Saturday, December 04, 2010
Sioux 6 - Huskies 2
This goal should drive the SCSU fans nuts, the fourth line center went (1g-1a-2pts) on the evening… The Fighting Sioux put a six goals past the SCSU Huskies at the Ralph Englestad Arena tonight to sweep the SCSU Huskies... The Fighting Sioux were all business as they donned the Black jerseys, a rarity at home, according to Brad Schlossman this was only the second time they did this, the other time was 2002 in honor of the Fighting Sioux alum Ralph Englestad. The record wearing the black jersey is 22-1-2.
This game wasn’t very close at all; the Sioux had four goals before the 13:00 minute mark of the first period, and kind of cruised the rest of the way. The Sioux have won four straight games against the Huskies (8-1, 5-4, 3-1, 6-2).
The Sioux took the Huskies off of their game because they were worried about all the extra stuff that didn’t happen this weekend, score a mental victory for the Sioux. The Huskies looked disinterested and they were looking over their shoulders all weekend long.
Goon's Three Stars of the game
1.) Matt Frattin, UND (1g-2a-3pts)
2.) Mario Lamoureux UND (1g-1a-2pts)
3.) Danny Kristo (0g-2a-2pts)
[Box Score]
____________________________
1st Period (20:00)
____________________________
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 LL Evan Trupp (5) (Matt Frattin, Brad Malone) 5:57
NDK (+): 19,21,22,24,5,G32 STC (-): 12,14,18,13,10,G41
NDK 2 - 0 6x6 Derrick LaPoint (1) (Derek Rodwell, Michael Cichy) 6:24
NDK (+): 3,11,8,29,18,G32 STC (-): 28,6,21,10,7,G41
NDK 3 - 0 6x6 GW Brent Davidson (1) (Chay Genoway, Mario Lamoureux) 8:24
NDK (+): 15,5,2,27,9,G32 STC (-): 6,12,7,17,13,G41
STC-1 Oliver Lauridsen (2-Roughing) 9:19
NDK-1 Derek Rodwell (2-Slashing) 9:19
NDK 4 - 0 5x5 Matt Frattin (15) (Jake Marto, Aaron Dell) 10:50
NDK (+): 21,25,4,19,G32 STC (-): 6,12,19,7,G30
NDK 5 - 0 6x6 Corban Knight (9) (Danny Kristo) 16:21
NDK (+): 10,7,5,25,24,G32 STC (-): 11,6,9,7,27,G30
STC-2 Oliver Lauridsen (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x1 17:03
____________________________
2nd Period (20:00)
____________________________
STC-3 Garrett Roe (2-Roughing) 0:05
NDK-2 Corban Knight (2-Roughing) 0:05
NDK-3 Andrew MacWilliam (2-Interference) STC 0x1 1:04
NDK-4 Jake Marto (2-Hooking) STC 0x2 5:36
STC-4 Cam Reid (2-Slashing) NDK 0x2 9:54
NDK-5 Corban Knight (2-Holding) STC 0x3 11:00
STC-5 Taylor Johnson (2-Slashing) NDK 0x3 13:53
NDK-6 Jake Marto (2-Boarding) STC 0x4 17:37
____________________________
3rd Period (20:00)
____________________________
STC 1 - 5 6x6 Mitch MacMillan (2) (Brian Volpei, Nick Jensen) 3:58
STC (+): 28,21,14,18,10,G41 NDK (-): 7,25,3,18,10,G32
STC-6 Travis Novak (2-High-Sticking) NDK 0x4 4:43
STC-7 Taylor Johnson (2-Hooking) NDK 0x5 4:43
STC-8 Taylor Johnson (2-Interference) NDK 0x6 7:41
NDK 6 - 1 6x6 Mario Lamoureux (1) (Matt Frattin, Danny Kristo) 9:41
NDK (+): 9,21,7,24,19,G32
STC 2 - 6 6x6 Travis Novak (3) (Taylor Johnson, Oliver Lauridsen) 12:35
STC (+): 12,4,25,13,17,G41 NDK (-): 4,27,19,22,2,G32
NDK-7 Mario Lamoureux (2-Slashing) STC 0x5 16:07
____________________________
End of Game
UPSET ALERT!!!!! (Redwing77) UPDATED!!!!!!!
Ok, not really but....
2010 Robbie Earl Memorial Freestyle Frozen Water Diving Champion Garrett Roe is losing his edge. Roe, famous for the Fish Flop and the Triple Roll Belly Flop with a Cage Gainor failed to dupe any of the officials into awarding SCSU with a single powerplay last night. He didn't garner a choking performance... he didn't even attempt to dive. When is the last time Greg Louganis stepped up to the edge of the diving board and just turned around and walked down the ladder?
Is Roe losing his touch? Does this mean WCHA newcomer Jacob Cepis (Minnesota) will usurp Roe's crown? Can outside candidate Jason Zucker (DU) take the crown? Or will it be a yet unnamed player from else-WCHA?
I know what you may be thinking: "Aww, Roe's too good to let this get him down, he'll dive tonight. After UND only got called for 1 penalty last night, WCHA officiating will come through." Or perhaps you are thinking "Roe doesn't have Lasch and Nodl and other guys like that to use his diving talent for to make his loss of dignity and ethical existence worthwhile." Perhaps. Or perhaps you live in a Husky red dream world and claim that Roe has never dove or embellished in his collegiate career. Well, we'll leave the consumption of paint thinner to residents of the fine state of Wisconsin.
Diving is illegal in most forms of hockey but I still doubt the officials in the WCHA could recognize a dive or an embellishment if it happened to smack them in the junk. Yes, I know Zucker got called for diving early this season but I think it is a fluke.
I can understand why Roe or any WCHA player would wish to embellish. It's a player's way of helping the officials understand what an illegal play looks like. It's not the players' fault that embellishment is a problem in the WCHA. It's the officiating. If you don't call it, then it must be legal. Trust me. If a team goes out there and starts cross checking everyone in sight, they'll get called for a penalty and they'll either adapt and stop doing it or they'll spend the rest of the game in the box. If they don't get called, then the refs must allow it and they'll do it the whole game long.
The issue isn't a vendetta or a conspiracy. The issue is the WCHA administration and their hiring practices. The game has gotten too fast for the officials. They are consistently 1-2 steps behind the play. They simply aren't as fast as they need to be. We can go back and forth about what we could do but it is a waste of time under the current regime.
So... this award will continue to be given by this blog for however long as the officials can't understand how to call the whole rulebook.
UPDATE!
Much like the BCS Standings, beat writers have written in their early season vote on the Robbie Earl Memorial Trophy and, though the full standings aren't available yet, we broke the news here first folks:
If the award were to be handed out on Monday by the WCHA, Minnesota's Jacob Cepis would usurp Garrett Roe!
Neither Cepis nor Roe were available for comment. Stay tuned!
2010 Robbie Earl Memorial Freestyle Frozen Water Diving Champion Garrett Roe is losing his edge. Roe, famous for the Fish Flop and the Triple Roll Belly Flop with a Cage Gainor failed to dupe any of the officials into awarding SCSU with a single powerplay last night. He didn't garner a choking performance... he didn't even attempt to dive. When is the last time Greg Louganis stepped up to the edge of the diving board and just turned around and walked down the ladder?
Is Roe losing his touch? Does this mean WCHA newcomer Jacob Cepis (Minnesota) will usurp Roe's crown? Can outside candidate Jason Zucker (DU) take the crown? Or will it be a yet unnamed player from else-WCHA?
I know what you may be thinking: "Aww, Roe's too good to let this get him down, he'll dive tonight. After UND only got called for 1 penalty last night, WCHA officiating will come through." Or perhaps you are thinking "Roe doesn't have Lasch and Nodl and other guys like that to use his diving talent for to make his loss of dignity and ethical existence worthwhile." Perhaps. Or perhaps you live in a Husky red dream world and claim that Roe has never dove or embellished in his collegiate career. Well, we'll leave the consumption of paint thinner to residents of the fine state of Wisconsin.
Diving is illegal in most forms of hockey but I still doubt the officials in the WCHA could recognize a dive or an embellishment if it happened to smack them in the junk. Yes, I know Zucker got called for diving early this season but I think it is a fluke.
I can understand why Roe or any WCHA player would wish to embellish. It's a player's way of helping the officials understand what an illegal play looks like. It's not the players' fault that embellishment is a problem in the WCHA. It's the officiating. If you don't call it, then it must be legal. Trust me. If a team goes out there and starts cross checking everyone in sight, they'll get called for a penalty and they'll either adapt and stop doing it or they'll spend the rest of the game in the box. If they don't get called, then the refs must allow it and they'll do it the whole game long.
The issue isn't a vendetta or a conspiracy. The issue is the WCHA administration and their hiring practices. The game has gotten too fast for the officials. They are consistently 1-2 steps behind the play. They simply aren't as fast as they need to be. We can go back and forth about what we could do but it is a waste of time under the current regime.
So... this award will continue to be given by this blog for however long as the officials can't understand how to call the whole rulebook.
UPDATE!
Much like the BCS Standings, beat writers have written in their early season vote on the Robbie Earl Memorial Trophy and, though the full standings aren't available yet, we broke the news here first folks:
If the award were to be handed out on Monday by the WCHA, Minnesota's Jacob Cepis would usurp Garrett Roe!
Neither Cepis nor Roe were available for comment. Stay tuned!
College Hockey Scores from 12/03/2010
AHA Hockey
Bentley 2 at Robert Morris 2 OT
Connecticut 3 at Niagara 4 OT
Holy Cross 1 at Air Force 1 OT
Mercyhurst 6 at Sacred Heart 2
RIT 4 at American Int'l 0
CCHA
Michigan 2 at Ohio State 3 OT
Notre Dame 5 at Miami 4
Western Michigan 1 at Northern Michigan 3
Bowling Green 1 at Lake Superior 1 OT
Michigan State 3 at Ferris State 2
ECAC
Rensselaer 2 at Yale 4
St. Lawrence 6 at Quinnipiac 4
Union 4 at Brown 3
Clarkson 5 at Princeton 3
Hockey East
Merrimack 2 at Northeastern 1
Maine 3 at Providence 3 OT
Boston College 9 at Boston University 5
WCHA
Minnesota 2 at Minnesota State 3
St. Cloud State 1 at North Dakota 3
Nebraska-Omaha 0 at Bemidji State 3
Denver 5 at Minnesota Duluth 4 OT
Wisconsin 1 at Alaska Anchorage 2
Colorado College 7 at Michigan Tech 3
NON Conference
Alab-Huntsville 1 at Cornell 3
Analysis
It would be an understatement if you said last night was a wild and crazy night in college hockey. There were seven games that went to over time. The UMD Bulldogs finally proved it was human as the Bulldogs lost a game in over time to DU Pioneers. The UNO Mavericks came back to earth as they lost to BSU Beaver 3-0. Miami University was beaten by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and finally, it looks like the goalies had a rough night as B.C. Eagles beat the BU Terriers 9-5.
Minnesota 2 at Minnesota State 3 – I don’t know what to make out of the Gophers this season, one weekend they are beating the Wolverines of Michigan the next week they are losing to the Mavericks. Apparently a snow storm in Mankato really had no bearing on attendance as 4000+ showed up to watch the Mavericks beat the Gophers. Maverick forward Adam Mueller scored the game winning goal at the 6;29 mark of the Second period as the Mavericks held on to beat the Gophers . [Puckato] and [Goal Gophers]
Nebraska-Omaha 0 at Bemidji State 3 – Do you see a pattern developing here? Dan Bakala shutout the UNO Mavericks 3-0, the Beavers also won two games in a row by shutout (3-0 X2). The BSU Beavers have won 4 games on the season and three of them have been by shutout. This was the first time all season that the Mavericks had been shutout. You can also bet that the BSU Beavers had better be ready for UNO Maverick’s best effort tonight because if we know Maverick coach Dean Blais today’s pre game skate will not be pretty and he will have his team ready for the rematch. [BSU beat writer blog] and [Mavericks Today]
Denver 5 at Minnesota Duluth 4 OT – If last night proved anything, it proved that the UMD Bulldogs who had been sub human in overtime going an impressive 5-0-2 in extra hockey session. The DU Pioneers finally proved that the Bulldogs don’t wear an “S” on their chest or capes and that they are capable of losing in overtime. [RINK and RUN] and [Let's Go DU] and [Runnin with the Dogs]
Wisconsin 1 at Alaska Anchorage 2 – I am sure that a certain UAA fan blogger soiled himself as the UAA Seawolves senior forward Tommy Grant scored at the 19:51 mark of the third period to finally beat the Wisconsin Badgers in Anchorage, Alaska. It was the first time in 12 games (11-0-1) that the UAA Seawolves had beaten the Wisconsin Badgers. The Seawolves with the win last night are now currently holding sixth in the WCHA. With twelve teams in the league this season if the season ended today the Seawolves would host the C.C. Tigers. I know it’s early and let’s not get ahead of ourselves. [Delusion of Grandeur complete with customary f’bomb], [Doyle Woody, ADN] and [Madison.com]
Colorado College 7 at Michigan Tech 3 – After starting out the season going 3-0-2 the MTU Huskies lost for the seventh game in a row. With the win the C.C. Tigers even their record to 7-7-1. Tiger’s freshman Jaden Scwartz continued his torrid pace as he add 4 assists on the night to bring his season stats total to (9g-13a-22pts). [Eye of the Tigers] and [Mining Gazette]
Bentley 2 at Robert Morris 2 OT
Connecticut 3 at Niagara 4 OT
Holy Cross 1 at Air Force 1 OT
Mercyhurst 6 at Sacred Heart 2
RIT 4 at American Int'l 0
CCHA
Michigan 2 at Ohio State 3 OT
Notre Dame 5 at Miami 4
Western Michigan 1 at Northern Michigan 3
Bowling Green 1 at Lake Superior 1 OT
Michigan State 3 at Ferris State 2
ECAC
Rensselaer 2 at Yale 4
St. Lawrence 6 at Quinnipiac 4
Union 4 at Brown 3
Clarkson 5 at Princeton 3
Hockey East
Merrimack 2 at Northeastern 1
Maine 3 at Providence 3 OT
Boston College 9 at Boston University 5
WCHA
Minnesota 2 at Minnesota State 3
St. Cloud State 1 at North Dakota 3
Nebraska-Omaha 0 at Bemidji State 3
Denver 5 at Minnesota Duluth 4 OT
Wisconsin 1 at Alaska Anchorage 2
Colorado College 7 at Michigan Tech 3
NON Conference
Alab-Huntsville 1 at Cornell 3
Analysis
It would be an understatement if you said last night was a wild and crazy night in college hockey. There were seven games that went to over time. The UMD Bulldogs finally proved it was human as the Bulldogs lost a game in over time to DU Pioneers. The UNO Mavericks came back to earth as they lost to BSU Beaver 3-0. Miami University was beaten by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and finally, it looks like the goalies had a rough night as B.C. Eagles beat the BU Terriers 9-5.
