Don’t worry Leafs fans, help is on the way… (Matt Frattin)

I posted this over on Pension Plan Puppets. S/T to Brad Schlossman for an awesome article, like Chuck Schwartz tweeted last week; Brad is one of the best beat writers in the business and as Sioux fans we are blessed to have him… I read the article four times and it really is a touching piece, the article kind of puts life in perspective and goes to show there is more life than sports... I am sure glad Matt decided to come back to UND and not sign a professional contract. Frattin manned up and faced the music and got his life together.

Leaf’s Fans I have had a chance to watch Matt Frattin play for the UND Fighting Sioux for 3 seasons and I think you’re going to like what Matt Frattin brings to the table. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if he is wearing a Maple Leaf next season.

Matt Frattin is a big strong power forward (6 feet 206 lbs) and has a howitzer for a shot, Frattin shots the puck through goaltenders, and you can find many goals on YouTube.com. Frattin isn’t a one dimensional player, Matt plays strong in all three zones of the ice and his skating are one of his stronger points.

Matt Fratt was drafted by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 4th round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Just before the 2009-2010 school year was about to begin Matt Frattin got into trouble and was dismissed from the Fighting Sioux hockey team and returned to Edmonton, Alberta to get his life in order. At the semester break Frattin was given a second chance by Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol and Matt has caught fire and is on a torrid pace. Grand Forks Herald beat writer Brad Schlossman has a nice article about Matt’s past few seasons.

Grand Forks Herald --- Matt Frattin is a notorious prankster. So, when he called Evan Trupp last August to say that he had gotten in trouble and was getting kicked off the UND hockey team, Trupp naturally thought it was a joke.

But this time, it wasn’t.

After his second alcohol-related run-in with police in two months — this time a DUI charge he later would be acquitted of — Frattin was dismissed just days before the 2009-10 school year was set to start.

He packed up and moved back home to Edmonton, Alberta, to ponder his future. And while UND left the door open for his return in 2010-11, it seemed likely that his time in Grand Forks was finished.

After all, the easy route was for Frattin to cash in on the NHL contract that the Toronto Maple Leafs offered and pick up his hockey career right away in the pro ranks. Frattin thought about it, and took a different path.

He decided to change his lifestyle, sit out for up to a year and attempt to return to UND to make things right. He’s back here now, 16 months later, on his road to redemption. Frattin is the nation’s leading goal-scorer, with 17 goals, and it’s not even Christmas.

So how hot has Frattin been, Matt has scored 11 goals in 13 games last season from Feburary 12th to March 27. Fast forward to this season Frattin has continued that torrid pace scoring 17 goals in 20 games, so if my math is right (I am a sociology major), that is roughly 28 goals in 33 games. [click to link]

Nelson and Forbort to play against RPI

Checking the USA WJC blog, Fighting Sioux players Derek Forbort and Brock Nelson will play in a exhibition against RPI today at 3:00 PM Central Standard Time. You can listen to the game on the Internet. [Click to listen] You an also watch the game on B2tvNetwork.

Here are this afternoon’s lines for Team USA:

Brickley – Bjugstad – Etem
Zucker – Shore – Callahan
D’Amigo – Grimaldi – Nieto
Saad – Nelson – Brown

Oleksiak – Leddy
Forbort – Wey
Dumoulin – Clendening
Samuelsson

Campbell*
Iles

Bruins and Sabres end of the game scrum

I had been looking for this video all week and I finally found it on Bruce Ciskie's NHL Fan House blog. Two teams that hate each other a lot, old time hockey and a nice way to finish the game with a line brawl, or at least a scrum. I think Buffalo forward Paul Gaustad should have been given a major penalty for swinging his stick at Chara, there was no excuse for that. For one Miller bumped Chara and he gave him a little tiny love tap. I am surprised there wasn't a couple of fines as a result of this action.

Check this out...

Check out this article that I found over on the Mav Puck message board. God forbid anything to include college hockey would cut into the coverage of other sports. This is a blog post by Harold Anderson. For those of us including me that don't know who Harold Anderson is he is the Retired Publisher and Chief Executive Officer of the Omaha World-Herald, that's the newspaper that covers the UNO Mavericks.

I Wish The UNO Hockey Team Well But Do They Need All That Coverage?

Most surprising headline in recent memory:

“Time to recognize Blais, Mav Hockey.”

The headline appeared over a sports commentator’s column which appeared November 18. Would it be possible that the columnist has not been aware of the wall-to-wall coverage of the Maverick hockey team since Dean Blais became head coach in 2009?

I had no reason to keep track of the number of times readers were told that Blais won two national championships while coaching hockey at the University of North Dakota, but that fact must be among the most often repeated in the history of local sports coverage.

On the eve of the start of the Mavericks’ 2009 hockey season, Coach Blais and newly-hired assistant coach Mike Hastings and two unidentified hockey players were featured in a color photo that took up nearly the entire front page of a four-page special section. An inside page was devoted to the Mavericks and their schedule and pictures and a brief biography of each of 25 squad members, plus pictures and brief biographical sketches of Coach Blais and his two assistants.

Twenty-five squad members? Isn’t it true that you can have only a maximum of six players on the ice at any given time, and this includes a goalie who may play the entire game?

One of the inside pages was devoted to pictures and biographical sketches of 26 Omaha Lancers squad members.

In the total of 52 squad members on the two teams, there was one player identified as being from Nebraska—an Omahan on the Lancers roster.

Wow! Note to Harold, hockey might be a niche sport to the masses in the south that love football, however, college hockey has a big following in the upper Midwest as well that deserves coverage... You have a coach that will probably be in the USA Hockey Hall of Fame some day. You might not want to bite the hand that is paying your retirement.

Ranking the Leagues SOS...

So which league has played the toughest schedule to date?

WCHA

North Dakota 1 232.5
Bemidji State 2 230.0
Denver 3 201.8
Michigan Tech 4 195.6
Alaska-Anchorage 5 192.0
Minnesota-Duluth 6 183.6
Wisconsin 9 166.9
St. Cloud State 11 162.9
Minnesota 12 162.0
Colorado College 13 161.4
Nebraska-Omaha 15 155.3
Minnesota State 20 139.8

Hockey East

Boston College 7 179
Vermont 8 170.1
Boston University 14 159.0
Maine 21 139.0
New Hampshire 23 136.6
Mass.-Lowell 27 121.9
Massachusetts 29 113.2
Merrimack 30 112.9
Northeastern 31 110.5
Providence 39 83.0

CCHA

Notre Dame 10 163.2
Michigan 16 152.4
Alaska 17 148.0
Miami 18 144.6
Michigan State 24 129.4
Northern Michigan 25 127.2
Lake Superior 26 126.5
Bowling Green 34 105.7
Ferris State 36 100.2
Western Michigan 37 92.9
Ohio State 38 91.0

ECAC

Rensselaer 19 140
Brown 22 137.7
Yale 28 113.4
Union 32 108.4
Dartmouth 33 107.5
Harvard 35 105.1
St. Lawrence 40 78.0
Princeton 42 73.8
Quinnipiac 43 67.7
Cornell 45 59.2
Clarkson 46 57.9
Colgate 48 53.4

Atlantic Hockey

Air Force 41 77.9
Bentley 47 54.7
Holy Cross 49 53.4
Connecticut 50 52.8
RIT 51 49.7
Niagara 52 49.2
Sacred Heart 53 46.7
American Int'l 54 45.4
Canisius 55 41.3
Mercyhurst 56 36.1
Army 57 35.7
Robert Morris 58 34.2

INDY

Alabama-Huntsville 44 66.8

Saturday Morning Pontifications… Links…

There really isn't much going on in the "College Hockey World" right now... The World Juniors Championship is going to be firing up after Christmas. The first game for the USA WJC in on the NHL Network at 7:00 PM against Finland on December 26th. There is only one WCHA series this weekend as the Mavericks travel to the Springs to play the C.C. Tigers.

Links

Team Canada goaltenders on the hot seat [Globe and Mail]

Flash Back; U.S. wins junior gold in overtime thriller [Globe and Mail]

Julie Robenhymer from Hockey Buzz has been tweeting from the USA WJC selection camp and you can catch her tweets here at @JulieRobenhymer...

BSU Beavers tested by their tough schedule during the first half of the season, BSU has played the second hardest Strength of Schedule. [Up North Sports Report]

Former UAA Goalie Nate Lawson is going to make his NHL debut tonight because their starter is former BU goalie Rick DiPietro out with an injury again. Nate is still sporting the number 52 that he wore in college...[islanders.nhl.com]

Earlier this week another former WCHA goalie Ricard Bachman made his NHL debute with the Dallas Stars as well. [Eye of the Tigers] Bachman was sent back down after his debut. [Eye of the Tigers]

Zdeno Chara Gets Too Close to Ryan Miller; Miller Starts Skirmish. [NHL Fan House] Awesome I was looking for the video for this one...

