Yesterday's opening round

Friday, March 26, 2010

NCAA East Regional

RIT 2 vs. Denver 1 --- The Denver Pioneers looked listless and uninspired and pathetic against the upstart RIT Tigers from the AHA. The Pioneers body language made them look as if they didn’t want to be there and they looked tight and frustrated all day. Going into the game Denver University was the heavy favorite against an undermanned opponent, some had suggested that there was no way DU would lose this game. RIT made the NCAA Division 1 hockey tourney in their 5th season of existence. this season by winning their league tourney.

Analysis: First off DU was a good team this past season and won the league with relative ease, congrats on a good season. That being said, I was on records as saying the DU pioneers were a one line team their top line of Rakhshani-Ruesgegger-Colborne and they had fourty five percent of the Pioneers offense you have got to have balance to win a NCAA title or at least advance to the Frozen Four. This season the Pioneers had no balance what so ever. Also DU won a lot of games when they had left their goaltender out to dry. It’s no mystery that the Pioneers relied heavily on their goaltender Marc Cheverie.
[Box Score]

New Hampshire 6 vs. Cornell 2 --- UNH and Cornell University had met earlier in the season and the Big Red ran the Wildcats out of their own building 5-2. Last night’s game was a totally different result as the UNH Wild cats made Cornell look like a bunch of pylons and the Big Red didn’t resemble the team that came into the game ranked 2nd defensively in the nation. Coming into the game Cornell hadn’t give up more than 5 goals the whole season.

Analysis: If you would have told me that UNH (University of No Hardware) would have won the game against Cornell I would have told you to put down the pipe. Coming into the game Cornell Senior goalie Ben Scrivens had and impressive record of 21-9-4 and a GAA of 1.87 and Save Percentage of .934 and had an impressive 19 shutouts for his career.
[Box Score]

NCAA West Regional

Vermont 2 vs. Wisconsin 3 --- This game was a bit of a snooze feast and the Badgers really poured it on in the second period but the UVM goalie Rob Madore kept the Catamounts from getting shelled and run out of the half empty building. If Wisconsin has a weakness this season it’s their goaltending and they were lucky that Scott Gudmandson’s questionable play didn’t cost them the game and he will have to be on his game tonight against the now 1-8 for the NCAA tourney the SCSU Huskies. Line for Line Wisconsin was the much better team and even when they went down by a goal you had a feeling they were going to pull it off.

Analysis: This past season I thought that Wisconsin was the better team in the WCHA; even when the Pioneers were wrapping up the regular season title. The Badgers have a very talented blue line that is stocked with first and second round draft choices. I don’t see any weaknesses in this team other than their two questionable goaltenders.
[Box Score]

Northern Michigan 3 vs. St. Cloud State 4 (2ot) --- If I had to bet money on this game I would have lost some money because the smart money said SCSU 0-8 for the NCAA tourney and now they are 1-8. I watched some of this game on delayed broadcast and listened to the overtime periods on the KVSC 88.1 yesterday.

Analysis: I am surprised that Bob Motzko keeps insisting on coming back with Mike Lee in net, from what I can see in my humble opinion that Dan Dunn is the better of the two goalies. I have watched Mike Lee play against the Fighting Sioux 3 times this season and he was God awful and gave up 14 goals in three games. I am just not getting the hype this season I have not been impressed with the freshman goalie. Is Lee a good goaltender? Well yeah, I think he has a lot of potential to be very good; but he is not a world beater. I thought Lee was unimpressive in the WJC tourney as well and had to be pulled from the WJC final.

[Box Score]

WCHA is Heading to Detroit

This is good news for the WCHA after being shutout last season and having none of their teams make the Frozen Four the WCHA will have at least one representive at the NCAA Frozen Four this season in Detroit.

Bruce McLeod had a smile on his face in the lower level of the Xcel Energy Center late Friday night.

The WCHA commissioner had just seen St. Cloud State and Wisconsin advance to Saturday night’s West Regional final, meaning the league would have at least one team in the Frozen Four. North Dakota opens Northeast Regional play against Yale on Saturday; Denver was bounced from the tournament by RIT on Friday.

After the league failed to send a team to the Frozen Four last season, there was some pretty good reason for relief for McLeod, who confirmed that, yes, he would sleep better Friday night knowing that his league would have a team in Detroit. [USCHO.COM]

NHL; Legal versus illegal...

If you haven't seen this video that describes what is a legal hit and what is consider an illegal hit, here is the Video from the NHL. This video is pretty straight forward on what types of hits are allowed and not allowed. If I interpreted this right the bush-leaguer hit by thug/had Matt Cooke on Marc Savard would now be a illegal hit.

Brackets busted and check list ripped up.

It's no mystery I am not a fan of Mike Chambers or his journalism style, here is his check list that he had on his blog. Epic fail... In fact DU just embarrassed the WCHA with their loss to a team that didn't even win an out of conference game this season until their regional game against the Denver University Pioneers and was sitting at 25th in the Pairwise.

In my opinion this is a bigger upset than the Holy Cross win at the Ralph over the Gophers. As a WCHA fan I am actually disappointed, I am trying to find the humor in it and I can't. How does a number one seed like not get up for this game? I watched the game the players weren't interested in playing. The last three winners of the MacNaughton Cup have each went 0-3 in the playoffs (WCHA and NCAA) that is a cumulative record 0-9 after winning their WCHA home series and moving on in the playoffs. Maybe WCHA should send that MacNaughton cup back to Houghton, Michigan and moth ball it, because there seems to be a curse in that cup.

Denver Cup trophy CHECK

MacNaughton Cup trophy CHECK

Gold Pan trophy CHECK

Clinch NCAA Tournament while CC is eliminated (not mine) CHECK

Secure No. 1 NCAA seed CHECK, unofficially

Broadmoor Trophy - Fighting Sioux

Win NCAA regional [EPIC FAIL]

Win Frozen Four - [Golfing]
[link to post]

ALBANY, N.Y. — Promising, no more. There is no tomorrow for the University of Denver hockey team.

After beginning and ending the regular-season ranked No. 1 nationally, the Pioneers folded their already damaged tent Friday at the NCAA Tournament East Regional.

Top-seeded DU came out flat and was eliminated by fourth-seeded Rochester Institute of Technology 2-1 at the Times Union Center.

The Tigers, who won their 11th consecutive game, scored 5:02 into the game and withstood several outstanding DU chances behind senior goalie Jared DeMichiel. With 7:24 remaining in regulation, RIT went ahead 2-0 with a power-play goal from leading scorer Cameron Burt.

Sophomore wing Joe Colborne finally solved DeMichiel with 5:25 to play, slapping in his own rebound for his team-leading 22nd goal of the season. It came on the power play and gave the Pioneers momentum, but they couldn't get another puck past DeMichiel in the final minute, when Cheverie was pulled for an extra attacker.

It was the third consecutive loss for DU, which hadn't lost two straight until last weekend's poor showing at the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff finals in St. Paul, Minn.

The Pioneers have now lost their NCAA Tournament opener for three consecutive years, including the latter two as a No. 1 regional seed
Read more:

NCAA Hockey Links

Here are a few stories on line that might be of interest.

Balanced Boston College Team Ready for NCAA Opener Against Alaska-Fairbanks [NESN]

New Hampshire Ready to Start 'New Season' When it Faces Off Against Cornell [NESN]

Catamounts Seek Return Appearance in Frozen Four, Face Wisconsin in NCAA West Regional [NESN]

2010 Men's Ice Hockey Frozen Four Bracket: Four New England Schools Ready to Hit the Ice [NESN]

NCAA Northeast Regional Preview [College Hockey News]

UND coach Dave Hakstol's features talented scorers, but the latest edition of the Sioux demonstrate a depth that makes them an especially strong contender for a trip to Detroit two weeks from now. In their remarkable run trough the WCHA Tournament, several different players score timely goals for the Sioux, meanwhile junior Evan Trupp scored three goals and assisted on three others in their three wins in the Final Five.

