Bettman willing to rewrite history in Winnipeg, Quebec...

I am going to keep following this story and I will link up any news I see pertaining to this story. I believe the NHL is failing miserably in non-traditional hockey markets and I believe the NHL needs to correct these mistakes. I find it interesting that Bettman is now open to going back to markets in Canada that had teams previously.

CHICAGO — Gary Bettman seems more open than ever to bringing NHL franchises back to Winnipeg and Quebec City.

The NHL commissioner has been open about the league’s interest in the two cities recently. He says it has more to do with the economics of the sport than a change in his point of view.

“I think people tend to rewrite history,” Bettman said Sunday night in an interview with The Canadian Press. “When the Nordiques and the Jets left, there was no building and no possibility of a building. And there was no one who wanted to own a team there any more. You can’t maintain a team in those circumstances.

“Those two factors have apparently (changed). In one case it’s been reversed and in another case they’re trying to reverse it.”

Bettman is confident Winnipeg’s MTS Centre is capable of housing an NHL team and has heard from key officials in Quebec about their desire to build a new arena there.

Just as importantly, he has received serious interest from prospective owners. Mark Chipman and David Thomson of True North Sports and Entertainment made a serious pitch to buy the Phoenix Coyotes and return them to Winnipeg, and Bettman says he’s heard from more than one “substantial” group in Quebec.

Interestingly, a painful year for hockey fans could wind up being a major factor in the rebirth of big league hockey in the two cities. Bettman credits the salary cap system that came out of the 2004-05 lockout for making it possible.

“I don’t think you would have found owners interested in those markets without the current economic system,” he said.

The most likely scenario that would see the number of Canadian NHL franchises increase is through.

Reinsdorf group withdraws from Coyotes competition

You have to wonder how long before the NHL final says Phoenix you're out? Just move the team back to Winnipeg where it belongs.

(AP) — PHOENIX - A group headed Jerry Reinsdorf has withdrawn from efforts to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes, a move that leaves Ice Edge Holdings as the last potential buyer that would keep the NHL team in Arizona.

Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls, issued a statement Monday night saying "it was time to move on."

The Reinsdorf group once was the front-runner to buy the team but had fallen out of favor in recent weeks while Glendale officials worked out a memorandum of understanding with Ice Edge, a group of Canadian and American investors.

The Glendale city council is to vote Tuesday night on that memorandum, which gives Ice Edge exclusive negotiating rights for 60 days.

A new lease for the Coyotes to play at Jobing.com Arena is a necessary step before Ice Edge can proceed to try to purchase the team from the NHL.

Byfuglien hit on ref, Timonen

Dustin Byfuglien was hitting everything that moved on Sunday night, here is a two for one hit the ref and Flyers defenseman Kimmo Timonen. Dustin Byfuglien also had a great night on the score sheet as he score a couple of goals. Here is the one that made the game 5-2.

Big Buff smokes Chris Pronger

Talk about finishing a check against your opponent that was a text book hit. Last night the Blackhawks did what they needed to do to win the game. The Blackhawks finished their checks and jumped on the Flyers mistakes.

Stayin' Alive (RW77)

Why is simply winning Game 5, when both teams are NOT facing elimination called "Stayin' Alive?"

Well, folks, the Flyers (love em or hate em) have never NOT been out of the game. Legal or otherwise, they've largely stayed out of the box and made the least number of mistakes after Game 1. Like I said before, both teams sucked in Game 1 (at least defensively and goaltending). The Flyers enter tonight having beaten Chicago in two straight games.

Chicago has looked like Vancouver in Game what.... 2 or 3 where they simply spent the whole game going after Byfuglien? It seems so long ago that the Vancouver series happened. June hockey? What the... Will the draft be preempted by Game 7? Anyways....

I say Stayin' Alive because I truly felt that (after my prediction looked unlikely to come to fruition) whoever wins Game 5 wins the Cup. Philly can't win in Chicago. Chicago can't win in Philly. So... I now have Chicago winning in 7... only because Game 7 will be played in Chicago.

Tonight Chicago chased Leighton and dropped 7 goals on the Flyers... and throughout the game I thought that the scoring wasn't going to end at 1..2..3..4.. and the Hawks outlasted the Flyers in this one. Why? The Hawks weren't really dominant for all 60 minutes. They were at times, but not the entire game and things really could have gone the other way several times.

Here's a few things I noticed:

First, Hartnell's goal. Where was the Hawk's teamwork? Niemi CLEARLY didn't know where the puck was. Hawks defenseman (Seabrook?) was trailing Hartnell in for the kill COULD have yelled to Niemi that the puck was loose and a simple right pad kick out and no goal.

Second, Pronger was nullified for the most part. He even got called for his second penalty of the series. That being said, when he was off the ice on the PP, the Hawks had their best PP effort of the series, imo. Kindof makes me think that, if the Flyers win the Cup, we'll have to swallow the pill that states Pronger as the Playoff MVP.

Third, Byfuglien finally had a good game in this series. 2 goals and 2 assists tonight. He also knocked Pronger around. Points for Byfuglien taking out a ref with one of those big hits.

Fourth, I saw a lot of cross checking players away from the puck. Flyer players (Timmonen on Hossa and Pronger on someone else I can't recall) knocked over Hawks players by cross checking them in the back as the puck flew by. The puck wasn't being played by either player being knocked down. I admit that the puck was somewhat close by but not in contact by the players. Isn't that interference or cross checking penalty? I don't know.

Chicago has 2 shots at winning the Cup. Philly now is win or go home. Feel good Hawks fans? I don't know. The last time Philly faced that was...I dunno.... against Montreal? Against Boston? The point is: Philly's not in unknown territory. Chicago is. Chicago hasn't won it all since 1961 (This still makes them more successful than the Cubs even if they don't win it all).

This has turned into a great series overall, though. Controversy, up and down hockey, tight games, blowouts, you've got it all.

The view(s) from Standing Rock

I have to admit that I am not a fan of the Grand Forks Herald newspaper, except for their sports coverage. It's not much of a mystery that the Herald is firmly in the camp of lets the change the name. At least in this article they attempt to be even handed and at least fair.

“I will be a Sioux to the end,” Fool Bear said.

And he remains a defender of the UND Fighting Sioux despite arguments by opponents — backed by the NAACP and American Psychological Association — that the name contributes to an atmosphere of bigotry harmful especially to young Indians.

“There’s a certain faction that doesn’t like the nickname,” Fool Bear said. “They have their points.” He remains skeptical, though, of Indian students’ stories about incidents of abuse.

“The name didn’t create that atmosphere,” he said. “You have negative people everywhere. If something happened to them, let’s fix it. Let’s deal with it, like how they got rid of ‘Sammy Sioux’ and the ‘Siouxperburger.’ They got sensitized about things like that. But now (the nickname opponents) are coming here and telling everybody it’s so bad up there” at UND. “They’re going around here and telling people, ‘Don’t send your kids there.’

“I’ve been there. I’ve never experienced anything like that.”

Indian students from Standing Rock and other tribes have described feeling intimidated at Fighting Sioux sporting events, including the 2001 dedication of Ralph Engelstad Arena.

“I wanted to get out of there,” Emmy Scott, 24, a Winnebago and Arikara Indian and UND student who attended as a teenager with her mother, said in a recent interview. “I thought of my family, and I cried. In a lot of ways, our lives are dominated by this.”

Fool Bear said he attended the dedication ceremony, too, and he also speaks emotionally about it — about watching a Standing Rock dancer perform and seeing his nation and its warrior tradition portrayed heroically in a video before the game.

“The video talked about pride and courage and tenacity and winning battles,” he said. “And the reaction from all those people — man, that felt good.” [Read the whole story here]

Chris Pronger owning the Hawks

There has been a lot of talk about Flyers Defenseman Chris Pronger during this season's Stanley Cup playoffs. Some of the comments I have read is that Pronger is a douche bag, thug or a major league hack or insert ______ your favorite description of Chris Pronger here.