WJC: Team USA preview Defending the gold on home soil [niagarathisweek.com]

Jack Campbell should be key player in World Juniors [starsblog.dallasnews.com]

The UMD Bulldogs are opening at new arena on December 30th against the UND Fighting Sioux and they are having a dress rehearsal. [Rink and Run] UND opened the BSU's Beavers new home by sweeping the Beavers by a pair of 6-2 scores back in October.

Colorado trip no vacation for Mavs... [WORLD-HERALD]

You might want to check the YouTube videos... (Frattin)

I wonder what would have happened if UND had got their feet moving earlier in that game? We might not be having the discussions we are having today. I was reading USCHO WCHA blog this morning and there was something that caught my eye in Tyler Buckentine’s post. I am going to preface this by saying I don’t know Tyler from Adam or what team he cheers for and I don’t have anything against him at all, I am not trying to attack him, also notice, that I am not making him the buffoon of the week. I save those blog posts for people that do moronic things. None the less, Tyler was reviewing the WCHA and the first half of the season and how the league play has evolved.

USCHO.COM --- College hockey is at the midpoint of its season and the WCHA has four teams in the nation’s top eight teams and two in the top four.

The consensus WCHA favorite, UND, (13–5–2) is the top WCHA team in the USCHO.com D-I Poll and sits in first place in the league standings with 22 points after a pair of sweeps against SCSU and Minnesota State.

Who would’ve thought Matt Frattin, the nation’s leading goal scorer, would have 17 goals at the break when the Sioux’s goals leader when the 2009-10 season ended was Jason Gregoire with 20.

Frattin, who scored 11 goals a year ago, has 25 points, which matches his personal best for points in a season he set as a sophomore.

Frattin has the ability to create his own chances to make quality shots. He beat MSU goaltender Phil Cook glove side far post on Friday and danced his way around two Mavericks defenders on his way to a goal Sunday.

Frattin is on a five-game goal-scoring streak.

Aaron Dell has been a surprise in the crease after UND’s original No. 1 goalie, Brad Eidsness, was benched after just five games because of his nightmare of a start to the season (4.12 GAA, .805 SV%).

The sophomore Dell is 12–4–1 with a 2.22 goals against average and .904 save percentage.

The scary thing is UND’s record now and the schedule that lies ahead for the Sioux. UND faces only two teams in the current top 10-ranked teams on the schedule until the Final Five rolls around.

Here is what I take issue with, “Who would’ve thought Matt Frattin, the nation’s leading goal scorer.” You’re kidding right? You can’t be series? Cliché alert: It would be an understatement to say that Matt Frattin has looked like a man among boys and has played this season Frattin like a man possessed. The Toronto Maple Leafs who are starved for offense must be drooling at the prospects of having Matt Frattin wearing a Maple Leaf on the front of his jersey.

If you are covering the WCHA and you have had a chance to watch Matt Frattin play at all last season you would have noticed a player that was on the verge of breaking out and would have thought a torrid season might be in the cards. Rewinding back to last season when Matt Frattin returned from his suspension; Fratting took fire during the second half of the season and caught fire during the second game of the SCSU series has been hot as a pistol since and scored a bundle of goals.

So how hot has Frattin been, Matt has scored 11 goals in 13 games last season from Feburary 12th to March 27. Fast forward to this season Frattin has continued that torrid pace scoring 17 goals in 20 games, so if my math is right (I am a sociology major), that is roughly 28 goals in 33 games.

Michael Cammalleri's Penalty Shot Goal against the Boston Bruins

The more I watch this video the more I come to the conclusion that the penalty that led to the Cammalleri penalty shot was very weak and a brutal call by the official.

Edit: in looking back at this play that led to the penalty shot, I must conclude that this was a bad call by the NHL on ice officials, their incompetence cost the Boston Bruins the game and points in the standings, there is no way that the Montreal Canadians deserved a penalty shot on that play, maybe hooking but that was even stretch.

Subban hit on Marchand

Habs punk P.K. Subban delivers an monster hit on Bruins forward Brad Marchand, the hit was legal and a good open ice hit, I have no problem with the hit at all. My advice to the Bruins forward Brad Marchand keep your head up son. The Slough foot on Campbell should have gotten Subban a penalty in my opinion.

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

There is only one WCHA series this weekend and it features the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks visiting the Colorado College Tigers at World arena in Colorado Springs.

There was a full stale of WCHA series last weekend and the results were:

Wisconsin swept Bemidji State – in Madison
North Dakota swept Minnesota State Mankato – in Mankato
Colorado College swept St. Cloud State – in St. Cloud
Nebraska-Omaha swept Michigan Tech – in Omaha
Denver took 3pts from Alaska-Anchorage – in Anchorage
Minnesota took 3pts from Minnesota-Duluth – in Minneapolis

After this weekend almost every team will have played half of their WCHA schedule. The exceptions are SCSU and MTU, both teams will have two games in hand on the rest of the league. And looking at the standing both teams need those games to make a run up the standings and try to grab home ice at the end of the season.

WCHA standings

TEAM……………...W-L-T...Pts
1. North Dakota………11-3-0…22
2. Denver……………...9-3-2…20
2. Minnesota-Duluth....9-3-2…20
4. Nebraska-Omaha….8-3-1…17
5. Colorado College…..7-5-0…14
5. Minnesota…………..6-6-2…14
5. Wisconsin…………..6-6-2…14
8. Alaska-Anchorage...4-8-2…10
8. Minnesota State…...4-8-2…10
10. Bemidji State……….4-9-1…9
11. St. Cloud State….....3-8-1…7
12. Michigan Tech……..1-10-1…3


WCHA

#8 Nebraska-Omaha @ #20 Colorado College
Last weekend the Mavericks swept the MTU Huskies in Omaha and the Tigers swept the SCSU Huskies in St. Cloud.

This is a huge series for both teams this weekend in Omaha. The Mavericks need points to keep it a four way hunt for the WCHA title. The Tigers need points to separate themselves from Gophers and Badgers and help get that much closer to the top and home ice. The Tiger have been under that radar, at least mine, they have quietly moved into a tie for 5th in the league. If the Tigers get any points this weekend they will be in sole possession of 5th and if they sweep they will be in 4th place. The Mavericks can move into a 2nd place tie with three points or sole possession of 2nd with a sweep with weekend. This year CC has tickled the twine 45 times and the Mavericks have 41 times in the WCHA. I’m going to say they each get some points this, the last weekend before Christmas. SPLIT


NON-Conference

Michigan Tech (3-10-2 overall) @ Northern Michigan (8-8-3 overall) (Friday only)
Last weekend the Huskies were swept by the UNO Mavericks in Omaha and the Wildcats split with Notre Dame in South Bend Indiana.

These teams played each other twice already this year. On October 8th and the Huskies beat the Wildcats 4-3 in overtime and then on October 12th they played to a 4-4 tie. Back in the 1980s this would have been a WCHA conference game, but not since 1991. In this battle for Upper Peninsula Supremacy it will come down to which team wants it more and I think the Huskies really want it. MTU wins.


USA Under-18 Team @ #3 North Dakota (exhibition – Saturday)
Last weekend the Sioux swept the MSUM Mavericks in Mankato.

I can see UND playing more of the guys that have been back ups in this game, just to avoid more injuries. I will also predict that Eidsness will see time between the pipes in this game (and maybe Maris might get to play in the net too).




Alaska Anchorage – next Jan 14th & 15th vs Colorado College

Bemidji State – next Dec 31st & Jan 1st Ferris State & Union - Dodge Holiday Classic

#7 Denver – next Dec 31st & Jan 1st vs Northern Michigan

#19 Minnesota – next Dec 31st & Jan 1st Union & Ferris State - Dodge Holiday Classic

#4 Minnesota-Duluth – next Dec 30th vs UND USA Hockey Hall of Fame Game

Minnesota State – next Jan 1 & 2 Notre Dame & BU/Brown Shillelagh Tourney

St. Cloud State – next Dec 29th & 30th Cornell & Miami/Maine - Florida Classic

#15 Wisconsin – next Dec 30th and 31st vs Massachusetts

Bettman, NHL will be backCoyotes deal doesn't shut door on Winnipeg

If you haven't seen this article it's worth a look.

Winnipeg Free Press ---"This was never about Winnipeg. This was about Arizona and keeping the Coyotes where they are," said Bettman, in a patient and respectful tone during a short one-on-one interview with the Free Press.

Bettman is predictably single-minded and perhaps a touch disingenuous in this statement. Certainly this was about Winnipeg when the league entered negotiations with True North Sports and Entertainment last spring and came within a day of closing on a relocation sale. Certainly the threat of that sale prodded the people of Glendale to bend and finally kneel at the NHL's feet.

Now before you get all high and mighty and accuse Bettman of using the city of Winnipeg, keep in mind that we went into this thing with our eyes wide open.

There was never a guarantee the NHL would leave Glendale and return to Winnipeg. But we were more than happy to sit in the on-deck circle and hope for the Coyotes to strike out and give the 'Peg another turn at bat.

There are no victims here, except maybe the Glendale taxpayers who were set up by their city managers and then pushed in front of the train by their elected officials.

