Former Badger seeking converts

Robbie Earl was the guy that WCHA opposition fans loved to hate. Earl had a propensity to over embellish on penalties and got the reputation as being a diver. Now that he is a member of the Minnesota Wild I think I could learn to like him. Earl in two games has just as many goals as first round busts Benoit Pouliot (2g-2a-4pts) and has more goals than James Sheppard (0g-1a-1pt). Here is an idea, the Wild management should send Pouliot and Sheppard to Houston until they can learn how to play hockey and let Robbie Earl have a chance to see how he can do given the amount of playing time the two fore mentioned stiffs get. They are two empty uniforms sucking up salary cap space.

"My role here is to bring energy," said Earl, who had one assist in nine career NHL games before last week's callup. "I don't expect to score two every night. I need to make plays when they're there and use my speed to my advantage.

"Last year, I battled injuries all year, and it was a long time since I'd been able to play in the NHL. Against Washington, it felt like my first NHL game all over again. Then I got my first goal, so a lot of things were very special this time around."

That could extend to tonight's game, when the Wild plays Phoenix at Xcel Energy Center. Earl has played there before, during a Badgers career that ran from 2003-06.

The last time came in March 2006, when his third-period goal helped the Badgers defeat the Gophers in the third-place game of the WCHA Final Five.

Earl capped that season -- and a career that ended with 58 goals and 63 assists in 125 games -- with an NCAA title. He was named most outstanding player of the 2006 Frozen Four after scoring three goals and an assist.

Earl was traded to the Wild last January after 2 1/2 seasons in the Maple Leafs organization. He lived up to his reputation as a big-game player with five goals and four assists in 20 playoff games for the Wild's AHL affiliate in Houston.

The shoulder injury kept him out of camp for a week, but he hoped his work ethic and persistence made enough of an impression to get a shot.

Wild coach Todd Richards liked the toughness and skating ability Earl showed in five minutes against Washington. Though Earl said his Wild debut was "nerve-wracking," he earned more ice time and a promotion to the top line at Carolina, where his second goal tied the score and helped the Wild salvage a point.

"He got the opportunity to play with good players, and he was able to finish," Richards said. "He's got ability. He has to be aggressive on the forecheck and reliable in his own end, and when he gets the opportunity, he's got to use his shot, because he shoots the puck very well."

And that, Earl hopes, will earn him some new admirers.

"For some reason, fans from a lot of schools didn't like me," he said, laughing. "That comes with the territory. It was fun, and there was nothing better than those Minnesota-Wisconsin games.

"Now I'm at a different place in life. I'm excited to have the chance to come here and help the team create some excitement for Minnesota fans."
[Star Tribune]

Something to ponder for Wild fans... Dive Earl Dive...

Gopher fan and celebrity Fire Helmet guy 26 said this on his facebook page:

not a good weekend for Gopher hockey. :( And to make things worse Robbie "DIVER DOWN" Earl scored 2 for the Wild yesterday. Would rather see the Wild lose then to see that POS score!

Here is something to ponder, former dive king and Wisconsin Badgers forward Robbie Earl has played two games this season with the Wild and scored more points than first round bust James Sheppard who has (0g-1a-1pts)in eighteen games. Tell me what is out of whack there? I think it’s time for the Minnesota Wild to cut ties with the first round busts that are James Sheppard and Benoit Pouliot, both of these players are a waste of a roster space and add nothing to the lineup.

DU injury update.

Since the Fighting Sioux play their heated rival the DU Pioneers this weekend I have been conducting some recon missions and checking out their hockey blogs and newspapers. Denver University has had some injury issues so far this season. They have a three of their more talented players currently suffering from various injuries [Denver Post] .

At least two players on the University of Denver's injury list might return for this weekend's series against rival North Dakota at Magness Arena.

Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky doesn't like to use traditional injury-report terms, but based on the way he described things Monday, junior goalie Marc Cheverie (calf) sounds questionable, freshman defenseman Matt Donovan (finger) appears probable and sophomore blue-liner Patrick Wiercioch (knee) is doubtful.

Cheverie, who has missed the past three games after being cut by a skate blade Oct. 30 against Minnesota State, was scheduled to make "light movement prior to practice (Monday) with his gear on," Gwozdecky said.

Cheverie had 30-some stitches removed last week and began light skating without equipment Thursday.

"(Monday) is probably going to be the most that he's actually been on the ice since his injury," Gwozdecky said. "It's more or less to see where the affected area is at, and how he handles things moving around the crease with the equipment on."

Friday's game against the Fighting Sioux will mark three weeks from Cheverie's injury.

"He's made progress, and we expect he will continue to make progress, but whether that's going to allow him to play this weekend, the following weekend or in three weeks, we don't know," Gwozdecky said.

Donovan and Wiercioch are DU's top offensive defensemen. Donovan was held out of practice last week with a broken middle finger on his right hand. He suffered the injury during the Minnesota State series.

A few things going forward...

SCSU forward Aaron Marvin speaks out about his bush league hit on Chay Genoway. Apparently Marvin is feeling some remorse for his hit that took out a potential Hobey Baker Memorial award candidate in Chay Genoway (4g-6a-10pts). Aaron Marvin has got to know that he is going to be a target when the Sioux play SCSU later on in the season.

On Monday after practice at the National Hockey Center, Aaron Marvin spoke publicly for the first time about his hit on Chay Genoway that resulted in an undisclosed injury for the Sioux defenseman and a one-game suspension for the Huskies' forward. It took place during Friday's game at Engelstad Arena in Grand Forks, N.D. The Sioux took the opener of the series 4-2, then lost the rematch without Genoway, 3-2.

"I feel bad about what happened," said Marvin, who chased Genoway for about three-quarters of the length of the rink late in the second period Friday before finally catching him in the back with a check behind the SCSU net. "It was poor judgement on my part and there's no place for checking from behind like that. The important thing now is to make sure (Genoway) is OK. It wasn't my intention to hurt him."

You can see video of the hit in an earlier post in this blog. Marvin, who'd missed an open net scoring opportunity earlier in the game and had one point through his first nine games, doesn't deny that he was frustrated -- either consciously or subconsciously -- at the time. Genoway was a stride ahead of him, skating with the puck, from the UND zone into SCSU's. Genoway dumped possession to the end wall, stepped around Sam Zabkowicz, and got the puck again. Genoway moved it to his left, just before Marvin lined him up. Genoway, a senior who is 5-foot-9 and weighs 174 pounds, had his face to the glass when Marvin, who's 6-3, 205, connected.

Surprisingly, the officials first concluded -- with the help of a linesman -- that Chris Hepp was guilty. They banished him for the final 21/2 minutes of the second period, and Marvin skated a shift during the penalty kill. During intermission, the officials reviewed the play and changed the penalty to Marvin, who was removed from the rest of the game and Hepp was back in -- though not until a couple minutes into the third because he'd already showered and changed clothes. By the time he got back into his gear, the game was underway again. (If you think that part was confusing, imagine the mess if Marvin would've scored during those last 21/2 minutes of the second period.)

Huskies coach Bob Motzko said he doesn't anticipate any further discipline for Marvin, a junior who had one previous major penalty in his first 86 college games. (That also was a checking-from-behind call, on Feb. 23, 2008, against Michigan Tech at the National Hockey Center.) Take away the two majors and their accompanying game misconducts and Marvin totals 76 PIM in 87 career games. (Obviously it wasn't Genoway's fault, but -- for comparison -- he has 140 career PIM.)[Saint Cloud Times]

DU's stud goaltender March Cheverie is listed as doubtful for this weekend's series with the Fighting Sioux. Denver is a different team without Cheverie in net. In contrast UND's Chay Genoway is also listed as day-to-day after suffering an upper body injury (word is, that Genoway has a bruised sternum and a possible concussion)

Goaltender Marc Cheverie (4-0, 1.27 GAA, .959 Sv%), who missed the Anchorage series with a left leg injury, is doubtful for this weekend's series against North Dakota. Cheverie was named the AHCA National Player of the Month for October. Cheverie leads the WCHA in saves percentage, goals against average, winning percentage and shutouts (3). Cheverie is first in the nation in shutouts, and second in goals against average and saves percentage. [Denver Pioneers]

Here is the Lafranchise hit on DU's defenseman Patrick Wiercioch. I watched the video a few times and I don't think it's a penalty but the video of the GCI broadcast isn't that good either. In my opinion it looks like a textbook hip check. Just for the record UAA's Kane Lafranchise doesn't have a Reputation of being a dirty player. You can judge for yourself. I am all for "hard legal" hits but I also believe in the hockey code, if you see the players back you don't hit them and if you do something bush league on the ice you should pay for it.

