BUFFALO – Dan Marouelli, the IIHF`s appointed Disciplinary Single Judge, handed out suspensions totalling six additional games to three players for flagrant violations in games played yesterday.In reviewing the video its safe to conclude that Dan Marouelli, of the IIHF`s made the right decision in severely punishing the offending Slovak players. From the drop of the puck you could tell that the Slovaks were going to play a dirty game and were out to get their pound of flesh.
The Slovakia-United States game produced five of those games to two Slovaks, the heaviest suspension going to Martin Marincin (three games). Peter Hrasko received two additional games while Canada's Zack Kassian got one extra game.
The IIHF has very specific rules regarding dangerous hits. These are not limited just to the head but to the neck area as well, which is defined by that part of the body above the collarbone and shoulder pads (i.e., unprotected areas).
All players were automatically given one-game suspensions for their match penalties for a hit to the head and neck area. Here are the details for each violation.
Slovakia’s Martin Marincin was assessed a further three-game suspension (four games in total) by the IIHF for his hit to the head and neck area on American forward Jason Zucker with 7:51 left in the third period of the United States-Slovakia game on December 28.
In making his assessment, Marouelli analyzed the play on DVD. As well, he received a verbal report from the IIHF’s medical staff and discussed the play with the referee supervisor and the chairman of the championship.
Some of the criteria used to make this decision included the distance travelled by Marincin to deliver the hit. In Marouelli’s opinion, this was a premeditated act as the puck had long left the vicinity of the play. Marincin took advantage of a defenceless and unsuspecting opponent and deliberately targeted the head and neck area, resulting in an injury to Zucker.
Slovakia’s Peter Hrasko was assessed a further two-game suspension (three games in total) by the IIHF for his hit to the head and neck area on American forward Jerry D’Amigo.
In making his assessment, Marouelli analyzed the play on DVD. As well, he received a verbal report from the IIHF’s medical staff and discussed the play with the referee supervisor and the chairman of the championship.
Hrasko deliberately targeted the head of the American player, using his elbow and upper arm to deliver the blow and causing D’Amigo to be thrown violently into the boards. As a result, D’Amigo struck his head against the glass, sustaining an injury... [Read the Rest of the article]
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
The IIHF throws the book at Slovakia hack’s Martin Marincin and Peter Hrasko
I applaud the IIHF for throwing the book at the two Slovaks and giving Martin Marincin three additional games and Peter Hrasko two additional games for their bush league hits during their game with team USA…
Can SCSU finally beat Miami?
October 8th 2005 UND 3 Miami 0
October 6th 2006 Miami 5 DU 2
December 27, 2007 Miami 2 SCSU 1 O.T.
March 27, 2009 Miami 4 DU 2
March 28, 2009 Miami 2 UMD 1
October 09, 2009 Miami 3 SCSU 2 O.T.
October 10, 2009 Miami 2 SCSU 0
November 28, 2009 UND 5 Miami 5 O.T.
October 15, 2010 Miami 6 SCSU 3
October 16, 2010 Miami 1 SCSU 1 O.T.
[Goon's World]
Another example of Slovakian Thuggery.
s/t to Bruce Ciskie here is the hit of Slovakia player Peter Hrasko as he smoked Jerry D'Amigo of team USA with a dirty elbow, notice taht Hrasko leaves his feet to hit D'Amingo in the head... Maybe this guy should get an extra game as well.
Were the Slovaks looking for revenge?
In reading the awesome WJC blog United States of Hockey, Chris Peters speculates that maybe the Slovaks were seeking revenge on USA Forward Jason Zucker for his hit on Martin Stajnoch during the 2010 WJC... In looking at the video of Zucker hit on Stajnoch it appears to be a legal shoulder to shoulder hit, so maybe the Slovaks need to learn how to take a hit and play with in the confines of the rules.
The United States of Hockey --- As a side note, you may recall this hit delivered by Zucker at last year’s World Junior Championship. The U.S. Men’s National Under-18 Team played Slovakia’s under-18 squad in an exhibition prior to last year’s IIHF World Under-18 Championship in Belarus. During that game, it was noticeable that the Slovakian players were out to get Zucker. One of my fellow Team USA staffers quipped, at the time, that the extra attention was perhaps retaliation for the hit at the WJC. Maybe it was, I can’t be certain. However, Martin Marincin delivered a deliberate knee-on-knee hit to Zucker that earned Marincin a major penalty and game misconduct (Here’s that game’s box score). So yeah, there’s a history.There is one thing about hockey if the score is out of hand you can expect the game to get rough, even in international play. I guess if you can't beat the opposition on the score board you start taking liberties against the opposition, last night the USA outshot the Slovaks 22-1 in the first period, so maybe the Slovaks should concentrate on getting pucks on net and playing instead of trying to injury other players. What a bunch of classless hack and they are a disgrace to the game of hockey…
Slovak Hack Martin Marincin's dirty hit on Team USA's Jason Zucker
I dare someone to defend the play of Slovak defenseman Martin Marincin... There is no excuse for this kind of play in the WJC or in level of hockey. Personally, I thought that the Slovak WJC team played very dirty hockey from the drop of the first puck till the end of the game the Slovak defenseman Martin Marincin should be suspended for the rest of the tourney for this bush league hit. The Slovak hockey team is lucky that fighting isn't allowed in the WJC.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Potential vs. Current Development, a RW77 Rant
Ok, I am feeling rantish today and I'm in need of some enlightenment from the reader base.
On and on throughout my online fandom, I've read post after post about fans expectations of collegiate players based upon draft status and position. I find this extremely laughable.
Here's my rant:
Draft position, or even the fact they were drafted, is only marginally relevant to the college game. It's not even all that relevant towards junior player-rostered international competition. Why?
The NHL is always trying to draft for "now" talent, but it's not all that often that there are those sitting around beyond, say, the top 5 picks overall, and that's not always the case even so. Those who are good enough for the NHL when they are drafted are usually signed by the NHL right away. There are exceptions, sure, but for the most part, they are drafted based upon potential... or what they're predicted to develop into.
With this in mind, it's amazing on how people can base whether or not a player has done well or is living up to expectations based upon when they were drafted. If they weren't drafted at all, then there is no such expectation. Talk about hypocrisy.
The most recent example is the fact that Finland hung in there with the US WJC team despite the US having more draft picks on the team. What does that have to do with anything?
Sure, the American players have a higher potential towards professional play according to NHL Scouts, but that's hardly what's being graded at the WJC. Remember, Herb Brooks had the option to put even "better" players on his 1980 Olympic team than he did, but he did not. Craig, the goaltender, IIRC, wasn't the best goaltender available to Brooks at the time. BTW, Craig didn't have an altogether stellar pro career either.
Why is draft stock held in so much higher regard towards expectation than the players' current level of development?
I'm reminded of the former Wild GM Risebrough (sp?) who talked about the potential of his team being the key to his system. Yet, year after year, the Wild sucked. Why? Because potential relates directly to the future... a future that isn't guaranteed, just predicted. Teams that want to win NOW sign players who are able to produce NOW. Much like why the Red Wings are so successful as of late. Yeah, they are older than the sky but their potential has been realized and Babcock can better assigned them into roles within the team that should bring the most success.