"On any given night it's going to be a different player that steps forward and makes a great play to help us win," UND coach Dave Hakstol said. "That's the kind of team we have, and it hasn't just been that way over the last few weeks - that's the way it's been all year. Any time we've had a chance to win, it's been with everybody playing well."

Scouting the New Hampshire men's hockey team [the Ithaca journal]

The other side of the East Regional hockey bracket [the Ithaca journal]

RIT turns to Tyler Mazzei for answers to Denver goalie [Democrat and Chronicle]

Ringwald's decision to stay at RIT paying off [Democrat and Chronicle]

DU and East Regional notes [Denver Post Hockey blog]

Title central. With a combined five conference championships, the East Regional is the beast of the NCAA Tournament.

DU is the Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season champion. Second-seeded Cornell is the Eastern College Athletic Conference playoff champion. Third-seeded New Hampshire is Hockey East’s regular-season champion, and fourth-seeded RIT won the Atlantic Hockey Association regular-season and playoff titles.

No teams from other regionals combined to win as many conference championships

Sioux fan tournament prediction bias [Sioux Sports]

Bracket Break Down: North East regional [the college hockey blog]

Yale has rotated goaltenders for much of the season, with 4 different netminders getting time in net. Senior Billy Blase (10 gp, 2.37, .901) will likely get the start against North Dakota, but don’t be surprised to see Freshman Nick Maricic (14 gp, 2.95, .888) as well.

M. HOCKEY: David vs. Goliath [Yale Daily News]

Second-seeded North Dakota is bigger: Its top three goal scorers are 6 foot 2, 5 foot 11 and 5 foot 11. The Bulldogs are 5 foot 9, 5 foot 9 and 5 foot 8.

North Dakota is more experienced: It has been to the NCAA Tournament for eight consecutive years. The Elis are making their fourth trip in their program’s history.

And, of course, North Dakota is the favorite: The Las Vegas Hilton gives the Fighting Sioux 8-1 odds to win the entire NCAA Tournament. Yale? A distant 40-1.

The Bulldogs know all this, and they’re fine with it.

“They’re obviously the favorites,” left winger Denny Kearney ’11 said. “But we’re embracing the underdog title.”

Traditional Powers Headline NCAA Northeast Regional [Fan House]

Yale’s Allain seeks to lead his Bulldogs to NCAA win in hometown [Telegram]

Check out this letter to the editor...

Bitter much? Yawn! Virg Foss was a sports writer for over 30 years I think I am going to respect his word, he has earned that credibility. So what fan base do you think this genius come from?

GATZKE, Minn. —- Virg Foss’ Herald column, as inane and rambling as it is, could be excused as the rantings of someone who is losing it, except that there has been no change throughout Foss’ career.

UND’s last game of its three-game series with the University of Minnesota is a prime example. Hard-hitting, yes, many of which were good, clean hits. Many more were of the cheap, head-hunting variety. The hit by UND’s Matt Frattin, which both Foss and Herald staff writer Brad Schlossman seek to excuse, was just the worst of many.

Had this hit been delivered by a U of M player against UND, those writers, the UND coaching staff and other Herald sportswriters would have screamed to high heaven. They certainly would have demanded that the hitter be ejected from the game (he should have been), suspended for at least three games and quite probably boiled in oil and drawn and quartered.

Where is the writer’s righteous indignation now?

Be careful what you wish for, Mr Foss. We agree that the officiating should get much stricter. But your beloved UND would suffer more than any team in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association from such a change.

I believe Foss missed his true calling. He chooses to see only what he wants to see and to remember only what he chooses to remember. In other words, he would have made a terrific politician.

By the way, given that a name change at UND now is long overdue, until permanent changes are made in the conduct of UND hockey, it would so appropriate to wear “UND Goons” jerseys.

Howard Lunsetter

The Rug is out at FSN...

Slap of the stick to Sioux7NationalTitles. One of the faces to Golden Gopher Hockey is no longer, Frank "the Rug" Mazzocco Will no longer be doing play by play for Gopher Hockey on Fox Sports Net.

This doesn’t come as a surprise because Frank is one of the most grating biased play by play announcers to ever step into a broadcast booth for college hockey, I would also say that he does do a good job fanning the flames of discontent between the Gophers and various WCHA fans bases around the league. When the Gophers were winning Frank became more unbearable and irritating. The only play by play announcer that I can find any more irritating or obnoxious is Hockey East homer Bob Norton.

I am disappointed because I do like Woog’s analysis and he was a balance to the obnoxious Frank "the Rug" Mazzocco so it does come as a bit of a shock. Anthony LaPanta is a decent play by play announcer and will be more objective and less of a homer. We won't hear about the opposition team getting lucky, the refs blowing calls nor will we hear about any more bow tie cross checks. Glad about the move, it was long time and and today is a good day for hockey in the Midwest.

Longtime Gophers men’s hockey announcers Frank Mazzocco and Doug Woog no longer will be paired in the booth come next season.

Mike Dimond, the senior vice president and general manager of Fox Sports North, said Friday that Mazzocco’s contract won’t be renewed and Woog will have a new role on the telecasts in 2010-11.

"Doug's a valuable member of our team and has been an instrumental part of Gophers hockey for a long, long time," Dimond said. "We are working with Doug to try to identify the best role for him and don’t have it determined yet. Sometimes we may have a three-man booth [with Woog in it] and sometimes he may be on the pregame.”

Dimond said that Anthony LaPanta will take over the play-by-play duties but that no decision has been made on an analyst. Dimond called LaPanta “the face,” of Fox Sports North, adding, “he’s ready to take on the next step of his career and do a great job as the play-by-play announcer for Gophers hockey."
[Red Star and Sickle]

Another disappointing season for David Fischer

This zinger was on the Minnesota Gopher's beat writers Roman Augustoviz's twitter. Holy cow! Check out this article the author of this article really dusted the Minnesota Golden Gopher's head coach Donny Lucia, and his coaching methodologies, in a way I feel sorry for him after reading this defiling. This wasn’t a hit piece this was a drive by colonoscopy. Look at the schools that they say are good in the NCAA.

What future Canadian Reserve does its first-round pick in 2006, defenseman David Fischer?

The right arm of Pierre Gauthier and DG Hamilton Bulldogs, Julien Brisebois, not ruling last week can see Fischer joined the Bulldogs since his season with the Gophers at the University of Minnesota has concluded there are seven days.

But Pierre Gauthier has awarded PressThrough the VP Communications team Donald Beauchamp, the organization had until August 15 to sign a professional contract with Fischer, and that there was no hurry for now. Wait do we see what he can do at the camp's development team in July?

One could understand the Canadiens want to take his time. Fischer and the Gophers had another regular season. Offensively, the defender of 22 years has been poor as the rest of his team. He has amassed just six points in 39 games, seven points below the previous season, when he had yet played eight games less.

And if one relies on the analysis of two recruiters NHL teams interviewed in recent days, there is little hope for Fischer access to the NHL.

"It's not safe," says the first man who, like all scouts called to analyze the performance expectations of other clubs, asked not to be identified because their organization prohibits them from commenting publicly on players who not theirs.

"According to reports from our scouts, I do not think he can go to the NHL, he said. It is an AHL player. It lacks too many things: hockey sense, fighting, not to mention he has no great impact at the college. His talent is average, it has no dominant quality. There has been no progress over the years, or almost not. And it's very rare that a player can unlock after stagnating in the NCAA. There are exceptions. As Ryan Stoa, Avalanche, who just played in Minnesota. "

The second scout abounds in the same direction. "From what I saw of him and all the reports of scouts at our house - for I am informed regularly of his progress - for years, there is not much hope in his case. David Fischer is like a flat tire. It lacks a little of everything. It happens to all teams make mistakes. But we resumed elsewhere. The Canadiens are certainly pleased to be able to recover PK Subban who himself, is unanimity among all NHL scouts. "

Defending Fischer, the former scout says that the quality of education is poor in the Gophers. The future of coach Don Lucia is also questioned in the region. He is accused of not having been able to harness the potential of some of its best players, like Fischer, Patrick White (first choice of the Canucks, 25th overall in 2007) or Jordan Schroeder, another first-round pick of the Canucks (in 2009), whose performance rose from 45 to 28 points since last year.