There's no way the use of 5,500 parking stalls at Jobing.com Arena can cover the cost of issuing $125-million in bonds and the interest that will need to be paid. Maybe in Manhattan but not in the wide open spaces of the southwest.

Where does this leave Winnipeg in terms of chasing an NHL team? In the same place we've been since the building of the MTS Centre and the formation of a partnership between the Chipman and Thomson families. Ready and able should the NHL decide to abandon one of its current markets.

Bettman threw us a bone last spring saying, "Frankly, if we're going to move a franchise, there are a couple of places in Canada that I'd like to give my attention first. I'd like to try and fix something that I wished might not have happened in the first place."

On Tuesday he wasn't so charitable.

"Again, what went on here had nothing to do with Winnipeg," said Bettman. "As of right now we're not expanding or looking to relocate. We're aware of the great interest in Winnipeg. We're appreciative of that but that's not something we're in the position to address right now."

Yes, it's a dirty business and in this exchange Winnipeg was left out in the cold.

Step outside for a minute. We're used to cold and we have the patience to wait for warmer days. We do it every year as summer crawls near. It always comes back.

So too will Gary Bettman and the NHL.

When I read this article it appears that the NHL used the city of Winnipeg as a pawn, if there was a threat of having a fall back plan in Winnipeg Bettman could use Winnipeg as leverage to get a deal in Phoenix.

Colton Orr vs Zack Stortini

In case you haven't seen it, this was one of the better hockey fights that I have seen this season Rangers Colton Orr vs Oilers Zack Stortini this was definitely a battle of heavy weights.

Drew Stafford hat trick sinks Bruins...

Leave it to former Fighting Sioux forward Drew Stafford to stick it to my Boston Bruins tonight, Stafford returned from an injury to score a "Hat Trick" and the last two goals of the game. In case you wondering that is MSG voice of the Buffalo Sabres Rick Jeanneret who is one of the best hockey play by play television announcers in the business. Unfortunately, some of my worst Boston Bruins Memories are with Rick Jeanneret at the helm calling the game. My friend Mike once left Rick Jeanneret's call of my Boston Bruins being eliminated in the 1993 Stanley Cup playoffs on a goal by former Sabres tough guy Brad May on my answering machine, "May Day, May Day, Brad May...

Former Wild forward Brian Rolston put on waviers by the Devils

Holy Cow the New Jersey Devils are in full meltdown mode. I wonder if the Wild would be interested in picking Brian up? Probably not, the Wild can't afford 5 million a season and they do not have any room under the cap.

NEWARK, N.J. (AP)—Veteran left wing Brian Rolston(notes) has been placed on waivers by the struggling New Jersey Devils.

Devils president and general manager Lou Lamoriello announced the move after practice on Tuesday.

If Rolston is not claimed by Wednesday at noon, the Devils can either assign him to their AHL team at Albany, N.Y. or keep him on the roster for a game against the Phoenix Coyotes later that night.

The Devils will get no salary cap relief sending the 37-year-old Rolston to the minors. He was over 35-years-old when he signed his contract so his $5 million salary will count against the Devils’ cap whether he plays for them or in the minors.

The only way his salary would come off the cap would be if another team claimed him, and that seems unlikely.

Brad Malone is the WCHA WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for Dec. 14, 2010

The Pony Express delivered. Brad Malone had a good week on the score sheet and in the face-off circle and was rewarded for his good play by receiving the WCHA Offensive Player of the Week.

WCHA.COM ---University of North Dakota center iceman Brad Malone, who propelled his team to a pair of come-from-behind conference road victories at Minnesota State last weekend and into first place in the league race, has been named the Red Baron® WCHA Offensive Player of the Week for Dec. 14, 2010.

A 6-2, 212-pound senior from Miramichi, New Brunswick, Malone led all players with four points and a +4 plus/minus rating in UND's sweep over the host Mavericks, which enabled the Sioux to take over first place in the race for the WCHA regular season title and MacNaughton Cup. In a 4-3 victory last Friday (Dec. 10), Malone matched his career high with three assists, setting up three straight UND goals after his team trailed 2-0. Then last Sunday afternoon (Dec. 12) and with the Sioux trailing 2-1 in the second period, he capped another rally by scoring the game-winning goal at 14:47 to complete the sweep. Malone also earned a +3 in Sunday's game and was named the No. 1 star. In addition to his four points, Malone also won 56.8% (25-of44) of his face-offs in the series.

Alexander Ovechkin and Brandon Dubinsky fight

If you haven't seen this fight it's worth a look, I am not sure the Washington Captials want their top star Alexander Ovechkin fighting on a regular basis. I guess in this case I really don't have a problem with this fight because it is between two "star" players, it's not like Brandon Dubinsky is a Goon, Dubinsky has (14g-13a-27pts) in 32 games and Ovechkin is a well a super star (12g-24a-36pts) in 32 games.

In watching the video it would appear that Ovechkin is a better fighter than Sidney Crosby. Here is a look at the Sidney Crosby - Matt Niskanen fight in case you haven't seen that fight.

A look further at the Strength of Schedule

Here is an interesting conversation that I found on Twitter between Ryan Durling of the Somethings Bruin hockey blog and USCHO Hockey ECAC Blogger Brian Sullivan, the discussion is worth taking a look at, there is some legitimate points brought up by Durling.

@SullivanHockey it's tough to credit a team that's played 3/4 the schedule of UNH/BC and almost half as many games as NoDak, Minny, etc.
@SullivanHockey I'd love to, honest. Sadly, they don't dance with Hockey East too much and it's tough to get that far away to see them
@SullivanHockey i'm not an ECAC hater nor a HE homer, lol. Just find it tough to compare the schedules.
@Ryan_Durling And RPI is probably the LEAST impressive of that bunch right now. Really... Yale. Check 'em out, they're crazy fun to watch.
@Ryan_Durling Seriously though, you really ought to watch Yale, Union, Dartmouth & RPI before passing stereotypical judgment on #ECACHockey.
@SullivanHockey I don't deny that they're good teams. RPI looked solid earlier this year and I'm sure they've improved, BUT...
@Ryan_Durling The poll isn't necessarily about who'd beat whom, but who is doing the best they can...which Yale certainly is.
@Ryan_Durling Everyone has his own ballot philosophy, but there's no doubt that Yale's season is the most successful in D-I to date.

First off, I am glad that someone else is saying these things. This is also one of the reason I am so glad that there isn't a BCS of college hockey, this is not a beauty contest folks where your team loads up on cupcakes and over inflate their stats racking up wins against unimpressive opponents. I am not personally impressed if your team schedules a Sacred Heart and then beats them 8-1. I am more impressed with a game between two teams that play in a tough contested match with the outcome is in doubt till the end of the game.

The being said, the NCAA Division I Hockey tournament is a tourney that is based on merit you have to be one of the final 16 to make the tourney and your team has to win 4 games to get to the top.

Yeah first let’s compare Strength of Schedule, eight of the ten teams with the toughest Strength of Schedule are in the WCHA and the other two teams are from the Hockey East and the Central Collegiate Hockey Association. Let’s take a look at the ECAC strength in scheduling or should we say a lack of strength.

The Top Ten Strength of Schedule

North Dakota 1
Bemidji State 2
Denver 3
Michigan Tech 4
Alaska-Anchorage 5
Minnesota-Duluth 6
Boston College 7
Notre Dame 8
Wisconsin 9
St. Cloud State 10

EZAC Strength of Schedule

Rensselaer 21
Brown 22
Yale 29
Dartmouth 33
Union 34
Harvard 35
St. Lawrence 40
Princeton 43
Quinnipiac 44
Cornell 45
Clarkson 46
Colgate 49

In conclusion; I am not saying that the ECAC or the Atlantic Hockey Associations aren’t good hockey leagues, they are the mid majors conferences of college hockey and “a few” of their teams can beat any team from the big three on any given night, but let’s be honest with ourselves, they are not in the same class as the Hockey East, WCHA or CCHA... Let the debate begin.

My first crack at the "what-if"

WCHA Final
Team GP Pts
1. UND 28 48
2. Denver 28 42
3. UMD 28 39
4. UNO 28 34
5. UW 28 32
6. C.C. 28 29
7. UMN 28 28
8. Mankato 28 21
8. SCSU 28 21
10. AA 28 18
10. BSU 28 18
12. MTech 28 6

Here is my first crack at the WCHA standings "what-if" calculator. You can pick your standings by going to this link... [Click to play "What-If"] Also, include your picks if you would like.

Rankings

Here is the rankings comparisons [click to view]

Pairwise rankings [click to view]

NCAA Division I - College Hockey RPI [Click to view]

Wheel of Justice rules; Jody Shelley suspended 2 games for hit on Adam McQuaid

I have read that Jody Shelly while one tough hombre is not a dirty player… When I read that he apologized on the ice, I thought that was a class act. Honestly, with Colin Campbell being as erratic as he is, there really is no way of knowing what to expect when the NHL disciplinary makes his rulings…I think a two game suspension is about right.

NHL.Com ---- Philadelphia Flyers forward Jody Shelley has been suspended for two games and fined by the NHL for his hit on Boston Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid on Saturday.

