Worst Cliche in Hockey; The two goal lead...

I included this blog post for Sioux fans because the 2009-2010 Fighting Sioux hockey team had a propensity to blow/throw a few away games after they had taken a two goal lead.

In an otherwise excellent piece criticising the Ottawa Senators for their collapse in game six against the Penguins, Wayne Scanlan remarks that the pressure was building as the Senators “set out to defend what Don Cherry always calls the worst lead in hockey: the two goal advantage.”

Now I know what he’s getting at: With a one-goal lead, a team keeps its focus, and with a three goal lead it would require a serious collapse to lose. But two goals? It’s close enough that you need to stay focused, but big enough to convince you that it is OK to relax. But is there any indication that a two goal lead is, objectively, a worse lead to have than a one- (or three-) goal lead? I find it hard to believe.

First thing to keep in mind is that all failed two-goal leads are also failed one-goal leads. That is, on its way to squandering a two-goal lead, a team must also squander a one-goal lead. So, it is analytically the case that the number of squandered one-goal leads is equal to, and empirically a certainty that it is greater than, the number of squandered two-goal leads. [MACLEAN'S.CA]

Jaroslav Halak and the Habs "have" Bettman sweating...

I would imagine that the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is having kittens with the prospects of one of their league faces/money makers being bounced out in the first round of the NHL Playoffs. In reality there is a good chance that one or both the Penguins and the Capitals could be out by the time the league finals roll around, neither the Pens or the Caps have looked that good in the first round.

It also looks like the Montreal Canadians have finally found a serviceable starting goalie that is a lot more consistent than former starter Carey Price in Jaroslav Halak. Halak has been nothing short of amazing in the first round.

Bruins gut out series win...

The Bruins while not pretty in winning their first round series against the Buffalo Sabres did all of the little things that they had to do to win the series. The Sabres are a tough pesky team and didn’t just go away quietly into the night, they went down fighting. The Bruins might have also caught a break with the injury to Thomas Vanek earlier in the series. (S/T to Brad aka "Sioux Rube")

This was a hard fought series with a lot of one on one battles, this series was downright nasty at times, as we saw from the Chara and Gaustad incident at the end of game five, I can't imagine what would have happened if Zdeno Chara had been suspended for game six. To further illustrate the toughness of this series after the game during the post game on ice interview you could see a cut on the left side of Bruins tough guy Milan Lucic face, it looked like Lucic was in needed of two or three stitches.

Ryan Miller was a warrior all series long and gave the Bruins nothing during the six games. In my opinion, I think Miller kept the Sabres in the series and gave the Sabres a chance to win and can’t be faulted because he is one of the Sabres that brought it every game and played very well, without him the Bruins could have very well ended this series in 4 games. True to form and being the classly player that he is, Ryan Miller was the first one to line up for the hand shake at the end of the game at center ice.

The Boston Bruins now await the winner of the Habs and Capitals first round series on Wednessday night to find out who they get to play in the next round. If the Habs can manage to win their series against the Capitals the Bruins would get the Flyers. If the Capitals win the Bruins would play the Penguins.

Quit? No, the Sabres never quit.

Vanek scored with 1:13 left to make it interesting in the third. Tim Kennedy and Kaleta, the two Buffalo boys, certainly didn't back down and connected on a goal in the second period. Gerbe answered after Krejci gave Boston a 3-1 advantage.

Let's face it, the Bruins were better for most of the series. They played harder, were more resourceful, twice stormed back from two-goal deficits to win and twice rallied in the third period to beat a Sabres team that had been perfect in that situation. They had more experience, better special teams and more thump. [Buffalo News]

Bruins knock the Sabres out of the NHL playoffs.

I must admit that I am very happy tonight. I would love to see the Boston Bruins resign Miroslav Satan to a contract extension because he has been clutch in this series (2g-3a-5pts) in 6 games.

Next to the UND Fighting Sioux the Boston Bruins are my favorite hockey team and it's has been 18 long years since the Bruins last beat the Buffalo Sabres in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Last time the Bruins beat the Sabres Dale Hawerchuk and Pat LaFontaine were leading the Sabres in points. Rob Ray was their top goon and Daren Puppa was the Sabres top goal tender. For the non-math majors like me that was the 1991-1992 season.

The Boston Bruins now await their opponent for the next round, I hate to say this but it all depends on the hated Habs and if they can beat the Capitals in game 7. If Canadians can beat the Washington Capitals (I don’t think it will happen) the Bruins will play Daniel “the Hack” Carcillo and the Philadelphia Flyers. If the Captials win the Boston Bruins will play the Pittsburgh Penguins. I like the Bruins chances against the Flyers more than I do against the Penguins.

Top ten goals of the Stanley Cup Playoffs...

I had a blog post yesterday about my two top saves of the Stanley Cup playoffs to date. Here is a compilation of TSN's top 10 saves of the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs so far. s/t [KuklasKorner]

End for a coaching legend...

Whether you want to admit it or not Jacques Lemaire is a coaching legend, and belongs in the NHL hall of fame in my opinion. Now! While I do think watching some of his Minnesota Wild teams were some of the most uneventful, mind numbingly boring teams to watch on the ice he was an effective coach that got the most out of his teams.

NEWARK, N.J. - The energy is gone, so Jacques Lemaire is walking away from coaching.

Only four days after the New Jersey Devils were eliminated from the playoffs in the first round for the third consecutive year, the 64-year-old Lemaire made the surprising announcement Monday that he is retiring as a coach.

"It's tough to leave what you like, but it's a decision that I made," he said.

Lemaire said he thought about retiring several times this season and that the loss to the Philadelphia Flyers in five games had nothing to do with his decision. He relayed it to Devils president Lou Lamoriello over the past 24 hours.

"It's not the team, it is not the result or the lack of result we had in the playoffs," a glassy-eyed Lemaire said. "It's not that at all. It's the end of the line. I'll be 65. It's just time."