"There's always a chance that more progress Fischer Hamilton Guy Boucher, a good coach, said the recruiter first. Coaching at the University of Minnesota is rotten. The head coach there is atrocious. "

The Gophers have still produced good players for the NHL over the years. Defensemen Keith Ballard, Paul Martin and Alex Goligoski stayed several years and they have progressed. Erik Johnson was not there when the Blues have drafted in the first place in 2006, and there remained only one year after the draft. Ditto for Phil Kessel. Kyle Okposo has left the club early in his second season, as Jim O'Brien, the first choice of Senators in 2007. Thomas Vanek remained there two years before making his professional debut in the organization of the Buffalo Sabers. Blake Wheeler has spent four years and its growth was slow before taking his place with the Boston Bruins.

"This is not only in Minnesota, said second recruiter. I recently attended a game between Notre Dame and Michigan State, it was terrible. There was no talent. No markers, no guards. I'm not saying it never comes out, but nobody was impressive. There are still good programs in the NCAA: Michigan, Boston University, Boston College, Wisconsin, North Dakota. But the best place for a young person who wants access to the NHL, it is the junior leagues. It's professional. Unless the young player is not ready physically, as is the case with Louis Leblanc. He decided to study and grow. Ultimately, it will not prevent him from making his way. It will perhaps take him a year older. But physically, he is so not ready. "

[French Version of this article]

Jaroslav Spacek takes out David Booth

I would have to say that David Booth is going to have to learn to keep his head up or he is going to get killed out there. Never, never, never skate over the blue line with your head down. To me in reviewing the video it looks like a head on legal check.

[Props to KuklasKorner]

INCH Chat...

Here is the transcripts of the INCH chat from ESPN. Joe Gladiziszewski picks the Fighting Sioux to win the NCAA tourney.

-------------------------
Eric J (Grand Forks, ND )


Gladdy, do you think the Fighting Sioux can make a run to the Frozen Four and win with their goaltending?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:33 PM)


Yes and yes. Eidsness was good enough last weekend at the WCHA Final Five is as tough a tournament as the NCAAs. I think North Dakota is a good pick to come out of that region, despite it being closer to home for Boston College. Both teams are playing so well right now that it's tough to make a call.
-------------------------
Scott (California)

Two questions: Is Michigan the team you would least like to face if you were a #1 seed and are you going to do a podcast on the Wish List Draft to elaborate on the picks you made?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:36 PM)


I think Cornell, St. Cloud State and North Dakota are the most dangerous teams of the non-number ones, but Michigan just beat Miami last weekend, so that has to be fresh. It's the team that No. 1-seed Miami would probably least like to face.There is a podcast for the Wish List draft. Link is on the Wish List Draft page, INCH front, and in our iTunes feed. Thanks for listening.
-------------------------
scott (minot north dakota)


North Dakota plays a extremely physical game. Will the teams in that region be able to handle that kind of play, will speed neutralize North Dakota's style, or will tighter officiating from non WCHA refs force North Dakota to change its style of play.

Joe Gladziszewski (2:45 PM)


If you change your style of play at this time of the year, you've got bigger problems than killing off a few extra penalties (if necessary). I don't think Yale will be intimidated by a physical presence. That's the scouting report they play against all season in ECAC Hockey. Teams try to play them tough, and they still led the nation in scoring average. Same goes with Boston College or Alaska (potentially) in the second round, should North Dakota advance
-------------------------
Mark (St. Paul)

You're Hakstol and Genoway tells you he's healthy enough to go. Do you put him out there and hope he adds offense at the blue line, or do you tell him to sit out since the team is playing so well without him and he may be rusty

Jess Myers (2:47 PM)


I usually shy away from hypotheticals, but this is an outstanding question. There is not a team in the nation that would not be helped by having a healthy Chay Genoway in uniform, but I guess if I were Coach Hakostol I'd have to keep him out at this point in the season for two reasons. First, as you said, he'd be rusty and the Sioux are doing fine as-is right now, but secondly, to insert him into the lineup now would mean he cannot apply for a hardship and come back next year, so I think the promise of a full 2010-11 season makes more sense than up to four more games this year.
-------------------------
Fred (Boston)

Which program do you believe has the top line in the nation?

Joe Gladziszewski (2:53 PM)

Fantastic question because it's so difficult to answer. Denver's group of Colborne, Rakhshani and Ruegsegger is the best in my opinion. There are a lot to choose from. North Dakota's group with VandeVelde, Gregoire and Hextall is playing great right now, as are BC's bunch with Gibbons-Whitney-Atkinson and Nash-Greening-Kennedy at Cornell.
-------------------------
Mark (Fargo, ND)

Are you guys going to rock-out the East Coast Bias.... Who wins between UND and BC if they meet in the Regional Finals?

Joe Gladziszewski (3:11 PM)

Well, as an upstate NY lifer who primarily covers ECAC Hockey, I lean toward North Dakota to win that game. But Mike Eidelbes, a WCHA/CCHA guy from Northern Minnesota leans toward Boston College. You can decide on which way we're biased.
-------------------------
Joe Gladziszewski (3:31 PM)

I'll take North Dakota over Miami in one semifinal, Cornell over Wisconsin in the other semi, and North Dakota beats Cornell for the title -- potential third game of the year between those teams after they split a series in the regular season.
-------------------------

Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, and Redwing77

Ok, a quick blurb on my dislike of the hype surrounding "the Legend" and "Alexander the Great."

Yes, the main stuff has been documented beyond the need for this post, so I'll skip it. But check this out:

Today I watched the NHL Network and they were doing a program on Wayne Gretzky. Yes, Wayne Gretzky. Watching his goal clips, he wasn't as much of a showboater as Alexander Ovechkin. He was just a super solid, ultra consistent, point machine that always used to exploit weaknesses in opponents' games to perfection. Oh yeah, and even by his admission, the fact that goaltender equipment was "half the size" they are today (his quote not mine) might mean something.

Now, I'm not going to slight Gretzky, but I will say this: When Gretzky was on the ice, there was always seemingly the impression that the fans and media was watching greatness. There wasn't any need to say it... It..Just..Was. With Crosby and Ovechkin...is that they case?

Nope. The NHL CONSTANTLY needs to TELL US that we're watching greatness. So, what do you think is truly great? Watching it and knowing or having it told to you?

Let's key this on another note: I could tell you that Adrian Peterson is the best running back in the game. Then I could show you footage of Walter Payton or Barry Sanders or Emmitt Smith. Would I have to say ANYTHING about those three to let you know how great they were? If the answer is "Yes" then congrats, you defeated my point. If the answer is "No" even if there is a "But" after it, then my point is made. Thank you very much.

Sidney Crosby is a good hockey player. Alexander Ovechkin is a good hockey player (and would be greater if he stopped with the cheap hits). But Crosby is FAR from "the Legend" status and neither can be called "the greatest." Hey, Gretzky had 200+ points in a season 3 times, maybe more. THAT's legend status. 50 goals in 39 games. LEGEND STATUS. Sorry, Crosby isn't there yet.

And I promise this is the first and last post about this topic (unless of course cheap shots come out or Crosby or Ovechkin do something simply "legendary")

Another Test to the New Rule (Redwing77)

I'm not going to spend as much time on this post than the previous ones now that the new rule has passed. But...

