Rumor, I can't wait till the draft at 18:00 hours on Versus, then we wil find out how this plays out.

MONTREAL -- The respected Canadian sports website, tsn.ca, just now amended what it believes to be Boston's offer to Toronto to acquire veteran blueliner Tomas Kaberle.

According to tsn's report early this morning, the Bruins offered Phil Kessel to the Leafs for Kaberle and Toronto's top pick, No. 7 overall, in tonight's amateur draft.

Now, according to tsn, the Bruins have offered Kessel and a draft pick of their own (not a first-rounder) for the 31-year-old Czech-born blueliner.

About two hours prior to tsn reporting the change, one rumor making the rounds here had the Stars offering thrid-year blueliner Matt Niskanen and thier top pick tonight (No. 8 overall) for Kaberle.

This isn't a very good move.

TSN is reporting this little rumor, and I have seen it numerous times on twitter as well. I just hope my head doesn't blow up before the draft and July 1st free agent signing date come and go. Let's see you have a player that scores 36 goals the type of player your team has been craving probably since the days of Cam Neely and you reward him by trying to trade him for a defenseman that has been in the league for 10years and a first round draft pick that may or may not be able to play for your team this season. Did Doug Risebrough become the general manager of the Boston Bruins?

The Boston Bruins are in pursuit of Tomas Kaberle and a top 10 pick in today's draft.

Sources tell TSN the Bruins have offered restricted free agent forward Phil Kessel to Toronto in exchange for the Leaf defenceman and Toronto's No. 7 pick in the draft.

The Leafs are apparently canvassing the league to see if there are any better offers out there.

Kessel, taken fifth overall by the Bruins in 2006, scored 36 goals and 60 points last season, his third campaign in the NHL. With restricted free agent David Krejci signed to a long-term deal and the team pushed up against next year's salary cap, general manager Peter Chiarelli was rumoured to be shopping the young scorer.

UNO and BSU to the WCHA. (breaking news)

I step out of the house for 25 minutes to go get a Starbucks and pick up my dog at Ruffin It Doggie Day Car and I come back to find that Adam Wodon put this on my facebook page, 'conference call set for 5 CT ... looks like league will announce addition of BSU and UNO for 2010-11.' All I can say is Welcome aboard BSU and UNO you will make fine additions to the Best league in college hockey the WCHA.

Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha will be officially admitted to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association on Friday afternoon and begin play in the league in 2010-11, sources have confirmed to the News Tribune. A WCHA teleconference call is scheduled for 5 p.m.

The decision to expand from 10 to 12 teams came Thursday night following two days of talks within the league, and with Omaha school officials. It's believed that WCHA athletic directors agreed in principle with terms negotiated between commissioner Bruce McLeod and the incoming schools, and an official vote on admission will be taken today by school faculty representatives. Eight of 10 votes is required for admission.

McLeod told the News Tribune on Thursday afternoon that there had been new developments in the situation and that an announcement was due as early as today. [Rink and Run] [University of North Dakota Hockey]

UNO Hockey: WCHA may open its doors to Alberts, Mavericks after all

I saw this on Husker_Mike's Twitter. Looks like the ball is rolling forward. Also College Hockey News is reporting that a WCHA expansion vote forthcoming today.

UNO Athletic Director Trev Alberts said late Thursday that interest from the Western Collegiate Hockey Association has rekindled following a conference call of league athletic directors.

“There has been a reassertment from the WCHA, and the WCHA is participating in conversations — the results of which I am not aware,” Alberts said.

Just last week, Alberts said that the WCHA's interest in UNO seemed to have waned. The WCHA has been exploring expanding from 10 teams to 12 since Bemidji State applied for admission in April. UNO, a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association, has been the league's top priority.

Meanwhile Thursday, one report indicated that discussion between UNO and the WCHA will continue as a result of the league athletic directors' discussion, while another indicates an announcement of some kind could come as early as today.