Poll Monday (Sioux second in both polls)

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[November 16, 2009]
Team (First Place Votes) Record Points Last Poll
1 Miami (42) 8-1-3 986 1
2 North Dakota ( 2) 7-2-1 916 2
3 Denver ( 2) 6-3-1 855 4
4 Mass.-Lowell ( 3) 7-2-1 824 5
5 Cornell 4-1-0 781 3
6 Michigan State ( 1) 9-2-1 727 13
7 Colorado College 7-2-1 695 10
8 Bemidji State 8-1-1 658 7
9 Yale 2-1-2 506 12
10 Alaska 7-2-1 505 9
11 Massachusetts 7-2-0 414 14
12 Nebraska-Omaha 5-2-3 371 11
13 Quinnipiac 8-1-0 366 20
14 Notre Dame 5-5-2 299 8
15 Wisconsin 6-3-1 242 NR
16 Michigan 4-6-0 230 6
17 Vermont 4-4-1 222 15
17 Boston College 4-3-1 222 16
19 Princeton 3-2-1 181 19
20 Minnesota-Duluth 7-4-1 175 18
Others Receiving Votes: Ferris State 128, St. Cloud State 46, Colgate 43, Boston University 41, Merrimack 17, Rensselaer 16, Providence 12, Union 9, Northeastern 8, RIT 3, New Hampshire 2

USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[Nov. 16, 2009]
Rank School (first-place votes) Record Points Last week's rank
1 Miami University (Ohio) (31) 8-1-3 507 1
2 North Dakota (1) 7-2-1 448 2
3 Denver (1) 6-3-1 429 3
4 Massachusetts Lowell (1) 7-2-1 405 5
5 Cornell 4-1-0 342 4
6 Michigan State 9-2-1 329 14
7 Colorado College 7-2-1 311 13
8 Bemidji State 8-1-1 271 7
9 Yale 2-1-2 218 11
10 University of Alaska (Fairbanks) 7-2-1 176 9
11 Massachusetts 7-2-0 141 10
12 Nebraska Omaha 5-2-3 107 12
13 Quinnipiac 8-1-0 102 NR
14 Notre Dame 5-5-2 54 8
15 Michigan 4-6-0 52 6
Others receiving votes: University of Wisconsin, 47; University of Vermont, 34; Boston College, 30; Ferris State University, 24; Princeton University, 22; University of Minnesota Duluth, 15; Colgate University, 4; Lake Superior State University, 4; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 3; Merrimack College, 2; Rochester Institute of Technology, 2; Boston University, 1.
Analysis: I think's laughable that Notre Dame and Michigan remain in the top 15. BSU with it’s split also remain in the top ten.

WCHA Officiating Is Intolerable

On Saturday Goon had a post that showed how the WCHA officials absolutely failed in a dirty hit that led to the injury of last years WCHA Defensive Player of the Year. This year Chay Gennoway could contend for the most valuable player award (The prestigious Hoby Baker Award). Because of that teams are looking to play him physically. On Friday night a player crossed the line and Gennoway may have a concussion that could keep him out for weeks. The senior official on the ice watched the entire play and didn't make a call. While the trainer was attending Gennoway they had a conference and assessed a penalty to the wrong player.

Clearly you'd expect the officials to do a better job on Saturday night. If you did, then you'd be wrong.

During the first period the Sioux scored a goal that was disallowed. The officials through the public address system told us it was because the whistle had blown. At the time we knew it hadn't. The replay confirms that.



Right before the puck goes in you can see it in front of the goalies right pad. (On this video it looks like a shadow, but the stands behind the goalie are darker than the playing surface so it is the puck.) The whistle never blew until the puck was in the back of the net.

I guess the official claimed at the time that the goal doesn't count because he "intended" to stop play when he couldn't see the puck. NCAA rules do allow that, but that shouldn't apply in this point. I can see the rule applying in the case where the puck is legitimately frozen by the goalie. You don't want to reward the other team for hacking on the goalies hands. Or I can see this rule being necessary if the referee is tripped up and can't blow the whistle when they need to.

On the other hand if the referee had blown the whistle it would have been a mistake. The puck wasn't frozen. Now it does happen often because when the referee can't see the puck they have to assume that it may be frozen and they stop play to protect the players. And a goal after the whistle has to be disallowed because you have to assume that a player might have been able to stop it, but they quit as soon as the whistle blew.

In this case the play shouldn't have been stopped. It wasn't stopped. We scored a goal. That goal should count.

You can see that the referee had the whistle in his mouth a long time before the goal was scored. If he really wanted to stop the play he could have. As bad as his interpretation of the rules is, the fact that he didn't blow the whistle before he did makes him out to be a liar.

What's particularly galling is that on Friday night the shoe was on the other foot. This same referee had a longer time to blow the whistle and never did. The opposing team scored and this official counted it. Friday night it didn't matter much. We still won by two goals. Saturday night the one goal he took away was the margin of victory for the opposing game.

The two officials that the WCHA sent to officiate this game this weekend, Don Adam and Tim Walsh, should be fired. Adam's got an history of allowing Sioux players to get badly injured. Walsh comes off as entirely incompetent.

Cross Posted from Say Anything Blog

INCH Power Rankings

As always for a good laugh the INCH power rankings.
1. Miami
2. North Dakota — Saturday's loss to St. Cloud State in Grand Forks snapped the Fighting Sioux's 17-game home unbeaten streak.
7-2-1 (5-2-1 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. St. Cloud State, 4-2; L vs. St. Cloud State, 3-2. THIS WEEK: at Denver, at Denver
3. Denver 4. Cornell
5. UMass Lowell
6. Michigan State
7. Colorado College
8. Yale
9. Bemidji State
10. Nebraska-Omaha
11. Alaska
12. Quinnipiac
13. Princeton
14. Vermont
15. Massachusetts
17. Wisconsin
18. Minnesota Duluth
19. Boston College
20. Colgate
Dropped out: Michigan

Bubble-licious: Merrimack, St. Cloud State, Ferris State, Rensselaer

Beavers 6 Minnesota 2

Last week a few people had issues with me for not saying anything about the Beavers being ranked so high after I took the pollsters to task last season for having Air Force Academy ranked so high. I actually wanted to wait till after this weekend’s series with the Gophers before I commented. Not that it mattered but I didn’t think any comment was needed on the BSU Beavers, because I thought that BSU had proved themselves last season by taking out Notre Dame and Cornell during the 2009 NCAA playoffs, the Beavers started the started the season going 7-0-1 and now with the split with the Gophers sit at 8-1-1.

Of course there are a few pundits that will still say that BSU is a overrated team and the CHA is a joke but they sure have taken it to the AHA this season with a 4-0 record against them. Ironically, the WCHA has a 1-2 record against the CHA as well. Both Minnesota and the big lumbering team from UAA lost to CHA teams.

On to next week's rankings

So here we are; the Beavers will probably be ranked in the top ten this week again. The Beavers completed the mission and were successful by going into Mariucci Arena and getting a split with the Gophers. The Beavers also broke a 0-7 record against the Gophers by getting a win on the Gophers turf. So the question is; are the Beavers for real or are the Gophers a bad team? I think you could say both. The Beaves have come a very long way from the days of the late 1990's.

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

BMJ 1 - 0 6x6 LL Shea Walters (1) (unassisted) 8:02
BMJ (+): 11,15,20,4,3,G35 MIN (-): 12,7,24,10,20,G33
MIN-1 Kevin Wehrs (2-Checking from Behind) BMJ 0x1 9:50
BMJ-1 Jamie MacQueen (2-Boarding) MIN 0x1 13:36
BMJ 2 - 0 6x6 Matt Read (8) (Jordan George) 19:10
BMJ (+): 19,28,8,9,22,G35 MIN (-): 13,19,11,10,28,G33
BMJ-2 Chris McKelvie (2-Goaltender Interference) MIN 0x2 20:00

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

BMJ-3 Jamie MacQueen (2-Tripping) MIN 1x3 8:09
MIN 1 - 2 6x5 PP Jordan Schroeder (2) (Aaron Ness, Cade Fairchild) 9:19
MIN: 19,10,28,11,13,G35 BMJ: 26,8,29,23,G35
MIN-2 Zach Budish (5-Checking from Behind) BMJ 1x3 13:50
MIN-3 Zach Budish (10-Game Misconduct) (Served by Jake Hansen) 13:50
BMJ 3 - 1 6x5 PP GW Jamie MacQueen (2) (Brady Wacker, Chris Peluso) 16:11
BMJ: 17,25,9,20,26,G35 MIN: 2,27,15,11,G35
BMJ-4 Chris Peluso (2-Hooking) MIN 1x4 18:07
MIN-4 Jordan Schroeder (2-Cross-Checking) BMJ 2x4 19:59