Minnesota 2 at Minnesota State 3 – I don’t know what to make out of the Gophers this season, one weekend they are beating the Wolverines of Michigan the next week they are losing to the Mavericks. Apparently a snow storm in Mankato really had no bearing on attendance as 4000+ showed up to watch the Mavericks beat the Gophers. Maverick forward Adam Mueller scored the game winning goal at the 6;29 mark of the Second period as the Mavericks held on to beat the Gophers . [Puckato] and [Goal Gophers]
Nebraska-Omaha 0 at Bemidji State 3 – Do you see a pattern developing here? Dan Bakala shutout the UNO Mavericks 3-0, the Beavers also won two games in a row by shutout (3-0 X2). The BSU Beavers have won 4 games on the season and three of them have been by shutout. This was the first time all season that the Mavericks had been shutout. You can also bet that the BSU Beavers had better be ready for UNO Maverick’s best effort tonight because if we know Maverick coach Dean Blais today’s pre game skate will not be pretty and he will have his team ready for the rematch. [BSU beat writer blog] and [Mavericks Today]
Denver 5 at Minnesota Duluth 4 OT – If last night proved anything, it proved that the UMD Bulldogs who had been sub human in overtime going an impressive 5-0-2 in extra hockey session. The DU Pioneers finally proved that the Bulldogs don’t wear an “S” on their chest or capes and that they are capable of losing in overtime. [RINK and RUN] and [Let's Go DU] and [Runnin with the Dogs]
Wisconsin 1 at Alaska Anchorage 2 – I am sure that a certain UAA fan blogger soiled himself as the UAA Seawolves senior forward Tommy Grant scored at the 19:51 mark of the third period to finally beat the Wisconsin Badgers in Anchorage, Alaska. It was the first time in 12 games (11-0-1) that the UAA Seawolves had beaten the Wisconsin Badgers. The Seawolves with the win last night are now currently holding sixth in the WCHA. With twelve teams in the league this season if the season ended today the Seawolves would host the C.C. Tigers. I know it’s early and let’s not get ahead of ourselves. [Delusion of Grandeur complete with customary f’bomb], [Doyle Woody, ADN] and [Madison.com]
Colorado College 7 at Michigan Tech 3 – After starting out the season going 3-0-2 the MTU Huskies lost for the seventh game in a row. With the win the C.C. Tigers even their record to 7-7-1. Tiger’s freshman Jaden Scwartz continued his torrid pace as he add 4 assists on the night to bring his season stats total to (9g-13a-22pts). [Eye of the Tigers] and [Mining Gazette]
Sioux 3 Huskies 1
I was in transit back from West Virginia and in stead of watching Friday night’s game in the stands I was stuck on the snowy tarmac/the gate of MSP airport getting updates from my Blackberry. Actually not all was lost; I was able to listen to most of the first period on my laptop before I boarded my plane. When I got home I was able to watch the game from my DVR. All in all it was a long day.
Hakstol wins 100th game
UND Fighting Sioux head hockey coach Dave Hakstol got his 100 career win as the coach of the Fighting Sioux... Congratulations Dave Hakstol! The Sioux had to deal with adversity as two of their first line forwards were out with an injury. The toughest one to absorb is junior forward Jason Gregoire because he is one of the best two way forwards in the game. Brett Hextall is a big loss as well but he had been in a rut and hadn’t scored a point in 9 games. I am hoping when Hextall returns from his injury that he takes off with a vengeance.
Areas of concern
While I think this year’s version of the Fighting Sioux hockey is the best complete UND hockey team led by coach Hakstol (pre-new year) I have seen in some time, however, there are a few areas of concern, UND is getting production from only one line. More players need to step up their play and be heard on the score sheet.
Sophomore Danny Kristo who scored (15g-21a-36pts) last season has (1g-4a-5pts) this season so far and hasn’t scored a point in two straight games, Danny needs to pick it up and start scoring goals and making plays. Brett Hextall (14g-12a-26pts) last season and (2g-4a-6pts) and hasn’t scored a point in nine games before the injury. Michael Cichy highly regarded and has shown us a glimpse of what is yet to come needs to be consistent and step up his play.
Goon's Three Stars of the game
1.) Aaron Dell Goalie
2.) Brad Malone (2g-1a-3pts)
3.) Matt Frattin (1g-1a-2pts)
Links to the series
My favorite Pseudo reporter from USCHO. [USCHO]
RWD's favorite UND Beat Writer [UND Hockey]
College Hockey News game summary [College Hockey New]
Saint Cloud State Media blog [Saint Cloud Times]
Official Fighting Sioux Hockey team site [Fighting Sioux]
Game highlights from the Sioux and SCSU 12/03/2010 [Click to watch]
[Box Score]
_________________________________
1st Period (20:00)
_________________________________
STC-1 Nick Jensen (2-Interference) NDK 0x1 5:39
STC 1 - 0 6x6 Drew LeBlanc (6) (Brett Barta) 13:53
STC (+): 19,6,23,7,16,G30 NDK (-): 21,18,22,19,3,G32
STC-2 Travis Novak (2-Boarding) NDK 0x2 18:17
_________________________________
2nd Period (20:00)
_________________________________
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Matt Frattin (14) (Brad Malone) 0:18
NDK (+): 21,22,19,5,24,G32 STC (-): 10,17,7,6,12,G30
STC-3 Chris Hepp (2-Hooking) NDK 0x3 9:04
STC-4 Chris Hepp (2-Tripping) NDK 0x4 11:12
_________________________________
3rd Period (20:00)
_________________________________
NDK 2 - 1 6x6 GW LL Brad Malone (3) (Evan Trupp, Matt Frattin) 6:23
NDK (+): 22,19,21,3,18,G32 STC (-): 25,19,14,26,23,G30
NDK-1 Derrick LaPoint (2-Tripping) STC 0x1 13:01
NDK 3 - 1 6x6 Brad Malone (4) (Chay Genoway, Ben Blood) 15:04
NDK (+): 22,5,24,10,3,G32 STC (-): 19,6,11,23,10,G30
STC-5 Jordy Christian (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x5 18:48
_________________________________
End of Game
Hakstol wins 100th game
UND Fighting Sioux head hockey coach Dave Hakstol got his 100 career win as the coach of the Fighting Sioux... Congratulations Dave Hakstol! The Sioux had to deal with adversity as two of their first line forwards were out with an injury. The toughest one to absorb is junior forward Jason Gregoire because he is one of the best two way forwards in the game. Brett Hextall is a big loss as well but he had been in a rut and hadn’t scored a point in 9 games. I am hoping when Hextall returns from his injury that he takes off with a vengeance.
Areas of concern
While I think this year’s version of the Fighting Sioux hockey is the best complete UND hockey team led by coach Hakstol (pre-new year) I have seen in some time, however, there are a few areas of concern, UND is getting production from only one line. More players need to step up their play and be heard on the score sheet.
Sophomore Danny Kristo who scored (15g-21a-36pts) last season has (1g-4a-5pts) this season so far and hasn’t scored a point in two straight games, Danny needs to pick it up and start scoring goals and making plays. Brett Hextall (14g-12a-26pts) last season and (2g-4a-6pts) and hasn’t scored a point in nine games before the injury. Michael Cichy highly regarded and has shown us a glimpse of what is yet to come needs to be consistent and step up his play.
Goon's Three Stars of the game
1.) Aaron Dell Goalie
2.) Brad Malone (2g-1a-3pts)
3.) Matt Frattin (1g-1a-2pts)
Links to the series
My favorite Pseudo reporter from USCHO. [USCHO]
RWD's favorite UND Beat Writer [UND Hockey]
College Hockey News game summary [College Hockey New]
Saint Cloud State Media blog [Saint Cloud Times]
Official Fighting Sioux Hockey team site [Fighting Sioux]
Game highlights from the Sioux and SCSU 12/03/2010 [Click to watch]
[Box Score]
_________________________________
1st Period (20:00)
_________________________________
STC-1 Nick Jensen (2-Interference) NDK 0x1 5:39
STC 1 - 0 6x6 Drew LeBlanc (6) (Brett Barta) 13:53
STC (+): 19,6,23,7,16,G30 NDK (-): 21,18,22,19,3,G32
STC-2 Travis Novak (2-Boarding) NDK 0x2 18:17
_________________________________
2nd Period (20:00)
_________________________________
NDK 1 - 1 6x6 Matt Frattin (14) (Brad Malone) 0:18
NDK (+): 21,22,19,5,24,G32 STC (-): 10,17,7,6,12,G30
STC-3 Chris Hepp (2-Hooking) NDK 0x3 9:04
STC-4 Chris Hepp (2-Tripping) NDK 0x4 11:12
_________________________________
3rd Period (20:00)
_________________________________
NDK 2 - 1 6x6 GW LL Brad Malone (3) (Evan Trupp, Matt Frattin) 6:23
NDK (+): 22,19,21,3,18,G32 STC (-): 25,19,14,26,23,G30
NDK-1 Derrick LaPoint (2-Tripping) STC 0x1 13:01
NDK 3 - 1 6x6 Brad Malone (4) (Chay Genoway, Ben Blood) 15:04
NDK (+): 22,5,24,10,3,G32 STC (-): 19,6,11,23,10,G30
STC-5 Jordy Christian (2-Cross-Checking) NDK 0x5 18:48
_________________________________
End of Game
Heads will roll if Wild don't improve...
Personally, I don't think the Wild have much to bargain with, who are they going to trade? They have no prospects in Houston and the past GM ran the team so far into the ground that they are still suffering from it.
Minneapolis Star and Tribune ---- Change is coming for the Wild. If it doesn't come in the form of victories, it'll come in the form of changing faces, and soon.I didn't think that the Minnesota Wild would be that good this year when I looked at their team roster in training camp because they really don't have a very talented line up and I think they are going to be hard pressed to make the playoffs and if they do qualify they are going to play a team like Detroit which they have no change of eliminating until they get more talented in the forwards lines.... I keep reading on line how Wild fans are already ready to have one of their own fired.
The team hasn't been in the top eight in the Western Conference since Nov. 11 and has lost five of six -- four by lopsided scores.
The Wild is back in that dangerous territory of being trapped in the bottom of the conference with a logjam in front. As last season proved, it's a torturous task to leapfrog up the standings.
That's why Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher says things must turn around now. If they don't, you can bet players will either be shipped out or, as much as it would pain Fletcher, coach Todd Richards could be fired.
Fletcher made clear Thursday, however, that players will be held accountable before Richards.
Trade talks are picking up, Fletcher said, but he's willing to give this group one final chance to prove itself.
Friday, December 03, 2010
Sioux and Huskies
Fighting Sioux beat writer Brad Schlossman has the lines posted for tonight's game and there are some interesting changes, Gregoire and Hextall out this weekend. The word on the street is that Hexy is out till the end of December if you watch the replay of the game Hextall crashed awkwardly into the end board during the second period of Saturday's game and didn't return.
Here are some of the predictions from the pundits.
Brandon is sandbagging again [Sioux Yeah Yeah!] Hey Sioux fans, have some faith in your team...
Goal Gophers has Puckato with him this week and their predictions can be read here... [Goal Gophers]
The WCHA bloggers at USCHO give their spin on the Sioux and SCSU Huskies [USCHO.COM]
The Buffoon from the USCHO EZAC blog has his weekly poll, his top twenty is stuffed with EZAC teams of course... [USCHO ECAC Blog]
The story lines for this game is goaltending; Mike Lee has only finished on game against the Sioux and has been on the receiving end of a a big time pummeling last February. Moving on I do expect Aaron Marvin to be hit and hit often by the Sioux players. I am also wondering if we will here from the Huskies fans about the a fourth line player that was sent out to fight the almighty second line player?
UND’s lines
19 Evan Trupp–22 Brad Malone–21 Matt Frattin
25 Jake Marto–10 Corban Knight–7 Danny Kristo
8 Mike Cichy–29 Brock Nelson–11 Derek Rodwell
9 Mario Lamoureux–27 Carter Rowney–20 Joe Gleason
24 Ben Blood–5 Chay Genoway
2 Andrew MacWilliam–4 Derek Forbort
3 Derrick LaPoint–18 Dillon Simpson
32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness
SCCC Huskies lines
10 Ben Hanowski–17 Aaron Marvin–12 Travis Novak
27 Tony Mosey–9 Garrett Roe–11 Jared Festler
23 Cam Reid–19 Drew LeBlanc–26 Nic Dowd
28 Mitch MacMillan–13 Jordy Christian–16 Nick Oslund
25 Oliver Lauridsen–14 Nick Jensen
4 Taylor Johnson–18 Chris Hepp
7 Kevin Gravel–6 Brett Barta
30 Mike Lee
41 Dan Dunn
Refson ice buffoon's for Tonight's game
Jon Campion and Derek Shepherd
Here are some of the predictions from the pundits.
Brandon is sandbagging again [Sioux Yeah Yeah!] Hey Sioux fans, have some faith in your team...
Goal Gophers has Puckato with him this week and their predictions can be read here... [Goal Gophers]
The WCHA bloggers at USCHO give their spin on the Sioux and SCSU Huskies [USCHO.COM]
The Buffoon from the USCHO EZAC blog has his weekly poll, his top twenty is stuffed with EZAC teams of course... [USCHO ECAC Blog]
The story lines for this game is goaltending; Mike Lee has only finished on game against the Sioux and has been on the receiving end of a a big time pummeling last February. Moving on I do expect Aaron Marvin to be hit and hit often by the Sioux players. I am also wondering if we will here from the Huskies fans about the a fourth line player that was sent out to fight the almighty second line player?
UND’s lines
19 Evan Trupp–22 Brad Malone–21 Matt Frattin
25 Jake Marto–10 Corban Knight–7 Danny Kristo
8 Mike Cichy–29 Brock Nelson–11 Derek Rodwell
9 Mario Lamoureux–27 Carter Rowney–20 Joe Gleason
24 Ben Blood–5 Chay Genoway
2 Andrew MacWilliam–4 Derek Forbort
3 Derrick LaPoint–18 Dillon Simpson
32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness
SCCC Huskies lines
10 Ben Hanowski–17 Aaron Marvin–12 Travis Novak
27 Tony Mosey–9 Garrett Roe–11 Jared Festler
23 Cam Reid–19 Drew LeBlanc–26 Nic Dowd
28 Mitch MacMillan–13 Jordy Christian–16 Nick Oslund
25 Oliver Lauridsen–14 Nick Jensen
4 Taylor Johnson–18 Chris Hepp
7 Kevin Gravel–6 Brett Barta
30 Mike Lee
41 Dan Dunn
Refs
Jon Campion and Derek Shepherd
WCHA statement on the ND tying goal
The Boards Room blog wrote the WCHA a letter to get their clarification on why the game tying goal by Notre Dame counted last Saturday night. I wrote the WCHA as well and this is the line the WCHA is going with... You have to give them credit at least they are consistent.
The only view that the officials have for replay is the overhead view, and talking to the on-ice officials live they thought the North Dakota player caused the Notre Dame player to go into the goalie by the use of his stick, and from the overhead view there was nothing to overturn that. If we had other angles it could have been different.Even after this statement and reviewing the goal numerous by Notre Dames Sam Calabrese there is no reason in my opinion that the goal should have counted. This was a blown call by the WCHA and the fact that they are still making the argument in their favor is mind blowing. This is the WCHA and they just make S#!t as they go.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
So is Sturm a goner for the Bruins.