College Hockey deals almost exclusively in players who have not yet reached their potential. In fact, if they did before they reached DI, they're typically on the watch for being busts... (See Mike Fink, Sioux fans). Yet, if an NCAA player is drafted, especially if it is in the first round, they are expected to be absolute monsters right away. If they're not, or play differently than the expectations the fans build on them, they're usually criticized, more often or not, unfairly so.
It's one of the main challenges of being college fans. We want our players to play fantastic, win it all, etc. We bang our heads against the wall when the NHL takes notice and signs them early. But if the player takes a normal developmental curve, they're open for criticism for not being as good as a player who bolted early.
So what is it? Allow the players to play their game at the current developmental rate and criticize them according to their play or let draft status cloud our judgment and grade them according to what they should be X years down the road today?
It seems rather harsh to me.
On and on throughout my online fandom, I've read post after post about fans expectations of collegiate players based upon draft status and position. I find this extremely laughable.
Here's my rant:
Draft position, or even the fact they were drafted, is only marginally relevant to the college game. It's not even all that relevant towards junior player-rostered international competition. Why?
The NHL is always trying to draft for "now" talent, but it's not all that often that there are those sitting around beyond, say, the top 5 picks overall, and that's not always the case even so. Those who are good enough for the NHL when they are drafted are usually signed by the NHL right away. There are exceptions, sure, but for the most part, they are drafted based upon potential... or what they're predicted to develop into.
With this in mind, it's amazing on how people can base whether or not a player has done well or is living up to expectations based upon when they were drafted. If they weren't drafted at all, then there is no such expectation. Talk about hypocrisy.
The most recent example is the fact that Finland hung in there with the US WJC team despite the US having more draft picks on the team. What does that have to do with anything?
Sure, the American players have a higher potential towards professional play according to NHL Scouts, but that's hardly what's being graded at the WJC. Remember, Herb Brooks had the option to put even "better" players on his 1980 Olympic team than he did, but he did not. Craig, the goaltender, IIRC, wasn't the best goaltender available to Brooks at the time. BTW, Craig didn't have an altogether stellar pro career either.
Why is draft stock held in so much higher regard towards expectation than the players' current level of development?
I'm reminded of the former Wild GM Risebrough (sp?) who talked about the potential of his team being the key to his system. Yet, year after year, the Wild sucked. Why? Because potential relates directly to the future... a future that isn't guaranteed, just predicted. Teams that want to win NOW sign players who are able to produce NOW. Much like why the Red Wings are so successful as of late. Yeah, they are older than the sky but their potential has been realized and Babcock can better assigned them into roles within the team that should bring the most success.
College Hockey deals almost exclusively in players who have not yet reached their potential. In fact, if they did before they reached DI, they're typically on the watch for being busts... (See Mike Fink, Sioux fans). Yet, if an NCAA player is drafted, especially if it is in the first round, they are expected to be absolute monsters right away. If they're not, or play differently than the expectations the fans build on them, they're usually criticized, more often or not, unfairly so.
It's one of the main challenges of being college fans. We want our players to play fantastic, win it all, etc. We bang our heads against the wall when the NHL takes notice and signs them early. But if the player takes a normal developmental curve, they're open for criticism for not being as good as a player who bolted early.
So what is it? Allow the players to play their game at the current developmental rate and criticize them according to their play or let draft status cloud our judgment and grade them according to what they should be X years down the road today?
It seems rather harsh to me.
T.J. Oshie to return in late January?
The St Louis Blues got some encouraging news, it appears that former Fighting Sioux forward T.J. Oshie might be eying a possible return at the end of January, that would be good news for the Blues. T.J. Oshie was hurt November 10th during a scrum in the third period of a game where the Blues were down 8-1 in the game, Oshie lost his balance and fell backwards with his ankle pinned under his weight breaking his ankle.
NHL Hockey --- Blues forward T.J. Oshie could return to the lineup as early as late January, according to Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong.
Armstrong made the announcement to members of the media on Tuesday after the team's gameday skate.
"Oshie is doing very well. He's been out skating the last week or so I'd say and he's progressing very well," Armstrong said. "With his work ethic and his healing and the way he's been, we're comfortable that (his return) somewhere around the All-Star break is a realistic goal for us."
Oshie was injured in the Nov. 10 game vs. Columbus and was originally projected to be out of the lineup until at least mid-February with a broken ankle. But Armstrong said an early return is possible thanks to Oshie's positive attitude off the ice.
Is Chris Osgood worthy of the Hall of Fame?
I think the table has been set for the discussion that is about to follow. Chris Osgood is 10th all time in wins, most of the people above him on the list are in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Lets break it down further - (3) Thee Stanley Cups 1997, 1998, 2008, (400) four hundred wins, Osgood has played in 742 NHL game has a .905 save percentage and a 2.49 goals against average, in the Stanley Cup Playoffs Osgood has played in 129 games .916 save percentage and a goals against average of 2.09. Just for comparison sake Grant Fuhr played in 868 games had a not so impressive 3.38 goals against average and .887 save percentage and he was inducted into the hall of game in 2003. In my opinion it kind of sounds like Osgood had a NHL Hall of Fame career to me...
1 MARTIN BRODEUR 607
2 Patrick Roy 551
3 Ed Belfour 484
4 Curtis Joseph 454
5 Terry Sawchuk 447
6 Jacques Plante 437
7 Tony Esposito 423
8 Glenn Hall 407
9 Grant Fuhr 403
10 CHRIS OSGOOD 400
[ESPN]
Monday, December 27, 2010
Maybe it's not so easy, Colorado Avalanche - Claude Lemieux
All THINGS AVS ---- Clutterbuck is who he is. A hit-and-run artist. A trash talker. A guy who has no problem catching you with a big hit, as long as your back is turned or you have no time to react from the front. If you want to get him back, he’s going to cover up, play possum, and hope you draw a penalty. And a lot of his defenders point out that he leads the league in hits every year, but also has low penalty minutes – which kind of makes my point. He’s trying to artificially jack up his hit total, but doesn’t want to back anything up with a fight or two.Personally, I find it funny because the Avalanche don’t have the moral high ground in this situation. One could say that the Av's fans have short memories eh? Rewind to 1996 when the Colorado Avalanche employed one of the most disgusting players to ever wear a uniform in the NHL, that pukes/hacks name was Claude Lemieux. On May During the 1996 Stanley Cup Playoffs Lemieux hit Chris Drapper face first into the dasher causing him to suffer a broken jaw, broken nose, broken cheekbone, and a concussion… I don’t remember an incident where Cal Clutterbuck has committed an act of aggression like that in the NHL… To top it all off, for the Av’s fans that have short memories, Claude the Fraud never apologized for his transgression against Chris Draper. Yeah, that’s something I would be proud of if I was an Avalanche fan. So don’t come pointing your finger at the Wild and their players because your franchise had one dirtiest, disgusting players to ever put on a uniform.
Like I said, he’s good at it. But it still doesn’t change that ultimate truth about Cal Clutterbuck: that he doesn’t stand up for himself, that he wants to hit and run and cower. Teammates hate those kinds of guys, because it means their guys are going to be targeted right back since he won’t fight his own battles. These teams will meet again soon, and we’ll see if Cal is clucking as loudly that night.