Shelley was given a five-minute major for checking from behind and a game misconduct 5:08 into the second period after shoving McQuaid while both players were racing for the puck. McQuaid, who just missed hitting the boards head-first, remained on the ice for several minutes before finally being helped off by teammates.

Shelley will forfeit $11,827.96 in salary, which will go to the Players' Emergency Assistance Fund.

"I mean, I kind of got my hands up, braced myself a little bit, so it ended up not being as bad as I guess it could have been," McQuaid told reporters after the game.

Shelley apologized to McQuaid at the time of the incident and in the hallway outside the dressing rooms. The 24-year-old defenseman did return to the ice in the third period.

"You know, he was saying to me, I could hear him on the ice saying that he didn't mean to, so I guess, I'm not sure if maybe I don't know if he hit a rut or what happened, but he was saying he didn’t mean to," McQuaid said. "When I was coming off the ice, (Shelley) was waiting for me there. He said he was sorry and he didn’t mean to, so I just kind of got to take what he says."

Poll Monday!!! - Sioux 3rd in USCHO and 5th in USA Today...

USCHO.com Division I Men's Poll
[December 13, 2010]
1 Yale (45) 11-1-0 990 1
2 New Hampshire ( 1) 10-2-4 945 3
3 North Dakota 13-5-2 854 5
4 Minnesota-Duluth ( 2) 12-3-3 853 2
5 Boston College ( 2) 11-5-0 849 4
6 Miami 10-5-3 687 6
7 Denver 12-5-3 660 9
8 Nebraska-Omaha 11-4-1 631 10
9 Maine 8-4-4 589 8
10 Boston University 8-4-5 541 7
11 Michigan 10-5-4 505 12
12 Notre Dame 11-6-2 449 11
12 Union 10-3-3 449 13
14 Rensselaer 9-4-3 367 15
15 Wisconsin 10-7-3 272 16
16 Alaska 9-6-3 255 14
17 Merrimack 7-4-4 197 17
18 Ferris State 9-7-3 121 18
19 Minnesota 9-7-2 92 NR
20 Colorado College 10-7-1 49 NR
Others Receiving Votes: Clarkson 41, Dartmouth 36, Princeton 23, Robert Morris 22, Western Michigan 16, Northern Michigan 3, Providence 2, Minnesota State 1, Niagara 1
____________________________________________

USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine Men's College Hockey Poll
[December 13, 2010]
1 Yale University 510 (34) 1 11-1-0
2 University of New Hampshire 458 3 10-2-4
3 University of Minnesota Duluth 418 2 12-3-3
4 Boston College 410 4 11-5-0
5 University of North Dakota 403 5 13-5-2
6 Miami University 306 8 10-5-3
7 University of Denver 273 10 12-5-3
8 University of Nebraska Omaha 261 9 11-4-1
9 University of Maine 218 6 8-4-4
10 Union College 178 13 10-3-3
11 University of Michigan 176 12 10-5-4
12 Boston University 148 7 8-4-5
13 University of Notre Dame 141 11 11-6-2
14 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 107 15 9-4-3
15 University of Wisconsin 31 NR 10-7-3
Others receiving votes: University of Alaska 22, Merrimack College 6, University of Minnesota 6, Ferris State University 3, Robert Morris University 3, Colorado College 1, Dartmouth College 1.

INCH Power Rankings

As always for a good laugh I include the INCH power rankings… Since the Yale Bulldogs don't play till January 2nd the Bulldogs will be at the top of the rankings until after the first of the New Year... Then when Yale resumes play they have a cupcake schedule the rest of the way and they really don’t play anyone except Holy Cross outside of their conference.
1. Yale
2. New Hampshire
3. North Dakota
4. Minnesota Duluth
5. Boston College
6. Maine
7. Nebraska-Omaha
8. Union
9. Michigan
10. Miami
11. Denver
13. Boston University
14. Wisconsin
15. Notre Dame
16. Alaska
17. Merrimack
18. Robert Morris
19. Ferris State
20. Clarkson
Dropped out: Dartmouth
Bubble-licious: Colorado College, Minnesota, Niagara, Princeton

Ducks forward Bobby Ryan scores using Mikko Koivu’s stick.

This is one of the most bizarre things I have ever witnessed in hockey. Mikko Koivu takes Bobby Ryan's stick away from him so Ryan returns the favor. I have never seen a player pick up the opponents stick and score with it... Also, the stick has the wrong curve for Ryan as well but he still ends up scoring.

Jody Shelley hit/push on Adam McQuaid

This is the latest hit that will be reviewed by the NHL on Monday morning by Colin Campbell. Flyers tough guy Jody Shelley pushed Adam McQuaid into the end boards and it was an unnecessary and unfortunate hit. I don’t know if Shelly will get a suspension from the NHL because he is not known for being dirty players and apologized for the hit almost immediately.

Sioux rope Mavericks 4-2 end first half with a sweep.

The UND Fighting Sioux are famous for their second half surges under head coach Dave Hakstol and finally end the first half of the season alone in first place in the WCHA. It will be interesting to see if they can put the rest of the league in the rear view mirror during the second half of the season. I think there is a lot of potential to even get better because I don’t think UND has played it’s best hockey so far to date, they are still making crucial mistakes that elite teams shouldn’t make.

The Sioux also need to get more of their players scoring and can't just rely on the Pony Express to get the job done. Hopefully the Fighting Sioux can get Jason Gregoire and Brett Hextall back for the second half run and get them clicking on the power play again, both players have missed the last four games.

If UND can solidify their goaltending and cut down on the turnovers in the neutral and defensive zones I think they could make a run to the Frozen Four and finally get that elusive 8th national title. This team has played the best during the first half of the season during Dave Hakstol's reign.

Got away with two this weekend

I think UND played well in stretches but it wasn’t their best hockey of the season this weekend. Sweep at home and split on the road, frankly they got the sweep and that’s good, doesn’t hurt to get the breaks going your way. Personally, I don’t think MSU-M is an elite team and the Mavericks will finish somewhere in the middle to lower rung of the WCHA standings. Currently the Mavericks are tied for eighth place with 10 points. The Mavericks are a tough team that has decent speed and above average defensive corps. Kurt Davis is one of the better defenseman in the WCHA and is always a threat to score; fortunately, the Sioux were able to hold him to one point on the weekend.

Goon's three stars of the game
1.) Matt Frattin (1g-0a-1pts)
2.) Evan Trupp (1g-0a-1pts)
3.) Brad Malone (1g-0-1pts)

[Box Score for the game]

Here are some stats for the first half of the season

The Sioux are 13-5-2 to start the season, that is the best start in seven seasons under Fighting Sioux head coach Dave Hakstol. The Sioux are in first place in the WCHA with 22 points.

The Sioux have record of 7-1-0 for conference games on the road. The Sioux have a record of 8-3-1 on the road to start the season. The Sioux have a record of 5-2-1 at home. The Sioux have a non-conference record of 2-2-2 and have three more nonconference games this season.

UND Fighting Sioux have a record of 6-0-1 against unranked teams and a record of 7-5-1 against ranked teams and a record of 6-3-1 against ranked teams in the WCHA.

The Sioux have a 5-0-1 record on Olympic ice, 7-5-2 on NHL ice.

10-0-1 when scoring 4+ goals this season and the Sioux have scored 5 or more goals six times.

Sioux have a killed 87.3 % of the penalties that they have taken; tops in the WCHA.
Four of the top five scorers for the Sioux are seniors.

Aaron Dell is still leading the WCHA in GAA with a 1.94 average.

Matt Frattin is first in the Nation with 17 goals and second in the WCHA with 12 goals. Jason Zucker from DU is leading the WCHA with 13 goals.

Chay Genoway is first in the WCHA for scoring by defenseman 3g-11a-14pts

The Fighting Sioux offense is second in the WCHA scoring 3.43 goals per game.

Sioux Defense is top in the WCHA giving up 2.21 goals per game. [Click for stats]

Redwing77's Fan Behavior Rant and PR Fiasco

Ok, not related to Sioux hockey. Not even related to the NHL Interests of Goon (Boston), the region (Minnesota), or me (Detroit). This relates to the game I'm just watching right now on NHL Network: The NY Rangers vs. the Washington Capitols.

The game was out of hand. The Rangers were winning 6-0. Semin shoots the puck and hits Ovechkin in the knee. He goes down. THE CROWD CHEERS.

Ok, you know what? I boo every time Ovechkin and Crosby touch the puck. I boo ESPN and NHL Network every time they say their names. But cheering when one gets injured? I don't think that's classy... at least in that context. I cheer Pittsburgh without Crosby and Washington without Ovechkin because it forces the commentators are forced to NOT cream their shorts every time those two step on the ice. In other words, they're forced to recognize that these teams and the NHL are more than these two players (great or otherwise).

I'm sick as all get out of "Sid the Kid" or "Alexander the Great" or their newest incarnation: "The Great Eight." It's like calling LeBron "King James." King James is a version of the Bible. King James wasn't a basketball player.