Washington Capital Eric Belanger practices personal dentistry on the player’s bench

If you have a weak stomach you may not want to watch this. The irony is that these guys were former teammates with the Wild. Marc-Andre Bergeron knocks out eight of Belanger's teeth with a blatant high stick, no call on the play, then Belanger removes one of his teeth that wasn't knocked out. Hockey players are tough.

Speaking of Belanger, he said Marc-Andre Bergeron, his former teammate with the Wild, called him to a apologize for knocking out eight of his teeth with a high stick on Friday. (Belanger had just gotten thousands of dollars of work done on his teeth last year, and until Game 5, might have had the nicest smile on the team.)

"He felt so bad," said Belanger, who does not wear a mouthpiece because it makes him gag. "I spent a lot of time getting them fixed up, and here I am again."

On a positive note, Belanger is able to eat - just as long as it's cut into small pieces. So his energy level should be fine.

"I'm not going to eat crackers or stuff like that," he said. "But I can eat small pieces, chicken cut up or rice. I can chew in the back." [Washington Post]

Police: Booze Found In BC Student's Car After MBTA Crash

This is a story that emerged out of Boston over the weekend as three freshman hockey players from the defending national champion Boston College Eagles; Parker Milner, goaltender, and defensemen Phillip Sameulsson and Patrick Wey were involved in traffic accident with an MBTA trolley car. The driver of the vehicle a young woman was not drinking but there was alcohol found in the vehicle. Some of the beer cans in the vehicle were open. The part that makes it more series is some of the passengers in the vehicle fled the scene with their unauthorized alcoholic beverages. None of the passengers in the vehicle were of the legal age to drink alcoholic beverages.

It will be interesting to see how Boston College head hockey coach Jerry York handles this incident. My first question is how the hell do you run into a commuter train? Those things are pretty big, and I am not sure how you miss a big green commuter train. Also, what are 7 people doing in a Jeep it’s supposed to seat five.

BOSTON -- Three members of Boston College's national champion hockey team team are facing alcohol possession charges Monday after they and five other teenagers were in a car crash with a Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority trolley car late Saturday and police found blood-smeared cans of beer and a bottle of Rubinoff vodka in the SUV.

Police said BC hockey goal tender Parker Milner, 19, freshman defenseman Phillip Sameulsson, 18, and Patrick Wey, 19, were in a Jeep that was hit by a Green Line trolley when the driver, identified as Jane Stanton, 19, tried to make a u-turn across the tracks near the Evergreen Cemetery on Commonwealth Avenue at Greycliff Road.

Eight BC students were in the Jeep at the time of the crash, police said Monday. They originally believed there were only seven students in the five-passenger vehicle. Four were treated for minor injuries.[The Boston Channel]

Links to the story

USA Today; Boston College hockey players charged after car crash with trolley

WEEI; BC hockey players in car accident

Boston Bar Stool Sports; Underage BC Hockey Players Crash Into the Green Line

WBZ.COM; 3 BC Hockey Players Involved In Green Line Crash (with video)

Top two saves of the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs...

Here are my two nominations for best saves during the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. Personally, I think the Tuuku Rask save below is even better than the Roberto Luongo save on the shot from Ryan Smyth. I think both saves were the defining moments in their individual hockey games. I have included a poll on the right you can vote on your save of the first round.

Colin Campbell Wheel of Justice; No Suspension For Marian Hossa

First off this is the right call, in my opinion. Marian Hossa isn’t known as a cheap player nor is he a repeat offender and he isn’t going to be confused with a Matt Cooke or Daniel Carcillo type player/hack. While the coach of the Nashville Predators head coach Barry Trotz compared the hit on Hamhuis to one delivered by Washington's Alex Ovechkin that injured Blackhawks defenseman Brian Campbell last month. Whatever, the Predators coach is entitled to his opinion (no matter how flawed) the Marian Hossa hit on Predators Dan Hamhuis was not the same hit as the Alexander Ovechkin hit on Brian Campbell. There are not even the same type of hit. The Hossa hit was a push check or a shove the hit by Ovechkin was a blatant boarding/hit from behind.

I am not saying that I approve of the hit in question because I don’t, in watching the video (included above) it was a dangerous hit but I don’t think it’s worthy of a suspension. Also, I don’t think the NHL has to issue a suspension on every major penalty. If Hossa replicated the act again soon I would expect a suspension because they he would be a repeat offender.

The NHL said on Sunday that Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa won't be suspended for the major boarding infraction he incurred in Game 5 against the Nashville Predators.

Colin Campbell issued a statment after a hearing explaining the decision.

"I have made the decision that this play does not warrant supplemental discipline after considering all of the facts, including reviewing the video and speaking with Mr. Hossa," said Campbell. "This play is distinguishable from recent incidents by a number of factors, including the degree of contact involved; the fact that the consequences of the play do not appear to be as severe; that this was a hockey play involving a race for the puck; that Mr. Hossa is not a repeat offender and that the call of a major penalty by the referee was significant and appropriate."
[Read more]

Joe Pavelski game winning goal to knock the Av's out of the playoffs.

This kid scores some nice goals and this one is no different. This was the goal that knocked the Avalanche out of the Stanley Cup playoffs. The San Jose Sharks finally won a first round series and proved that they were not going to be a first round flop again this season. Of course Joe Thornton has been almost non-existent again with (0g-3a-3pts) in 6 games. Joe Pavelski (5g-3a-8pts)is tied for the team lead in points with Ryan Clow (1g-7a-pts). I have to admit that the former Wisconsin Badger is one of my favorite players.

April 24th, 2010 Coach's Corner with Ron MacLean & Don Cherry

Back by popular demand.