First example;Claude Lemieux turtles as Redwings tough guy Darren McCarty delivers a beat-down… [click to view video]
Second example; after delivering a bush league high stick to Cam Neely Claude the Fraude turtles again... [click to view video]
Lucic 'happy' he didn't warrant a suspension
For those that said the Meyer hit on Milan Lucic wasn’t high or dirty think again. The NHL disciplinarian Mike Murphy thought otherwise and decided not to suspend Milan Lucic for his punch on Freddy Meyer. The rematch in Atlanta on Thursday night should could (since no one attends Thrasher games) be a barn burner as the Bruins and Thrasher are starting to become a bit of a rivalry. Here is the box score to the game in question. [Box Score] Check out what Joe Haggerty had to say about the matter.
SUNRISE, FL. – Milan Lucic called the Sunday disciplinary call with NHL Senior Vice President of Hockey Operations Mike Murphy a “slap on the wrist” while talking about it following Monday’s morning skate at Bank Atlantic Center.
Lucic said he was ecstatic about avoiding a suspension.
The Bruins’ top left winger was slapped with a match penalty in the middle of the line brawl in the third period of win over the Thrashers, and some assumed he’d end up with a one-game suspension after the incident.
Instead, Murphy and the NHL took into account the dangerous nature of Meyer’s hit that precipitated the entire chain of events -- and Lucic’s contrition after the fact certainly didn’t hurt his cause.
“That’s basically what it was: a slap on the wrist,” said Lucic. “They made it clear it’s something that shouldn’t be a part of the game, and I feel the same way. Looking back on it it’s something I shouldn’t have done, but sometimes you do things that you don’t mean to do once you get your adrenaline going.
“I’m just happy it wasn’t a game suspension and I’ll take the fine. We were looking back at some previous sucker punches and mine was more of a straight jab. I didn’t cock my hand back or anything like that. You can look at the Scott Walker/Aaron Ward incident where he brought his hand fully back for a haymaker where mine was a jab.”
The big power forward admitted wrongdoing while talking about the punch thrown to Freddy Meyer’s head, and the middle finger he “accidentally” extended out at the Atlanta bench as he was escorted off the ice.
Lucic was fined a total of $3500 by the NHL for both the punch and the obscene hand gesture, and chalked it up to a matter of basically seeing red.
“I didn’t feel anything on kind of hit to my chest. That was straight to the head area,” said Lucic. “He’s a lot shorter than me and he did leave his feet.
“I took it right on the head and the chin, and that’s why we reacted as a group. It was great to see that all of the guys had my back. We all had each other’s back on the ice. It’s a great feeling to know the other guys have your back no matter what the situation.”
Freddy Meyer came in high with a hit on Lucic in the third period that the refs deemed an “elbowing” penalty, and the 22-year-old said Meyer’s hit was very reminiscent of a Bryan Berard hit during his rookie season that knocked Lucic out for five games with a concussion.
With his mouth bleeding and his anger stirred, Lucic went at Meyer after he was tackled by Andrew Ference – and eventually found him with a right-handed jab that decked the surprised Meyer after refs had begun regaining order in the scrum. Lucic said he’d be ready if the Thrashers come looking for revenge against him when the Bruins travel to Atlanta on Wednesday night.
WCHA shines in USA WJC win...
What an exciting game; or what I saw of it because the feed from the broadcast was substandard, I guess I would expect more from the NHL network. None the less, the opening game for the USA WJC turned out to be a great night for WCHA players; the Bulldogs’ freshman defenseman Justin Faulk got the first goal for team USA that was followed up by Denver University forward and Wild Draft choice Jason Zucker, he got the second USA goal and the game winner in overtime by Minnesota forward Nick Bjugstad…
Team USA got some bad news as Jeremy Morin might be done for the WJC because of an injury, if true that is bad news for the Americans.
Sources say Team USA winger Jeremy Morin, on loan from the Chicago Blackhawks' AHL farm team in Rockford, apparently suffered a shoulder injury that could be significant.[TSN.CA]Video link for the Canada and Russia WJC game [click for link]
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Phaneuf versus Kovalchuk
I don’t think it’s an understatement to say that this isn’t a very good fight between Dion Phaneuf and Ilya Kovalchuk I think the biggest statement is the fact that no one from the New Jersey Devils comes to the aid of the Devils super star.
Ilya Kovalchuk who signed in the offseason for 100,000,000.00 has had a tough go of it in 34 games he has (8g-10a-18pts) and is an unimpressive -26 maybe the New Jersey Devils should ask from some of their money back.
After Knocking Out Matt Cooke, Evander Kane Says Milan Lucic Texted Him
I came across this article on the NESN site. I would have also liked to have thanked Evander Kane for knocking out that gutless puke/POS Matt Cooke, heck I would have bought him a steak dinner. Evander Kane did the hockey world a favor...
BOSTON -- Most opposing players come into the Garden expecting to be treated like the enemy.
But Atlanta forward Evander Kane might just be the exception to that rule as far as Bruins fans are concerned.
The Garden faithful certainly don't want to see Kane lighting up the scoreboard when the Thrashers take on Boston on Thursday night, but Kane should get a warm reception regardless of what he does.
That's because last year, Kane did what most Bruins fans wanted to see one of their own players do, when he delivered a devastating knockout punch to Pittsburgh cheap-shot artist Matt Cooke. Kane administered the beatdown on April 10, just over a month after Cooke knocked out Marc Savard with a blind-side head shot on March 7.
Thursday will be Kane's first game in Boston since that fight, but he's already heard from some of the Bruins. They certainly appreciated what he did to Cooke, even though it wasn't actually his intention to avenge the cheap shot on Savard.
"I know when it happened, I got a couple phone calls from the guys," Kane said after Thursday's morning skate. "I know it got a lot of buzz throughout the league. It just so happened to be Matt Cooke, who did that to Marc Savard earlier on in the year. I wasn't really looking for payback for that. It was more for myself and for my team, but I guess it worked out."
Kane's KO of Cooke was especially gratifying for Savard's longtime linemate Milan Lucic.
Looch will not be suspended for pounding Freddy Meyer...
Boston Bruins got some good post Christmas news today as they found out that the Bruins tough guy Milan Lucic will not be suspended for punching former BU Terrier Freddy Meyer... Watching the video you will see that Lucic while being tied up by a linesman punched Freddy Meyer who was also tied up by a linesman. Lucic was given a match penalty for the punch to the side of Meyers head. In my opinion I believe it was the right call and no other discipline was warranted at this time…
WILMINGTON -- Bruins coach Claude Julien said general manager Peter Chiarelli told him after practice at Ristuccia Arena that forward Milan Lucic would not be suspended for his actions in Thursday's 4-1 Bruin victory over the Thrashers at TD Garden. Lucic received a game misconduct and a match penalty after a fight with Atlanta's Freddy Meyer (a BU grad). Lucic is expected to comment tomorrow.
Chiarelli then issued a statement: “The NHL has informed us that Milan will not be suspended as a result of the match penalty assessed to him during our game against the Thrashers last Thursday. He will be fined $2,500 for the punch thrown in the scrum and $1,000 for making an obscene gesture directed at the Thrashers bench. He will join the team on the flight to Florida and be available for Monday’s game against the Panthers.”
That makes the line juggling much easier for Julien, as the Bruins head to Florida to start a five-game road trip. "For me, all I need to know is he wasn't suspended,'' said Julien.
"It's great to see he's going to be in our lineup tomorrow night.''
