USA strikes gold in Saskatoon

Team USA’s win in Saskatoon doesn't require a lot of pontification, one of the first words that comes to mind is F’N awesome. It’s about time and not since 2004 has team USA been able to lay claim to the crown.

Enjoy the game winning goal scored by John Carlson. I swear my heart was in my throat during the overtime until the game winning goal, then I had tears of joy in my eyes. Yes, I did the dance again.


This win means so much for American hockey; it’s one of them defining moments in history like the 1980 Olympic team win in Lake Placid. The Canadians were the over whelming favorites to win the gold medal game and what makes this win more significant is team USA beat the Canadians on their turf. What makes it even more specials is after listening to their fans boo our players for almost two weeks our guys get to walk out of Canada carrying the gold.

Fighting Sioux forward Danny Kristo leads team USA [in a song]

Roenick 'baffled' that Drury named to Team USA

Tip of the hat to my friend Mike Swainey of Jackets required. I have to say that I agree with Jeremy Roenick, how the hell does Drury make team USA? No disrespect to Drury but he doesn't deserve to be on the team. There are other American players that are having better seasons than Drury.

Jeremy Roenick says there isn't too much to quibble about when it comes to Brian Burke's picks for Team USA, but that didn't stop the outspoken American from picking apart some of the roster decisions.

Roenick said Tuesday he was surprised at the addition of Chris Drury to the team ahead of someone like Scott Gomez and T.J. Oshie.

"Not to take anything away from the guy because he's had such a great career, but for Chris Drury to be on the team, it baffles me," Roenick told Toronto radio station AM640.

"I know he's a great leader and if he's captain of the team, he'll be a great captain, but I just don't see him being as good for the team as a guy like Gomez would be or T.J. Oshie. Oshie would bring so much energy to this team and this type of format in an international event, that I don't understand how those two guys aren't on the team."

Roenick, who won a silver medal in 2002 with Team USA, believes Burke is likely counting on Drury to provide leadership on a very young team. But the two-time Olympian can think of at least one other player who could have filled the same role.

Bruins work Brian Elliot and the Senators 4-1.

This is for our friends over at Sixty Minutes. No Alibis. No Regrets. I couldn't resist this one. I got found this priceless picture over at Stanley Cup of Chowder. The Bruins hung 4 goals on former Badger goalie Brian Elliot in the first period of tonight game between the Bruins and the Senators and cruised the rest of the way, winning 4-1. To add injury to insult former Gopher Blake Wheeler picked up two goals and an assist tonight.

Patrice Bergeron out 2-6 weeks with injury.

I just saw this and it's bad news for the Boston Bruins who have had some series injury problems this season. Savard, and Lucic have been out for long periods of time this season and now Bergeron has been bitten by the injury bug. As a Bruins fan I hope this doesn't affect his Olympic status.

BOSTON -- Star center Patrice Bergeron could be out anywhere from two to six weeks with a thumb injury, a source told ESPN.com Tuesday.

The same source said Bergeron still had to see a specialist later Tuesday and that would more precisely determine his absence.

The 24-year-old Bergeron took a Dennis Wideman shot on the hand in Monday night's loss at the New York Rangers and returned to Boston on Tuesday morning for medical tests.

Bergeron is the Bruins' leading scorer and head coach Claude Julien has called him their best player since the start of the season. The Bruins have already dealt with long-term injuries to star center Marc Savard and top-line winger Milan Lucic this season.

Bergeron's injury also calls into question his Olympic participation. Team Canada named him to its team last Wednesday. Canada's Olympic opener goes Feb. 16 against Norway, exactly six weeks from Tuesday.

Do you believe? Go Team USA.

This video brings back some really good memories. There were 3 Fighting Sioux hockey players on that USA WJC roster; Brady Murray, Drew Stafford and Zach Parise.

It's been a long six years since USA has won the WJC. The Canadians are on a roll, it’s time for the Americans to stop them dead in their tracks. I hope that team USA can finally break the Canadian stranglehold on the WJC. I want to hear the American anthem at the end of the game.

No shortage of history as Canada, U.S. clash in Championship.

This is what TSN has to say about the WJC final tomorrow night. I must be theon of the only people that doesn't see USA beating Sweden as a upset. I expected it. Tomorrow night game is also on the NHL Network which is 215 on Direct TV and 307 on Midco.net in Grand Forks, ND.

Any time Canada and the United States meet at the world juniors, there's a heightened sense of importance to the game - and that even goes for the preliminary round. Make it the gold medal final with everything on the line, throw in the recent track record and long-standing rivalry between these two teams and it seems fans are in for another thrilling night of entertainment in Saskatoon.

You can see the gold medal game Tuesday night on TSN, TSN HD, and TSN.ca beginning at 7:30pm et/4:30pm pt.

Just a few days ago, on New Year's Eve, with first place in Group A on the line, Canada scored a comeback victory over the U.S., winning 5-4 in a dramatic shootout to clinch a bye into the semifinals of the world junior hockey championship. It was the highlight of the tournament thus far, and no doubt had many fans hoping for a rematch later in the proceedings.

They got their wish.

Thanks to a 5-2 upset victory over Sweden, the U.S. will indeed get another crack at the Canadians, this time for world junior hockey supremacy.

The Canucks, who beat Switzerland to lock down their spot in the final, are looking for a record sixth straight championship, but there a few potential obstacles in the way of that prize.

First of all, the last time these two countries faced off in the championship game of this tournament was 2004. The winner? The U.S.A., with a 4-3 win to claim that year's tourney in Helsinki, Finland.

It was the Americans' first world junior title, and it came at the expense of the boys in red and white.

In addition to that historical tidbit, there are roster issues as well. Canadian defenceman Travis Hamonic will miss the final as he is out 6-8 weeks with a shoulder separation.

"It's a potentially devastating loss," says TSN Hockey Insider Bob McKenzie. "Team Canada loses a guy that can hammer the puck from the point on their power play. They also lose a penalty killer and they lose one of their shut-down defencemen. It's an absolutely huge loss for Team Canada, and they're a little thin on the blue line to begin with." [Read the rest of the article]

Bring on Maverick/Sioux Week! (by LGM)

Well, given that it's Maverick vs. Sioux week I figured I better make my second post on Goon's World.

My beloved Mavericks will hit the road for the long trek to Grand Forks this week to play at the always dreaded Ralph. This trip, however, is probably the only one to date where the weather is just as cold in Mankato as it is in Grand Forks. Seriously, how do you Sioux faithful put up with such dang cold weather all winter long?!?

Sadly, I will not be making the trip to Grand Forks this year. I made my first trip there last year and a return trip was just not in the cards. Sorry folks, none of you will get to yell at me in person. I'm sure my good buddy Archie will be sure to yell at me in the comments section here at Goon's World sometime this week though.

I'll start out my first post of the week (if you're lucky there will be more than one) with the Top 5 reasons it's better to be a Maverick Fan than a Sioux Fan.

#5 We don't have to rely on racists jerks to build us an arena. We go at it the old fashioned way with a local tax and naming rights to a wallet gouging cell phone company.