St. Louis Blue forward (and former MSUM Maverick) David Backes will test the waters again on the disciplinary discussion about lateral blindside hits on vulnerable unsuspecting players. In this case, star Red Wing Defenseman and former Badger Brian Rafalski.

I shouldn't trivialize this because this hit was rough. Backes comes up behind and to the right of Rafalski passing through center ice and absolutely crushes him shoulder to jaw right above the Blues blue line. The camera barely caught it.

Here it is:



You can just barely see it at the far right of the screen. There was no replay of the hit until NHL on the Fly pointed it out. In fact, I didn't even notice it because I was too busy watching Fippula undress the Blues D.

Again, no call. Again, not a penalty as Rafalski was playing the puck at the time. Again, should've been a penalty...and now will be under the new rule.

No idea if Rafalski was injured on the play. It is identical to the Cooke-Savard tragedy except the force of impact was less (imo) and Backes is known for big hits, but not cheap shots, so the intent, as far as I'm concerned, wasn't to try to knock Rafalski into next season (see Cooke, Matt on Savard and Ovechkin, Alex on Campbell) (NHL analysts call it "letting him know you're on the ice"). I do not consider Backes to be a cheap shot artist. To my knowledge, this is an isolated incident.

However, the question is: Will we see any supplementary action?

UAH; getting you up to speed.

Picture from Save UAH Hockey Last summer and last fall I wrote a few articles about UAH Chargers and their not being accepted to the CCHA. Since UAH has made the NCAA tourney I thought maybe I would bring up a few of the blog posts that I wrote last summer on the issue, Goon's World is a fan UAH and wants only the best for this program. I also think people have short memories or are revisionists when it comes to history and this should refresh people's memories. I have said it more than once that the reason they were snubbed were flimsy at best and stunk of elitism. Like I said before when UAH was rejected that I smelled bullshit and I still do. Ironically UAH begins the season with Notre Dame (which isn’t in the tourney ) and draws Miami University which is 0-3-0 against the CHA teams this season.

The CHA argument.

I was thinking about the CHA and its 11 years of existence. Unfortunately the CHA will disband after 11 seasons of play. With the CHA disbanding, BSU will head to the WCHA, Niagara University and Robert Morris University will head to the AHA, and the University of Alabama Huntsville will head to the independent ranks after being snubbed by the CCHA with what appears to be some flimsy reasoning.

To show the CCHA they made a horrible mistake, the Chargers went out and beat the Fighting Irish to open the season...
[Illegal Curve]

College hockey trips itself again... [Click to read here]

Here is another great article by Tim Schmitt of the Niagara Gazette. I think there are some really good points to this article. It’s funny that after almost one week we still really have only have on record UAF A.D. Forrest Karr comments about ‘some of the CCHA schools having concerns about UAH’s lack of commitment, location and wanting to shore up the other CCHA schools first’ Yeah! A week later it still sounds pretty weak to me and I know I am not alone.

Finally, I am not sure that college hockey is to this point though, when Schmitt says that "the NCAA needs to step in and reorganize the sport’s governing board and insist that the game is bigger than any one school’s financial well-being." While I do agree with that philosophy, I doubt the NCAA would ever step in and do that. For the most part the NC$$ kind of takes a laissez-faire approach when dealing with member schools. Nor would I want the NCAA to step in.

Check out this post [Click to read]

More UAH. [Click to read]

I still smell B.S. [Click to read]

I still smell B.S. [Click to read]

UAH officials stunned by CCHA decision [Click to read]

This was an article that I wrote last summer that refuted the driving/flying distance argument.

Flying driving to Omaha Nebraska? There isn't much of a difference in mileage. One could make the argument that UNO is a lot closer to the schools in the WCHA than the CCHA. I checked the mileage on a few of the distances of travel and this is what I came up with for distances to UAH. I don't buy that argument. That isn't the reason for not allowing UAH or it's not a very good one.

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

Here is the distances from UNO to the various schools in the CCHA.

NMU - UNO 684 miles
UNO - MSU 672 miles
UNO - UM 692 miles
UNO - UMiami 707 miles
UNO - UAF 3270 miles
UNO - NMU 765 miles
UNO - FSU 684 Miles
UNO - ND 545 miles
UNO - OSU 781 miles
UNO - LSSU 903 miles
UNO - WMU 597 miles
[Goon's World - UAH travel distances]

Kristo makes the CHN rookie team

UND Fighting Sioux forward Danny Kristo has made the College Hockey News All Rookie team.

All-CHN First Team
F Gustav Nyquist, So., Maine
F Rhett Rakhshani, Sr., Denver
F Blake Geoffrion, Sr., Wisconsin
D Brendan Smith, Jr., Wisconsin
D Carl Sneep, Sr., Boston College
G Marc Cheverie, Jr., Denver

All-CHN Second Team
F Chase Polacek, Jr., Rensselaer
F Jarod Palmer, Sr., Miami
F Bobby Butler, Sr., New Hampshire
D Erik Gustafsson, Jr., Northern Michigan
D Cameron Schilling, So., Miami
G Ben Scrivens, Sr., Cornell

All-CHN Rookie Team
G Joe Howe, Colorado College
F Stephane Da Costa, Merrimack
F Danny Kristo, North Dakota
F Andy Taranto, Alaska
D Matt Donovan, Denver
D Brian Dumoulin, Boston College

RIT hockey team can beat Denver, says Air Force coach

I always love these feel good articles, however, there is no way in hell that DU is going to lose to RIT. Mark it down we will come back to this subject later. DU is a very good hockey team and while they didn’t have their best showing during the Final Five, RIT is no match for the DU Pioneers. I can say this with confidence that Denver University is too good of a hockey team to lose to some second rate hockey program from the Atlantic Hockey Association. Put down the Pipe Frank.

Seriously, Air Force Academy Sacred Heart and RIT were something like 3-16-1 during their non conference schedule (their out of conference wins came against the ECAC); so to breaking it down further the AHA was good awful against teams outside of their league someone is on the pipe if they think RIT is going to take down DU. Yeah I would paint this as David with no chance versus Goliath the number one seed and thanks for showing up RIT.

“I wouldn’t paint this as a David vs. Goliath, no way, no way,” Serratore said. “Denver has a really good team but so does RIT.”

Atlantic Hockey is always dismissed as a lesser league by the long-established power leagues of collegiate hockey.

“We’re from a league that doesn’t get much attention,” RIT defenseman Dan Ringwald admits.

But Air Force and Holy Cross have done the AHA proud in the previous four NCAA tournaments.

Holy Cross upset Minnesota in a regional semifinal in 2006. Air Force has never not given an opponent a scare, or worse. The Falcons lost regional semifinals by one goal in both 2007 and 2008, 4-3 to Minnesota in 2007 and 3-2 in overtime to Miami in 2008. Last spring, Air Force defeated Michigan 2-0 in the opener before losing 3-2 in double overtime to Vermont in the regional finale.

“We were one double-overtime goal away from going to the Frozen Four,” Serratore said. “I think in college hockey the top is down and the bottom is up. The top programs aren’t as dominant as they once were because the NHL comes in and takes their top kids.”

Serratore also said RIT’s AHA championship and 10-game winning streak should give them extreme confidence.

“RIT is going into the tournament through the front door, not the back door,” he said. “You have a big advantage going in by winning your conference tournament as opposed to going in on a loss (but earning an at-large berth).

“When you win your way in, you go in with a lot of mojo.”

Air Force lost to Denver 2-1 in overtime on Feb. 6, but outshot the Pioneers 46-35. “Granted, I don’t think we got one of Denver’s better games but we should have won 4-1, 5-1, we just couldn’t beat (goalie Marc) Cheverie,” Serratore said.

No RIT player has been drafted by an NHL team. Denver’s roster includes 14 drafted players, including center Joe Colborne, a first-round pick by the Boston Bruins in 2008. Cheverie, a Hobey Baker finalist and the WCHA player of the year, is considered one of the Panthers’ rising prospects.

