Repost - A new way to make comments

Lets Go Mavs of Goon's World was complaining about my new commenting system here on Goon's World. So I thought would re-post this message. Just for the record the post she made had 27+ comments.

I have gotten a few messages from folks that said, 'Hey you killed the comments section of your blog.' I said, "what you can still comment on Goon's World." Actually; I have made a few changes to the blog and I have changed the system for making comments on Goon's World. Starting last week, we are no longer accepting comments under blogger. For now; I have decided to use the Intense Debate system; which in my opinion is a better system for accepting comments on my blog. You can get an account by logging on to this web link.

Intense Debate is a commenting system which is designed to inspire conversation. Including such features as threaded comments (allowing readers to reply to each other in comment threads), avatars and a voting system, many Blogger users are now choosing this as an alternative to the default Blogger commenting system.

From time to time I have had a few internet trolls post questionable and disgusting comments on this blog, they were deleted. Now I have the ability of blocking said IP addresses of the people that act like moron/trolls. While you can post anonymous messages, I still have the option of deleting them and or blocking the IP address of the person making the comment.

BSU hockey prospect Franko backs out of commitment

This isn't even funny anymore this is actually getting really silly. Another day, another defection of an NCAA hockey player/recruit to the CHL.

Bemidji Pioneer---- Zach Franko backed out of his commitment to play at Bemidji State and has opted to play major junior hockey in the Western Hockey League according to a report Tuesday from the radio broadcaster covering the Kelowna Rockets

h/t to the College Hockey Blog and Western College Hockey.

Sioux football against Idaho on Channel 27 in Grand Forks, ND...

This is good news.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota athletics department is pleased to announce that Thursday's football game between UND and Idaho will be televised live on the Midco Sports Network.

The game will be available on channel 27 in Grand Forks and on Midco Sports Network stations throughout North Dakota.

Thursday's broadcast is a production of the WAC Sports Network and features Doug Anderson on play-by-play and Brant Boyer providing color analysis.

Sources: Hulsizer to bid on Coyotes

Here is the latest in the Coyotes debacle. It appears that a buyer has stepped up that will keep the Coyotes in Phoenix.

ESPN.COM ---- Matthew Hulsizer, CEO of PEAK6 Investments is in the final stages of negotiating a new arena lease agreement with the City of Glendale after which Hulsizer is expected to make an offer to purchase the Coyotes from the NHL, multiple sources have confirmed to ESPN.com.

The emergence of the Chicago-based financier and former collegiate hockey player comes at a time when negotiations between Ice Edge Holdings, a group of Canadian and American investors who have been pursuing the team for more than a year, and Glendale officials have stalled.

Although Hulsizer could not be reached for comment, sources familiar with the businessman and situation in Phoenix believe he may be the answer to the NHL's search for a viable owner.

In fact a number of sources said he represents the last, best chance to keep this team in Arizona.

"He has an unbelievable financial mind," one source that has known Hulsizer for years told ESPN.com.

"He's exactly the kind of guy that the league needs. He's a legitimate hockey guy with a lot of money."

Favorite 3 players of UND fans/players to lead the Huskies

While I am a Maverick fan, I just couldn't help to come out of hiding to write a blog post about the SCSU Huskies choices in captains. It's been announced that three of the most LOVED players by UND fans and players will lead the Huskies. The Huskies have announced that Aaron Marvin is the captain and that the alternates will be Chris Hepp and Garrett Roe. SQUEEEEEELLLLL!!! I'm not going to lie, it makes me giggle at the rage all three spew from UND fans. I can't wait for the rants and nasty comments to come from the UND community about the leaders of the SCSU hockey team. It'll be great entertainment.

I think everyone knew going into this season that Marvin would get the "C". I'm going to be honest here. I think it's a GREAT choice. While UND fans/players hate the kid he is a strong leader, a good player, and (gasp!!!) a good guy. Yes, I know many of you would disagree with me but I've had several chances to talk to Aaron Marvin in person and he was very polite and nice. Heck, the one time I was wearing a Maverick jersy and had a pack of Maverick fans with me and he sat across from us and was nothing but respectful. I'll go on the record and say that I like the kid and that he got a raw deal last season. Yes, his hit on Genoway was brutal but it is time to put that to rest. He's apologized numerous times and has taken responsibility. When Lammy wanted to fight him he practiced hockey etiquette and dropped his gloves to fight. It's not HIS fault that the refs jumped on both of them right away. Perhaps the crappy refs should have just let them duke it out (like they let Bruess and Kaip duke it out) so it could all be over. I could go on and on about this all but I'll just leave it at the fact that I think Marvin is a solid choice to wear the "C" and that I can't wait to see the outrage from UND fans:)

As for the alternate choices? Well, those really surprised me. I do like the style of hockey that Hepp plays (he's gritty, just like a Maverick) and he totally won me over last year when he was doing what I call the "running man" to get into the fight at the UND/SCSU game. It was priceless to watch him being held back by his arms by teammates and his feet going a mile a minute. That makes for good times people!

As for Hepp, I guess time will tell on wearing the "A" since he has such a temper in my opinion. Generally a team chooses a more calm player to deal with the officials, so that could be interesting.

Speaking of tempers and dealing with the officials, that would lead to my concern on Roe. I think he'll run into the same issues. Let's be honest, it's not easy to deal with the officials or talk sense into them so I think Roe's frustrations will really build with that added responsibility. He's a passionate player who'll need to reign it in to wear the "A". Again, I'll go on record saying I like the kid. I always refer to him as "Little Kalinski" because his jawjacking reminds me of my favorite Maverick player ever, Jon Kalinski. Granted, Roe has tamed down the jawjacking in the past year. That's really too bad though because I miss it! I love the instigators that jawjack to no end and annoy the opponents and their fans.

So....there you have the Husky leaders for the year. I think it'll prove to be interesting and will really stir up the UND fans! Let the spewing begin!! :)

That's all I have for now folks. Nothing new to report on the Mavericks really. Pretty sad when I have to post about a team other than my own!

To Comment or respont to Lets Go Mavs on the article click on the [link to the article]

Khabibulin going to the crowbar hotel.

Edmonton Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin is going jail for thirty days for being found guilty of driving under the influence. I think this is the right decision. I am glad that the Bulin wall was wasn't able to use his celebrity status to weasel out of the DUI charge.

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. — Oilers goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was sentenced to a month in jail on Tuesday for driving under the influence of alcohol and speeding.

He must also complete an alcohol program and pay fines and surcharges of $1,507.60.

His lawyer says an appeal of the conviction has been filed so Khabibulin's sentence is put on hold and he is free to go.

On Aug. 27, Khabibulin was found guilty of three charges: driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol count of .08 or more, excessive speeding and extreme driving under the influence with a blood-alcohol content of .15 or more.

A minimun 30-day sentence is standard for extreme DUI.

Khabibulin was arrested at 12:35 a.m. on Feb. 8, 2010 near his home in Paradise Valley, a town in the Phoenix metropolitan area, after he was tagged for speeding in a black Ferrari. Khabibulin's speed peaked at 70 miles per hour (112 kilometres an hour) in a 45-mph (64 km/h) zone, court heard.

The arresting police officer noticed Khabibulin's eyes were bloodshot and watery, and his speech was slow. Khabibulin agreed to perform field sobriety tests and eventually consented to a blood test, which revealed his blood alcohol content to be .164 — more than twice the legal limit.

Bemidji State announces hockey ticket plan; no single-game seats available for opening series

The ticket situation for the opener between the BSU Beavers and the UND Fighting Sioux is going to be really tight, in other words tickets are non-existent. In other words if you don't have a ticket for the game you're going to have either listen to the game on the radio, watch it on T.V. (if you live in the area that gets the BSU hockey on T.V.) or watch the game at a Bar in Bemidji,MN.

Bemidji Pioneer ---- Bemidji State University men’s hockey fans will not be able to purchase single-game tickets for the first two games Oct. 15-16 at the new Bemidji Regional Event Center.

Bemidji State Athletic Director Rick Goeb announced ticket information Monday for the Beavers’ inaugural season in the Robert H. Peters Rink at the BREC.

Single-game tickets for the upcoming hockey season will go on sale to the general public beginning Oct. 18 at the BREC ticket office and online at www.ticketmaster.com.

In addition to the BSU men’s team moving to the Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) in 2010-11, the teams are set to officially open the state-of-the-art Bemidji Regional Event Center Oct. 15-16.

The men will play North Dakota in night games and the women will face Mercyhurst in afternoon contests.

Fans can get an early look at the new facility during two events Oct. 5 and 7.

Bemidji State, in conjunction with VenuWorks and the Bemidji Regional Event Center, is planning two opportunities for hockey fans in the area to get a look at the 2010-11 edition of the Beavers and a sneak peek at the new facility.