Marian Hossa hit on Dan Hamhuis

This is the latest controversy in the NHL. I saw the hit and while it's a bad hit there is no question and I don't condone it one bit, I am not sure that the hit in question is as bad as the Alexander Ovechkin hit on Brian Campbell. Brian Campbell went more violently face first into the boards than the Hamhuis hit. Just my humble opinion, don’t take my head off. There are a lot of people that are upset that Hossa wasn't thrown out of the game and given a match penalty and Predators fans are even more unhappy that Marian Hossa scored the game winning goal. Will the league suspend Hossa? I don't know? The league doesn't have much time to make a decision, the Hawks play again Monday. Hossa doesn't have a history of dirty hits or questionable play. So who knows where the Colin Campbell Wheel of Justice will land. Personally I don't think the play rises to the level where it deserves a suspension. Not every major penalty deserves a suspension.

War of the words; Ruff and Julien

This is turning into a pretty good drama between the two teams, it's playoff hockey. Personally, I hate the Buffalo Sabres and they sound like a bunch of whinny little cry babies, there has been excessive complaining about the officiating in this series by the Buffalo Sabres coaching staff. The fact remains that the officiating has been poor both ways. The game prior their coach Lindy Ruff had a temper tantrum at the post game press conference. I love it. I expect the next game to be even more intense. Some of this stuff is also tin foil hat crap though.

"I said [Friday] night, you run the risk of being suspended," Ruff said on Saturday. "The league's interpretation is what it is. I was arguing for the instigator. That's why I stayed on the bench. I had [Craig Rivet] go over and say, 'That's an instigator.'

"It really doesn't matter what I think. It really doesn't," Ruff added. "I don't think that little slash [from Gaustad] hurt [Chara], though. An instigator is an instigator. The referees deemed [Gaustad] was the instigator. I can find lots of little slashes in the game if you want me to find that."

In his media briefing on Saturday, Julien said he hoped Ruff was simply using coaching tactics and didn’t need any cheese with his whine. He also reiterated his disgust with what he believes to be one-sided officiating leaning in the Sabres’ favor.

"I've heard and read Lindy's comments," Julien said. "Hopefully, it's his way of taking pressure off his team. If not, it's a lot of whining. Simple as that. Every coach has his tactics. You just worry about yourself. We seem to be the team that's doing bad things. They seem to be the team that's on the nice side of all that stuff and they do nothing wrong. It's tactics. Those are things in the playoffs that coaches use, hopefully to their advantage. I don't pay much attention to it."

There is some speculation around the NHL that the league tends to resist suspending star players in the playoffs, and Ruff was asked if maybe that was the case here with Chara.

"I've heard that argument before and I'm not even going to go down that road,” Ruff said.

Rivet, the Sabres captain, also chimed in, saying he expected the Bruins captain to be in the lineup Monday.

"I'm not really surprised," Rivet said. "It's something I expect at this time of year. I think the action would have to be a lot worse to get a suspension. He was a little bit frustrated at the end of the game but I don't think it was really cause for a suspension."

One thing is for sure though: If Gaustad or any other Sabres player wants to take liberties with a Bruin again, they will get a similar reaction. Chara’s actions were questioned, because he could have put his team in a tough position if he was suspended. But with two seconds on the clock and the Sabres up 4-1, he and the Bruins weren’t about to let Gaustad and the Sabres rub salt in the wound.

“We stand up for ourselves, too, and it is about doing it at the right time,” Julien said. “Sometimes a guy takes a cheap shot at you at the time of the game, it gives you a power, play and you say, 'Well, OK, I know who it is and it is a long game.’ But the game [was] over [when Gaustad hit Chara]. Obviously, it was a cheap shot and it was unwarranted -- the two-hander -- and [Chara] responded.[NESN.COM]

Chara will not be suspended.

Here is the explanation on why Big "Z" will not be suspended for game six. As some of the pundits have said the Gaustad slash (at the end of this video) is probably the reason why Chara will not receive any additional discipline from the NHL.

Darren Dreger TSN - The Boston Bruins and Buffalo Sabres were informed by the NHL on Friday night that Boston captain Zdeno Chara will not be suspended for the end of game instigator he was assessed in the Bruins' 4-1 loss to the Sabres.

However, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli had to formally submit a written request to Terry Gregson, the NHL's director of officiating, to have the instigator rescinded.

Two instigator penalties during the Stanley Cup playoffs results in an automatic suspension.

Chara was not involved in any in-game incident prior to his retaliation which under Rule 47.22 provides the criteria for Colin Campbell, the NHL's Director of Hockey Operations, to lift the automatic suspension which coincides with this penalty.

"(Rule 47.22)

Instigator in Final Five Minutes of Regulation Time (or Anytime in Overtime) - A player or goalkeeper who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at anytime in overtime, shall automatically be suspended for one game. The Director of Hockey Operations will review every such incident and may rescind the suspension based on a number of criteria. The criteria for the review shall include, but not limited to, the score, previous incidents, etc. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. This suspension shall be served in addition to any other automatic suspensions a player may incur for an accumulation of three or more instigator penalties.When the one-game suspension is imposed, the Coach shall be fined $10,000 - a fine that will double for each subsequent incident. No team appeals will be permitted either verbally or in writing regarding the assessment of this automatic suspension."

Donny Brook at the end of the Bruins and Sabres game.

The reason that Zdeno Chara goes after Paul Gaustad is that he slashes Chara as he skates by. Holy Cow! You've got to love playoff hockey. While the Sabres may have won tonight's game the Bruins have two games to win the series clinching game. Mark it down, the Sabres are not going to win this series.

Should the Bruins shut Marc Savard down?

Marc Savard has been cleared to practice with the team after being out for 6 weeks missing 22 games with post concussion symptoms as a result of a bush league blind side hit by uber hack Matt Cooke. While the bloggers and media will pontificate on when players should return from a concussion, I think the decision needs to be with the player and the team doctors.