“Cheverie is a great goalie but he’s coming off a couple not-so-good games, so you know you can get to him,” Serratore said.
[rocnow.com]

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

The WCHA Final 5 is over, with North Dakota prevailing as the champions. Up until last year, no team had ever played the play-in game and won the Broadmoor. Now it has been accomplished two years in a row, last year by UMD and this year by UND.

My predictions last weekend turned out really good, the only thing I really missed was SCSU beating UW in the first semi-final game. To go along with that, the Goon and I witnessed SCSU’s Roe’s going head first into the boards. The stadium was awfully quite when that happened. When he was being taken off the ice on a stretcher, he gave the fans a thumbs-up. So we all wish him a speedy recover, from a very, very stiff neck.

Here is a quote from over at INCH, that I loved reading.

“We’ve noted it before, but it bears repeating: North Dakota’s green road sweaters are the sweetest-looking in the WCHA, and possibly all of college hockey. And if that logo on the front is forced to go away someday, it will be a shame.”

I just hope this isn't the last NCAA tournament feature the Fighting Sioux from North Dakota. (There is still the November deadline to get the issue resolved.)

Here are the NCAA first round match-ups featuring our WCHA teams.


FRIDAY (East Regional 2pm CT)

RIT (26-11-1) vs Denver (27-9-4)
Last weekend the Pioneers lost to the Sioux and the Badgers, which was the first time they dropped back to back games all season. The RIT Tigers won the Atlantic hockey tournament to qualify for the tourney.

RIT has not won a game outside of its conference all season, which doesn’t bode well this time of year. This is also RIT’s first appearance in the tournament, and it will be Denver’s 20th trip to the NCAA’s. The only thing I can think of that might allow RIT to win this, is if DU is not mentally ready, after losing twice last weekend. PIONEERS WIN.


FRIDAY (West Regional 4:30pm CT)

Northern Michigan (20-12-8) vs. St. Cloud State (23-15-5)
Last weekend the Huskies beat the Badgers and then lost to the Sioux in the Final 5 championship game in St. Paul.

The Wildcats of NMU use to be in the WCHA many years ago, I believe their last in the WCHA was the 1990-91 season, the year they won a national title. This will be the 8th appearance in the NCAA tournament for both teams. The Huskies have never won a game in all their previous trips to the tourney, could this be their year? If Roe can heal and play in the game, I think the Huskies can win, if not, the Wildcats. HUSKIES WIN.


FRIDAY (West Regional 8pm CT)

Vermont (17-14-7) vs Wisconsin (25-10-4)
Last weekend the Badgers lost to the SCSU Huskies and then rebounded and beat the Denver Pioneers, to capture 3rd place at the Final 5 in St. Paul. (With next year’s new format, no 3rd place game, Wisconsin will hold the distinction as the last team to capture a 3rd place playoff trophy in the WCHA.)

This will be Bucky’s 23rd and the Catamounts 5th appearance in the NCAA tournament. I’ve said it all year; the Badgers have a good deep team, which makes them hard to beat. The only thing is UW has yet to win more than 3 games in a row. The Badgers offensive was missing last Friday, but returned big time on Saturday, they’re back. BADGERS WIN.


SATURDAY (Northeast Regional 4pm CT)

Yale (20-9-3) vs North Dakota (25-12-5)
Last weekend the Sioux defeated UMD, DU, and SCSU to win the WCHA Broadmoor Championship. The Bulldogs had last week off.

This will be Yale’s 4th and UND’s 25th appearance in the NCAA tournament. In the all time series UND leads 5-0-0 and the results are as follows:

Date........Score......Site
01/01/60---15-0--at RPI Tournament
11/30/86----6-4--at Grand Forks
11/02/02----7-3--at New Haven
10/31/03----8-4--at Grand Forks
11/01/03---10-0--at Grand Forks

Both teams were in the tourney last year, so experience is awash in this game. UND is still hot going 12-1-0 in their last 13 games. I’m going to have to go with my boys in this tilt. SIOUX WIN

Is Colin Campbell done?

I read this article over at Puck Daddy earlier this morning and I am really hoping this rumor is true. This move is a long time in coming and frankly I am tired of his inconsistencies, star players have one standard of justice and goons and hard nosed players have another standard. Now if we can only get rid of Gary Bettman.

The speculation among many NHL insiders is that Colin Campbell will be replaced at the end of the season – he will either announce his retirement or take another league job.

Given Campbell’s lamentable track record as the league’s chief law enforcement officer, it is a move that is long overdue.

The last straw, of course, was his refusal to suspend the Pittsburgh Penguins’ Matt Cooke for his attack on Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins.

But Campbell’s performance, not just recently, but over a period of years as the NHL’s senior vice-president of hockey operations, has been so inept as to be an embarrassment to the league and also the commissioner Gary Bettman.

More than anyone, Campbell is responsible for the increased incidents of head shots, because of his refusal to move to eliminate them years ago. The Savard-Cooke incident was just one of many that could have been stopped had substantial suspensions been handed out for blind-side attacks dating back at least three years.

According to insiders, Bettman wanted to suspend Cooke but deferred to Campbell who argued that a rule didn’t exist to justify sitting down Cooke, a repeat offender.

That argument, of course, was pure nonsense. There was no rule in the books covering the indefinite suspension to Sean Avery a year ago for describing former girlfriend and actress Elisha Cuthbert as “sloppy seconds,” but he got it and he sat for six games.

Insiders believe Bettman was intimidated by Campbell and his staff, because they happen to be veteran hockey guys, and Bettman is not.
[Truth or Rumors]

So you say there is a chance?

This post is for the people that keep telling me that there is no chance that Winnipeg will get another team. Huh! Looks like that isn't entirely true. It is my contention that some day there will be another NHL team in Winnipeg, MB.

• That the Ice Edge bid to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes is essentially dead and unless there is someone willing to step forward to buy the Coyotes from the NHL and keep them in Phoenix, there is an agreement in principle in place to sell the team to Canadian billionaire David Thomson, who will move the team to Winnipeg before next season.

Thomson’s name in connection with the NHL in Winnipeg is nothing new. He is a major investor in True North Sports and Entertainment, the company that owns and operates the 15,000-seat MTS Centre in Winnipeg. With a seating capacity of 15,015 for hockey, it would be the smallest building in the NHL and it would obviously have to have long-term plans to increase the capacity by at least 2,000.

Even if Winnipeg managed to sell out every game, it would rank 25th in NHL attendance. But the important distinction is that the vast majority of those seats would be paid, in comparison to many American markets where every ticket, including thousands of free and reduced-price tickets, is included in the attendance figure [Hockey News]

45% Line and more Links...

I found this on the Denver Post hockey blog. I came up with a new name for the Pioneer's line of Rhett Rakhshani, Tyler Ruegsegger and Joe Colborne, the 45% line because they have scored 45 percent of DU offense this season.

Michigan is going to it's 20th straight NCAA tourney appearance. Too bad the University of No Hardware hasn't been able to do anything with those 10 straight trips.

In case you were wondering, yes, that is a record. The next longest streak belongs to New Hampshire at ten and North Dakota at 8. Michigan also holds the record for National Championships with 9, followed by Denver and North Dakota tied at 7 and Wisconsin at 6. Although to be fair all but two of those Championships for the Wolverines came before 1965 and they haven't won it since 1998. [Hockey Buzz]

Sioux recruit Brock Nelson is/will/was (depending on when you read this) going to be on the Pipe line Show.

Our 2010 eligible prospect of the week is Brock Nelson a high school forward playing for the Warroad Warriors of the Minnesota State High School League. Is the touted forward a sure fire 1st rounder?

INCH breaks down the North East Regional...[click to read]

Beavers and Sioux on FSN Saturday.

This is really good news for area college hockey fans. Two back to back college hockey games.