Bad boy Birkholz feeling at home with the Silver Tips

I guess you could say that this is an interesting spin to this story. I guess this is one person's opinion.

LYNNWOOD -- Josh Birkholz has only been skating with the Everett Silvertips for two days, but already he's feeling reassured about his change in paths.

Birkholz left the University of Minnesota in July to join the Tips, a decision he wrestled with for months. But after just two days of training camp Birkholz is already feeling more comfortable, both with his new setting and his decision.

"It's everything I expected and more," Birkholz said following Friday's veterans practice at Lynnwood Ice Center. "The guys have all been really good at making me feel a part of the team and helping me get into the swing of things right away. Being far away from home, it makes it easier."

Birkholz, a 19-year-old right wing, is Everett's latest recruit. The 6-foot-1, 182-pound native of Maple Grove, Minn., was a third-round pick in the NHL draft by the Florida Panthers, and he's expected to have an immediate impact with the Tips.

But his route to Everett was circituitous.

Birkholz's first encounter with Everett came roughly a year-and-a-half ago when Tips director of player development Scott Scoville spotted Birkholz playing in the USHL for the Fargo Force. Scoville was impressed with Birkholz's abilities, and the Tips added him to their 50-player protected list.

And that's where Birkholz remained. He and the Tips had little contact after that as Birkholz realized the childhood dream of every hockey player growing up in Minnesota, receiving a scholarship to play for the Golden Gophers.

However, the dream didn't exactly play out the way Birkholz pictured it in his head. As a freshman, he found himself buried on Minnesota's depth chart, receiving just a handful of shifts each game and finishing with just five goals and one assist in 36 games.

When I see stories like this one on this kid it kind of illustrates the difference between generations. When I was in high school and college and sports if you were unhappy with your playing time and you felt that you weren’t getting enough playing time you might sit down with the coach and discuss what you needed to do to get more playing time. It was a simple conversation; your coach might tell you that it's simple play better in practice, work hard and you'll earn a spot in the lineup or get more playing time.

Fast forward to today; now players just go find another team to play for. Heck even if you’re facing disciplinary action and a possible suspension, instead of taking your medicine that you deserve, now that player just finds another team. I do not like this entitlement mentality.

Personally, I think it's a character flaw and speaks volumes to the type of people these players are. I would also bet money that this kid never ends up playing in the NHL.

Paul Kelly wants NCAA to relax stance on CHL

H/T Junior Hockey Paul Kelly wants the NCAA to relax the rule that says once you play major junior you can't play in college. I think it's a good idea. I would shoot for more than 10 games though.

Boston.com --- Education is just one tool Kelly and other college hockey proponents have to promote the game. One change the NCAA could consider is its hard-and-fast eligibility rule. Currently, once a player signs with a major junior team or even appears in one game, he is not eligible for college hockey. Like other college advocates, Kelly supports a grace period. If a player appears in 10 or fewer junior games and decides it’s not the right fit, he could still play NCAA hockey.

“I wouldn’t mind seeing the NCAA move in that direction,’’ Kelly said. “You hear a lot of horror stories about a kid who played eight games, left his CHL team, and now he’s lost. He can’t go to college, but he’s still a talented kid. But right now, I don’t think there’s a big appetite for that. The overwhelming majority of college coaches agree with the current NCAA rule that all major junior hockey is like a pro league.’’

I think the NCAA’s stance on the CHL is misguided and wrong and I think the NCAA should reconsider its stance against the CHL because frankly I think It’s hurting NCAA hockey. Let's think of it this way. What if a kid played in the WHL while he was 16 up until say his 18 birthday and then decided that he wanted to go to college and play US college hockey. Why not let that kid play division I hockey. I think that kids should be able to play in the NCAA if he wants to. Just my humble opinion.

World Cup ready to pick up hockey mantle

With the NHL not being very excited about the 2014 Olympics the World Cup of Hockey could fill the Olympic hockey void nicely. Also, I would like to see more world championship type hockey on a more frequent basis. Personally, I am a big fan of the World Cup of Hockey and excited for it's return. In 2004 the last time the World Cup of Hockey took place it was the only hockey we had from the NHL hockey players during the 2004-2005 season. The World Cup of Hockey will return during the 2011 season or during the off season leading up to 2011-2012 season. You can bet there will be a couple of ex-Sioux hockey players on team USA and Canada as well.

Calgary Sun --- Bettman isn’t keen on Sochi given its remoteness, time of the games and the fact the NHL has absolutely no say or control of the event. The NHL and its owners stand to gain nothing financially with the five-ring circus despite taking all the risks by shutting down mid-season and providing the talent.

It makes far more sense for all stakeholders — including the fans — for the best players on the planet to focus on the World Cup of Hockey, formerly the Canada Cup.

The owners will get their piece of the action, the players will get theirs, North American fans can see every game in primetime, and all the host cities will generate tremendous buzz and money for every game. People will watch.

An even bigger bonus will be the timing of the event. While the players and the owners are at odds over when the event should run, common sense suggests the owners will win and it will once again be staged in the fall, when every player is healthy and available.

Could there be a better way to grab the sports world’s attention than by opening your season with a marquee event?

Ideally, the world’s best players would face off against one another every two years — at the Olympics and at the World Cup. The reality is it’s likely only going to happen every four years, and while the obvious sentimental choice for many Canadians is the Olympics, the World Cup serves the game and its fans better.

Besides, the Olympics will be fine on its own, without hockey.

Now more notes, quotes and anecdotes from a sports world that must finally be ready to ignore the Calgary Stampeders’ light schedule and finally believe they’re for real.

This is not good for Winnipeg

This is not good for the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. This also clarifies the rumor that a professional hockey team is coming to Thunder Bay, Ontario soon. It's time to get a deal in place in Phoenix or move on. Personally, I still think there will eventually be another NHL team in Winnipeg in 2-5 years.

Phoenix Business Journal ---
A mystery buyer has stepped to the forefront in efforts by the National Hockey League and city of Glendale to sell the Phoenix Coyotes to a new owner who will keep the team in Arizona.

An undisclosed wealthy buyer is leading a new ownership group that is interested in buying the Coyotes from the NHL. The league has owned the team since October when it bought the Coyotes via Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

Details of the new ownership group are very limited, though Glendale and the NHL could announce details and developments soon, according to sources familiar with the situation. The ownership group has asked for the city and league to keep negotiations private. The new buyer would keep the Coyotes in Glendale and is not a household name. In addition, sources say progress on the purchase is serious and substantial.

As the new group has moved forward, another group, Ice Edge Holdings LLC, is taking a backseat in the Coyotes ownership saga.

Ice Edge announced Monday it was focused on bringing an ECHL minor league hockey team to Thunder Bay, Ontario. Ice Edge CEO Keith McCullough said in a statement Monday his investment group could have some involvement with the new Coyotes ownership group...

Sioux pick up Jack Rowe...

In case you haven't seen it yet, the University of North Dakota Fighting Sioux hockey team got a commitment from a big time recruit. Forward Jack Rowe will play at UND beginning in 2012 or 2013. Here is a link to some stats on Jack Rowe. Rowe recently played in the under 17's Five Nations Tournament.

Grand Forks Herald --- As one of the top 16-year-old hockey recruits in the country, Cary, Ill., resident Jack Rowe visited several college campuses.

His 12-year-old sister was having none of it, though.

“She loves UND. She wears UND clothes all around,” Rowe said. “When I visited any other schools, she would never come along.”

Much to the pleasure of his sister — and the rest of his family — Rowe has decided that he’ll play hockey for the Fighting Sioux in a couple of years. The 1994-born forward recently chose UND over Michigan State and Michigan.

Although he was born in Denver and has lived in suburban Chicago for almost all of his life, Rowe has strong ties to North Dakota.

His grandparents, Cleo and Neil, both live in Grand Forks. Neil attended UND. His father, Jack Sr., went to Grand Forks Red River.

When he notified his grandparents that he would be attending UND, they were thrilled.

“They were crying,” Rowe said. “I’m just really excited to play for the coaches and be part of the program, because it’s the best program in the country in a lot of people’s opinion.”

UND will be getting a talented forward who plays midget major hockey with Team Illinois. Rowe recently showcased his skills to the world.

He led the gold-medal U.S. team in scoring at the Five Nations tournament earlier this month. Team USA featured the best 1994-born forwards who do not play for the National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich.

WCHA Season Preview Intro & Part I (RW77)

The 2010-11 DI Season is Coming!

Yup, Season ONE of the 12 team WCHA is just around the corner, and despite the filth that is the NCAA and the Nickname issue, I'm getting excited (add to that that the NFL season is around the corner and the Cubs have once again crapped out and renewed all the haters' claims that they really are baseball's professional punch line organization)!