It's never appropriate to cheer an injury. Injuries suck. There were some DU trolls on USCHO.com Fan Forum back when Paukovich hit Bina that gloated about it. Those people drove us UND fans nuts. I guess the scale of this one really set me off. The WHOLE ARENA cheered!!!!

On the flip side, like I hinted at above, I'm finding myself somewhat sympathetic. I can't be the only one who is simply sick to his stomach over the fact that the NHL seems to be Crosby and Ovechkin and nothing else. It's no wonder why they do little to promote the league and their televised games unless either the Capitols or the Penguins are one of the two teams playing. It seems often enough that the other teams in the NHL are afterthoughts. After Ovechkin got injured, the analysts went on and on about how the Great Eight got injured and this and that and seemed to be crying over how the Rangers fans could possibly fail to see how awesome Ovechkin is and become rabid fans of his. The commentators simply can't get it into their heads that no matter how good Ovechkin and Crosby are, they're still going to love their teams more. They'll nod and say "Yeah, they're pretty good," but they won't get all heavy breathing over them. It's almost as if you aren't their fans, you're obviously a clueless fan.

There's now a DVD being put out about Ovechkin! The height of egotism! But, hey, let Bettman pave the road towards the NHL's demise. No, not many in the front office would acknowledge such a thought because the NHL has been on a slight upward trend lately. They'd probably cite Crosby and Ovechkin as two of the reasons. But people don't see the long term big picture here. Bettman is carbon copying his mentor, David Stern (or maybe its his predecessor). The NHL and Crosby/Ovechkin absolutely REEKS of the NBA and Michael Jordan. Now... look at the trend. What happened to the NBA when Jordan retired?

The NBA went down the toilet. Why? Because their only recognizable player was gone. Now, look at what is happening with Crosby and Ovechkin. It's a few years away, sure, but what are you seeing the NHL doing to promote the league outside of Crosby and Ovechkin hype? Very little, if anything. So, when Crosby and Ovechkin depart the NHL, do you think the NHL will continue to trend upward? Will the popularity even out? Nope. I predict that the NHL will decline back into the irrelevance produced by the lockout. And the NHL is STILL recovering from that.

The NHL needs to do more to promote THE LEAGUE and all of its players rather than a select few. It's a tough proposition, for sure, but gimmick games and the Dynamic Duo isn't going to do it. ESPN is at the level of caring that they don't even bother to have the anchor people even study the basics of hockey. Hockey isn't relevant to ESPN and that's a direct statement towards the state of the game. Bettman isn't doing it. He thinks of us as no better than the NBA. Perhaps we can not hope to be more popular than the NBA overall and we definitely will not overtake Football, but we should try like hell to promote at every level. We should be trying to make some players from EVERY team visible to at least their regional fan base. We should have commentators that spend as much time ranting and raving praises towards players ON the ice as they do Crosby and Ovechkin. We should be pushing that EVERY team in the NHL is important, not just Pittsburgh or Washington. Oh, and by the way, it's not because a Red Wing is also mentioned as an "and by the way"

Sioux and Mavericks deuce

The lines have been posted for today's game. Sophomore Joe Gleason is in and Brent Davidson is out of the line up. The WCHA GAA leader Aaron Dell will be in net again this afternoon for the Fighting Sioux. The Purple cows from Mankato will be going with Austin Lee in net.

UND’s lines

19 Evan Trupp–22 Brad Malone–21 Matt Frattin
25 Jake Marto–10 Corban Knight–7 Danny Kristo
11 Derek Rodwell–9 Mario Lamoureux–27 Carter Rowney
8 Mike Cichy–29 Brock Nelson–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

[link to the stats]

MSU-Mankato’s lines

23 Michael Dorr–9 Mike Louwerse–25 Eriah Hayes
29 Eli Zuck–12 Rylan Galiardi–11 Corey Leivermann
15 J.P. Burkemper–19 Zach Lehrke–14 Justin Jokinen
24 Adam Mueller–26 Joe Schiller–7 John McInnis

16 Tyler Elbrecht–5 Ben Youds
28 Channing Boe–22 Kurt Davis
3 Cameron Cooper–17 Evan Mosey

1 Austin Lee
30 Phil Cook
35 Evan Karambelas

[link to MSUM stats]

Bruins trade Sturm to L.A. for 'nothing'...

The Boston Bruins needed to clear some cap space and they did so by trading one of their best defensive forwards Marco Sturm for future considerations to the L.A. Kings.

BOSTON, MA – Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that Boston has traded forward Marco Sturm to the Los Angeles Kings for future considerations. The trade is contingent upon Sturm passing a physical conducted by Los Angeles’ medical staff.

2010-11 marked Sturm’s 14th NHL season and sixth with the Bruins. The Dingolfing, Germany native is a veteran of 855 NHL games with 234 goals, 232 assists and 466 points and is the NHL’s all-time leader in those categories for German-born players.

In his Bruins career, the 32-year-old skated in 302 games with 106 goals and 87 assists for 193 points. He began this season on injured reserve after suffering a knee injury in Game One of the Bruins/Flyers Eastern Conference Semifinal series on Saturday, May 1, 2010.

The 21st overall pick in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Sturm was acquired by the Bruins from San Jose with Wayne Primeau and Brad Stuart for Joe Thornton on November 30, 2005.

I have seen where some think that the Boston Bruins will probably get some thing like a fifth round draft choice for the German. In my opinion the Bruins basically get nothing in return for him for a guy that scored 187 points in 300+ games. I would think the Bruins could have gotten something for a guy that scores 20 goals a season on a consistent basis.

The Sky is the limit for the Sioux in 2011...

I have dusted off an old tweet by Jayson Hajdu that he posted last January 12th. So I updated his numbers.

@UNDSID Jayson Hajdu --- UND is 49-36-9 before Christmas under Hakstol and 84-33-14 after. In 07-08, the Sioux won an amazing 20 games after the break.

So as of today the Sioux are now 61-41-11 before Christmas under Head Coach Dave Hakstol. With an impressive record in the first half of the season and the Sioux being a traditionally strong team in the second half the sky is the limit for this squad.

Sioux and Mavericks postponed till tomorrow

Well it's now official according to the MSU-M SID.

Mankato, Minn. --- Officials have announced that due to severe weather conditions in south central Minnesota, the Minnesota State vs. University of North Dakota men's hockey game, originally to be played Saturday beginning at 7:07 p.m., will now be played Sunday at 4:00 p.m.

The decision was made jointly after discussions were held with the Western Collegiate Hockey Association office and athletic administrators from both schools.

Linus Omark shootout goal

Check out this goal by Linus Omark the rookie from Sweden was playing in his first NHL game and he scored this highlight goal beauty to help the Edmonton Oilers win the shootout against the Tampa Bay Lighting.

Saturday Morning pontifications...

Edit: With his 16 goal of the season Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin is the leading goal scorer in the NCAA and second in the WCHA as well. Jason Zucker of Denver University has the leads the WCHA with 14 goals. As I mentioned last night, Frattin has 44 goals, 39 assist for 83 points for his career. Baring injury or some unforeseen issue; it's not a stretch that Matt Frattin will probably reach 100 points for his career if he stays on his current pace, as of right now he only need 17 points to break the 100 point mark.

Chay Genoway is regaining his scoring touch as leads all defenseman in the WCHA with (3g-10a-13pts).

Sophomore defenseman Aaron Dell is leading the WCHA with a 1.93.

Ryan Cardinal from Gopher Puck Live talks about college hockey on KFAN yesterday. [Click to listen]

Tonight's hockey game between the Minnesota Gophers and the Bulldogs has been postponed till tomorrow at 4:00 PM.

Due to the severe weather in the Twin Cities area, the men's hockey game scheduled for 7 p.m. tonight has been postpned. The game has been rescheduled for 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 12. Saturday tickets are good for Sunday.

Sounds like the Phoenix Coyotes might not become the Winnipeg Jets after all. Apparently they actually found someone stupid enough to buy the Coyotes and keep them in the Desert.

Coyotes suitor may get $100M Glendale deal covers most of team's price [Winnipeg Free Press]

THN.com Blog: Potential new owner doesn't make Phoenix a hockey market [Hockey News]

Former Michigan Wolverine defenseman Steven Kampfer will be making his second NHL start with the Boston Bruins. [Bruins Hockey Blog]

Tonight there is a silent auction taking place before and during the game. It's located on the 1st level of the Verizon Center in a banquet room. Make sure to check it out! There will be lots of hockey gear (including Sioux stuff.....like a Team USA Parise jersey!). The auction is being held by a family of a young hockey player that died from Leukemia several years ago. The money raised goes towards scholarships for kids to play hockey and juvenile cancer research. It's a great cause people, so I want to see all of you there and bidding on stuff! In addition to hockey items there will be lots of other stuff, like Twins tickets. Come check it out, it's a great place to pick up some nice Christmas presents! Help me get the word out on Sioux Sports and with other Sioux fans about the auction.

Former UND defenseman Matt Green is a shot blocking machine for the LA Kings.
Mentality Key In Getting The Greene Light To Block Shots [NHL.COM]

There has been some discussion about the Frattin hit on Andrew Sackrison. While as I mentioned earlier the video sucked it didn't appear to be a dirty hit. Here is what the Mankato beat writer Puckato had to say on the hit...