Personally, while I think the officiating has been brutal at best in the Stanley Cup playoffs, I don’t think Chris Pronger is a hack. I also don't think Chris Pronger is a dirty player, he is a tough, hard nosed player. Like someone said in another post, however, while I don't like Pronger personally especially after the Bruins lost to his team as well, most of us would've probably love to have him on our team. Pronger is not a player from the Daniel "the Hack" Carcillo mold.

Sure! Chris Pronger has been suspended a couple of times by the NHL for questionable play. Physically, Chris Pronger is a mountain of a man, he is 6"6" tall weighing in at 220 pounds and he has been very effective in this series taking the Blackhawks off of their game. Also, I have seen Pronger using his stick on the Blackhawks players but I lay the blame at the officials for that one.

If anything Chris Pronger is in the Blackhawk player’s head and he is causing them to take stupid penalties and knock them off their game. That’s NHL hockey folks and Chris Pronger and the Flyers are exploiting the young Blackhawks players almost to perfection. I can't fault them for that. You play with what the refs give you.

Being matched with Matt Carle against the line of Jonathan Toews, Dustin Byfuglien, and Patrick Kane has been the Flyers trump card in their two wins. Pronger was +4 last night, while Patrick Kane was -4, this despite a furious third-period comeback where visions of John Stevens danced in our heads. That line has been completely shut down, while the forward line matched against them has tore them apart. Ville Leino has done nothing but score huge goals for this team, and has even prompted a “#Villedelphia” tag on Twitter. Toews has been unable to get into the middle consistently, Byfuglien started being moved about the lineup (although I don’t think his two-minute shift was part of Joel Quennville’s plan), and Patrick Kane, well, -4 speaks for itself.

The point is that the Blackhawks have been more worried about that Chris Pronger is doing to them as opposed to what they’re doing to Chris Pronger. Sure, Pronger has gotten away with some marginable, if not questionable, stick-tactics in this series. But that’s going both ways. Look at what is and is not being called. Anyone who watches hockey on a regular basis knows that as the playoffs go on, the rules usually change. I’ve been watching hockey since I was 10 years old, and this might be the first time that over the course of a series, the Flyers have made the officiating and advantage for them. They know what they can get away with, and whether it’s right or wrong, it’s going both ways. It’s not Chris Pronger’s fault that the Blackhawks allow themselves to go over the edge. Last night, the Blackhawks took three offensive zone penalties, none of them being goaltender interference. That’s something that has to absolutely drive Quennville up a tree. And now the media focus is off of Chris Pronger messing with Ben Eager, it’s Chris Pronger shutting down Chicago’s top line. Right now, they know what’s coming, and they must feel like there’s nothing they can do about it. [Read the story here]

Here is what I do if I was the Blackhawks coach, I tell the players to stop taking moronic penalties and play their game, and tell them not to get distracted or involved in stupid selfish after the whistle stuff with the Flyers. Take the body, hit their top players. See if you can catch Richards or Carter with some big hits.

Pronger's Antics Get NHL Front Office Endorsement (RW77)

As I stated earlier, I'm not convinced that Pronger is a worthless hack. However, I do feel that what he's done in this series isn't all legal either.... or is it?

Today on some East Coast ESPN radio affiliate, NHL head moron Gary Bettman basically endorsed what Pronger's done thus far in the playoffs and inferred that the officials got it right by not calling the game... you know... by the rulebook.

This isn't exactly news. It's no secret that Playoff rules are different than regular season rules. It's an unwritten rule, for sure.

Here's a few interesting quotes from NBA.. I mean NHL commissioner Gary Bettman:

"It depends on who you're rooting for, but he's been around long enough to know how to get close to the line without crossing it."

Why is Bettman talking about who people root for? The question isn't about what the FANS think. Quennville is questioning the LEGALITY of his acts in relation to THE NHL RULEBOOK. Screw the fans.

Ok ok... Maybe he said that because he's afraid of the Philly fanbase after what happened to the Montreal based journalist's car? That's gotta be it.

The article on ESPN.com stated that Bettman "didn't mind the publicity generated by the stunts." (Paragraph 6 of the article found at: http://sports.espn.go.com/chicago/nhl/news/story?id=5251980)

Of course he doesn't! Bettman is concerned by only one thing: Publicity. If it gets butts in the seats and people tuned in, YIPPEEEE!!!!!!!!!!

Now, I admit that viewership is a prime concern of the NHL. And I do want people to tune in to watch even if it isn't the Red Wings playing. But at the cost of the rulebook and the integrity of the game? NO FLIPPING WAY.

"It's bringing attention to the game," Bettman said. "It's showing our players have personality."

Is that so, Bettman? Is that so? That's the message we want to send to potential viewers? Watch the NHL tonight! You don't know what kind of low life behavior is going to happen tonight!

Bettman is TRULY an amazing man. And when David Stern retires, the world will find out. And the NHL will rejoice as they'll finally be rid of the most worthless excuse for a commissioner of any professional sport that hasn't been accused of breaking U.S. law.

You're pathetic Gary. You're nothing more than a different angle on the Hollywood stereotype that states that the best sleep their way to the top. I just wonder who you slept with.

I don't see why ANYONE outside of Philadelphia's fanbase would EVER want the Flyers to win the Cup.

Citation note: All quotes in this article was taken from this article written by a staff writer (unknown) out of ESPNChicago.com. The article can be found here.

Good news for the Fighting Sioux nickname

This seems like good news. Let hope the members of the Spirit Lake Tribe get a chance to have a vote on the issue.

FORT YATES, N.D. — The chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe said today that he will present a resolution to the tribal council Wednesday to arrange a referendum on UND’s continued use of the Fighting Sioux nickname and logo.

Chairman Charles Murphy told a group of nickname supporters that his resolution would be put to the council for an up or down vote, pending certification of signatures on a petition they had presented earlier this year calling for a popular vote on the issue.

Murphy also said he would direct the tribe’s election supervisor to assist tribal secretary Adele White in certifying the more than 1,000 signatures on the petition.

Results of a referendum “shall be advisory and shall not be in derogation of the authority of the tribal council,” according to the resolution.

It further states that “any prior inconsistent action by the tribal council regarding the holding of a referendum on this matter” would be repealed.

Jesse Taken Alive, a tribal council member and a leading critic of UND’s nickname and logo, said he thought continued maneuvering by supporters was “disrespectful” to UND, the tribe and other entities who believed the matter had been resolved.

“I don’t think it will pass the council,” he said of the resolution. “Everyone is so tired of it.”

Archie Fool Bear, Tom Iron and other nickname supporters had thought the resolution would be submitted to the council today, and they waited outside Murphy’s office for four-and-a-half hours to find out why no council meeting was scheduled.

Murphy told them he had been unable to arrange a quorum for today and his schedule had filled with meetings.

“It makes my day when I can see my leader,” a smiling Iron said as he shook Murphy’s hand. “But we need some action.”

Murphy also indicated that he was eager to have the controversial issue settled.

Fool Bear told Murphy that he was “hoping this would go forward today” but he was pleased that Murphy has agreed to bring the resolution forward next week.

There still is time for the people of Standing Rock to speak, Fool Bear said, and he remains confident that a significant majority of Standing Rock voters will approve retention of the nickname and logo.

Once that happens, he said, he is confident the State Board of Higher Education will reverse its directive to UND to retire the longtime symbols.

Acting on the board’s directive, UND has begun a detailed and lengthy transition that is scheduled to have the 80-year-old nickname and the Indian head logo fade into history by fall 2011.

The draft resolution, if approved by the council, would require that “a referendum election shall be held within 60 days of the election supervisor’s notifying the tribal council of the certification.”