The season brings old challenges and new challenges and I plan to outline the new challenges and what the league brings to the table this year in my own way as well as briefly (I promise) review the old challenges. This will be done in several parts as this would surely make an unbelievably long blog post and one that I don't have the time to dedicate to writing all in one go. I plan to review a new and old challenge as well as 2-3 teams per blog post until I've run out of challenges this season faces and have previewed all 12 WCHA teams. I will not be spending any time talking about the latest nonsense regarding the BTHC or Major Juniors.

Hopefully this will be well received and I will make this a yearly occurrence.

And So It Begins

The first thing I'll hit on is the age old challenge regarding Obstruction. A few years back, the NCAA issued a crackdown on Obstruction, including what the WCHA fans call "Clutch and Grab Hockey." The result was the same as any other crackdown issued by the NCAA: Unconcern, overzealous implementation, Gradual Indifference, and finally bogus exclamation of resolution.

The WCHA almost seemingly didn't care about this, as McLeod stooge Greg Shepherd (then only a part time Head of Officiating) only half heartedly implemented his interpretation of the rules. This resulted into penalties being called every 30 seconds or so. However, as the season progressed, the penalty calling decreased and clutch and grab returned gradually, this time more adapted to make it not so overt. Inevitably, Shepherd was asked to report the progress the WCHA has made on the crackdown on obstruction and he said that the teams were very sharp and fast to learn to the point that clutch and grab practically didn't occur any longer.

Don't worry folks, you'll sense a theme here. Today, the old challenge is to engage in the up tempo style that many of the WCHA teams employ (such as UMN, SCSU, UND, and as of late UW) with a seemingly non existent Clutch and Grab mentality blinding the FOUR officials on the ice.

Teams to Preview: Michigan Tech University, University of Alaska-Anchorage, MSU Mankato

Michigan Tech University (MTU)

WCHA Record last year: 4-24-0 Overall Record: 5-30-1 (1-6-1 in Non-conference Play)

Key Losses: Malcolm Gwilliam, Drew Dobson
Key Returnees: Kevin Genoe, Jordan Baker, Brett Olson, Deron Cousins, Josh Robinson
Key Recruits: Brad Stebner, Daniel Holmberg, Dennis Rix

My Take: Well.... if you are a betting man, avoid Tech. They have some gems, but none of them produce offensively. Mainly, their top player is Kevin Genoe, a goaltender who is only a sophomore this year. Josh Robinson is also returning, and he is my sleeper on this team. I've always thought pretty highly of Tech's goaltending since watching Cam Ellsworth play way back in my on campus days. Unfortunately, they can't get offensive help. Dennis Rix comes into Houghton with a pretty good offensive output all things considered last season with Grande Prairie of the AJHL. Daniel Holmberg is a BIG Swede center who could possibly fill a role as big bodied finisher, but who knows how Europeans convert their game to the NCAA way. They do get leadership back in Baker and Olson.

Remember: Most NCAA student athletes go pro in something other than sports. Watch Tech players become good pros in other areas than hockey as soon as their eligibility is up.

Predicted Outcome: 11th

University of Alaska-Anchorage (UAA)

2009-10 WCHA Record: 9-17-2 Overall Record: 11-23-2 (Non-conference Record: 2-6-0)

Key Losses: Lee Baldwin, Bryce Christianson, Jon Olthuis, Nils Backstrom, Kevin Clark, Jared Tuton, Josh Lunden
Key Returnees: Curtis Leinweber, Tommy Grant, Daniel Naslund, Kane Lafranchise, Luka Vidmar
Key Recruits: Rob Gunderson (G), Chris Kamal (G), pretty much all forwards

This team is much similar to MTU...except the defections have begun and it's hurt them as only one defection was to the pros (Baldwin) and the other was seemingly discontent. However, when the discontentment involves a player that could have been... no, essentially WOULD HAVE BEEN the #1 goaltender coming into this season and couple that with the graduation of the only other goaltender on UAA that has even ONE NCAA DI game under his belt.... This can't be good.

Junior practice goaltender Dusan Sidor (0 games entering his 3rd year in Anchorage) is joined by AJHL graduate Rob Gunderson and NAHLer Chris Kamal to vie for the starting position. Lookie at all that inexperience. This question mark is simply too GIGANTIC to even consider putting this team in any role in the WCHA other than spoiler/ruiner of PWR... if they manage to win. There's even a significant chance that they'll lose to whichever CIAU college they are playing this year.

The saddest thing is their Head Coach Dave Shyiak. I really don't think he's that bad of a coach. He's no Serratore or whoever it was that coached RIT, but UAA has the misfortune of being, well, UAA. Recruiting to Anchorage is very nearly impossible. And that means that UAA is doomed to be a virtual cellar dweller in the talent-heavy WCHA.

Predicted Outcome: 12th

Minnesota State University at Mankato (MSUM)

2009-10 WCHA Outcome: 9-17-2 Overall Record: 16-20-3 (Non-conference Play: 7-3-1)

Key Losses: Geoff Irwin, Kael Mouillerat, Kevin Murdock, Zach Harrison, Tyler Pitlick
Key Returners: Michael Dorr, Phil Cook, Andrew Sackrison, Ben Youds, Ryan Galiardi, Channing Boe

The Mavericks aren't the worst team in the league. They're just not talented enough to hang with the top pack. Add into that their historical penchant for rather...ahm...unethical standards of play and it's hard to get excited about the Mavs unless you are a diehard fan...which means you are a current or former student at Mankato.

They have some talent. Phil Cook and Austin Lee were ok. Andrew Sackrison, Galiardi, Dorr, and Youds have talent... they just can't seem to put it all together. They had the future in hand with Kevin Murdock and Tyler Pitlick but they bolted for greener pastures (Major juniors for Pitlick and the USHL for Murdock). It's too bad. That being said, of the bottom three, MSUM can best act as the best spoiler and can steal some games against the top of the league on any given night.

They give UND fits in Mankato, even when UND gets the win. That being said.... They'll fight with UNO and BSU for the top 10. In the end, I think Blais and the experience of the Beavers will be too much.

Predicted Finish: 10th

Pierre-Marc Bouchard is hopeful after missing most of last season

The Wild got some good news from one of their injured players. Or did they? Wild perimeter player forward Pierre-Marc Bouchard said he is working out again and getting ready for training camp to begin. Below is The paragraph from Michael Russo's article does concern me though.

"I still have symptoms here and there, some pressure in the head, but it's not too bad. I'm trying to pace myself on the ice and in the gym, but my goal is to be ready for training camp [Sept. 17]."

That paragraph leads me to believe that Pierre-Marc Bouchard is not all the way back from his concussion and could become a drooling vegetable with one vicious dirty hit to the head. Now every time Steve Ott or some other head hunting hack is on the ice, Wild fans will have to worry about Bouchard.

Pierre-Marc Bouchard has an expensive contract $4,080,000 a season and Wild fans are holding out hope that Bouchard can resemble the player that got (13g-50a-63pts)during the 2007-2008 season.

Khabibulin could face up to six months in jail

It will be interesting to see if the Bulin Wall actually spends time in jail or not, or will he get the celebrity treatment? I wish I could be the judge in this case. I would throw the book at Khabibulin and make an example out of him, make it hurt. I would really like to see him get the max of six months because most of us know if it was you and I we would be getting the max penalty because we are not celebrities.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Edmonton Oilers' goalie Nikolai Khabibulin was convicted Friday of three charges related to drunk driving and speeding in Arizona earlier this year.

The four-time all-star could face up to six months in jail when he is sentenced Tuesday.

Khabibulin was also found guilty of excessive speeding. His lawyer, Mark Dubeil, said in an email that one charge of impaired to the slight degree was dismissed.

Police said when Khabibulin was pulled over on Feb. 8, his blood alcohol content was .164, over twice the state limit.

Court documents indicated he was clocked going 110 kilometres per hour in a 70 km/h zone in his Ferrari.

The 37-year-old played for Phoenix from 1996-99 and still has a home in Paradise Valley.

The offences carry a minimum jail sentence of 30 days or a maximum sentence of six months.

Khabibulin signed with the Edmonton Oilers last year with a US$15-million, four-year contract

NHL to approve latest Ilya Kovalchuk contract

This would be really good news for the NHL and it's fans and it's about time that Kovalchuck drama came to end... It will be interesting to see what the terms are now.

The Hockey News --- According to a report from Dmitry Chesnokov on Yahoo hockey blog Puck Daddy, the latest contract proposal between Ilya Kovalchuk and the New Jersey Devils will be approved by the NHL.
However, when contacted by THN.com, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly simply replied “Not true.”

Kovalchuk signed a 17-year, $102-million deal with the Devils July 19, but the contract was rejected by the league on the grounds it circumvented the salary cap. After the NHLPA filed a grievance, the two sides went to an arbitrator, who ruled in favor of the league in early August.