According to a report from NHL.COM the Bruins have traded Marco "the German" Sturm to the LA Kings. It would appear to be a cap saving room to make room for Bruins Star Marc Savard. Earlier this week the Boston Bruins traded former Michigan Wolverine defensemanMatt Hunwick to the Av's for former BU Terrier Defenseman Colby Cohen. Of course the Bruins haven't confirmed the trade yet.... Sturm last played in the 2010 Stanley Cup playoffs and had been out recovering from a knee injury.
NHL.COM ------ Marco Sturm is about ready to start playing again. However, it won't be for the Boston Bruins.
Sturm, a 12-year NHL veteran who scored the overtime winner for the Bruins at Fenway Park at the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic, has been traded to the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday, according to multiple media reports.
Details of what Boston received in return were not immediately available. This is the second trade the Bruins have made this week as they look to clear space under the salary cap -- veteran defenseman Matt Hunwick was dealt to the Avalanche on Monday in exchange for young blueliner Colby Cohen.
Sturm hasn't played in an NHL game this season after having right knee surgery. He was injured in Game 1 of the Bruins' Eastern Conference semifinal series with the Philadelphia Flyers.
The 32-year-old Sturm was a first-round pick (No. 21) by San Jose in the 1996 Entry Draft and played part of eight seasons with the Sharks before he was traded to Boston early in the 2005-06 season as part of the package for Joe Thornton.
Former UMD Bulldog Mason Raymond scores hat-trick against the Flames...
Former UMD Bulldog Mason Raymond's scored a hat trick last night against the Calgary Flames. Raymond's hat tricked ended up being one of the stories on the internet last night that caused a big buzz. I think it would be safe to say that Mason Raymond has had a tough go of it lately until last night when he just about doubled his season goal total. Raymond had only scored one goal in his last thirteen games before getting three last night.
Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)
Thanksgiving has now come and gone and we are officially in holiday mode. There was only one WCHA series last weekend which featured UAA visiting CC. This weekend, for the first time this season, we have six league series. It’s about time we have a full six WCHA series, since we’re almost half-way through the season. With 12 teams now, this weekend with all WCHA series might be a rare event, that we don’t see that often. Of course, in a year or so the league might be back down to 10 teams.
WCHA standings
TEAM……………...W-L-T...Pts
1. Minnesota-Duluth....8-1-1…17
2. Denver……………...7-2-1…15
3. North Dakota………7-3-0…14
4. Nebraska-Omaha…6-1-1…13
5. Minnesota…………..5-4-1…11
6. Wisconsin…………..3-5-2…8
7. St. Cloud State….....3-4-1…7
7. Alaska-Anchorage...3-6-1…7
9. Minnesota State…...2-6-2…6
9. Colorado College…..3-5-0…6
11. Bemidji State……….2-7-1…5
12. Michigan Tech……..1-6-1…3
WCHA
#15 Wisconsin @ Alaska Anchorage
Last weekend the Seawolves split with Colorado College in Colorado Springs and the Badgers beat Michigan State and tied Michigan [Edit by Goon]
It’s hard to believe that in the first week of December the Badgers are only one point ahead of the Seawolves in the standings. And that one point separates the top half of the league from the bottom half. UAA has split their last three WCHA series, of course they have all been against other teams in the bottom of the standings. But then again the Badgers are just barely a top half team. This weekend is the start of a six game home stand for the Seawolves (after UW they host DU and CC). Like all teams in the middle of the pack the points are very precious, especially closing in on Christmas break. I like what the Badgers did last weekend against the CCHA teams, but UAA is always tough at home, plus it’s a long road trip for visitors. SPLIT
Colorado College @ Michigan Tech
Last weekend the Tigers split with the Seawolves in Colorado Springs and the MTU Huskies enjoyed having the Thanksgiving weekend off.
Both teams are scoring about 3goals/game in league play, up to this point. The Tigers have already beaten the Seawolves once, 4-3, back in October at the Alaska Gold Rush Tournament. A sweep for either team would go a long way in the standings, CC could even its league record and MTU would most likely move out of the basement. I’m going to take the easy way out in this prediction. SPLIT
St. Cloud State @ #7 North Dakota
Last weekend the Sioux beat and tied Notre Dame and the Huskies enjoyed a long holiday weekend rest.
Will this be the weekend the Sioux get their revenge on SCSU for the Genoway incident last year? I was at last year’s game in St. Cloud when Lamoureux was going to fight with Marvin, but the refs jumped in and stopped it before it started. (The Sioux won that game, putting up a snowman, 8-goals). I’m guessing the Sioux will say they just want to win this weekend and get all four points to solidify their spot in the standings. The Huskies have been, well, up and down, to say the least. Since they were picked to finish in the top three in the preseason, it has been no doubt a little disappointing for them so far. UND has been playing consistently well the last month and show no signs of letting up. SIOUX Sweep
#4 Nebraska-Omaha @ Bemidji State
Last weekend the Beavers split with the Northern Michigan Wildcats in Bemidji and the UNO Mavericks enjoyed the weekend off by eating some turkey.
Here we have the two new WCHA members playing each other for the first time. These teams are off to vastly different starts in the league. UNO one of the best records in the league and the Beavers are two points out of the basement. A win by the Beavers would help them not only with points, but show their new counterpart (and the rest of the league), they aren’t going to roll over and play dead. UNO 3-points
#17 Minnesota @ Minnesota State
Last weekend the Mavericks swept Umass-Lowell in Lowell and the Gophers lost to Michigan State and beat Michigan in Minneapolis.
This series has turned into a good rivalry the past few years, especially after their playoff match up back in 2008. The Mavericks need to get some more points before Christmas break if they want to stay in the hunt for a top half finish. The Gophers also need to get some wins before semester break to keep them planted in the top half of the league. The Gophers have been far better on the road than at home, to this point in the season, and the Maroon & Gold faithful are hoping that trend holds up this weekend in Mankato. The Mavericks will look to build on last weekend’s success in Massachusetts and carry that moment into this weekend’s tilts with the Gophers. SPLIT
#10 Denver @ #1 Minnesota-Duluth
Last weekend the Pioneers beat the Lake Superior Lakers and the Air Force Falcons in Denver and the Bulldogs enjoyed a free Thanksgiving weekend.
This is the big series of the weekend, the top two teams in the league going at it in the last series to be played at the DECC. I’m sure the Bulldogs want to send their old building out in style, but the Pioneers have other plans, they want to walk out of Duluth leading the WCHA standings. The Bulldogs really like to play hockey, that’s why they have played OT in six league games this season. The Bulldogs have had an easy schedule this season, and they have a favorable schedule after Christmas too. Also the Bulldogs have only beaten BSU and UAA in WCHA regulation time, all the other league wins were in overtime. The Pioneers are currently riding a six game winning streak, all of which were home games. I got a feeling the Bulldogs luck might be on thin ice this weekend. Pioneers 3-points
WCHA standings
TEAM……………...W-L-T...Pts
1. Minnesota-Duluth....8-1-1…17
2. Denver……………...7-2-1…15
3. North Dakota………7-3-0…14
4. Nebraska-Omaha…6-1-1…13
5. Minnesota…………..5-4-1…11
6. Wisconsin…………..3-5-2…8
7. St. Cloud State….....3-4-1…7
7. Alaska-Anchorage...3-6-1…7
9. Minnesota State…...2-6-2…6
9. Colorado College…..3-5-0…6
11. Bemidji State……….2-7-1…5
12. Michigan Tech……..1-6-1…3
WCHA
#15 Wisconsin @ Alaska Anchorage
Last weekend the Seawolves split with Colorado College in Colorado Springs and the Badgers beat Michigan State and tied Michigan [Edit by Goon]
It’s hard to believe that in the first week of December the Badgers are only one point ahead of the Seawolves in the standings. And that one point separates the top half of the league from the bottom half. UAA has split their last three WCHA series, of course they have all been against other teams in the bottom of the standings. But then again the Badgers are just barely a top half team. This weekend is the start of a six game home stand for the Seawolves (after UW they host DU and CC). Like all teams in the middle of the pack the points are very precious, especially closing in on Christmas break. I like what the Badgers did last weekend against the CCHA teams, but UAA is always tough at home, plus it’s a long road trip for visitors. SPLIT
Colorado College @ Michigan Tech
Last weekend the Tigers split with the Seawolves in Colorado Springs and the MTU Huskies enjoyed having the Thanksgiving weekend off.
Both teams are scoring about 3goals/game in league play, up to this point. The Tigers have already beaten the Seawolves once, 4-3, back in October at the Alaska Gold Rush Tournament. A sweep for either team would go a long way in the standings, CC could even its league record and MTU would most likely move out of the basement. I’m going to take the easy way out in this prediction. SPLIT
St. Cloud State @ #7 North Dakota
Last weekend the Sioux beat and tied Notre Dame and the Huskies enjoyed a long holiday weekend rest.
Will this be the weekend the Sioux get their revenge on SCSU for the Genoway incident last year? I was at last year’s game in St. Cloud when Lamoureux was going to fight with Marvin, but the refs jumped in and stopped it before it started. (The Sioux won that game, putting up a snowman, 8-goals). I’m guessing the Sioux will say they just want to win this weekend and get all four points to solidify their spot in the standings. The Huskies have been, well, up and down, to say the least. Since they were picked to finish in the top three in the preseason, it has been no doubt a little disappointing for them so far. UND has been playing consistently well the last month and show no signs of letting up. SIOUX Sweep
#4 Nebraska-Omaha @ Bemidji State
Last weekend the Beavers split with the Northern Michigan Wildcats in Bemidji and the UNO Mavericks enjoyed the weekend off by eating some turkey.
Here we have the two new WCHA members playing each other for the first time. These teams are off to vastly different starts in the league. UNO one of the best records in the league and the Beavers are two points out of the basement. A win by the Beavers would help them not only with points, but show their new counterpart (and the rest of the league), they aren’t going to roll over and play dead. UNO 3-points
#17 Minnesota @ Minnesota State
Last weekend the Mavericks swept Umass-Lowell in Lowell and the Gophers lost to Michigan State and beat Michigan in Minneapolis.
This series has turned into a good rivalry the past few years, especially after their playoff match up back in 2008. The Mavericks need to get some more points before Christmas break if they want to stay in the hunt for a top half finish. The Gophers also need to get some wins before semester break to keep them planted in the top half of the league. The Gophers have been far better on the road than at home, to this point in the season, and the Maroon & Gold faithful are hoping that trend holds up this weekend in Mankato. The Mavericks will look to build on last weekend’s success in Massachusetts and carry that moment into this weekend’s tilts with the Gophers. SPLIT
#10 Denver @ #1 Minnesota-Duluth
Last weekend the Pioneers beat the Lake Superior Lakers and the Air Force Falcons in Denver and the Bulldogs enjoyed a free Thanksgiving weekend.
This is the big series of the weekend, the top two teams in the league going at it in the last series to be played at the DECC. I’m sure the Bulldogs want to send their old building out in style, but the Pioneers have other plans, they want to walk out of Duluth leading the WCHA standings. The Bulldogs really like to play hockey, that’s why they have played OT in six league games this season. The Bulldogs have had an easy schedule this season, and they have a favorable schedule after Christmas too. Also the Bulldogs have only beaten BSU and UAA in WCHA regulation time, all the other league wins were in overtime. The Pioneers are currently riding a six game winning streak, all of which were home games. I got a feeling the Bulldogs luck might be on thin ice this weekend. Pioneers 3-points
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
A little historical review of the UND and SCSU hockey series...
This weekend is a rivalry game between two teams that don’t like each other, I think it might be safe to say that both teams hate each other, a lot. The elephant in the room that no one has mentioned very much or at all this week; will there be a repeat of the series that took place last February between the Sioux and the Huskies. This is also the first game that Chay Genoway will be on the same sheet of ice as Aaron Marvin the player that took him out with an illegal and dirty hit.
I don’t think UND is going to try and seek revenge, unless someone from the SCSU hockey team takes a run at one of UND’s players, or if the game gets out of hand either way, then the players on the ice start looking for a pound of flesh. All I can say is set your DVR, just in case… I also wonder if SCSU hockey coach Moztko will keep Marvin on the SCSU players bench if things get rough.
In case you forgot...
Ben Blood hits Aaron Marvin. [Click to view video]
This video proves that you can get a suspension for thinking about a fight. [click to view video]
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Why not have a western college hockey super conference?
Brad Schlossman has an intriguing article about a conversation that took place during the Sioux Boosters luncheon last Friday, during the Notre Dame and UND hockey series. When asked about the impending Big Ten Hockey Conference farce, one of the suggestions offered by Notre Dame head hockey coach Jeff Jackson was the prospects of having a western college hockey super conference with the Big Ten Schools making up one of the divisions.
North Division
Mankato
Duluth
Bemidji State
St. Cloud State
Northern Michigan
Michigan Tech
Western Division
Fairbanks
Anchorage
Colorado College
Denver
Omaha
North Dakota
Big Ten Division
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan State
Penn State
Great Lakes Division
Notre Dame
Miami
Lake Superior
Bowling Green
Western Michigan
Ferris State
Also listen to the Paul Kelly and Tim Hennesy discussion that took place during the ND and UND hockey game last Friday night. [click to listen to the interview]
University of North Dakota Hockey ---- On Friday afternoon, Notre Dame coach Jeff Jackson spoke at a booster luncheon in Grand Forks. One fan in attendance asked Jackson for his thoughts on the looming Big Ten Hockey Conference and Jackson talked at length on the subject.I also came up with my own suggestion for division alignment. Personally, I would keep Colorado College, Denver and UND in the same division.
His first comment was that everybody needs to slow down. This is still three or four years away from happening.
His second comment was that he thinks college hockey’s power brokers need to sit down and talk this over and figure out what’s best for the sport. He said the Big Ten absolutely has the right to form the league, but it might not be in the sport’s best interest — or even in the best interest of the Big Ten schools. Is a six-team league any good?
The most interesting idea he mentioned — one that I hadn’t heard before — is that the WCHA and CCHA could join forces, more-or-less combine the leagues, and run like the NHL does with divisions.
Jackson said that you could have a Big Ten Division, which would still allow those schools to get their wish of playing each other twice a season. It also would give them extra conference games, which would make their non-conference scheduling easier.
North Division
Mankato
Duluth
Bemidji State
St. Cloud State
Northern Michigan
Michigan Tech
Western Division
Fairbanks
Anchorage
Colorado College
Denver
Omaha
North Dakota
Big Ten Division
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan State
Penn State
Great Lakes Division
Notre Dame
Miami
Lake Superior
Bowling Green
Western Michigan
Ferris State
Also listen to the Paul Kelly and Tim Hennesy discussion that took place during the ND and UND hockey game last Friday night. [click to listen to the interview]
Bruins trade a Wolverine for a Terrier.