UND’s use of the nickname and logo was challenged by the NCAA, which deems such usage as hostile and abusive to American Indians, an opinion shared by many Indian students, faculty and counselors at UND.

In a lawsuit settlement, however, the NCAA said UND could continue to use the name if it won the blessing of the state’s namesake tribes by Nov. 30. The Spirit Lake Sioux tribe gave its OK last year, tribal members voting 2-1 in favor.

Hawks vs. Hacks Post Game 3 Musings

I must chime in on this series so far because it's been surprisingly good thus far. A little excitement and controversy and up and down play abound.

Game One:

I didn't get to watch all of this game but my impressions were simply this: Gary Bettman loved this game. All offense and no defense. Bettman's flawed philosophy is that there is no such thing as an exciting 1-0 game but there's no stop to excitement if the teams score 2 touchdowns and a field goal between the two teams. Well, they provided in this one.

The Hawks prevailed but I thought barely. Hold onto that statement.

Game Two:

This game was much tighter defensively and a lot better called... if you are a Flyers fan. The Flyers got away with a lot more than the Hawks did, and yet the Hawks still prevailed.

NHL On the Fly gave the star of the game to Antti Niemi but I disagree completely. I think I'd go with Eager. Yeah, he has his hack side of things, but he scored the game winner. Why I didn't pick Niemi for this? Because though he made the saves he had to make, the Team D in front of him took away most of it. The Hawks held a clinic on blocking shots that night.

The Hawks prevailed but I thought barely. Catch the theme?

On to Game 3 and Philadelphia.

First off, the "Orange out" or whatever was a great touch. I thought the Flyer fans were really into the game. That's about as positive I can put the Flyer fanbase. After all, they are the fans that had one among them that damaged a journalist's car...FOR NO REASON AT ALL OTHER THAN HE DID NOT COVER THE FLYERS. Unfortunately, the journalist had too much FRENCH in his Canadian blood and decided not to press charges. I wonder if that yellow streak on the North bound interstate out of Philly was from that guy?

Anyways, it was an up and down game where defense took a dump on both sides of the rink.... around the time the other team scores. Philly scores, then Philly D takes a dump and the Hawks score. Then vice versa. Even Brent "Holy Crap I scored?!?" Sopel scored.

The Flyers prevailed this time. Again, though, barely. The theme continues.

Controversy

The big controversy is the play of Chris Pronger and the seemingly lack of cohones for the officials to call penalties on the Flyers.

I'm not sure. The Flyers definitely have gotten away with their share. Like the video stated earlier.... isn't when a player goes for the body check on a player who is not in the act of playing the puck called interference? Anyways...

People are calling Pronger a hack, but I'm not so sure. I don't like Pronger. I think he has a tendency to make cheap-ish hits and test the boundaries of good taste (see the puck incident as an example) but I'm not convinced he's a worthless hack. Here's a few reasons why:

1. Without the cheap stuff, he's a competent defenseman. Unlike other hacks in this category, without the physical cheap crap, Pronger actually can play and contribute otherwise. Carcillo, Cooke, etc. can't.

2. He doesn't go out there to try to injur...I mean "make his presence known." Carcillo and Cooke do that.

3. He doesn't have a rule named after him...at least not yet. Ask Matt Cooke or Sean Avery about this one.

4. He doesn't really dive.

Anyways, where does this series go?

Well, I figured the Flyers would win at least one home game and that happened tonight. The question is: Can the Hawks win in Philly?

They were never out of this game so I think they can, but will they is entirely a different story. Neither team has been all that dominant this series and I don't see that changing.

I predicted that the Hawks will win in 6 games but if Philly wins Game 4, then it could go seven. The key is obviously Philadelphia. I feel like John Madden when I say this but... if the Hawks can't win at least one in Philly, they'll be in deep trouble.

As a side note and Red Wings fan: I can't imagine Stevie Y on the podium at the NHL draft... FOR TAMPA BAY. Congrats to him for sure, but... it feels weird.

NHL Hockey a big hit this spring...

Wow, the numbers for the NHL this spring are pretty good. That is pretty good especially for the USA for the NHL on Versus and NBC. I wonder if the numbers would be better in the USA if the NHL was back on ESPN again? Just throwing it out there.

If you look at the season and the playoffs, the national television ratings for all five of our national partners, both in U.S. and Canada, have been up, have been strong, and just a sampling of some way the ratings have really been strong are as follows: NBC and Versus combined the most-watched first two rounds since 1997; Versus, the most-watched cable for the first two rounds since 1994. The CBC had ratings and viewership for the second round that were up 94 percent. TSN was up 61 percent. And these playoffs have taken off in cities and have taken over in cities where our teams play: We had a night where the Bruins were playing at the same time as the Red Sox were playing the Yankees and the Celtics were playing. Not only did the Bruins beat both of those other two events in terms of viewership, they were within about 20,000 viewers of actually beating those other two events combined. [Read the whole article]

Chris Pronger hit on Jonathan Toews

Check out this hit.

Carcillo is a moron...

I am not a fan of Flyer's hack Daniel Carcillo. I just don't have any time for the so called agitators the punks that skate all over the ice taking liberties with the opposition's skilled players. This time he took out his own team mate. Oh well!

Chicago Blackhawks Jonathan Toews talks to the media.

Check out that beard. As a UND alum I happy to say that Jonathan Toews is one of us, a former UND student, a Fighting Sioux. All I can say, make us proud, win the Stanley Cup and bring the cup back to Grand Forks, ND.

This time I am going to see the Stanley Cup if Toews brings the Stanley Cup to Grand Forks, ND. The Blackhawks are my pick to beat the Flyers, I can not stomach the Philadelphia Flyers winning the Stanley Cup.

No Words - 2010 NHL Stanley Cup Finals

Canadian fans urge NHL to 'play our anthem' at finals

No and Hell no! Why? This is a horrible idea and you can bet if the game was between two Canadian teams there wouldn't be an American anthem. That being said I am also not anti-Canadian and I appreciate the Canadian players in the NHL.
s/t Kuklas Korner

A Toronto hockey fan is hoping to bring some Canadian spirit to the Stanley Cup final.

Sandro Liburdi has started up a petition with hopes of convincing the National Hockey League to play both the Canadian and American national anthem at the games.

The finals will be a best-of-seven games showdown between two U.S. teams – the Chicago Blackhawks and the Philadelphia Flyers. The series starts Saturday at 9 p.m.

"Although there are two U.S. teams in the final, there are 38 Canadian players and only 24 U.S. and international-born players combined," he said in a telephone interview with ctvtoronto.ca. He also pointed out that the captains of both teams are Canadian.

"Those Canadian players deserve to hear their anthem."

An online petition (www.playouranthem.ca) was launched Thursday afternoon and within a few hours, more than 2,500 people signed their support.

Liburdi says he is trying to get hockey commentator Don Cherry and other sports notables on board.

Honouring Canada in an American sporting competition is nothing new. In fact, the National Basketball Association flies a Canadian flag at every game, regardless of which team is actually playing.
[CTV.CA]

MTS Centre has NHL capacity

The past week there have been a few people that said that the MTS centre is too small for the NHL, the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman made a statement contrary to that opinion shooting holes in that theory. Translation: MTS centre is big enough for an NHL team.

Bettman runs this show and the lesson that emerged from a Phoenix courtroom this year for the backers of an NHL bid in Winnipeg was this: Whatever else you do, follow the rules as they are made and interpreted by Bettman. Want a team for Winnipeg? Maybe he's got one for you -- but it will be at the commissioner's whim, at the time of his choosing and entirely on Bettman's terms.

And there was very good news this week on one of those fronts for the folks who want the NHL back in Winnipeg. One of Bettman's inviolable terms for an NHL team -- indeed, the one that cost us the Winnipeg Jets in the first place -- is the suitability of our city's arena.