A championship is not worth risking any athlete's health, let alone a first round series. This is why Peter Chiarelli and Claude Julien are wise to temper expectations for the return of dynamic center Marc Savard. This is why you hope the general manager and head coach of the Boston Bruins back up their words, even if their team's 3-1 lead over the Buffalo Sabres starts to dwindle after Game 5 on Friday in Buffalo.

The Bruins should not look for inspiration from a heroic return by Savard in this series against their division rivals. Julien is far better off sending the optimistic message, "Win this series and we get Savvy back for Round 2."

It would be so easy for the Bruins' brass to talk themselves into a Savard return. "We really need him on the power play, and no one's going to touch him there," could be one reasoning. "We'll break him in easily with some fourth line duty," is another. After all, with Bergeron and Krejci at center, the Bruins don't need Savard for his usual 18 minutes a game.

Hopefully, Julien will remember his words on Wednesday morning after Savard passed his neuropsychological exam and was cleared to practice. ][Fan House]

Everything I’ve done, I owe to hockey and UND

This letter to the editor was in today addition of the Grand Forks Herald, it's from a former Fighting Sioux hockey player that is also of Native American decent. I would like to see Sudie Hofmann or Winona LaDuke try to refute his letter...

By Bill LeCaine
CENTENNIAL, Colo. — I’m a Lakota Sioux and was born on the Wood Mountain Lakota Sioux reservation in Wood Mountain, Sask. That was where Sitting Bull and his people fled to in order to escape the U.S. Army after the battle of the Little Big Horn.

My mother took me off the reserve at age 4 or 5, and I lived with her on skid row until the government took me from her. After that, I lived in children’s shelters and foster homes.

I attended UND on a hockey scholarship and later played 14 years as a pro, including playing for the Pittsburgh Penguins in the National Hockey League.

I’m proud to have worn the “Fighting Sioux” logo and of what it stands for.

The name was chosen for all the right reasons: honor, pride, courage, respect and dignity, along with family and religious ethics that people are proud of.

Most alumni with whom I’ve spoken did not attend UND for the “Fighting Sioux” logo or name. But they did learn to love the name and school and everything that they stand for today.

Somebody once said that nothing happens until someone says something. More important, nothing happens unless someone is listening. I hope that 100 years from now, North Dakotans can say we made the right decision. Good things happen when good people do the right thing.

A few years ago, I met an author who wrote books about genocides that happened in the course of history. He also raised money for synagogues so that the world would not forget the Holocaust.

I asked him if he included in his books the genocide perpetrated on American Indians by our own government. He was embarrassed to tell me that he had forgotten that very significant part of our history and assured me it would be in his next book.

Only 130 years have passed since the battle of the Little Big Horn; how soon we forget.

The Fighting Sioux name and the programs that UND has for American Indians are a tribute to and should serve as a reminder of that part of history.

I’m also a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux reservation in South Dakota because of my great-grandfather, Black Moon, who fought with Sitting Bull. My grandfather, John O’kute Sica, was a historian and writer. A German publishing company just printed a book with his writings of history and what might happen in the future. This summer, it will be published in English.

For my part, I only hope that my writings of the present can say that good people who do good things can have a profound impact on history and on the Indian nations that have not had many good things happen to them.

And I hope that my writings about the future will say what an uplifting occasion this was for all American Indians.

Let’s think about the future and not get stuck in the “now and immediate” time frame.

To sum up, I can say that everything I’ve accomplished today as an athlete, a father and a business person, I owe to hockey and UND.

LeCaine is president and CEO of Arrow Technologies, an Indian-owned company that designs and installs copper and fiber-optic systems.

He was the first American Indian to play in the National Hockey League.

Savard en route to Buffalo

This is good news for the Boston Bruins because it mean that their best players is getting better and could make a return to the ice soon. It's no mystery that the Boston Bruins who are already offensively challenged are a much better team with Marc Savard in the line up.

Marc Savard will travel to Buffalo this afternoon and participate in tomorrow's morning skate. Savard visited with Dr. Kelly McInnis this morning, and although he hadn't gotten any results, he believes he has been cleared for contact. Tomorrow will be the first time Savard skates with his teammates, although given the nature of morning skates, it doesn't project to be a high-tempo session.

"Just getting my wind back," Savard said. "You can do biking or whatever you want. But nothing's like being on the ice. Just keep taking it a day at a time and get stronger that way." [Boston Globe Hockey Blog]

Lindy Ruff unhappy with the officating.

I know it sounds cliché but this series is a perfect example of why you have to play a full sixty minutes to win a hockey game. The Sabres have had two goal leads in two of the four games and the Bruins have come back to win the games. The Bruins made the adjustments so far in this series and the Sabres didn’t.

The Bruins cashed in on their opportunities last night and the Sabres did not. The Sabres coach, Buffalo media and the Sabres fans can blame the officiating for the loss last night but the officiating was equally poor on both ends of the ice last night. That dog doesn’t hunt in this case.

If anything the officiating has been consistently poor in every game that I have watched. The other night I watched Andrew Ference get a 10 minute misconduct for getting punched and not fighting back. So if anything both team have legitimate complaints about the poor officiating. If anything the level of officiating has degraded and taken a step back this year. It is what it is, the fact remains the Bruins have out played the Sabres for most of this series and that is why the Bruins are on the verge of eliminating the Buffalo Sabres and sending them to the golf course. If it wasn’t for Ryan Miller the Bruins would have won the series 4-0 all ready.

BOSTON — Lindy Ruff's wallet could be a few bucks lighter after he's finished paying a fine for criticizing the officials, but you could understand his frustration after the game Wednesday. A terrible call in the third period shifted momentum to the Bruins and enabled them to crawl back from another two-goal deficit.

Cody McCormick was summoned by Buffalo from Portland to add some much-needed muscle and tenacity, and that's exactly what he provided. He made a great play to set up Tim Kennedy for the first goal. And he was going hard to the net when he was taken off of his feet before slamming into Tuukka Rask, leading to goaltender interference.