#4 While Jutting is ugly and a poor coach, at least he remembers to take the coat hanger out of his suit jacket before wearing it and occasionally smiles. This can not be said about Hak!

#3 It takes more pride and effort to be a Maverick fan than a Sioux fan. You have to pay more money for Maverick wear and it's not the "only" hockey team around to really cheer for. (Fargo doesn't count because it's new) The Mavs struggle at times and it takes a lot of heart to stand behind a team that doesn't get all of the top players. Face it, it's easier to jump on and off the Green and White bandwagon...just like the Maroon and Gold one!

#2 Year in and year out, the Mavericks always bring an intense and physical game to the ice. That makes for some excellent hockey watching!

#1 We do not have a hostile and abusive mascot. To date, there have not been any lawsuits or complaints from any Mavericks that are offended by us using them as a mascot!

*this is humor people....roll with it before you totally flip out at me!

Oh and the SUPER #1 reason it's better to be a Maverick fan. Well, hello...ME. It's all about me:)

That's it for now Sioux dwellers....I'll hopefully be back to razz you some more this week and give you a break down of what to expect from the Mavericks. From the Sioux I'll be expecting...um, ice packs and crutches? Seriously, is anyone on your team not injured?!? YIKES! I feel your pain, really...the Mavs had a horrible injury season a few years back. It sucks.

P.S- anytime you Sioux fans want to be Maverick haters, I'm pretty sure most of you were the biggest Maverick fans several times in the past years when we beat on the Gophers or when their dirty hack Brian Schack attacked LGM favorite Channing Boe and loser Lucia defended it. Just remember those times people.

Poll Monday (Sioux 5th)

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[January 4, 2010]

1 Miami (45) 13-2-5 995 1
2 Denver ( 5) 13-5-2 952 2
3 Colorado College 12-5-3 848 3
4 Wisconsin 12-5-3 778 7
5 North Dakota 10-6-4 718 6
6 Yale 8-3-3 714 9
7 Boston College 10-5-2 638 5
8 Cornell 8-4-2 627 4
9 Michigan State 14-6-2 605 13
10 Bemidji State 14-4-2 578 10
11 Ferris State 14-4-2 515 11
12 Quinnipiac 13-4-1 481 8
13 Minnesota-Duluth 12-7-1 423 12
14 Mass.-Lowell 11-7-1 276 14
15 St. Cloud State 10-7-3 235 19
16 Massachusetts 11-7-0 192 15
17 Union 10-4-5 184 18
18 Maine 10-7-2 166 NR
19 Vermont 10-6-2 156 NR
20 Alaska 9-5-4 142 17
Others Receiving Votes: New Hampshire 128, Notre Dame 93, Lake Superior 30, Minnesota State 14, St. Lawrence 5, Michigan 4, Northern Michigan 2, Minnesota 1
--------------------------------

USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[Jan. 4, 2010]
1 Miami University (Ohio) (33) 13-2-5 509 1
2 Denver (1) 13-5-2 477 2
3 Colorado College 12-5-3 409 3
4 Wisconsin 12-5-3 377 7
5 North Dakota 10-6-4 344 6
6 Yale 8-3-3 328 8
7 Cornell 8-4-2 297 4
8 Boston College 10-5-2 265 5
9 Michigan State 14-6-2 262 13
10 Bemidji State 14-4-2 227 9
11 Quinnipiac 13-4-1 157 10
12 Ferris State 14-4-2 145 11
13 Minnesota Duluth 12-7-1 111 14
14 Massachusetts Lowell 11-7-1 65 12
15 St. Cloud State 10-7-3 27 NR
Others receiving votes: University of Maine, 20; University of Vermont, 19; University of Massachusetts, 14; Union College, 8; University of Alaska, 8; University of New Hampshire, 6; Lake Superior State University, 3; University of Notre Dame, 2.

INCH Power Rankings

As always for a good laugh I include the INCH Power Rankings.

First off Yale has not business being ranked higher than Wisconsin. Yale is not a better team than Wisconsin, sure they tied this weekend but the Badgers have three players in Saskatoon for the WJC (Ramage, Derek Stepan, Jake Gardnier). Cornell sitting at 6th, yeah. Yawn!

1. Miami
2. Denver
3. Yale
4. Wisconsin
5. Colorado College
6. Cornell
7. North Dakota 1 How did former Sioux star Jonathan Toews, now the toast of Chicago as the Blackhawks' captain, spend New Year's Eve in the Windy City? Dining with his brother, David, and the rest of the NoDak hockey team, in town for Notre Dame's Shillelagh Tournament. 10-6-4 (6-6-2 WCHA) RECENT GAMES: W vs. Niagara, 3-1; T vs. Notre Dame, 3-3 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. Minnesota State, vs. Minnesota State
8. Boston College
9. Michigan State
10. Bemidji State
11. Quinnipiac
12. UMass Lowell
13. Ferris State
14. Minnesota Duluth
15. Massachusetts
16. Union
17. Maine
18. Alaska
19. St. Cloud State
20. New Hampshire

Dropped out: None
Bubble-licious: Lake Superior State, Notre Dame, St. Lawrence, Vermont

Sioux 3 Irish 3

The Fighting Sioux ended the game in a 3-3 tie; the tourney was then decided by the most exciting way to break a tie in hockey, the shoot out. Unfortunately the Shootout went to the Fighting Irish. Like coach Hakstol said, the shoot out really means nothing as far as national stats go. If you listen to the post game interview you will hear Coach Hakstol say that he liked the way his team played tonight, he thought they put up a good effort.

Tonight on the radio broadcast Tim Hennessy said, ‘What the Sioux got out there isn’t doing that bad.’ I think that is a good way to summarize this weekend. Think about it; our best forward Danny Kristo is at the WJC in Saskatoon. Our best defensive forward Darcy Zajac is out with an injury and in addition to that our All American Defenseman Chay Genoway is on the shelf and we still get a win and a tie in a holiday tourney. I think I will dwell on the positive and not focuse on the negatives.

I by nature don't stay mad long or like a lot of negativity, I think there is a lot to be positive about, this team has a lot going for it. I also think UND is sitting pretty well nationally, the Fighting Sioux sit at 10th in the all important Pairwise, the Fighting Sioux have an out of conference record of 4-0-2. The Fighting Sioux still have a chance to move up in the standings and get home ice for the WCHA playoffs.

During the pre-game of tonight’s radio broadcast Zajac kind of predicted that there is a good chance he might be back for this next weekend series. I would have to think there is about a 50-50 to 60-40 chance the Fighting Sioux have his services for next weekend. That would be a huge lift on the penalty kill.