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

BMJ 4 - 1 6x5 PP Brad Hunt (2) (Shea Walters, Jordan George) 1:38
BMJ: 29,11,28,22,19,G35 MIN: 15,11,20,28,G35
BMJ 5 - 1 6x6 Jamie MacQueen (3) (unassisted) 1:52
BMJ (+): 17,23,4,3,26,G35 MIN (-): 12,7,21,2,4,G35
BMJ 6 - 1 6x6 Aaron McLeod (2) (Brad Hunt, Jake Areshenko) 3:04
BMJ (+): 14,29,8,6,16,G35 MIN (-): 27,16,9,23,28,G35
BMJ-5 Ian Lowe (2-Hooking) MIN 2x5 6:54
MIN 2 - 6 6x5 PP Jake Hansen (1) (Kevin Wehrs, Tony Lucia) 8:36
MIN: 21,2,12,7,16,G33 BMJ: 29,6,8,16,G35
BMJ-6 Ryan Cramer (2-Elbowing) MIN 2x6 9:42
MIN-5 Taylor Matson (2-Hooking) BMJ 2x5 18:40

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End of Game
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Coach Hakstol tells student forum to knock it off

Another reason to clean up the language. Check out his blurb from Ryan Bakken's weekly column.

Instead, it’s because The Hammer, aka The Hakker, aka Coach Dave Hakstol said to knock it off at a student forum. The Hakstol glare can melt granite. “He definitely commanded the room,” Austin Dhuyvetter said. “He opened my eyes.”

The eye-opening wasn’t about its naughtiness but its bottom line. “Our games are now on the Fox Network, and the chants can be heard on the TV,” Dhuyvetter said. “If the games are no longer on TV, we won’t get the top recruits. And if we don’t get the top recruits, our team won’t be as good.”

Junior Samantha Dhuyvetter, Austin’s sister, agreed. “When Hakstol says it’s disrespectful, we need to tone it down. He’s a big guy in our university, and everyone respects him.

“When Hakstol said it hurts recruiting, our fans said, ‘Oh, now I get it.’”

The Dhuyvetter siblings combined to produce the night’s best sign, which had defenseman Chay Genoway’s head pasted atop Superman’s body, with the words, “Up, up and Genoway.”

Clever signs, not crude vulgarities, hopefully now will be the calling card of UND’s rabid student section, which creates a dynamic atmosphere when it doesn’t make us old folks blush. [Grand Forks Herald]

SCSU Diving team 3 and Sioux 2

I think that after watching this game tonight there will be a lot of us left the rink with a bad taste in our mouth. I think a blind five year old could have come to the conclusion that the officiating was horrid in this series but especially bad in tonight game. It doesn’t even end there; officials in the best college hockey league in the country are ruining a great game. Every week we watch these buffoon’s that can't call the game like the NCAA has mandated. What part of they are suppose to protect the offensive player with the puck and enforce the obstruction do they not understand.

The refs in this league is a like a gong show on ice skates. The Refs call penalties for plays that aren’t a penalty and then they also fail to call penalties for plays that againt a blind five year old with a seeing eye dog could see that it’s a penalty. If I did my job as bad as the refs do In this league I would be given my walking papers. Don Adam and Tim Walsh are clowns should be suspended for two weeks and then fired from refereeing games ever again in organized hockey. They are a disgrace to good on ice officials everywhere. 60 Minutes was right in her blog post back in August of 2008 the WCHA officials are a joke. Maybe the WCHA officials need to be given a code of conduct because they need to improve job performance.

SCSU diving team

It’s no mystery that Ryan Lasch and Garrett “Greg Louganis” Roe are great offensive players they are very skilled and play a great up tempo offensive game. I think most people will agree with that assessment, these are elite players in the WCHA. From listening and talking to other fans of WCHA teams, of I can also tell you that a lot of people are tired of these two players’ antics. Each time they visit our arena they spend a great deal of their time over embellishing opposition penalties and diving up and down the ice. It's the Goon's opinion that both players could be awesome Olympic divers and or actors. I think the refs should hand out more un-sportsman like penalties for their antics. Call them a few times and they might give up their shtick.

The Emmy goes to Brian Volpei

In the first period of the game Andrew MacWilliam lays out Huskie with a beautiful text book legal body check on Brian Volpei. The ref called MacWillam for an inteference penalty, after the play Volpei remained on the ice with the trainer trying to milk a five minute major penalty out of the deal, a few times Volpei actually looked up to see if the refs were buying it. Apparently the refs were not buying the Emmy award acting job, MacWilliam was only give a 2 minute minor. On his way to the bench Volpei even yapped at one of the refs. Volpei sat out a couple of minutes and returned to action.

Dude we still got a "Dell"

I have seen people try to blame the Rookie goalie Aaron Dell for the loss and I don’t think it’s fair. The first goal that was scored on the Sioux was the result of a poor play by freshman forward Danny Kristo who failed to hold the puck in at the point and led to an untimely shorthanded goal by Huskies forward Travis Novak. We win as a team and we lose as a team. There is no “I” in team. If you're going to point fingers point them at everyone on the team, it was a horrible team effort. This loss tonight was unacceptable but can be used as a learing experience.

Sioux missed Genoway

I do believe that the Fighting Sioux missed the services of All-American defenseman and Hobey Baker Memorial Award candidate Chay Genoway that was knocked out of last night game with a cheap hit. Genoway is a calming force and makes others around him on the ice better because he has so much creativity in the offensive zone. The Fighting Sioux lacked that confidence and creativity tonight. The Fighting Sioux must find a way to get a split in next week’s series with the Denver Pioneers.

Three Stars of the game

Dan Dunn SCSU
Travis Novak SCSU
Brad Malone UND

[Box Score]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
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NDK-1 Andrew MacWilliam (2-Interference) STC 0x1 5:16
NDK-2 Corban Knight (2-Holding) STC 0x2 8:10
NDK-3 Mario Lamoureux (2-Slashing) STC 0x3 9:30
STC-1 Chris Hepp (2-Interference) NDK 0x1 12:46
STC 1 - 0 5x6 SH LL Travis Novak (2) (unassisted) 13:12
STC (+): 12,13,7,25,G41 NDK (-): 25,26,17,7,29,G32
STC 2 - 0 6x6 Ryan Lasch (4) (David Eddy) 15:40
STC (+): 19,22,25,24,16,G41 NDK (-): 3,9,4,11,27,G32
STC-2 Nick Oslund (2-Goaltender Interference) NDK 0x2 15:40
STC-3 Jordy Christian (2-Slashing) NDK 0x3 16:53

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2nd Period (20:00)
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STC 3 - 0 6x6 GW Craig Gaudet (2) (unassisted) 0:14
STC (+): 4,22,19,7,9,G41 NDK (-): 17,29,25,26,3,G32
NDK 1 - 3 6x6 Brad Malone (1) (David Toews) 1:23
NDK (+): 22,18,4,19,2,G31 STC (-): 11,16,4,12,7,G41
NDK-4 Andrew MacWilliam (2-Holding) STC 0x4 1:56
NDK-5 Ben Blood (2-Tripping) STC 0x5 3:29
STC-4 Sam Zabkowicz (2-Holding) NDK 0x4 5:33
STC-5 Jordy Christian (2-Tripping) NDK 0x5 10:57
NDK-6 Ben Blood (2-High-Sticking) STC 0x6 14:09

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

STC-6 Garrett Roe (2-Roughing) 3:58
NDK-7 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 3:58
STC-7 Jordy Christian (2-Hooking) NDK 0x6 7:21
NDK-8 Jake Marto (2-Interference) STC 0x7 10:35
NDK 2 - 3 6x6 EA Chris VandeVelde (3) (Darcy Zajac, Jake Marto) 18:16
NDK (+): 29,11,25,18,7,26 STC (-): 12,27,3,18,29,G41
Timeout - North Dakota 19:42

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

NCAA Round Up: Questionable hits and the review process.

This is the article that I wrote for the Illegal Curve.
Last night during the SCSU and UND game I witnessed one of the dirtiest checking from behind plays [ video included] that I have seen since the Geoff Paukovich hit on Robbie Bina during the 2005 WCHA Final Five. WCHA official Don Adam incorrectly awarded Paukovich with a 2 minutes boarding penalty when a five minute major and a game misconduct would have been warranted. Bina was carted off the ice on a stretcher and wouldn’t play the next season (2005-2006) because of his injuries he substaned during the checking from behind penalty. Paukovich got an extra game suspension for his thuggery and we moved on, Bina went on to play in the 2006-2007 season for the Fighting Sioux and now plays in the ECHL.