And what Bettman made clear this week is this: For all the wringing of hands by NHL backers and opponents alike that Winnipeg's MTS Centre is too small for the NHL, the only opinion that matters in the end says our arena is big enough for him.

Here's what Bettman told the Reuters news agency on Tuesday: "While we play to 93 to 94 per cent capacity, we'd like to play to 100 per cent capacity," Bettman said. "A 15,000-16,000 seat arena might work better in some markets than a 19,000-seat arena."

A 15,000- to 16,000-seat arena? Funny thing -- Winnipeg just happens to have one of those sitting on Portage Avenue, a shiny new building with loads of luxury boxes and precisely 15,002 seats for hockey.

Is it on the small end? Yes, it is. But does it disqualify us for consideration? No, not after that pronouncement. [Read the whole article]

NHL hits the jackpot with Hawks and Flyers

Here is an interesting article about the rosters of the Stanley Cup Finalists Chicago and Philadelphia being loaded with Canadian talent. Hockey is basically Canada's national game. Canadians are fanatics about their hockey up there and hockey is basically a niche sport in America.

Personally, I am so glad that I don't have to watch a team loaded with players names that I cant pronounce. Ironically, there are also three players from Wisconsin on the Blackhawks roster this season.

Somebody in the Bettman administration must be saying their prayers at night.

The Windy City and the City of Brotherly Love, head-to-head, a matchup that Major League Baseball, the NBA or the NFL would embrace any time.

And the little NHL’s got it.

Sure, it’s too bad that Canada will go another year without a Cup champion, but my goodness, the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers are just loaded with Canadian-born talent.

In a year in which Canada won Olympic gold in Vancouver, hoping one of six NHL franchises in the Great White North could win Lord Stanley’s chalice was probably getting a bit greedy.

But if the Leafs, Senators, Canadiens, Oilers, Flames and Canucks couldn’t make it, the Flyers and Hawks aren’t bad second choices, by gosh.

Philly, the NHL’s 18th-best team after the regular season, dressed 14 Canadians in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final against Montreal on Monday night, the contest that ended the Habs’ equally unlikely charge through the post-season.

Joel Quenneville’s Blackhawks, meanwhile, have 2010 Canadian Olympians Duncan Keith, Brent Seabrook and Jonathan Toews on the roster, and dressed 12 other Canadians in clinching the Western Conference crown in a four-game sweep.

So, if the two rosters don’t change between now and Game 1 of the Stanley Cup final on Saturday, 29 of the 40 players dressed will trace their birthplaces to one of our 10 provinces. [Read the whole article]

Glendale puts $25M into Phoenix Coyotes escrow account

Read this article, this kind of says what others have been saying if no buyer steps up the teams moves. There really isn't a lot of room for error. The city of Glendale had to show proof of funds to cover the teams losses or risk losing the team immediately.

Money earmarked for city services such as water and sewer now sit in an escrow account to cover the $25 million pledge that Glendale made to the National Hockey League to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in town next season.

The NHL demanded Glendale show its proof of funds by last Thursday or risk the team leaving Jobing.com Arena immediately. The NHL owns the team, which it purchased for $140 million out of U.S. Bankruptcy Court last fall. (Emphasis mine)

"The NHL had a buyer on the table willing to pay $170 million for the team," city spokeswoman Julie Frisoni said.

The buyer wanted to relocate the Coyotes to Canada next season, she said.Although Glendale planned to set up a special taxing district or some other funding mechanism to meet the $25 million obligation, the NHL's deadline made that impossible, city officials said.

So the city dipped into its enterprise-fund investment account, which pays for long-term costs not anticipated to come due for several years. The city's enterprise account totaled $415 million for the fiscal year ending in June, according to an annual report.

The money in the enterprise funds comes from fees paid by businesses and residents for public services such as trash, water and sewer, landfill and housing. The fund absorbs revenue shortfalls in enterprise departments such as water and sewer, repays debt for capital projects and covers the cost of regulatory requirements, according to the city.

Art Lynch, the city's former chief financial officer who now consults with the city, insisted this week that tapping into the enterprise fund is not using taxpayer dollars. Rather, it is a fee paid by residents and businesses who use city services.

The city transferred $25 million out of the enterprise account and into an account which the NHL can begin to draw upon in September, under the deal between the league and Glendale signed May 20.The city agreed to pay the NHL for "actual cash losses" for the team and the arena management that could start accruing in July.
[Read more]

Sioux lose Corey Fienhage

The Fighting Sioux lost defenseman Corey Fienhage to the Kamloops Blazers of the WHL. Kris Baker from the Sabres Prospects and Brad Schlossman are both reporting this today.

The early depatures list

Denver -- 3
Joe Colborne, So, F, Boston Bruins
Patrick Wiercioch, So, D, Ottawa Senators
Marc Cheverie, Jr, G, Florida Panthers

Alaska-Anchorage -- 2
Lee Baldwin, Fr, D, New York Rangers
Bryce Christianson, Jr, G, Stockton (ECHL)

Wisconsin -- 2
Cody Goloubef, Jr, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
*Brendan Smith, Jr, D, Detroit Red Wings

University of North Dakota -- 2
David Toews, So, F, going to the WHL
Corey Fienhage, So, D, going to the WHL

Minnesota-Duluth -- 2
Rob Bordson, Jr, F, Anaheim Ducks
Brady Hjelle, So, G, going back to juniors

Minnesota -- 1
Jordan Schroeder, So, F, Vancouver Canucks

Minnesota State Mankato -- 1
Kevin Murdock, Fr, G, going to Lincoln Stars USH

Bettman coolly exploits both Winnipeg and Glendale

Here is an interesting story on the Phoenix Coyotes situation. Really no shock here, NHL butt head Gary Bettman exploiting both citys to further his failing agenda. My question is how long does the NHL go one with this charade? When does the NHL decide to pull the pin and move the club to Winnipeg?

If there was any doubt about the shamelessness of the NHL when it comes to the Phoenix Coyotes, it was erased last Thursday when commissioner Gary Bettman had an ultimatum delivered to the city officials of Glendale, Ariz.

Show us proof you have $25-million (all currency U.S.) available to cover the Coyotes’ operating losses next season, the suburban Phoenix community was told, or we will sell the team immediately to someone who will move it. Glendale city council member Phil Lieberman said Tuesday they were not told who was buying the Coyotes or where they were going, but he found out the destination was Winnipeg.

The ultimatum was made one week after Bettman dismissed reports he had a backup plan to sell the Coyotes to True North Sports and Entertainment of Winnipeg. “Rampant speculation that has no foundation,” Bettman said in one interview.

But there was Bettman’s henchman, deputy commissioner Bill Daly, dropping a Winnipeg grenade into the lap of Glendale city manager Ed Beasley. Cough up $25-million or we’re out of here.

Officials from the city of 250,000 were given until 5 p.m. Friday to produce the $25-million guarantee, according to one source. They caved at 4:45, with 15 minutes to spare. [Read the rest of the story]

University of Minnesota Duluth hockey recruit faces assault charges

I don't know but it seems like there have been a lot of conduct related issues this summer with the College hockey players. Impressive, takes a big man to rough up your girl friend. It will be interesting to see if Sandy pulls the plug on this clown or not.

Duluth News Tribune--- A 2010-11 University of Minnesota Duluth freshman hockey recruit was arrested early Tuesday on domestic assault charges after allegedly attacking his girlfriend in her College of St. Scholastica dorm room.

Christopher Michael Stafne, 20, of Duluth is charged with fifth-degree domestic assault. He was arrested and booked in the St. Louis County Jail about 2 a.m. Tuesday. He was later released pending his next court appearance, scheduled for June 15.