[Box Score]

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

NDK-1 Mario Lamoureux (2-CTH ROUGHING) NDM 1x1 3:13
NDM 1 - 0 6x5 PP Ben Ryan (4) (Ian Cole, Nick Larson) 3:59
NDM: 19,28,26,4,9,G32 NDK: 3,19,22,25,G31
NDK-2 Brad Malone (2-Holding) (Served by Michael Cichy) 10:01
NDK-3 Brad Malone (10-Misconduct) 10:01
NDM-1 Sean Lorenz (2-Cross-Checking) 10:01
NDK-4 Matt Frattin (2-Hooking) NDM 1x2 11:43
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Chris VandeVelde (6) (Jason Gregoire, Derrick LaPoint) 16:54
NDK (+): 29,17,20,21,25,G31 NDM (-): 15,17,24,26,28,G32

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

NDM-2 Brett Blatchford (2-Interference) NDK 1x1 0:24
NDM-3 Teddy Ruth (2-Tripping) NDK 1x2 1:54
NDK 2 - 1 6x4 PP Brett Hextall (8) (Jake Marto, Joe Gleason) 2:15
NDK: 26,25,20,17,19,G31 NDM: 2,9,28,G32
NDK-5 Ben Blood (2-Tripping) NDM 1x3 5:18
NDM-4 Nick Larson (2-Goaltender Interference) NDK 1x3 5:52
NDK 3 - 1 6x6 Brett Bruneteau (1) (Mario Lamoureux, Carter Rowney) 8:47
NDK (+): 13,9,3,24,27,G31 NDM (-): 2,6,15,24,27,G32
NDM 2 - 3 6x6 Kevin Deeth (2) (Ryan Guentzel, Brett Blatchford) 12:22
NDM (+): 21,27,3,22,33,G32 NDK (-): 3,9,13,25,27,G31
NDK-6 Matt Frattin (2-CTH ROUGHING) NDM 1x4 14:04

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

NDM 3 - 3 6x6 GT Billy Maday (7) (Christiaan Minella, Joe Lavin) 1:36
NDM (+): 17,15,16,3,28,G32 NDK (-): 8,18,20,21,24,G31
NDK-7 Ben Blood (2-GRASPING THE FACEMASK) 3:57
NDM-5 Kevin Deeth (2-Roughing) 3:57
NDM-6 Kevin Deeth (2-Boarding) NDK 1x4 15:47

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

Blackhawks don't back down vs. Blues

Here is what Toews had to say about his fight with Backes last night.

''I still don't think I won,'' Toews said with a smile of his second NHL fight. ''I'm not going to argue that, but I did a little better than the first one [against the Phoenix Coyotes' Martin Hanzal on Nov. 18, 2008].

Toews and Backes fight

For the ten people that haven't seen this fight, here is the video from the Toews and Backes fight. A Maverick and a Sioux getting after it. After tonight the Fighting Sioux favorite dance partners come to town.

The German scores; Bruins win 2-1 at Fenway.

I thought I would include this video of the goal that helped the Bruins beat the Flyers in the Holiday Classic. I thought it was a nice goal to end a relatively boring game. What an effort by Patrice Bergeron to get the puck on net where it was tipped into the Flyer net by Marco Sturm. Its plays like this; is why Bergeron is going to be on the Canadian Olympic team.

John Scott and Matt Greene.

This fight was from the other night when the Wild were beat at home by the LA Kings. Actually, to call this a fight is kind of a stretch, it was more of a hug feast between former MTU defenseman John Scott and former Fighting Sioux star Matt Greene.

I think this video illustrates they only reason John Scott is playing with the Wild is because he can Fight and shows a willingness to drop the gloves. Now that the Wild have Clayton Stone on their roster who is more talented than Scott and can fight; we will probably see Scott sent back to Houston. On the flip side Greene is in the NHL because he has the talent to play in the NHL and will fight if he has too.

Russo's slight?

After reading one of Russo's articles about the USA Olympic roster selection yesterday I realized that he had left out Zach Parise's college "UND" after mentioning a few area players and where they had gone to school. I was going to make a blog post about it but decided against it because I like Russo's work; I doubt that Russo would do it maliciously.

Parise, a Minneapolis native, former Shattuck-St. Mary's player and current Devils star, will be one of the Americans' go-to scorers. He finished third in the NHL last season with 45 goals, and he's scored 42 points this season and leads the league with a plus-21.
-------------------
Besides Parise and Langen- brunner, six other Olympians have Minnesota ties: Devils defenseman Paul Martin is a former Gopher and Elk River High standout; St. Louis defenseman Erik Johnson hails from Bloomington and is a former Gopher; St. Louis winger David Backes is a former Spring Lake Park High and Minnesota State, Mankato standout; Tampa Bay winger Ryan Malone played at St. Cloud State and lives in Plymouth; Toronto's Kessel is a former Gopher, and Los Angeles defenseman Jack Johnson played at Shattuck-St. Mary's. [Russo's Rants]

Apparently one of our fellow Sioux fans noticed the slight (it was probably unintended) and took issue with it because here is what Russo put in one of his blog posts today. You have to love Russo's humor.

Lemaire nuggets; Burns traveling; Gushing about the Devils, and hatred of the Sioux

As usual, Lou Lamoriello's put together another great room with guys like former UND star Zach Parise (labeling it that because a reader today accused me of hating UND, and in actuality that we at the Star Tribune have a "policy" of not naming UND when a player played there. Being the longtime Minnesotan that I am, he's right. I have an immense hatred for the Fighting Sioux. It keeps me up at night. I have a dartboard with Jonathan Toews' face on it), two of my favorite players that I've ever covered, Brian Rolston and Rob Niedermayer, Brodeur, Jamie Langenbrunner, etc., etc, etc. I'll write a lot about Rolston for tomorrow.
[Russo's Rants]

Time for the "what-if" calculator

You can go over to the what if calculator and make your predictions for the final WCHA standings. I was goofing around with the numbers on the "what if" calculator and this is what I think the Fighting Sioux can do. I preface this with the assumption that the Sioux will get Chay Genoway back soon for the second half and will pull off one of their historical patented second half runs.
["What if" calculator]

WCHA Final
Team GP Pts
Denver 28 39
UND 28 38
CC 28 37
UW 28 35
SCSU 28 30
UMD 28 29
Mankato 28 27
UMN 28 22
AA 28 16
MTech 28 7

Sioux skate past Purple Eagles 3-1.

There were a couple of themes to this game. It was the first time the Sioux had played a meaningful game in 21 days and the boys might have been a little rusty. It was also the first game Matt Frattin had played since Northeast Regional Semifinal game against UNH on March 28th 2009.

Frattin has rejoined the Fighting Sioux this week after satisfying Coach Hakstol’s expectations and changing his off ice behavior(those are my words that I inferred from listening to everyone involved talk this week). Frattin had been suspended indefinitely or basically expelled from the team pending further review at a later after being arrested last summer for two alcohol related incidents in very short period of time. That review at a later date ended up being this week, so Frattin had been given a life line by the Fighting Sioux coaching staff. It's up to him to make the best of it and to keep his nose clean and out of trouble. I am hoping Frattin can chip in 5-10 goals in the second half of the season.

Not burying the shots?

I read on line were some people are worried about the Sioux getting more goals after putting 40 shots on the opposition net. Sometimes an opposition goalie gets hot and it’s impossible to get a few more shots past him, as we know from the past UND has a target on it’s back every time they play. Everyone wants to take a piece of the Fighting Sioux. That’s the way it is, look how many times the Wild’s goaltender Niklas Backstrom has held the Wild in a game when they should have lost or had no business winning.