History repeats itself

Fast forward to last night Donn Adam is again one of the on ice officials for the UND and SCSU hockey game. Genoway takes the puck up ice in an end to end rush. Genoway has the puck checked off his stick by number 3 Sam Zabkowicz and number 17 Aaron Marvin comes in and pounds Chay's head into the end boards an high elbow to the back of the head.

Of course neither on ice referees Tim Walsh and Don Adam saw the play. Head official Don Adam conferred with the lines men and at first the officiating crew incorrectly penalized SCSU player Chris Hepp who given a five minute major and a game misconduct; later the Hepp had to put his equipment back on and rejoin the game after the officials realized between periods that they had penalized the wrong player. Now tell me that doesn’t lend to the officiating crews credibility.

The NCAA wants to focus on head shots and this was text book head shots and this was a text book definition of a head shot.

Contact to the Head
SECTION 8. A player shall not make contact with an opposing player’s
head or neck area in any manner.
PENALTY—Minor or major or disqualification at the discretion of the
referee. Contact to the head shall be assessed in front of the
infraction (i.e., contact to the head – elbow).
Note: The rules committee instructs officials to use a zero tolerance policy in
this area.

This was a dirty, blatant inexcusable hit that has no place in college or any form of professional hockey. If Aaron Marvin is not suspended by the WCHA and gets to play tonight the WCHA office will no longer have any stitch of credibility and will in essence be condoning this brutal act. The NCAA like the NHL needs to have a review system that reviews questionable penalties and plays and awards the proper disciplinary action. The NHL League office for the most part has done a decent job, however, the WCHA has not.

Lastly, there needs to be more accountability for on ice officials in the NCAA, Don Adam is a horrible official and should be removed from officiating before someone gets killed on the ice as a result of his incompetence.

There is some justice in the world as Marvin has been suspended for his hit and will not be playing in tonight's game against the Sioux.

Edit: Marvin suspended for series finale ----I just got word that St. Cloud State's Aaron Marvin has been suspended for tonight's series finale against UND.

Marvin illegally checked UND's Chay Genoway into the boards from behind in last night's contest. Genoway didn't return.

Sioux 4 Huskies 2

As one of my friends said tonight Sioux win over the SCSU Huskies was a ho hum win. I think he is right and it wasn’t a very exciting game and the Sioux did enough to win the game. One could call tonight's win gritty. I also never felt like UND was going to lose this game or let it get away from them.

The Fighting Sioux raced to a 3-0 lead with goals by Darcy Zajac, Mario Lamoureux, David Toews before they gave up two untimely goals by Ryan Lasch and Tony Mosey of the SCSU Huskies. David Toews padded his point total by scoring his second goal of the game in the third period to seal the game for the Fighting Sioux.

For the Sioux I thought that Ben Blood had a break out performance and one of his best games offensively in a Fighting Sioux uniform. If Blood keeps playing like this he will be wearing a Senators uniform very soon. Also, David Toews was nothing short of amazing tonight his two goals were high light material.

Home Sweet Ralph

The Ralph Engelstad Arena. has become a tough place for opponents to play in as UND has not lost in 17 games dating back to last season when the Fighting Sioux started the streak against the game SCSU Huskies.

No room for CFB's in hockey

I am sick and tired of watching players check their opponent head first into the boards. Someone is going to get hurt and possibly maimed if players can’t respect their opponents. The rules are cut and dried and pretty black and white, if an opposition player has their back is turned and they are facing away from you; they cannot be checked. There is no discussion.

Checking from Behind – A check from behind is a check delivered on a player who is not aware of the impending hit, therefore unable to protect or defend himself, and contact is made on the back part of the body.

Tonight we watched a bush league checking from behind play that could land UND’s top defenseman Chay Genoway on the injury list. Aaron Marvin's checking from behind on Chay Genoway was blatant, unnecessary, uncalled for and Marvin needs to be suspended for another game or two.

Edit: I just went back and watched the bush league Marvin hit five times. This is one of the dirtiest checking from behind hits I have seen for some time. Genoway took the puck up ice in an end to end rush. Genoway had the puck checked off his stick by number 3 Sam Zabkowicz and Marvin came in and pounded Chay's head into the boards with a high elbow to the back of Genoway's head. This was a dirty blatant inexcusable hit. If this hack gets to play tomorrow night the Sioux players need to answer this gutless act. I can't believe that Husky coach Bob Motzko had the gall to argue about this call with the ref on the players bench.
[Box Score]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st Period (20:00)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NDK 1 - 0 6x6 LL Darcy Zajac (2) (Mario Lamoureux, Ben Blood) 6:23
NDK (+): 11,9,24,5,26,G31 STC (-): 13,22,7,25,2,G30
NDK 2 - 0 6x6 Mario Lamoureux (3) (Ben Blood) 13:16
NDK (+): 9,24,11,20,26,G31 STC (-): 12,16,7,25,13,G30
STC-1 Garrett Raboin (2-CONTACT TO THE HEAD) NDK 0x1 17:16
STC-2 Travis Novak (2-Roughing) 18:54
STC-3 Travis Novak (2-Roughing) 18:54
STC-4 Chris Hepp (2-Roughing) 18:54
NDK-1 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 18:54
NDK-2 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 18:54
NDK-3 Brad Malone (2-Roughing) 18:54

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

NDK 3 - 0 6x6 GW David Toews (3) (Carter Rowney, Evan Trupp) 7:50
NDK (+): 18,27,8,24,2,G31 STC (-): 17,12,25,10,7,G30
NDK-4 Carter Rowney (2-Tripping) STC 0x1 8:52
STC 1 - 3 6x6 Ryan Lasch (3) (Aaron Marvin, Garrett Raboin) 11:09
STC (+): 19,7,27,3,17,G30 NDK (-): 29,24,27,17,3,G31
NDK-5 Chris VandeVelde (2-Hooking) STC 1x2 16:28
STC 2 - 3 6x5 PP Tony Mosey (4) (Travis Novak, Ryan Lasch) 16:42
STC: 27,12,19,22,7,G30 NDK: 22,19,25,3,G31
STC-5 Chris Hepp (2-Roughing) 17:27
STC-6 Aaron Marvin (5-Checking from Behind) NDK 0x2 17:27
STC-7 Aaron Marvin (10-Game Misconduct) (Served by Jon Ammerman) 17:27
NDK-6 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 17:27
NDK-7 Brett Hextall (2-Roughing) 17:27

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

STC-8 Oliver Lauridsen (2-Holding) NDK 1x3 4:01
NDK 4 - 2 6x5 PP David Toews (4) (Derrick LaPoint, Chris VandeVelde) 5:13
NDK: 18,3,29,7,17,G31 STC: 11,3,6,16,G30
NDK-8 Mario Lamoureux (2-Interference) STC 1x3 12:46

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

CCHA membership a foggy possibility for Mercyhurst

Here is an interesting Article about Mercyhurst College and their interest in pursuing membership in the CCHA. It would appear from the article that Mercyhurst is actually interested in joining the CCHA but also in the CCHA's geographical footprint as well. It would also appear that Mercyhurst might actually be a better fit in the CCHA than UAH.

I think the other issue is number of scholarships awarded to players. The AHA only allows their teams to gives out 12 scholarships as opposed to the CCHA being able give out eighteen scholarships. So in theory I could see how a college hockey program might want to up grade their program and be able to increase the number of scholarships they can award.

Lastly, it would also seem logical that if Mercyhurst College moved to the CCHA, UAH might be able to slide into the AHA and solve the conference issues. Also, as a college hockey fan I wouldn't want UAH to have to hang out there too long without conference affiliation.

Is the Central Collegiate Hockey Association part of Mercyhurst College's future?

School administrators are exploring the possibility of applying to the 12-team CCHA, one of the top NCAA Division I men's hockey conferences.

The CCHA will be reduced to 11 teams after this season when Nebraska-Omaha leaves to join the Western Collegiate Hockey Association for the 2010-11 season.

The CCHA has no plans for immediate expansion.

"We have no plans to add a new member for 2010-11,'' CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos said in an e-mail interview. "We are currently trying to finalize a new schedule with 11 teams for 2010-11. At this time, we have not addressed our future plans specifically related to our membership make-up.''

Mercyhurst athletic director Joe Kimball said the school has had preliminary discussions with CCHA officials, but has not applied to the conference.

He said Mercyhurst remains committed to its Atlantic Hockey Association membership.

"Right now, this is just a thought,'' Kimball said. "We're just thinking out loud and asking some questions and kind of sniffing around a little bit to see what the CCHA is all about.''

The CCHA consists of Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Miami (Ohio), Alaska Fairbanks, Nebraska-Omaha, Lake Superior, Bowling Green, Ferris State, Northern Michigan and Western Michigan.