BOSTON, MA – Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that Boston has acquired defenseman Colby Cohen from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Matt Hunwick. Cohen will report to Boston’s minor league affiliate in Providence (American Hockey League).
The 21-year-old Cohen made his NHL debut earlier this season for the Avalanche on November 6 and has skated in three games for the Avs this year. He also registered one goal and 12 penalty minutes in 14 games for Colorado’s minor league affiliate in Lake Erie this season. 2010-11 marks Cohen’s first full professional season after playing three games for Lake Erie at the end of last year.
Cohen skated at Boston University for three seasons from 2007-10 and helped lead the Terriers to the NCAA National Championship in 2009. For his career at BU, the 6’2’’, 200-pound blueliner recorded 25-53=78 totals in 118 Games
Monday, November 29, 2010
John Scott vs Kevin Westgarth
s/t to the Hockey Wilderness I was over on the Hockey Wilderness checking out the score of the Wild game when I saw this hockey fight. Holy Cow! Talk about a beat down... I don't know why anyone would subject themselves to that type of a beating? The former Michigan Tech bad boy John Scott has found himself a niche in the NHL and he worked Westgarth like a clown.
Poll Time
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[November 29, 2010]
1 Minnesota-Duluth 11-1-2
2 Boston University 7-1-5
2 Yale 8-1-0
4 Nebraska-Omaha 9-2-1
5 New Hampshire 7-2-4
6 Miami 9-4-3
7 North Dakota 9-5-2
8 Boston College 9-5-0
9 Maine 6-3-3
10 Denver 10-4-2
11 Michigan 8-4-4
12 Notre Dame 9-4-2
13 Union 7-2-3
14 Alaska 8-5-3
15 Wisconsin 7-6-3
16 Rensselaer 7-3-3
17 Minnesota 8-5-1
18 Merrimack 5-3-4 178 18
19 Western Michigan 7-4-3
20 Ferris State 7-5-3
Others Receiving Votes: Dartmouth 21, Brown 15, Robert Morris 8, Clarkson 2, Niagara 2, Colorado College 1, Michigan State 1
------------------
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll
[November 29, 2010]
1 University of Minnesota Duluth 11-1-2
2 Yale University 8-1-0
3 Boston University 7-1-5
4 University of Nebraska Omaha 9-2-1
5 University of New Hampshire 7-2-4
6 Miami University 9-4-3
7 University of North Dakota 9-5-2
8 Boston College 9-5-0
9 University of Maine 6-3-3
10 University of Denver 10-4-2
11 University of Michigan 8-4-4
12 University of Notre Dame 9-4-2
13 Union College 7-2-3
14 University of Alaska 8-5-3
15 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 7-3-3
Others receiving votes: University of Wisconsin 17, Merrimack College 13, University of Minnesota 13, Dartmouth College 1, Robert Morris University 1.
[November 29, 2010]
1 Minnesota-Duluth 11-1-2
2 Boston University 7-1-5
2 Yale 8-1-0
4 Nebraska-Omaha 9-2-1
5 New Hampshire 7-2-4
6 Miami 9-4-3
7 North Dakota 9-5-2
8 Boston College 9-5-0
9 Maine 6-3-3
10 Denver 10-4-2
11 Michigan 8-4-4
12 Notre Dame 9-4-2
13 Union 7-2-3
14 Alaska 8-5-3
15 Wisconsin 7-6-3
16 Rensselaer 7-3-3
17 Minnesota 8-5-1
18 Merrimack 5-3-4 178 18
19 Western Michigan 7-4-3
20 Ferris State 7-5-3
Others Receiving Votes: Dartmouth 21, Brown 15, Robert Morris 8, Clarkson 2, Niagara 2, Colorado College 1, Michigan State 1
------------------
USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll
[November 29, 2010]
1 University of Minnesota Duluth 11-1-2
2 Yale University 8-1-0
3 Boston University 7-1-5
4 University of Nebraska Omaha 9-2-1
5 University of New Hampshire 7-2-4
6 Miami University 9-4-3
7 University of North Dakota 9-5-2
8 Boston College 9-5-0
9 University of Maine 6-3-3
10 University of Denver 10-4-2
11 University of Michigan 8-4-4
12 University of Notre Dame 9-4-2
13 Union College 7-2-3
14 University of Alaska 8-5-3
15 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 7-3-3
Others receiving votes: University of Wisconsin 17, Merrimack College 13, University of Minnesota 13, Dartmouth College 1, Robert Morris University 1.
INCH Power Rankings
As always I include the INCH Power Ranking for a good laugh.
1. Minnesota Duluth
2. Yale
3. Nebraska-Omaha
4. Boston University
5. Maine
6. North Dakota - After a win and tie against Notre Dame at Engelstad Arena, the Sioux are still looking for their first home sweep of the season. With 10 of their next 15 at home, they’ll have plenty of opportunities. 9-5-2 (7-3-0 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Notre Dame, 6-3; T vs. Notre Dame, 2-2 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. St. Cloud State, vs. St. Cloud State
7. New Hampshire
8. Union
9. Miami
10. Michigan
11. Denver
12. Notre Dame
13. Boston College
14. Alaska
15. Wisconsin
16. Rensselaer
17. Merrimack
18. Ferris State
19. Minnesota
20. Western Michigan
Dropped out: None
Bubble-licious: Brown, Dartmouth, Robert Morris
1. Minnesota Duluth
2. Yale
3. Nebraska-Omaha
4. Boston University
5. Maine
6. North Dakota - After a win and tie against Notre Dame at Engelstad Arena, the Sioux are still looking for their first home sweep of the season. With 10 of their next 15 at home, they’ll have plenty of opportunities. 9-5-2 (7-3-0 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W vs. Notre Dame, 6-3; T vs. Notre Dame, 2-2 ot. THIS WEEK: vs. St. Cloud State, vs. St. Cloud State
7. New Hampshire
8. Union
9. Miami
10. Michigan
11. Denver
12. Notre Dame
13. Boston College
14. Alaska
15. Wisconsin
16. Rensselaer
17. Merrimack
18. Ferris State
19. Minnesota
20. Western Michigan
Dropped out: None
Bubble-licious: Brown, Dartmouth, Robert Morris
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Game tying goal by Notre Dame
Here is example number two of buffoonery in motion, “a gong show in stripes.” Now you know why the fans in the WCHA are upset with the quality of the officials in the WCHA. The only constant is that officials are bad on a consistent level. Most of these clowns aren't fit to ref an old timers league.
A few weeks back the Fighting Sioux had a goal disallowed because a Sioux player’s skate was in the crease. In this instance, the whole Notre Dame player is in the crease and interfering with the goaltender, yet this goal is allowed to stand. This latest gaffe by Todd Anderson and Tom Sterns was costly to the Sioux because it cost the Sioux a sweep this weekend. It is my opinion that Todd Anderson is not fit to ref in the WCHA and he needs to be fired.
This last video you see the call on Malone which was weak, whatever, I really don’t have a problem with that call... Like I said the refs were bad in all three zones of the ice all weekend long, so at least they are consistently bad... However, the thing that I think is unprofessional is that while the captain Chay Genoway is getting the explanation from Todd Anderson, you can see Anderson dropping f’ bombs left and right… You can tell that Anderson is upset, then Anderson grabs at Genoway while he is ready to head back to the players bench to relay the message, you can tell by his expression that he he has smelled enough bravo sierra.
The Frattin goal that wasn't
In my opinion that was a good legit goal and should have counted on the score board, again a WCHA official makes another bad call. Even if the puck had hit Frattin’s foot like they claimed it should have counted because there was not a distinct kicking motion. If you watch the video you will see that puck went off of the Notre Dame Player’s skate.
College Hockey scores from 11/27/2010
Saturday, November 27
Alab-Huntsville 6 vs Connecticut 2
Minnesota State 3 at UMass Lowell 2
Clarkson 2 vs Lake Superior 1
Brown 4 at Boston University 4 OT
Bowling Green 2 at Rensselaer 3 OT
Harvard 2 at Dartmouth 5
Merrimack 1 at New Hampshire 2
Quinnipiac 2 at Massachusetts 5
American Int'l 3 at Mercyhurst 0
Canisius 2 at Bentley 3
Niagara 1 at Army 4
Sacred Heart 3 at RIT 3 OT
Alaska Anchorage 0 at Colorado College 2
Air Force 1 at Denver 3
Notre Dame 2 at North Dakota 2 OT
Northern Michigan 0 at Bemidji State 3
Cornell 4 vs Colgate 3
Miami 5 at Western Michigan 1
Alaska 5 at Ohio State 2
Michigan State 1 at Wisconsin 4
Alab-Huntsville 6 vs Connecticut 2
Minnesota State 3 at UMass Lowell 2
Clarkson 2 vs Lake Superior 1
Brown 4 at Boston University 4 OT
Bowling Green 2 at Rensselaer 3 OT
Harvard 2 at Dartmouth 5
Merrimack 1 at New Hampshire 2
Quinnipiac 2 at Massachusetts 5
American Int'l 3 at Mercyhurst 0
Canisius 2 at Bentley 3
Niagara 1 at Army 4
Sacred Heart 3 at RIT 3 OT
Alaska Anchorage 0 at Colorado College 2
Air Force 1 at Denver 3
Notre Dame 2 at North Dakota 2 OT
Northern Michigan 0 at Bemidji State 3
Cornell 4 vs Colgate 3
Miami 5 at Western Michigan 1
Alaska 5 at Ohio State 2
Michigan State 1 at Wisconsin 4
Sioux 2 - Irish 2
Hockey is a game of inches and it’s about cashing in on your opportunities at the right time. In the closing seconds of the overtime period Matt Frattin just missed ending the game when he clanged a shot off of the crossbar. I also thought the game tying goal should have been disallowed because it appeared that the Dell was interfered with on the scramble in front of the net.
After watching a game full of high light goals on Friday night, last night’s game proved to be more of a tight checking game. The Sioux for the most part controlled the play but the Fighting Irish were better after taken to the wood shed the night before.
In only the third series of the season at the Ralph Engelstad Arena the Sioux miss getting another sweep and end up with a tie giving the Sioux a 3-2-1 at home after six games, that record isn’t going to win any championships. Honestly I will take 9-5-2 record before December. The Fighting Sioux ended the month of November with a 5-2-1 record, not too shabby considering who they played.
The Fighting Sioux seem to have trouble closing out opponents coming off a 6-3 win against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Friday night, the Sioux played in a much closer, tight checking game on Saturday night. I wonder sometimes if UND wins with ease one night comes out the next night and isn’t prepared for a team that has obviously made adjustments defensively?
Turnovers prove costly
The Sioux continue to be plagued by untimely turnovers in all three zones of the ice. The Sioux are an aggressive team with the puck. The Fighting Sioux cycle the puck well and move it effectively through all three zones of the ice. The Sioux also are very good at activating the defense and jumping up in the rush when the opportunity allows it. That being said, the Sioux forwards and defense are also very sloppy at times with the puck and when the fail to get pucks deep this leads to a lot of odd man rushes and turnovers going to the other way.
I told a friend of mine last night that some of the reasons the goalies stats this season aren’t as good as they could be is because of bad turnovers that have proven to be costly. You can’t keep turning the game over and leaving the goalie exposed at key times in games.
I can think of a few of these bad turnovers that led to offensive opportunities right now off of the top of my head; the UMD game in overtime that led to a game winning goal on a break away, the DU game where Denver’s all WCHA defenseman Matt Donovan took a loose puck and skated past the entire UND team and scored without even being challenged and even the breakaway on Dell Friday night that fortunately ended with a awesome save. Last night, UND is attacking in the final seconds of the game and the puck get transitioned back up ice and the Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell had to make a game saving save just to preserve the tie. You’re not going to win a national title if you can’t fix this problem.
If you play ranked teams on a weekly basis and you turn the puck over repeatedly the puck is going to get buried in the twine. Think about this, the Sioux have played sixteen games and thirteen of these games have been against teams ranked in the top twenty. They haven’t played the weak sisters of the poor. That is like playing in the NCAA tourney on a weekly basis, getting the nations best players nightly.
Links to the game
PCM - USCHO
South Bend Tribune
Grand Forks Herald
Sioux Beat Writer blog
Goon’s Three Stars of the Game
1.) Aaron Dell UND
2.) Matt Frattin UND
3.) Mike Johnson ND
[Official Box Score]
---------------
1st Period (20:00)
---------------
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Elbowing) NDM 0x1 1:32
NDM-1 Stephen Johns (2-Tripping) NDK 0x1 10:59
---------------
2nd Period (20:00)
---------------
NDM-2 Ben Ryan (2-Boarding) NDK 0x2 7:31
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 Derek Rodwell (4) (Derek Forbort, Mario Lamoureux) 10:42
NDK (+): 11,4,9,27,3,G32 NDM (-): 11,29,33,18,21,G32
NDM-3 Jeff Costello (2-Roughing) NDK 0x3 13:21
NDM 1 - 1 5x6 SH T. J. Tynan (8) (Riley Sheahan) 14:57
NDM (+): 18,4,24,29,G32 NDK (-): 10,8,17,5,25,G32
NDM-4 Anders Lee (2-Hooking) NDK 0x4 16:03
NDM-5 Stephen Johns (2-Roughing) NDK 1x5 20:00
---------------
3rd Period (20:00)
---------------
NDK 2 - 1 6x5 PP Matt Frattin (13) (Chay Genoway) 1:31
NDK: 21,5,22,7,19,G32 NDM: 29,33,18,4,G32
NDK-2 Chay Genoway (2-Interference) NDM 0x2 5:26
NDK-3 Brad Malone (2-High-Sticking) NDM 0x3 13:06
NDM 2 - 2 6x6 GT Sam Calabrese (1) (T. J. Tynan, Jeff Costello) 16:57
NDM (+): 8,18,11,21,24,G32 NDK (-): 5,2,21,22,19,G32
NDM-6 Joe Lavin (2-Holding) NDK 1x6 19:57
---------------
Overtime (5:00)
---------------
NDM-7 Sam Calabrese (2-Tripping) NDK 1x7 4:23
Timeout - North Dakota 4:23
---------------
End of Game
After watching a game full of high light goals on Friday night, last night’s game proved to be more of a tight checking game. The Sioux for the most part controlled the play but the Fighting Irish were better after taken to the wood shed the night before.
In only the third series of the season at the Ralph Engelstad Arena the Sioux miss getting another sweep and end up with a tie giving the Sioux a 3-2-1 at home after six games, that record isn’t going to win any championships. Honestly I will take 9-5-2 record before December. The Fighting Sioux ended the month of November with a 5-2-1 record, not too shabby considering who they played.
The Fighting Sioux seem to have trouble closing out opponents coming off a 6-3 win against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Friday night, the Sioux played in a much closer, tight checking game on Saturday night. I wonder sometimes if UND wins with ease one night comes out the next night and isn’t prepared for a team that has obviously made adjustments defensively?