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas from Goon's World... (Gift included)
So for Christmas I have a gift for everyone. I uploaded the interview Scott Williams did with the WCHA Commissioner Bruce McLeod during the historic BSU and UND series; unfortunately for some reason I could only down load the interview in 36 second increments, so there will be four parts... Enjoy...
Part one Scott Williams interview of Bruce McLeod [Click to view]
Part two Scott Williams interview of Bruce McLeod [Click to view]
Part three Scott Williams interview of Bruce McLeod [Click to view]
Part four Scott Williams interview of Bruce McLeod [Click to view]
Permission was granted by Lakeland Public Television and BSU Hockey
Friday, December 24, 2010
Cal Clutterbuck: It’s just too easy
Surfing the net this morning; I found this blog post from the Denver Post Avalanche beat writer to be remotely entertaining, it’s worth a look. Recently, I have had this on going discussion with a friend of mine in the hockey media about fan bloggers and how some of them let emotions drive their blog posts, I am probably a little guilty of that… Fast forward to this gem, this is a blog post from a beat writer for a national newspaper that writes for an NHL hockey team… This is my text book definition definition of blatant homerism. This is like Michael Russo writing Av’s goon David Koci (114 games 2-1-3, 388 pims) is a untalented hack that can barely skate, lucky to be in the NHL and basically a punching bag…
All things Avs --- There are some players I just have to laugh at in this game, though, and Cal Clutterbuck is one of them. Nothing against the guy at all. He’s good at what he does, which is drive you crazy with the game of “I hit you first, then try to draw the penalty with your retaliation hit against me.” These guys have been in hockey for time immemorial.Cal Clutterbuck is an aggressive player that likes to hit, Cal is far from being Bill Laimbeer of the NHL… Bill Laimbeer was a diver and a hack Clutterbuck is not. Clutterbuck has played three season in the NHL and has a grand total of 150 minutes in penalties, each season his penalty minutes have declined as well, this season Clutterbuck has gooned it up so bad that he has a grand total of 22 penalties minutes.
That’s fine, I respect that. It’s a game. You have to play every angle, and if being the agitator who gets the opposition to lose their minds and, hence, the game is what you need to do to succeed, then by all means do it, especially if you’ll be paid a million dollars for it.
But, and part of me hates saying this in a way, because I really don’t care either way. But, Cal Clutterbuck is a cowardly hockey player. He’s Bill Laimbeer on skates, folks.
Again, if it works for you and you have success being that type of player, then you’ll actually get grudging respect from me. Anything that makes you a winner, we can all admire that in the end.
But Clutterbuck is a coward. I mean, come on, did the Wild forward really talk a lot of smack about the Avalanche tonight, after a December 3-1 victory? Really, he did?
In fact, he did. Here’s what was in the estimable blog tonight of Michael Russo, the ace reporter of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and one of my better friends among the hockey writer zeitgeist.
Clutterbuck clucked: ““There’s some guys over there, two guys in particular, I’m shocked they’re still even playing in the league. If they’re going to take a penalty, take a penalty.
“We’re on the road, we’ll take a power play any day of the week. If they want to flaunt their egos, they want to show how tough they are, well, guess what, we’re going to beat you, and we’re coming for them in the standings.”
Let’s just establish a couple of islands or irony first, before we move on. Clutterbuck talking smack after a 3-1 win over an injury-ravaged team in December, is bathed in irony considering his team hasn’t made the playoffs for two straight seasons.
Bruins line brawl... Lucic has hearing on Sunday
Wow what a game! Shawn Thornton and Eric Boulton started the game by dropping the gloves and fighting. I think this could turn into a pretty good rivalry.
This is my definition of a good old fashioned line brawl or Donny Brook and what a marvelous way to end a hockey game. I think that Milan Lucic reacted in the right manner the Trasher's Freddy Meyer hit Milan Lucic up high with a questionable hit to the head and kudos to the Boston Bruins for sticking up for their teammate. The league will review this play and possibly give Lucic a couple game suspension, in this situation I think this dirty hit had to be answered for so I think the consequences of the reaction to the hit are worth it…
It's nice to know if someone cheap shots one of the Boston Bruins that a teammate is going to have their back. Meyer will think twice about hitting Lucic or another Bruins like that again.
Boston Globe --- Last night in the third period, Andrew Ference was a step behind Milan Lucic when the left wing got popped under the chin by Freddy Meyer. Naturally, with one of the best views in TD Garden of the play, Ference’s first reaction was to shed his gloves, grab Meyer, and let the Atlanta defenseman know such hits would not be tolerated.If you hit someone in the head like Meyer did you're going to get this type of a reaction. This is how the Boston Bruins needed to respond to the Freddy Meyer hit. Edit: Milan Lucic will have a disciplinary hearing with the NHL on Boxing Day (Sunday) to see if he will receive any punishment for his beat down on Meyer.
“It was a high hit. Without a doubt,’’ said Ference. “Looch is going down the boards. I was following right behind him, so I had a really good view of it. The guy just put his stick and his hands right in Looch’s head. It’s a high hit. No question about it.’’
One thing that did concern me from this scrum was Marc Savard getting into a fight, that’s one thing the Boston Bruins do not need, one of their top forwards who’s had concussion problems squaring off in a fight. In my opinion it was an ill advised move on Savard’s part. Thank God he wasn’t hurt…
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Festivus - Airing of grievances...
This was one of my favorite Seinfeld episodes. I thought I would give hockey fans a chance "Airing of Grievances" and "Feats of Strength," and the labeling of easily explainable events as "Festivus miracles"....
Today I decided I would air a few of my personal grievances; 1.) is the poor quality of the officiating in the WCHA. 2.) the college hockey pollsters for picking teams number one that have no business being number one. 3.) the "mask" in college hockey time to go to the half shield. 4.) time to use the KRACH instead of the PWR to pick the teams for the NCAA tourney.
Go ahead and tell us a few of your grievances.
Lucia Article (by LGM)
The Star Tribune ran an article about Don Lucia and his struggles with health issues and the hockey team. Click HERE to read it.
I found it to be an interesting read. I'll be the first to fully admit that I have a huge bias against Don Lucia ever since he publicly stood up for Brian Shack and his actions towards Channing Boe a couple of seasons ago. You'll all remember that Shack came charging from across the ice to tackle Boe and didn't stop beating his head into the ice until he broke Boe's leg and had to be pulled off.
It is no secret that LGM is a big Channing Boe fan, thus these actions made me livid. Then to have Lucia stick up for Shack's antics several times made me lose all respect for the guy.
So, onto this article. After the above stated bias I will state my position. I think Lucia participated in this article as a last ditch effort to keep his job and have people feel sorry for him. Lots of excuses seem to go on in the article. Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for what he's gone through but he should have taken a medical leave if he was so rageful for so long. Also, if he wasn't in the position to do so why didn't the UofM step in and have him take a leave? Really, they allow someone to be a "madman" (as he described himself) and just lets the assistant coach make excuses to players and other professionals? Total BS if you ask me. The U needed to grow a pair and put him on leave. Now they can live with their decision.
Yep, I know I'm going to get some mean comments on my position but that's fine. To each their own. I do hope the best for recovery for Lucia and he has gone through some horrible things...but there's also the aspect of professionalism, which I think both he and the U have lacked for years.