FOX Sports North will televise the first round of the NCAA Hockey Tournament live on Saturday, March 27. FOX Sports North will carry the University of North Dakota vs. Yale game beginning at 4:00 p.m. and will telecast the Bemidji State vs. Michigan game beginning at 6:30 p.m [Fox Sports Net]

Good news for Boston Bruins fans

Boston Bruins fans help is on the way as soon as DU and Michigan's season's end. In my opinion I think Joe Colborne could have a good chance to make the Bruins line up next season out of camp like Blake Wheeler did two years ago. I think Joe Colborne is more talented player than Blake Wheeler, but neither player is very physical.

ATLANTA — Joe Colborne is still a sophomore at the University of Denver, which kicks off NCAA Tournament play Friday. The Pioneers, the top seed in the East Regional, will take on RIT. Colborne, the Bruins’ first-round pick in 2008, is hoping he’ll still be playing come April 10, the date of the NCAA title match at Detroit’s Ford Field.

But there’s a good possibility that once Denver’s season concludes, the 19-year-old center will sign with the Bruins and forgo the last two years of his college career. The Bruins have yet to discuss the situation with Colborne, his family, and Denver coach George Gwozdecky. Given Colborne’s development and how he projects as an NHL player, however, he should be ready to turn pro and most likely be a full-time AHLer in 2010-11.

Colborne, the 16th overall pick in 2008, has 21 goals and 19 assists in 41 games this season, second in team scoring behind Rhett Rakhshani (21-29—50). Colborne entered the draft with a pass-first reputation, but the 6-foot-5-inch, 210-pound center leads the WCHA with eight game-winning goals.

“He’s had a really good year,’’ said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli.

Colborne will sign a three-year, entry-level contract. Because of his draft position, he most likely will earn $875,000 in base salary, the maximum that players picked in 2009 can earn. Colborne will also be eligible for bonuses that could add several millions to his contract.

Another collegian expected to sign once his season ends is Michigan defenseman Steve Kampfer, acquired from Anaheim March 2 for a fourth-round pick. The senior has 3 goals and 19 assists in 43 games. Michigan will play Bemidji State Saturday. [Boston Globe]

Fox Sports North to broadcast UND-Yale regional semifinal

Here is the official announcement for this weekend's game that will be shown on FSN. This is very good news for UND Fighting Sioux hockey fans that cannot attend the regional games.

GRAND FORKS, N.D.- Fox Sports North has agreed to broadcast Saturday afternoon's North Dakota-Yale NCAA Northeast Regional semifinal live from Worcester, Mass.
Fox Sports North obtained the rights from ESPN and will give Fighting Sioux hockey fans across the upper Midwest the ability to see the game live and in its entirety.

"We are very appreciative of the efforts of Mike Dimond and Ryan Sirvio at Fox Sports North and the service they will be providing to Fighting Sioux hockey fans all over the region," said UND athletics director Brian Faison.

"With our team playing so far from Grand Forks, the ability for our fans to see the game live on television is very important and Fox Sports North has come through for us in a big way."

Fox Sports North is available to 3 million homes throughout Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

UND is the No. 2 seed in the Northeast Region and will take on the No. 3-seeded Yale Bulldogs at 4 p.m. from the DCU Center in Worcester, Mass.

If the Sioux win on Saturday, Sunday's regional championship game will be televised on ESPNU beginning at 4:30 p.m.

Good news UND and Yale game will be on FSN...

RWD's favorite hockey beat writer just announced that the UND Fighting Sioux hockey game will be on FSN North, that is 668 Direct TV and Channel 28 in Grand Forks, ND on Midco. There is a God...

FSN North will televise Sioux-Yale

Fox Sports Net North will televise the Sioux-Yale first-round NCAA Northeast Regional on Saturday. That game begins at 4 p.m.

If the Sioux beat Yale, you will be able to catch the region final on ESPNU at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

"We are very appreciative of the efforts of Mike Dimond and Ryan Sirvio at Fox Sports North and the service they will be providing to Fighting Sioux hockey fans all over the region," UND athletic director Brian Faison said in a statement. "With our team playing so far from Grand Forks, the ability for our fans to see the game on live television is very important and Fox Sports North has come through for us in a big way."

Sand bagging in Denver

The Tigers are 0-6 against teams outside of their conference, there is NO WAY this team beats the mighty Denver Pioneers. You can mark that one down and come back to it later. An epic upset is not in the cards this season there is no Holy Cross in this years tourney.

Star goalie Marc Cheverie, making a save against Michigan Tech this season, will lead DU into the East Regional on Friday. (Jack Dempsey, AP )The best scouting report on the University of Denver hockey team's first-round NCAA Tournament opponent is coming from Air Force coach Frank Serratore.

Serratore's Falcons played the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers four times this season.

"They have good, competitive depth, and they're an older team," Serratore said of the Tigers, who went 2-2 against Air Force during Atlantic Hockey Association games. "They're plenty good enough to go up and down the ice with Denver, but I would be shocked if Denver doesn't penetrate and get more quality shots than teams from our league."

Top-seeded Denver (27-9-4) and fourth-seeded RIT (26-11-2) meet Friday in the East Regional opener at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. The Tigers, who have won 10 consecutive games, are making their first NCAA Tournament appearance — just five years after becoming a Division I program.

RIT, seeded 15th overall, and 16th-seeded Alabama-Huntsville of College Hockey America are the only teams in the 16-team field that would not have qualified for the NCAA Tournament without an automatic bid as a conference tournament champion.

Air Force won the three previous AHA playoff championships and entered the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 seed. The Falcons came close to upsetting Minnesota in 2008 and Miami (Ohio) in 2009 before beating Michigan 2-0 a year ago. Serratore, whose 2009 team came within an overtime goal of advancing to the Frozen Four, expects RIT to pose a similar threat, but he's picking the Pioneers because of goaltender Marc Cheverie. The junior starred in DU's 2-1 overtime win at Air Force last month.

"(RIT's) goalie, Jared DeMichiel, was our first-team all-conference goalie. But I don't know how much he was tested in our league, and they never won a nonconference game (0-6)," Serratore said. "If Denver takes them lightly, which I know they won't, RIT is more than capable of knocking them off. But if everything else is equal,
I'd take Cheverie over DeMichiel."

[Read the whole article]

I stand by my argument that the AHA is a brutal league that some of the bottom teams would lose to the power house teams of Division III. This year the AHA went an impressive 8-41-4 against the big four conferences. Thanks for playing. The funny thing that caught my attention this week on the INCH Podcast, was one of the participants (I think it was Gladdy) said that 'since there is only going to be 5 leagues in the NCAA next season the NCAA should give the regular season league champion of each league an auto bid.' This inclusion would give the horrible to mediocre AHA an auto bid as well, their logic was because the AHA was now going to be a 12 team league, they now deserved two bids for the NCAA tourney. I am going to say not.

I am sorry but that league does not deserve two bids because they put 12 teams in the AHA, if an AHA team wants to make the tourney they should have to earn their way to an at large bid based on their Pairwise Rankings and by beating teams from the big four leagues like NU did back in the early days of the CHA.

Anton Volchenkov pounds Daniel Carcillo

Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy, I have to say that was a nice hit Volchenkov. I think when you skate up and down the ice taking liberties with the opposition players eventually someone is going to catch you and burry you in the boards with a nice legal stiff check. This video just made my whole day. Daniel Carcillo is one of the biggest hacks in the NHL and nice to see him on the receiving end once in a while. [Stick tap to Puck Daddy]

Wednesday Linkorama

Tough break (no pun intended) for Denver University as they found out that their 4th leading scorer might be done for the season.

Bad news out of the DU locker room today. Junior wing Anthony Maiani, who blocked a shot with his right index finger last week against North Dakota, will have surgery Tuesday to rebuild the ligaments and bones in the finger. If he doesn’t have surgery soon, he risks losing the bone and future use of the finger. [Denver Post]

DU is also having a power outage from their top players the past four games. DU's top line also has 45% of their points this season.