The Duluth News-Tribune is reporting on a blog that WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod said Thursday that “developments had changed” since the Wednesday night conference call and that an announcement could be made today. The blog didn't quote McLeod directly, nor did it specify what the announcement might be.
[Omaha.com]

Looking back.

On November 8, 2008 DU hockey beat writer Mike Chambers wrote this article and caused a fire storm with the blog post below. Looking forward, as of this date Mr. Chambers is probably smiling and looking pretty good. The AHA has accepted Robert Morris and Niagara to be in their league. The WCHA is in the process of recruiting UNO to be their twelfth member to go along with BSU. Moving east, the team from the University of Alabama-Huntsville has applied for membership in the CCHA. When UNO and or UAF leave the CCHA for the WCHA UAH will be a natural choice to become the twelfth team of the CCHA, hence saving two teams from certain death.

I have seen some people that aren’t happy with the realignment process don’t like the idea of the WCHA becoming a twelve team league. The status quo will not help college hockey. The alternative to the twelve team league is to say the hell with UAH and BSU let these two teams wither and die on the vine, this option is unacceptable. If college hockey allowed that to happen what college or university would want to start a division one hockey program in the future?

Currently There are 58 teams in Division one hockey; if the NCAA lost two to three more teams, there is a very good chance the NCAA would pull the 2-4 at large bids from the NCAA tourney, that too is unacceptable and the decrease in bids would hit the have not the most. This is not a road I would like to see the NCAA hockey tourney go down.

Seriously, reducing 2-4 at large bids could definitely affect a team close to one of us, but oh yeah we got to play Minnesota, Wisconsin and or North Dakota. So I ask WCHA fans what you would rather have a chance to see the Gophers, Badger, Sioux or a better chance for your team to make the NCAA tourney. I am going to take the NCAA tourney option. Most of us that have followed college hockey know that in a one and done tourney anything can happen. It doesn’t matter if you’re a one seed or a sixteen seed; just ask Michigan and Notre Dame.

College hockey conference realignment
Mike Chambers ----- Conference expansion is on its way, folks. Because of the looming demise of College Hockey America, don’t be surprised if the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and the Atlantic Hockey Association go from 10 to 12 teams, with Bemidji State and Nebraska-Omaha joining the WCHA and Robert Morris and Niagara going to the AHA.

This isn’t just opinon. In true blog form, I can’t divulge my sources at this time because things are too political — which is why this issue won’t make the paper right now — but this is what is being discussed by conference commissioners. And it makes sense.

CHA currently has Robert Morris, Alabama-Huntsville, Niagara and Bemidji State. It’s a joke, because the four-team conference gets an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament for its playoff champion, and judging from history, teams in other conferences with far better numbers in the Pairwise Rankings get left out. That’s going to change.

Robert Morris and Niagara have applied for entrance to the AHA. If they are accepted, the AHA will go from 10 to 12 teams.

What we need next — and this is the big one — is for Nebraska-Omaha to apply to the WCHA, and get accepted along with Bemidji State, which previously applied and is a terrific fit. UNO, which currently plays in the CCHA, will be replaced by Alabama-Huntsville.

UNO is a natural fit for the WCHA, with strong state rivalries with Colorado and Minnesota. Alabama-Huntsville isn’t a fit for anyone, but … if UAH goes to the CCHA, we would have five conferences with a near equal amount of teams.

WCHA to continue negotiations with Omaha

Here is the latest development in the WCHA's pursuit of UNO as a 12th member of the WCHA. It looks like there will be some on going negotiations and discussions before the WCHA will be able to convince the UNO Mavericks to move to the WCHA. UNO holds the cards they already have a conference so the WCHA is going to have to give more. Personally I think UNO is a better fit travel wise and the league should try to make this happen.