As I write this blog post, the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have made easy work of EZAC opponent Colgate smoking them 5-2 in the other semi final game so the Fighting Sioux will play the Fighting Irish tomorrow night in the championship game of the Shillelagh Tournament.

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

NIA-1 Jason Beattie (2-CTH ELBOWING) NDK 1x1 7:48
NDK 1 - 0 6x5 PP LL Brett Hextall (7) (Evan Trupp, Jake Marto) 8:05
NDK: 26,19,20,22,25,G31 NIA: 5,7,9,22,G33
NDK-1 Ben Blood (2-Interference) NIA 0x1 8:53
NDK 2 - 0 6x6 GW Carter Rowney (1) (Brett Bruneteau, Mario Lamoureux) 13:50
NDK (+): 13,9,4,20,27,G31 NIA (-): 3,19,24,27,28,G33

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

NDK-2 Corey Fienhage (2-CTH ROUGHING) NIA 0x2 3:12
NDK-3 Brett Hextall (2-Slashing) NIA 0x3 9:29
NDK-4 Michael Cichy (2-Boarding) NIA 0x4 14:02
NIA-2 Marc Zanette (2-O-HOLDING) NDK 1x2 17:06
NDK-5 David Toews (2-Hooking) NIA 0x5 18:16

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

NIA-3 Egor Mironov (2-Charging) NDK 1x3 8:31
NIA 1 - 2 6x6 Ryan Olidis (10) (Chris Moran, C.J. Chartrain) 11:04
NIA (+): 11,21,12,4,10,G33 NDK (-): 2,4,9,13,27,G31
NDK 3 - 1 6x6 Evan Trupp (5) (Brett Hextall) 16:49
NDK (+): 19,26,2,22,24,G31 NIA (-): 4,7,19,23,24,G33

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

Their press release said what?

Check out the title to this game summary. Please! The Sioux bombed your goalie for 40 shots and you were lucky it wasn’t 6-1 or 8-1. Maybe the Niagara goalie should sue his defense for non support, because they left him out to dry all week. The game wasn’t as close as the score would indicate and I didn't think that the Purple Eagles would get back into the game or win it.

No. 6 North Dakota Squeaks By Men's Hockey, 3-1
HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILL. - A third period rally by the Niagara men's hockey team (3-11-2, 1-3-1 CHA) fell a tad short, dropping a close 3-1 decision to the No. 6 North Dakota Fighting Sioux (10-6-3, 6-6-2 WCHA) in the opening round of the 2010 Shillelagh Tournament.

With Niagara down 2-0 halfway through the period, the Purps would dent the scoreboard to come within one. Senior Ryan Olidis (Uxbridge, Ont.) picked up a bouncing puck due to a Chris Moran (Buffalo, N.Y.) shot, spun around and fired it low past Fighting Sioux netminder Brad Eidsness to come within one. The goal extended the point-scoring streaks of both Olidis and Moran to 10 games, but it wasn't enough as the Fighting Sioux would net another insurence marker with four minutes left to round out scoring.

The Purple Eagles are back in action against either No. 20 Notre Dame or Colgate on Sunday,

Moving forward, hockey today.

The Sioux play a meaningful game for the first time in 21 days. I actually thought the exhibition against the USA WJC team was a meaningful game because it let them play at a high level before the Christmas Break.

The UND defense is ranked 7th nationally with a GA of 2.17 that is 39 goals against in 18 games.

The UND offense is ranked 20th nationally with 58 goals in 18 games for 3.22.

The Fighting Sioux are ranked 9th nationally on the power play 25/106 23.6%.

The Fighting Sioux are ranked 10th on the penalty kill 83/ 96 86.5.

In combined special teams the Fighting Sioux are ranked 9th nationally 108/202 53.5.

Unfortunately UND is ranked 1st in penalty minutes nationally. But if you look below you will see that 5 of the top ten teams are in the WCHA so that might be more of a statement of how bad the WCHA officials are.

1 North Dakota 18 385 21.4
2 Ferris State 18 384 21.3
3 Alaska Anchorage 18 372 20.7
4 Wisconsin 18 354 19.7
5 Canisius 20 374 18.7
6 Minnesota Duluth 18 329 18.3
7 Miami 20 360 18.0
8 Michigan Tech 19 330 17.4
9 Michigan 20 347 17.4
10 Mercyhurst 20 345 17.2
[College hockey stats]

Frattin Revisited

I have seen where a few people think Coach Hakstol’s reinstatement of Matt Frattin to the Fighting Sioux hockey team as an act of desperation. My response to these people is hardly. I also don't think in his six seasons of coaching the Sioux hockey team I have seen Coach Hakstol act in a desperate manner.

I believe it was a calculated move, based on an analysis of the situation. From reading the newspapers and listening to the double speak and innuendo you can see where Hakstol gave Frattin some very tough benchmarks to accomplish and Matt took the hard road. Matt could have probably just signed a contract and played in the ECHL but he chose to recommit himself to the Fighting Sioux hockey team. I would also think that Matt had to make some difficult life changing moves to become eligible to compete with the Fighting Sioux again this season. Here is why I say this. Read what Coach Hakstol said this week.

Hakstol said four months ago, he didn’t think Frattin would return this season and the door wasn’t open for him at that time.

“He changed that with his actions,” Hakstol said, “and with the method he’s gone about taking responsibility. Accountability is a big thing with this program and Matt has been very accountable to earn his way back here.”

I think we can read into responsibility as took step to address issues that they coaching staff felt he needed to take care of. I will leave it at that.

Tim Thomas on being selected to the USA Olympic team.

I have to admit that I was touched by the way the USA did the announcement of the USA Olympic hockey team today. I really liked the announcement with the kids wearing the team USA jerseys with the player’s names on the back. Let’s say that it was a cool way to announce the USA team.

It thought it was even classier to see Tim Thomas skate out onto Fenway Park field wearing his USA jersey. While I am on record as not being a big fan of the outdoor game (I have seen them all) I thought the presentation of team USA after the Winter Classic was a nice touch. That being said, the outdoor game really doesn’t work in really gold locations like the Midwest. Winters aren't as bad in Massachusetts or New York as they are in North Dakota, I know because I lived in Massachusetts. I know that I really have no urge to go to a hockey game at memorial field in Grand Forks, ND when it's -20.

While for the most part I thought today's game was a bore, the end of the game was pretty exciting as Tim Thomas made some big saves then the German Marco Strum scored the game winner and I danced around my living room, a win against the dirty Flyers no matter where it's played always feels good.

Team USA passes on Okposo.

Here is what Islander Blogger had to say about KO not making team USA. I know there are a few head scrathers on team USA's roster this year. There is no way Chris Drury deserves to be on Team USA. In my opinion I believe that Drury has done nothing this season that makes me believe he is worthy of being selected. I think two players off the top of my head that deserve to be there more than him; Kyle Olposo, T.J. Oshie.

The first thing you realize about Team USA’s decision to pass on Kyle Okposo is that Scott Gordon clearly had no say. For the last 100 games, Gordon has played Okposo in every situation and in just about every position except goal. The Islanders are not world-beaters, but Gordon coaches Okposo like he’s world-class.