"We don't know if the CCHA wants to expand to 12 teams or if they want to stay at 11,'' Kimball said.

"My job right now is to find out as much as I can about the league, and that's why I am waiting to have additional talks with Tom Anastos, so we can get a better idea of whether this would be a good move for us not only as a hockey program, but as a college.''

Kimball said he and Anastos have had two discussions in the past two weeks.

Anastos said the CCHA entry fee for a new member is $250,000, which includes a $10,000 application fee. If a school is not accepted, the $10,000 application fee is non-refundable.

"Administrators from Mercyhurst have contacted me to find out about our league, our future plans and the process for membership application,'' Anastos said. "They are doing some fact-finding.''

Mercyhurst has been a member of the 10-team Atlantic Hockey Association since 2003.

The AHA will expand to 12 teams for the 2010-11 season with the addition of Niagara and Robert Morris.

"Geographically, Mercyhurst College and Erie fit in wonderfully into the CCHA footprint,'' Mercyhurst coach Rick Gotkin said. "But no one has told us they want to add a 12th team. We're just assuming they would like to, because 11 seems like an odd number.''

Besides playing some of the nation's best teams, a move to the CCHA likely would allow the Mercyhurst men's program to fund the maximum 18 NCAA Division I scholarships per season.

The AHA schools enforce a 12-scholarship limit.

"You'd have to look at that,'' Kimball said. "Is that feasible for us, because that's what that league entails.''

There would be other advantages to a CCHA move.

"The two positives about this conference is the travel being less than it is in the AHA, and the quality of teams,'' Kimball said.

The CCHA denied Alabama-Huntsville's membership application this past summer largely because of its proximity to the rest of the league.

"Say what you want, but I believe, geographically, we're the closest team to CCHA country,'' Gotkin said.
[Go Erie]

It would appear that the distances for Mercyhurst are as far as the UAH distances.

Central Collegiate Hockey Team Miles
Alaska 3,939
Bowling Green 190
Ferris State 294
Lake Superior State 368
Miami (Ohio) 356
Michigan 269
Michigan State 333
Northern Michigan 474
Notre Dame 318
Ohio State 212
Western Michigan 283

Here was the UAH distances that were outlined from before.

UM - UAH 651 miles
BGSU - UAH 585 miles
OSU - UAH 510 miles
MSU - UAH 672 miles
NMU - UAH 990 miles
ND - UAH 560 miles
LSSU - UAH 951 miles
NMU - UAH 657 miles
MU - UAH 442 miles
UAF - UAH 4137 miles
FSU - UAH 768 miles
[link to post]

SCSU hopes for success, harkens back to sweep at UND...

Here is what Huskies beat writer Kevin Allenspach has to say about this weekend’s series. Hopefully UND will welcome Mike Lee to the WCHA and the REA with hanging a bunch of goals on him this weekend. UND is 4-1-3 in it’s last 8 games against SCSU in the REA. I would really like to see this streak continue.

Just before the Huskies headed to practice at Engelstad Arena, Bob Motzko wanted to know: "How'd we do in my first year up here?"


The quick answer from a reporter's recollection was the first sweep in SCSU history at North Dakota. Who could forget Matt Stephenson scoring 18 seconds into overtime on that Saturday night, Jan. 28, 2006, and proceeding to celebrate by virtually writing his initials in the ice?


It was a good memory for Motzko, and one he'll want to impart to his current players -- none of whom have experienced victory in Grand Forks. In 2006-07, they lost 3-1 and tied 2-2. In 2007-08, they earned home ice on the final regular-season weekend with 1-1 and 2-2 ties. But last year they met with 3-2 and 7-4 losses -- part of the second-ranked Sioux's current 16-game home unbeaten streak.

"We've played pretty well up here," Motzko said. "It's just all in how you (media) perceive it."

The 0-3-3 streak at UND will be on the line Friday night when the Huskies begin a five-week stretch crucial to their season -- including other trips to Denver and Alaska Anchorage and home series against Wisconsin and Colorado College.

Here are the Huskies' expected lines for Friday: (minus Roe Friday)

Forwards
Jared Festler-Aaron Marvin-Ryan Lasch
Tony Mosey-Drew LeBlanc-Brian Volpei
Ben Hanowski-Nick Oslund-Travis Novak
David Eddy-Jordy Christian-Jon Ammerman

Defensemen
Oliver Lauridsen-Garrett Raboind
Sam Zabkowicz-Chris Hepp
Brett Barta-Craig Gaudet

Goalies
Mike Lee starts, backed up by Dan Dunn [Saint Cloud Times]

REA enacts fan code of conduct...

Ralph Engelstad Arena and University of North Dakota


[Fan Code of Conduct]

Ralph Engelstad Arena and the University of North Dakota are committed to providing a safe, comfortable and enjoyable event experience for all fans and event participants. The Fan Code of Conduct is designed to set clear expectations and encourage an event environment that is enjoyable for all. Ralph Engelstad Arena and the University of North Dakota strive to encourage good sportsmanship, and that includes appropriate fan behavior.

We ask all fans to adhere to the following Fan Code of Conduct in order to meet these goals:

• Abusive language or disorderly conduct is unacceptable and unwelcome. Profanity, racial or sexist comments or intimidating actions directed at the student-athletes, coaches or officials will not be tolerated.
• Fans shall not interfere unduly with anyone else's right and opportunity to enjoy the event.
• Fans shall refrain from throwing objects and/or possessing prohibited items.
• Fans who consume alcoholic beverages shall do so in a responsible manner. Intervention with an intoxicated or underage guest will be handled in a prompt and safe manner. Fans appearing intoxicated will be denied entry and/or subject to ejection.
• Offensive or obscene messages on signs or clothing will not be permitted.
• Fans will be courteous to visiting teams and guests. We will cheer for the Sioux, not against our opponents.
• Fans shall comply with the directions and instructions of Ralph Engelstad Arena staff regarding Arena operations and emergency response procedures.
• Season ticket holders are responsible for their conduct as well as the conduct of their guests and/or persons occupying their seats.

Fans shall be treated in a professional and courteous manner by all Ralph Engelstad Arena staff and University of North Dakota personnel.

During games, contact the nearest Ralph Engelstad Arena staff member or text or call our Guest Help Line at (701) 740-5495 if another fan is interfering with your enjoyment of the game. Following the game, please contact us at fans@theralph.com if you would like to report
inappropriate fan behavior.


Fans not adhering to the Fan Code of Conduct provisions may be subject to ejection without refund and may also be subject arrest and prosecution.

Ralph Engelstad Arena and the University of North Dakota thank you for your commitment to creating a safe and enjoyable experience for all fans.



- Go Sioux -

Weekend Match-Ups (Sioux 7)

The big shocker last weekend was the 7-3 win by UAA over DU on Saturday. The WCHA series last weekend ended in splits, except UND which swept MTU. Come Monday we'll be about 1/3 of the way through the WCHA season, it goes by so quick doesn't it.


Current WCHA Standings

TEAM.......................GP...W-L-T...Pts
1 Colorado College...........6...4-1-1...9
1 Denver......................6...4-1-1...9
1 North Dakota...............6...4-1-1...9
4 Minnesota-Duluth..........6...3-2-1...7
4 Minnesota..................8...3-4-1...7
6 St. Cloud State............4...2-1-1...5
6 Wisconsin..................6...2-3-1...5
8 Alaska-Anchorage.........6...2-4-0...4
9 Minnesota State..........6...1-4-1...3
10 Michigan Tech...........6...1-5-0...2


WCHA

#10 Colorado College at Minnesota State
Last weekend the Tigers split at home with the UMD Bulldogs, while the Mavericks enjoyed the weekend off.

The Tigers are 1-0-1 away from home, they gained those 3-points against UW to start the year (they were UW's first games, they didn't play any non-conference or exhibition before the Tigers came to Madison). It should be more challenging this time around for the Tigers, since the Mavericks have played 8 games this year. MSU-M is 3-1-0 at home this year and would are looking to run their home record to 5-1-0 this weekend. Last season, these teams split each series, both at home and away to end up going 2-2-0 in the CC-MSUM series. The Tigers got some "gimme" points early this season, but now playing a more "seasoned" team we'll see if they are as good as their record indicates. The Mavericks have played some pretty good teams to start the season, and have gotten some points, look for that trend to continue. SPLIT.


St. Cloud State at #2 North Dakota
Last weekend the SCSU Huskies where resting up on a bye week and the Sioux swept the MTU Huskies in Houghton.