Chesnokov had also reported Kovalchuk’s agent had given the NHL a 48-hour window to approve a deal with the Devils before they would start looking at other options, namely the Kontinental League.

Leafs Burke weighs in on Games debate

This week during the World Hockey Summit in Toronto the NHL players playing the 2014 Olympic Games has garnered a lot of discussion. As a NHL hockey fan I want to see the NHL players play in the 2014 Olympics games and beyond, the 2010 Olympic hockey games were epic, some of the best I have ever watched, this is including the 1980 Olympics as well. I want to see the best players in the world playing during the Olympics. For some reason the NHL owners and General Managers seem hesitant. Here is what the Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke had to say.

The Globe and Mail --- “Our players don't get paid when they go to these tournaments,” Burke said. “They make nothing. The [International Olympic Committee] makes a fortune off this, and they can talk about redistributing it – and that's largely true – but the players don't get paid for this. I've been the GM of four U.S. teams at the world championships, and I love the tournament. I hope we always go … [but] our players don't get anything.

“I think they got $1,000 for 22 days of work last year. They got one business-class ticket to bring over their wife, or a parent, or a brother – they didn't bring their families over unless they reached into their own pockets and paid for it. These guys are volunteers. Everyone makes money off of these tournaments except the players.”

Burke's comments came in response to an overwhelming support for continued Olympic participation from most of his fellow panelists and those attending the summit, with only NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly also voicing reservations about the league's involvement in the 2014 Games in Sochi, Russia.

Olympic question dominates Hockey Summit

Redwing77’s favorite NHL commissioner said that no decision has been made on the 2014 Olympics as of yet. That’s refreshing. I am hoping that by 2014 Gary Bettman is no longer the NHL commissioner.

Bettman stressed that no decision has been made on the NHL’s participation at Sochi in 2014 and, really, there’s no rush. He noted there were issues, a litany of them, to be addressed by both the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) before the matter is even considered by his league’s board of governors and a decision is made in conjunction with the NHL Players’ Association.

“We haven’t said, ‘No.’ Anybody who suggests that we’ve made a decision or that I’m anti-Olympics doesn’t get it,” Bettman told the gathering of delegates.

“What we’ve been simply saying is, it’s a mixed bag and it has been all along. We need to evaluate and re-evaluate and we’ll decide at the appropriate time.”

Shake-up coming in college hockey?

Some one posted this article over on Sioux Sports.

LSJ.COM --- Depending on which hockey source you talk to, Penn State will have a varsity hockey team by 2014, and the Nittany Lions' presence could turn the college world as we know it upside down. Penn State has a sole donor ready to ante up $80 million for a 6,800-seat arena.

For sure there will be a six-team Big Ten league at that point. What is unknown is what will happen to the CCHA and WCHA. The NCAA has restricted regular season schedules to 36 games and most believe that number will not increase.

Can Big Ten schools also play for other league titles? Michigan State, Michigan and Ohio State are in the CCHA could come in as the 12th member. Minnesota and Wisconsin are in the WCHA. So, are enough games available to determine two titles? No one knows at this point but many are convinced Penn State will add Division I hockey. I don't see how the CCHA can flourish without a Big Ten presence and what happens with Notre Dame? The school will soon complete a gorgeous 5,400-seat arena and needs quality teams to help fill it for home games. Would Notre Dame remain in a CCHA without a Big Ten presence? Stay tuned.

It seems like we have heard about the Big Ten Hockey Conference forever. Personally; I am tired of hearing about it, time to put up or shut up. This was one reasons UNO gave for wanting to move to the WCHA; in case there ever was a Big Ten Hockey Conference, UNO felt at least they would be in a viable hockey conference. More than likely the WCHA could stand on it's own without Wisconsin and Minnesota. The CCHA minus Michigan and Michigan State isn't that attractive, you would have Miami and Notre Dame.

I believe that College hockey is eventually going to have to discuss these issues. To the self serving narcissists that think College hockey is all about the Big Ten Schools are wrong; the Big Ten Schools are just one piece of a very big puzzle but not an end all to be all.

One option I could see is the Big Ten schools playing all of their non-conference games against the Big Ten Schools. Wisconsin and Minnesota already play Michigan and Michigan State so they could just have their show case tourney on steroids during non conference play.

Also, while I think that Damien Cox is a great NHL beat writer who's beat covers the Toronto Maple Leafs he should stick to covering the Maple Leafs.

Penn St. is starting a program in September 2011, Indiana University is considering doing the same and there’s hope that some of the 421 U.S. colleges that have club teams in the American College Hockey Association may consider converting those to full-scholarship, Division I programs.

Penn State is "talking" about starting a college hockey program, there is a big difference between starting a hockey program and talking about having one.

Devils and Kovalchuk need to go back to work again

This has really turned into a mess. This mess could drag well into training camp and beyond. I think the NHL opened a can of worms that is going to cause another lock-out.

Fire and Ice --- According to multiple reports, the NHL did not approve the latest contract framework the Devils and Ilya Kovlachuk’s agent, Jay Grossman, presented at Monday’s meeting at league offices in Manhattan.

The Devils and Grossman have been working on a new deal since arbitrator Richard Bloch upheld the league’s rejection of the Devils’ 17-year, $102 million contract with Kovalchuk in his Aug. 9 ruling. Monday’s submission—not an actual contract—was not the first the Devils/Grossman made to the NHL since then. This has been a continuing process over the last 16 days as they have been trying to put together a contract structure that they are certain the league will approve before officially signing it and submitting it for approval. Apparently, their latest attempt also was not good enough

Now I feel much better...

Well I feel much better now knowing that Tiger didn’t have a nine iron taken to his head by his estranged ex-wife. Wow! Now we know that Tiger can at least be truthful once in a while.

ESPN Sports Center --- Nordegren told People that she never hit Woods on the night of the car crash. "There was never any violence inside or outside our home," she said. "The speculation that I would have used a golf club to hit him is just truly ridiculous." Nordegren said Woods left the house that night and when he didn't return after a while, she got worried and went to look for him. She said that's when she found him in the car. "I did everything I could to get him out of the locked car," she said. "To think anything else is absolutely wrong." The magazine said the interview was conducted over four visits lasting a total of 19 hours at the rented Windermere, Fla., home where she now lives with their two children.

"I've been through hell," she said. "It's hard to think you have this life, and then all of a sudden - was it a lie? You're struggling because it wasn't real. But I survived. It was hard, but it didn't kill me."

In an interview on NBC's "Today" show on Wednesday morning, People magazine reporter Sandra Sobieraj Westfall said Nordegren and her team approached the magazine. Westfall said Nordegren wanted people to know three things: she's not violent and never hit Woods; she had no idea this was going on; and it was a real marriage for her.

In the interview, Nordegren would not disclose the amount of the divorce settlement but did say "money can't buy happiness or put my family back together. I'm so embarrassed that I never suspected - not a one. For the past 3.5 years, when all this was going on, I was home a lot more with pregnancies, then the children and my school."

Nordegren said she would eventually come to forgive Woods but that she is still working on it. "Forgiveness takes time," she said. "It is the last step of the grieving process." In the meantime, the Swedish-born Nordegren said she is excited to start the next chapter of her life and intends to stay in the U.S. with her children. She said she hasn't watched a minute of golf.

While I usually don't cover golf on this blog, I must admit that I am was a Tiger Woods fan and I am disappointed with his antics this past year. Being a married family man myself I am disappointed in Tigers choices, because he is a role model for others and I feel that he let us down. It also sounds like Woods has had sex with more porn stars and hookers than Charlie Sheen. I mean seriously, look at his ex-wife she is definitely a looker and then Google the women that Tiger cheated on her with. I don’t understand it. Something doesn’t add up…

I guess he thought that marriage vows mean only while you’re at home. It almost sounds like Tiger took the line what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas and ran with it. You have to wonder if Earl Woods is rolling over in his grave.

Having watched the trials and tribulations of Woods this summer you have to wonder if Tiger’s tough austere persona on the golf course was just a façade? The cat is out of the bag I guess. Tiger has looked more like a weekend duffer than a major champion. Seriously! Personally, I hope that Tiger can get his act together and resume being a dominant force on the golf course, because frankly I am getting bored with some of the guys that have won on the PGA tour this summer.

Summit turns deaf ear to NCAA

Damien Cox a sports writer with the Toronto Star has a really interesting article about the World Hockey Summit and how Paul Kelly of College Hockey Inc was snubbed World Hockey Summit.

Toronto Star --- You’ll have to forgive Paul Kelly for feeling a tad radioactive.

But then, you might feel that way, too, if you held the position that the former NHL Players’ Association boss does today, but still found yourself persona non grata at the event that bills itself as the World Hockey Summit.