DU’s postseason stats sheet explains its 2-2 playoff record, including the two unenthusiastic wins over WCHA last-place Michigan Tech. Rhett Rakhshani, who leads the team with 50 points, has just two points (one goal) in four playoff games. He has a minus-1 rating. Linemate and fellow senior Tyler Ruegsegger has just one point, an assist, and is even. The final member of that line, sophomore Joe Colborne, has two points (one goal) in the four playoff games, and is minus-1. [Denver Post]

Patrice Bergeron is concerned about his fellow teammate Marc Savard.

Meanwhile, Bergeron's Bruins teammate Marc Savard is slowly recovering from a Grade 2 concussion he suffered March 7 in Pittsburgh, the result of a blindside hit by the Penguins' Matt Cooke. The Bruins have come to the realization that they will be without their top playmaker for the remainder of the season, which is a crushing blow to a team fighting for a postseason berth.

Savard remains at home, and the only moving around he's been doing is going to the hospital for examinations; according to coach Claude Julien, Savard has made little progress.

"He's still far behind," Julien said. "When we say 'better,' it's marginal; it's not a big, big step right now. But it's nice to know at least it's going in the right direction, and for him, that's important. Right now we can't even be considering him as a guy coming back soon."

Even if there was a possibility Savard could return this season, the Bruins aren't about to sacrifice his well-being. This isn't the first time he has suffered a concussion. [ESPN.COM]

Here is Husker Mike's take on the fire storm left by Patrick Reusse's rumor that miraculously appeared during the Final Five.

KSTP's Patrick Reusse (1500 AM in Minneapolis) raised a bit of a stir this weekend by tweeting about rumors that Minnesota was thinking about firing Don Lucia and hiring UNO head coach Dean Blais. For what it's worth, it would be hard to blame Blais for returning to his alma mater, but it wouldn't be good for UNO after only one season. While it's still a rumor at this point (Lucia still has a job), the rumor mill was running quite strong in Minneapolis this weekend at the WCHA Final Five. Trev Alberts was asked about the situation, and felt flattered that that UNO's hockey coach was the subject of these rumors. Until Lucia is actually fired, it's just speculation, but it's pretty clear that it's more than just "internet idiots" talking about it. (Yes, I'm looking at you SpamMania. Before you start labeling people as "idiots", at least get your source straight. The idiot might turn out to be the guy in the mirror...)

Cornell Senior Goalie Ben Scrivens is on Hot Streak at the Right Time [Slap Shot Blog]

UND Fighting Sioux goalie Brad Eidsness was on yesterday with Dan Hammer on AM 740 out of Fargo, ND. [Click to listen to the podcast]

Reading for the Yale series

Here was a story I found on UND Fighting Sioux's next opponent the Yale Bulldogs. Seems there was some monkey business with the pairing for the NCAA Hockey tourney.

Instead of a flight to the midwest, the Bulldogs will stay close to home. Worcester — hometown of Yale coach Keith Allain — is a two-hour bus ride from Ingalls Rink and gives Yale’s strong New Haven fan base the opportunity to make the short trip. Last March, Yale’s game against Vermont in the East Regional was a sellout at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport.

The caveat is the Bulldogs are now in a regional with two of the hottest teams in the nation, and facing the fifth overall seed instead of the eighth.

The NCAA hockey selection committee, which rarely strays from its seeding formula, was expected to match the Fighting Sioux with No. 12 overall Michigan in the opening round. In a move likely made to boost attendance both in Worcester and Fort Wayne, Yale and Michigan were swapped.

North Dakota (25-12-3), a seven-time national champion, won three straight to capture the WCHA title over the weekend. Boston College (25-10-3) has reached the Frozen Four eight times in the last 12 years with two national titles and is unbeaten in its last nine games.

Yale has lost all three games against North Dakota, losing at Ingalls Rink in 2002 and a two-game series in Grand Forks, N.D., in 2003.

“They’re one of the big faces of college hockey,” Yale captain Ryan Donald said. “That’s tough to match. Just watching the ESPN (selection show), I don’t think they even mentioned anything about our team. That’s fine with us. Hopefully, we can use that to our advantage and maybe they’ll take us lightly, too. At the same time, this is one of the top 16 teams in the country. Everybody is good, and everybody deserves to be there.”

North Dakota was 13-11-5 on Feb. 12 before catching fire. It has won 12 of the last 13 games, including victories over Minnesota-Duluth, Denver and St. Cloud State on successive days to capture the WCHA tournament title.

“To be honest, it really doesn’t matter where we are,” Allain said. “Logistically, Worcester is a little easier. It will be fun playing a team with the tradition and history of North Dakota. And it’s home for me. We’re just thrilled to have the opportunity to compete for a national championship [Read the rest of the story here]

Wirtz wanted Ovechkin out for season

I saw the game in question, the hit on Campbell was a bad hit, there could have been a more meaningful, meatier and longer suspension for Alex Ovechkin but NHL fans should know by now that NHL stars like Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby don’t get 5-10 games suspensions or longer because there are separate and different rules for superstars than there are for the tough guys and goons in the NHL. The NHL isn’t going to take their money makers and suspend them for long periods of time because they put asses in the seats. That is the brutal reality. If Derek Boogaard or Milan Lucic had did what Ovechkin did to Brian Campbell the NHL would have had the book thrown at them.

I believe that there should be the same rules for Sidney Crosby, Milan Lucic and Colton Orr. Do the crime you do the time.

Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz believes Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin knew what he was doing when he injured Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell on March 14, and Wirtz believes Ovechkin should have been suspended for the rest of the season.

Ovechkin was suspended two games for the hit, which resulted in a fractured clavicle and rib. Campbell is expected to miss seven to eight weeks.

During a taping of an upcoming Crain's Business of Sports video, Wirtz said the suspension should last as long as the injured player is sidelined.

"If any one of our great players put Ovechkin out for the season, he should be out for the season, too," Wirtz told Crain's. "Make it commensurate. [ESPN.COM]

Board of Governors approves hit to head rule

I think it's the first shot in the right direction. It would make the bush league hit post above by Matt Cooke on Savard illegal. Of course this rule does nothing to help Marc Savard right now.

TORONTO (AP) - The NHL is one step closer to a new rule on blindside hits to the head.

The league's board of governors has unanimously approved the proposed penalty that would ban hits to the head against on an unsuspecting player.

According to a statement released by the NHL, the timing and details of implementation are being worked on by the league's hockey operations department and the players' Association. General managers first proposed the rule earlier this month.

Florida Panthers forward David Booth missed 45 games this season after getting hit by Philadelphia Flyers captain Mike Richards - a play that was legal at the time, but will no longer be tolerated under the new system.

An unpunished blindside hit by Pittsburgh's Matt Cooke against Boston's Marc Savard on March 7 also increased pressure to enact a new rule. Savard sustained a concussion that will likely sideline him for at least the rest of the regular season.

The GM meetings began the day after Savard was hit.

The new rule also needs approval from the 10-man competition committee, which is comprised of five players, four general managers and Philadelphia Flyers owner Ed Snider

One of the longest fights in NHL history.

According to Hockeyfights.com this is one of the longest fights in NHL history; Cam Janssen versus Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond. It made me tired just watching it.

Cam Janssen and Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond were tireless Saturday night, trading punches back and forth in one of the longest fights in NHL history. It went back and forth, one punch at a time for two and a half minutes.

N.D. Supreme Court hearing on Sioux nickname is today

Here is the latest on the Fighting Sioux nickname. Let's just hope the State Board of Higher Education does not pull the rug out from under the nickname supporters down on Standing Rock that have worked hard to get the 1000 signatures on the petition.

A state Supreme Court hearing that’s been holding up a decision to end the use of UND’s Fighting Sioux nickname is scheduled for today.