Following a conference call between Western Collegiate Hockey Association
athletic directors and league commissioner Bruce McLeod Wednesday, negotiations regarding the admittance of the University of Nebraska-Omaha to the WCHA will continue. Bemidji State University athletic director Rick Goeb said McLeod would be going back to UNO to present options that the member schools found acceptable. “He’s going to present options the WCHA agreed on during the conference call,” Goeb said. “The league has now given (McLeod) more direction on what’s acceptable as far as terms of a possible agreement.

“The ball is in UNO’s court now. It’s they’re call if they want to accept
the recommendations.” Contrary to previous media reports, there was no actual “straw poll” Wednesday in which a vote was taken on terms of a possible agreement between Omaha and the WCHA. Instead discussions were held concerning what
terms the league athletic directors felt comfortable in offering. The terms could include such items as league entrance fees, the sharing of postseason revenues and when the team would join the league.
------------------------snip------------------------
What appears to be happening now is the typical give and take of any type of business negotiation. McLeod entered into negotiations with UNO and then reported back to league athletic directors. Discussions were held this week on various options and now McLeod will go back to UNO with a more clear directive from league officials. [Bemidji Pioneer]

The latest from Rink and Run. It will be interesting to see what is going to be announced.

The ball is rolling on the Western Collegiate Hockey Association expansion front and could lead to an announcement as soon as Friday, commissioner Bruce McLeod said from his Denver office Thursday afternoon.

McLeod, who met with league athletic directors by phone Wednesday night, said it was premature to discuss any details, but did note that developments had changed since the conference call.

Back to the drawing board?

This is what Brad Elliott Schlossman is reporting.

Today on 740AM The Fan, Dan Hammer reported that nothing was solved during the straw poll last night and he believes that commish Bruce McLeod may have to go back and re-negotiate some things with Omaha.

Hammer said that there were a number of straw polls taken during a very long conference call. Certainly some were regarding the entrance fee and postseason revenue concessions that the WCHA considered giving Omaha.

More on Expansion.

It looks like Alberts is keeping it close to the vest, the man must be a really good poker player. Nothing new here really. I am sure we will hear an announcement in the up coming days or up coming weeks.

UNO Athletic Director Trev Alberts reiterated Wednesday night that the Mavs haven’t applied for admission into the WCHA and that the school is happy with its CCHA membership. He said he wasn’t aware exactly of what the WCHA was meeting to discuss or what the result of those talks might have been.

“There would only be a certain scenario under which we would even entertain the thought of leaving and going to a different league,” Alberts said. “Unless those very basic requirements would be contemplated, we have a home (in the CCHA).”

Alberts declined to get into specifics about the conversations Omaha has had with the WCHA about the terms that would have to be met for the Mavs to consider applying.

However, Omaha would benefit significantly if the league reduces or eliminates the membership fee. When Minnesota State-Mankato entered the WCHA in 1999-2000, it had to pay $120,000 over three years, and it did not receive a cut of postseason revenue during that time. [Omaha.com]

Yeah that is going to happen.

I wonder if Wild fans would trade James Sheppard (160 games 9 goals 34 assists 43 points) for Phil Kessel (222 games 66 goals 60 assists 126 points) ? I say in a heart beat. If the Bruins aren't going to resign him I would rather see him playing in the west not killing the Bruins.

One player who falls into the latter category -- and one who might intrigue the Wild -- is Bruins sniper Phil Kessel, the former Gopher who scored 36 goals in 70 games last season.

The 21-year-old Madison native is a restricted free agent and seeking a deal worth between $4.5 and $5 million a season. While the Bruins plan to meet this week with agent Wade Arnott in hopes of re-signing Kessel, the Bruins are $6 million shy of the anticipated salary cap for next season, and have several other key players to re-sign.

According to numerous sources, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli is fielding offers, but because he can't take hefty salaries back, he's looking for a first-round pick and at least one top young player. If the Wild was to enter the fray, it would likely cost at least the 12th overall pick and James Sheppard or Tyler Cuma.
[StarTribune]