Kelly, in case you didn’t know, survived the disgraceful coup d’etat at the NHLPA with his reputation intact, so much so that he was quickly snapped up by the NCAA and hired as the executive director of College Hockey Inc., the nine-month-old organization that acts as the information and marketing arm of U.S. college hockey.

Given the heated battleground that is the relationship between the NCAA and Canada’s junior hockey system, with both competing furiously for the same players, you might think Kelly would be a useful speaker at the summit.

Well, you thought wrong, and it’s not hard to guess that it was the CHL, one of the organizations behind the summit, that didn’t want him involved.

“If the summit is truly what it says it is, you’d think they’d want to hear all views,” said Kelly. “You’d think they’d welcome the chance to heard from an NCAA perspective and from someone on the front line. But for whatever reason, they didn’t want me there.”

Of late, the bodies have been flying between the NCAA and CHL, mostly one way. Last year, it was Leaf draft pick Kenny Ryan bolting Boston University at the last minute and joining the Windsor Spitfires. This summer, Habs first round pick Louis Leblanc left Harvard for the Montreal juniors, while Jerry D’Amigo bolted RPI for one of several possible destinations, including the Leafs, Toronto Marlies or Kitchener Rangers. Then, Jarred Tinordi, after committing to Notre Dame and even taking summer classes, left to play for the London Knights.

What Kelly would have told the summit, had he been invited. Is that, in his opinion, the “relentless” recruiting of players who have committed to U.S. schools by CHL teams is both unseemly and destructive to the sport. U.S. colleges are powerless to reverse the flow by luring players from Canadian major junior teams because those players have already forfeited their NCAA eligibility.

Kelly would also argue that allowing CHL teams to draft players as young as 14 is forcing the NCAA to find ways to recruit at ever younger ages, as well. Again, not particularly good for the game.

Even if the NCAA and CHL were to sit down and talk, the NCAA really has nothing to bargain with. The CHL can steal the NCAA hockey players and the NCAA Hockey can’t steal the CHL’s players because the NCAA incorrectly considers CHL hockey players to be professionals. Seriously, If I was on the NCAA oversight committee, I would lobby to have that rule to not allow CHL hockey players to play in the NCAA would be the first thing that I would change, it’s a stupid rule.

IIHF President Rene Fasel a fan of the small ice

I must say that I agree with Mr. Fasel, I hate Olympic sheets of ice, first I think facilitate taking hitting out of the game of hockey. Second I think they look God-awful. I really liked seeing the Olympics on the regulation NHL size ice. Bravo!

NHL.COM - IIHF President Rene Fasel was bowled over by the Vancouver 2010 Olympics it seems.

Vancouver was best-ever tournament for me," Fasel said Tuesday during a formal Q and A session at the World Hockey Summit. "It was just incredible."

In fact, the best-on-best national team tournament, featuring NHL players for the third-straight Olympiad, was so good that it changed Fasel's opinion about the small ice surface, which was used in Vancouver.

Generally, Olympic hockey tournaments are contested on the larger ice surface prevalent throughout Europe, but the 2010 Games were played on the 200 by 85 sheet used by the NHL's Vancouver Canucks.

"After the Vancouver Games I will tell you I like the small ice very much," he said. "What I saw was that the intensity of the games, for the hockey fan, was just incredible."

Despite that, it is unlikely he will push too hard to unify the playing surfaces in North America and Europe. He admits the big ice question is a political one in Europe that will not be easily decided.

He also said that concerns about figure skating and speed skating, sports that use the same ice surfaces as hockey throughout Europe, will further muddy the issue.

Mike and Mike: A boon for UNO's Blais

Here is a nice story on former Fighting Sioux hockey head hockey coach Dean Blais. All the coaches on the UNO staff have some kind of a connection to the Minnesota Golden Gophers hockey team. Dean is going to yell Mike and two people are going to answer, Mike and Mike…

World-Herald Staff Writer --- During his more than 30 years in hockey, Dean Blais has put together his share of talented coaching staffs.

But never before, Blais said, has he been surrounded by a pair of assistants with such an impressive combination of talent and experience.

It was big news last year when Blais brought in Mike Hastings to be UNO's associate head coach. Now, by adding assistant Mike Guentzel to the Mavs' bench this summer, Blais appears to have assembled the college hockey equivalent of a rock ‘n' roll supergroup.

“It's almost like we have three head coaches,” said Blais, who's gearing up for his second season leading the University of Nebraska at Omaha hockey program. “I think that will really help us. If I have to be gone recruiting, it's not going to bother me at all to miss practice. Because I'll know either one of them (Hastings or Guentzel) can run practice as good, if not better, than I can.”

When you add up the career numbers and accomplishments on the résumés of Blais, Hastings and Guentzel, the results are eye-popping.

Together, they boast 60 years of experience coaching at the NCAA, USHL and international levels. They've spent a combined 32 seasons employed as a head coach, compiling 1,015 victories.

Between the three, they've had a hand in six NCAA titles and five USHL Clark Cup championships. Blais was USHL coach of the year once and a two-time winner of the NCAA national coach of the year award. Hastings and Guentzel, both former head coaches with the Omaha Lancers, each was named USHL coach of the year twice.

And consider this nugget: Hastings never experienced a losing season as a head coach, while Blais and Guentzel only endured one apiece.

Pirri leaving RPI for shot at AHL

The mass exodus of players at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute continues, as they have now lost two great underclassmen hockey players. Seems a little late to me and almost borderline unethical for professional teams to be signing college players this close to the beginning of the school year. Like another hockey blogger mentioned, there is probably no way that RPI can adequately replace this player without pulling a recruit that may or may not be ready to play this season in college.

Yahoo Sports - Less than two weeks after losing forward Jerry D’Amigo, another crack in the foundation is looming for the RPI Engineers.

Sources tell Yahoo! Sports that star centre Brandon Pirri is set to play with the Rockford IceHogs in the AHL this season and that he has already agreed in principal to a three-year entry level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks. Like D’Amigo, the signing would end his NCAA eligibility after one season with the Eastern College Athletic Conference school located in Troy, New York.

The news comes less than two weeks after RPI lost ECAC rookie of the year D’Amigo—who left the school after signing a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Right-winger Jordan Watts also left the program recently over ice time and transferred to Division III Adrian College.

According to sources, Pirri has already told RPI head coach Seth Appert of his intention to leave school and sign with the Blackhawks.

Appert did not reply to an email request for an interview.

Meet Mr. Timely (T.J. Oshie Story)

I found this on line and thought I would pass it along to Fighting Sioux Hockey fans. Also, for the people that always wondered what T.J. stands for, now you know.

Hockey Independent --- Born Timothy Oshie Jr., TJ Oshie is developing into a big time playmaker for the Saint Louis Blues.

Drafted 24th overall by the Blues in 2005, Oshie played his high school hockey in Warroad, Minnesota. During his senior season at Warroad High School, the 23-year-old forward lead his team to an undefeated season and a Class A state title. That season Oshie put up 37 goals and 62 assists, en route to earning the title of state scoring champion and a spot on the AP All-State first team.

After high school, Oshie spent a short time in the USHL with the Sioux Falls Stampede before enrolling in the University of North Dakota.

In his first season with the Fighting Sioux, Oshie scored 24 goals, the most of any first year player in the entire NCAA. That same year he was also selected to Team USA for the World Junior Championships (that team lost to Finland in the Bronze medal game).


After a prolific first year in the Western Collegiate Hockey League, Oshie was selected in the 1st round, 24th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft by the Blues. That ’05 draft was loaded with big name NHL players including Sidney Crosby, Bobby Ryan, Jack Johnson, and Jonathan Quick.

Oshie went on to play two more seasons at North Dakota putting up 52 points his second season and a team-high 45 points in his third and final season. During his final year with the Fighting Sioux, Oshie was a Top 10 Hobey Baker Award finalist and earned all-tournament honors at the WCHA Final Five and NCAA Midwest Region Championship. He was also selected to the American Hockey Coaches Association first team West All-American and the All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association first team


Oshie played a pivotal role in the Blues’ 2008-09 playoff run putting up 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists). His goal against the Vancouver Canucks on March 25 earned him the NHL’s 2008-09 Goal of the Year honors and his hits against Rick Nash late in the season energized both his teammates and fans and earned him a spot in Urban Dictionary.

Last season, the young Blues forward showed improvement from his rookie year putting up more goals, assists, and points.

While he may not become a big-time scorer, Oshie does posses the ability to create plays and score goals in the clutch.

“Is he ever going to be a 35 goal scorer? He hasn’t shown any signs to make you think that he will be, but it’s going to be real interesting,” said HockeyBuzz writer Andy Strickland. “He’s a hard player to figure out. There’s so much value to his game outside of his offensive production. He kills penalties, relentless worker, responsible in all 3 zones, creative offensively, he can score, he’s an all-around player.”