The court will decide whether the district court in Devils Lake decided correctly when it ruled against nickname supporters from the Spirit Lake Dakotah Nation. The plaintiffs had filed suit to block what they consider an illegal early retirement of the nickname by the State Board of Higher Education.

The board had indicated it favored early retirement last fall, but the lawsuit and the temporary restraining order it triggered forced the board to pause. After the judge ruled in favor of the board, the board still took no action because the plaintiffs had appealed to the Supreme Court.

Thrown into this mix is the potential for the nickname to go on the ballot at the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Nickname supporters there turned in a petition with 1,004 signatures, a significant number considering about 1,900 voted in the last tribal election.

The main reason board members favored retiring the nickname was they weren’t seeing any movement toward such a ballot measure at Standing Rock.

UND needs the blessings of both the state’s Sioux tribes to keep the nickname, as stipulated in the settlement between the state and the NCAA, which considers American Indian nicknames offensive
[Grand Forks Herald]

More Cindy Crosby antics

I am so sick and tired of Sidney Crosby's antics, I mean really. Crosby is a great hockey player and one of the best in the game but watch the video, Crosby cross checked Henrik Zetterberg about four times. In my opinion Crosby deserved a good beat down for that and good for Jimmy Howard for stepping up.
[Stick Salute]

Everyone is picking on the poor Gophers

I would have to admit that I have enjoyed or probably reveled in the Gophers' troubles. In fact I have enjoyed watching the implosion. They have no one to blame but themselves. The coach they should have forced out was John Hill and not Mike Guentzel I don't think it's a mystery why the Gophers have stumbled. Also, contrary to public belief the WCHA Final Five made it without the Golden Gophers in attendence this past weekend, people still showed up to the games without you.

KICKING THE GOPHERS

It almost seems some people revel in the Gophers' troubles. And they have had plenty the past three seasons.

On Friday, several people in the press box at the Xcel told me that sophomore defenseman Aaron Ness had signed with the New York Islanders. That would have been another body blow.

Checked my sources, finally reached his dad who insisted Ness is coming back. This is at least the second Ness rumor I have had to follow. Shortly after sophomore defenseman Sam Lofquist left, there were reports Jordan Schroeder would be turning pro and Ness would transfer to North Dakota.

Not sure if it's because the U has had so much success, or maybe people dislike Don Lucia, but there seem to be those hoping it all blows up.

As for Ness, young men change their minds. I believe his dad. I have no reason not to. But if Ness left in the offseason, it would not be a huge surprise as long as Garth Snow remains the New York Islanders general manager.

He ripped Lucia on the development of his players two seasons ago when Kyle Okposo signed with the Isles at the holiday break.
[Goal Gophers]

How did I do part two - pre season rewind.

Here was the pre-season poll that I did for the now defunct Illegal Curve. The teams that are lined out are the ones that didn’t make the NCAA tourney. I was put "On the Radar" for not putting UMass Lowell higher and that I picked Vermont 7th. Ha! How did that work for them? While I did expect more from UVM at least they made the NCAA tourney. Unfortunately; it was probably at the expense of Ferris State and UMD.


1.) Denver University – 27-9-4
2.) Miami University – 27-7-7
3.) Notre Dame – 13-17-8
4.) University of North Dakota – 25-12-5
5.) Boston University – 18-17-3
6.) University of Michigan – 25-17-1
7.) Vermont University – 17-14-7
8.) University of Minnesota – 18-19-2
9.) University of Wisconsin – 25-10-4
10.) University of Mass Lowell –
11.) University of Minnesota Duluth – 22-17-3
12.) Boston College – 25-10-3
13.) Yale University – 20-9-3
14.) Princeton University – 12-16-3
15.) University of New Hampshire – 17-13-7
16.) Northeastern University – 16-16-2
17.) Saint Cloud State University – 23-13-5
18.) Northern Michigan University – 20-12-8
19.) Cornell University – 21-8-4
20.) U.S. Air Force Academy – 16-15-6

Poll Monday (UND fourth in both)

Talk about meaningless the end of the season polls. The only poll that matters now is the winner of the NCAA championship.

Final USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[March 22, 2010]
1 Miami (28) 27- 7-7 924 2
2 Denver ( 6) 27- 9-4 865 1
3 Boston College ( 8) 25-10-3 854 4
4 North Dakota ( 4) 25-12-5 827 5
5 Wisconsin ( 2) 25-10-4 816 3
6 Cornell 21- 8-4 713 7
7 St. Cloud State 23-13-5 688 6
8 Yale 20- 9-3 556 9
9 Northern Michigan 20-12-8 520 12
10 Bemidji State 23- 9-4 517 10
11 Michigan 25-17-1 497 17
12 New Hampshire 17-13-7 363 13
13 Ferris State 21-13-6 355 8 (NIT)
14 Minnesota-Duluth 22-17-1 294 11 (NIT)
15 Vermont 17-14-7 263 14
16 Union 21-12-6 251 15 (NIT)
17 Alaska 18-11-9 244 18
18 Maine 19-17-3 176 19 (NIT)
19 Michigan State 19-13-6 156 16 (NIT)
20 RIT 26-11-1 117 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Colorado College 31(NIT), Boston University 24(NIT), Mass.-Lowell 7(NIT), Nebraska-Omaha 6(NIT), Alabama-Huntsville 5, Minnesota 5(NIT), St. Lawrence 5(NIT), Brown 1 (NIT)


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USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[March 22, 2010]
1 Miami (Ohio) (23) 27-7-7 486 2
2 Boston College (7) 25-10-3 457 4
3 Denver (3) 27-9-4 453 1
4 North Dakota (1) 25-12-5 436 5
5 Wisconsin 15-10-4 415 3
6 Cornell 21-8-4 338 7
7 St. Cloud State 23-13-5 312 6
8 Yale 20-9-3 239 9
9 Bemidji State 23-9-4 206 10
10 Northern Michigan 20-12-8 202 12
11 Michigan 25-17-1 179 NR
12 New Hampshire 17-13-7 111 13
13 Alaska (Fairbanks) 18-11-9 65 NR
14 Vermont 17-14-7 57 14
15 Ferris State 21-13-6 52 8 (NIT)
Others receiving votes: University of Minnesota Duluth, 25 (NIT); Union College, 23(NIT); Rochester Institute of Technology, 15; Michigan State University, 5 (NIT); University of Maine, 4 (NIT) .

Brad Malone Says Hi To Ryan Lasch

Nice check.



And by request here's a replay of a slick move by Evan Trupp. Too bad he didn't score.



Sorry this video isn't working yet. I hate youtube. Back when I was a kid we didn't have internet services that were inexplicably unreliable.

It does work on my youtube channel.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheWhistlerOFND?feature=mhw4

Alabama Huntsville Bumped CCHA Power Michigan State

At last something to feel good about.

Alabama Huntsville is a NCAA hockey program without an home next year. Their conference is folding up. The other teams in that conference, such as Bemidji State found homes in other conferences. The WCHA didn't really want another team but they stepped up and made room for Bemidji.

The CCHA refused to help Alabama Huntsville.

Alabama Huntsville won the last CHA tournament and got the autobid that comes with that. So they're going as well as Bemidji who played well enough (and then some) to make the tournament as an at large bid.

Nobody expected the CHA to take two places in the 16 game field. Some might think that's unfair.

But what goes around comes around. Not only was it a CCHA team that lost to them, it was one of the prominent programs, Michigan State, that found their season ended.

One would think that Michigan State would have a lot of influence in the CCHA. After all for years the CCHA didn't have a lot of depth. It was either Michigan and Michigan State that seemed to win it every year.

I wonder if Michigan State was one of the schools that blocked Alabama Huntsville from joining the CCHA. It would be fitting if that were the case.

So where is the outrage?

So I wonder if this hit will be reviewed by Bruce McLeod, probably not! Look at the picture it's a hit to the head. What do yall think? Stick tap to Sioux Rube.