I’ll just say what I told several writers on press row after the USA announcement. I’m a big fan of David Backes and Ryan Callahan. However, it is completely impossible to have watched Okposo, Callahan and Backes play this season - as Brian Burke said his committee did dilligently - and determine that Okposo was the player to keep off the team.

On the positive side for the Islanders, this will make Okposo a better and more rested player this season and a better player for years to come.
[READ THE REST]

Team USA (Parise Makes Team USA)

Jan 1, 2010 - Team USA has announced the roster for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Here's who made the cut:

Forwards:

David Backes (WCHA, MSU-M)
Dustin Brown
Ryan Callahan
Chris Drury (HE, BU)
Patrick Kane
Ryan Kessler (CCHA, OSU)
Phil Kessel (WCHA, UMN)
Jamie Langenbrunner
Ryan Malone (WCHA, SCSU)
Zach Parise (WCHA, UND)
Joe Pavelski (WCHA, UW)
Bobby Ryan
Paul Statsny (WCHA, DU)

Defensemen:

Eric Johnson (WCHA, UMN)
Jack Johnson (CCHA, MICH)
Mike Komisarek (CCHA, MICH)
Paul Martin (WCHA, UMN)
Brooks Orpik (HE, B.C.)
Brian Rafalski (WCHA, UW)
Ryan Suter (WCHA, UW)

Goaltenders:

Ryan Miller (CCHA, MSU)
Jonathan Quick (HE, UMASS)
Tim Thomas (ECAC, UVM)

Here is what I predicted team USA would look like:
Goaltenders

Ryan Miller (MSU)
Tim Thomas (UVM)
Craig Anderson (OHL)

Defense

Andy Green (MU)
Ryan Whitney (BU)
Ryan Suter (UW)
Brooks Orpik (B.C.)
Brian Rafalski (UW)
Jack Johnson (UMICH)
Mike Komisarek (UMICH)

Forwards

David Backes (MSU-M)
Phil Kessel (UMN)
Dustin Byfuglien (OHL)
Patrick Kane (OHL)
T.J. Oshie (UND)
Zach Parise (UND)
Paul Stastny (DU)
Ryan Malone (SCSU)
Bill Guerin (B.C.)
Jason Pominville (QMJHL)
Bobby Ryan (OHL)
Jamie Lagenbrunner (OHL)
Ryan Kesler (OSU)
First off: Nice to see former Fighting Sioux star Zach Parise make team USA. That makes two former Sioux to be on Olympic roster for the 2010 games.

Second: I am surprised that T.J. Oshie didn’t make the Olympic team over Chris Drury. I know Drury has played in International play before but I don’t think his play this season has warranted being selected to play in the Olympics.

Apparently, LGM has connections to Team USA to know that Backes was a lock to be on team USA. I am not shocked by the selection and David has played in International competition for team USA before. I kind of felt that he would be there as well.

As a Bruins fan do we have to cheer for Mike Komisarek? I just every time I see him on the ice I vision him getting worked by Milan Lucic.

Flyers, Bruins say don't expect fight in Fenway Winter Classic

Oops, that prediction didn't pan out the way they said it would. I figured if you put these two teams on the ice there is going to be some fighting. Guess what? There was a Fighting between Bruins tough guy Shawn Thornton and Flyers hack Dan Carcillo during the first period.

BOSTON -- Shawn Thornton(notes) of the Boston Bruins knew the question was coming.

"Oh God," he sighed, obviously exasperated, "here we go."

No, there has never been a fight in a Winter Classic, or the Heritage Classic for that matter. No, there's never even been anything approaching a dustup. The closest anyone has gotten is a pair of matching roughing penalties in the Heritage Classic between Francis Boullion and Jason Chimera(notes). It was real exciting stuff.

So hockey fans are waiting for that historic first fight. And the media talks about it. Dan Carcillo of the Philadelphia Flyers said his team wasn't ignorant to the talk. But that doesn't mean players are making plans to fight like it's seventh grade meeting by the flagpole at recess.

"I don't know," said Thornton. "I honestly have never gone into a hockey game thinking about fighting. This is no different. I mean, you guys can ask because it's kind of one of my roles, but other than you guys bringing it up, I don't think about it." [Puck Daddy]

Happy News Years (USA Olympic roster prediction)

Happy New Years from Goon’s World. Here is what I would like to see the Olympic hockey team look like when it is announced tomorrow.

Goaltenders

Ryan Miller (MSU)
Tim Thomas (UVM)
Craig Anderson (OHL)

Defense

Andy Green (MU)
Ryan Whitney (BU)
Ryan Suter (UW)
Brooks Orpik (B.C.)
Brian Rafalski (UW)
Jack Johnson (UMICH)
Mike Komisarek (UMICH)

Forwards

David Backes (MSU-M)
Phil Kessel (UMN)
Dustin Byfuglien (OHL)
Patrick Kane (OHL)
T.J. Oshie (UND)
Zach Parise (UND)
Paul Stastny (DU)
Ryan Malone (SCSU)
Bill Guerin (B.C.)
Jason Pominville (QMJHL)
Bobby Ryan (OHL)
Jamie Lagenbrunner (OHL)
Ryan Kesler (OSU)

Goon's ten favorite goals of the decade. (In no particular order)

1.) This Goal would have to be number one for me. The Bina goal against Gophers sieve goalie Jeff Frazee. It was one of the longest goals that I have ever seen in college hockey history.



2.) This goal doesn't require much discussion. As the Holy Cross homers said, "It's the second chance and the second effort."



3.) The Kessel return and subsequent goal in Madison after he scores for the Gophers, then cups his hand and put it up to his ear. The Wisconsin Badger fans didn't really like that one. I thought it was ballsy thing to do that in Madison, others thought it lacked class.



4.) I never get sick of seeing goal; in fact it still brings tears to my eyes. The Gophers had beaten the Sioux the week before on this sick goal.



5.) It never gets old beating the Badgers, Kozek with a beautiful goal to send the Sioux to the 2008 Frozen Four.



6.) Sparky Scores; watch this video as he goes down town against Gophers sieve  goalie Kellen Briggs for a short handed goal in the 2005 Final Five in St Paul. I wish this kid would have stayed and played for the Sioux for another two years.



7.) This has to be one of the hardest goals to duplicate, the Trupp goal. It seems like most of his goals are of the highlight variety.



8.) The Stick is hot, Alexander Ovechkin's 50 goal for a third straight season. The Tampa Bay lightning wasn't impressed but they could have stopped him.



9.) The Irish man Owen Nolan's pretty goal against the Tampa Bay Lightning.


10.) The Jonathan Toews Goal vs Colorado October 19th 2007, it even sounds good in French.
[Note] There are some of the goals of the past decade that I really like, there are others that I have probably forgotten or couldn't find video of. One goal that comes to mind is the Wild's goal to win the playoff series against the Av's to send Patrick Roy is one of my favorites as well.

Phaneuf destroys Kopitar

This was the hit that everyone was talking about last night. I was watching this game last night and I came to the determination that this why some will call for the no touch icing to become the rule of law in the NHL. While Dion Phaneuf absolutely destroys Anze Kopitar and the hit looks really violent, I don’t know if a five minute major and a game misconduct was the right call. What do you think? Interference is what most are saying the call should have been.