New way to make comments on Goon's World.

I have gotten a few messages from folks that said, 'Hey you killed the comments section of your blog.' I said, "what you can still comment on Goon's World." Actually; I have made a few changes to the blog and I have changed the system for making comments on Goon's World. Starting last week, we are no longer accepting comments under blogger. For now; I have decided to use the Intense Debate system; which in my opinion is a better system for accepting comments on my blog. You can get an account by logging on to this web link.

Intense Debate is a commenting system which is designed to inspire conversation. Including such features as threaded comments (allowing readers to reply to each other in comment threads), avatars and a voting system, many Blogger users are now choosing this as an alternative to the default Blogger commenting system.

From time to time I have had a few internet trolls post questionable and disgusting comments on this blog, they were deleted. Now I have the ability of blocking said IP addresses of the people that act like moron/trolls. While you can post anonymous messages, I still have the option of deleting them and or blocking the IP address of the person making the comment.

Report: Huet to Switzerland

Redwing_77's favorite NHL sieve might be headed to Europe this season. That would be a good move for the Chicago Blackhawks because they wouldn't have to pay the dead weight his huge salary.

According to a report on the Swiss site 20 Minutes Online, Cristobal Huet will be loaned to Fribourg-Gotteron for the 2010-11 season by the Chicago Blackhawks. Loaning Huet will save the Blackhawks over $5 million.

Huet's agent, Stephen Bartlett, told ESPN the signing was not official.

"We've talked, but it's not definitive at this point," Bartlett said. "We'll know if it will happen probably in the next couple of days."

With Marty Turco signed to replace Antti Niemi and Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman a backer of Corey Crawford, a move of Huet to Europe or the minor leagues had been expected.

Huet appeared in 48 games for the Blackhawks last season, starting the season as the No. 1 goalie. He was 26-14-4 with a 2.50 goals-against average and .895 save percentage. He appeared in just one game, in the Stanley Cup Playoffs playing 20 minutes in relief of Niemi.

Midcontinent launching new sports network

This is good news.

Midco Sports Network (MidcoSN), a new all-local sports TV network, will be delivering college, university and high school sporting events in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota.

Midcontinent Communications is launching the sports network because Midcontinent’s customers are asking for more local and regional sports coverage, as well as sporting events in the three-state region not being broadcast on televisions.

The new network will focus on the region’s college, high school, and youth sporting events, as well as sports-lifestyle programming in standard and high-definition. Most events will also be available on Video On Demand.

A complete schedule of game coverage and more information is available at Midco sports net. [Link to the Story]

SCSU's Eddy Ineligible To Compete This Fall

When I saw this the first question out of my mouth was, "how in the hell can you become ineligible taking freshman classes?" Come on! SCSU isn't Harvard or Cornell. As a College athlete you have one job; go to school, workout, study a couple of hours a night and play hockey. Not that tough people. They should put Eddy's picture in the front window of the SCSU athletic department with the title moron of the semester.

KVSC Radio 88.1 FM has learned that sophomore forward David Eddy is ineligible to compete in athletic competition this fall. This was confirmed by St. Cloud State Athletic Media Relations.

Eddy scored 12 goals and added 13 assists in 35 games last season. The Woodbury native found a home playing on a line with Garrett Roe and Tony Mosey, and had one of his biggest games when he scored two goals for St. Cloud State in the WCHA Final Five Championship game on March 20th.

No further information on Eddy’s status is available at this time. St. Cloud State’s official team roster is expected to be released sometime in the next week and KVSC will follow this story as it continue to progress.

I mean Seriously folks, it's hard to become ineligible in college sports, unless you're going to an Ivy League school or taking rocket science. You can get a "C" by reading the assignments from the professors, attending lectures and taking the tests. WOW!

Voiding Roberto Luongo contract would be ‘in complete violation’ of CBA: prominent agent

If you haven't seen this article it's worth taking a look at. I don't see how the NHL could void the contracts of players that have already played a season under their current deals.

VANCOUVER — Prominent player agent Kurt Overhardt doesn’t figure the National Hockey League will void the registered, front-end loaded contracts of Vancouver Canucks goalie Roberto Luongo and three other players.

Overhardt, who possesses 20 years experience in contract law, employment law and intellectual property law, noted that arbitrator Richard Bloch’s decision on the Ilya Kovalchuk deal was “subjective” and that the 17-year contract should have been upheld.

As a consequence, Overhardt cannot see the NHL throwing out the Luongo, Marian Hossa, Chris Pronger and Marc Savard contracts. On Monday, Bloch ruled in favour of the league’s decision to void Kovalchuk’s $102-million deal with New Jersey, agreeing with the NHL that the contract “has the effect of defeating” the league’s salary cap.

“What basis did [Bloch] give?” Overhardt said in an interview from his Denver office. “What did he hang his hat on? The decision was completely subjective. There was no bad faith found between the parties, There was nothing within the collective bargaining agreement that he found was actually in violation of the document. So, therefore, logic and law and the facts dictate the contract should have been upheld.”

This, of course, leads to the already registered contracts for Luongo, Hossa, Pronger and Savard. Hossa has played one year on his contract while the other three will see their deals kick in for the 2010-11 season.

“Any and all speculation that the league is going to claw back these other contracts ... would be in complete violation of the collective bargaining agreement and it would be a complete infringement of the players’ rights under the CBA,” Overhardt continued. “Any attempt to do so would be absolutely predatory behaviour by the league, would be in bad faith and not in the spirit of the CBA.”

Source: NHL to change tiebreaker

This is good news for the hockey purists that don't like shootouts deciding tie breakers. I also think it his is the first step in the NHL backing away from the shootout.

ESPN - The NHL plans to finalize a change to its regular-season tiebreaking system for 2010-11 at a Sept. 14 Board of Governors' meeting, a league source said.

Under the new plan, the first tiebreaker will be a combination of regulation time and overtime victories, with shootout wins excluded. In the past, the first tiebreaker had been total wins of any kind.

Bad Boy Josh Birkholz makes his CHL debute.

Good for him. This article was over on Goal Gophers, one thing that stuck out was if the CHL is such a superior development league to the NCAA, how is Josh Birkholz a top 6 forward? That makes a person go hum. Seriously; what line was Birkholz projected to be on with the Golden Gophers this season? If I am not mistaken; wasn't Birkholz a top 9-12 forward last season with the Gophers (third or fourth line player). With the talent they have coming in this season I would imagine he would have been about the same this season.

Shortly after the Silvertips signed Birkholz, Doug Soetaert, the team's vice president and general manager talked about him. "Obviously we look for Josh to come in and be a top six forward for us during the coming year," Soetaert said.

"We develop these players. They all have aspirations to move on to the NHL as fast as they can. If they are here one year, that's great. If two, so be it. But that's our sole purpose, to develop players as fast as we can."

Birkholz will be on a team with only two other Americans. Eighteen of his teammates on the major junior hockey team are Canadians, two are Finns.

"With Josh, he wants to continue his education online at the University of Minnesota and we respect all that," Soetaert said. "But he will have the opportunity to play a lot and develop to a high level."

Birkholz was taken in the third round of the 2009 NHL draft by the Florida Panthers.

The Silvertip Vice President Doug Soetaert's statement sounds like a recruitment advertisement for the CHL...

CHL wants to discuss feud with NCAA

Yawn! Does anyone ever get tired of the never ending debate, feud, pissing contest between the CHL and the NCAA? Bruce Ciskie has a good blog post on the discussion at his blog. Over at Western College Hockey Chris also has a pretty good post on this subject as well. I am not sure what the two sides are going to talk about unless they are going to call a truce and not act like warring parties.

It may not be on the official docket, but the recruiting war between the NCAA and the Canadian Hockey League is still expected to produce some lively discussion at the World Hockey Summit in Toronto.

"It's not on the agenda, but we've certainly indicated to Hockey Canada and USA Hockey that we think there is an opportunity to sit down," said Ron Robison, a CHL vice-president and commissioner of the Western Hockey League.

"We're committed to continuing to try to improve relationships with USA Hockey, NCAA Hockey and so forth. We have a responsibility in North America to the development system to do that in the best interest of the players. Our goal is to attempt to sit down (with them). Whether we can do that at the summit or soon thereafter, that will be our objective."

The feud between the CHL and NCAA has turned bitter since the hiring of former NHL Players' Association boss Paul Kelly as executive director of College Hockey Inc. Working on behalf of the NCAA, Kelly has attempted to discredit the CHL, along with elements of its programs, practices and policies.

Based on some of the fireworks to date, Hockey Canada president and CEO Bob Nicholson wouldn't be surprised if there's more discussion during the summit.