Turnovers prove costly
The Sioux continue to be plagued by untimely turnovers in all three zones of the ice. The Sioux are an aggressive team with the puck. The Fighting Sioux cycle the puck well and move it effectively through all three zones of the ice. The Sioux also are very good at activating the defense and jumping up in the rush when the opportunity allows it. That being said, the Sioux forwards and defense are also very sloppy at times with the puck and when the fail to get pucks deep this leads to a lot of odd man rushes and turnovers going to the other way.
I told a friend of mine last night that some of the reasons the goalies stats this season aren’t as good as they could be is because of bad turnovers that have proven to be costly. You can’t keep turning the game over and leaving the goalie exposed at key times in games.
I can think of a few of these bad turnovers that led to offensive opportunities right now off of the top of my head; the UMD game in overtime that led to a game winning goal on a break away, the DU game where Denver’s all WCHA defenseman Matt Donovan took a loose puck and skated past the entire UND team and scored without even being challenged and even the breakaway on Dell Friday night that fortunately ended with a awesome save. Last night, UND is attacking in the final seconds of the game and the puck get transitioned back up ice and the Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell had to make a game saving save just to preserve the tie. You’re not going to win a national title if you can’t fix this problem.
If you play ranked teams on a weekly basis and you turn the puck over repeatedly the puck is going to get buried in the twine. Think about this, the Sioux have played sixteen games and thirteen of these games have been against teams ranked in the top twenty. They haven’t played the weak sisters of the poor. That is like playing in the NCAA tourney on a weekly basis, getting the nations best players nightly.
Links to the game
PCM - USCHO
South Bend Tribune
Grand Forks Herald
Sioux Beat Writer blog
Goon’s Three Stars of the Game
1.) Aaron Dell UND
2.) Matt Frattin UND
3.) Mike Johnson ND
[Official Box Score]
---------------
1st Period (20:00)
---------------
NDK-1 Brad Malone (2-Elbowing) NDM 0x1 1:32
NDM-1 Stephen Johns (2-Tripping) NDK 0x1 10:59
---------------
2nd Period (20:00)
---------------
NDM-2 Ben Ryan (2-Boarding) NDK 0x2 7:31
NDK 1 - 0 6x6 Derek Rodwell (4) (Derek Forbort, Mario Lamoureux) 10:42
NDK (+): 11,4,9,27,3,G32 NDM (-): 11,29,33,18,21,G32
NDM-3 Jeff Costello (2-Roughing) NDK 0x3 13:21
NDM 1 - 1 5x6 SH T. J. Tynan (8) (Riley Sheahan) 14:57
NDM (+): 18,4,24,29,G32 NDK (-): 10,8,17,5,25,G32
NDM-4 Anders Lee (2-Hooking) NDK 0x4 16:03
NDM-5 Stephen Johns (2-Roughing) NDK 1x5 20:00
---------------
3rd Period (20:00)
---------------
NDK 2 - 1 6x5 PP Matt Frattin (13) (Chay Genoway) 1:31
NDK: 21,5,22,7,19,G32 NDM: 29,33,18,4,G32
NDK-2 Chay Genoway (2-Interference) NDM 0x2 5:26
NDK-3 Brad Malone (2-High-Sticking) NDM 0x3 13:06
NDM 2 - 2 6x6 GT Sam Calabrese (1) (T. J. Tynan, Jeff Costello) 16:57
NDM (+): 8,18,11,21,24,G32 NDK (-): 5,2,21,22,19,G32
NDM-6 Joe Lavin (2-Holding) NDK 1x6 19:57
---------------
Overtime (5:00)
---------------
NDM-7 Sam Calabrese (2-Tripping) NDK 1x7 4:23
Timeout - North Dakota 4:23
---------------
End of Game
Saturday, November 27, 2010
A few things
Here is the updated Strength of Schedule. The WCHA is definitely the conference that has played the toughest schedule.
1. UND - 57.8947
2. Michigan - 43.5655
3. Wisconsin - 41.0998
4. Notre Dame - 39.9010
5. UNO - 39.3268
6. Bemidji State - 37.3694
7. Boston College - 35.4437
8. Lake State - 35.2524
9. Michigan Tech - 33.4595
10. New Hampshire - 32.9689
11. Alaska - 32.8043
12. Boston U ¬- 32.2427
13. Miami - 30.2733
14. Brown - 29.5985
15. Maine - 29.4034
16. Merrimack - 28.7858
17. Dartmouth - 28.6901
18. Duluth - 28.6304
19. Michigan State - 28.6265
20. Colorado College - 28.3283
2010-2011 Inter-Conference Records
AHA 10-25-7 (.321)
CCHA 23-12-8 (.628)
ECAC 6-12-6 (.375)
HEA 10-9-5 (.521)
WCHA 18-14-8 (.550)
UND Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell is getting notice nationally for his play as he is ranked 20th over all in goals against average.
20. Aaron Dell North Dakota, SO 669:38 26 2.33
1. UND - 57.8947
2. Michigan - 43.5655
3. Wisconsin - 41.0998
4. Notre Dame - 39.9010
5. UNO - 39.3268
6. Bemidji State - 37.3694
7. Boston College - 35.4437
8. Lake State - 35.2524
9. Michigan Tech - 33.4595
10. New Hampshire - 32.9689
11. Alaska - 32.8043
12. Boston U ¬- 32.2427
13. Miami - 30.2733
14. Brown - 29.5985
15. Maine - 29.4034
16. Merrimack - 28.7858
17. Dartmouth - 28.6901
18. Duluth - 28.6304
19. Michigan State - 28.6265
20. Colorado College - 28.3283
2010-2011 Inter-Conference Records
AHA 10-25-7 (.321)
CCHA 23-12-8 (.628)
ECAC 6-12-6 (.375)
HEA 10-9-5 (.521)
WCHA 18-14-8 (.550)
UND Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell is getting notice nationally for his play as he is ranked 20th over all in goals against average.
20. Aaron Dell North Dakota, SO 669:38 26 2.33
College Hockey scores from 11/26/2010
Friday, November 26
Alaska 3 at Ohio State 3 OT
Boston College 3 at Merrimack 5
Alab-Huntsville 1 vs Bowling Green 5
Clarkson 1 vs Air Force 2
Connecticut 5 at Rensselaer 6
Dartmouth 8 at Harvard 2
Minnesota State 8 at UMass Lowell 3
American Int'l 5 at Mercyhurst 2
Niagara 4 at Army 1
Northeastern 2 at Vermont 2 OT
Sacred Heart 1 at RIT 6
Michigan 4 at Wisconsin 4 OT
Michigan State 5 at Minnesota 2
Miami 2 at Western Michigan 5
Lake Superior 3 at Denver 6
Alaska Anchorage 4 at Colorado College 3 OT
Notre Dame 3 at North Dakota 6
Northern Michigan 4 at Bemidji State 0
Analysis – The WCHA went 2-2-1 in non conference play against the CCHA last night.
Northern Michigan University 4 Bemidji State University 0 – NMU goalie Reid Ellingson stopped 37 shots in a shutout win against the home standing BSU Beavers. It was the first shutout of the season for the junior goalie. [BSU Beat Writer Blog]
North Dakota 6 Notre Dame 3 – Junior forward Jason Gregoire had two goals and an assist, to pace the Sioux to an impressive 6-3 non conference win. Also noteworthy; sophomore forward Corbin Knight had a strong night chipping in a goal and an assist. Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell probably solidified his grasp on the starting position as he continued his solid play between the pipes. The sophomore goalie stopped 24 of 27 shots and also stoned Notre Dame forward Ben Ryan on a breakaway in the second period. With the win Aaron Dell improved his record to 8-4-0 on the season. [UND beat writer blog]- [South Bend Tribune]
Alaska Anchorage 4 Colorado College 3 OT – Alaska Anchorage forward Tommy Grant scored his fourth goal of the season at the 3:50 mark of overtime to pace the Seawolves to a conference win against the Colorado College Tigers in the Colorado Springs. With the win the Seawolves vaulted into a tie with the SCSU Tigers for 7th place in the WCHA.
Denver University 6 Lake Superior State University 3 – The Denver Pioneers won their 5th game in a row in front of a half empty building as the Denver University students are out on Christmas break until after the first of the year. Sophomore center Drew Shore had three goals and an assist to pace the Pioneers to the win against the CCHA foe. Check out this work from the Denver Post. If I was the coach of the Denver Pioneers I would call the Denver Post and ask that Terry Frei not cover the Pioneers again. Check it out.
Michigan 4 Wisconsin 4 OT – The Wisconsin Badgers come from behind to tie the Michigan Wolverines 4-4 in the Kohl Center. With the Tie the Badgers stop a 0-4-0 streak. With the tie last night the Wisconsin Badgers have not won a game in overtime since 2007, breaking it down further that means that the Wisconsin Badgers are now 0-8-18 in extra hockey since 2007. Sixty Minutes, No Alibis, No Regrets has covered this subject extensively. Badgers goalie Brett Bennett stopped 28 shots in net securing the tie for the Badgers. The Wisconsin Badgers have been 9-6-1 in the college hockey show case under Mike Eaves. The Badgers opted out of the college hockey show case to play more non conference games against Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. [Wisconsin beat writer] - [Game Story]
Alaska 3 at Ohio State 3 OT
Boston College 3 at Merrimack 5
Alab-Huntsville 1 vs Bowling Green 5
Clarkson 1 vs Air Force 2
Connecticut 5 at Rensselaer 6
Dartmouth 8 at Harvard 2
Minnesota State 8 at UMass Lowell 3
American Int'l 5 at Mercyhurst 2
Niagara 4 at Army 1
Northeastern 2 at Vermont 2 OT
Sacred Heart 1 at RIT 6
Michigan 4 at Wisconsin 4 OT
Michigan State 5 at Minnesota 2
Miami 2 at Western Michigan 5
Lake Superior 3 at Denver 6
Alaska Anchorage 4 at Colorado College 3 OT
Notre Dame 3 at North Dakota 6
Northern Michigan 4 at Bemidji State 0
Analysis – The WCHA went 2-2-1 in non conference play against the CCHA last night.
Northern Michigan University 4 Bemidji State University 0 – NMU goalie Reid Ellingson stopped 37 shots in a shutout win against the home standing BSU Beavers. It was the first shutout of the season for the junior goalie. [BSU Beat Writer Blog]
North Dakota 6 Notre Dame 3 – Junior forward Jason Gregoire had two goals and an assist, to pace the Sioux to an impressive 6-3 non conference win. Also noteworthy; sophomore forward Corbin Knight had a strong night chipping in a goal and an assist. Fighting Sioux goalie Aaron Dell probably solidified his grasp on the starting position as he continued his solid play between the pipes. The sophomore goalie stopped 24 of 27 shots and also stoned Notre Dame forward Ben Ryan on a breakaway in the second period. With the win Aaron Dell improved his record to 8-4-0 on the season. [UND beat writer blog]- [South Bend Tribune]
Alaska Anchorage 4 Colorado College 3 OT – Alaska Anchorage forward Tommy Grant scored his fourth goal of the season at the 3:50 mark of overtime to pace the Seawolves to a conference win against the Colorado College Tigers in the Colorado Springs. With the win the Seawolves vaulted into a tie with the SCSU Tigers for 7th place in the WCHA.
Denver University 6 Lake Superior State University 3 – The Denver Pioneers won their 5th game in a row in front of a half empty building as the Denver University students are out on Christmas break until after the first of the year. Sophomore center Drew Shore had three goals and an assist to pace the Pioneers to the win against the CCHA foe. Check out this work from the Denver Post. If I was the coach of the Denver Pioneers I would call the Denver Post and ask that Terry Frei not cover the Pioneers again. Check it out.
With the University of Denver students out of school until after the New Year, Magness Arena on Friday was perhaps half-filled for the first night of the Denver Cup Classic and much more subdued than usual for Pioneer hockey.Michigan State 5 Minnesota 2 – The Minnesota not so Golden Gophers were unimpressive in their final College Hockey Show Case game against Michigan State University. With the win the Michigan State University Spartans broke an unimpressive 0-4-5 skid against the Gophers in the College Hockey Show Case. Kent Patterson started in net for the Gophers gave up three goals and then he was replaced by senior goalie Alex Kangas. The Gophers play the Michigan Wolverines on Sunday night. The game will be on BTN. [Goal Gophers] - [Gopher Puck Live]
Amid the relatively quiet atmosphere, center Drew Shore had three goals and an assist and much-touted freshman winger Beau Bennett had a goal and an assist as the Pioneers stretched their winning streak to five games with a lackluster 6-3 victory over Lake Superior State of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. [read the whole article here]
Michigan 4 Wisconsin 4 OT – The Wisconsin Badgers come from behind to tie the Michigan Wolverines 4-4 in the Kohl Center. With the Tie the Badgers stop a 0-4-0 streak. With the tie last night the Wisconsin Badgers have not won a game in overtime since 2007, breaking it down further that means that the Wisconsin Badgers are now 0-8-18 in extra hockey since 2007. Sixty Minutes, No Alibis, No Regrets has covered this subject extensively. Badgers goalie Brett Bennett stopped 28 shots in net securing the tie for the Badgers. The Wisconsin Badgers have been 9-6-1 in the college hockey show case under Mike Eaves. The Badgers opted out of the college hockey show case to play more non conference games against Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State. [Wisconsin beat writer] - [Game Story]
Friday, November 26, 2010
Fighting Irish 3, Fighting Sioux 6
Wow. We put a shelacking on the Fighting Irish tonight. For a minute there, I thought I was watching Notre Dame playing Auburn or Oregon in football.... Ok, so it wasn't THAT much of a blowout. I also don't think Notre Dame was that embarrassing on the ice tonight.
The Key
The key to tonight's win wasn't what UND Color Analyst Jim Scanlon said. Yes, it was nice that UND got to the rebounds on those 2nd and 3rd chances on goal, but it wasn't the reason why we won. We won because our defense was just overwhelming for most of the game. True, it wasn't the type of dominance that UND fans saw vs. UW, but it was still stifling at times... especially in the first period. The key was we were always in the passing lane. I hate to say this but: We beat Notre Dame the same way that so many of our opponents had beaten us. We got in the passing lanes, we controlled the puck in the neutral zone, we didn't commit too many bad turnovers (just 1 or 2 that resulted in goals... Guentzel's goal being the most egregious), and we were pretty well disciplined. Dell had a decent night as well.
The Offense
Sometimes the best offense is a good defense. But for Cichy, Gregoire, Frattin, Knight, Genoway, and even Kristo, it was pretty good. Kristo was once again denied an entry on the goal scoresheet but he did garner points. Anyone else think that it is amusing to see Sioux fans complain about Kristo's selfishness with the puck yet Kristo only has 1 goal and what... 4 assists? Then again, I'm not all that concerned about his selfishness. I just wish he'd bury the puck more.
Anyways, Gregoire was amazing. Frattin scored a goal tonight... yeah it was waved off as a nod of the head to Jackson. Look folks, there was no direct kicking action. But hey, the rules have changed since former Gopher (turned NHL bust) Kris Chucko made a living kicking in pucks. So, whatever.