A court order also was filed Tuesday prohibiting Stafne from having contact with his alleged victim. Stafne returned a reporter’s phone call Tuesday but declined to comment on the charge against him.

According to police reports:

Stafne’s girlfriend told police he has an anger problem. She didn’t want to talk to him Monday night and she turned off her cell phone. She said she was trying to sleep when Stafne showed up at her dorm room. The woman said Stafne was upset with her because he thought she was cheating on him, and his suspicions led him to wanting to see her cell phone.

She said he took the cell phone from her and when she tried to take it back, he pushed her down and she fell between the bed and the dresser.

The woman said that Stafne then went into the bathroom with her cell phone and tried to close the door. She tried to open the door but he pushed her and slammed the door, hitting her with the door. A roommate of the woman said Stafne also was verbally abusive to his girlfriend.

The victim sustained a bruise on her forearm, a scrape with redness on her neck and marks on her back, allegedly as a result of the assault.

Summer of discontent in New Jersey

From reading this article it sounds like the New Jersey Devils had a mess in the locker room. While it is easy to blame the coach when a team fails I think the players have to accept some of the blame. Almost reminiscent of last season in St Paul when Lemaire left the Minnesota Wild. The same complaints are surfacing again. One of the common complaints from Wild players and fans was how Lemaire liked to juggle the forward lines all of the time and if you didn't like the current line combination to wait five minutes because it would change again. A lot of coaches do that. Former Fighting Sioux hockey coach Dean Blais did it a lot when he was the head coach of the Fighting Sioux.

During almost a month of vacation in Florida since he announced his retirement on April 26, Lemaire has watched the Stanley Cup playoffs and feels the Devils could have been the team coming out of the Eastern Conference.

“We all tried to find the reason why we lost. That’s normal,” Lemaire told The Star-Ledger today. “But criticism shouldn’t be part of trying to find what we could have done differently. To me you have to be objective.”

Lemaire has come under criticism from several Devils players, including captain Jamie Langenbrunner, for the way he handled several team matters during the second half of the season.

But the coach defended his habit of constantly juggling line combinations, the manner in which he informed veteran players such as Jay Pandolfo that they would not be in the lineup, and the fact that he allowed Ilya Kovalchuk to play his own individual game rather than conform to the Devils’ style.

“I look at the teams still in the playoffs right now. They match lines. I don’t see why we would be so special that we don’t have to match lines,” Lemaire said.

“As far as switching the players on lines, Scotty Bowman has been known as a great coach and he moved players around a lot. There are a lot of coaches who move players around when things aren’t going well or playing against certain teams. I’ve done it my whole career. I don’t think it’s an issue. It could be an issue if you’re not good enough and you need to play with certain guys to get better. Then, for that particular guy, it would be an issue.”

There were some who felt Lemaire should have kept the Zach Parise-Travis Zajac-Langenbrunner line intact.

“I try to get the best out of players. Sometimes, yes, I did put guys with certain other guys so they play better,” Lemaire said, “but I have to think about the team and what is good for the team. I’m happy with the way I’ve done things. No regrets. I’ve always done this and the success was there.”

Kovalchuk was allowed to play a different style.

“He played different than the other guys because of his talent. I have no problem with that,” Lemaire said. “He had 6-7 chances a game. You think I’m going to tell him to play defense? Come on. We’re looking to score goals here. Give me a break.
[Read the rest of the story here]

It also kind of sounds like Jamie Langenbrunner while me might have a legitimate grip, it was a tough season for the Devils they finish in second in the Eastern Division and bow out to the 7th place seed Philadelphia Flyers. Personally, I do see what good does it do to complain about the head coach, especially after he has resigned and wont be back next season. The while some of the onus is on the coach the players are the one that play in the games. I think there are too many prima donna's in professional sports that think they are entitled to playing time. Compare and contrast you read about Zach Parise or Travis Zajac complaining about the head coach.

“We’re here in the business of winning a championship. A lot didn’t work out as far as players and coaches,” Langenbrunner said. “I definitely won’t point the finger at Jacques.”

Nor did he deny they didn’t always see eye-to-eye.

“There were some differences of opinion when it came to dealing with a few issues,” Langenbrunner said. “There were some things that were done that probably didn’t help the situation. For most of the season it was fine, up until Christmas.

“There were a few things that happened, a few issues that were tough for me to let go. I probably didn’t handle them correctly. Not all personalities completely mesh, but they are able to work together. I had no problems with the way he treated me. It was more about team issues that we would never agree on.”
[Read the rest of the story]

USHL Players at 2010 NHL Scouting Combine

USHL Players at 2010 NHL Scouting Combine

Bill Arnold (F), Team USA
Connor Brickley (F), Des Moines Buccaneers
Jack Campbell (G), Team USA
Jacob Fallon (F), Indiana Ice
Justin Faulk (D), Team USA
Derek Forbort (D), (Team USA/UND Recruit)
Kevin Gravel (D), Sioux City Musketeers
Justin Holl (D), Omaha Lancers
Stephen Johns (D), Team USA
Jon Merrill (D), Team USA
Jaden Schwartz (F), Tri-City Storm
Jarred Tinordi (D), Team USA
Jason Zucker (F), Team USA
Patrick McNally, (D), (Indiana Ice)
Brock Nelson (F), (Green Bay Gamblers/UND recruit)
Max Gardiner (F), (Des Moines Buccaneers)
Kevin Hayes (Indiana Ice)
Zane Gothberg (Fargo Force/UND recruit).

As NHL teams make their final preparations for the NHL Entry Draft in June, they will get an up-close look at the top prospects this week during the NHL Scouting Combine. Among the 100 players invited to the Combine are 13 who spent the 2009-10 season in the USHL.

The NHL Scouting Combine, which will run May 24-29 in Toronto and is conducted by NHL Central Scouting, is an opportunity for NHL teams to meet and interview prospects, as well as see them tested in an off-ice setting, which includes vigorous physical, medical, and psychological tests. [USHL.COM]

Richards touches the Prince of Wales Trophy

The Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews didn't touch the Clarence S. Campbell Bowl. Mike Richards took the cup and marched off to the Flyers dressing room. The celebration was subdued as well for both captains. Just for the record; last year Sidney Crosby touched the Prince of Wales Trophy and we all know how that turned out. Just for the record I think the Blackhawks are going to win in six games.

2010 Stanley Cup Final Schedule

I can only hope that the hotel I am staying in down in Texas has Versus on the dial for the Wednesday and Friday game. That is a long break between game five and game six. I was really hoping that the Les Habitants would've made a series out of it, but it wasn't to be. At first glance you would think that the Blackhawks could end up closing out the Flyers in 4 games but I think this is going to be a long series.

Game 1: Saturday, May 29 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 2: Monday, May 31 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 3: Wednesday, June 2 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Game 4: Friday, June 4 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. VERSUS, CBC, RDS
Game 5: *Sunday, June 6 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 6: *Wednesday, June 9 at Philadelphia, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
Game 7: *Friday, June 11 at Chicago, 8 p.m. NBC, CBC, RDS
* If necessary

Big, burly and beautiful to Blackhawks

You have to wonder if the opposition teams like the Vancouver Canucks and the San Jose Sharks are having nightmares of Dustin Byfuglien scoring goals against them in their sleep. The emergence of Byfuglien (8g-2a-10pts)might have something to do with playing on the line with Patrick Kane (7g-13-20pts) and Jonathan Toews (7g-16a-25pts).

CHICAGO - Here's how Dustin Byfuglien sees it: The puck always finds him when he is in the perfect position.

His Chicago Blackhawks teammates view it this way: Big Buff's easy to find when he's open because at six foot four and 257 pounds, he's hard to miss.