Terrible call? Definitely.

Tough break? Yes.

Ruff had a legitimate beef and allowed his emotions to get the better of him, plain and simple. He could blame Drew Stafford for jumping off the bench too soon, which led to Miroslav Satan, of all people, scoring on a power play backhander in the second overtime. All it takes is one bad play, one mental mistake, to cost a team in the postseason.

The Sabres are in a world of trouble after the 3-2 loss in TD Garden. They're staring down the barrel of elimination Friday with the best-of-seven series shifting back to Buffalo. They have lost three straight to the Bruins. They put together their best performance in Game Four, and it wasn't enough.

No, it does not look good.

Craig Rivet vs Milan Lucic

This was a good fight for Milan Lucic as he handed it to Craig Rivet. I think the fight also fired up both teams. For Lucic to be affective he must play tough and finish his checks.

NHL on TSN - Opening Montage - Avatar Style - Apr 21st 2010

Check out this opening montage for last night's game between the Washington Capitals and the Montreal Canadians. Think the NHL is banking on Ovechkin keeping peoples eyes glued to the television.

Tuukka Rask saves the Bruins

Check out this amazing save by Tuukka Rask in third period of tonight's game. I would say that this is the save of the season for the Boston Bruins.

Boston Bruins on the Verge of a series win.

What a beautiful goal by former Buffalo Sabre Miroslav Satan to beat the Sabres. I must say that I am very happy because it's been 18 years since the Boston Bruins have beaten the Buffalo Sabres in the Stanley Cup playoffs, (1991-1992 season Bruins win series 4-3). The Boston Bruins are on the verge of winning the series against their heated rival.

Joe Pavelski's OT goal against the Avs

Not a former Fighting Sioux hockey player but a former WCHA star. Former Wisconsin Badger Hockey player Joe Pavelski scored the game winning goal against the Colorado Av's last night to even the series with the Av's 2-2. Seriously, what a shot to end the game by the former Badger forward. Pavelsi blew the puck past Anderson, making him look like a rented goalie.

Hoeven: Give everybody time to speak

Governor soon to be North Dakota Senator John Hoeven has finally manned up and stepped into the nickname process. This is the right decision. Frankly, I have wondered what has taken Hoeven so long? I wish some of the states other political leaders would have stepped up earlier in this matter.

Gov. John Hoeven has advised the chancellor of the North Dakota University System to “give due consideration to any vote by the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe” regarding the UND Fighting Sioux nickname if it occurs before Nov. 30.

In his letter to Chancellor Bill Goetz, dated Tuesday, Hoeven noted that the state Supreme Court recently affirmed the State Board of Higher Education’s “authority and responsibility to decide on the use of the logo” subject to a lawsuit and settlement agreement involving UND and the NCAA, which considers American Indian nicknames and logos hostile and abusive.

The board on April 8 directed UND to begin the transition away from the 80-year-old nickname.

“It is important, however, that all involved in the process of deciding whether or not to retain it feel that they have been adequately heard,” the governor wrote.

Hoeven was asked last week by nickname supporters at the Spirit Lake Sioux Tribe to use his influence with higher education officials to allow the people of Standing Rock to speak to the issue. He forwarded a copy of that appeal, from the Spirit Lake Committee for Understanding and Respect, to Goetz and to Richie Smith, president of the higher education board.

Under terms of the lawsuit settlement between UND and the NCAA, the university had until Nov. 30 to win the blessing of the two namesake tribes or begin retiring the nickname and logo.

Spirit Lake voters gave their support last year, but the Standing Rock Tribal Council, citing procedural hurdles and calling such a vote a low priority, has not scheduled one despite the presentation by nickname supporters on the reservation of petitions containing more than 1,000 signatures.

Tribal officials have said they are looking into what would be required by tribal law and the Standing Rock constitution to hold a plebiscite on the nickname.

Eunice Davidson, one of the signers of the Spirit Lake appeal, said that she and others on her committee “would have liked a more forceful response” from the governor.

“But I think he responded the best he could, and we are grateful for the governor’s statement,” she said. “I believe it leaves the door open, if Standing Rock does have their vote, for the Board of Higher Education to revisit their decision.”

Duaine Espegard, a member of the state board from Grand Forks, said today the board “absolutely” would revive the nickname issue if Standing Rock votes and offers its support.

“It appears the governor agrees with what we’ve been saying,” he said. “Should they vote at Standing Rock, and it is positive (toward continued use of the nickname), we would certainly give them consideration — and beyond that, go with them.”

So far, “no progress has been made” on arranging a vote at Standing Rock, Espegard said. “But if they do vote, and they give approval and a long-term agreement, absolutely I’ll bring it back,” he said.

“It’s what I anticipated the governor would say,” board member Grant Shaft, also of Grand Forks, said.

“We all agree it would be the best scenario if Standing Rock members were able to vote,” he said. “That’s what we’ve been asking for for 2½ years. And if they do vote, the board should give that due consideration.”

Standing Rock Tribal Chairman Charles Murphy and Jesse Taken Alive, a council member who opposes UND’s use of the nickname, were not immediately available for comment.

Davidson said she has talked with Archie Fool Bear, a leader of the Standing Rock petition drive seeking a vote there. “I think a thousand people, their signatures on a petition — that says a lot,” Davidson said. “So I hope they (members of the tribal council) allow them to have a vote. They should.” [Grand Forks Herald]

Jarkko Ruutu thumps uber hack Matt Cooke

Not that I am fan of Jarkko Ruutu (this is the same clown that bit Andrew Peters) but it was nice to see Matt Cooke getting more of what he deserves. I would like to give Ruutu a medal for him punching one of the biggest hacks in the NHL and that is saying a lot because there are many of them.

Vladimir Sobotka vs Andrej Sekera

Decent fight by Sobotka. I want someone to tell me what Andrew Ference did to recieve a 10 minute misconduct? Not to Ference if someone is punching you like that stop being a puss and fight back. You look like a clown pleading to the ref to rescue you. What you should have done is punch Craig Rivet back.