Last season UND won the 4-game series against their "natural rival" SCSU 3-1-0. The Huskies have played the fewest WCHA games this season at four, while most have played six games (UM eight). SCSU is 1-3-0 on the road this season, with a win and loss at MTU, and a pair of loses at Miami(Ohio). The Sioux are playing well right now and all the lines are producing points. SCSU has their top line of Lasch and Roe (who is sitting out Friday for a team rule violation), and then it drops off significantly from there. The Huskies gave the RedHawks (Miami) a run for their money a few weeks ago, so we know they can play with the top teams. However, SCSU has never really gotten over the hump, so to speak, and turned into a top NCAA contender. I have to go with my favorite team, who are rolling right along (before the Christmas break this season) SIOUX SWEEP.


Alaska-Anchorage at Wisconsin
The Seawolves and the Badgers both had home series splits, with DU and UM respectively.

How about them Seawolves, they now have a home over UND (2-1) and a home butt-kicking of DU (7-3) this season. It looks like MTU might have stolen UAA's doormat for their own use this season. But, the Seawolves have not won a game on the road this season, and they travel to Madison for these tilts. The Badgers are 3-2-1 at the Kohl Center this year. The Badgers really dominated the Gophers last weekend (I watched both games) especially on Saturday night, but the Gophers capitalized on 2 of their first 3 shots, and held on from there. If the Seawolves want to get more respect, and start moving up the WCHA standings they need to get road wins. UW is only 1 point ahead of UAA and Bucky would sure like to get a home sweep and put some distance between them and bottom of the standings. The Seawolves should have plenty of confidence, now that they have a couple of quality wins under their collective belt. Look for UAA and UW to both play strong defensively this series, which should lead to some close low scoring games. Of course, they could prove me wrong and light up the scoreboard like a Christmas tree this weekend. SPLIT.



Michigan Tech at #18 Minnesota-Duluth
The Husky Dogs got swept at home by the Sioux and the Bully Dogs split on the road with the Tigers.

The Bulldogs will be looking to get some more points this weekend, before they hit the tough part of their schedule. After MTU, the Bulldogs play at the U-of-M, and then host UND, & DU after that, not exactly easy. The Huskies, need points, if they don't get any in Duluth this weekend, I'm going to say the stay in the doghouse all season long, and own the 10 spot. This is first of 6 straight road games for MTU, after Duluth the Huskies travel to Mankato and Madison. MTU has 0-2-0 a road record (both losses at CC) to start they year. The Huskies have given up 30 goals in 8 games this season, that's a 3.75 GAA, and they have scored 19 goals for a 2.375 GFA. UMD has scored 32 and given up 29 goals in 10 games this year, pretty even, just like their record. MTU has to hold their opponents to under two goals a game if they want a chance to win. In this dog fight, I'm going with a BULLDOG SWEEP.


NON-CONFERENCE

#7 Bemidji State (7-0-1 overall) at Minnesota (3-4-1 overall) (Sat-Sun Series)
Last weekend the Beavers from BSU swept Robert Morris U. and the Gophers split with the Badgers in Madison.

The Gophers have won 3 of their last 4 games, but UM was out-shot in 2 of their 3wins. The Beavers come in averaging over 4 goals/game. In past season's BSU has played well against WCHA teams and next year they will be a new member in the league. This will be a good test for both teams, to see if BSU is deserving of there #7 ranking and if UM is going to live up to their preseason predictions, or slip into mediocrity. In this battle of the rodents, I'm going to call a SPLIT.


BYE WEEK - OFF
#4 Denver University

Scott Hennen with Richie Smith on the restraining order.

For the Sioux fans that are interested, Scott Hennen of 1100 am the Flag interviewed Richie Smith the ND Board of Higher Education President on the temporary restraining order. Click on the link to listen to the interview. [Click here] It seems like the issue is now going to be in the attorney general's hands. It seemed like Mr. Smith didn't have a lot of answers. For more from Scott Hennen check out his twitter page.

Puck Daddy picks Holy Cross goal as #6 most significant goal of decade...

You have to wonder if Gopher fans realized that their loss to Holy Cross would end up be such a significant part of hockey history? Their team was the first number one seed to lose to a sixteen seed. You can bet that Sean Leahy is probably recieving some hate mail from angry Gopher fans.

6. Tyler McGregor ends the 2006 NCAA West Regional Semis in shocking fashion

The 2006 West Regional Finals was supposed to feature the mighty Minnesota Golden Gophers against either college hockey powerhouses Michigan or North Dakota. A funny thing happened on the way to the final in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Little Holy Cross crashed the party and upset the Golden Gophers after Tyler McGregor's overtime goal. This truly was a ‘Miracle on Ice' moment for college hockey. Heading into the game, the Crusaders had never won a NCAA tournament game and Minnesota's roster featured 14 NHL draft picks compared to 0 for Holy Cross.
[Puck Daddy]

Lucic close to returning.

This is really good news because Lucic have missed him and Lucic is one of the core players of the Boston Bruins and his toughness is needed in the Boston Bruins line up. If the Bruins can get Milan Lucic and Marc Savard back and David Krejci going again the Bruins could do some serious damage in the Northeast division.

Lucic edges closer --- A welcome sight for the Bruins at the Garden this morning: Winger Milan Lucic skating with the team during the pre-game skate before tonight’s match against the Florida Panthers. Lucic has been sidelined since breaking a finger in Dallas Oct. 16. He has been skating on his own for the past week or so, but took an important step today and said he is hoping to return to the lineup in the opener of the B’s upcoming four-game trip, in Atlanta Thursday. If he’s not quite ready then, it’s a safe bet he will play at some point on the trip. Lucic plans to take part in practice today.

Center Marc Savard (broken foot) has not yet resumed skating.

The Bruins are looking for their third successive win tonight, with the red-hot Tim Thomas expected in nets. Thomas blanked Pittsburgh Tuesday, 3-0, and has allowed only six goal in his last five games.
[Boston Herald]

Garrett Roe suspended for first game against Sioux.

The SCSU Huskies will be without one of their top players when they play the Fighting Sioux on Friday night. Garrett Roe as been suspended for violating a team rule. I guess the Sioux fans won't have to witness any diving the first game of the series.

Entering perhaps their toughest stretch of the season on Friday at second-ranked North Dakota, the St. Cloud State men's hockey team will get a boost with the return of two forwards from injury. However, it might take both Travis Novak and David Eddy to make up for the loss of another, Huskies leading scorer Garrett Roe, who will miss the series opener against the Sioux because of a one-game suspension.

Roe, a junior who has two goals and six assists through eight games, will be a healthy scratch for the first time in his college career because he "broke a team rule," according to SCSU coach Bob Motzko, who would not elaborate.
Roe missed one game because of an army injury as a rookie — and has 101 career points while appearing in 85 of 86 career games. He practiced with the Huskies' fifth line on Monday and Tuesday at the National Hockey Center and again Wednesday at the Municipal Athletic Complex.
He also had a bruised left eye, but both Motzko and Roe maintained that had nothing to do with his suspension. When asked why he wouldn't be playing Friday, Roe — who is making the trip to Grand Forks — referred questions to Motzko.
"I really can't say — but it was nothing big and it wasn't because of a fight, I'll tell you that," said Roe, who wouldn't explain his bruised eye. "Other than that, I can't tell you anything. I can't give details on my personal life." [Saint Cloud Times]

Video tour of the Bemidji Regional Event Center

Nice to see the BREC taking shape in Bemidji. This building is going to help the Beavers recruit some good players and will even things out with other schools in the WCHA.

Check out this hit.

This hit is worth a second look, Dion Phaneuf absolutley destroys Montreal Canadian Tomas Plekanec. One Hab's blogger wasn't very happy with the hit and thought the refs blew it.

Ness and Schroeder not leaving UMN.

The internet has been abuzz today with a few rumors about Aaron Ness and Jordan Schroeder leaving the Gophers, these rumors have since been debunked. The rumors first started appearing on Gopher Puck Live, Siouxsports and then I also saw it over on rubechat.kfan.com. This Rumor picked up so much steam that the University had to issue a statement that Jordan Schroeder was committed to staying in school and will not be leaving. As a bystander and fan of college hockey there does seems to be a lot of drama surrounding the UMN hockey program and you have to wonder what the heck is going on down there?

On the Ness rumor, I found that one to be pretty entertaining but very improbable. I mean seriously; why Ness would leave UMN and transfer to UND? It wouldn’t make a lot of sense, first Ness would have to sit out a whole year then transfer to UND. In the interim Ness would have to probably play junior hockey in the USHL. Also, I don’t think there is any room for him at UND because the Sioux have recruited some great defensive players.

The University of Minnesota, in a highly unusual move, issued a news release denying rumors that sophomore center Jordan Schroeder is leaving. Here is the release sent at 6:27 p.m.