Whatever the reason, Byfuglien has emerged as a star for the young Blackhawks. He scored three game-winning goals during a sweep of San Jose in the Western Conference final that put Chicago in the Stanley Cup final for the first time since 1992.

Like a big tight end clawing his way through defenders to get open or a linebacker crushing a running back with a block in the open field, Byfuglien's physical play, deft touch and ability to clear space have given his team another element in its quest for the franchise's first NHL title since 1961.

Put him on the same line with the team's most recognizable and publicized young stars, 21-year-old Patrick Kane and 22-year-old captain Jonathan Toews, and Byfuglien has really blossomed. He scored one goal in each game against the Sharks.

"I'm not really on any cloud right now," said Byfuglien (pronounced BUHF'-lihn). "I'm just doing work for the kids and finishing it up. I have faith in myself and I just kept going."

Byfuglien, who had a hat trick in a victory over the Canucks in the semifinals when he took up his customary role in front of goalie Roberto Luongo, showed his versatility against the Sharks. He had the game-winner in the opener with a wrist shot from the slot after Toews won a faceoff and Kane slid him the puck.

"With those two you never know what's going to happen," Byfuglien said.

Is Marian Hossa a curse?

I was thinking about this yesterday after the Blackhawks had won their game against the San Jose Sharks and you have to wonder if Hossa's fellow Blackhawk teammates are looking at him and going no, not that guy again.

CHICAGO — Marian Hossa is either blessed, or cursed.

We’ll find out soon enough when the Chicago winger makes his third straight trip to the Stanley Cup final with his third different team.

Having lost in Game 7 with Detroit last year and Pittsburgh the year before that, Hossa is hoping (actually he’s long past the point of hoping and has moved on to agonizing) that this time he will finally close the deal.

“It’s a great feeling coming to the finals again, definitely,” said the 31-year-old ex-Ottawa Senator. “This time I want to finish in a much more positive way than the last two years. That’s my goal. It’s a huge accomplishment (winning the West), but we don’t want to stop here.”

It will help Chicago’s chances greatly if Hossa actually scores a goal or two in the final, a fact that’s not lost on a sniper searching far and wide for his trigger finger.

“I am frustrated, trust me,” said Hossa, who has two goals in 16 playoff games so far.

History will be made; Dustin Byfuglien and don't touch the trophy

I think the emergence of Dustin Byfuglien is one of the feel good stories of this years Stanley Cup Playoffs. Nice to see the Roseau that came from a modest upbringing kid doing well and succeeding at a very high level.

Superstitions

What is the deal with NHL and college hockey players not wanting to touch the trophy after they win a conference title in their respective leagues? This season the DU Pioneers looked like they were unhappy or at least unenthused to receive the MacNaughton Cup and yesterday former Sioux hockey player Jonathan Toews wanted nothing to do with the Clarence Campbell trophy. I think the Blackhawks are that good they don’t need to worry about touching a trophy.

People say/write the silliest things

This is my candidate for moron of the week.

Can you imagine how good UND would have been if we could have got him to play at UND? Wow he is great!

I hope he gets hit super hard by pronger in the finals!!!!

Posted by: Toews wow! on Monday, May 24 8:48 AM

When Toews came to UND he was 17 years old and I believe he made at a young age of 18. Doesn't happen very often and Toews is a special player. The kid is 22 years old, he is the captain of the Chicago Blackhawks. Toews has won (2X) WJC titles with team Canada, a world championship and a Olympic gold as well.

Chicago Moves on in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

I will have to admit that the Chicago Blackhawks have grown on me. I am a Bruins fan by heart and have always respected the Chicago Blackhawks. Being a Fighting Sioux hockey fan I have enjoyed watching former Fighting Sioux star Jonathan Toews playing a big role in the Blackhawks success. Toews is leading the NHL in points with during the Stanley Cup Playoffs (7g-18a-28pts) in 15 games. Toews is probably going to be the Conn Smythe Trophy if keeps up his torrid place in the finals.

At the beginning of the season I had predicted that the Bruins and the Blackhawks would be playing for the Stanley Cup Final. I guess I am half right. I would like to see another Ex-Fighting Sioux players name on the Stanley Cup.

Keith loses teeth, but shows plenty of heart

Ouch, I can't even imagine having your teeth knocked out and coming back to play in the same game. This is why I think hockey players are the toughest athletes in all of sports.

CHICAGO -- The chicklets came pouring out of his mouth, and one even got stuck in the back of his throat. Duncan Keith lost seven teeth in all, three on the top and four on the bottom, when the puck came off Patrick Marleau's stick and hit him square in the mouth.

That was with 12:30 remaining in the second period of Sunday's series-clinching win over the San Jose Sharks. Seven minutes later, after some pronto dental work behind closed doors, Keith was back on the ice for the Chicago Blackhawks.

May 22nd, 2010 Post-game with Ron MacLean & Don Cherry

True North confirmed as owner in waiting

Another day, another turn of events in the on going saga that is the Phoenix Coyotes. It’s like an on going bad soap opera that never ends. I do wonder if the Jets are being played in order to secure a buyer for the Phoenix Coyotes?

The NHL has told the City of Glendale to sell the Phoenix Coyotes to a buyer willing to keep them in Arizona by Dec. 31 or the team will be moved to Winnipeg.

True North Sports and Entertainment, a group led by Mark Chipman and David Thomson, have had the framework of a relocation deal in place with the league for some time, and is the third party the league is referring to in an agreement reached between the NHL and the city of Glendale on Friday.

A document sent by the league to the city of Glendale last week says the NHL has a bona-fide offer from a viable purchaser who would relocate the hockey team to another market for the 2010-11 season and contemplates that the owners (the NHL) would break even on their investment in the team through the end of the 2009-10 NHL season as well as the NHL potentially receiving a relocation fee.

True North had no comment when reached on Saturday, but the Free Press has learned they are the third party the league refers to in the agreement.

On Friday the City of Glendale reached an agreement with the league to cover operating costs up to US$25 million to keep the Coyotes in Jobing.com Arena for the 2010-11 NHL season.

The league has held discussions with the Ice Edge group and Jerry Reinsdorf, who owns the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Whitesox. Both say they want to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix.

It is believed Ice Edge isn’t interested in further talks without exclusivity that would make it the only prospective buyer to keep the team in Arizona.

"The owners currently have a bona-fide offer from a viable purchaser who would relocate the hockey team to another market for the 2010-11 season and contemplates that the owners [the NHL] would break even on their investment in the team through the end of the 2009-10 NHL season as well as the NHL potentially receiving a relocation fee..." the document obtained by the Globe reads. [read the rest of the article]

Ice in his veins (Dustin Byfuglien story)

Here is a really nice story that I found on line about Dustin Byfuglien. It's worth a read and a nice story about a kid from Roseau that made his way through life struggles to be the NHL player he is today.

Hockey Is Life reads a banner hanging at the Memorial Arena in Dustin Byfugliens hometown of Roseau, Minn., 10 miles south of the Canadian border.

The statement isnt hyperbole for the 20-year-old Norfolk Admirals rookie, who has skated out of a difficult childhood and is on the cusp of an NHL career.

Raised by a single mother battling unpaid bills and factory work, Byfuglien (pronounced BUFF-lin) all but grew up in Memorial Arena. If the ice wasnt available or he couldnt talk his way into the play, hed sit in the stands for hours, watching alone.

The boy was not interested in school, and academic ineligibility meant he never played for the storied Roseau High Rams. Theyve won six state championships since 1946, including a 1990 title run against bigger schools that is Minnesotas hockey version of Hoosiers.

Left with all his pucks in one bucket, Byfuglien at age 17 took the only shot he had, leaving home for Canada and major junior hockey.

In Roseau, a town of about 2,800, there was skepticism about the kids future. If he couldnt be bothered to make passing grades back home, how likely was he to apply himself up North?