"I'm sure through it all there are going to be comments on it," he said. "I think we should be real clear from (the perspective of Hockey) Canada: We want to improve our system, we want to make sure that what we control in our country is the best it can be. It doesn't mean players don't have the option to go NCAA. We certainly aren't saying negative things about NCAA. We're just trying to make the Canadian system better because that's under our umbrella.

"I think the key thing is, everyone should promote the things they're doing well. We're seeing bashing coming from NCAA and I don't like that. I think NCAA has some very positive things and that's what they should stick to, as the CHL does. The CHL has done a good job in their scholarship program. I would love to see the CIS jump more to the forefront and look at development using their universities and even the Canadian colleges to help players that want to go to school in Canada and play hockey."
[Windsorstar.com]

Like I have said before, “I think both leagues have a lot to offer and have their strong points as well as their not so good points.” NCAA and the CHL are both proven paths to the NHL and professional hockey. I do like the idea by Chris Dilks of having a gentleman’s agreement with the CHL like the WCHA does amongst its coaches.

NHL shootouts being killed off?

Here is an article that I found interesting over on Yahoo.com, it’s also a flash point issue with many college and NHL hockey fans. Many of these hockey fans are also passionate about the shootouts, both for and against. Personally, I think the shootout is exciting part of the post lockout NHL and I think it’s a very good way to end a game during the regular season, however, I would never endorse it for ending/deciding a game in a league champion.

TORONTO – Two-on-two? Not gonna happen. But three-on-three? Now that’s something we could see in NHL overtime someday.

Of all the ideas being tested this week at the league’s Research, Development and Orientation Camp, the most realistic ones with the biggest potential to impact the game involve overtime. The league is looking at two-on-two and three-on-three concepts, as well as four-on-four with teams switching ends to create long line changes.

Most everyone agrees the shootout has become too common. The debate is over what to do about it.

”I’d like to look at anything that reduces the number of games that are decided by a shootout,” Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brian Burke said. ”I mean, basically we’re deciding an astonishing percentage of games with a shootout. We never envisioned that when we approved that rule.”

When the NHL introduced the shootout in 2005-06, the thought was that teams would go all-out in the five-minute, four-on-four overtime period, trying to earn two points in the standings.

It will be interesting to see where the NHL goes with this. While some hockey fans like ties in hockey, personally I can't stand a hockey game that ends in a tie, I call them sister kissings. A tie feels like a loss to me in some instances.

NHL gives Hybrid icing rule second look

It's a good first step in the right direction. I would actually like to see the NHL go to the no touch icing rules like the Olympics and college hockey. Everytime I see two players reach for the puck I think back to the Kurtis Foster incident during the 200

TORONTO — A hybrid icing rule aimed at reducing dangerous collisions received some extra attention at the NHL's research and development camp.

Organizers decided to extend the rule to Wednesday's second session because they felt they hadn't seen enough of it in the first one. The proposed change gives linesmen the ability to make a ruling on whether a play will be called an icing based on which player reaches the faceoff dot first.

It's designed to eliminate violent crashes into the end boards that have resulted from players chasing the puck. A number of NHLers have been injured in that manner — including former Minnesota Wild defenceman Kurtis Foster, who missed most of the 2008-09 season after breaking his leg while racing back to touch the puck for an icing.

Ken Hitchcock, who is coaching one of the teams at the development camp, liked what he saw from the hybrid icing rule.

“It's a competitive and safe way of playing,” said Hitchcock. “You would almost completely eliminate those big injuries that come and yet you're still creating the competition for (the puck). ... For me, it's a real good idea.

Wilson will help the defense.

I found this blog post over on MVN.COM ; first off I wouldn't call it a rift but a smart hockey move by the Minnesota Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher. Hiring Former Fighting Sioux defenseman Rick Wilson who is a proven assistant coach in the NHL was an awesome move and his defensive philosophy can help a team that was horrible defensively last season. I don’t think it it’s a stretch to say that last season the Wild defense looked like a bunch of orange pylons or road cones and it was almost like they had forgot everything that the previous coach had taught them.

Is the hiring of defense-guru Wilson a sign the team has lost a little faith in Richards' and his system to win games? Mike Ramsey, who was the outgoing defensive guru noted philosophical differences as part of the reason for deciding to step away as part of the Wild's trio of coaches. So far nothing public has been stated that really points to a rift but Fletcher clearly is willing to place who he wants above the desires of the head coach. I know that many Wild fans steadily began to question Richards' decision-making especially after holding an optional practice after a particularly paltry effort the night before. So could upper management be wanting Richards to be on the hot seat unless the team shows some real improvement? Maybe, because the franchise is finally feeling a bit more pressure from hockey-mad fans as demonstrated by the struggles to sell season tickets, especially in the lower bowl where you can now purchase 10, 20 and 30 game season ticket packages for the first time in the history of the team. The best cure for those sorts of woes is winning and I think Richards would be foolish to think he would not catch some flak from the ownership if the team again finds itself mired in a mediocre season. The fact of the matter is the team is spending near the cap ceiling, and Wild owner Craig Leipold is going to want to see some return on that investment. I think many Wild fans are wanting the same thing, and they're hoping to avoid a complete rebuild even if that really may be the best solution in order to achieve long-term success.
[State of Hockey]

I think we need to give Chuck Fletcher the benefit of the doubt here and I also think Wild fans need to be a little patient when it comes to the Wild Coach Todd Richards, the former general manager Doug Riesbrough left the Wild hockey in shambles and it’s going to take a long time to correct the mess that was left behind.

CCHA to Continue Shootouts in League Play

It would be interesting to see what the breakdown of the vote for the shootout was. Personally, I am a fan of the shootout and find them entertaining in the NHL games that I watch. I know there are a lot of college hockey fans and hockey purists that DON’T like the shootout and to many fans it’s a person preference whether they like it or not.

FARMINGTON HILLS, Mich. - The Central Collegiate Hockey Association will continue to use shootouts and a three-point system in league play, as determined by a vote at the CCHA Council Meeting in Dearborn, Mich., Aug. 16-17.

In addition, the council voted for the CCHA to begin using standardized media timeouts in all league games and non-conference games hosted by CCHA teams. In 2008 the CCHA became the first Division I men’s ice hockey conference to institute the shootout in league play. For the 2009-10 season, the CCHA adopted a standings format for league play where a team that wins in regulation or overtime receives three points, a team that wins a shootout is awarded two points, a team that loses a shootout gets one point, and a team that loses in regulation or overtime earns no points. This past season 25 CCHA games went to a shootout, with Alaska being the most frequent participant at eight shootouts.

Why is everyone bonkers about Kaberle?

When I heard that the rumors last summer that the Boston Bruins might have been interested in Tomas Kaberle the first question out of my mouth was why? I am just hoping that Boston Bruins aren't one of the 10 teams in the mix for Tomas Kaberle this summer. While I know Kaberle is highly regarded by some, I have never been a big fan of him and he doesn't really stand out as being the type of defenseman that I would want to build my team around. Sure he had 7 goals - 42 assists - 49 points in 82 games last season but he was also a -16. Basically another offensive only defenseman that lacks grit and get caught up ice too much. No thank you, he isn't worth 4.25 million in my opinion.

“I think it’s 50-50. If I get the phone call that says he’s been moved to X team, I wouldn’t be surprised. But, having said that, I certainly wouldn’t be surprised if the clock ticks midnight (Sunday) night and he’s still a Toronto Maple Leaf,” said Curran, who spoke with Burke Saturday morning.

While Burke has said all along that he’ll happily keep Kaberle if he doesn’t get an offer he deems worthy of an all-star calibre defender carrying a $4.25 million (U.S.) price tag — albeit with just one season remaining on his deal — it is thought that the GM is assessing somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 different trade scenarios.

But Curran believes, no matter what the level of interest, nothing can be assumed.

“It’s an anxious time for Tomas as it is for the Leafs,” said the agent. “I think at this point, it’s probably better for everyone who is on the outside looking in, to just sit back with interest and wait to see what happens. I wouldn’t be surprised either way.”

Curran, as has been reported, said the Leafs have asked him if Kaberle would consider a contract extension if a trade isn’t made. The answer, of course, is yes. The 32-year-old defender has stated all along what he wants to remain a Leaf.

“There’s no sense getting into any of that right now. Let’s just wait and see if he is a Leaf by midnight (Sunday) or not,” said Curran. [Toronto Star]

How far are they going to go back...

Ilya Kovalchuk contract caused a fire storm with contracts that some claim circumvent the CBA. My question is how far are they going to go back and look? I also wonder if I am the only one that doesn't really like the current CBA? I think teams should be able to adjust their cap numbers when they get into injury problems.

Arbitrator Richard Bloch's ruling on the Ilya Kovalchuk grievance yesterday could affect the registration of Marc Savard's seven-year, $28.05 million contract.