If I was a conspiracy buff, I might suspect that somone was trying to sabotage the U's recruiting efforts with this gossip.

Here is the U of M statement:

With rumors surrounding the future of Jordan Schroeder, the Gophers’ sophomore forward has stated he has no intention to leave the University of Minnesota men’s hockey program.

“I am fully committed to this team and university,” said Schroeder, who serves an assistant captain this season for the Gophers. “I have no intention of leaving college early to play pro hockey.”

“It is unfortunate that these rumors continue to come out and I have no idea where they begin. I think it’s important for me to publicly state that I am going nowhere. I am dedicated to this team and plan to help us reach our goals for the remainder of this season and future years.”

Schroeder was a first-round draft choice last summer by the Vancouver Canucks and has been the center of several internet rumors over recent months regarding his future in college and professional hockey.

NESS BUZZ

Then there was the Aaron Ness rumor. I got several e-mails on it. Ness is looking into transferring to North Dakota, where his father went to school.

I had talked to Ness, a sophomore defenseman, for a few minutes earlier in the day. Obviously, I didn't ask him if he was thinking of leaving. I had not heard the rumor yet. He seemed his normal self.

To check out the rumor, I called his father Jay in Roseau.

"He loves it there," Jay Ness said, referring to the U of M. "Obviously he wants to win, but it's early in the season."

No hint of family discontent with the U program.

But the hockey situation at the U has been a little chaotic lately. First defenseman Nick Leddy suffers a broken jaw. Then four days later, forward Jay Barriball suffers a season ending knee injury and has surgery last Friday.

And, Monday, sophomore defenseman Sam Lofquist tells coach Don Lucia he is leaving the team.
[Star and Tribune]

Finger to Kessel

As a Boston Bruins fan the trade of Phil Kessel to the Toronto Maple Leafs for a couple of first round draft choices in 2010 and 2011 makes my blood boil. Face it you never know what you're going to get with a draft choice you could end up with a James Sheppard or Benoit Pouliot who are first round busts.

As the Bruins continue to struggle to score goals this season and as I watch the speedster Phil Kessel make one of the best goalies in the NHL look sick it makes me even more upset. How about the pass from former SCSU Husky Jeff Finger? That was an awesome pass to get Kessel going through the neutral zone. In the old days that would have been whistled dead for a two line pass.

Red Berenson: Michigan hockey team played like 'spoiled brats'

I saw this over on Todd D. Milewski's weekly blog post. Interesting stuff and I wish that more coaches would say these types of things. It seems like today's coaches coddle their players too much.

If there's a drill that helps hockey players gain composure, you can bet University of Michigan coach Red Berenson will implement it in practice Monday.

Berenson described his players' behavior as amateurish after Michigan's 5-1 loss to Miami (Ohio) on Saturday. The Wolverines racked up 65 penalty minutes, including 51 minutes in the third period as the RedHawks pulled away.

Tristin Llewellyn, Kevin Lynch and Chad Langlais each received 10-minute misconduct penalties.

"I'm embarrassed," Berenson said. "We played like a bunch of spoiled brats, and we've gotta suck it up. When you're getting beat, you just keep working hard for the team. You don't take it out on the other team and take stupid penalties that are going to hurt your team even further. That's not the way we play hockey, and this team will learn that."

The education begins Monday, said senior defenseman Chris Summers.

"We need to be a better-composed team, and I think it starts with the upper-classmen and seniors," Summers said. "It starts at practice. It will be addressed on Monday." [Annarbor.com]

Linkorama

Here are a few stories of interest from the college hockey world. It's nice to see Evan Trupp scoring at a more consistent pace, for his offensive creativity he was rewarded with the Offensive Player of the Week in the WCHA. I believe that Evan Trupp has finally arrived and will be having a huge impact on the WCHA this season.

Red Baron® WCHA Offensive Players of the Week

Evan Trupp, Jr., F, North Dakota

Sean Wiles, Jr., F, Alaska Anchorage

A pair of third-year forwards who played key roles for their respective teams last weekend - Evan Trupp of the University of North Dakota and Sean Wiles of the University of Alaska Anchorage - are Red Baron® WCHA co-Offensive Players of the Week for Nov. 10-16, 2009.

Trupp, a 5-8, 164-pound junior from Anchorage, Alaska, scored three goals - including a game-winner - to help visiting North Dakota to a two-game conference road sweep at Michigan Tech on Nov. 6-7. He tallied once in a 4-2 win last Friday and then came back with a two more goals on Saturday, including the game-winner, as the Sioux completed the sweep with a 4-1 victory.[WCHA]

Moose from KBUN Radio and the Hockey Show has posted the latest pictures to the Bemidji Regional Events Center. Ironically The Beavers will open the BREC in October of 2010 by playing against the Fighting Sioux, this will also be the Beavers first WCHA series. [Click to see pictures]

What the heck is going on down in Minneapolis? In the old days when you didn't get enough playing time you worked harder in practice and try to earn more playing time. Now days the players call their family advisor and transfer to a junior team or sign with their professional team. I think that when you make a commitment to play for a hockey team you should at least play your year out before you move on. To me this is a character issue.

Minnesota sophomore defenseman Sam Lofquist has decided to leave the university’s men’s hockey team and withdraw from school.

Lofquist, a Somerset, Wis. native, has played in three of the Gophers’ eight games this season and did not register any points. He appeared in 35 of the team’s 37 games as a freshman, totaling one goal and three assists.
The Gophers have only 22 active players on their roster now, with forward Jay Barriball (knee surgery) out for the season and defenseman Nick Leddy (broken jaw) out until mid-December.

The good news is Leddy will be back and come January the team will get another forward, Jacob Cepis.
[Star Tribune]

Apparently Pioneer junior goalie Marc Cheverie who was hurt in game against the Mankato a few weeks ago, is hopeful he can play in next weekend's series against the UND Fighting Sioux. With Cheverie the Pioneers have been really good, without Cheverie in net the Pioneers have been, well not so good.

Chevy wants to start.

Cheverie, who leads the NCAA in save percentage (.959) and shutouts (three), remains on crutches to keep weight off his calf, which required 30 stitches from a skate-blade accident.

Doctors originally said he would miss two to four weeks. The North Dakota series begins three weeks from the injury.

"He's bound and determined to be back before doctors say he is, so we'll see," Gwozdecky said. "It's probably good that he's feeling like he's going to be back, but that's a typical competitive athlete talking."
[Denver Post Hockey Blog]

The Lets Go DU Hockey Blog is reporting that the Magness Arena is almost sold our for the UND and DU hockey series on the 20th and 21st of November. I would recommend that if you want to go to the DU and UND series you will need to order your ticket now or look for a scalper outside the Magness Arena.

The 10 biggest hockey upsets of the last decade...

I found this blog post on Puck Daddy, I am shocked that the Holy Cross upset win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers didn't make the list of the 10 biggest hockey upset of the last decade, I actually thought that the Holy Cross win was more significant because they were the first college hockey team ranked 16th in the NCAA hockey tourney to win a NCAA hockey game. The Boston Bruins loss to the hated Montreal Canadian in the 2002 Eastern Conference quarterfinals still stick in my craw and still give me a bad taste in my mouth till this day.

9. Bemidji State upsets Notre Dame, 2009 NCAA men's hockey tournament

In 2009, we finally were given the answer to an annual scholastic hockey mystery: The hell's a Bemidji State anyway?

Turns out it's a small liberal arts college in Minnesota that was ready to shock the NCAA.

The Beavers were technically a No. 4 seed in the Div. I tournament, but were actually the lowest seed in the 16-team field. Which made their emphatic 5-1 stunner against No. 2 Notre Dame all the more unbelievably -- along with the facts that it was Bemidji State's first D-I tournament win in school history and just the second tourney victory in CHA conference history.

Because of the university's size and budget, the Wall Street Journal ranked the upset as the third most-shocking in recent NCAA sports history.

The Beavers would qualify for the Frozen Four, losing to Miami (Ohio) in the semifinals. But the win over the Irish sparked a Cinderella run that, for a moment, captivated the hockey world.[Puck Daddy]

Krejci back and Lucic skating.

This some of the best news that I have gotten all week. Krejci back from his bout with H1N1 and Milan Lucic is back skating with the team and that should mean he will be playing in Bruins uniform very soon. With Lucic recovering from a broken finger I don't expect he will be getting into many fights though.

WILMINGTON - Bruins' center David Krejci returned to practice this morning at Ristuccia Arena for the first time since being diagnosed with the H1N1 virus last Wednesday. Krejci, who worked out on his own yesterday because the Bruins had a day off, missed Thursday and Saturday's games but could be back in the lineup tomorrow night when the Bruins host the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Garden.