But Byfugliens move panned out. The Chicago Blackhawks made the 6- foot-3 defenseman an eighth-round pick in the 2003 NHL entry draft, and two years later handed him a $300,000 bonus and a three-year contract and shipped him to Scope. In 25 Admirals games, he has five goals and 10 points and is rated a plus-2 .

With a few years of toil and a second contract, Byfuglien could be financially set for life. His childhood poverty means he pinches a penny harder than most Admirals, and his simple tastes run toward outdoor recreation and time with friends. [Read the rest of the story]

NHL could cash in on return to its roots

This is a good article and it does cause one to ask the question why the hell is the NHL in markets like Phoenix, Atlanta, Tampa Bay and Miami? I mean seriously. Hockey is a niche sport that is failing miserably in these southern markets. Hello! Hockey is played on ice, I don’t think unless there is an ice age people are going to be playing shinny on the frozen pond in any of these southern locations. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that hockey is more popular in northern markets and is a northern game.

If the National Hockey League relocated three of its weakest Southern U.S. franchises to Canada, their individual franchise values would increase by more than 50 per cent and the league's average team valuation would jump by $11 million US.

The combined revenues of the three relocated franchises would rise by $100 million per year, jacked up largely by average attendance of 6,000 more fans per game -or a total of 738,000 more per season -and regional television audiences at least 20 times larger than what they are now in the U.S. Sun Belt.

Those are the blue sky conclusions of a study comparing major financial and sport business indicators for NHL clubs in Canada and the United States. Released today by The Vancouver Sun and TheSportMarket.biz,it paints a picture of lucrative franchises north of the border and money-bleeding teams in the Southern U.S., mainly in the troubled Sun Belt markets of Phoenix, Atlanta and Miami. [read the rest of the story]

Carcillo mad at Cammalleri for sticking his tounge out at him.

When I read this article my first impression was that “uber hack” Daniel Carcillo must be running for douche bag of the month in the NHL. The man is a clown and not to be taken seriously. One thing that I think is funny is that Carcillo dives up and down the ice and makes a mockery of the officials and he is going to lecture Michael Cammalleri about respect? It's also funny how Carcillo goes after the more skilled players but doesn't want anything to do with the heavy weights like Colton Orr. Respect is earned Carcillo. I can’t believe the press would even cover these comments from Carcillo.

MONTREAL -- Losing to the Montreal Canadiens was bad enough for Philadelphia Flyers agitator Daniel Carcillo. Seeing Michael Cammalleri stick out his tongue at him following a skirmish was over the top.

If that is the way the Canadiens want to play, Carcillo is up for the challenge. One day after their 5-1 loss in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference final, the Flyers got back to work.

Being disrespected by Cammalleri is another thing Carcillo and his teammates intend to use as a rallying point when they hit the ice again Saturday for Game 4. Philadelphia will be trying to take a 3-1 series lead back home for Game 5 on Monday.

Carcillo was still bothered Friday by Cammalleri's actions that occurred when a linesman broke up a shoving match between the two late in the second period while the Canadiens led 3-0.

"It's embarrassing," Carcillo said. "We could maybe keep that in the pit of our stomach (Saturday) for a little extra motivation."

Carcillo then called Cammalleri "a homer," noting that the Canadiens never tried anything like that during the Flyers' two home wins at the start of the series. With a smile, he added that the last time anyone stuck their tongue out at him was "probably a girl -- a pretty one, too."

Cammalleri saw nothing wrong with what he did. He said he and Carcillo went to the same school in King City, Ontario, and have numerous mutual friends.

"It's hockey. You jaw a little bit out there," said Cammalleri, who scored the opening goal Thursday -- Montreal's first of the series. "You know what, when you're winning the game, it's fun, so you try to enjoy it."
[TSN.COM]

Here is the Philly line on the incident in question. The big mean Broad Bully's sound like a bunch of middle school choir girls. I am beginning to long for the old school NHL hockey where if you had a beef with another player on the ice you settled it like men and didn’t whine in the media.

"There's a fine line between cocky and confident," Daniel Carcillo said. Canadian reporters were asking him about a moment captured on the arena's scoreboard screen.

Montreal forward Michael Cammalleri was seen sticking his tongue out at Carcillo. That and some trash talk from Maxim Lapierre had the Flyers smoldering a bit. [Philly.com]

Hum! This is an interesting turn of events. They should just go ahead and move the team back to Winnipeg. The NHL has been a failure in Phoenix and yet Gary Bettman keeps up with the charade in the desert.

Winnipeg’s hopes to get back in the NHL jumped again, as the league issued an ultimatum to the city of Glendale – find a buyer for the Phoenix Coyotes by Dec. 31 or we will sell them to someone we have waiting to buy and move the team.

The threat is included in the agreement between the NHL and the suburban Phoenix city in which the city agreed to pay up to $25-million (all currency U.S.) of the Coyotes’ operating losses for the 2010-11 season. That agreement was completed on Friday and a copy was obtained by The Globe and Mail.

There was no mention of the prospective buyer in the agreement but the only buyers the NHL has admitted speaking to in connection with the Coyotes, aside from Jerry Reinsdorf and the Ice Edge group who both want to keep the Coyotes in Arizona, are Canadian billionaire David Thomson and Mark Chipman, the CEO of True North Sports and Entertainment, who own and operate the MTS Centre in Winnipeg.
[Read the article]

Scott Hartnell vs Roman Hamrlik

There have been so few fights during the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Hab's and Flyers are heating up. Wouldn't you know it Scott "Mop Head" Hartnell was back at it fighting with his shield on. I will give the Euro Roman Hamrlik for fighting Scott Hartnell who has been known to fight and dropped the gloves 8 gimes this season.

Early Departures racking up in the WCHA

So far this off season there 9 12 WCHA hockey players that will not be coming back to their college teams next season. There are a few others players that could move on and sign professional or return to Junior Hockey. I think one of the bigger shockers this week was the UMD Bulldog goalie Brady Hjelle leaving the Dogs.

I suppose you could say that there is a slight chance that Ryan McDonagh and Derek Stepan might sign professional contracts with the New York Rangers. There is no reason for either player to hurry and sign.

There has been two schools of thought on whether Ryan McDonagh will sign with the Rangers or not. Ranger's head coach John Tortorella’s favorite beat writer Larry Brooks seems to think that the Rangers are trying to sign Ryan McDonagh. Jess Rubenstein from the The Prospect Park has a little different prospective on the matter.

The Sioux are going to lose David Toews to the WHL and could possibly lose Corey Fienhage who was recently placed on the protected list by the WHL's Kamloops Blazers. EDIT: s/t to Lets Go Mavs as she reminded me that Tyler Pitlick might be leaving the Mavericks and one of their freshmen goalies Kevin Murdock is going back to Juniors.

The early depatures list

Denver -- 3
Joe Colborne, So, F, Boston Bruins
Patrick Wiercioch, So, D, Ottawa Senators
Marc Cheverie, Jr, G, Florida Panthers

Alaska-Anchorage -- 2
Lee Baldwin, Fr, D, New York Rangers
Bryce Christianson, Jr, G, Stockton (ECHL)

Wisconsin -- 2
Cody Goloubef, Jr, D, Columbus Blue Jackets
*Brendan Smith, Jr, D, Detroit Red Wings (signing with the Redwings)

Minnesota -- 1
Jordan Schroeder, So, F, Vancouver Canucks

Minnesota-Duluth -- 2
Rob Bordson, Jr, F, Anaheim Ducks
Brady Hjelle, So, G, going back to juniors

University of North Dakota -- 1
David Toews, So, F, going to the WHL

Minnesota State Mankato -- 1
Kevin Murdock, Fr, G, going to Lincoln Stars USHL

Tim Thomas: 'Too Early' To Entertain Idea of Waiving No-Trade Clause

It was a obvious that Bruins goalie Tim Thomas didn't have as good of season as he did during his Venzina Trophy winning season the year before, however, I think the Bruins management might want to think long and hard before they run Tim Thomas out of town via a trade. Well unless you can get great value in return in the form of offense. In my opinion, Tim Thomas is a good goalie and I predict that he will rebound next season.