Speaking of turnovers, I was confused on the Guentzel goal. Guentzel intercepts a pass from a Sioux player coming off the boards, or so it appears. The pass is credited to LaPoint but LaPoint isn't the player on the boards. Did LaPoint pass the puck to this Sioux player (I assume it was either his defensive partner or the left wing at the time), the puck hit off of the Sioux player's skate or stick and bounce right to Guentzel or what?
I might've not been able to track the puck very well (webcast was blurry on my computer), but I don't think LaPoint's pass went right to Guentzel. Oh well. Hopefully I can find a replay somewhere. And, for the record, I don't like the delayed penalty goal and subsequent powerplay rule. I think it's dumb.
The Defense
LaPoint had an up and down game but otherwise, I think the D did well. Forbort's illness is frustrating but Simpson's not exactly giving anyone cause to be too concerned about it. I guess, I wonder why Bruneteau isn't playing so well in practice such that Gleason is beating him out for the slot. I guess it doesn't matter. Gleason played well tonight too.
ANYWAYS, Marto showed his worth today. He was great with the puck. Genoway was Kristo-esque (to give credence to the Kristo detractors) for half of the game. He got lucky with one shot but man... it seemed like he didn't care to pass the puck for most of the night... WAIT! I don't care. He saw a shooting lane and he took it. There's never anything wrong with that. And besides, if I criticize Genoway too much I might get a nasty comment how I should spend more time throwing LaPoint under the bus and less time trying to torpedo a great, superhuman, all around great guy like Genoway.
Concerns:
Well, if we play tomorrow like we did tonight, we should be OK. However, we've not exactly torn it up recently on Saturdays following Friday games where we've scored 5+ goals. This goes double for those instances where it happens against decent or good teams. Notre Dame seemed to be overwhelmed in the first period and then started to come back with a vengeance in the 2nd. Jeff Jackson is too good for his team to come out on Saturday looking similar.
Here are the givens for tomorrow's game:
1. UND will not win by 3 goals
2. Neither team will score more than 4 goals
3. It will be a much tighter game
Overall, I think the officials did alright. And the ARs knew how to call offsides. That's a step up from Omaha.
And whoever it was, a Sioux player (TH thought it was Blood) who told Notre Dame "You are only allowed 5" when Notre Dame got called for Too Many Men earned a gold star.
Redwing77's 3 stars:
First Star: Jason Gregoire
Second Star: Mike Cichy
Third Star: Chay Genoway
I should say that Ben Blood gets an honorable mention because he played great.
The Key
The key to tonight's win wasn't what UND Color Analyst Jim Scanlon said. Yes, it was nice that UND got to the rebounds on those 2nd and 3rd chances on goal, but it wasn't the reason why we won. We won because our defense was just overwhelming for most of the game. True, it wasn't the type of dominance that UND fans saw vs. UW, but it was still stifling at times... especially in the first period. The key was we were always in the passing lane. I hate to say this but: We beat Notre Dame the same way that so many of our opponents had beaten us. We got in the passing lanes, we controlled the puck in the neutral zone, we didn't commit too many bad turnovers (just 1 or 2 that resulted in goals... Guentzel's goal being the most egregious), and we were pretty well disciplined. Dell had a decent night as well.
The Offense
Sometimes the best offense is a good defense. But for Cichy, Gregoire, Frattin, Knight, Genoway, and even Kristo, it was pretty good. Kristo was once again denied an entry on the goal scoresheet but he did garner points. Anyone else think that it is amusing to see Sioux fans complain about Kristo's selfishness with the puck yet Kristo only has 1 goal and what... 4 assists? Then again, I'm not all that concerned about his selfishness. I just wish he'd bury the puck more.
Anyways, Gregoire was amazing. Frattin scored a goal tonight... yeah it was waved off as a nod of the head to Jackson. Look folks, there was no direct kicking action. But hey, the rules have changed since former Gopher (turned NHL bust) Kris Chucko made a living kicking in pucks. So, whatever.
Speaking of turnovers, I was confused on the Guentzel goal. Guentzel intercepts a pass from a Sioux player coming off the boards, or so it appears. The pass is credited to LaPoint but LaPoint isn't the player on the boards. Did LaPoint pass the puck to this Sioux player (I assume it was either his defensive partner or the left wing at the time), the puck hit off of the Sioux player's skate or stick and bounce right to Guentzel or what?
I might've not been able to track the puck very well (webcast was blurry on my computer), but I don't think LaPoint's pass went right to Guentzel. Oh well. Hopefully I can find a replay somewhere. And, for the record, I don't like the delayed penalty goal and subsequent powerplay rule. I think it's dumb.
The Defense
LaPoint had an up and down game but otherwise, I think the D did well. Forbort's illness is frustrating but Simpson's not exactly giving anyone cause to be too concerned about it. I guess, I wonder why Bruneteau isn't playing so well in practice such that Gleason is beating him out for the slot. I guess it doesn't matter. Gleason played well tonight too.
ANYWAYS, Marto showed his worth today. He was great with the puck. Genoway was Kristo-esque (to give credence to the Kristo detractors) for half of the game. He got lucky with one shot but man... it seemed like he didn't care to pass the puck for most of the night... WAIT! I don't care. He saw a shooting lane and he took it. There's never anything wrong with that. And besides, if I criticize Genoway too much I might get a nasty comment how I should spend more time throwing LaPoint under the bus and less time trying to torpedo a great, superhuman, all around great guy like Genoway.
Concerns:
Well, if we play tomorrow like we did tonight, we should be OK. However, we've not exactly torn it up recently on Saturdays following Friday games where we've scored 5+ goals. This goes double for those instances where it happens against decent or good teams. Notre Dame seemed to be overwhelmed in the first period and then started to come back with a vengeance in the 2nd. Jeff Jackson is too good for his team to come out on Saturday looking similar.
Here are the givens for tomorrow's game:
1. UND will not win by 3 goals
2. Neither team will score more than 4 goals
3. It will be a much tighter game
Overall, I think the officials did alright. And the ARs knew how to call offsides. That's a step up from Omaha.
And whoever it was, a Sioux player (TH thought it was Blood) who told Notre Dame "You are only allowed 5" when Notre Dame got called for Too Many Men earned a gold star.
Redwing77's 3 stars:
First Star: Jason Gregoire
Second Star: Mike Cichy
Third Star: Chay Genoway
I should say that Ben Blood gets an honorable mention because he played great.
Will the CCHA be affected by the BTHC?
With this being the last College Hockey Show Case Andy Baggot has another article about the impending Big Ten Hockey Conference. I am really getting the feeling that no one is really looking at what this new league could do to college hockey.
Farce. I am being serious. I think it takes a lot more than fancy platitudes like the one by Rick Comley; “college hockey is going to be fine." How does he know? Has anyone looked at the attendance numbers of the CCHA lately? Their attendance numbers are pathetic. Most of their schools aren’t in the top 20 for attendance except Michigan 8th and Michigan State 12th. Can you imagine a league minus OSU, MSU, and UM?
Many of the schools in the CCHA are located in Michigan which is experiencing harsh economic conditions; the State of Michigan is broke. So if the CCHA takes the marquee schools like Michigan and Michigan State out of the CCHA, what’s the draw for NMU, LSSU, WMU, FSU? There aren’t a lot of fans watching their college hockey games now. Add the other programs of Miami, Alaska, Notre Dame they are barely averaging in the 3000’s.
Here are the average attendance numbers minus the Big Ten schools.
Alaska – 3,192
Miami – 3088
Northern Michigan – 3048
Notre Dame – 2742
Western Michigan – 2742
Lake State – 2245
Bowling Green – 2239
Ferris State – 1586
Will the Western Collegiate Hockey Association hold up without Minnesota and UW?I don’t think the right people are taking a very thorough look before jumping head long into the Big Ten Hockey Conference
Will the Central Collegiate Hockey Association endure without Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State?
"That's the question everyone's asking," Michigan coach Red Berenson said this week before leaving to face UW tonight and Minnesota Saturday night in the final College Hockey Showcase. "Is this good for college hockey?
"If it is, it's a no-brainer. If it's not, if it's going to hurt other programs, then we have to consider that."
UW coach Mike Eaves acknowledged both sides of the coin, but tends to believe an organized Big Ten presence will be a "good projector of college hockey."
The sport has survived a multitude of landscape changes — the advent of Hockey East and the exchange of programs between the WCHA and CCHA to name two — and will do so again.
Heck, if the WCHA can continue to prosper with its backwoods approach to management, it can seemingly withstand anything.
Besides, in terms of priorities, college hockey has a much bigger problem with personnel — only 18 scholarships, recruiting inequities in Canada and the unregulated exodus of underclassmen to the pros — than future realignment.
"Give us coaches a chance," said Michigan State coach Rick Comley, whose two-senior roster is one of those raided annually by NHL teams.
During a recent appearance in Madison, Delany was asked about the advent of Big Ten men's hockey. He implied a league was in the offing, but raised eyebrows by saying it's possible the six schools could maintain residence in the CCHA and WCHA while having their head-to-head series count toward a Big Ten champion.
"Quite frankly, if you're going to get your bang for your buck, make the conference, put it on TV and let's showcase it," Eaves said.
He's right. Bring the Big Ten schools together, let them play their 20-game schedule, let them incorporate their current rivalries into the non-conference mix.
Comley, whose club comes to the Kohl Center on Saturday night, has seen a lot in 38 seasons and 772 wins as a college coach. He has some reassuring words.
"Regardless of what happens," he said, "college hockey is going to be fine." [Read the rest of the story]
Many of the schools in the CCHA are located in Michigan which is experiencing harsh economic conditions; the State of Michigan is broke. So if the CCHA takes the marquee schools like Michigan and Michigan State out of the CCHA, what’s the draw for NMU, LSSU, WMU, FSU? There aren’t a lot of fans watching their college hockey games now. Add the other programs of Miami, Alaska, Notre Dame they are barely averaging in the 3000’s.
Here are the average attendance numbers minus the Big Ten schools.
Alaska – 3,192
Miami – 3088
Northern Michigan – 3048
Notre Dame – 2742
Western Michigan – 2742
Lake State – 2245
Bowling Green – 2239
Ferris State – 1586
Friday Morning pontifications....
#11 Notre Dame
(9-3-1, 7-2-1 ccha) SOS - 47.4478
Versus
#9 North Dakota
(8-5-1, 7-3-0 wcha) SOS - 64.7059
Historical perspective of the Subway Classic
The UND Fighting Sioux have compiled a 10-5-1 record in the Subway Holiday Classic since it started during the 2002-2003 season. Last season their were four teams in the Subway Holiday Classic and the Fighting Sioux beat tOSU 4-1 on Friday night and then tied Miami University 5-5 on Saturday night in a thriller.
During the 2008-2009 season the Fighting Sioux split with Cornell they won 7-3 on Friday night and then lost 2-1 on Saturday night.
During the 2007-2008 season UND split a pair of game with theUniversity of No Hardware University of New Hampshire, the Sioux won on Friday night 3-1 before losing on Saturday night 7-4.
Prediction: I think UND is bound to break out at home and I am going to go out on a limb and agree with Sioux7 and say that the Sioux sweep this weekend.
Here is what the Pundits had to say about this weekend series between the Fighting Sioux and the Fighting Irish.
USCHO said this:
(9-3-1, 7-2-1 ccha) SOS - 47.4478
Versus
#9 North Dakota
(8-5-1, 7-3-0 wcha) SOS - 64.7059
Historical perspective of the Subway Classic
The UND Fighting Sioux have compiled a 10-5-1 record in the Subway Holiday Classic since it started during the 2002-2003 season. Last season their were four teams in the Subway Holiday Classic and the Fighting Sioux beat tOSU 4-1 on Friday night and then tied Miami University 5-5 on Saturday night in a thriller.
During the 2008-2009 season the Fighting Sioux split with Cornell they won 7-3 on Friday night and then lost 2-1 on Saturday night.
During the 2007-2008 season UND split a pair of game with the
Prediction: I think UND is bound to break out at home and I am going to go out on a limb and agree with Sioux7 and say that the Sioux sweep this weekend.
Here is what the Pundits had to say about this weekend series between the Fighting Sioux and the Fighting Irish.
USCHO said this:
No. 11 Notre Dame at No. 9 North Dakota (8–5–1, 7–3–0 WCHA)
Theresa: This could easily be a split since both teams are about even when you look at the big picture (rankings, record-wise, etc.). However, I’m going to go with the league here and say a Sioux sweep.
Tyler: The Fighting Sioux are playing good hockey right now after they won three out of their last four games, all on the road, and nearly escaped Omaha without a loss. The Fighting Irish have three scorers to keep an eye on. Ryan Guentzel, Ben Ryan and T.J. Tynan all have 16 points, but with UND back at home, I’m going to say Sioux sweep.
Notre Dame at North Dakota
Roman: Sixth weekend in row No. 9 Sioux have played ranked opponent. Irish are No. 11 and are visiting Ralph for first time since 1998-99 when they played in old Ralph. Matt Frattin of Sioux is tied for national lead in goals with 12. NoDak split at Nebraska Omaha last weekend. ... NoDak sweeps.
Austin: On paper, about as evenly matched as a series could be and NoDak has a habit of splitting its annual Subway Holiday Claissic. ... Split
[Goal Gophers]
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!!! - Linkorama
Our loveable buffoon from the ECAC has a new poll up – [ECAC blog]
The College Hockey Blog has his Weekly Rankings up - [College Hockey blog]
Delusions of Grandeur talks about the Travis Novak incident and apparently the video of the Saturday game is missing…
Gopher Puck Live previews what might be the last college hockey Show Case. [Gopher Puck Live]
Jesse Martin’s father Terry suffers heart attack... [Denver Post] Our thoughts and prayers go out to Terry Martin.
Two Mercyhurst hockey players charged with sexual assault... [Merciad]
The Code: Hockey's unwritten rules revealed [Down goes Brown]
The Coyotes saga continues; Phoenix Coyotes potential buyer hopes for Dec. deal [The Arizona Republic]
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
So will Notre Dame blink this time?
FortWayne.com ---- Paul Kelly, president of College Hockey Inc., said Tuesday the Big Ten Conference has asked Notre Dame if it's interested in joining a new hockey conference.
"The invitation has been extended," said Kelly, whose year-old company is working with the NCAA to increase the profile of college hockey.
"But as I understand it," he added, "the Big Ten's rule is that if you come in for one sport, you come in for all of them, and NotreDame is interested in keeping its independence in football."
That seems to indicate the Big Ten is not interested in adding satellite members to a new hockey conference.
The last major independent in college football, NotreDame is a member of the Big East for most of its other sports, though the hockey team is a member of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
Kelly also said Tuesday other Big Ten schools are interested in adding Division I college hockey, though it's an expensive proposition. Penn State recently announced its intention to add Division I men's and women's hockey, a move made possible by a record-breaking $88 million donation from a wealthy alumnus.
Minnesota spends a little more than $1.4 million a year to maintain its men's program, and $655,000 on its women's program.
"Adding Division I hockey is a complex issue," Kelly said, "but there are some schools that would be interested in joining a league with the other Big Ten schools and a school like NotreDame."