I found it to be an interesting read. I'll be the first to fully admit that I have a huge bias against Don Lucia ever since he publicly stood up for Brian Shack and his actions towards Channing Boe a couple of seasons ago. You'll all remember that Shack came charging from across the ice to tackle Boe and didn't stop beating his head into the ice until he broke Boe's leg and had to be pulled off.
It is no secret that LGM is a big Channing Boe fan, thus these actions made me livid. Then to have Lucia stick up for Shack's antics several times made me lose all respect for the guy.
So, onto this article. After the above stated bias I will state my position. I think Lucia participated in this article as a last ditch effort to keep his job and have people feel sorry for him. Lots of excuses seem to go on in the article. Don't get me wrong, I feel bad for what he's gone through but he should have taken a medical leave if he was so rageful for so long. Also, if he wasn't in the position to do so why didn't the UofM step in and have him take a leave? Really, they allow someone to be a "madman" (as he described himself) and just lets the assistant coach make excuses to players and other professionals? Total BS if you ask me. The U needed to grow a pair and put him on leave. Now they can live with their decision.
Yep, I know I'm going to get some mean comments on my position but that's fine. To each their own. I do hope the best for recovery for Lucia and he has gone through some horrible things...but there's also the aspect of professionalism, which I think both he and the U have lacked for years.
Merry Christmas John MacLean you’re fired…
It sounds like it’s not going to be a very fun Christmas/Holiday season in the John MacLean house this year. I had a feeling this move was coming when I watched the New Jersey Devils get dismantled by the Washington Capitals the other night 5-1. The Devils fans and beat writers had been calling for McLeans head only 20 games into the season.
New Jersey.com --- John MacLean's short and rocky tenure as Devils coach has come to an end, The Star-Ledger has confirmed.During the capitals debacle the Devils all world goalie Martin Brodeur was shelled and left high and dry by their defense. It has been par for the course this season and every time I have watched the Devils play this season they have been playing a listless brad of hockey… Personally, I find it funny that the head coach is the one that usually gets the blame for a team’s failures and misgivings in the era of the entitlement hockey player. It also doesn’t help the New Jersey Devils when you take Zach Parise’s 80-90+ points out of the line up and the Devils have gone an unimpressive 6-13-1 since Zach’s injury.
MacLean, who coached the injury-riddled team to an NHL-worst 20 points and 9-22-2 record, is expected to be replaced on an interim basis by former coach Jacques Lemaire, an NHL official confirmed.
The official requested anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the decision.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Meaningless exhibition game?
Every time you put that uniform on it means something. Check out this video and the post game interview. This is why I love the game that Andrew McWilliam plays. When asked about his future team mate J.T. Miller, 'he plays like a Sioux and it's about time we get a player from the program (USDT) with some grit', you have to love Mac's analysis.
Second Half Preview (by Sioux 7)
Second Half Preview
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….9-4-1…19
5. Colorado College…..8-6-0…16
6. Minnesota…………..6-6-2…14
6. 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
Michigan Tech
The Huskies have dug themselves a deep hole in the first (almost) half season only getting one win in twelve games. Simply put they need to score more goals in order to give themselves a chance to win some games in the second half. It’s already pretty safe to say they will be playing the role of spoiler after Christmas break.
St. Cloud St.
The Huskies will need to win all their games in January (they play MTU, BSU, and MSUM that month) if they want to make a real push for home ice. After that they have a grueling schedule, @ UNO, @ UMD, UND, UW and @ DU to wrap up the season. This team had high hopes going into this campaign and has been dismal to this point. But if they can go on a run in January, they can get back into the middle of the pack and compete for home ice.
Bemidji State
The Beavers are slowly adjusting to life in the WCHA, let’s face it, this league is a much bigger grind week in and week out than the old CHA. The Beavers played UMD tough with both games going into overtime and even swept UNO, so they are competitive, no question about that. The Beavers appear to have a relatively nice schedule in 2011 they only have to play a couple of the top teams again (UNO and UND). However, they are on the road for 4 series and host 3 series (SCSU, CC, UM) at the new Sanford Center.
Minnesota State
The Mavericks have league wins over CC, UAA, and UM(2) in the first half of the season. MSUM plays CC and UAA again in the second half too. The Mavericks need to get wins over the other teams in the bottom of the standings if they want to move up and compete for a home ice spot. In order to do that, they need to be more consistent on offense. Scoring two goals or so a game isn’t enough, they need to get to three or more to get wins. They can’t rely solely on the goal tenders to save their bacon game in and game out.
Alaska Anchorage
The Seawolves are in the same boat as the MSUM Mavericks. However, the Seawolves have a tough schedule they host CC, @ DU, @UM, MTU, @ UND, UNO, and end the season @ MSUM. The Seawolves need to keep the games low scoring affairs if they want to win, since they have had problems producing goals. If UAA can get some timely goals and solidly consistent goal tending they could be in the hunt for hosting a first round playoff series.
Wisconsin
The Badgers, ah, were to start, they have been scoring goals, but they have been giving up quite a few too. I’ve seen a few of their games this year, and if they can cut down on some of the miscues they can be right in the mix for home ice. Well, if they don’t get hosed by the refs too much in 2011 (all the UW fans remember that horrible OT “lose” to UMD). UW just needs to create its own puck luck in the second half and they should end up in the top half of the league.
Minnesota
They got talent, but they can’t seem to put it all together at the same time. It looks like everyman for himself at times, and other times they have flashes of brilliance. The Gopher fans look to have a new number one in nets now with Patterson, but who knows, Kangas could make a comeback. They open the second half with some tough opponents and end with a softer schedule. Here is a look at the Gophers second half - @ UND, UAA, @ UMD, DU, @ UW, MTU, and @ BSU to end the regular season. The Gophers still control their own fate. But, if the wheels come of the bus, they will be riding one for the first round of the playoffs.
Colorado College
The Tigers have quietly moved up the standings, all the way to fifth place, and are two games over .500 in the league. They were on a six game winning streak until the last game before break, and they were shutout in that contest. The Tigers will need to get victories over the bottom half teams in the second half to keep their distance and home ice. The Tigers have also pitched four shutout games of their own; getting goal tending like that will also help them down the home stretch. Look for the Tigers to be in control of their own destiny the second half.
Nebraska-Omaha
The Mavericks started of the season on a red hot streak, winning 8 of their first 9 games. Since then they have cooled off and have a 4-4-1 record. UNO only has to make three road trips in 2011, with trips to UND, UAA, and UMD. Those will be a big games, especially when you figure they play the Bulldogs that last weekend of the season. The Mavericks have come back down to earth after that great start and might now have some confidence issues. We’ll have to wait and see what happens in second half, and see if they can survive the grind that is the WCHA.
Denver
The Pioneers find themselves in familiar territory this time of year, in the race for the league title. They have been flying under the radar while most people have been focused on the surprising UMD Bulldogs and UNO Mavericks. DU has quietly put together a good record, with quality wins over UMD and UND on the road. The Pioneers have been getting get goal tending which helps any team out. They just have to avoid any more injuries and they should be in title race the second half.
Minnesota-Duluth
The Bulldogs lead the WCHA most of the first half and only lost the lead in the last week of play. They have played bonus hockey, overtime, in 9 out of their 18 games. UMD fans will say the team steps up in OT and gets win, doubters will say they are living dangerously. The Bulldogs need to get more scoring from more than just the top line, and need to pick up the 5x5 scoring too. If they can improve those items they can make a second half run that goes deep into the playoffs.