Notes: The Mavericks lost Andrew Sackrison for the game when he was hit by Frattin in the first period. Frattin was called for interference on the play. Sackrison received 10 stitches on his chin. No word on his return for Saturday. ... WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod attended the game.

Just for the record not every big hit or hit that results in a penalty where someone is hurt, shaken up is going to lead to a suspension or should it. I am afraid that the refs are going to call five minute penalties and a game misconduct every time someone is laid out on the ice with a vicious check.

Here is the Strength of Schedule rankings for games to date. Eight of the top ten teams are from the WCHA.

North Dakota 1 245.3
Bemidji State 2 230.9
Denver 3 205.0
Michigan Tech 4 197.7
Alaska-Anchorage 5 183.9
Minnesota-Duluth 6 182.9
Boston College 7 174.3
Notre Dame 8 173.9
Wisconsin 9 172.6
St. Cloud State 10 162.1
Yale 31 112.5

Sioux Hockey is the Biggest Joke on Earth!! (by LGM)- UPDATED!!

Nice title, huh? I totally did that to make fans mad so they would click on my post for sure:) I have some important information to get out to the Sioux fans attending tonight's game. Tonight there is a silent auction taking place before and during the game. It's located on the 1st level of the Verizon Center in a banquet room. Make sure to check it out! There will be lots of hockey gear (including Sioux stuff.....like a Team USA Parise jersey!). The auction is being held by a family of a young hockey player that died from Leukemia several years ago. The money raised goes towards scholarships for kids to play hockey and juvenile cancer research. It's a great cause people, so I want to see all of you there and bidding on stuff! In addition to hockey items there will be lots of other stuff, like Twins tickets. Come check it out, it's a great place to pick up some nice Christmas presents! Help me get the word out on Sioux Sports and with other Sioux fans about the auction.

Speaking of the auction, I'm thining of stealing my friend's game worn Marvin jersey for Sioux fans to bid on....since I know many of them would want it and wear it with PRIDE!! :) It's the one in the picture on this post...fancy, huh?

Ok, now that I hopefully got your attention about the auction I'll move onto a game summary.

So, the Mavs lost 4-3. It was a way closer game. Really, the Mavs played with or at times better than the Sioux for all but 7 minutes of the game. Of course in the 7 minutes the Sioux took advantage of the Mavs.

I was completely shocked when the Mavs scored first and then almost fell over when they had a 2-0 lead. Of course that meant "Ole Bitch!" text messages to Goon. Gotta rub it in, since I knew it wouldn't last.

For the most part the game was pretty clean. There were a few cheap shots from the usual Sioux suspects (MacWilliam & Blood) and some scrum going on. Oddly the Mav mixing it up with them was Ben Youds. That's very unlike him so obviously the Sioux were getting under Youds' skin...so that could make tonight's game interesting.

The only play I had a real issue with was when Frattin did a dirty hit on Andy Sackrison. The refs called it interference, which it so was not. However, we all know the refs never get the calls right. I haven't heard an update on Sackrison but I have a feeling he'll be out of tonight's game. This makes LGM a very unhappy gal, since she's a big Sackrison fan. Dirty little Frattin. I should go find him and kick his butt!

Of course Lammy was up to his typical jawjacking and cheap hits after the whistle. If our student section really knew details of hockey they would chant "Brad Miller Time Sucks!" and have signs just to annoy that kid. However, that would require knowing about hockey and not beer!!

Let's see...what else to summarize? Perhaps I should have written this last night when it was all fresh in my mind! Um, well the reffing....well, wasn't BAD. That's saying a lot. Of course they missed some stuff and called some BS calls each way but overall didn't do a horrid job. That's good because it made for a good hockey game that wasn't stop and go and overly dirty.

So, we'll see what tonight brings. I'm not really expecting the Mavs to win but if they play like last night, it's possible. To win though they need to do two things different, not let Genoway skate circles around them and not let big ass Sioux players camp out in front of Cook. I hate when they let players camp out in front of the goalie. Ugh! For some reason the Mav D always let the other teams do that. It's GOT to stop. That's exactly why the Sioux got a couple of goals. It's damn hard to see with some big dude in front of you!

Ok, that's all I have for today.....GO MAVS!

Oh and for the Sioux fans (ahem, GOON!) that think the Frattin hit was clean on Sackrison, Sackrison got 10 stitches in his chin from the hit to the head. Really clean there buddy! Don't be surprised if he gets a suspension for it, as McLeod is at the games this weekend and watching things. Ya know, if you can't get it right the first time let the bigger dumbass come in and hand out punishment later!

Sioux 4 Purple Cows 3

Thanks to B2tvNetwork I was able to see the game, for this I am very thankful. Thanks to B2tvNetwork, the broadcast wasn't very good, you really couldn't see the puck or the numbers on the players very well. From what I could deduced from the broadcast it also looked like the ice wasn't very good tonight as well, the puck appeared to be bouncing and the players from both teams looked like they were tripping over the blue lines.

It would be an understatement if I said that the Fighting Sioux came out sluggish to start the first period of tonight's game. The Sioux got behind early as the Mavericks forward Eriah Hayes score just 48 seconds into the first period. Things weren’t looking much better as the Mavericks senior defenseman Kurt Davis followed up the Hayes goal his 5th goal of the year at the 6:47 mark of the first period.

The Mavericks then took three straight untimely penalties and the Sioux finally cashed in on a 6 on 4 power play with a goal by senior defenseman Chay Genoway at 19:16 mark of the first period. From there the Fighting Sioux were out shot and out played in the second period by the Mavericks before the Sioux finally got their feet moving and methodically took over the game and scored three more goals in the third period. Mankato scored late in the game to make it close at 4-3 but couldn't get the game tying goal.

Fast start for the Sioux?

With the win the Fighting Sioux are temporarily in first place in the WCHA standings. Also, with the win the Sioux have one of the best start under head hockey coach Dave Hakstol.

Matt Frattin on Fire

Fighting Sioux forward Matt Frattin has been on fire since the second game of the Wisconsin series in Madison, Wisconsin on November 13th, 2010. Frattin has scored (8g-7a-15pts) in eight games. Frattin now has (44g-39a-83pts) for his career and has a chance a good chance of cracking the 100 point mark for his career if he keeps playing at this pace.

[Official Box Score]

Goon's three stars of the game

1.) Matt Frattin, UND (1g-2a-3pts)
2.) Brad Malone, UND (0g-2a-2pts)
3.) Corbin Knight, UND (0g-2a-2pts)

Lines for Sioux and Mavs

In a previous blog post by Redwing77, we discussed this weekend’s Fighting Sioux line up; as Fighting Sioux Hockey coach Dave Hakstol had mentioned during the Wednesday Fighting Sioux Coaches Show that the line up would be the same as last weekend. That's the line up that the Sioux coaches have posted for tonight's game... I suppose this is the line up we will see for this weekend's games barring any unforeseen injuries... Genoway and Nelson are in the line up and like last weekend Brett Hextall and Jason Gregiore are out of the line up again tonight. Here is the line up card as posted by Brad Schlossman.

UND’s lines

19 Evan Trupp–22 Brad Malone–21 Matt Frattin
25 Jake Marto–10 Corban Knight–7 Danny Kristo
15 Brent Davidson–9 Mario Lamoureux–27 Carter Rowney
8 Mike Cichy–29 Brock Nelson–11 Derek Rodwell

24 Ben Blood–5 Chay Genoway
2 Andrew MacWilliam–4 Derek Forbort
3 Derrick LaPoint–18 Dillon Simpson

32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness

MSU-Mankato’s lines

23 Michael Dorr–21 Andrew Sackrison–25 Eriah Hayes
20 Chase Grant–12 Rylan Galiardi–9 Mike Louwerse
15 J.P. Burkemper–29 Eli Zuck–14 Justin Jokinen
24 Adam Mueller–26 Joe Schiller–11 Corey Leivermann

16 Tyler Elbrecht–5 Ben Youds
28 Channing Boe–22 Kurt Davis
3 Cameron Cooper–2 Josh Nelson

30 Phil Cook
1 Austin Lee
35 Evan Karambelas

Hot or Not (by LGM)

For old times sake I decided to do a Hot or Not. While many people get all jacked up about it, it's just plain old good humor and done in fun. Lighten up Sioux fans and don't take the post too seriously!! Also, please tell your fearful leader Hak to take the coat hanger out of his suit coat before putting it on. Seriously, could that guy look more stiff?!?

HOT:

Jason Gregoire- finally a nice looking boy on the Sioux roster!

Brett Hextall- ah, the reason the ladies really watch Brad Miller Time.

Brad Eidsness- not bad, but I'm sure he's weird as hell since he's a goalie.