The Canucks goal that wasn't

I was watching this game last night and the Vancouver Canucks had an apparent legal goal waived off. If I had been reffing I would have ruled it a legit goal. Puck Daddy thinks the Canucks were jobbed. I think looking at the video there is a case for the argument that the Canucks were screwed in the ruling.

1. Did Sedin and the Canucks get jobbed?

Totally. The only reason many felt it was a borderline call when it went to replay is because we know how the War Room treats these situations. By the letter of the law, it's legal. From the NHL Rulebook, as a refresher:

While the goal being waved off by the refs was a factor in the Canucks loss last night, their goalie Roberto Luongo was brutal and so was the Canucks penalty kill as well. Wild fans are probably smiling today.

Andy Sutton runs over and destroys Jordan Leopold

You have to wonder if Andy Sutton (MTU) doesn't like his fellow WCHA alums as this is the second guy in a week that he took out with a tough legal hit. Former Gopher Jordan Leopold looks like he was out cold after running into the tree trunk that is Andy Sutton. Andy Sutton also destroyed former Sioux Drew Stafford with this hit.

HNIC - Coach's Corner - Saturday Apr 17th 2010

Back by popular demand.

Bruins 2 Sabres 1

Boychuk's smokes Ellis (update - Savard skates today)

Check out this hit; the Bruin's defenseman Johnny Boychuk lights up the Sabres Matt Ellis and smokes him like a cheap cigar. I think this might be the check of the Stanley Cup Playoffs so far.

Some good news for Boston Bruins fans, Mark Savard skated today.

Marc Savard, symptom-free for over a week, skated on his own for the first time this morning and said he felt like his old self.

"I feel great," Savard said. "The biggest thing is that over the last seven days, I've had some great days."

Savard passed an exertion test yesterday. Savard plans to skate on his own again tomorrow morning, then undergo a neuro-psych test in the afternoon. If Savard passes, he will be cleared to return to practice, although he wasn't sure if he'd jump in with his teammates right away. Once he passes the test, it will be up to Savard and the training staff to determine when he's physically ready for game action.

"If you're asking me that, I'd like to play tonight," said Savard when asked if he could play in this series. "I've got to be realistic here and take the proper steps. I'm hopeful. I'm hopeful."

Savard acknowledged he's still not close to game shape, considering he hasn't been involved in any physical activity for over a month.

"He's been out for six weeks," Claude Julien said. "He's not been able to exercise. If you're going to be fair to the player and fair to the team, we've got to give him a chance to get back into shape. That doesn't happen overnight. That's why we've got to take it one step at a time and see how he does. Hopefully he continues to get better. The quicker it is, the better it is for everyone." [Boston Globe Hockey Blog]

Nickname fans willfully ignore complexities

So when you disagree with someone's point of view the best thing to do is resort to name calling and labeling. The social racial Sal Alinsky would be proud of Ms Hofmann; she probably has a copy of his book Rules for Radicals herself. Against my better judgment I am going to use this latest opinion piece to illustrate this point. This latest diatribe in today’s Herald is from one of SCSU’s self proclaimed Elite professors, let me make sure that I am getting this right. Sioux fans who like the logo are racist and miss informed, so we are just a bunch of uneducated rubges. So what about the Native Americans that support the Fighting Sioux nickname? I mean seriously the last thing we need is someone from SCSU lecturing us on race relations. SCSU is a university that has been marred by racial incidents.

ST. CLOUD, Minn. — Editors, publishers, sports fans and coaches are scratching their heads over the decision by the State Board of Higher Education to retire the UND logo and nickname.

They say they just don’t get it. They say they don’t understand what is going on with these tribal governments.

I agree. They don’t get it. I believe that they have no real concept of complex Dakota/Lakota/Nakota culture, tribal life or governance, nor do they comprehend the profound challenges in many tribal communities across the Dakotas.

They don’t understand because they haven’t had to understand. That is what privilege looks like.

Nickname supporters essentially have learned nothing about the Dakota/Lakota/Nakota people after all these decades of using their image and name for athletics at UND. All the claims of “learning” about these American Indian populations through the use of the nickname/logo would not earn most fans a passing grade.

They know little about how this issue has torn apart tribal communities in North Dakota and South Dakota. Nickname supporters likely are not aware of how groups have been pitted against each other over the nickname issue in terms of gender, age and districts within the Standing Rock and Spirit Lake nations. They don’t understand how the tribal governments have agonized over being put in this unenviable position of determining the fate of the nickname when it should have been the decision of the state board long ago.

Supporters also don’t identify the larger issues of race. They want to hang onto the image of the fighting warrior in some macho way. They don’t understand that the Dakota/Lakota/Nakota male “warrior “ was someone who was protecting his family and land from well-armed settlers and the military representing territorial interests.

It is a bloody, tragic history. It is time to stop memorializing — or even romanticizing — this image at athletics contests.

No one is learning anything at UND games about these genocidal atrocities. Could pro-nickname fans write even one coherent page on Dakota/Lakota/Nakota history and contemporary concerns that they would be willing to defend in a Native Studies course?

If UND has specific educational objectives or student outcomes linked to learning the history and culture of Indian people, then move this mission to a racial issues requirement within the General Education curriculum. That is where it belongs.

Students should be required to read deeply about Indian issues and dialogue about course content with skilled instructors.

The curriculum that has been learned at sporting events is a superficial or tourist approach to learning about Indian culture and arguably could be a lesson in bigotry and racism.

It seems that pro-nickname enthusiasts are not sincerely interested in learning the true history and contemporary issues affecting Dakota/Lakota/Nakota people but have used this as a ruse in defending the nickname and logo.

If pro-nickname UND fans honestly wanted to embrace and honor Indian culture, then they should abandon the one-dimensional image of the male warrior and learn the rich, diverse story of the Dakota/Lakota/Nakota people.