North Dakota
The Sioux have rattled off 4 wins in a row while missing 2/3rds of their top line, not bad. That shows that they have the depth and determination to do whatever it takes to win games. If the Sioux can avoid injuries in the second half they should be just fine. UND is off to its best first half under the helm of Coach Hakstol. If they go on their typical second half run, they could win their 15th WCHA regular season title and second under Hakstol.
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….9-4-1…19
5. Colorado College…..8-6-0…16
6. Minnesota…………..6-6-2…14
6. 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
Michigan Tech
The Huskies have dug themselves a deep hole in the first (almost) half season only getting one win in twelve games. Simply put they need to score more goals in order to give themselves a chance to win some games in the second half. It’s already pretty safe to say they will be playing the role of spoiler after Christmas break.
St. Cloud St.
The Huskies will need to win all their games in January (they play MTU, BSU, and MSUM that month) if they want to make a real push for home ice. After that they have a grueling schedule, @ UNO, @ UMD, UND, UW and @ DU to wrap up the season. This team had high hopes going into this campaign and has been dismal to this point. But if they can go on a run in January, they can get back into the middle of the pack and compete for home ice.
Bemidji State
The Beavers are slowly adjusting to life in the WCHA, let’s face it, this league is a much bigger grind week in and week out than the old CHA. The Beavers played UMD tough with both games going into overtime and even swept UNO, so they are competitive, no question about that. The Beavers appear to have a relatively nice schedule in 2011 they only have to play a couple of the top teams again (UNO and UND). However, they are on the road for 4 series and host 3 series (SCSU, CC, UM) at the new Sanford Center.
Minnesota State
The Mavericks have league wins over CC, UAA, and UM(2) in the first half of the season. MSUM plays CC and UAA again in the second half too. The Mavericks need to get wins over the other teams in the bottom of the standings if they want to move up and compete for a home ice spot. In order to do that, they need to be more consistent on offense. Scoring two goals or so a game isn’t enough, they need to get to three or more to get wins. They can’t rely solely on the goal tenders to save their bacon game in and game out.
Alaska Anchorage
The Seawolves are in the same boat as the MSUM Mavericks. However, the Seawolves have a tough schedule they host CC, @ DU, @UM, MTU, @ UND, UNO, and end the season @ MSUM. The Seawolves need to keep the games low scoring affairs if they want to win, since they have had problems producing goals. If UAA can get some timely goals and solidly consistent goal tending they could be in the hunt for hosting a first round playoff series.
Wisconsin
The Badgers, ah, were to start, they have been scoring goals, but they have been giving up quite a few too. I’ve seen a few of their games this year, and if they can cut down on some of the miscues they can be right in the mix for home ice. Well, if they don’t get hosed by the refs too much in 2011 (all the UW fans remember that horrible OT “lose” to UMD). UW just needs to create its own puck luck in the second half and they should end up in the top half of the league.
Minnesota
They got talent, but they can’t seem to put it all together at the same time. It looks like everyman for himself at times, and other times they have flashes of brilliance. The Gopher fans look to have a new number one in nets now with Patterson, but who knows, Kangas could make a comeback. They open the second half with some tough opponents and end with a softer schedule. Here is a look at the Gophers second half - @ UND, UAA, @ UMD, DU, @ UW, MTU, and @ BSU to end the regular season. The Gophers still control their own fate. But, if the wheels come of the bus, they will be riding one for the first round of the playoffs.
Colorado College
The Tigers have quietly moved up the standings, all the way to fifth place, and are two games over .500 in the league. They were on a six game winning streak until the last game before break, and they were shutout in that contest. The Tigers will need to get victories over the bottom half teams in the second half to keep their distance and home ice. The Tigers have also pitched four shutout games of their own; getting goal tending like that will also help them down the home stretch. Look for the Tigers to be in control of their own destiny the second half.
Nebraska-Omaha
The Mavericks started of the season on a red hot streak, winning 8 of their first 9 games. Since then they have cooled off and have a 4-4-1 record. UNO only has to make three road trips in 2011, with trips to UND, UAA, and UMD. Those will be a big games, especially when you figure they play the Bulldogs that last weekend of the season. The Mavericks have come back down to earth after that great start and might now have some confidence issues. We’ll have to wait and see what happens in second half, and see if they can survive the grind that is the WCHA.
Denver
The Pioneers find themselves in familiar territory this time of year, in the race for the league title. They have been flying under the radar while most people have been focused on the surprising UMD Bulldogs and UNO Mavericks. DU has quietly put together a good record, with quality wins over UMD and UND on the road. The Pioneers have been getting get goal tending which helps any team out. They just have to avoid any more injuries and they should be in title race the second half.
Minnesota-Duluth
The Bulldogs lead the WCHA most of the first half and only lost the lead in the last week of play. They have played bonus hockey, overtime, in 9 out of their 18 games. UMD fans will say the team steps up in OT and gets win, doubters will say they are living dangerously. The Bulldogs need to get more scoring from more than just the top line, and need to pick up the 5x5 scoring too. If they can improve those items they can make a second half run that goes deep into the playoffs.
North Dakota
The Sioux have rattled off 4 wins in a row while missing 2/3rds of their top line, not bad. That shows that they have the depth and determination to do whatever it takes to win games. If the Sioux can avoid injuries in the second half they should be just fine. UND is off to its best first half under the helm of Coach Hakstol. If they go on their typical second half run, they could win their 15th WCHA regular season title and second under Hakstol.
USA releases roster for WJC.
Here is the roster for Team USA.
GOALTENDERS
Jack Campbell, Windsor Spitfires, OHL (Dallas)
Andy Iles, Cornell University, ECAC
DEFENSEMEN
Brian Dumoulin, Boston College, HE (Carolina)
Justin Faulk, Minnesota-Duluth, WCHA (Carolina)
Derek Forbort, North Dakota, WCHA (Los Angeles)
Nick Leddy, Rockford, AHL (Chicago);
Jonathan Merrill, Michigan, CCHA (New Jersey)
John Ramage, Wisconsin, WCHA (Calgary)
Patrick Wey, Boston College, HE (Washington)
FORWARDS
Nick Bjugstad, Minnesota, WCHA (Florida)
Ryan Bourque, Quebec, QMJHL (N.Y. Rangers)
Chris Brown, Michigan, CCHA (Phoenix)
Mitchell Callahan, Kelowna, WHL (Detroit)
Charlie Coyle, Boston University, HE (San Jose)
Jerry D'Amigo, Toronto, AHL (Toronto)
Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat, WHL (Anaheim)
Chris Kreider, Boston College, HE (N.Y. Rangers)
Jeremy Morin, Rockford, AHL (Chicago)
Brock Nelson, North Dakota, WCHA (N.Y. Islanders)
Kyle Palmieri, Syracuse, AHL (Anaheim)
Drew Shore, Denver, WCHA (Florida)
Jason Zucker, Denver, WCHA (Minnesota).