Hakstol and Frattin speak out.

I think at the press conference Coach Hakstol and Matt Frattin do a lot of speaking around the issues but it appears that Matt went back to Canada and worked on some personal issues and accomplished some bench marks that the coaching staff set for Frattin.

I have to admit that I am excited about the prospects of adding an experienced offensive player to a lineup that is starving for goals. Let’s hope that the young man can get his act together and realize that it’s a privilege to wear the Fighting Sioux uniform. I like the fact that he is very contrite.

Oshie looking to make Team USA.

Tim Oshie sent me this in my email so I decided to put it up on the blog. It would be neat to see a few more former UND boys make Team USA. I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility to see quite a few former WCHA players on team USA.

For Immediate Press Release
December 29, 2009

By Jack McCarthy
Special to USAHockey.com

Warroad, Minn., may not be very large, yet it carries an outsized representation in U.S. Olympic hockey circles.

Home to 1,700 people and perched on the southwest shoreline of Lake of the Woods in northern Minnesota, Warroad is home to three Olympic goal medal winners and at least five more who represented the United States on the ice.

And 22-year-old St. Louis Blues center T.J. Oshie hopes to become the latest on the list.

“There are a lot of Olympians from Warroad and they talked to me about it and told me I’d be there some day,” said Oshie, who won two Class A state championships while at Warroad High School. “Henry Boucha, he’s my cousin, he talked to me quite a bit about it and showed me his [1972] silver medal and that was pretty special.”

Warroad also is home to 1960 gold medal winners Bill Christian and brother, Roger. Bill’s son, Dave, was a member of the 1980 Miracle on Ice gold medalists. The Christian family also manufactured hockey sticks of the same name in Warroad for 35 years. The town secured its first female Olympian last week when Warroad native Gigi Marvin was named to the U.S. women’s Olympic team.

Oshie has experienced a whirlwind 16 months as he jumped from college (University of North Dakota) to the pros (St. Louis Blues) and now stands poised to represent his country at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.

“It’s unbelievable. I never thought I’d be here, especially at this age, but I’m very proud,” said Oshie, who skated with 19 other forward prospects at the Team USA orientation camp in suburban Chicago during August. “It’s surprising with all the caliber of players here, but everyone is bonding very well and everyone gets along.”

Oshie is coming off a successful, if slightly abbreviated rookie season with the Blues.

Hampered by an ankle injury early in 2008-09, he went on to appear in 57 regular season games and made increasingly bigger contributions as the season progressed.

He closed with 14 goals and 25 assists for 39 points. Fourteen points came in the Blues’ final 15 games as St. Louis reached the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2004. In 30 games so far this season, Oshie has 18 points (7-11).

A popular YouTube video featured Oshie’s punishing, but clean hits on Columbus winger Rick Nash last March. And he’s so popular with Blues fans that his No. 74 jersey is a top-seller, reportedly three-times better than his closest teammate.

He frequently updates a Twitter page and said prior to the orientation camp that he “hoped to make Blues fans proud.” And his Facebook page has nearly 2,800 followers. It includes a 2005 clip from Oshie’s high school days when he won a faceoff, then earned an assist on a game-winning goal in the Minnesota state championship game.

Shortly thereafter, the centerman was the Blues’ top pick (24th overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

But pro play was put on hold as Oshie opted for a college career at North Dakota. He put in three seasons and 129 games for the Fighting Sioux, collecting 59 career goals and 83 assists for 142 points. North Dakota reached the NCAA Frozen Four three straight times with Oshie on board.

He also has two previous associations with Team USA, including seven games in the 2006 World Junior Championships, where he had one goal. Earlier this year, he played nine games in the Men’s World Championships, picking up one goal and a pair of assists.

“It’s great. I love the guys to death and we’re all good friends,” Oshie said. “There’s a lot of good friendships and we only get to hang out at these events, so it’s fun.”

And he’d like nothing better than to renew some of those summertime camp acquaintances in Vancouver.

Story courtesy of Red Line Editorial, Inc.

Fenway ice build

Here is the Fenway Park time elapse rink build for the Winter Classic. I have to say that I never imagined a hockey game being played on the hallowed grounds of Fenway Park. I wonder if the Bruins will face the curse of the Babe?

I must admit that I have been to thirteen baseball games at Fenway Park during the late 1980’s and frankly it might be worth going to a hockey game in Fenway, just because of the history. I am also bored with the outdoor hockey games. I think the concept is a real yawner, this year the forecast is calling for 40 degrees and snow.

Toews makes team Canada.

Former Fighting Sioux forward Jonathan Toews has made team Canada. [Roster]
Goalies

Martin Brodeur (NHL)
Roberto Luongo (NHL)
Marc-Andre Fleury (NHL)

Defense

Chris Pronger (A) (NHL)
Shea Weber (NHL)
Brent Seabrook (NHL)
Scott Niedermayer (C) (NHL)
Dan Boyle (NHL)(Miami University - CCHA)
Drew Doughty (NHL)
Duncan Keith (NHL)

Forwards

Sidney Crosby (A) (NHL
Jarome Iginla (A) (NHL)
Jonathan Toews (NHL)
Rick Nash (NHL)
Eric Staal (NHL)
Mike Richards (NHL)
Brenden Morrow (NHL)
Dany Heatley (NHL)(University of Wisconsin, WCHA)
Joe Thornton (NHL)
Ryan Getzlaf (NHL)
Patrick Marleau (NHL)
Corey Perry (NHL)
Patrice Bergeron (NHL)

Boggie kicks the snot out of Nick Boynton and linesman.

Derek Boogaard absolutely beats the snot out of former Boston Bruin Nick Boynton and then the ref gets hit in the ribs with a Derek Boogaard punch while breaking up the fight. My first question; is Nick Boynton crazy? What the heck was he thinking? You're taking on the Boogie man who is one of the best most feared fighters in the NHL?

This goes back to the premise of fighting someone for a checking someone. In this instance Derek Boogaard didn’t even hit the Ducks forward Dan Sexton, yet Boynton is going to stand up and fight an experienced cement head like Derek Boogaard for a non-hit. Of course Boogaard is going to Oblige. I see challenging someone for a dirty hit, a checking from behind or for a head shot. Boynton deserves to get his butt kicked.

Who's going to be on Team USA.

Well we know two of the players on "Team USA" they are Phil Kessel and defenceman Mike Komisarek. I would predict that Zach Parise, Paul Statsny, Patrick Kane, Tim Thomas, Ryan Miller, Jamie Langenbrunner are also locks to make the team.

EDMONTON – Leafs forward Phil Kessel and defenceman Mike Komisarek appear to have sewn up spots on the American Olympic hockey team.

Leafs coach Ron Wilson — who's also the coach of the U.S. team — let the cat out of the bag at Leaf practice when he was asked if the upcoming Olympic team announcements could be a distraction for players or even himself.

"Not at all. I know what the team is. To me it's not a distraction," said Wilson. "I think Phil Kessel knows pretty well and probably Mike Komisarek knows they're probably on the team. They've been talked to a lot about it.