The UND logo and nickname do not tell this story any more than, for example, “Gone with the Wind” did for African Americans held in slavery in the antebellum South.
[Grand Forks Herald]

Dan Boyle score; oops wrong net.

Oh my! First this is a perfect example for goalies and why they you should be ready to make a save at all times no matter what. Yeah, it sucks to be Dan Boyle. Funny, it reminds me of Steve Smith of the Edmonton Oiler's in 1986 who scored on his own net during game seven of the Stanley playoffs against the Calgary Flames.

Walters de-commits to Gophers, the drama continues

This was the story that had everyone a buzz on twitter the last couple of days. I guess it's ok for Jacob C-Piss to attempt to be an agitator but not Ryan Walters? What the hell is that? I am sure someone will take him. One has got to think that Lucia isn't long for the University of Minnesota Hockey team.

Ryan Walters, a high-scoring forward for Des Moines of the USHL, has de-committed to the Gophers. Walters met with the Gophers coaches on Friday and was asked to play a third year of junior hockey and to be less of an agitator, according to his father.

Walters decided on Saturday that he will play college hockey somewhere else.

Walters, 18, committed to the Gophers in October of 2007 when he was a sophomore at St. Thomas Academy. He has played for Des Moines the past two seasons.

He had 21 goals and 40 assists for 61 points this season, which puts him 12th in the league in scoring.

But the Gophers apparently did not have room on their 2010-11 roster for him. [Goal Gophers]

Slick Zach Parise goal...

Check out this pretty goal by former Fighting Sioux hockey player Zach Parise.

Redwing77's Nickname Musings

I thought about posting this as a response but it is rather too long for a comment so...

Isn't it intriguing how outlooks change?

When this whole ordeal started, it was the NCAA and the tribes that were the "enemy" and the SBoHE and UND Admin the White Knights.

HA! Looks like the enemy was not outside our own tent but in it!

The Tribes wanted their say. They almost got it. The SBoHE took their say away from them.

Where does this put each party?

NCAA - Brand is laughing from his grave. Franklin is smiling because he surely believes that if UND had just caved initially, then UND would have not been in such a predicament (not true) and now he gets to say "I warned you" AND get his and Brand's way.

SBoHE - They get their moment of "glory." They'll forever be remembered in both a well spun positive light "Bringing enlightened thought and conscious compassion to an embattled and beleaguered populace through the elimination of a caustic reminder of such a plight" and a negative one NDSU and its debacle. In truth, they got their glory. They got their names in the papers. They'll be remembered in one way or another.

UND Admin - In truth, they could fight it and look bad to those who can fire them, they can be indifferent and tempt negative response from the people who can fire them, or they can support the SBoHE blindly and be lauded by the State Board as champions of cooperation and collaboration. They are reprehensible, but they are politicians so... we should've known this was going to be the path they chose.

The Tribes - Screwed. HA! History repeats itself. They're now ignored, sentenced to a plight that could mean less public awareness, and no longer have any leverage for any sort of vocal power outside of the reservation. AND it is not of their doing. So, they get the added "bonus" of being lumped into the SBoHE as the enemy because they "Started it."

Talk about a clusterfu**

Where do we go from here?

Well, I've always been a fan of the University of North Dakota Fighting Cavalry, as the 1st Cavalry Division has part of its history and makeup in North Dakota, and not just the Custer reference.

It sounds cool. It has no Native American imagery or symbolism. And since the military has always been a part of North Dakota and Grand Forks (despite that being Air Force really) it would be really nice.

We can keep kelly green and have almost a camo color scheme. Or we can go into the face of everyone and go Union Blue, Gold, and White or Gray.

Or we can go with no nickname at all. I like this one. PLUS we have the unis already made up (admittedly, this is a women's hockey shot but I can't find a better picture).

Then we get rid of that statue outside of the Ralph. Instead, put up a statue of Teddy Roosevelt with some "inspiring" quotes of his... such as:

"I don't go so far as to think that the only good Indians are dead Indians, but I believe nine out of ten are, and I shouldn't inquire too closely into the case of the tenth. The most vicious cowboy has more moral principle than the average Indian." - Theodore Roosevelt

In conclusion, when I do think about the NCAA, I think of the hand gesture "You're #1." However, I give them that gesture without using my thumb, pinky, index, or ring fingers. Think about it. As for the nickname, I'm going to see how it plays out, and move on accordingly. I'll still be a fan of UND hockey.

Chat with UND AD Brian Faison

Today there was a chat with Brian Faison the Athletic Director of UND.

12:16 [Comment From Grand Forks Guy:] You say your personal thoughts don't matter in the process. We think they do! What are your thoughts on losing the nickname?

12:18 Brian Faison: In my two years at the University, I've repeatedly been struck by the incredible emotion and support of our alumni and fans for the University and for Fighting Sioux athletics. I've been privileged to serve at different institutions around the country and nowhere is the allegiance as strong as here. There's no question this decision is a difficult one for our fans and people are struggling to deal with this in their own personal way.

12:20 Friday April 16, 2010: It would appear from the articles earlier in the week that Tom Douple or Brian Faison are not being up front with Wayne Nelson. Douple told Wayne Nelson on Wednesday that he didn't know if UND's application for membership in the Summit League would be reviewed. After that story appeared in yesterday's GF Herald, Brian Faison contacted Wayne Nelson with information that Tom Douple "told him that UND's application" would indeed be reviewed in May (or June). Which is it? Seems there have been many people running with the CYA approach this week; including Grant Shaft and Duaine Espegard, as well as Wayne Stenehjem. I hope that the Sioux name wasn't sold out for a "promise" on the Summit League that likely isn't ever coming. Would also be nice to see the UND Administration, including athletics, be VOCAL in SUPPORT of the SIOUX NAME.