It was an interesting 2009-10 season for Bruins goalie Tim Thomas to say the least, so it seemed only fitting that he was the last Bruin to address the media on the team’s annual -- yet not-so-enjoyable breakup day at TD Garden Tuesday morning.

After winning the Vezina Trophy in 2008-09 and coming into the season as the incumbent starter between the pipes for the Black and Gold, Thomas fell behind the 8 Ball with an early season injury. While his stats (17-18-8, 2.56 GAA, .915 save-percentage) weren’t bad, he never seemed to regain the Vezina form and consistency of the previous season.

Thomas eventually lost the starting job to rookie Tuukka Rask and was the subject of numerous trade rumors at the NHL trade deadline in March. With the team’s offseason underway and Thomas carrying a hefty $14 million salary cap hit spread out over the next three seasons, questions are already being asked if Thomas, who has a no-trade clause, might entertain a change of scenery and waive the no-trade to be a starter again for another team?

"Too early," he said right away. "Those kind of thoughts are something that need to be thought over carefully and over a longer period of time and I haven’t had the luxury of doing that yet. It is so early after the end of the season that I haven’t took the time yet. We have had these end of the year meetings, get our equipment, we have had some other activities. Over the next month I will let things kind of settle in my mind and come up with some of that stuff later, but not yet."
[NESN.COM]

Reality: These playoffs have a mind of their own

I thought I would include this for Fighting Sioux hockey fans, Jonathan Toews has been on a tear this season and it really has been impressive. Give me less Crosby and more Toews any day. 

Belief: Sidney Crosby is hockey's best young leader and most clutch performer.
Reality: OK, that still might be true. Nobody can take away Crosby's 2009 Stanley Cup and Olympic game-winning goal. But Jonathan Toews is making his case as hockey's best big-game player.

Toews graciously accepted his role on Team Canada's checking line during the Olympics and emerged as one of the tournament's best two-way players. He had eight points in seven Olympic games and was named to the all-tournament team. If the Blackhawks win the Stanley Cup, he'll likely take home the Conn Smythe. He's on an 11-game point streak and leads playoff scorers with 23 points.

"I don't think I've ever seen him this good," teammate Patrick Kane said. "Seems like the guy is a big-time player." [read the whole story]

Gophers sign a goaltender from Ontario

This came across on Twitter tonight and I found it entertaining so I thought I would share it. It’s from the beat writer for the Minnesota Gophers. I wonder who many Gopher fans are upset they have "gasp" a Canadian joining their team in the 2011-2012 year. I wonder what took them so long? There is one point that does reek of entitlement; "the Gophers have not really told him how much he will play his first season." Yeah!

It has been reported for days that G Joel Vienneau of Hearst, Ont., has committed to the Gophers for 2011-12. Finally reached him...
[On Twitter]

He said he verbally committed three weeks ago. "When I went up to visit, I felt comfortable with their team and their place," he said.
[On Twitter]

Vienneau: "I was always leaning toward Minnesota." A number of other schools were recruiting him, Michigan was the Gophers' biggest rival.
[On Twitter]

Vienneau: "The fans were all into the game and all of them were cheering." He has signed to play with Muskegon, the new Michigan team
[On Twitter]

He said the Gophers have not really told him how much he will play his first season. He will be a freshman when Kent Patterson is a sr.
[On Twitter]

in the USHL next season. "It's a stronger league than the Canada or Ontario junior A leagues, so it will get me better prepared" for WCHA.
[On Twitter]

The Eye thinks coach Lucia will ease him into the goalie spot and give him more time as the 2011-12 season progresses.
[On Twitter]

Bemidji State men's hockey: Nagle coin set in concrete at each end of BREC arena

Here is an interesting story about the BREC Robert H. Peters Rink. A nice honor to a great guy Galen Nagle. I can't wait to golf in the Galen Nagle Tourney again this season.

Before the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City, Canadian ice makers placed a Loonie coin on the arena floor under the center ice face-off dot before making the ice for the hockey tournaments.

The Canadian men and women won the gold medals.

In 2008, a Boston baseball fan buried a Red Sox jersey in the concrete at the new Yankee Stadium construction site.

At great expense, the jersey was chipped out.

Even the John Glas Fieldhouse on the Bemidji State University campus was infiltrated last summer when a member of the rival Alabama-Huntsville team placed a horse, representing their Chargers mascot, somewhere in the arena. It has yet to be found.

The Bemidji Regional Event Center, new home to Beavers hockey, will have its own talisman, or maybe it could be considered a memorial to a fallen teammate.

Tom Kaplan, a defenseman for the Beavers in the mid 1970s and current public address announcer, came up with the idea to place a Galen Nagle medallion in the concrete floor of the new arena.

Nagle was a goalie for the Beavers from 1980-84. He worked as a coach and teacher in Minnesota for several years before losing his life to cancer in 1996 at the age of 34. [Read the rest of the story]

Buffalo a hockey hot bed?

Chris Dilks from Western College Hockey had this article on his linkorama post and while the article brings up some thought provoking points, I found a few of his ideas to be quite laughable and almost hilarious. Canisius isn’t ever going to be anything but a door mat and hardly on the same level as the CCHA power house Miami University.

Heck, it should be an arms race.

Rochester Institute of Technology became a national contender in five years. RIT last season emerged from Atlantic Hockey, which included Canisius, and reached the Frozen Four. It was a great story, one that could easily be repeated if administrators in our region get their heads out of the sand. This is a no-brainer, a belt-high fastball down the middle.

Canisius coach Dave Smith has done a terrific job, but he's tangled in an unfair fight despite the pretty campus, excellent academics and rich tradition. Recruiting hits a wall when he's forced to admit the home rink rests — where? — on Buffalo State's campus.

Rumblings had Sabres owner Tom Golisano willing to donate some $10 million toward an on- campus events center, which would house graduation ceremonies, basketball and hockey, if Canisius approached him. School officials are waiting for him to come to them.

Good heavens, people, make it work. Canisius hockey with a 4,000-seat rink could become Miami of Ohio hockey, which spent most of last season as the top-ranked team in the country.

Niagara was going in the right direction before pulling back when it should have pushed. The Purple Eagles had 18 scholarships and planned to expand Dwyer Arena; then its conference folded. It joined Atlantic Hockey, which allows only 12 scholarships. The concrete had been poured, but why expand the arena after contracting the program?

And then there's UB, which could build a major D-I contender in no time. The backward thinking common in state government suggests a lack of funding is the problem. Top officials haven't caught on to the idea that strong hockey programs often turn a profit. Just ask Michigan.

My fantasy: Canisius and Niagara leave Atlantic Hockey, which has 12 teams but only one automatic bid. Ivy League schools band together, as they do in other sports. Toss Canisius, Niagara, RIT, UB, Mercyhurst, St. Lawrence, Clarkson and perhaps Syracuse, if it also wakes up, into a new conference.

It seems like a natural. [Read the rest of the Article]

While the run that Rochester Institute of Technology made this spring was an awesome story, in reality RIT is a decent not great team in a very weak cupcake laden Atlantic Hockey Association. I also think RIT are going to be hard pressed to replicate that feat again, the AHA brings in RMU and Niagara and the AHA teams will soon fall victim to the former CHA teams.

Finally, check out the teams that he threw out there; Canisius, Niagara, RIT, UB, Mercyhurst, St. Lawrence, Clarkson and perhaps Syracuse. Yeah! Nothing screams mediocre like that list of teams.