"I think pretty much everybody on our team knows who's going, you're just waiting for an official announcement."

The Americans are set to announce their lineup on Jan. 1 as part of the festivities at the NHL's Winter Classic at Boston's Fenway Park. The Canadians are making their announcement Wednesday in Saskatoon at the world junior hockey championship.
[thestar.com]

Drew Stafford on fire.

Former Fighting Sioux star Drew Stafford was a healthy scratch in his team’s last game against T.J. Oshie and the St. Louis Blues’. Stafford took his benching to heart and responded by getting two goals and an assist, to help the Sabres over come a three goal deficit to beat the Pittsburgh Penguins. Sabres all world goalie Ryan Miller was pulled after giving up three goals.

Stafford also assisted on former Fargo resident Paul Gaustad's 8th goal of the season. So with Stafford two goals and an assist tonight Drew has(9g-10g-19pts)Stafford's two goals tonight broke a 15 game goaless streak.

Frattin back with the Fighting Sioux

The Fighting Sioux got some good news today as it was announced that Junior forward Matt Frattin has re-enrolled in school and will make a return to the Fighting Sioux line up. Frattin. Frattin was dismissed from the team last August after getting arrested for DWI in Grand Forks, ND.

This news was also on UND beat writer Brad Schlossman's twitter.com feed. This is pretty good news for UND, who have at times been offensively challenged.

Schlossman - Hakstol says Frattin returned to campus in good shape. "It's very apparent to me that he's done - not a little bit of work - a lot of work."
---------
Schlossman - Frattin will travel to Chicago, but Hakstol says it's too early to know whether he will play.
---------
Schlossman - Hakstol on Frattin: "To this point, he's done all the right things. It's one day at a time. He's eligible to play."
---------
Schlossman - Matt Frattin has re-enrolled at UND and will be at media day Thursday morning

Here is the offical press release.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - University of North Dakota head men's hockey coach Dave Hakstol announced today that junior forward Matt Frattin has enrolled in spring classes at UND and has resumed practicing with the Fighting Sioux.

A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Frattin is immediately eligible for NCAA competition.

Frattin was dismissed from the team in August due to a violation of team rules.

In 42 games with the Sioux last season, Frattin scored 13 goals and added 12 assists for 25 points. A fourth-round draft pick (99th overall) of the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2007, Frattin has 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in 85 career games at UND

Pension Plan Puppets has also picked up the story. To answer the blogger’s question, yeah its good news for Frattin because life has given him a second chance and it's time to make hay with the opportunity.

Coach Hakstol weighs in on the move: Here is what coach Hakstol had to say about Fratting being given another chance.

To this point, he’s done all the right things,” Hakstol said. “He’s eligible to play. I’m approaching it one day forward at a time. He needs to continue doing a good job day by day. If he continues to do the right things day by day, there will be another opportunity for him.

“I’m really impressed with the way Matt has handled everything right from Day One. He had other options. He probably chose the most difficult path in deciding to return to the University of North Dakota. He decided to do whatever it took.”

Frattin, a fourth-round pick of the Toronto Maple Leafs, had 13 goals and 25 points last season. He was the team’s third-leading goal scorer behind Ryan Duncan and Chris VandeVelde.

During the past few months, Frattin has been working out and skating near Edmonton.

“It’s tough to do things on your own, but he found a way,” Hakstol said. “It’s very apparent to me that he’s done. . . not a little bit of work. . . but a lot of work. He’s in very good condition judging by the two practices we’ve had — which were pretty competitive practices.”

Frattin is expected to address the media on Wednesday morning.

When Frattin was dismissed following a driving under the influence arrest, UND said that his status may be revisited. He has been reinstated for two main reasons.

“The program comes first,” Hakstol said, “and this is about having a good outcome for a good, young man that needed to get himself back on track.”
[Grand Forks Herald]

Head shots...

I am not sure why this doctor Dr. Charles Tator is picking a fight with Hockey personality and hockey legend Don Cherry? I have watched Don Cherry on the Coaches’ Corner for over 25 years and I have never heard him out there promoting hitting the opposition in the head. If anything I have heard the opposite, I have heard Cherry blast thugs like Ulfie Samuelsson that play the game cheap. During many shows I have heard Cherry speak against using some of the hardened equipment that players use today. Listen to video and what Cherry has to say, he isn't promoting head shots.

Recently, at the Regina workshop, I indicated that the "rock 'em, sock 'em" type of hockey espoused by commentators such as Don Cherry can no longer be the culture that dictates our game. We need to depart from the "win at all costs" mentality and return to the game when players had respect for their own bodies and respect for their opponents.

This message has been given by many others, such as the McMurtry report on amateur hockey violence in Ontario in 1974. In my book on sports and recreational injuries published last year, the cost of all sports and recreational injuries in Ontario was estimated at about $3 billion.

However, the costs in terms of grieving families and suffering athletes is much more important and of even greater magnitude than we had imagined, as demonstrated by the work from Boston University reported recently in the Star. This report included the case of former NHL player Reggie Fleming whose brain had major damage after repeated concussions.
[The Star]

Minnesota Wild equipment fire damage estimated at $100,000.

I couldn't believe it when I first saw that the Wild equipment fire damage was estimated at $100,000.00 that is a lot of money for hockey equipment. After watching last night’s games between the Wild and the Kings there seems to be no lingering effects of the fire.

Tony DaCosta stood in the middle of the Wild's dressing room Sunday morning at the Xcel Energy Center, holding an ice skate in each hand and exchanging wisecracks with players.

In the middle of packing the team's gear for its first road trip since fire destroyed more than two-thirds of it on Dec. 18 in Ottawa, DaCosta seemed in his usual good mood; the Wild had won two straight games, and everything appeared to be back to normal.

DaCosta put the skates down and shook his head.

"We're far from back to normal," he said. "We're about 50 percent."

DaCosta believes a blowtorch ignited in the back of the Ottawa Senators' equipment truck during the short drive from the Kanata Recreation Centre, where the Wild practiced, to Scotiabank Place, where the Senators defeated the Wild 4-1 on Dec. 19.

He estimated damages at about $100,000.

No one knows for sure if a blowtorch started the fire, but DaCosta knows one thing: "First of all, there'll never be a torch again on a truck that I'm on, that's for sure."

He's not nervous, just "more aware" as the team sets off on another road trip.

DaCosta, 42, the head equipment manager for the Wild from the beginning, reached into a cabinet and pulled out one of the blowtorches players use to custom bend the blades of their sticks. He pushed the ignition button and released it, and there was only a short burst of propane. He held the button, and the torch flamed to life.

For that to happen on the truck that day, he said, was "one in a million."
Equipment personnel go by the Boy Scout motto: be prepared.
[TwinCities.com]

Some of the best hockey of the decade CBC style.

I found this over at Kuklas Korner and I personally love CBC NHL hockey coverage because they just cover the games and don't get into all of the homerisms that you get when watch some of the hockey games on NHL Center Ice. The Duck's announcers are the worst in the business.