JUST OK:

Andrew MacWilliam- there's nothing special or hideous about this kid. One of my funniest Sioux stories involves him though. Last year at the SCSU/MSU playoffs I was sitting by a NHL scout. I had put WCHA mobile on his Blackberry for him and I was showing him how to use it. Anyways, so we were looking at the scores and he said "Big Ben Blood scored for UND." I said "Yeah, he's a big kid alright. He said "And mean!" and I said "And dumb! Seriously, how many times has that kid been hit in the head?!?" I then went on to say "but, he's not as big of a goon as that MacWilliam kid...what a hack!" That's when the scout said "oh yeah, he's ours!" OOPS!

Derek Forbort- this guy has nothing special about him, other than he's trying to rock a faux Justin Bieber sideswept hairstyle!

Mario Lamoureux- the only good thing about Lammy is when he wears tight shirts on Brad Miller Time. Nice faux hawk by the way. Give it up, there's only one blonde hockey player that can rock that look, and that's Chris Clarky!

Dillon Simpson- are hockey players even allowed to style their hair as much as this kid does?

Evan Trupp- kinda looks young, like he probably still plays with matchbox cars in his free time!

Ryan Hill- this kid oddly looks a little like Channing Boe. Perhaps they're long lost cousins?

NOT:

Derrick LaPoint- I think we've found the brother to the creepy actor that plays the brother of Rachael McAdams in The Wedding Crashers.

Chay Genoway- is this Hak's long lost son?

Danny Kristo- perhaps he's a long lost Jutting relative?

Mike Cichy- ha! Pretty sure this kid is trying to be like "The Situation". Nice look on his face.

Corban Knight- why is his face lopsided?

Derek Rodwell- yikes, looks like he waxes his eyebrows. Just imagine how he would look if he didn't!

Brett Bruneteau- looks like this kid is trying to pull off some Vince Vaughn look with the hair...very unsuccessful!

Brent Davidson- good thing the pictures are taken of their fronts only, so you can see his big hunchback. Seriously, did they pick him up as an extra on the set of the "Monsters"?

Joe Gleason- you know it's a bad sign when people can tell how big your nose is from a front facing picture! Though, he does a nice howling impression of his dog on "Brad Miller Time"!

Matt Frattin- he looks like an extra from an 80's movie.

Brad Malone- don't kid yourself, this kid has changed his name. His real last name is Jutting. Just look at the face and hair...he's a Juttz for sure!

Ben Blood- HA! You can see how dumb this kid is just by looking at him. Look into his eyes...all you see is blank space!

Jake Marto- pretty sure he's part albino.

Carter Rowney- did this kid smoke a bowl before the pictures?!? I bet he wants an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas! :)

Brock Nelson- ok, now we know who Carter was smoking up with before pictures! WOW!

Aaron Dell- um, was this picture taken at the morgue? He looks like a corpse.

Tate Maris- ick. Seriously, what happened to the days when the Sioux had lots of good looking boys?

So, there ya have it folks....the famous Hot or Not. The Sioux did not fare well this year at all. They need to step up their game in the looks department!

Now...bring on the haters in the comments!! :)

Sioux and Mavericks ready to dance...

This video should get you in the mood for tonight's WCHA series between the UND Fighting Sioux and the Purples Cows Mavericks from Mankato Minnesota State University Mankato... While this series is always hard fought and contested the Sioux have been very successful as of late against the MSU-M Mavericks. The UND Fighting Sioux have won five straight games against the Purple Cows in the series and sport an impressive 14-1-1 record the last sixteen games against the Mavericks.

This is the first time the Mavericks and the Fighting Sioux have played in Mankato since 2008. That was also the last time the Sioux lost a game to the Mavericks.

There is a history between the two teams and the games are always entertaining. I don't think we are going to see two players face off and drop the mitts at the drop of the puck. [click to view UND's Kaip vs MSUM Trevor Bruess]

Tonight's game is not on TV and can be viewed by logging on to the B2TV Network.
[ Click to watch the game]. Each game will cost you 7 dollars to watch.

All the time Yale

Keeping with everything Yale here is the link to the Podcast with Ken Schotts who is one of the best in the business for the ECAC and one of our favorite ECAC USCHO writers Brian Sullivan. [Click to listen to the podcast]

Weekend Match-Ups (by Sioux 7)

There was a full stale of WCHA series last weekend and we have a full slate again this weekend. The biggest surprise last weekend, in my book, was the Beavers sweeping the UNO Mavericks in Bemidji. Another surprise was the MSU Mavericks sweeping the visiting Gophers. MSUM made the most of coming home after not playing in front of the home town crowd since Oct. 23rd. The middle of the standings is jam packed this week, with only 2 points separating 5th from 10th place. A sweep by any of those teams this weekend would help them in the race for home ice after Christmas break.

There is only one WCHA series next week, so how about a Top Twelve list this week?

12. The number of drinks I had last Friday night :)
11. Years since the league last expanded (MSUM in 99-00)
10. Number of sub-par refs in the league
9. The number of wins both UMD and UND
8. Number of losses MTU has in the WCHA season
7. Number of NCAA titles North Dakota and Denver each have
6. Is how many teams will be in St. Paul come March 17th 2011
6. The number of tie games this season in the WCHA
4. WCHA teams in the USCHO top ten poll
3. Points is all MTU has this season
2. “Number 2” is often associated with refereeing in this league
1. Where UMD is sitting in this week’s WCHA standings

WCHA standings

TEAM……………...W-L-T...Pts
1. Minnesota-Duluth....9-2-1…19
2. North Dakota………9-3-0…18
3. Denver……………...8-3-1…17
4. Nebraska-Omaha…6-3-1…13
5. Minnesota…………..5-6-1…11
6. Colorado College…..5-5-0…10
6. Minnesota State…...4-6-2…10
6. Wisconsin…………..4-6-2…10
9. Alaska-Anchorage...4-7-1…9
9. Bemidji State……….4-7-1…9
11. St. Cloud State….....3-6-1…7
12. Michigan Tech……..1-8-1…3

WCHA

#9 Denver @ Alaska Anchorage
Last weekend the Pioneers split with the Bulldogs in Duluth and the Seawolves split with Wisconsin in Anchorage.

The Pioneers have a 3-3-1 record on the road this year and the Seawolves have a 3-3-2 record at home in the Sullivan Arena. The Seawolves have had problems scoring goals this season they have only netted 24 goals in 12 WCHA games, or 2.0 goals per game. The Pioneers just need to play solid defense and limit UAA’s chances and they should come out of Alaska with some points. The Seawolves have to find ways to score when they get the opportunity, if they want to stay in the middle of the pack. UAA always plays well at home and it’s a long trip for visiting teams.
SPLIT


Bemidji State @ #16 Wisconsin
Last weekend the Beavers swept the UNO Mavericks in Bemidji and the Badgers split with the Seawolves in Anchorage.

These teams are only separated by one point in the standings and both are on the wrong side of five hundred. The Beavers should have plenty of confidence heading into the weekend after their surprising wins over UNO, I just hope they aren’t over-confident. The Beavers only have one road win and that was over SCSU in overtime. The Badgers need to get some home wins, one for the points and two for their fans. After this series, UW only has 3 (MSUM, UM, CC) more WCHA home series (which are after Christmas break).
BADGERS 3-pts


Colorado College @ St. Cloud State
Last weekend the Tigers swept the MTU Huskies in Houghton and the SCSU Huskies were swept by the Sioux in Grand Forks.

Last year when these two played in Colorado Springs they split SCSU won 5-4 and then CC won 6-4. I hope this year there are many goals scored, why, because they are fun and exciting games to watch. The Huskies are getting in desperate need of points, if they want to keep in the race for home ice come March. The Tigers are right in the thick of things, in the standings, with points and they have two games in hand on the other teams around them. The Huskies need to find some ways of generating more offense, and if they can do that they should win some more games and start climbing the standings.
SPLIT


Michigan Tech @ #10 Nebraska-Omaha (Thursday/Friday)
Last weekend the Huskies were swept by the Tigers in Houghton and the Mavericks were swept by the Beavers in Bemidji.

Is their trouble in Omaha, has their luck run out, was it too good to be true? The Mavericks have lost 3 of their last 4 games. The good news is they are playing the worst team in the league; it looks like their luck may have already returned. UNO needs to put goals on the scoreboard this weekend since they only have 2 in their last 3 games. The Huskies have given up a league high 47 goals in 10 games, you do the math for goals against average. Sorry Tech fans but it looks like your beloved Huskies will remain in the basement over the Christmas break.
MAVERICKS Sweep


#2 Minnesota-Duluth @ Minnesota
Last weekend the Bulldogs split with the Pioneers in Duluth and the Gophers were sweep by the MSU-Mavericks in Mankato.

The Gophers need to get off to a good start in these games if they want to win, that means they can’t afford to spot the Bulldogs a two or three goal lead in the first period. If the Gophers can do that, they should be able to compete and maybe beat the Bulldogs. For the visiting Bulldogs, they want just the opposite, get a few quick goals get the crowd out of it, and put it on cruise control. These are last games for the Gophers before Christmas they don’t play again until New Years Eve, after these games. That said they need some points to solidify their place in the standings before Christmas. The Gophers need to play good defense and get some timely saves this weekend for them to get a home win or two.
SPLIT


#5 North Dakota @ Minnesota State
Last weekend the Sioux swept the SCSU Huskies in Grand Forks and Mavericks swept the Gophers in Mankato.