12:22 Brian Faison: Commissioner Douple has been consistent in his conversations with me in terms of timing and the process for possible membership consideration. Specific to my most recent conversation with Commissioner Douple, he stated that he would place UND on the agenda for the Summitt Conference president's meeting in June, at which time they would discuss UND, as well as any other schools that may have applied. The conference has a specific process they go through in considering membership application.

12:23 Brian Faison: Commissioner Douple indicated that he will continue to monitor the situation at UND.

12:43 [Comment From UND Q: ] If UND can't get into the Summit until 2012 or 2013, and the nickname issue will be resolved by Nov. 30, 2010, why won't the Summit consider UND now? And is the nickname really that big of an issue to the Summit schools if almost all of them are currently playing UND in one sport or another?

12:45 Brian Faison: Great question. We've made that argument but the answer has been that the issue needs to be officially resolved.

12:47 [Comment From Guest Guest:] If we are unable to enter the Summit until 2013 what was the hurry in abrubtly ending the process of gaining tribal appoval? Is it fair to say that the only quick resolution that you mentioned earlier is/was changing the name...therefore is it safe to say that is the direction you recomended to the SBOHE.

12:48 Brian Faison: Resolution is resolution. It has never been about doing away with or keeping the nickname; it has been about getting the issue resolved and satisfying the terms of the NCAA settlement agreement.

Spirit Lake group urges Governor Hoeven to step in on Sioux nickname issue

Here is the latest news on the Fighting Sioux nickname. Members of the Spirit Lake Tribe are urging Governor Hoeven to get involved in the nickname issue. Govenor John Hoeven has said he will look at this issue. It will be interesting to see if soon to be North Dakota Senator John Hoeven will get involved in the nickname issue. You can send him an email with your feeling on the issue at this email address governor@nd.gov.

Bismarck, N,D. (AP) — Gov. John Hoeven says he'll review a letter from some Spirit Lake Sioux tribal members who want his help in keeping the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname.

The Board of Higher Education has decided to retire the nickname. The Spirit Lake tribal members want Hoeven to ask the board to take back its decision. They say the Standing Rock Sioux tribe needs more time to respond to the issue.

Hoeven wouldn't say whether he would approach board members directly on the issue. He says he'd like the board to work things out.

State Board of Higher Education President Richie Smith says he'd be surprised if Hoeven intervened.

Smith says the Standing Rock Sioux tribal council has passed on several chances to show support for the nickname.

Links

Plains Daily; Tribe wants Hoeven to presssure Higher Ed Board

SayAnyThingBlog.com; Sioux Indians Ask Gov Hoeven To Intervene On UND Nickname, Board Says They’ll Listen If He Does

Fighting Sioux backers appeal to Gov. Hoeven

The nickname supporters from SPIRIT LAKE want the North Dakota Governor to intervene in the nickname dispute.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A group of Spirit Lake Sioux tribal members who lost a court fight on the University of North Dakota's Fighting Sioux nickname want Gov. John Hoeven to intervene.

In a letter to the governor, five tribal members asked Hoeven to press the Board of Higher Education to take back its decision last week to drop the nickname.

Although Hoeven appoints the board, it is independent. Its members may ignore the governor if they wish.

The tribal members recently sued in state district court to attempt to block the board from making a decision on the nickname until Nov. 30. The deadline was set in a lawsuit settlement with the NCAA.

The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled last week the Board of Higher Education may change the nickname as it pleases.

Summit League to address UND application in June

Now the Summit League will discuss UND's application for admission to the Summit League during their June meeting. Does anyone else's head hurt yet?

The Summit League will discuss UND’s application to join the 10-team conference in June.

UND athletic director Brian Faison said he talked to Summit commissioner Tom Douple on today. Douple told the UND athletic director that the school’s application to join the Summit will be discussed at a meeting of league presidents in June.

“That is just the first step in the process,” Faison said.

UND has applied to join the Summit, the league that best fits UND and its move to Division I athletics.
[Grand Forks Herald]

Being in a rush to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname has no benefit to UND

The UND president and athletic director were in such a hurry to drop the Fighting Sioux nickname and yet it has yielded not positive results for the University of North Dakota. So my first question is; was the Summit conference a proxy for the NCAA in pressuring UND to drop the Fighting Sioux? Now that the Summit/NCAA is successful in getting UND to drop the Fighting Sioux name there really is no hurry for the mediocre Summit League to rush to act on UND’s application to the Summit conference. Why should they? The Summit holds all of the cards. Second it would appear that UND has been had, what do you think? I also wouldn’t be surprised if the Summit rejected UND’s application. It doesn’t appear that UND to the Summit is a slam dunk like some said it was.

The decision to retire the UND nickname and logo hasn’t been a topic of hot conversion at the Summit League.

What that means, however, is anyone’s guess.

Summit commissioner Tom Douple said Wednesday that the league is watching the situation at UND now that the school has begun the process of retiring its controversial nickname and logo.

The league, however, has not acted in any official capacity regarding UND’s desire to join the 10-team conference.

“Right now, we’re going to monitor the situation,” Douple said.

UND has applied to join the Summit, the league that best fits UND and its move to Division I athletics. The Summit, however, said it won’t consider UND until the controversy surrounding the school’s nickname and logo is resolved.

Last week, the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education set in motion the process to retire the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

Douple said he was out of town last week and did not return to the Summit office in Elmhurst, Ill., until Tuesday. The commissioner said he has yet to talk to UND athletic director Brian Faison about the SBoHE’s actions.

The league’s presidents will meet in June. But Douple said there is no indication the presidents will address UND’s application to join the league at that time.

“I’ll update the presidents in June,” he said.

The league currently is at 10 teams, although Centenary — a small school in Louisiana — will leave the Summit after the conclusion of the 2010-11 season. At that time, South Dakota — a school that made the jump to Division I athletics at the same time as did UND — will join the Summit.
[read the whole article]