In Bloch's decision, acquired by Team 1200 legal analyst Eric Macramalla, the arbitrator upheld the NHL's rejection of Kovalchuk's 17-year, $102 million contract. In the decision, a footnote includes Savard's contract (others include those of Chris Pronger, Roberto Luongo, and Marian Hossa) as featuring a similar structure to Kovalchuk's rejected deal. Savard will be paid $7 million in 2010-11 and 2011-12; $6.5 million in 2012-13; $5 million in 2013-14; $1.5 million in 2014-15; then backdives to $525,000 in 2015-16 and 2016-17.

According to the footnote, Savard's contract has been registered but is being investigated once more by the league. According to the collective bargaining agreement, the NHL can conduct an investigation to determine whether circumvention took place even after a contract has been approved and registered.

"[W]hile the contracts have, in fact, been registered, their structure has not escaped League notice: those [Standard Player Contracts] are being investigated currently with at least the possibility of a subsequent withdrawal of the registration," the footnote reads. "It is also the case that the figures in Kovalchuk's case are demonstrably more dramatic, including a 17-year term length, a $102,000,000 salary total, and precipitous drop that lasts for the final six years of this contract." [Boston Globe]

I did smell B.S. - UAH stiffed by CCHA...

Last week the CCHA opened major can of worms when the CCHA league commissioner said that they were targeting PSU as their potential 12th team, Tom Anastos said, "They are a very attractive choice -- very attractive."

When Central Collegiate Hockey Association officials gather next week in Dearborn for annual meetings, they are expected to discuss the possibility of adding a 12th team to the league.

The target: Penn State.

"They are a very attractive choice -- very attractive," CCHA commissioner Tom Anastos told The Detroit News on Tuesday. "They're in a different market than we're in, more and more U.S. players are on college rosters, and there's tremendous growth of the sport in Pennsylvania."

[The Detroit News]

Wow! I am speechless. Last year I said this, “I have to say that I smell bullshit here. Something doesn't add up and I am not buying it. So are we to believe that UAH isn't good enough to play in the CCHA? This is a league that includes FSU 12-19-7, LSSU 11-20-8, and BGSU 11-24-3. The bottom half of the league is stuffed with mediocre - crappy teams that would have a very tough time beating UAH. UAH also has a nicer arena and draws better crowd than the teams deemed worthy of being in the CCHA.” [Click - for distances and attendance]

I made those comments after the CCHA turned down UAH’s application for admission, I was right I do smell bravo sierra. Let me get this right; Penn State University, a school that doesn’t even have a hockey program or an ice hockey arena, is more attractive than UAH. Seriously, all Penn State University has is a rumor and a few articles in various papers that say PSU has a big time Alum with deep pockets that wants to add hockey. Please tell me that isn’t the definition of elitism? You're welcome to attempt to refute this if you would like.

Elitism Definition: - is the belief or attitude that some individuals, who supposedly form an elite — a select group of people with, intellect, wealth, specialized training or experience, or other distinctive attributes — are those whose views on a matter are to be taken the most seriously or carry the most weight or those who view their own views as so; whose views and/or actions are most likely to be constructive to society as a whole; or whose extraordinary skills, abilities or wisdom render them especially fit to govern...

There has to be another angle that isn’t being discussed here. It doesn’t take an economics major to note that the majority of the CCHA teams are in the state of Michigan. Unless you don’t read the news or watch it on TV you will know that the state of Michigan is in dire states and suffering from 13.2% unemployment. Whole blocks of houses in Detroit Michigan are gone.

The only other thing that I can think of is that the CCHA is hurting for money and is trying to tap into the Big Ten money by adding another Big Ten School. With PSU in the CCHA they would have 4 of the 6 Big Ten schools that have hockey. If you add the Notre Dame Fighting Irish to the equation the CCHA would have 5 of the bigger schools in division one hockey.

One can only speculate that the CCHA is hoping to siphon off money from the Big Ten network. Another thought that comes to mind is; maybe CCHA Commissioner Tom Anastos is trying to offer PSU a place in their league to fight off the BTHC plundering the CCHA?

On the other side the problem is the other schools in the CCHA are small schools either division I mid majors (Western Michigan – MAC, Bowling Green – MAC, Miami – MAC) or division II schools (Northern Michigan – GLIAC, Ferris State – GLIAC, LSSU – GLIAC, Alaska Fairbanks – GNAC ) in every other sport but hockey. A lot of the member schools in the CCHA are teams that have smaller older buildings. It does seem like the CCHA is trying to keep up with the WCHA and maybe trying to kick start some life into their financially strapped league.

UA – Carlson Building, 6443, 1990
Bowling Green University – BGSU Ice Arena, 5000, 1967
Ferris State University – Robert L. Ewigleben Ice Arena, 2493, 1976
Lake Superior State University – Taffy Abel Arena, 4000, 1976
University of Michigan – Yost Ice Arena, 6637, 1923
Michigan State University – Munn Ice Arena, 6470, 1974
Northern Michigan University – Berry Events Center, 3902, 1999
Miami University – Goggin Ice Center, 3200, 2006
Notre Dame University – Joyce Center, 2857, 1968 – Notre Dame will get a new ice arena in October of 2011, Charles W. "Lefty" Smith Jr. Rink, 5000.
Ohio State University - Value City Arena at The Jerome Schottenstein Center, 17,2000, 1998
Western Michigan University – Lawson Ice Arena, 3667, 1974

In comparision: University of Alabama Huntsville - Von Braun Center, 6602, 1975

The Big Ten Argument

I have been a college hockey fan since the late 1980’s and since the 1990’s we have heard about the possibility of the Big Ten Hockey Conference and how there is eventually going to be this super hockey conference that will include Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio State University and a team to be named later _____________. To this date we still do not have a sixth team needed to form this super league. Sarcasm meter should be on.

I am hockey fan first and consider it my religion but lets be realistic here. Hockey is a niche sport and it’s never going to be very popular in markets that cater to the college basketball and football crowd. I am also cool with the fact that some people just don’t get hockey. I am appreciative of that and do not want them following hockey either.

I also don’t buy the argument that Pennsylvania is a growing hockey market. In comparison to what? College hockey is in Pennsylvania already with the RMU Colonials,what makes anyone think that PSU is going to over shadow RMU? Personally, I just don’t see the sport of college hockey growing in Pennsylvania to the level of enthusiasm that a school like Minnesota, Michigan or North Dakota has. College hockey is about traditions and history and PSU has none of it. Fellow Big Ten school OSU also lacks a rich hockey history.

I keep hearing this argument that if the big time BCS football schools got into college hockey they would dominate and take over the college hockey world. Really! I just don’t’ see it happening. Where are these new power house teams going to get their recruits from? Do these people think they are going to just step into college hockey and compete with the likes of North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, B.C., and Wisconsin? The college hockey recruiting landscape is already crowded and in competition for players with the CHL.

Finally, while the Big Ten Hockey Conference seems like a good idea to some I think it could be bad and disastrous for other college hockey programs mostly the small mid major schools (the majority of CCHA teams not in the Big Ten or named Notre Dame) and it could set into motion a collapse of college hockey as we know it today. If the BTHC formed it would basically cause the CCHA to become league that resembles the AHA.

The WCHA would remain competitive and strong with teams like UND, C.C., UMD, DU, UNO, BSU, SCSU, UAA, MSU Mankato and MTU and would come out almost as strong even with losing their top money makers in UMN and UW. Our league would feel a crunch but would come out of it stronger than most teams in the CCHA. One could also make the argument that Hockey East survived whether the CCHA or WCHA existed at all and this move would have little affect on them.

Also, the Big Ten Hockey Conference would have little effect on the ECAC, AHA as well. Their niche has already been determined and is successful. The addition of the Big Ten Hockey Conference could have a devastating affects on the CCHA, that league could crumble like a house of cards.

The loss of teams would mean the loss of at large bids for the NCAA tourney; this would further affect the other schools in college hockey. Here is what I could see happening with the CCHA and WCHA being pilfered by the BTHC, that could cause a realignment of college hockey and or a emergence of a super conference combined of CCHA and WCHA powers that were left over. We just don't know but maybe the the powers that be in the Big Ten should think twice before you meddle with college hockey. College hockey is doing fine without you already. If you want to bank on college hockey try showing a few more games on the BTN. Hockey exists outside of the schools that are part of the Big Ten. Frankly what is so special about the Big Ten Conference? The league isn't all that strong in comparison to the SEC in football. In basketball outside of a couple of schools the Big Ten gets murdered in the NCAA basketball tourney. It seems to me that some in the Big Ten conference is also displaying a bit of elitism of their own. College hockey also needs to find a solution for UAH Chargers so they don't twist in the wind for ever.