The Mavericks have an overall home record at 3-1-2 and the Sioux are good on the road, 5-3-1 overall (2 loses at Maine). However, records don’t always tell you the whole story. The Sioux got their first home sweep of the season last weekend, while missing 2/3 of their top line. UND has typically had slow starts to the season under coach Hakstol, but not this year. And if they go on a second half run, which has been the norm the past few years, they could win the WCHA’s MacNaughton Cup come March. The Sioux need to play their game this weekend, solid defense, puck control, and good passing, if they want to continue their winning ways. The Mavericks need their goalie to have another spectacular weekend, if they want to win. They also need to generate some offensive chances, since UND is leading the league in goals allowed.
SIOUX 3-pts

Thursday morning ramblings… Outdoor games and Yale

Wow! There is going to be another college hockey game aka the "Big Chill" that will be played outdoors on Saturday at 3:00 pm Eastern Standard time at the Big House in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Yawn! Boring! I can’t be the only one that is bored with this concept, hockey wasn't made to be played in a football stadium.

I mean seriously folks, I want to watch a game in a massive football stadium, when it’s cold and I can’t see the ice or the puck very well because I am watching the game with 85,000 of my closest friends up in the clouds. I think we have played these outdoor games Ad nauseam. I am actually surprised that no one has suggested the Sioux play a hockey game in Memorial Stadium with its about a bazillion below zero. I wonder if your beer freezes.



If you're interested in watching the game, this farce will be on the Big Ten Network on Saturday at 2:00 pm North Dakota time. Here is the link(s) to the story [click to read]

There is a lot of discussion on the internet about whether Yale is a good team or not and worthy of the number one ranking. Ok, first off Yale has beaten the schedule they have been given, kudos to them; however, let’s look at who the Yale Bulldogs have beaten this season – Brown (24.4990) , Dartmouth (21.9230), Princeton (17.3212), Quinnipiac (12.9341), Colorado College (30.4469), Cornell (11.5612), Colgate (9.4471), Sacred Heart (7.7867), Rensselaer (22.8393), Union (21.3074) and Vermont (28.7114). The Yale Bulldogs lost to a very bad Air Force Academy (13.3756).

So let me get this right the pollsters are impressed with Yale beating up on the weak sisters of the poor and have ranked them number one in all three polls/rankings because of this. Go back and look at the Yale Bulldogs Strength of Schedule of the teams that they have played to date. I would like to see what kind of numbers power house teams like UMD, UND, DU, BU and Boston College could rack up against that line up of cup cakes. I don't know how anyone can say it with a straight face that the aforementioned schedule is a good schedule.

Ken Schott one of the best beat writers in the ECAC; has gone so far to say that he thinks Yale is going to be in the Frozen Four. That's a pretty bold statment to make based on who Yale has played this season.

Yale came close to making the Frozen Four last season. The Bulldogs have an outstanding offense, and they are tough to start. But the one area of the Bulldogs' game that held them back was their defense, and their goaltending, in particular. Yale used four goalies last season, and none of them established themselves as the go-to guy. The lack of a No. 1 goalie hurt the Bulldogs in their Northeast Regional championship game against Boston College. Yale scored seven goals, but three of its goalies couldn't stop the Eagles from getting nine goals and advancing to the Frozen Four, where they won the title.

Yale was a solid pick to win the ECACH regular-season title in the coaches and media polls. But I couldn't help but think if goaltending would be a problem again for the Bulldogs.

Well, after watching Yale's 5-0 dismantling of Union on Sunday at Ingalls Rink, I am not afraid to predict this: The Bulldogs will play in the Frozen Four in April.

Love his work, but I am going to have to respectfully disagree with him. I think Yale will be another ECAC team that will be selected as a number one seed in the NCAA tourney that ends up being a first round one and done bust, like Clarkson was in 2007 NCAA tourney. I really think that until a team from the ECAC "actually" wins an NCAA tourney and starts beating legit big time teams from the WCHA, CCHA and or Hockey East on a regular basis they will never really be looked at as anything but the EZAC. I also think that analogy is fair as well.

I also think that people are basing what happened in last years NCAA tourney as a gauge of what could happen in this years tourney. I don't know if you can do that. It is what it is; when the Sioux played Yale last year in the playoffs, the UND Fighting Sioux had played six games in nine days when they faced the Yale Bulldogs who had lost in their conference homes series and didn't play for two weeks and were well rested. I think if UND has played two less games that game would have had a very different result, the Sioux also started to come back in the third period and just missed on a couple of opportunities to tie the game up. Who knows what happens if that games goes to overtime?

Just for the record here is the Strength of Schedule for the 2010-2011 season so far.

Strength of schedules:
Yale. 31/ 19.7909
UMD 4/ 35.4840
UNH 23/ 23.7116
BC 6/ 32.3048
UND 1/ 50.0000
DU 2/ 40.6433

Redwing77's MSUM vs. UND Pontifications

Instead of simply making this a comment on the previous blog post, I decided to react to it AND give my thoughts on the upcoming series.

The Mav Sweep Video React

This is what I saw when I watched the video:

1. Most of the Mav goals came out of Gopher defensive breakdowns. Good teams capitalize on opposition mistakes and the Mavs did that. However, our defense is much better than Minnesota's. Jutting won't have the ability to walk into the arena on Friday knowing that John "Sucks at all things Hockey" Hill will not be there. If Jutting plays us like they played Minnesota, we'll beat them hands down.

2. 2 of the goals that were scored were flat out weak. The one on Friday where Kangas(?) was hugging the post was weak as all get out and the one on Saturday where Patterson decided not to simply smother the puck but rather attempt to pick it up simply elevated the puck enough for the Mavs player to lift it over his shoulder and into the net. W-E-A-K. Hopefully Patterson at least got an assist on the goal.

3. MSUM came into the season with the media convinced that their defense and goaltending are going to be average and their offense nonexistent. I was convinced of this as well. I don't feel like they'll be competing for home ice by the end of the season. However, they're not as bad as what was forecast...at least at this time.

UND SHOULD sweep MSUM but that doesn't mean much. UND has had tendencies the past few years to not take "bottom dwellers" all that seriously. UAA has gotten the better of UND several times because of this. And MSUM could benefit from that this weekend if UND isn't careful. The matter will be made easier by Gregoire and Hextall being out.

If Nelson and Genoway are also out, things will get a bit rocky. You can't sit here and say that losing your top D, top F, top gritty forward, and an up and coming freshman won't affect the team. However, if we do lose, it won't be because of injuries. Our team is too stacked for that excuse.

Assuming Nelson and Genoway are out, here's what I'd expect:

19 Evan Trupp–22 Brad Malone–21 Matt Frattin
11 Derek Rodwell*–10 Corban Knight–7 Danny Kristo
15 Brent Davidson–9 Mario Lamoureux–27 Carter Rowney
13 Brett Bruneteau*-8 Mike Cichy*-20 Joe Gleason

24 Ben Blood - 4 Derek Forbort
3 Derrick LaPoint - 25 Jake Marto
2 Andrew MacWilliam - 18 Dillon Simpson

32 Aaron Dell
31 Brad Eidsness

* - Note: Ok, I'm not really sure who would play left wing on the second line. It would either be Cichy or they'd fit someone in. I like Rodwell and I think he'd be a good fit if he can play left wing. Since Cichy played left wing this season in the past, it would be an easy fit. If Cichy did move up to the 2nd line, then 4th line center would be a question mark. I thought Cichy and Bruneteau have played center in the past (either at UND or in juniors) but I can't remember. So, it just as easily could be either of the two taking faceoffs.

I have no information about Nelson or Genoway and I'm optimistic (while being in the dark) that both will play. However, I'm not sure how strong our 4th line will be if Nelson is out. Yeah, his offensive numbers haven't been outstanding, but he's played solid.


My prediction: Too variable at this time to guess. however, like I said, we should be able to sweep them. However, MSUM's home arena has given us fits in the past and MSUM is playing very well right now.

Thoughts?

Sioux and Mavericks up next...

[s/t Puckato] Here are some highlights of the UND Fighting Sioux's next opponent the Minnesota State University Mankato Mavericks, aka the Purple Cows. I expect the Sioux forwards to get more opportunities in the slot than the Gopher forwards did and I expect the Sioux will get the Maverick goaltender Phil Cook's feet moving more than the Gophers did this past weekend. This should get you in the mood for this weekend's series.

The Sioux have had a successful winning streak against the Mavericks as of late the Sioux have won 5 straight, and have an impressive 12-1-1 record against the Mavericks the last 14 games. Do records mean anything this weekend? Nope! Not at all. It does not guarantee success for this weekend series against the Mavericks, however, the Sioux should be ready for tough opponent that plays every game like it’s a wounded animal. The Sioux better expect to be ready for a buzz saw where ever inch of the ice is contested. I also think that anything less that 3-4 points is unacceptable.