Michael Ryder did not skate. Coach Claude Julien said he was under the weather but was not suffering from H1N1.

Milan Lucic (broken right index finger) skated before practice in full gear with a puck and was out on the ice for about 40 minutes. Julien said he couldn't give a timetable for his return.

How good is BSU?

Apparently some don't think BSU is worthy of the 7th place ranking in the USCHO Poll/USA Today Poll; first off it’s early and a lot of traditional teams have fallen flat on their faces early in the season. Some have asked me why I am silent this season when BSU is ranked so high in the early season polls and power rankings. Don't get mad at me or blame me for the polls.

I didn’t vote for any of these teams but I don’t disagree with BSU’s ranking so far. Seriously, after BSU dispatched Notre Dame and Cornell in convincing in the NCAA playoffs to make the Frozen Four and then fast forward to this season where the Beavers get off to a fast start, I wouldn't think they would needed to defend their high ranking. Just saying.

I don't understand why should BSU be punished they have beaten everyone on their schedule so far, the pollsters didn't seem to mind last season when it was AFA. Does anyone forget how last season the media was in love and fawning all over the Air Force Falcons when they went 13-1-0 to start the season most of their 13 wins were unimpressive and against the weak sisters of the poor. Look at the schedule they had, there were four wins against one of the worst teams in the AHA and college hockey Sacred Heart, two more of their wins were against cupcakes American International and Bentley those teams don’t exactly make me say “wow I am impressed”.

AFA 2008-2009 Schedule
Win Sacred Heart
Win Sacred Heart
Win Bemidji State
Win Bemidji State
Win American Int'l
Win American Int'l
Win Bentley
Win Bentley
Win Holy Cross
Win Holy Cross
Win Sacred Heart
Win Sacred Heart
Win Colorado College
Loss Denver Univcersity

Fast forward to this season the Beavers have started the season going 7-0-1. The Beavers only blemish on their record was a tie against NMU; before you knock NMU this was the same team that also beat the UMD Bulldogs earlier this season.

Let’s review the BSU schedule to date; the Beavers took Air Force Academy to the wood shed 3-1 and 7-3 revenging last season’s loss to the Falcons. The Falcons are the same team that lost to Alabama Huntsville the next weekend by identical 4-2 scores. The next weekend the Beavers played at Northern Michigan and beat and tied the Wildcats. Then the Beavers traveled to UAH and swept the Charges and played RMU at home and swept the Colonials. The Beavers have beat everyone that is one their schedule except for the tie against NMU. It is what it is.

I personally think the PWR and the Polls mean nothing until after the first of the year. The polls and power rankings make nice reading material but no team has won a championship in October, November or the December. The Beavers also have a tough non-conference schedule coming up in the next three weeks they will play Minnesota, Alabama Huntsville and a game each against Miami and Ohio State. If the Beavers can go 3-3 or 4-2 during that time frame I think they would be worthy of a top fifteen rankings. Let’s see how things play out. Also so far to date the soon to be defunct CHA has proven to be to better than the AHA.

EDIT:My buddy Gary tells me that since Jan 24th 2009 the Beavers record is 19-3-2. That is a pretty darn good record.

Judge orders state board to delay UND nickname decision

I would say this is good news and it's about time someone stepped up. I don't see what the rush is all about? Let's take some time and work this thing out. The Summit League isn't going any where and the other UND teams can't play for anything till 2012. Also, the 30 year agreement was never part of the lawsuit and isn't needed to keep using the Fighting Sioux name.

By: Tu-Uyen Tran ---- Grand Forks Herald The State Board of Higher Education is being told by a district judge that it may not retire UND’s Fighting Sioux nickname until a hearing Dec. 9.

The temporary restraining order, dated Monday, came from Judge Michael G. Sturdevant of Bottineau, N.D., as part of a lawsuit against the board brought forward by the Committee For Understanding and Respect, a group of Spirit Lake nation nickname supporters.

The group’s spokeswoman, Eunice Davidson, said 67 percent of the voters on her reservation agreed to keep the name in a vote earlier this year and felt the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe should be given an opportunity to do the same.

The complaint that sets off the lawsuit argues that the tribes are the owners of the nickname and the state board is merely a trustee, and, therefore, can’t decide to end use of the nickname on its own.

Word of the lawsuit reached the Herald late Monday night and there wasn’t an opportunity to show any state board members the relevant documents.

Tribes in charge

The complaint that sets off the lawsuit takes issue with the way the state board unilaterally changed the deadline, contrary to a settlement between the state and the NCAA.

The NCAA considers American Indian nicknames offensive and the settlement gives UND until Nov. 30, 2010, to win the support of both the state’s Sioux tribes.

But the state board moved the deadline forward to Oct. 31 of this year. If the Standing Rock chairman doesn’t state his intent to move forward with a referendum at the reservation, it appeared the board could enforce that deadline and direct UND to retire the nickname at its Nov. 19 meeting.

But in doing so, the board would be ignoring the rights of the Sioux people, as stated in the NCAA settlement, according to the complaint.

The NCAA settlement says the Sioux tribes “have important contributions in determining whether, to what extent and in what manner the ‘Sioux’ name and the ‘Fighting Sioux’ nickname or logo should continue to be used.”

The complaint interprets that to mean that “the SBHE has become the ‘trustee’ of the nickname and logo for the Sioux People of North Dakota.” In other words, the tribes own the nickname and the state board is only holding on to it until the tribes can decide what to do with the nickname.

Nickname supporters said in the complaint that “the plaintiffs are bringing this action because they strongly believe to lose… this identification with North Dakota’s oldest institution of higher education will cause isolation and diminishing of public interest, knowledge and respect for Sioux history and culture and will be detrimental and not in the best interest of their people.”

The complaint says the supporters are not seeking monetary damages.

Nickname supporters also said the 30-year agreement for use of the nickname the state board wants from each tribe is not in the NCAA settlement. They’re asking the court to order the board to back off that requirement.

Savard and Bruins in contract talks.

The Boston Bruins better think long and hard, without Marc Savard in their line up they are having a tough time scoring goals, frankly they are not very good and are very boring to watch. This past season the Bruins let Phil Kessel go to Toronto and this ill advised move will probably turn out to be a horrible transaction, because the Bruins can't score goals. Players with Marc Savard's talent and skill don't come around very often.

Time running out for Savard-Bruins pact

The agent for star center Marc Savard says contract talks continue with the Boston Bruins, but time is also becoming of the essence.

"We continue to discuss regularly," agent Larry Kelly told ESPN.com Monday night at the Hockey Hall of Fame. "Both sides are interested in getting something done. But obviously there are issues we are working through."

The longer it takes, the closer Savard gets to July 1, when he would become an unrestricted free agent. It's clear from what Kelly said that the clock is ticking. [ESPN]

Toews scores in first game back

Former Fighting Sioux and current Blackhawks star Jonathan Toews missed 6 games with a concussion after being hit by Willie Mitchell came back with a bang as he scored a goal against the LA Kings. During his absence the Hawks went 3-3.

Jason Blake on playing with Phil Kessel.

Interesting interview with former Sioux Jason Blake, nice to see the Maple Leafs putting the two offensively gifted players on the same line (a Sioux and a Gopher on the same line). I also wonder why the person conducting the interview would compare Kessel to Hull, their two different types of players in my opinion.

Fill in the caption.

Bob from Wisconsin took picture in Houghton Michigan this past weekend and posted it on Sioux Sports and I was wondering if anyone sees the hilarity in tis picture or has a good caption to put on this picture.

Curtis Glencross suspended for hit on Chris Drury.

Former UAA Seawolve Curtis Glencross has been suspended by the NHL for three games for this hit on Former BU Terrier and New York Ranger Chris Drury. It seems like every day another person is taken out with a questionable hit to the head, it seems that the players have lost respect for their opponents. In this case it looks like Glencross was looking to hit Drury as he was skating across the blue line.
Andrew Gross of Ranger rants believes that maybe the penalty should have been 5 games.

The NHL has suspended Calgary Flames forward Curtis Glencross for three games, without pay, for delivering a high hit to an unsuspecting Chris Drury of the New York Rangers on Saturday night during the Flames' 3-1 win.

Glencross hit Drury 48 seconds into the game. Drury was helped off the ice and did not return to the game. New York coach John Tortorella said Drury suffered a concussion. No penalty was called on the play.

Under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and based on his average annual salary, Glencross will forfeit $18,652.86. The money goes to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

Glencross will miss games at Montreal (Nov. 10), Buffalo (Nov. 13) and Toronto (Nov. 14). He will be eligible to return Nov. 17 against Colorado.
[NHL.COM]