I believe 2000-2009 decade was definitely filled with some great hockey moments. For hockey events I would include the 2005 WJC tourney that was held at the Ralph. The NHL was locked out and the WJC tourney included many great NHL hockey players like Alex Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Dion Phaneuf, Sidney Crosby, Ryan Getzlaf, Jeff Carter and Patrice Bergeron also current NHLers and former WCHA stars Drew Stafford and Phil Kessel were on Team USA. I must admit that I paid 100.00 to watch the championship game between Canada and Russia; I have never heard the Ralph rock like it did that night.

Minnesota Wild's James Sheppard copes with loss of playing time

When I saw this article I couldn't resist, however, my celebration was short lived because reality set in really fast. Unfortunately for the Minnesota Wild, the waste of a first round pick James Sheppard is going to be playing more because of the untimely injury to Chuck Kobasew who is out for at least a month with a leg injury after running into Keith Tkachuck in the third period of Saturday night’s game. The hit was a knee on knee hit but I didn’t think it was dirty or pre-meditated, Tkachuck is not known to be a dirty player.

According to Wild beat writer Michael Russo, the Wild will be without right wing Chuck Kobasew for four to six weeks with a sprained MCL. There's also some damage to the ACL, but the swelling needs to decrease before the extent is determined. This is a tough loss for the Wild because Kobasew can play defense and chip in offensively and is a nice third line player.

Forward James Sheppard, one of only two players to appear in every game for the Wild last season, has missed five games this season but returned to the lineup after a one-game absence when Minnesota played host to the St. Louis Blues on Saturday night.

Asked if being in and out of the lineup is frustrating or simply something he has to shake off and demonstrate in practice he's worthy of playing, he said, "It's both."

A 21-year-old forward who was grabbed ninth overall in the first round of the 2006 NHL draft, Sheppard went into Saturday's game with only two goals and three assists in 32 games and occasionally has become the odd man out up front in coach Todd Richards' offense.

All Sheppard can do, he said, is work to change that.

"I don't get the final say who's in," he added, "so I have to give them no choice but to put me in there." [Twin Cities.com]

Mason Raymond with the hat trick.

I love watching the former college hockey and WCHA stars do well in the professional ranks after their college career is over. Check out former UMD Bulldog and current Vancouver Canuck Mayson Raymond’s hat trick. Raymond is having one heck of a season; in 39 games he has (17g-12a-29pts). Raymond has already surpassed his career best in goals and assists in a season as well.

Fighting Sioux nickname #2 story of the year.

Let's see we have two wars, a horrible economy, companies bleeding jobs and this is the number two story of the year according to the Alerus center cheerleader, I mean Grand Forks Herald writer Tu-Uyen Tran,.

No. 2: UND nickname dispute

The dispute over UND’s Fighting Sioux nickname simmered and boiled into yet another year. True to form, it continued to defy anyone’s guess at how it might end. In theory, the university has until Nov. 30, 2010, to win approval from both the state’s Sioux tribes. That’s what it says in the settlement between the state and the NCAA, which opposes American Indian nicknames.

One of the tribes, the Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation, voted overwhelmingly in April to grant that approval. Yet the following month, the State Board of Higher Education put a crimp in their victory by imposing its own September deadline for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe to grant the same approval. The stated reason is UND wants to join the Summit League, but that athletic conference won’t consider an application until the nickname issue is settled.

With little movement from Standing Rock even to have a public vote, the board moved its deadline to Oct. 31 to see if the tribe would show any sign of granting approval. The board was on the verge of retiring the nickname in November when Spirit Lake nickname supporters sued the board to force it to abide by the original deadline. They lost, but the appeals process means the nickname issue will continue into next year.

Thomas save on Leopold

Check out this save by Tim Thomas at the end of the game to rob former Gopher Jordan Leopold. What a save.

A couple of Bruins things.

Stanley Cup of Chowder has Boxing Day Poll who is the best Bruins fighting of the Decade. In my opinion it's Milan Lucic. Why because he can fight but he can also play the game. Most of the other Bruins goon's were one dimensional. One NHL GM once refered to Lucic 'as a whole lot of nasty.'

There is also some good news on the Milan Lucic front, looks like Lucic is close to returning to the Bruins line up. We can only hope, because the Bruins could use Lucic's toughness in the lineup, especially with Mark Stuart out of the lineup with a broken sternum.

Milan Lucic is with the team on the road trip. But Lucic has yet to be activated from injured reserve, indicating that he will not dress in either game. This is the first time Lucic has traveled with his teammates since spraining his ankle against Minnesota last month. [Bruins blog]

NCAA Round Up: Half way looking at the pre-season top 20

Here is this weeks column that I wrote for the Illegal Curve.

This was my pre-season top twenty and their current record. It would appear that Notre Dame, Minnesota, Boston University, Vermont are not as good as I originally thought they would be. Also, we can infer that college hockey is going to be wide open this season, there is a lot of parity. I believe that Miami and DU are the favorites right now but that doesn’t mean either of these two teams are going to win the whole thing. I hope I don't upset my Canadian Friends from the Illegal Curve: Go Team USA and Merry Christmas.

1.) Denver University – 11-5-2
2.) Miami University – 13-2-5
3.) Notre Dame – 8-8-4
4.) University of North Dakota – 9-6-3
5.) Boston University – 4-9-3
6.) University of Michigan – 9-9-0
7.) Vermont University – 8-6-2
8.) University of Minnesota – 8-9-1
9.) University of Wisconsin – 11-5-2
10.)University of Mass Lowell – 10-6-1
11.)University of Minnesota Duluth – 11-6-1
12.) Boston College – 10-3-2
13.) Yale University – 7-3-2
14.) Princeton University – 4-8-1
15.) University of New Hampshire – 8-6-3
16.) Northeastern University – 6-8-1
17.) Saint Cloud State University – 8-7-3
18.) Northern Michigan University – 7-8-4
19.) Cornell University – 7-2-2
20.) U.S. Air Force Academy – 8-6-4

Team USA captains.

Here are the captains for team USA's. [USA Hockey Press Release]

• CAPTAINS OF THE SHIP -- On Christmas Eve, Team
USA’s players selected their captains for the 2010 IIHF
World Junior Championship:
Derek Stepan Captain
Jordan Schroeder Alternate
David Warsofsky Alternate
John Carlson Alternate

Adams hit on Alfredson

There has been a lot of discussion head shot the past season and if the NHL decides to change the rules on head shots it, "would prohibit contact with the head - even with a shoulder." I think it would mean that this hit would be ruled to be an illegal. [NHL.COM]

In my opinion this is a legal check and doesn’t appear to be a head shot. The thing that makes it look bad is Daniel Alfredson loses his helmet because it appears that it's not on tight enough. I can see where the ref would probably assume that he Daniel was hit in the head. Hockey is a physical sport and if they enact this rule it's going to cause hockey hitting to decline.

Merry Christmas...

Rex Howell from the Deer Camp Blog has a yearly Christmas card on his outdoor blog and I made it again this season. See if you can pick me out in the picture. I hope everyone is safe and sound at home and not trying to travel through the blizzard that is currently raising havoc on the Midwest. This morning while leaving my house for work I had to wade through 6-8 inches of new snow. It’s definitely hockey weather now. I am sure the sub zero weather will be up soon.