Big Ten schools Michigan, Michigan State and Ohio State are CCHA members. Penn State athletics director Tim Curley said he would like his team to have a conference affiliation by the 2014-15 season. [another link to the story]
Thanksgiving Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)
Since it is Thanksgiving weekend I think we should all say what we are thankful for. I’ll start. I’m thankful for my family and friends, my job, my health, the Sioux hockey team, and my convertible Mustang (which I look forward driving in the summer). Your turn.
The Bulldogs are on top of this week’s league standings followed by DU, the Sioux, UNO. Last week 5pts separated 5th place from 12th, now 5pts separate 6th place from 12th place. It still looks to be four team UMD, UND, UNO, DU race for the McNaughton Cup, with the UM, UW and SCSU looking make up ground.
WCHA standings
TEAM……………...W-L-T...Pts
1. Minnesota-Duluth....8-1-1…17
2. Denver……………...7-2-1…15
3. North Dakota………7-3-0…14
4. Nebraska-Omaha…6-1-1…13
5. Minnesota…………..5-4-1…11
6. Wisconsin…………..3-5-2…8
7. St. Cloud State….....3-4-1…7
8. Minnesota State…...2-6-2…6
9. Alaska-Anchorage...2-5-1…5
9. Bemidji State……….2-7-1…5
11. Colorado College…..2-4-0…4
12. Michigan Tech……..1-6-1…3
WCHA (overall records)
Alaska Anchorage (2-7-1) @ Colorado College (5-6-1)
Last weekend the Seawolves split with the SCSU Huskies in Anchorage and the Tigers enjoyed the weekend off.
The Tigers can even their WCHA record and get back in the middle of the pack this weekend if they can sweep the Seawolves, if. I wonder if CC is asking the fans to be part of a black out on black Friday? The Seawolves need to a big helping of points this weekend, a pair of wins and they will be stuffed into the middle of the pack too. I think the Tigers will be gracious hosts this Thanksgiving weekend and share the points. SPLIT.
NON-CONFERENCE (overall records)
#11 Notre Dame (9-3-1) @ #9 North Dakota (8-5-1)
Last weekend the Sioux split with the UNO Mavericks in Omaha and the Fighting Irish swept the Michigan State Spartans in South Bend.
First off, why aren’t the Fighting Irish on the NCAAs hit list for nicknames? The Sioux face another ranked team this time around. UND has done well against ranked opponents this year, except for those Maine games. I think the Sioux will be glad to be back home, and will be poor hosts to the Irish Catholics this weekend. SIOUX SWEEP.
Northern Michigan (5-6-2) @ Bemidji State (2-7-1)
Last weekend the Beavers were swept by the Pioneers in Denver and the Northern Michigan Wildcats took 3points from Alaska in Fairbanks.
It’s a new WCHA member (BSU) versus and old WCHA member (UNM currently in CCHA) in these games. I don’t know much about the wildcats this year, or any year since they left the WCHA. But if they can take points on the road from a top 15 team, I’m guessing they’ll be able to steal some food off the Beavers plates this weekend. SPLIT.
Minnesota State (2-6-4) @ UMass-Lowell (2-8-2)
Last weekend the Mavericks were enjoying a bye week and the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks split with Merrimack.
I don’t know who to go with in this series. Both teams have already burned their turkeys this year. I think they will split the pie out east. SPLIT.
Lake Superior State (5-7-2) @ #12 Denver (8-4-2)
Air Force (4-6-1) @ Denver
Last weekend the Pioneers swept the BSU Beavers in Denver and the Lake Superior State Lakers were swept by Michigan in Ann Arbor and the Air Force Falcons tied Canisius and beat Niagara.
I have to go with the WCHA in these match-ups, but I wouldn’t be surprised if DU dropped a game this weekend.
Michigan St (4-5-3) @ #15 Minnesota (7-4-1) (Friday)
Michigan (8-3-3) @ Minnesota (Sunday)
Last weekend the Gophers swept the MTU Huskies in Houghton and the Spartans were swept by Notre Dame in South Bend and the Wolverines swept Lake Superior State in Ann Arbor.
This will be a good test for the Gophers, to see if they get the whole turkey or just the wishbone. Gophers win Friday and lose on Sunday.
Michigan (8-3-3) @ #16 Wisconsin (6-6-2) (Friday)
Michigan St (4-5-3) @ Wisconsin (Saturday)
Last weekend the Badgers were swept by the UMD Bulldogs in Madison and the Spartans were swept by Notre Dame in South Bend and the Wolverines swept Lake Superior State in Ann Arbor.
I don’t think the Badgers will drop another home game; UW beats UMich on Friday and beats MSU on Saturday.
BYE WEEK
#4 Nebraska-Omaha
#1 Minnesota-Duluth
St. Cloud State
Michigan Tech
The Bulldogs are on top of this week’s league standings followed by DU, the Sioux, UNO. Last week 5pts separated 5th place from 12th, now 5pts separate 6th place from 12th place. It still looks to be four team UMD, UND, UNO, DU race for the McNaughton Cup, with the UM, UW and SCSU looking make up ground.
WCHA standings
TEAM……………...W-L-T...Pts
1. Minnesota-Duluth....8-1-1…17
2. Denver……………...7-2-1…15
3. North Dakota………7-3-0…14
4. Nebraska-Omaha…6-1-1…13
5. Minnesota…………..5-4-1…11
6. Wisconsin…………..3-5-2…8
7. St. Cloud State….....3-4-1…7
8. Minnesota State…...2-6-2…6
9. Alaska-Anchorage...2-5-1…5
9. Bemidji State……….2-7-1…5
11. Colorado College…..2-4-0…4
12. Michigan Tech……..1-6-1…3
WCHA (overall records)
Alaska Anchorage (2-7-1) @ Colorado College (5-6-1)
Last weekend the Seawolves split with the SCSU Huskies in Anchorage and the Tigers enjoyed the weekend off.
The Tigers can even their WCHA record and get back in the middle of the pack this weekend if they can sweep the Seawolves, if. I wonder if CC is asking the fans to be part of a black out on black Friday? The Seawolves need to a big helping of points this weekend, a pair of wins and they will be stuffed into the middle of the pack too. I think the Tigers will be gracious hosts this Thanksgiving weekend and share the points. SPLIT.
NON-CONFERENCE (overall records)
#11 Notre Dame (9-3-1) @ #9 North Dakota (8-5-1)
Last weekend the Sioux split with the UNO Mavericks in Omaha and the Fighting Irish swept the Michigan State Spartans in South Bend.
First off, why aren’t the Fighting Irish on the NCAAs hit list for nicknames? The Sioux face another ranked team this time around. UND has done well against ranked opponents this year, except for those Maine games. I think the Sioux will be glad to be back home, and will be poor hosts to the Irish Catholics this weekend. SIOUX SWEEP.
Northern Michigan (5-6-2) @ Bemidji State (2-7-1)
Last weekend the Beavers were swept by the Pioneers in Denver and the Northern Michigan Wildcats took 3points from Alaska in Fairbanks.
It’s a new WCHA member (BSU) versus and old WCHA member (UNM currently in CCHA) in these games. I don’t know much about the wildcats this year, or any year since they left the WCHA. But if they can take points on the road from a top 15 team, I’m guessing they’ll be able to steal some food off the Beavers plates this weekend. SPLIT.
Minnesota State (2-6-4) @ UMass-Lowell (2-8-2)
Last weekend the Mavericks were enjoying a bye week and the UMass-Lowell Riverhawks split with Merrimack.
I don’t know who to go with in this series. Both teams have already burned their turkeys this year. I think they will split the pie out east. SPLIT.
Lake Superior State (5-7-2) @ #12 Denver (8-4-2)
Air Force (4-6-1) @ Denver
Last weekend the Pioneers swept the BSU Beavers in Denver and the Lake Superior State Lakers were swept by Michigan in Ann Arbor and the Air Force Falcons tied Canisius and beat Niagara.
I have to go with the WCHA in these match-ups, but I wouldn’t be surprised if DU dropped a game this weekend.
Michigan St (4-5-3) @ #15 Minnesota (7-4-1) (Friday)
Michigan (8-3-3) @ Minnesota (Sunday)
Last weekend the Gophers swept the MTU Huskies in Houghton and the Spartans were swept by Notre Dame in South Bend and the Wolverines swept Lake Superior State in Ann Arbor.
This will be a good test for the Gophers, to see if they get the whole turkey or just the wishbone. Gophers win Friday and lose on Sunday.
Michigan (8-3-3) @ #16 Wisconsin (6-6-2) (Friday)
Michigan St (4-5-3) @ Wisconsin (Saturday)
Last weekend the Badgers were swept by the UMD Bulldogs in Madison and the Spartans were swept by Notre Dame in South Bend and the Wolverines swept Lake Superior State in Ann Arbor.
I don’t think the Badgers will drop another home game; UW beats UMich on Friday and beats MSU on Saturday.
BYE WEEK
#4 Nebraska-Omaha
#1 Minnesota-Duluth
St. Cloud State
Michigan Tech
WCHA attendance numbers
Rank -------------Dates-Total---Attnd Average cap.%
1 Wisconsin----------8--99,699--12,462-15,237-81.8
2 North Dakota-------4--46,675--11,669-11,634-100.3
3 Minnesota----------8--75,999--9,500--10,000-95.0
4 Nebraska-Omaha-----6--41,974--6,996--16,680-41.9
5 Colorado College---6--40,102--6,684--7,343--91.0
6 Michigan-----------8--51,978--6,497--6,637--97.9
7 New Hampshire------5--30,837--6,167--6,110--100.9
8 St. Cloud State----8--47,721--5,965--5,763--103.5
9 Boston College-----5--29,401--5,880--7,884--74.6
10 Boston University-6--33,929--5,655--6,221--90.9
11 Denver------------9--48,732--5,415--6,026--89.9
12 Michigan State----9--47,379--5,264--6,470--81.4
13 Minnesota-Duluth--6--29,759--4,960--5,233--94.8
20 Bemidji State-----6--22,698--3,783--4,373--86.5
22 Minnesota State---4--14,345--3,586--4,832--74.2
23 Alaska-Anchorage--6--21,310--3,552--6,206--57.2
31 Michigan Tech-----5--13,294--2,659--4,200--63.3
The WCHA is one of the best attended leagues. UND is ranked second over all again.
1 Wisconsin----------8--99,699--12,462-15,237-81.8
2 North Dakota-------4--46,675--11,669-11,634-100.3
3 Minnesota----------8--75,999--9,500--10,000-95.0
4 Nebraska-Omaha-----6--41,974--6,996--16,680-41.9
5 Colorado College---6--40,102--6,684--7,343--91.0
6 Michigan-----------8--51,978--6,497--6,637--97.9
7 New Hampshire------5--30,837--6,167--6,110--100.9
8 St. Cloud State----8--47,721--5,965--5,763--103.5
9 Boston College-----5--29,401--5,880--7,884--74.6
10 Boston University-6--33,929--5,655--6,221--90.9
11 Denver------------9--48,732--5,415--6,026--89.9
12 Michigan State----9--47,379--5,264--6,470--81.4
13 Minnesota-Duluth--6--29,759--4,960--5,233--94.8
20 Bemidji State-----6--22,698--3,783--4,373--86.5
22 Minnesota State---4--14,345--3,586--4,832--74.2
23 Alaska-Anchorage--6--21,310--3,552--6,206--57.2
31 Michigan Tech-----5--13,294--2,659--4,200--63.3
The WCHA is one of the best attended leagues. UND is ranked second over all again.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Since We're Griping... (RW77)
About Sticks, I might as well start in on the new NHL All Star Format:
The new format is to be a lot like a pickup game where we vote in the players and two captains are "selected" and they choose teams from the list of eligible players voted in... at least that's how I understand it.
Why is this a good thing? It's not... unless you are a fan of Alexander Ovechkin and/or Sidney Crosby. Why? Comon people, do you HONESTLY think that they AREN'T going to be Captains? It's nothing more than a brilliant marketing ploy for the NHL to further um...fellate... Sidney Crosby and Ovechkin, or as I like to say it: Jesus Crosby and Alexander Ovech-Christ. The brilliant part of it is that the NHL can fully claim to NOT have selected the Captains at all! They can "Say" that "we" did it ourselves!
I guess things were like that in the NBA when Jordan was around, and we all know that Bettman is praying for Crosby's fandom to be as epic as Jordan's, but meh.
I think the system is dumb. How it should work is, instead of captains, the COACHES of both teams get a list of the players voted in and they have a draft to select the teams. From there, the 3 forwards, 2 D, and 1 goaltender on each team that garnered the most votes from the fans will be the starting lineup. True, in a traditional hockey sense, this leaves the possibility that there won't be a Center on the ice for the faceoff and any permutation of handed-ness mistakes as well, but that's the breaks. The coach can leave them on for a shift and then mix and match the line makeups to make it work. It's not like this game counts for much anyways. Oh, and who are the coaches? I like MLB's system: The Head Coach of each of the teams that went to the Stanley Cup Finals the season before are the Head Coaches at the All Star Game. OR.... Have the Stanley Cup winning Head Coach vs. the Coach of the Year from last year (if they are different people). The Assistant coaches can be selected however the league sees fit.
Hmmm, I wonder if Crosby and Ovechkin will drop the gloves over who gets to draft Stamkos or Thomas?
In any case, this is just another one of Bettman's inane moves to further try to bring Crosby and Ovechkin fans more time hyperventilating over their dream players. And yeah, it's not fair to either of them.
For the record, I think Crosby and Ovechkin are great players, but their hype is so far beyond what is realistic it's very hard to take for say... 30 seconds or longer at one sitting. Try John Madden talking about Brett Favre annoying.
HERE is a great comparison done by Down Goes Brown blog. It's an awesome blog that follows (for the most part) the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it is downright hilarious and I'll continue to plug it as much as I can.
The new format is to be a lot like a pickup game where we vote in the players and two captains are "selected" and they choose teams from the list of eligible players voted in... at least that's how I understand it.
Why is this a good thing? It's not... unless you are a fan of Alexander Ovechkin and/or Sidney Crosby. Why? Comon people, do you HONESTLY think that they AREN'T going to be Captains? It's nothing more than a brilliant marketing ploy for the NHL to further um...fellate... Sidney Crosby and Ovechkin, or as I like to say it: Jesus Crosby and Alexander Ovech-Christ. The brilliant part of it is that the NHL can fully claim to NOT have selected the Captains at all! They can "Say" that "we" did it ourselves!
I guess things were like that in the NBA when Jordan was around, and we all know that Bettman is praying for Crosby's fandom to be as epic as Jordan's, but meh.
I think the system is dumb. How it should work is, instead of captains, the COACHES of both teams get a list of the players voted in and they have a draft to select the teams. From there, the 3 forwards, 2 D, and 1 goaltender on each team that garnered the most votes from the fans will be the starting lineup. True, in a traditional hockey sense, this leaves the possibility that there won't be a Center on the ice for the faceoff and any permutation of handed-ness mistakes as well, but that's the breaks. The coach can leave them on for a shift and then mix and match the line makeups to make it work. It's not like this game counts for much anyways. Oh, and who are the coaches? I like MLB's system: The Head Coach of each of the teams that went to the Stanley Cup Finals the season before are the Head Coaches at the All Star Game. OR.... Have the Stanley Cup winning Head Coach vs. the Coach of the Year from last year (if they are different people). The Assistant coaches can be selected however the league sees fit.