Who didn't make it
Adam Clendening (Boston University)
Jamieson Oleksiak (Northeastern)
Philip Samuelsson (Boston College)
Connor Brickley (Vermont)
Rocco Grimaldi (USNTDP)(UND Recruit)
Matthew Nieto (Boston University)
Brandon Saad (Saginaw, OHL)
Links to the WJC
USA Hockey Twitter
U.S. announces World Junior roster [USA Hockey]
Forbort, Nelson make final cut for USA Hockey [Fighting Sioux]
NHL Network U.S. to broadcast USA quest for historic gold medal repeat at 2011 IIHF WJC [NHL.COM]
Kreider is hoping last year's luck carries over [NHL.COM]
U.S. junior team has 2005 blueprint as a guide [NHL.COM]
Buffalo News WJC Blog [BuffaloNews.COM]
USA hockey unveils its roster for world junior tournament [Toronto Star]
Canadian World Junior News. [Toronto Star]
Wild's Zucker, 5 Minnesotans make USA World Junior team [Russo's Rants]
TV Schedule for the World Juniors
[Click link for TV SCHEDULE]
Date Game Time (EST)
Sunday, December 26
Russia vs. Canada 4 p.m.
Finland vs. USA 8 p.m.
Tuesday, December 28
Canada vs. Czech Republic 4 p.m.
USA vs. Slovakia 8 p.m.
Wednesday, December 29
Norway vs. Canada 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 30
Sweden vs. Czech Republic 3 p.m.
Germany vs. USA 7 p.m.
Friday, December 31
Canada vs. Sweden 4 p.m.
USA vs. Switzerland 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 2
Quarterfinal #1 3:30 p.m.
Quarterfinal #2* 7:30 p.m.
Monday, January 3
Semifinal #1 3:30 p.m.
Semifinal #2* 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 5
Bronze-Medal Game 3:30 p.m.
Gold-Medal Game 7:30 p.m.
GOALTENDERS
Jack Campbell, Windsor Spitfires, OHL (Dallas)
Andy Iles, Cornell University, ECAC
DEFENSEMEN
Brian Dumoulin, Boston College, HE (Carolina)
Justin Faulk, Minnesota-Duluth, WCHA (Carolina)
Derek Forbort, North Dakota, WCHA (Los Angeles)
Nick Leddy, Rockford, AHL (Chicago);
Jonathan Merrill, Michigan, CCHA (New Jersey)
John Ramage, Wisconsin, WCHA (Calgary)
Patrick Wey, Boston College, HE (Washington)
FORWARDS
Nick Bjugstad, Minnesota, WCHA (Florida)
Ryan Bourque, Quebec, QMJHL (N.Y. Rangers)
Chris Brown, Michigan, CCHA (Phoenix)
Mitchell Callahan, Kelowna, WHL (Detroit)
Charlie Coyle, Boston University, HE (San Jose)
Jerry D'Amigo, Toronto, AHL (Toronto)
Emerson Etem, Medicine Hat, WHL (Anaheim)
Chris Kreider, Boston College, HE (N.Y. Rangers)
Jeremy Morin, Rockford, AHL (Chicago)
Brock Nelson, North Dakota, WCHA (N.Y. Islanders)
Kyle Palmieri, Syracuse, AHL (Anaheim)
Drew Shore, Denver, WCHA (Florida)
Jason Zucker, Denver, WCHA (Minnesota).
Who didn't make it
Adam Clendening (Boston University)
Jamieson Oleksiak (Northeastern)
Philip Samuelsson (Boston College)
Connor Brickley (Vermont)
Rocco Grimaldi (USNTDP)(UND Recruit)
Matthew Nieto (Boston University)
Brandon Saad (Saginaw, OHL)
Links to the WJC
USA Hockey Twitter
U.S. announces World Junior roster [USA Hockey]
Forbort, Nelson make final cut for USA Hockey [Fighting Sioux]
NHL Network U.S. to broadcast USA quest for historic gold medal repeat at 2011 IIHF WJC [NHL.COM]
Kreider is hoping last year's luck carries over [NHL.COM]
U.S. junior team has 2005 blueprint as a guide [NHL.COM]
Buffalo News WJC Blog [BuffaloNews.COM]
USA hockey unveils its roster for world junior tournament [Toronto Star]
Canadian World Junior News. [Toronto Star]
Wild's Zucker, 5 Minnesotans make USA World Junior team [Russo's Rants]
TV Schedule for the World Juniors
[Click link for TV SCHEDULE]
Date Game Time (EST)
Sunday, December 26
Russia vs. Canada 4 p.m.
Finland vs. USA 8 p.m.
Tuesday, December 28
Canada vs. Czech Republic 4 p.m.
USA vs. Slovakia 8 p.m.
Wednesday, December 29
Norway vs. Canada 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 30
Sweden vs. Czech Republic 3 p.m.
Germany vs. USA 7 p.m.
Friday, December 31
Canada vs. Sweden 4 p.m.
USA vs. Switzerland 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 2
Quarterfinal #1 3:30 p.m.
Quarterfinal #2* 7:30 p.m.
Monday, January 3
Semifinal #1 3:30 p.m.
Semifinal #2* 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 5
Bronze-Medal Game 3:30 p.m.
Gold-Medal Game 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Uber Hack Matt Cooke is up to his old tricks...
Watch this video of uber hack Matt Cooke as he throws an elbow to the back of Keith Yandle head, there is no excuse for this kind of hockey, Matt Cooke should be suspended for this hit. I am so sick and third of this disgusting POS and his antics. Some day Matt Cooke is going to finally get what is coming to him, eventually someone is going to catch Matt Cooke with his head down and this hack is going to end up paying for his transgressions… You cannot skate up and down the ice throwing cheap shots at people without getting something in return. The Hockey Code demands it.
When this happens I am going to celebrate, sure Evander Kane handed it to him but he hasn’t learned his lesson. The old cliché what comes around goes around. I just hope I get to see it. I can't believe that the Penguins writer for the Bleacher Report said this;
Not only did Cooke provide a goal and kill penalties for the Pens, but it was a penalty that Cooke committed that may have been most important.Seriously! You have got to be kidding me? Since when is a a fore arm hit to the head considered clean, that's not dirty to you? Talk about not having a clue... Matt Cooke deserves a beat down for that elbow and should have answered the bell when challenged, but Cooke is gutless puke.
In the second period, with the Penguins leading 5-0 and on the penalty kill, Cooke went in on a forecheck and put a forearm to the head of Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle.
Cooke was sent to the box for two minutes for boarding, and that seemed to be that.
However, after the game the Coyotes were furious with the hit (which in no way appeared dirty to me), and Yandle said, "every guy on our team tried to fight him."
WJC TV Schedule
2011 IIHF World Junior Championship - NHL Network U.S. Broadcast Schedule
Dec. 26 - Jan. 5, Buffalo, N.Y. [Click link for TV SCHEDULE]
Date Game Time (EST)
Sunday, December 26
Russia vs. Canada 4 p.m.
Finland vs. USA 8 p.m.
Tuesday, December 28
Canada vs. Czech Republic 4 p.m.
USA vs. Slovakia 8 p.m.
Wednesday, December 29
Norway vs. Canada 7:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 30
Sweden vs. Czech Republic 3 p.m.
Germany vs. USA 7 p.m.
Friday, December 31
Canada vs. Sweden 4 p.m.
USA vs. Switzerland 8 p.m.
Sunday, January. 2
Quarterfinal #1 3:30 p.m.
Quarterfinal #2* 7:30 p.m.
Monday, January 3
Semifinal #1 3:30 p.m.
Semifinal #2* 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, January 5
Bronze-Medal Game 3:30 p.m.
Gold-Medal Game 7:30 p.m.
Update on DU's Jesse Martin
 |
| Edmonton Journal Picture... |
EDMONTON - It's little wonder Terry Martin and his family don't know what to give one another for Christmas gifts this year.
They have all they need: Each other.
The past year could have torn the Edmonton family of four apart. Terry's wife, Jacquie, was diagnosed with a brain tumour just before his daughter, Natasha, was injured in a car crash and required emergency surgery.
Then his son, Jesse, a 22-year-old senior who plays hockey for the University of Denver Pioneers, was injured in an Oct. 30 game against the North Dakota Fighting Sioux and carried off the ice on a stretcher with a spinal cord injury. Three days after getting home from visiting with Jesse in the U.S., Terry had heart attack.
"We're all having a little trouble buying Christmas gifts this year," Terry says. "I mean really, what material things could we give or receive that could provide greater happiness than what we are experiencing by simply being together?"
It's the gift of family.
"The serious medical challenges each of us faced recently certainly tested us as individuals with respect to inner strength and character. But how we came through it all is also a testament to how closely knit our family is," Terry says.
Jesse's injury -- a crush against the boards when he was looking down -- got a lot of attention because of a YouTube video of the hit. As of Monday, the video had been watched 131,192 times.
"Like every family, we have had our ups and downs, but the common thread has been that we never forget that we are there for each other no matter what, and we are always able to lean on each other for support," says Jesse.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Poll Monday; 5th in USA Today Poll...
USA TODAY/USA Hockey men's poll
[Dec. 20, 2010]
1 Yale (34)11-1-0 510
2 New Hampshire 10-2-4 458
3 Minnesota Duluth 12-3-3 418
4 Boston College 11-5-0 410
5 North Dakota 13-5-2 403
6 Miami (Ohio) 10-5-3 308
7 Denver 12-5-3 282
8 Maine 8-4-4 247
9 Nebraska-Omaha 12-5-1 243
10 Michigan 10-5-4 195
11 Boston University 8-4-5 162
12 Notre Dame 11-6-2 156
13 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 9-4-3 124
14 Union 10-5-3 59
15 Wisconsin 10-7-3 43
Others receiving votes: University of Alaska, 22; Colorado College, 15; Merrimack College, 6; University of Minnesota, 6; Western Michigan University, 6; Ferris State University, 3; Robert Morris University, 3; Dartmouth College, 1.
I know these polls really don’t mean much because in the end the only poll(s) that matters is the RPI/PWR that is used to select the teams for the NCAA tourney. We can put Yale at the top of the polls all season long if we want but they still have to play and prove themselves in the end, I still think they are going to end up being another 2007 Clarkson that was a number one seed that got bounced from the tourney.
If there is a team that deserves some credit it would be RPI, they beat Boston University and still end up behind BU in the USA Today poll. I would also like to know why in the name of Zeus’s butt is Union still ranked in the top 15 after being swept by Western Michigan University this past weekend?
[Dec. 20, 2010]
1 Yale (34)11-1-0 510
2 New Hampshire 10-2-4 458
3 Minnesota Duluth 12-3-3 418
4 Boston College 11-5-0 410
5 North Dakota 13-5-2 403
6 Miami (Ohio) 10-5-3 308
7 Denver 12-5-3 282
8 Maine 8-4-4 247
9 Nebraska-Omaha 12-5-1 243
10 Michigan 10-5-4 195
11 Boston University 8-4-5 162
12 Notre Dame 11-6-2 156
13 Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 9-4-3 124
14 Union 10-5-3 59
15 Wisconsin 10-7-3 43
Others receiving votes: University of Alaska, 22; Colorado College, 15; Merrimack College, 6; University of Minnesota, 6; Western Michigan University, 6; Ferris State University, 3; Robert Morris University, 3; Dartmouth College, 1.
I know these polls really don’t mean much because in the end the only poll(s) that matters is the RPI/PWR that is used to select the teams for the NCAA tourney. We can put Yale at the top of the polls all season long if we want but they still have to play and prove themselves in the end, I still think they are going to end up being another 2007 Clarkson that was a number one seed that got bounced from the tourney.
If there is a team that deserves some credit it would be RPI, they beat Boston University and still end up behind BU in the USA Today poll. I would also like to know why in the name of Zeus’s butt is Union still ranked in the top 15 after being swept by Western Michigan University this past weekend?
Frattin for Hobey Baker... Why not?
I think that when we start talking about candidates for the Hobey Baker Matt Frattin’s name has to be in the mix, look that the year Frattin is having (17g-8a-25pts), I would say that Frattin has been a man among boys this season. Immediately you will hear about Frattin’s checkered past, I think that’s fair, however, I think the article written by Brad Elliot Schlossman this past weekend, The Road to Redemption is the first step in the right direction because the article brings to light some information that could help sway the committee.
I the reason I think the committee can be swayed is that Matt Frattin could have taken the easy route that other players have and just signed a professional but instead he decided to get his act together and deal with his personal issues and he didn't avoid them but met them head on.
The fact that the University of North Dakota pulled Frattin’s scholarship and Matt Frattin had to pay his own way is even more impressive to me, he could have said screw this… Matt could have just signed the professional contract and taken the money and moved on to the Toronto Maple Leafs but he decided that he had some unfinished business at UND to take care of. Frattin took care of his personal issues worked his butt off to stay in shape worked on the side and went to counseling and I think that is a testament to the kind of guy that Frattin is.
I have known adults that wouldn’t have taken these steps to make things right, they would just moved on and been done with it. Frattin took the path not always traveled came back probably a better player and a better person. Like I said over on Sioux Sports; “let he who is without sin cast the first stone", life is about lessons and we learn from our mistakes and none of us are perfect. I also don’t think any of the previous Hobey Baker Memorial Candidates were either.
I the reason I think the committee can be swayed is that Matt Frattin could have taken the easy route that other players have and just signed a professional but instead he decided to get his act together and deal with his personal issues and he didn't avoid them but met them head on.
The fact that the University of North Dakota pulled Frattin’s scholarship and Matt Frattin had to pay his own way is even more impressive to me, he could have said screw this… Matt could have just signed the professional contract and taken the money and moved on to the Toronto Maple Leafs but he decided that he had some unfinished business at UND to take care of. Frattin took care of his personal issues worked his butt off to stay in shape worked on the side and went to counseling and I think that is a testament to the kind of guy that Frattin is.
I have known adults that wouldn’t have taken these steps to make things right, they would just moved on and been done with it. Frattin took the path not always traveled came back probably a better player and a better person. Like I said over on Sioux Sports; “let he who is without sin cast the first stone", life is about lessons and we learn from our mistakes and none of us are perfect. I also don’t think any of the previous Hobey Baker Memorial Candidates were either.
It's the most wonderful time of the year...
This video should get you in the mood as the 2011 WJC approaches, the USA has a good chance to make more memories like this. Yesterday the USA and RPI played in an exhibition game yesterday that was won by RPI 4-3, the game went to a 12 round shootout that was won by the RPI Engineers. Here is the video to the 12 round shootout. Here is a link to the post game interviews.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
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.
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.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]
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.
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
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
Saturday, December 18, 2010
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?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.
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.
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
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…
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]
Friday, December 17, 2010
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.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.
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.
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.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
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
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.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.
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.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
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.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
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.
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