Hmmm, I wonder if Crosby and Ovechkin will drop the gloves over who gets to draft Stamkos or Thomas?
In any case, this is just another one of Bettman's inane moves to further try to bring Crosby and Ovechkin fans more time hyperventilating over their dream players. And yeah, it's not fair to either of them.
For the record, I think Crosby and Ovechkin are great players, but their hype is so far beyond what is realistic it's very hard to take for say... 30 seconds or longer at one sitting. Try John Madden talking about Brett Favre annoying.
HERE is a great comparison done by Down Goes Brown blog. It's an awesome blog that follows (for the most part) the Toronto Maple Leafs, but it is downright hilarious and I'll continue to plug it as much as I can.
No more wood sticks in the NHL.
This story depresses me and basically takes that away that nostalgic feeling I once held for wood sticks. As I watch game after game and watch these carbon fiber sticks shatter, I know that we are stuck with them and they are the future. This article also is an accurate illustration of what happens when you farm out your labor to an over seas location.
Actually, not so much. There is no longer a single NHL player wielding the true meaning of the word twig. Like zero. Zilch. Zip.
Even more upsetting is there probably will never be again.
“It’s the end of an era,” said Phoenix Coyotes defenceman Adrian Aucoin, one of the last holdouts, who switched last season. “In my case, Reebok changed factories with their shaft and the wood stick they produce now is a completely different stick. It was just not close to what I used to. I wasn’t so thrilled about it, but times change and you have to move on.”
The same thing happened to Ottawa Senators centre Jason Spezza when his brand of choice, Sherwood-Drolet, decided to farm out the mass production of wooden sticks to such far-flung places as Estonia and China in order to concentrate on the production of composite models.
Same goes for 24-year-old Paul Stastny, the last of the Luddites. The Colorado Avalanche centre switched from a Sherwood wooden to a Sherwood one-piece at the start of this season.
“Last season I went through a lot of wood sticks – I think what happened was they were being made at different factories so they were never quite the same although they said they were,” said Stastny. “It was still the same company, but in my mind they were completely different sticks than the ones I was using before. The average person may not notice, but when you’ve used the same stick since bantam and you get something a little different you can tell right away. So that also played a factor in me switching over. That, and technology is always getting better so it’s a case of evolving with the times.”
Aucoin’s first game with a composite stick was on Dec. 19, 2009 against the Anaheim Ducks.
“I’d been using the new Reebok wooden ones and the shot wasn’t right and something wasn’t working so I grabbed a Shane Doan pattern, a Robert Lang pattern, a Peter Mueller pattern and one Warrior had made for me when I was in Chicago,” said Aucoin, a former Vancouver Canuck. “I used all four sticks in a game and I scored with the Shane Doan pattern and it just felt better so basically my stick is a Shane Doan pattern with my name on it.”[read the rest of the story]
Marc Staal smokes Matt Stajan
Check out this vicious, legal and violent hit by the New York Rangers defenseman Marc Staal on Calgary Flames center Matt Stajan. There was no penalty on the call as it was a legal hit and that was the right .
Moving forward I am afraid that a college hockey official would call that legal check a penalty and give the offending player that made the hit a 5 minute major and a game misconduct. I am also afraid that hitting is becoming less prevalent in college hockey.
Monday, November 22, 2010
The Coming Down the Pipe nails it.
Thank You Guy Flaming for saying what I have been saying for years…
And while we're on the subject of the ECAC, I can accept that Yale is probably a good team this year but their record is bound to be so inflated that they could finish the season with just a couple of losses and a top 5 ranking without any problem at all. Yale plays all of 29 games this year plus an exhibition against the Russian junior team (which is oddly scheduled during the WJC). The Bulldogs only play 4 teams from outside the ECAC and full credit to them for beating Colorado College because I didn't think they would let alone 5-1. But then they lost to Air Force, which has a 4-6-1 record this year, and it hardly affected Yale in the poll. Their other two non-conference games are against Sacred Heart and Vermont.I would add a number of other teams to Guy’s list that could run the tables against the schedule that Yale has played so far to date… If you’re not convinced with the argument, look at the impressive list of teams that Yale has played this season - Dartmouth (2-7-1/14.2116/tied for 3rd), Princeton (4-4-0/ 24.9490/2nd), Quinnipiac (7-4-1/20.6475/ tied for 3rd), Colorado College (5-6-1/33.3698/11th), Air Force (4-6-1/12.3751/6th), Cornell (2-6-0/ 25.4450/tied for 8th)and Colgate (2-7-1/ 14.2116/12th)… So if you still not convinced; break this down further Yale has a strength of schedule of 22.1094... That means they have been feasting on the weak sisters of the poor... One could make the argument that the Yale Bulldogs are the cream of the cupcakes.
In all seriousness - could you not give Boston College or Denver or Duluth or Miami... give those teams Yale's schedule and could you not legitimately expect them to run the table?
Yale might actually be a top 10 worthy team this year but you can't honestly tell until the NCAA tournament because they don't play any other top 10 teams until then.
Poll Monday (Sioux drop in both polls)
I think these weekly polls/beauty contests are a joke. Seriously! I know I have been accused of being a homer but the Sioux split with the 4th place team in the country and they drop a spot in the polls. It’s a joke. Yale who has played one of the weakest schedules and lost to one of the bottom teams in Division one hockey and they are ranked third in the nation. Yeah! Ok!
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[November 22, 2010]
1 Minnesota-Duluth (49) 11-1-2 999 1
2 Boston University ( 1) 7-1-4 893 2
3 Yale 7-1-0 856 5
4 Nebraska-Omaha 9-2-1 824 4
5 Miami 8-3-3 808 6
6 New Hampshire 6-2-3 724 7
7 Boston College 8-4-0 648 10
8 Michigan 8-3-3 635 9
9 North Dakota 8-5-1 631 8
10 Maine 6-3-3 612 3
11 Notre Dame 9-3-1 568 11
12 Denver 8-4-2 442 13
13 Union 7-2-3 421 14
14 Alaska 7-5-2 312 12
15 Minnesota 7-4-1 259 19
16 Wisconsin 6-6-2 199 15
17 Rensselaer 5-3-3 191 18
18 Merrimack 4-2-4 154 NR
19 Western Michigan 6-3-3 147 16
20 Ferris State 6-5-3 48 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Quinnipiac 42, Michigan State 39, Robert Morris 12, Dartmouth 9, Colorado College 5, Princeton 5, St. Cloud State 5, Niagara 4, Clarkson 3, Northern Michigan 2, Providence 2, Brown 1
-------------------
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[Nov. 21, 2010]
1 University of Minnesota Duluth 509 (34) 1 11-1-2
2 Boston University 438 2 7-1-4
3 Yale University 421 5 7-1-0
4 University of Nebraska Omaha 389 4 9-2-1
5 Miami University 373 6 8-3-3
6 University of New Hampshire 299 8 6-2-3
7 Boston College 272 9 8-4-0
8 University of Michigan 265 10 8-3-3
9 University of Maine 263 3 6-3-3
10 University of North Dakota 252 7 8-5-1
11 University of Notre Dame 201 11 9-3-1
12 Union College 133 12 7-2-3
13 University of Denver 130 14 8-4-2
14 University of Alaska 55 13 7-5-2
15 University of Minnesota 37 NR 7-4-1
Others receiving votes: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 19, University of Wisconsin 15, Merrimack College 8, Quinnipiac University 1.
USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[November 22, 2010]
1 Minnesota-Duluth (49) 11-1-2 999 1
2 Boston University ( 1) 7-1-4 893 2
3 Yale 7-1-0 856 5
4 Nebraska-Omaha 9-2-1 824 4
5 Miami 8-3-3 808 6
6 New Hampshire 6-2-3 724 7
7 Boston College 8-4-0 648 10
8 Michigan 8-3-3 635 9
9 North Dakota 8-5-1 631 8
10 Maine 6-3-3 612 3
11 Notre Dame 9-3-1 568 11
12 Denver 8-4-2 442 13
13 Union 7-2-3 421 14
14 Alaska 7-5-2 312 12
15 Minnesota 7-4-1 259 19
16 Wisconsin 6-6-2 199 15
17 Rensselaer 5-3-3 191 18
18 Merrimack 4-2-4 154 NR
19 Western Michigan 6-3-3 147 16
20 Ferris State 6-5-3 48 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Quinnipiac 42, Michigan State 39, Robert Morris 12, Dartmouth 9, Colorado College 5, Princeton 5, St. Cloud State 5, Niagara 4, Clarkson 3, Northern Michigan 2, Providence 2, Brown 1
-------------------
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[Nov. 21, 2010]
1 University of Minnesota Duluth 509 (34) 1 11-1-2
2 Boston University 438 2 7-1-4
3 Yale University 421 5 7-1-0
4 University of Nebraska Omaha 389 4 9-2-1
5 Miami University 373 6 8-3-3
6 University of New Hampshire 299 8 6-2-3
7 Boston College 272 9 8-4-0
8 University of Michigan 265 10 8-3-3
9 University of Maine 263 3 6-3-3
10 University of North Dakota 252 7 8-5-1
11 University of Notre Dame 201 11 9-3-1
12 Union College 133 12 7-2-3
13 University of Denver 130 14 8-4-2
14 University of Alaska 55 13 7-5-2
15 University of Minnesota 37 NR 7-4-1
Others receiving votes: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 19, University of Wisconsin 15, Merrimack College 8, Quinnipiac University 1.
Claude Giroux scores with his junk
Talk about taking one for the teams eh? No pun intended. Credit Flyers Defenseman Chris Pronger with the assist on the Giroux goal. It will be interesting to see if this goal wins an ESPY or not?
Sunday, November 21, 2010
INCH Power Rankings
For a good laugh I included the INCH Power Rankings as they come out each week. In looking at the ranking, there really isn't a lot of movement from last week's rankings and the national ranking will probably mirror these rankings. I am still not convinced that Yale is a top five team, when an ECAC team wins a title then I will be convinced.
1. Minnesota Duluth
2. Boston University
3. Yale
4. Nebraska-Omaha
5. Maine
6. North Dakota — Sophomore forward Danny Kristo has been scuffling so far this season, but picked an opportune time to net his first goal of the year, potting the eventual game-winner in the Fighting Sioux’s 6-5 win at Nebraska-Omaha Friday. 8-5-1 (7-3-0 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W at Nebraska-Omaha, 6-5; L at Nebraska-Omaha, 1-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Notre Dame, vs. Notre Dame
7. New Hampshire
8. Miami
9. Michigan
10. Union
11. Notre Dame
12. Boston College
13. Denver
14. Alaska
15. Wisconsin
16. Rensselaer
17. Merrimack
18. Minnesota
19. Ferris State
20. Western Michigan
Dropped out: Robert Morris, Michigan State, Providence
Bubble-licious: Brown, Niagara, Robert Morris
1. Minnesota Duluth
2. Boston University
3. Yale
4. Nebraska-Omaha
5. Maine
6. North Dakota — Sophomore forward Danny Kristo has been scuffling so far this season, but picked an opportune time to net his first goal of the year, potting the eventual game-winner in the Fighting Sioux’s 6-5 win at Nebraska-Omaha Friday. 8-5-1 (7-3-0 WCHA) LAST WEEK: W at Nebraska-Omaha, 6-5; L at Nebraska-Omaha, 1-0. THIS WEEK: vs. Notre Dame, vs. Notre Dame
7. New Hampshire
8. Miami
9. Michigan
10. Union
11. Notre Dame
12. Boston College
13. Denver
14. Alaska
15. Wisconsin
16. Rensselaer
17. Merrimack
18. Minnesota
19. Ferris State
20. Western Michigan
Dropped out: Robert Morris, Michigan State, Providence
Bubble-licious: Brown, Niagara, Robert Morris
Sunday afternoon pontifications.
After watching great professional and college hockey all weekend long I must say that the Minnesota Viking’s effort this afternoon was a buzz kill. Words like atrocious and brutal come to mind, you can also classify today's effort as an EPIC FAIL. For the life of me I have no Idea why the Vikings owner Ziggy Wilf keeps Brad Childress around. I don’t’ buy the argument that the impending work stoppage has a factor in this.
Vikings fans just think every time the aging and broken down Brent Favre throws another interception (and there have been many this season) that that Viking paid 12+ million dollars for that stiff. What is even more discerning is watching the Viking’s players act like a bunch of spoiled Prima Donnas on the side lines, stop pointing fingers at each other and play some football, your professional athletes start acting like professionals. I am having a hard time believing that the Vikings couldn’t have found a better quarter back for less than 12 million dollars a season. I will take Michael Vick and his antics over this buffoon. I bet Michael Vick isn’t sending raunchy text messages of his member to female employees of the Eagles. I know my dog will never forgive me, but can the Vikes sign Vick and send T-Knuckle and Favre down the road?
Also, the Viking secondary is so poor or porous that it couldn’t cover a receiver from a semi professional league let alone a team from Division III. The Tampa cover 2 defense or what you cant to call it now, is no longer working for the Vikings. The Packers receivers were blowing by the Vikings defenders like they were back pedaling in cement. I am not so sure the Viking secondary could cover me with my blazing speed.
Since I can’t stomach thinking about the Minnesota Vikings football team anymore I thought I would share a few things that I found from the UNO beat writers blog.
Both Blais and UND coach Dave Hakstol downplayed their prior relationship leading up to the series. But you know it was significant for Hakstol to win Friday's opener (there are a good number of North Dakota knuckleheads who are super-critical of Hakstol and refuse to acknowledge how well he's done in succeeding Blais). You also know that Blais, without question, wanted Saturday's series finale to prove his new team could get the better of his old team. Blais' Mavs now are 3-1 in four games against UND and Minnesota. It's a meaningful feat for the coach. And it was no coincidence that Blais, without prompting, offered up this quote -- and said it with purpose -- during Saturday's postgame press conference: “I have a lot of pride in North Dakota. But I have more pride in these guys (at UNO).”
There were rumblings late Saturday night about UNO being offsides on the rush that resulted in Hudson's goal. But when you watch the video, it was way too close to call as it unfolded at game speed. It's the type of play that only becomes apparent when you freeze video or play it in slow motion. By no means was it a glaring blown call (it'd be quite the stretch to call it a blown call at all). The linesman was jumping over the puck as Ambroz moved into the zone along the boards. Most telling, Hakstol and North Dakota's players didn't make an issue of it after the game.
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| CHRIS MACHIAN/OMAHA WORLD-HERALD |
If I was one of leaders on the Fighting Sioux hockey team I would put this picture up in the locker room and keep it there to remind them on how this series against the Mavericks ended. The picture was taken in the lobby of the Quest Center in Omaha after the game. "The UNO hockey team sings the UNO fight song in the lobby of the Qwest Center after a thrilling last second 1-0 victory over North Dakota Saturday evening."
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